BAWANG MERAH AND BAWANG PUTIH

Once upon a time in a village lived a family consisting of father, mother and a
beautiful teenage girl named bawang putih. They were a cheerful family. Although bawang
putih’s father was an ordinary tradesman, but they lived in harmony and peace. But, one day
bawang putih’s mother was seriously ill and eventually died. Bawang putih’s father was
grieving as well.

In that village also lived a widow who also had children named Bawang Merah. Since
bawang putih’s mother died, bawang merah’s mother often visited bawang putih. She often
brought food, helps tidy the house or simply accompanied Bawang Putih and her father
chatting. Finally bawang putih’s father thought that maybe better if he had married with
bawang merah’s mother, so bawang putih was not lonely anymore.

With consideration of bawang putih, bawang putih’s father was married to bawang
merah’s mother. In the beginning, bawang merah and her mother were very kind to bawang
putih. But, over time their true nature was revealed. They often scold bawang putih and gave
her a tough job if her father was traveled far from home. Bawang putih have to do all the
housework, while bawang merah and her mother just sat. Certainly bawang putih's father did
not know it, because bawang putih never told it.

One day bawang putih’s father fell ill and died. At that time, bawang merah’s and her
mother more powerful and arbitrarily against bawang putih. Bawang putih almost didn’t rest.
She had to get up before dawn, to prepare the water bath and breakfast for bawang merah and
her mother. Then she had to feed livestock, watering garden and washing clothes to the river.
Then, she still must ironed, clean house, and many other jobs. But bawang putih always
doing her work, rejoicing that she hopes one day her stepmother would have loved her like
her own child.

That morning as usual, bawang putih carried a baskets of clothes to be washed in the
river. With a little singing she down a path on the edge of the grove. The weather is sunny.
Immediately, bawang putih washed all dirty clothes. Because she was too much fun, bawang
putih did not realize that one of the shirts have been washed was went away. Unfortunately, it
was her stepmother's favourite dress. When she realized it, the dress was drifted too far.
Bawang putih down the river trying to find it, but did not succeed to find it. With despair, she
returned home and told his mother.
"How careless you are!" snapped her stepmother.

"I don’t want to know, you have to find that clothe! and don’t back to home if you not find it.
understand?"

Bawang putih was forced to indulge her stepmother. She immediately went along to the
river where she washed. The sun had started rising, but she had not find her stepmother’s
dress. She was carefully examining each root panhandle that juts into the river, who knows
her stepmother's dress caught at there. After stepped away and the sun was leaning to the
west, bawang putih saw a shepherd who was bathing his buffalo. Bawang putih then asked:
"O my good uncle, do you see the red shirt who drifted through here? because I had to find
and bring it home."

"Yes I have seen it. If you chase it quickly, maybe you can catch it, "said the uncle.

"Well uncle, thank you!" said bawang putih.

Then she immediately ran back and down to the river. The day was getting dark,
bawang putih was getting desperate. Soon the night will come. From far away the light
coming from a hut on the edge of the river. Bawang putih immediately went to the house and
knocked.

"Excuse me ...!" said bawang putih.

An old woman opened the door.

"Who are you?" asked the old woman.

"I'm looking for my mother's clothes that drifted in the river. But, it’s too dark. May I stay
here tonight? "asked bawang putih.

"Sure kid. Are you looking for clothes that are red? "said grandmother.

"Yes, grandma. What ... grandmother found it? "asked Garlic.

"Yes. The clothes were stuck in front of my house. Unfortunately, though I liked that shirt,
"said the grandmother.

"Okay I'll return it, but first you must accompanied me here for a long time. I did not talk to
anyone, how?” said grandmother.
Bawang putih thought it. She looked at the grandmother. She looked lonely.

"Well grandma, I would accompany you for a week, provided grandmother were not bored
with me," said bawang putih with a smile.

During the week bawang putih stayed with grandmother. Everyday she helped the
grandmother. The grandmother felt happy with her. Eventually, it had been a week, grandma
called bawang putih.

"You had lived in here a week. And I was happy because you are a diligent girl. So, it suits
my promise you can bring your mother's clothes home. And once more, you may choose one
of two pumpkins this as a gift!" said grandmothers.

Bawang putih refused to be rewarded but grandmother still forced her. Finally bawang
putih choose the smallest pumpkin.

"I'm afraid not carry a big strong," she said.

Grandma smiled and deliver up to the front of the house.

At home, Bawang putih handed his stepmother's red shirt as she went into the kitchen
to slice her pumpkin. She was surprised when the pumpkin was sliced, the inside was jewels
of gold. She screamed and excited and told this to her stepmother and stepsister. They
grabbed the gold and jewels greedily. They forced bawang putih to tell how she could get a
prize. Bawang putih was told it truthfully.

Hearing stories of bawang putih, bawang merah and her mother plan to did the same
thing but this time bawang merah will do it. In short time, bawang merah finally arrived at
the old grandmother's house on the riverbank. Like bawang putih, bawang merah was asked
to accompany her during a week. Unlike bawang putih, bawang merah didn’t help
grandmother and she only slack. Even though she helped grandma, her work not good like
bawang putih did. After a week, grandma allowed bawang merah to go home.

"Should grandma gave me a pumpkin as a reward for a week with you." asked bawang
merah.

Grandma was forced to give bawang merah a pumpkin and she ask bawang merah to
choose one of two pumpkin. Then, bawang merah took a big pumpkin fastly without saying
thanks to the grandmother and walked away.
 When bawang merah arrived at home she showed the pumpkin to her mother. Because
afraid of bawang putih would asked for parts, they sent bawang putih to go to the river. Then
they sliced the pumpkin impatiently. But it was not golds and jewels out of the pumpkin, but
venomous animals such as snakes, scorpions, and others. The animals were immediately
attacked bawang merah and her mother until they death. That is the reward for the greedy
people.