`Malin Kundang`

A long time ago, in a small village near the beach in West Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were Malin Kundang and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because Malin Kundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin Kundang had to live hard wit his mother. Malin Kundang was a healthy, diligent, and strong boy. He usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish, he would bring it to his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s ship which was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. With his brave and power, Maling Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked to him. In return, the merchant asked Maling Kundang to sail with him. To get a better life, Maling Kundang agreed. He left his mother alone.

Many years later, Maling Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge ship and was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly, he had a beautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed on a beach near a small village. The villagers recognized him.

The news ran fast in the town : “Maling Kundang has became rich and now he is here”. And old woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was Maling Kundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him, released her sadness of being lonely after so long time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Maling Kundang who was in front of his well dressed wife and his ship crews denied meeting that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged Maling Kundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Maling Kundang said to her, “Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and ugly woman!” After that, he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the old mother again but in that time she was full of both sadness and anger.

Finally, enraged, she cursed Maling Kundang that he would turn into a stone if he didn’t apologize. Maling Kundang just laughed and really set sail. In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. His huge ship was wrecked and it was too late for Maling Kundang to apologize. He was thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small island. It was really to late for him to avoid his curse. Suddenly, he turned into a stone.