A Sandal Thief in the Mosque

A SANDAL THIEF IN THE MOSQUE

(A Funny Story)

Iwan Jazadi

Lecturer, STKIP Hamzanwadi Selong & STKIP Paracendekia NW Sumbawa

After one Friday prayer in a mosque, a boy was seen having stolen a few pairs of sandals. Aware of being seen, he ran away from the mosque, but many of the congregation members quickly ran after him. After about 100 meters running, the boy was about to be caught.  Apparently luckily, at his left there was a tower of XL cellular phone. He did not think much. He climbed the tower to prevent from being caught.

A lot of people wanting to catch him did not dare to climb it. They just shouted asking him to get down. He just ignored it. The people then called government apparatuses for help. That was why after an hour or so, in the location there had appeared head of the local village, who was accompanied by one of his security staff, in Indonesian called “HANSIP”, chief of police office of the subdistrict, and commander of the subdistrict army. Those officers convinced that each of them would get the thief down and submit himself for custody. They used a microphone to call him down.

First, the village head called him, “Hi, you who are there on the tower, please get down. I’ll protect you when you’re down. Don’t worry.” The thief just did not care at all. He did not move even a centimetre.

Then, the police office head took his turn, “Hi, you who are on the tower, please get down. If you don’t, I’ll shoot you on your leg. I’m the police office chief in this subdistrict. I’m authorized to do that.” The boy did not respond accordingly. Instead of getting down, he climbed higher.

Next, the subdistrict army commander held the microphone, “Hi you up there. You may disregard the previous officers, but not me. I’m this territory security commander. I’m very skilled in shooting. I can easily shoot you in wherever part of your body that I want. But, don’t worry. I’m a good person. Please get down.” Again, he did not follow the order. Instead, he climbed much higher till the top edge of the tower.

All of the mosque congregation members and the officers were frustrated. The village head grumbled in front of his security staff, ‘Mr HANSIP’, “I’d rather resign from my post as village head if this problem is not overcome now.” Mr HANSIP really cared about his boss’s problem and so, though not confident enough, he tried to offer his involvement. “I’m also a security officer, Sir. I may get him down,” he persuaded. The police office head and army commander looked at him. They commented almost at the same time, “Of course you won’t get him down. But, it’s okay for a while, just try your voice.” “You may even use my gun to shoot him, it’s ok,” one of them added. The village head nodded as a sign of agreement.

He held the microphone, making his voice as strong and loud as possible. He shouted, “Hi, you, a thief of sandals on the tower. Listen to me. I’m Mr HANSIP of this village. The police officer has given me his gun to shoot you.” Please get down from the tower. If you don’t, I’ll certainly shoot you on your leg or arm.”

Hearing such a threat, the thief suddenly got down. The village security staff smiled, but the three officers and especially the police and army commanders showed their red faces. They were angry, not only to the thief, but also to the village security staff. When the boy got down, the two security officers were the ones who first approached him. The army commander held the thief on the neck. Angrily, he said, “You have slapped me on my face by not obeying my command. Why did you follow the HANSIP’s order, and not mine?” Likewise, the police office head said in an angry tone, “You’re such a stupid thief by disregarding my order. If you do this again to me, no wonder my bullet will reach your leg.”

The village head, the HANSIP himself and the crowd were also curious regarding the reason why the thief had followed the HANSIP’s order. Quite surprisingly, the thief took control of the situation. He did not look too afraid in front of the state security officers. He explained, “Well, let me explain, Mr Security Officers. First, I apologize for stealing some of the people’s sandals in the mosque; it was because I had no money to eat in these few days. I’m an orphan. Then, I’m sorry for not responding to your orders because I know you are good and skilled security officers. If you say that you’ll shoot me on my leg or my arm, you’ll do so that I’ll still be alive and finally saved. So, I didn’t worry about you. But, when Mr HANSIP announced that he’d use your gun to shoot me on my arm or leg, I have to save myself by getting down and submit myself to you. I did so because when Mr HANSIP said shooting my arm or leg, who could guarantee that only my arm or leg would be the target. He would just send the bullet and reach any part of my body, head, chest and those parts that would certainly make me die. O, I didn’t want that to happen to me, Sirs.”

Listening attentively to the thief boy, the village head, the officers and the crowd all nodded as they found the answer to their wonder. The policeman and the soldier turned out to smile for their expertise was acknowledged by the thief. The HANSIP also smiled because, for whatever reason, it was he who got the thief down from the tower. The village head smiled because he could overcome the village chaos and continue his political position in the village. The mosque congregation members also smiled because they knew the reason for the stealing. Finally, the boy also smiled because he was forgiven by the mosque members and promised not to commit the crime again, and would join the mosque activities as a good Muslim in the future.