Candy
The translation of Agus Noor’s Indonesian short story “Permen” by Tjahaja.
Seeing Iza’s pouting mouth, Neal knew that her son was still upset because he wasn’t allowed to buy the candy he had seen being sold at the crossroads earlier that afternoon. It’s not that Neal didn’t allow Iza to eat candy. Kids like candy; that’s normal. Neal, when she was a kid, loved candy too. Neal would never forget: in the living room, where dad, mom, and her siblings usually gathered to watch television, there was always a box of candy. Candy in colorful wrappers. Like the fairy’s tiny pillows. Toffee, fudge, and lollipops, as well as chocolate and caramel candy, melted softly on her tongue. “Candy will always remind you that life is sweet and worth enjoying,” her mom said. “Therefore, you should be grateful when life gives you a sweet, colorful, and pleasant fate, like candy.”
Ah, candy. Fairy’s colorful little pillows. Neal would never forget that childhood tale. When life on earth was still young, the fairies who always flew like dragonflies were merrily picking the sap-soft fruit seeds that hung on the mastic and spruce trees—a type of rubber and fir—that towered to touch the soft light. Throughout the merry day, as the tiny fairies plucked the seeds of ripe, sweet fruits, the shimmering forest became full of song. And at night, when the little fairies were exhausted and…
