The House And Garden

I remember when Pappie and Opa were still with us. Oma was with us too. Supper with the whole family was very fun. There were nine of us and we all fit around our djati wooden table in the middle of our dining room. We had so much food that I would never have guessed we would ever go hungry. I loved having everyone living together. Oh, and did I tell you that our marble floor was a very good place for sliding? Well, it was and still is.

Pappie is a very rich man. I don't know how we are rich but it has something to do with electricity. And Opa's brother owns a brick factory. It seems that our family is very blessed. Pappie and Mammie bought all of us children a house. Mine was purchased when I was born. Maybe I will have a garden like we have now.

Our garden has many trees. We have four different kinds of mangoes: Madu, Golak, Gandeng (which grows in pairs like cherries), and Aromanis. Also growing all over our plantation is semanka (papaya), pisang (banana) and assam (tamarind) trees. But it is our Jackfruit tree that will be our main source of food now that the war has started. They are bearing lots of fruit which weigh up to 40 lbs. and grow closest to the house. The villagers are welcome to take what they need. We must share the wealth.

Kampong (The Village)

I think I should tell you about the brave people in the kampong behind our house. It is true, I believe, that my family and I would certainly be dead if not for their courage. There is a very rough trail through the jungle of jack fruit trees, banana trees, and those star fruit trees.

We follow this trail behind the huts, through the forest, to church. All the people in the kampong live in little huts made from bamboo poles and bamboo mats are used for walls. The people are very poor. But like I said they are very brave and kind to us. I pray they will make it through this war alive.

They let us hide behind their huts. The Japanese soldiers never find us and the villagers never tell them that we are there. Maybe the jungle looks too scary for the soldiers. In any case our hike through the forest is always a safe one even though I can still hear the bombs falling in the distant.

I thank the Lord Jesus for all the nice people that make our lives quite livable. Soon I will tell you of a few individuals who risk their lives to save ours. For now, it is safer that I don't talk about them yet.