Passive Voice

Searching of Siti Nurbaya

Mr. Adam was a rich man. He has a lot of money and some factories. He lived only with his son named Rico. One day, Mr. Adam suffered a heart attack and had to be hospitalized. “My son, I am very lonely. I miss your Mom.” Rico was very sad to see him like that. “My son, look for pretty girls, good and very poor. Bring her to me.” Said Mr. Adam. Because Mr. Adam’s wife had died some years ago. Rico immediately went to look for the girl. Rico was a man aged 27 years. He wondered why his father want to marriage again. He was very old. Should to marriage was Rico. During his life time Rico could just have fun. Spend the money and buy women.

That night, Rico went to the cafe to have some fun. There were many pretty girls. Suddenly there was an incident that make people shocked. There was a man who wanted to try committed suicide by injuring his hand. Many of the blood flowing and the man were dying. But there was a girl who helped him. After the incident, Rico came to the girl. “You’re just a waitress but why do you help him? I see you like a doctor.” The girl just smiled at Rico. Rico remembered what her father when he saw the girl.”You are the girl who my father told about. You are beautiful and nice girl.” Said Rico.

“What do you mean?” Asked the girl. “You do not need to be a waitress. Marry with my father. He’s very rich.” Said Rico. The girl was very angry. “I am very poor. But I will not sell myself just for money. I never want to marry with your father. You’re a very haughty.” On the next day, Rico met again with the girl in a night club. “So, you’re the girl that I already pay to sleep with me?” She was surprised to saw Rico. He told Rico that she desperately needed money. “I do not believe you like this. I thought you are a good girl.”

“I am poor. But I want to help others. I had to continue my study. And make my mother proud.”
“It turns out you’re too stupid. If you’re a good girl you must understand a sin. If you will marry with my father and could get a lot of money. I think it will not make you to committed sin.”

“I’m 25 years old is too young to be married with your father. He might be very old.”

“You’re also an haughty girl. So, which one would you choose?”

“You’re Father.”

“I will not sleep with you. Come with me to visit my father!”

Rico took her to the hospital to see his father. On the way, they talk a lot. “I don’t know your name.” Said Rico. “I’m Shinta. I think you aren’t good man. Why would you do that for your father?and why don’t you do that for yourself?”

“Because I love him so much. Nothing is more important in the world than my father. I want to see him happy. I’m not a good man but I still have a conscience. So, why do you do bad things?”

“I should be able to become a doctor. My parents are very poor. I get scholarship for 3 years.

I have to struggle for one year. I must do to finance my exams.”

“Are you a prospective doctor? Very impressive. You’re beautiful, kind and intelligent. If in the world there is a one woman other like you, then I will marry her.”
Shinta laughed at Rico. They arrived at the hospital. Shinta and Rico met Mr. Adam.

“Dad, here Siti Nurbaya. I found her for you.”

“What? Siti Nurbaya? what do you mean?” asked Shinta.

“Siti Nurbaya is a poor girl who marry with a rich old man.”

“Don’t compare me with Siti Nurbaya, Rico.”

Mr. Adam laughed toward their conversation. “You are seem so close. Rico, do you love her?” Asked Mr. Adam.

“But Shinta is for you.”

“Do you think I’m going to marry with Shinta? You always choose what you like, Rico. You’ll love her. Your father is old and may not to marry again. You will be married Shinta. You will have a children so I will not be lonely if I’m at home. I hope You can be a good man, Rico.” Rico and Shinta were very happy. Because Shinta also loved Rico. Finally, they married and Shinta became a doctor.

Cerpen Karangan: Khusnul Imamah

1.      There was a man who wanted to try committed suicide by injuring his hand (Simple Past Tense)

An Ember December

Weariness seemed to treat his spirited soul roughly as Agustin sat himself on the bench near the big mango tree before his campus one Monday afternoon. He had been sat there for about half an hour after his English Literature class. English Literature class was always confusing to him, but none of the words of that afternoon class had confused him the most except the text from his mother in the middle of the class that very afternoon. It was a usual text message of a mother missing his son so bad. Thinking of a way to be free from all of his mother text messages, Agustin dark brown eyes would gaze sharply to the sky as he puffed every little smoke off his mouth in a very static puffing, as if every smoke puffed was constructing a callout filled with a lot of filthy swears. Not a single puff of smoke went wasteful off of his mouth. It was really an unusual Agustin in a very usual afternoon.

Agustin Leonard was a busty college boy with a rather dark complexion. He was in his early 20 managing to grow his hair as long as the world permits. People would think he was a nerd by his glasses, but he was not. He seemed to be really popular because he could make friends easily to everyone. He was kind of a nerd, though, in some kind of things. None of his classmates in the campus could talk some cheap heavy metal or punk rock gossips in front of him without him being rather angry while forcefully involving himself into the conversation. He would also hate someone for mocking Martin Scorsese’s films without some excellent explanations. He was a nerd, an angry nerd.

The pain he felt every time he took a heavy breath seemed to grow massively in both of his lungs. Friends of him joked him by often calling him an iron-lunged man. That kind of a nickname was gained as he could be spending two or three packs of cigarettes every single day. He could even spend four when he was stressed by raging assignments in some particular occasions. That December seemed to be filled with none but assignments. The most confusing one was the English Literature assignment that forced him to analyse “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. Agustin did not like poetry because it was boring to him, he thought that all of them were meaningless words. But what was worse in that December was that it had been two months since Dr. Al told him in a medical or hospital protocol that Agustin had been infected with tuberculosis, and never in those two months could he even tell his parents.

Two Months Earlier.
A slight strike of shock punched him really hard in the middle of October, at the very moment the doctor told him that he got a notorious disease attacking his lungs. Still stunned in the doctor room, he scared that it was not the illness that worried him the most, but the fact that he should quit some of his favorite things and tell his parents that he got sick.

“What should I do, Doc? I’m scared.” said Agustin.
“You see, Agustin, long time ago tuberculosis meant hell. But, now, you still can have some fun even with some pain in your lungs, don’t you worry, Son” with his supposed-to-be-calm gesture, Dr. Al told Agustin.
“What do you mean, Doc? I thought I would die soon..” in his very little knowledge about tuberculosis, Agustin worried even bigger.

“Hahaha, I ain’t no God to tell you your demise, but one thing I know is that you will be handled just fine in my hand. Well, it’s no big deal worrying, Son. You see, Agustin, long time ago people with the TBC virus would be so helpless because the meds for that kind of disease had not yet been found. You would see people died of the TBC, and sometimes you would also see people suffered in some asylum or sanitarium struggling to fight the disease, and you know, a lot of them were failed to survive. But you and I live differently today, Son. We can do this and that easily, heal some sick, ease some pain. Everything’s so flexible today, Son, that is the reason you shouldn’t worry.”

“But, Doc, I can’t..” Dr. Al could feel some hesitations in the words Agustin said.
“You can’t what, Agustin? Tell me like I’m a fool.”
“I can’t stop all those things, Doc. I’m not ready.”
“Oh, come on, just spit it out, what do you mean?”
“I..I just love smoking, I can’t even imagine my life without smoking. It’s just so hard, I think.”
“Let me tell you, Son. Sometimes, it’s not what you do that you should change. It’s what you think.”

He took the prescription from Dr. Al, and went home with a loaded head. That night after the telling, he was thinking about all the possibilities that he should do to tell his parents about his illness, and to save every penny he spent for every pack of cigarettes, but poorly he was so scared if he could not make them. That night, with the head still loaded with a lot of confusing stuffs, he masturbated to sleep.

—

It took him a month until he finally realized to think of everything better for his life. A unique intention that forces people to change is usually becoming an inception of a better or worse doing when their life is at risk. It was in November that Agustin finally started to take the medicine Dr. Al suggested in the prescription. He also reduced his cigarettes into half-a-pack a day, but he could not start to tell his parents. Doing some exercises like running and swimming was also a new activity for him, those exercises were also meant to reduce his intense masturbating laps.

A month had passed, and surprisingly, Agustin had taken all the meds. It meant he should get another prescription from Dr. Al. Just this Monday morning before the English Literature class, Agustin went back to the hospital to meet Dr. Al. It was shocking for him to know from one of the nurses in the hospital that just a month ago, the exact same day he started to take the medicine, Dr. Al died of an accident. He was in his car while a truck hit him. He was staring into nowhere as the truck hit his car. It was his wedding anniversary, and he still had no children after six years of marriage. Many of the nurses knew that Dr. Al and his wife had been in a fight for a while because of that matter. It was depressing for Dr. Al and his wife.

Getting that kind of an information, Agustin went back to his campus wearily with a lot of destructive thoughts. In the English Literature class he could not even say anything, but shed some tears as he finally realized the beauty in Robert Frost’ “The Road Not Taken.” He shed his tears in the verse “I doubted if I should ever come back.” Until the end of the class, he could not stop thinking about that verse. It was shocking to know just when he started to get better, Dr. Al died instead. Just when he wanted to do better for his life after he got the TBC, the unbeatable fate just took Dr. Al, the hope-giver, easily. It was depressing for Leonard to remember what Dr. Al told him in the hospital two months ago. It seemed so contrast what Dr. Al told. Leonard thought that if he knew that Dr. Al had been depressed by that kind of matter, he would tell Dr. Al the opposite point of what Dr. Al told him. He would say to Dr. Al that it is not what he thinks that he should change, but what he does.

The cigarettes in the pack were only three left. He went directly to the bench near the big mango tree before the campus and sat there after the class. That December was an ember that was burning somewhere in Agustin’s heart and mind, crushing everything good in Agustin’s being. He could not even think of anything in that December afternoon. He was so depressed by the fact that life and death were just a blurry kind of thing. Should he come back to his old habit or not was still just a mystery, but at least Robert Frost had convinced him slightly. It was the last cigarette from the last pack of that afternoon that made him realize he could be dead anytime. He should change, and he would do that just now. With a convinced heart and mind, he reached his pocket for his cell phone and pick a number from his contact. There was one thing he should do before he finally changed himself into someone better, and that thing, he thought, was the most hopeful thing. Still gazing to the sky, he puffed another smoke and talked in a greasy voice to someone in the phone.

“I miss you, Mom.”

Slightly adapted from personal experience.

Cerpen Karangan: Gerald Leonardo Agustino

2.      Friends of him joked him by often calling him an iron-lunged men. (Simple Past Tense)

3.      He could even spend four when he was stressed by raging assigment in some particular occasions. (Simple Past Tense)

4.      “The road not taken” by robert frost. (Simple Present Tense)

5.      Leonard thought if he knew that Dr. Al had been depressed by that kind of matter. (Simple Past Tense)

6.      He was so depressed by the fact that life and and death were just a blurty kind of thing. (Simple Past Tense)

The Mysterious Guardian

Probably today is going to be a normal day. Like usual, Phoebe has find the seat in the corner of the 7C class. While waiting her friends to come, she has nothing to do except only sitting and waiting. She’s a quite person. Finally, the bell’s ringing. Phoebe and her friends are preparing their Mathematic books. They seem very unhappy. But, Ms. Wanda, the Science teacher come into the 7C and announce the class that Mr. Clay, the Math teacher can’t come because of his family event.

Everybody’s cheering happy, except Phoebe. The girls are telling gossips and some of them are playing hand phone. The boys are running and chasing each other. They’re just so forceful. How about Phoebe? Well, she’s still on her seat. She isn’t telling gossips or playing hand phone, she’s drawing by herself. Such a quiet person, isn’t she? Nobody notice Phoebe right now. But, that 12 years old girl just doesn’t care. She keeps drawing seriously. Because she’s sitting beside the wall, she can hear footsteps. Not like the usual footsteps, this one is different.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s just weird footsteps beside me. Oh, ya! I need color pencils right now..” murmured Phoebe.
“But I don’t have any..” she said. Feeling disappointed, Phoebe put her drawing in her bag.
“Wait, what is this?” and she found a pack of color pencils in her bag.
“But it’s not mine. Whose color pencils are this?” she asked herself. Of course, she won’t get the answer, so she’s coloring her drawing with the mysterious color pencils.

Until the break time, there are no teachers coming to the 7C class. Now the bell’s ringing. She’s going to the canteen, without friends. Nobody wants to go with a quiet and weird girl, and even Phoebe herself wants to be alone. When she’s walking to the canteen, there are two senior girls walking beside her. It’s not good, because their faces are threatening her. The other senior girls are walking behind Phoebe. They’re a bad gang.

“Weirdo Phoebe, where are you going?” ask the girl in the left and she’s blocking Phoebe’s way.
“I’m..I’m going to..to the.. canteen.” she answers.
“I don’t think so.,” said the girl in the right. She’s blocking Phoebe’s way too. While Phoebe’s shivering and cornered, Mr. Ally, the Civic teacher’s appearing.
“I’m sorry, seniors. What are you doing? What’s happening with the little one?” he asks.

The seniors can’t say a word. The biggest girl just saying, “We’re sorry, sir. We’re going to the canteen.” The gang is running away. The smallest from them is hitting Phoebe until she fell down. Mr. Ally’s helping Phoebe to get up. “You’re okay?” ask the teacher. Phoebe’s just nodding. With a fake smile, she said “Excuse me, sir. Thank you.” and run to the canteen. “Well, usually nobody helps me in a situation like that.” Phoebe murmured.

She’s trying to forget that incident. Phoebe’s going to buy fried rice, but when she put her hands into her pocket, there is no money! She’s freaking out. It’s real, there’s no money! So, Phoebe just gets out from the canteen. No foods for today. She’s guessing that her money’s fall when the big girl hit her. But, suddenly, someone is calling her. “Phoebe! Where are you going?” It’s a sound from the canteen, so she’s going again inside the canteen.
“There you are Phoebe!” Jolie, Phoebe’s classmate is walking to her.
“Where are you going?” Jolie ask again.
“The class.,” answer Phoebe.

“Why? You haven’t eaten your food.” said Jolie. Phoebe starts to cry.
“I lost my money..” she answers with tears falling down.
“I see. Good news, Phoebe. I bring too much fried rice today. It’s enough for two people.” Jolie’s smiling.
“Maybe I can share with you.” Phoebe starts to smile.
“Thank God!” she said in her heart.
“Thanks a lot, Jolie.” said Phoebe. Now, she and Jolie are eating together.
“Another miracle!” thinks Phoebe.

When the two girls want to go back to the class, Phoebe’s singing without realizing that. “All my life, you stood by me. With no one else, was ever behind me. All this lights, they can’t blind me. With your love, nobody can Drag Me Down!” Phoebe’s singing. Jolie, who never heard Phoebe’s singing voice before looks shocked.
“Phoebe! That voice! You’re singing!” said Jolie, staring at Phoebe.
“Really? I don’t realize it, I swear.” said Phoebe.
“Wow..” Jolie’s still amazed.

Few days left, Jolie spread the fact of Phoebe’s voice to the whole class. Some of them didn’t believe it, but recently, they heard it. The voice of Phoebe. Finally, the class knows that Phoebe’s voice is amazing. Phoebe’s just feeling more confident to sing and sing every time. She feels like it’s an another miracle. “What happen actually? Why strange things are happening to me?” thinks Phoebe.

The next day is the same as yesterday. So much good, but unusual things happening to Phoebe. Now, the 7C students want to be close with her. Phoebe even doesn’t know what’s different from her that makes the class want to be her new close friend. She’s just feeling that nothing can stop her to be happy and believing herself. Even she’s happy, she saw something weird. She saw a senior, tall, and mysterious boy that always following her steps. When a miracle happens, that boy’s winking his eye and smiling for Phoebe. “Who’s him? It’s out from normal.” Said Phoebe inside her heart.

It’s been a month since miracles happened. Phoebe hasn’t got the answers yet. Now, Phoebe’s walking to the class in the morning. She found a gang of senior students are talking seriously. “What? The talent show?”
“When?”
“Yes, Talent Show. I’m not sure when, but every class should have something to perform when the time’s come.” that’s all Phoebe can hear when she’s walking beside them.

Right before she’s walking in to the class, the mysterious boy that smiled at her is walking to her, and he whispered “You’re in!” and he’s going away. Still confuse, Phoebe’s calling that boy again. “I’m sorry? What did you say?” But the boy doesn’t answer it. He’s just walking away. From that time, Phoebe can’t forget that whisper. It stuck in her head. She feels like there’s a meaning behind that whisper. But, never mind. Phoebe also wonder who’ll perform when the Talent Show come. She can’t wait anymore.

—

Today is the Talent Show! The day we’re all waiting for. Today, no studying and the students can go home at eleven a.m. What a perfect day. Phoebe wears long blue with white lace T-shirt, old jeans from her mom, and white snickers. She’s letting her long wavy black hair without any hair accessories. She’s a very simple girl, and also pretty, of course. She’s going to the audience’s chair and picks a seat on the second row. While waiting her friends to come, she wears her earphones and listens to songs. Quietly, she’s singing. Later, she turns up her volume of her voice. Now, everybody could hear Phoebe’s amazing voice. 10 minutes later, her friends already come. The show will start in 10 minutes. She can’t wait who will perform up there deputize her class. But, somebody is pulling Phoebe’s hand out of the seat and taking her to the backstage.

“Jeremy! What are you doing?! You almost make me fall down!” said Phoebe mad.
“I’m very sorry, Phoebe. I told the head of this show that..that you will perform for our class. I forgot to tell you.” Said Jeremy, the leader of 7C.
“I won’t perform up there! I just can’t! You must choose the other, who has the better talent, probably.” said Phoebe.
“No. For me, you have a best talent. Come on, for our class, Phoebe. Sing for us. Please?” ask Jeremy with smile.
“I..” Phoebe hasn’t finish. Later, a senior who leads the show is telling that no people can stand in backstage, except the Talent Show participants.
“Good luck, Bye!” that’s the last words from Jeremy. Phoebe has no idea what to do. Her brain’s freezing, it won’t work. So, she’s sitting with tears falling down. But, someone pat Phoebe’s shoulder from the back. Phoebe turns her head, and she can’t believe her eyes. It’s the boy who always following her steps and whispering “You’re in!”

“Don’t worry, now.” said the boy.
“You’re the mysterious boy! Tell me, who are you?” ask Phoebe. She wipes her tears.
“My name is Max. Max Griffo. I’m from 9C.” answer the boy with smile. A very cute smile.
“I still don’t know who you are. What are you doing here? What do you want?” Phoebe keeps asking questions until Max stops her.
“I’ll explain everything.” said Max.

“Remember when you found a pack of color pencils in your bag?”
“Yeah, how do you know that?” ask Phoebe back. She’s still curious.
“How about Mr. Ally who saved you from the senior gang who cornered you?” ask Max. Phoebe just nodding.
“Hmm, how about when Jolie gave you fried rice when you lost your money? And when you were very confident to sing every time? Your friends know your talent, right?” Ask Max. “Of course. Just tell me how you know all of that?” ask Phoebe back.

“Because, I am your Mysterious Guardian.” Answer Max simply.
“You’re my what?” ask Phoebe. She doesn’t get it.
“I’m your Guardian. I made your entire miracle. I always keep an eye of you. I’m the one who keeps you save.” answer Max with smile.
“Oh, it’s you. Okay. How can I trust you?” ask Phoebe. “You want prove? Follow me!” said Max walking to the quiet place behind the stage. Phoebe’s following him.
“I need to fix your clothes. You can’t sing with that, you know..” said Max while he’s looking to Phoebe’s clothes.
“Then fix it for me, please!” said Phoebe smiling.
“Sure.,” said Max.

From his hands, appear little yellow stars and dazzled lights. From that stars and lights, he makes a simple blue dress with a little pink bow in the middle. Max’s holding the dress and gives it to Phoebe. That girl can’t say a word. She opens her mouth and can’t believe her eyes. “W-what have you done?” ask Phoebe, still feeling amazed.
“I just made a dress for you.” Max giggling.
“Now change your clothes, quick!” said Max. Phoebe’s holding her dress and running to the toilet.
When she comes back, Max’s smiling at her. He’s changing Phoebe’s snickers to beautiful silver shoes. He also makes a pink hairband for Phoebe. “Good. You’re ready to go!” said Max happy.

Phoebe’s getting ready at the backstage. Now, the student from 7B is performing, while Phoebe’s from 7C. Actually, she had to be ready, but Phoebe’s feeling nervous. “Let me see. Your dress is perfect, you have silver shoes, your hair is complete with a hairband, what else?” ask Max.
“No, nothing. It just, I’m scared. What if they don’t like me? What if they mocked me out there?” Phoebe’s scared.
“They won’t. Trust me. You’re pretty, you have beautiful voice, and you’re nice. Phoebe, just believe in you!” scolds Max.

“Oh, no. People are clapping. The 7B student has done! Max, help me!” Phoebe’s getting panic.
“Calm down! You’ll be awesome out there. Show yourself.” Said Max.
“Oh, I forgot. Come here, Phoebe. I forgot something.” Add Max. Phoebe’s coming near to Max and he’s kissing Phoebe’s forehead!
“That’s for your luck.” Said Max softly. Phoebe can’t say a word. Her cheeks are getting red. Now, she’s coming to the stage.

Phoebe introduce herself while Max is back there, making sure that everything’s normal. The song’s come out. That girl with blue dress suddenly feels very confident. She’s singing with relax now. The audiences are very amazed of the pretty girl in front of them. “One Last Time, I need to be the one who takes you home..” sings Phoebe in the end of the song. The audience immediately cheering, clapping very hard, and standing. The 7C students are very proud for their pretty classmate.

Phoebe’s running to Max and she hugs him tightly. “Thank you, Max! I’m serious, these claps are for you. If I win, the trophy is for you. I’m here because of you. Thanks a lot! What can I do for you?” said Phoebe with happy tears.
“You’re welcome. You’re very kind, but I don’t want to.” Answers Max wisely. Phoebe releases her hug and staring at Max’s eyes.
“I don’t care if I win or not. All I care is you now.” Said Phoebe with big smile.
“Thanks, Phoebe. Well, I’m your guardian, remember? All I care is you too.” answers Max.

Now, things have changed. Phoebe has lots of friends and her days are full with happiness. Even Max. People guess that both of them are dating or something. Actually, they’re not. They’re just like best friends, who care of each other and being there when the other needs help.

Cerpen Karangan: Ni Putu Vania Nirwasita

7.      She isn’t telling gossips or playing handphone, she’s drawing by her self. (Simple Present Tense)

The Kind Old Woodsman

One sunny day in the huge kingdom of Murdock, a humble woodsman was walking around town with his son. The old woodsman plans on surprising his 20 year old son, but he has nothing planned since he only had enough money for a loaf of bread and a bucket of water. “What do you have in plan, Father?” His son, Clement, asked him. “Is it good?”

His father stayed quiet, but he replies with a small nod, and he also felt quite guilty for lying to his son. It was the same day that the charming princess Vienna was paying the kingdom a visit in her decorated white carriage. Suddenly, the woodsman had an idea, he asked his son to wait home till he gets back for the surprise, and Clement obeyed. The princess was only 18 years old, and he wanted the princess to marry Clement.

The woodsman ran to the palace as fast as he can, and he begged for the guards to let him enter to see the royal family. The kingdom was ruled by a wise king and queen who loved their daughter more than anything. The woodsman explained his situation to the king and queen and they understood, but they still don’t know if they will let their only daughter marry a peasant. The woodsman explained to them his son, and secretly, the princess heard all about that, she ran back to her room while her parent were still talking to the woodsman. Liza, her chamber maid heard all about that too, Liza was very jealous of the princess and wanted the perfect princess to suffer for all the unnecessary orders she gave to Liza.

After a while, the chamber maid gossiped to all the royal staff about the marriage even if it’s not decided yet. The king and queen became angry and asked all the staff, they all pointed to the chamber maid and she blamed the woodsman. The woodsman was really shocked, he was very kind and would never do such a thing like this. The woodsman did not do it and he wanted to tell them. Out of nowhere, the princess came out of one of the grand curtains she was hiding in. She saw Liza spread the gossip to the whole royal staff and even some of the kingdom.

She believed the woodsman and she agreed to marry his son, cause he would never lie, she can see it in his face. The king and queen were happy to have yet another family member, and a kind old woodsman. Liza was put in prison for what she had done, and after a week after the wedding, the princess was expecting a child.

THE END

Cerpen Karangan: Euginia

8.      The kingdom was ruled by a wide king and queen who loved their daughter more than anything. (Simple Past Tense)