“Mom, this money is the result of all my hard work. And I need to use it now,” Anastasya told her mother.
Then she slammed the piggy bank onto the floor, shattering it. Anastasya picked up the pieces and gathered the money she had been saving inside it all this time.
After counting it, she found she had around a million rupiah. To her, that was a lot, because Anastasya had saved it with her own sweat and hard work. Then she gave some of her savings to her mother.
“Mom, here’s 700 for you. And 300 for me,” Anastasya said, handing her mother some money. Even though she couldn't read or write, Anastasya was extremely skilled at counting money and couldn't be fooled when it came to cash.
“But, Sweetheart. Is that enough for you?” Murni asked pitifully.
“It’ll definitely be enough, Mom,” Anastasya replied.
Murni gripped the money Anastasya had given her tightly as tears streamed down her face. She never expected Anastasya to break open her piggy bank and hand the money over to her.
After all, Anastasya had been saving for quite some time, while she also provided the household's daily spending money. And even though the money was nowhere near enough, Murni was incredibly happy to have Anastasya.
Her mother was deeply moved. She realized there was little else she could do.
Only her two children kept her going through every hardship life threw at her.
“Mom, Sis Tasya, Bianka’s home,” Bianka said as she returned from school, greeting her mother and older sister.
“Oh, my little sister’s home,” Anastasya replied.
Then Bianka noticed the object that looked like a piggy bank lying shattered on the floor. She knew it belonged to her older sister, and it left her confused.
“Huh, Sis? Why’d you open your piggy bank?” Bianka asked in surprise.
“Yeah, kiddo. I’m leaving for Mr. Abraham Selamet’s house in two days,” Anastasya told her younger sister.
“What are you going there for, Sis?” Bianka asked.
“I’m going to work there. So I had to open my piggy bank to pay for the trip. And Mom can use the rest for groceries over the next few days,” Tasya said.
Their mother couldn't say a word. She could only hold back the tears in her chest.
“You’re really going to that rich man’s house?” Bianka asked, as if she still couldn't bear to be separated from her sister.
“Yeah, kiddo. They have a job opening there. And right now, they need a lot of female workers,” Anastasya said.
“Then let Bianka come too,” Bianka pleaded.
“No, kiddo. You have to stay in school. Besides, you're not old enough. They require applicants to be at least nineteen. Anyone younger won't be accepted,” Anastasya told Bianka.
“Oh, I see, Sis,” Bianka said.
“Yeah, kiddo. And if you worked with me too, who would stay with Mom?” Anastasya asked, feeling sorry for their mother as well.
After hearing Anastasya's explanation, Bianka began to understand her sister's wish. She also realized she couldn't simply leave their mother, who needed her, all by herself.
“Oh, okay then. Bianka will stay with Mom,” Bianka said, as if she didn't want to leave her mother alone at home.
“But if you get the job there, you won't come home anymore, right? Because you'll have to sleep at that rich man's house. You'll have a good life there, unlike here,” Bianka said, growing sad.
Seeing her younger sister's face fall, Anastasya immediately hugged her.
“Kiddo, honestly, I don't want to go there either. But the salary is pretty good, so I can't throw away this opportunity. And who knows? If I work there, maybe I can buy you a bicycle, kiddo. Didn't you want one?” Anastasya asked her younger sister.
“Yes, Sis. Bianka really wants a bicycle. Then I can take Mom out for rides,” Bianka said.
“Well, then don't be sad. You have to keep smiling and stay with Mom at home. When I have some free time, I'll come visit you and Mom at home, okay?” Anastasya said, still hugging her younger sister.
“Okay, Sis,” Bianka replied.
Bianka didn't want to be far from her sister. All this time, her older sister had been the person she confided in, but now Bianka had to prepare to part with her.
“Sis, you promise you'll come home again, right?” Bianka asked.
“Yeah, kiddo,” Anastasya said.
Once again, Murni was left feeling sad and moved as she watched her two children. If Anastasya was no longer at home, it felt as though the house would become lonely too.