Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih

Orientation:
A long time ago, in a nice, quiet village, there lived a wealthy merchant,
he lived there together with his daughter who wa named Bawang Putih. This
merchant’s wife had long since passed away. The merchant was very fond of his
daughter. Because was obedient and kin-hearted.
Complications:
One day, as he came home from travelling, he brought a woman and her
daughter along with him. He wanted to marry this woman. So, Bawang Putih
now had a stepmother and a stepsister who is named Bawang Merah. When her
father went to trade, her stepmother and Bawang Merah would treat Bawang
Putih like a servant. Bawang Putih did all the work that was ordered by her
stepmother. She cleaned the house, cooked, washed clothes, and looked for
firewood.
If Bawang Putih’s work went wrong, her stepmother would punish her by
not feeding her. Every morning, her stepmother and Bawang Merah took turns
shouting, “Hey Bawang Putih, wash my clothes!”. Not yet finished washing
clothes, Bawang Putih would than be called by her stepmother. “Bawang Putih,
prepare breakfast now! We are hungry” “Oh... Okay, mom”. Because bawang
Putih worked so hard and was punished so harshly, her body became thinner.
One day, Bawang Putih’s father returned home and fell ill. He was very
ill and Bawang Putih was very sad because of it. She never left her father alone.
However, God decided differently. Bawang Putih’s father died. “ Father... Don’t
leave Bawang Putih... Father...” While Bawang Putih wept and cried, her
stepmother and Bawang Merah were excited. Because the property and house of
Bawang Putih’s father now belonged to them. “Look Bawang Merah, he finally
died” “Yes, Mom we eill be rich” Bawang Putih’s life was miserable after her
father died. She no longer had her father to loved and comforted her. Her
stepmother and Bawang Merah further tortured her. Bawang Putih tried to be
pantient, nut sometimes the would cyr at night. “Lord, please help me. Why are
they always evil to me?”
One day, Bawang Putih went to the river to wash clothes. She was sleepy
and hungry and her body was weak. While washing, Bawang Putih didn’t
realise that her stepmother’s favorite shawl had washed away. When she put all
the clothes back into the basket, she was surprised to find her stepmother’s scarf
was not there.”Mother’s favorite scarf is gone... Oh no! It’s drifting down the
river... What should I do? I daren’t go home. Mother will scold me” Finally,
Bawang Putih decided to go back down to the river to look for her stepmother’s
scarf. In the middle of the road, she met a farmer who was washing his cow.
“Uncle, did you see a red scarf floating down the river?” The farmer nodded
and replied, “ Red shawl? Hmm oh yes I saw it. The saw was taken by an old
grandmother who was washing her clothes by the river. The old grandmother’s
house is on the mountain.
Bawang Putih immediatley headed up the mountain. There, she found a
wooden house. Bawang Putih knocked on the door of the house, “Excuse me,
Grandma, did you find my mother’s red scarf?” The old grandmother came out
of the house and greeted Bawang Putih. “Hi dear, let’s go in. What’s your
name?” “My name is Bawang Putih, Grandma” The old grandmother would
give the red scarf back with one condition, Bawang Putih must help her first.
Bawang Putih agreed. All day, She helped the grandmother cook, looked
firewoof, cleaned the house and washed clothes. For Bawang Putih, all this
work was easy, because she was used to doing it. Finally, it was time for
Bawang Putih to leave for home.
The grandma gave her shawl. “Bawang Putih, this is the scarf you are
looking for. Oh, I want to give you a gift. A pumpkin for you, because you
helped me. Choose which one you like” One the table, were both small and
large pumpkins. Bawang Putih chose a small pumpkin, because she also had to
carry a basket full of clothes home. “Hm, I choose the small one, Grandma”
“Okay, take this little pumpkin. But remember, you can’t open this pumpkin
until you get home. Understand?” “Well Grandma, I will do everything you said”
Arriving at home, Bawang Putih was scolded by her stepmother and Bawang
Merah. “Where have you been Bawang Putih? How dare you go out without my
permission?” “Forgive me, mother! I... I was...” “Stop enough Bawang Putih!
We don’t need your excuses!”
They continued to beat her. Then they saw the pumpkin brought by
Bawang Putih. “Cut the pumpkin and cook it! We are starving because of you!”
Bawang Putih took a knife and split the pumpkin. What a surprise, the pumpkin
was full of sparkling and expensive jewellry.”Hah, where did you get the
pumpkin?” Bawang Putih then told them everything. “Oh...Bawang Putih, you
should have chosen a large pumpkin! It would have had more jewellery!”
Hearing the words of Bawang Merah, the stepmother finally got the idea.
“Looks like I have an idea. Ha Ha Ha” The next day, the stepmother and
Bawang Merah went to the river. They deliberately washed away the red scarf.
Then secretly, they followed the veil as it was washed away. Sure enough, the
red scarf was picked yp by the old garndmother. The stepmother and Bawang
Merah followed the old grandmother who went up the mountain. As they walk,
Bawang Merah complained about how far it was. “Ahh, I’m tired. Let’s just go
home” “Bawang Merah, be patient! Soon we will get even more jewellery then
Bawang Putih” “But I’m tired, mom” “I said be patient!” Arriving at the old
grandmother’s house, the stepmother and Bawang Merah knocked on the door.
The old grandmother welcomed them warmly. The the stepmother and Bawang
Merah pretended to be sad and asked about the red scarf. “Dear grandmother,
did you find my mother’s red scarf?” “Oh yes, it just so happens that Grandma
found it on the river”
Just like with Bawang Putih, the grandmother would give them the shawl,
if they helped her. The only way to get the pumpkin was to work to help the old
grandma, but they still couln’t stop complaining. “I’m so tired, if it weren’t for
the pumpkin, I wouldn’t do this” “Yes, I’m also tired. Hopefully, there will be
even more jewellery inside this pumpkin. Ha Ha Ha” Finally, Bawang Merah
and the stepmother finished their work at the old grandmother’s house and said
goodbye. The old grandmother gave the shawl to Bawang Merah and her
mother. On the table, there were two pumpkin’s, one large and one small.
“Choose one pumpkin, as a gift from me” And of course, the stepmother and
Bawang Merah chose the largest pumpkin. “Of course, I choose the big one
grandma” “ Yeah, choose the big one. Remember, don’t open the pumpkin,
before you get home” “Yes Grandma, that’s for sure. We will go home first
Grandma” Bawang Merah and her mother, did not obey the advice of the
grandmother. On the way, the stepmother split the big pumpkin. They were
impatient to get their hands on the jewellery inside. “Mom, let’s just open this
pumpkin now, that old grandmother will not now” “Yeah, let’s open it. I’m also
curious”
However, they were in for quiet a surprise. Because inside the pumpkin
were venomous animals, such as snakes, scorpions, spiders and centipedes.
They were both bitten by a snake. “Oh, what is this?” “Where is the jewellery?
Why did it have these animals inside? Ihhh.. Aw! Aw! It’s hurt! Aw! Ouch!”
“Mom...Ouch...Aw...What should we do Mom? I also got bitten”
Resolution:
Because they were still in the middle of the forest, no one came to help
them. The stepmother and Bawang Merah died from the snakebite. Their greed
brought them to disaster. Meanwhile, Bawang Putih lived happily ever after.
The jewellery given by the old grandmother making her rich. She continued her
father’s business and enjoyed the fruits of her obedience and kindness.