FATIMAH, THE SHEEP

What is a name? Maybe you all have known this quote. Yeach, William Shakespeare had quoted it centuries ago. Every names has got meanings and parents give name to their newborn child in order to recognize, and as pray for better life. For example, you give your child Muhammad,Thomas, Mary, Therese etc, those names have wonderful meaning and  common among us.

But, what will you think about if a sheep is named Fatimah? Maybe it sounds lunatic and strange. This is true, and I ever experienced it by myself. It happened around 6 years ago, when I was in Banyuwangi (easternmost part of Java) for surveying about a traditional theater over there. 

If I am not mistaken, it occurred on August 1998, in the evening. At the time, I was asked by my friend to go with him. I asked "Where?". He said, "I'd like to get some massage, I am not very well today, my body feels like crashed. No matter, because I had no something to do, I agreed. At 7 pm, by scooter, we went to a well-known massaseur in Banyuwangi. To reach her house, we had to pass through grassy land before entering her housing environment. The massaseur's house was simple though permanent. I couldn't see the whole for it's dark. I saw also two sheep cages in front of the house. Those are made of combination between bamboo and wood. I could imagine, the owner always check his livestock.

I and my friend entered the house after the host permitted. An old couple greeted us, but something I didn't wonder before that the woman spoke Osing (an archaic dialect spoken in Banyuwangi). I could understand some, but for she spoke so fast and too much accentuation that I had to listen to in full concentration. She offered some drink and snack to us, and then we got some hot black coffee and soybean snack, that's delicious though simple. A half an hour later, my friend came in a room for getting a massage. I sat along with the massaseur's husband. He talked much about his family, he also understood that I couldn't easily get Osingese speech. Finally, we were having a nice conversation in High Javanese. He said that he has daughter-in-law from Grobogan, Central Java and he had to speak high Javanese to her family. Talking about his wife, the old man said she could only speak the dialect, although she understood Bahasa Indonesia, she will answer all questions in Osing. Hahaha¦that was funny I thought at the moment.

The conversation was still continued until 9 pm, my friend hadn't finished yet and I considered he enjoyed the massage (J), but with an old lady, not a younger one. Then, the old man said that he had got a special sheep he loved so much. Gradually, I was curious with what he said¦.What did he mean? He said the sheep was still very young. Her mother was slaughtered directly after gave her birth- that's sadistic- so that the baby sheep though the old man as her mother. Wherever the old man went, the young sheep always followed him. Till, if he had to go out like rats for avoiding the sheep. Again, he said that he gave her name Fatimah. What? I was surprised to hear that!! It's impossible and unbelievable. Even I though he was kidding (or lunatic), I was dancing in my head when he looked at me, then he asked me to go outside. If you didn't believe, let me show you what he said. We went out to the cages, it was dark so I couldn't see outside clearly. Those two cages were side by side, and I asked him where Fatimah was, he answered in the right one. Poor her, she was isolated by other sheep so that she must put in separate cage.

At the moment, I didn't still believe in him about the sheep's name. He called the name "Fatimah!". No responds.

He tried again, "Fatimah!", still no respond.

Then, he called once more, "Fatimah!"

What happened then, "Baa!. Baa!, Baa!."

 There was a respond from inside the cage. I was very shocked and almost laughed. Whatta hell it is! Is the world crazy?

He looked at me afterwards, and said "Do you believe me now?",

I answered "Yes" (but confused). He brought Fatimah the sheep at home, and she sat on the sofa in veranda. I couldn't say anything at the moment, the sheep acts as if it was human. Sitting on the sofa, and then..pup on it!!! Wewww. Till I got home with my friend at 9.30 pm, I still thought about the event, strange! How such sacred name like Fatimah was given to a sheep. How come? This is one of the most memorable event in my life which I won't ever forget it till I finally die.

From the event I conclude that giving name is not just for human, but also for animal. You can give your pet's name with your favourite celebrity. Psst..I ever heard an orangutan named Maharani (Queen), and Luke Perry even gives name his pig with his favourite comedian, Jerry Lewis!!! World is getting crazy, sometimes human gives their pets beautiful name, but sometimes gives their own children by bad one. Like a Japanese father who gave name his son with Akuma (satan) , does he think his son will be a satan. Giving name with anything is a human rights, but be careful! name contains of pray and wishing of the child's parents for getting better life. Name also identify the children from others. So that, give your children beautiful name, and let the quote What is a name away. What do you think?

It happened 10 years ago....