Tono wants to meet Britney Spears!

My friend Tono is longing to see Britney Spears. He would like to invite her to sing together with him and accompany him as well washing his clothes in the boarding house.

Unfortunately, they live million miles far apart over the continent. Tono lives in Jakarta and Britney Spears lives in .... Excuse me, where do you live dear?

One night Tono wanted me to contact Britney and I asked him in Bahasa Indonesia, "Kamu mau ngapain jumpa Britney, Ton?"

Tono replied in English, "Mr. Nurman, why should you speak bahasa? We should speak English here."

I said, "No, kita ini orang Indonesia, ngapain ngomong bahasa Inggris?"

Tono said, "Come on, Mr. Nurman, English is the international language, by the way, when will you take me there to meet Britney Spears?"

I didn't respond. I looked into his eyes. He turned pale.

Suddenly there's a knock at the door. "... Anybody home!"

"That must be Britney Spears," Tono exclaimed!

Tono was contented, but I was not.

You know what? As I rushed to the back door, I hummed to ease my mind in case those loan sharks might come back and threaten me, ".... where are you Britney? Kamu ada di mana, mbakyu? Tono is looking for you ....By the way, my I borrow your money?"

Ironically, these moneylenders who potentially harm people--and once nearly broke up my marriage life-- in most of rural areas of Indonesia, why should the government care about?