My name is Zayn, I’m sitting in grade XI at one of Vocational
School in East Jakarta, my hobby is listening to music, like a poet who can not
live without writing, I can’t live without music. I had a friend, she is Rachel.
Rachel is someone who cares for the environment.
The bell rang to go home, Rachel and I scrambled out of the
classroom. On the way after school, suddenly Rachel saw a cigarette that was
still alight, without much talk, Rachel came over, picked up the cigarette, and
tried to put it out.
“What are
you doing?” I asked her.
“it is, oh
God so hard to put this out” rachel said and still trying to put out the
cigarette in her hand.
“Put what
out?” I wondered.
“I’m trying
to put out this cigarette, what an idiot so irresponsible..!!! Why did he waste
a cigarette carelessly? As the fire may be the fire starts? We are also
bothered right? It’s close to our school, right Zayn??” Rachel grumbled and
trying to justify it to me.
“ I know
that, but are you crazy Rachel?? It is just a little cigarette, look around..!!
Everyone is looking at you with a strange look! Look at it..!!!” I said and
looked at her for sure.
“ I don’t
care.! They don’t know its dangerous, I know it’s just a little cigarette, but
it is very dangerous.! You have to know it..!!!” said Rachel is getting
annoyed.
That is Rachel, a girl with long
hair who cares so much about the environment. Rachel and I have different views
in matters of environment and hygiene. I am the boy who didn’t care about the
environment, especially the problem of hygiene, to dispose of any trash I’m
lazy about throw the garbage in the right place, even though it was there, but
it’s too difficult to do it. I don’t know why..!!!
One day, she was really furious at
me. Because I love littering.
That afternoon the weather was
sunny, and we had an appointment for buying a gift for Rachel’s friend. The
clock was showing 4.15 PM, and Rachel and I were eating a snack. After I
finished it, of course I did what I always do. Yup.!! None other than littering
it.
“Aww..!!!”
cried I, holding my shoulder that hurt badly. That blow landed right on my left
shoulder.
“What’s
wrong??” I said irritably.
“Hey bad
boy!! It is a public path, it’s not your father’s path, look..!!! There is a
rubbish box right? Put your rubbish back, you have gotta throw in there Zayn..!!!
Remember, you must look after your environment.!!” Rachel grumbled, taking a
snack packet and handed it to me.
“Don’t be
silly Rachel.! It’s just a packet, a little packet, it won’t make a doomsday!”
I replied disgustedly and walked away. Rachel continued to lecture me all the
way, but I didn’t listen to her. Who would be willing to hear to the ravings of
a witch like her.
I didn’t know why, but Rachel’s
babble I haven’t heard lately. Rachel just watched me continue the habits
without wanting to advise me anymore. Well, maybe Rachel was embarassed to
advise me again.
I’m so
happy. Day after day passed without Rachel’s babble. After school, I suddenly
wanted to go to the toilet and I told Rachel to wait for me in the classroom.
“Wait a
minute here, I’m going to the toilet first” I said before going to the toilet
as fast as a thunderclap. When I was back, I looked at Rachel, I thought she is
laughing at me.
‘I seem
fine, nothing strange’ I thought. I walked unsteadly approached Rachel who
still trying to hold back her laughter.
“What’s
going on? Why are you laughing?? Is there something wrong???” I asked.
“Nothing,
let’s go home troublemaker..!!!” She smiled and slung my green bag and walked
away.
“Troublemaker
you said?? I don’t care..!!!” I said grumbling.
Arriving at home, I would like to
repeat English that I got in school. When I opened my bag, I suddenly saw a lot
of trash.
“Huh.? Why
is there a lot of trash?? This might be the act of Rachel.! Of course she
laughed when I came back” I said as I pulled out a pile of plastic junk in my
bag. I disposed of the garbage in the little trash box in the corner of my
room. Then, I reached for my handphone and sent an SMS to her. My handphone was
ringing, then I took it off the table. Rachel’s name clearly displayed on the
phone screen, it was right SMS replied from Rachel.
“Haha, why?
Were you shocked?? That is the result of your trash that you have been throwing
‘till this time, isn’t it a lot right? You always think the trash that you
discarded was a little, but you always do it almost everyday Zayn.. That is
just you, let’s imagine it, if all people were littering like you, what will
happen to our Earth..?? So… Enjoy your new life with trash ya Zayn J” she replied. I was startled to the
point of standing still a moment to see an SMS reply from Rachel. Then, I
thought for a moment.
“Rachel’s
right.!! I’ve always thought that I just throw a little trash on the street,
but I do it everyday” I told myself.
Rachel was right, now I knew why we
have to dispose of trash in the right place and keep clean. Apparently, a lot
of garbage around us is not good, a lot of disease that could arise due to
garbage. And that cause the odor from the garbage pile, smothering us. I
immediately began to collect the garbage in my room. I was shocked, my bedroom
wass full of garbage.! Beginning that
moment, I promised myself that I’ll never litter anymore, and start to get a
healthy life. If not we are looking after this Earth, who will??
Written by : Irfan Arditio
Corrected by : Tess Legge
