Mika’s school is going to celebrate Kartini Day this coming Friday. For those of you who is not familiar with it, Kartini was an Indonesian noble lady who voiced her concern about the same education opportunity between man and woman. Back in the Dutch time in Indonesia, only rich and blue blooded noble Indonesian family who can send their children to school. And usually they will prioritized to send boys instead of girls as girls were seen to have more domestic function later on anyway and therefore, no need to get educated. To have vision like Kartini on those days were exceptional. Nevertheless, she was also unable to fight the tradition and end up marrying a much older guy. However, her thought are still captured and it showed that she was such a special woman for her time.

Funnily, Kartini Day usually was celebrated with things that have nothing to do with her valuable vision. For example, Mika’s school is going to conduct a Javanese traditional dress festival just because Kartini was a Javanese woman. I have a lot to say about it but I will save it for another post. Meanwhile, being an enthused (ambitious?) mother, I prepared Mika to join the festive. It started with looking for costume to rent.

Needless to say, finding the costume that would fit Mika’s err..bulky body (and pot belly) was quite a challenge. The rental lady had to open so many beskap (Javanese man traditional dress) before finding one that could cover his belly. Next challenge is to keep him wearing it as after 5 minutes he already complained that it itched. I made a mental note to find him some sort of cotton bicycle pant so his tender skin would not have to rub the fabric directly. The beskap it self was quite nice. It was bright blue and it was not too thick. It was made of silk and quite easy to buttoned. The saroong however, was rich and fully embroidered by gold material. It was a bit tight on Mika’s wide hip. That’s what made him itch all over.

After I put on the second layer of stagen (sort of very long belt) Mika started to complain again that he felt tired already of standing all the time. He wanted to sit. Aya! I started to feel a bit desperate with the whole thing. To boost his spirit (and mine) I informed him that the costume will come with a real sword (keris to be precised but he would not know what keris is -since neither Power Rangers nor Kamen Ryder used keris- so sword it is). Probably this was a mistake as by the time I said that his eyes glittering with malice and he demanded to see the sword. Since it was real keris I handed it to him cautiously, I could feel hubby looked at me critically but it was too late. I warned Mika not to open it and I also made mental note to seal it with cellotape. Mika laughed a bit estatically and started to swing it. Help came from hubby who firmly told him not to do that. Fortunately he obeyed. I told him again that it should be open only to attack bad guys. This was most probably my second mistake as he then looking for bad guy. Oops! I could feel hubby’s look burnt a hole at the back of my skull. What was I thinking! This little warrior did not need such encouragement! I could feel his excitement in searching for bad guys growing intensely and I started to feel really worry. I begun to get vivid imagination of being called to the principal office due to some ‘innocent’ stabbing and kindergarten blood bath.

OK probably I had active imagination but why taking chances? As we go through the layer of costume, I carefully told him that there will be no bad guys at school. There will only be teachers and friends therefore there is no need to swing it. But I guess it’s a bit too late as he kept on asking, “But what if there are bad guy attacking me?” I told him that’s impossible but I could see that he made up his mind already. It’s time to put my foot on the ground. I told him that if he even try to unsheath it, the teacher will confiscate it. His eyes went as big as plate and he protested, “But what if the bad guy attack when the teachers were not looking? I will need something to protect me for sure!” I remained him again about not talking to stranger and he challenged me again, “I was not talking about talking, I mean this bad guy will just jump and attack me! He will not even bother to speak to me! Without my sword, what will do?!” He was on the verge of hysteria and I could see hubby rolling his eyes up.

Nevermind, I will just make sure that it is sealed. I certainly hope his kindergarten has metal detector.