Story telling - Timun Emas

Long time ago, lived an old women named MbokSirni. She lived by herself because her husband had long passed away and she had no children. She fill lonely no husband, no child, no friend. Every day, she prayed so God would give her a child. One night, when she was praying, a giant passed her house and heard her pray. “I can give you a child on one condition,” the giant said to MbokSirni, “You must give the child back to me when it is six years old.” MbokSirni was so happy; she did not think about the risk of losing the child later and agreed to take the giant’s offer. The giant then gave her a bunch of cucumber seeds. “Plant it around your house.” The giant then left without saying anything else. In the morning, MbokSirni planted the seeds. The seeds grew within mere days, and blossomed plentifully. Not longer after that, a big golden cucumber grew from plants. Carefully, MbokSirni plucked the golden cucumber and carried it home. With caution and care, she sliced the cucumber. She was very surprised to see a beautiful baby girl inside the cucumber. She then named the baby TimunEmas (it means Golden Cucumber).

Years passed by and TimunEmas has grew to become a lovely and beautiful little girl. She was also smart and kind. MbokSirni loved her very much. But she kept thinking about the time the giant would take TimunEmas away from her. One night, MbokSirni had a dream. In order to save TimunEmas from the giant, she had to meet the holy man who lived in Mount Gundul. The next morning, MbokSirni took leave of TimunEmas to go to Mount Gundul. The holy man then gave her four little bags, each one containing cucumber seeds, needles, salt, and shrimp paste. “TimunEmas can use these to protect herself,” said the holy man to MbokSirni.

A few days later, the giant came to see MbokSirni about her promise. “MbokSirni! Where is TimunEmas?” shouted the giant. Mbok Sirni was very surprised Then she said to Timun Emas “My daughter, take these bag with you. It can save you from the giant. Now, run through the back door,” said MbokSirni. But the giant saw TimunEmas running to the woods. The giant was angry, Starved and tried to cathed Timun Emas. Unfortonatelly, Mbok Sirni can not stop him.

The giant was getting closer and closer, so TimunEmas opened the first bag she got from MbokSirni. Inside the bag were cucumber seeds. She threw the seeds, and instantly they grew into large cucumber field. But the giant ate them all, giving him more strength. As the giant was getting close, TimunEmas took the second bag with needles inside and spilled the content behind her. The needles turned into bamboo trees, sharp and thorny. The giant’s body was scratched and bled. “Aaargh, I’ll get you, TimunEmas!” shouted the giant as he tried , Out from the bamboo field and still chasing TimunEmas.

TimunEmas then reached the third bag and spilled the salt inside. The ground which the salt touched turned into a deep sea. After some time, he managed to get out from the water. TimunEmas saw the giant coming. She took the shrimp paste and threw it. The shrimp paste became a big swamp of boiling mud. The giant was trapped in the middle of the swamp. The mud slowly but surely drowned him. Helpless, he roared out, “Help! Heeeeelp…!” Then the giant drown and died. Timun Mas then immediately went home. Since then, TimunEmas and MbokSirni live happily ever after.***