Chapter 44 Indonesian Stories (43)

Everyone is blessed again and again with flower petals soaked in holy water.The whole family took turns passing the baby and whispering softly to her, while Grandpa Lai chanted ancient spells.They even let me hold the baby for a while, despite my jeans; I whispered blessings to her while everyone chanted. "Good luck," I told her, "be brave." The weather was hot, even in the shade.Young mother is sweating in a sexy bodysuit over a sheer lace shirt.The young father seemed to only know how to grin proudly, he couldn't make any other expressions, and he was also sweating.The mothers-in-law and grandma are fanning themselves, feeling tired, sitting down, standing up, worrying about the sacrificial roast pig, and busy driving the dog.Everyone takes turns caring, not caring, tired, laughing, excited.But Lai Ye and Xiao Wa seem to be closed in their experience together, and their attention is attracted to each other.Xiaowa stared at the pharmacist all day long.Who's ever heard of a six-month-old who can go four hours in the hot sun without crying, fussing, or sleeping, just staring at someone curiously?

Master Lai's performance is very good, and Xiaowa's performance is also very good.She attended the entire ceremony of her transformation from a god to a human.She's done her job well and is already like a good Balinese girl—indulging in ritual, believing in what she believes in, and conforming to the demands of the culture. After the chants, the baby was wrapped in a long, clean white sheet that hung far below her tiny legs, giving her a tall, imposing look—a maiden-age debut.Lord Lai drew the four directions of the universe on the bottom of a clay bowl, then filled it with holy water and placed the bowl on the ground.This hand-painted compass marks the sacred spot where the baby's feet first touched the ground.

Then the whole family gathers around Xiaowa, everyone seems to be holding her at the same time - come on!bring it on! --they dipped the baby's feet lightly in the earthenware bowl filled with holy water, above the magical map of the whole cosmic orientation, and then they let her heels touch the ground for the first time.As they lifted her back into the air, the wet little footprints left on the ground beneath her finally positioned the child in the larger Balinese frame, established her footing, established her identity.Everyone clapped happily.The little girl is now part of us.A human being - entered into this intricate incarnation, and with it comes the risks and joys that must be borne in the future.

Xiaowa raised her head, looked around, and smiled.She is no longer a god.She doesn't seem to care.She is not afraid.She seems to be completely happy with whatever decisions she makes. The transaction with the eldest sister failed.The property that Felipe found for her did not go through for some reason.I asked my eldest sister what was going on, and got petty answers about the contract not being negotiated; I don't think I was ever told the truth.But the real point is just that the transaction is invalid.I started to panic about the whole situation of my eldest sister buying a house.I want to explain my urgency to her: "Sister - I have less than two weeks left before I have to leave Bali and return to the United States. I can't face all the friends who give me money and tell them that your home is still empty." landing."

"But Xiaoli, if there is no good god in a place..." Everyone has a different idea of ​​the urgency of life. However, a few days later, the eldest sister hurriedly called Felipe's home.She had found another piece of land, which she liked very much.A piece of emerald green rice field, on a quiet road, not far from the town, and the whole reveals the breath of a good god.The eldest sister told us that the land was owned by a certain farmer, a friend of her father, who was in desperate need of cash.He had a total of seven alo for sale, but he was willing to sell only the two alo that she could afford because he needed to get paid quickly.She likes the field.I love this land.Felipe liked the land.Tutti -- traversing the grass in circles, arms outstretched -- loves the field too.

"Buy it." I told the eldest sister. But after a few days, she was still undecided. "Do you want to live there or not?" I kept asking. She stalled again, then changed her story.This morning, she said, the farmer called and told her that he wasn't sure if he could sell her just two arodi; Talk to see if she is willing to sell the land separately... The eldest sister said, "If only I had more money..." God, she wants me to raise the cash to buy the whole lot.Even though I was trying to figure out how to raise another staggering $22,000, I said, "I can't do it, I don't have the money. Can you talk to the farmer about it?"

Then, my eldest sister, who no longer looked at me, made up a complicated story.She told me that a few days ago she went to see a mysterious person who went into a trance and told the eldest sister that she absolutely must buy this whole Qialo land in order to build a good medical center... This is destiny... The mysterious person also said that if the eldest sister can buy the whole piece of land, maybe one day a nice luxury hotel can be built...