He is the oldest in a family of ten children. A privileged position: he is the substitute for their parents. The younger children have to show him respect. Ab has noticed that this is much more important in the Indo-European culture than among his Dutch friends. Indo-Europeans or "Indos" have Dutch ancestors who, in some cases, have lived in the Dutch East Indies for generations. Ab's family are Dutch nationals, speak Dutch and attend Dutch schools. Ab himself was born and bred on Java. Through the centuries this main island of the Indian or Malay Archipelago became a melting pot of all sorts of nationalities, races and religions. In Semarang, where the family lives, all these different cultures lived in relative peace next to and with each other. World War II puts an end to this. During the Japanese occupation, Ab realises that he cannot fulfil his responsibility as the oldest child in the family.  The fact is, he is handicapped.
Word has it that a Javanese baboe (female servant) dropped him just after he was born. She was carrying him in a slendang (sling) on her belly and sitting in a rocking chair rocking him to sleep. But she herself fell asleep and the baby rolled out of the sling and onto the floor. Because of the injuries he sustained, Ab will be a spastic for the rest of his life. He has great difficulty walking and talking. This means that he needs extra care and attention. Ab finds this very difficult to accept. Especially in these tense times. Like other boys of his age he would rather have joined the army and become a soldier. Then he could have at least done something. Because of his handicap he is not forced to do hard labour for the Japanese, unlike all his younger brothers. Ab sees them come home every day dead tired and sometimes ill because of the heavy work. He feels powerless.Ab spends most of his time during the war years in and around the house. On the street he might be beaten by the Japanese soldiers if, with his lame body, he is too slow in bowing to them. Mammie is constantly by his side. Every day Pappie comes home late from his work. The Japanese occupiers have put all men aged eighteen and older into camps. But Pappie is the stationmaster at Semarang station.  (Station Tawang in Semarang) The Japanese make him stay on to arrange the transportation of goods by rail. To refuse would be pointless. He would be shot dead on the spot. The days and months go by. Ab longs for the war to end. But when that moment appears to have come, peace is still a long way away. The bersiap begins, the Indonesian struggle for independence… |
