Children's Literature: Indonesian Folklore "The Golden Cucumber"

Once upon a time, there lived an old widow. She did not have children. Her named Mbok Sarni. One afternoon, Mbok Sarni want to gather fire wood in forest. In half way, Mbok Sarni meet with Giant. The Giant said “Hey.... you can’t allow, before you give me child for my lunch”. Mbok Sarni said, “ but i don’t have child Giant”. Finally, Giant give cucumber seeds  “Hey... i will give you child, spread and planted this cucumber seeds in your backyard, but promise the child must handed to me after the age six years”.

Two week later, in backyard Mbok Sarni’s house fruitful of  the cucumbers. There is one the biggest and large cucumber. Mbok sarni try to picked it up and excited when open the cucumber  “Oh... My God, amazing there is beautiful baby”. From that Mbok Sarni give named the baby  “Golden Cucumber”. Day by day Golden Cucumber growing big. At this time her age was six years. She is very beautiful, she also very kind and always help Mbok Sarni doing all work be completed quickly.

  

Giant come back to collect promise to Mbok Sarni. “Hey... where is my meal?” said Giant. Mbok Sarni didn’t wish to give Golden Cucumber to Giant. Mbok sarni was hidden Golden Cucumber. Then Mbok Sarni looking for strategy, Mbok Sarni went to the mount for meet the Hermit in Cave (gua). The Hermit (petapa) gave seed cucumbers, needle, salt and shrimp paste (terasi), “these will help your child”.

Then Mbok Sarni gave four small bag to Golden Cucumber “my child, take these bag to help you from the Giant”. A few days later, in afternoon the Giant come back again to Mbok Sarni’s house. “Hey... where is my meal, i’m so hungry give the child to me” shout Giant. Mbok Sarni commanded Golden Cucumber to run away and go to the forest and bring the bag from Hermit. “Hey... Giant, i am here catch me if you can haha” said Golden Cucumber. 

The Giant was chasing Golden Cucumber. Golden Cucumber was running fast but Giant was getting closer and closer. Golden Cucumber is very smart, she arranged the srtategy. Golden Cucumber took something from her little bag. First ways she was throwing seeds cucumber, miraculously the forest became dense feld of cucumbers. The Giant was very tired and hungry so he ate  fresh cucumbers. He ate too much that he felt sleepy and fell asleep soon.

The Giant had woke up, and try to chase again. Golden Cucumber kept on running as fast as she could. The second ways she was throwing the needles. Suddenly the land in forest changed growing high and sharp bamboo trees. “Aarghhh... i’ll get you” said the Giant felt pain (kesakitan) because the feet step on the bamboo but still trying to chased her.

Third ways Golden Cucumber throwing salt, Suddenly the forest changed into the ocean, but the sea easily passed the Giant. And the last ways Golden Cucumber take out the shrimp paste (terasi) and throw it. Suddenly the forest formed became boiling sea of mud, and Giant spalsh in the mud, Giant eventually die.

Finally “ O....thanks my God Almighty because i was saved from the Giant”  said her. Finally, The Golden Cucumber come back again to the house and live peacefully (tentram) with her mother.