By. Siti Hajar
Karina’s house has a big backyard. It is filled with many fruit trees like rambutan, mango, guava, and even spice plants.
Alll lovingly maintained by Amira—Karina’s mother.
“Mom, can Dianda stay the night at our house?” Karina asked after breakfast.
Amira, holding her tumbler, smiled. “Hmm, sounds like you have a big plan, my sweetheart?”
“Yes, Mommy! Dianda told me she wants to play after school,” Karina said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Are you sure her mother will let her stay after school?” Amira asked.
“Oh no, Mom, it’s not today. It’s for Sunday night. Dianda’s mom has a free day too,” Karina explained eagerly.
“Well then, don’t forget to ask permission from your dad and Dianda’s mother first,” Amira reminded her.
“Okay, Mom! I’ll tell Dianda to promise her mom as well.”
Later that day, Karina shared her idea with her dad and told Dianda about the plan for camping in the backyard on Saturday night.
At school, Karina met Dianda. The two talked excitedly about their upcoming campout when suddenly Wira and Hanafi came over, curious about their conversation.
“Hey, can we join you?” Wira asked, his eyes full of curiosity.
“That sounds fun! What do you think, Karina?” Dianda asked.
“Absolutely yes! But you need to get permission from your parents, Wira,” Karina replied firmly.
“I don’t think I can join,” Hanafi said sadly. “I have to help my mom.”
“What do you need to do? Maybe we can help,” Wira suggested, surprising everyone with his thoughtfulness.
Karina and Dianda exchanged glances and smiled.
“I have to peel fruit and help my mom making sweets for the market,” Hanafi admitted.
“That’s no problem! We can help you before nightfall. Right, Karina?” Dianda said, turning to her friend.
“Absolutely!” Karina and Wira answered in unison.
Saturday came quickly. In the afternoon, Karina and her friends worked together to help Hanafi peel fruit and pack sweets for his mom. With everyone pitching in, the work was done faster than expected, and by evening, they were ready to set up the tents.
Karina and Dianda set up their tent under the mango tree, while Wira and Hanafi placed their tent near the guava tree. The backyard looked lively with two colorful tents glowing under the moonlight.
Karina’s mom, Amira, brought out a tray of fried bananas and potatoes for the kids. “Here you go! Enjoy these snacks, and don’t stay up too late!” she said with a warm smile.
The four friends sat together in a circle, enjoying the delicious snacks and the cool night breeze. Above them, the stars sparkled brightly, and the moonlight bathed the backyard in a soft glow.
“This is amazing,” Wira said as he took another bite of a crispy fried banana.
“I love the stars tonight. They look so close, as if we could touch them,” Dianda added dreamily.
They talked about all kinds of things—school, their favorite games, their dreams for the future, and even spooky stories that made them laugh and shiver at the same time.
“Do you think we’ll always be friends like this?” Hanafi asked quietly.
“Of course!” Karina answered with confidence. “And we’ll have more nights like this to prove it.”
It was past midnight when Amira came out to check on them. “Alright, adventurers, it’s time to sleep now. You can do this again another time, but you need rest too!” she reminded them gently.
Reluctantly, the kids crawled into their tents, their laughter and chatter fading into the night. But as they lay in their sleeping bags, they couldn’t help but smile, knowing this was a night they would always remember—a night filled with fun, friendship, and the magic of camping under the stars.
