The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata

polished and handsome of us all. So Harun quietly aspired to be Trapani when he grew up. The problem, of course, was that this aspiration was rather difficult to achieve, considering the fact that Harun was much older than Trapani.
    Mister Samadikun shot Bu Mus a taunting glare. Five years of education here and Harun hadn't advanced one bit. Mister Samadikun was not yet satisfied.
    "OK, Harun, final test. What is two plus two?"
    This time he had gone too far. Mister Samadikun had intentionally chosen a ridiculously simple question that even children not yet in school could answer, all for the sake of insulting Bu Mus.
    Harun was surprised and quickly turned to face Mister Samadikun. He gave off an impression that said: Ah, that is an easy question! Two plus two? Why wouldn't I know the answer? Of course I know!
    Harun approached Mister Samadikun. He walked with authority. "Mister," he said calmly, "you are kidding, right?"
    "No, Harun, this is serious. I want to know what you have been learning all this time."
    "Ah, Mister, you've got to be kidding me! That is a simple counting question. I have already studied addition. I can do it up into the hundreds, no problem!"
    "That's great, Harun."
    Harun still thought he was kidding.
    "I'm in fifth grade, Mister. Soon I will be in junior high. Isn't there a more difficult question?"
    Upon seeing Harun's confidence, Mister Samadikun's face went stiff. He was aware that he had made a fatal error. The question was too easy! He was sorry he had asked such an easy question. He should have made it two times two.
    It was a grave situation for Mister Samadikun. If Harun could answer, then his plan would have backfired. It would mean Bu Mus has successfully educated Harun. If this were a movie, Mister Samadikun's earlier victory in cornering Bu Mus would have been the climax, and the plot would be all downhill from here. He would lose his reason for expelling Harun. We would still have ten students in our class, and as long as there were ten of us, even the Minister of Education of the Republic of Indonesia couldn't shut us down.
    Bu Mus hugged her chest. She was tense, but she believed Harun could answer. She had been intensively working with Harun on the subject of addition. We prayed to God almighty, hoping Harun would answer correctly. Sahara's and Mahar's eyes were glassy. We were hopelessly in love with our poor school; we didn't want to lose it. What would become of us without it? But never fear, for the second time, after making ten students, Harun would save us again. Such an easy question certainly wouldn't give him any trouble. For the second time, Harun would be our hero.
    "Do you still want to hear the answer, Mister?" Harun challenged while glancing proudly at his idol Trapani out the corners of his eyes. Mister Samadikun had no choice. He couldn't take back his stupid question—he was too proud to correct himself and replace it with a harder one. He responded to Harun despondently: "Yes, Harun, how much is two plus two? Do you know the answer?"
    "Of course I know," he folded his arms across his chest, "Piece of cake."
    "How much, Harun?"
    Harun's hand shot up as he confidently yelled, "Three!"

Chapter 11
     

Full Moon
     
    "YOU HAVE only one more chance, and if there's no improvement, you're finished!" Mister Samadikun bluntly threatened Bu Mus.
    The unexpected and embarrassing inspection was over, and Mister Samadikun began going through the motions required to complete his report. He summoned the photographer to take pictures of our school from various angles. Each time he took a shot, Harun tried to jump in the photo. When the photographer was snapping a shot of the backside of the school, Harun's head suddenly popped up above the windowsill, wearing a wide smile and displaying his long, yellow chompers. He didn't have a clue that these photos were being taken to drag him down and close our school; he was focused on his poses in the pictures. After the photos were printed