Batangkup Stone

Folklore from Riau

Batangkup Stone

ONCE upon a time, there was a village in Indragiri Hilir, Riau. There lived a widow named Mak Minah. She had three children, two sons, and a daughter. Her son names were Utuh and Ucin. And her youngest child’s name was Diang. Everyday Mak Minah always went to the jungle to collect some fire woods. She sold the woods in the market and used the money for their daily needs. She always worked alone. Her three children were lazy and only liked to play. They never helped her.

It was already late in the evening. Mak Minah did not feel well. After selling the woods in the market, she wanted to go to bed immediately. However dinner was not ready yet. So she asked her three children to help her. "Utuh, Ucin, and Diang... please help me prepare the dinner", asked Mak Minah. Those three children ignored their mother and continued playing in the front yard. Mak Minah then forced herself to prepare the dinner.

When it was ready, she called her children to have dinner. This time they listened to Mak Minah. Sadly after they finished eating, the children did not help their mother clean the dishes. Instead, they played again. Mak Minah cried. She was so sad. It was not the first time her children did not help her and ignored her. She was so sick that she went to bed immediately.

In the morning, Mak Minah went to the riverside. There was a magical stone called Batangkup Stone. The stone had magical power. It could open and close its body like a sea shell. The stone could also talk to humans. "Batangkup Stone, please help me. I cannot hold the pains anymore. I'm so sick and my children did not want to help me. They always ignored me." "Please swallow my body", asked Mak Minah. "Well, if that's what you want.. get inside. I will open my body now. "

Batangkup Stone then opened its body. Mak Minah later went inside. Her long hair was still outside of the stone. In the meantime, Utuh, Ucin, and Diang woke up and felt hungry. Breakfast was not ready so they were looking for their mother. The children went here and there to find their mother. Finally they were in front of the Batangkup Stone. They saw their mother s hair. They knew their mother was inside Batangkup Stone s body. "Please open your body. Let my mother go outside," scream Diang.

"No, I won't! You are not good children. You always ignored your mother and never helped her", said Batangkup Stone. "But we need her now", said Utuh. "Yes, you need her now because you are hungry. You only listed to her when you want to eat. But you never help her. You will never see your mother again!" said Batangkup Stone. Those three children were crying very loudly. They knew they were wrong. But it was too late to regret. They would never see their mother again. ***

Indonesia :

Dahulu kala, ada sebuah desa di Indragiri Hilir, Riau. Hiduplah seorang janda bernama Mak Minah. Dia punya tiga anak, dua putra, dan seorang putri. Anaknya yang laki-laki bernama Utuh dan Ucin. Dan nama anak bungsunya itu adalah Diang. Setiap hari Mak Minah selalu pergi ke hutan untuk mengumpulkan beberapa kayu bakar. Dia menjualnya di pasar dan menggunakan uang hasil kerjanya untuk kebutuhan sehari-hari mereka. Dia selalu bekerja sendirian. Ketiga anaknya yang malas dan hanya suka bermain. Mereka tidak pernah membantunya.

Sudah larut malam. Mak Minah kurang enak badan. Setelah menjual kayu bakar di pasar, dia ingin pergi ke tempat tidur segera. Namun makan malam belum disiapkan. Jadi dia meminta ketiga anaknya untuk membantunya. "Utuh, Ucin, dan Diang ... tolong bantu Mak menyiapkan makan malam", tanya Mak Minah. Ketiga anak itu menolak untuk membantu ibu mereka dan terus bermain di halaman depan. Mak Minah kemudian memaksa dirinya untuk menyiapkan makan malam.

Ketika makanan telah siap, dia memanggil anak-anaknya untuk makan malam. Kali ini mereka mendengarkan Mak Minah. Sayangnya setelah mereka selesai makan, anak-anak tidak membantu ibu mereka membersihkan piring. Sebaliknya, mereka bermain lagi. Mak Minah menangis. Dia sangat sedih. Itu bukan pertama kalinya anak-anaknya tidak membantu dan mengabaikannya. Dia begitu sakit dan dia langsung tidur secepatnya.

Di pagi hari, Mak Minah pergi ke tepi sungai. Ada batu ajaib yang disebut batu Batangkup. Batu ini mempunyai kekuatan sihir. Bisa membuka dan menutup tubuhnya seperti kerang laut. Batu itu juga bisa berbicara dengan manusia. ' Batu Batangkup, Mohon bantu saya. Saya tidak bisa menahan rasa sakit lagi. Saya begitu muak dan anak-anak saya tidak ingin membantu saya. Mereka selalu mengabaikan saya.' 'Mohon telanlah tubuh saya', Kata Mak Minah. ' Baik, jika itu h apa yang Anda inginkan. Masuklah. Aku akan membuka tubuh saya sekarang. 'Batu Batangkup kemudian membuka tubuhnya. Mak Minah kemudian masuk ke dalam. Rambut panjangnya masih berada di luar batu. Sementara itu, Utuh, Ucin, dan Diang terbangun dan merasa lapar. Sarapan tidak disiapkan sehingga mereka mencari ibu mereka. Anak-anak Mak Minah pergi kesana kemari untuk menemukan ibu mereka. Akhirnya mereka berada di depan Batu Batangkup. Mereka melihat rambut ibu mereka . Mereka tahu ibu mereka berada di dalam tubuh Batu Batangkup  . "Tolong buka tubuh Anda. Biarkan ibu saya ke luar," Diang menjerit.

"Tidak, aku tidak akan membukanya! Kalian bukan anaknya yang baik Tidak anak-anak yang baik. Kalian selalu mengabaikan ibu kalian dan tidak pernah membantunya", kata Batu Batangkup. "Tapi kami memerlukan dia sekarang", kata Utuh. "Ya, Kalian membutuhkannya sekarang karena Kalian sedang  lapar. Kalian hanya mendengarnya  ketika Kalian ingin makan.. Tetapi Kalian tidak pernah membantunya. Kalian tidak akan pernah melihat ibu kalian lagi!" kata Batu Batangkup. Ketiga anak itu menangis dengan  sangat keras. Mereka tahu mereka salah. Tetapi sudah terlambat untuk menyesal. Mereka tidak akan pernah melihat ibu mereka lagi. ***