“Brodin, Opera House, dan Bumerang yang Tidak Mau Pulang”
Brodin mendarat di Sydney pagi hari. Langit biru terang, angin laut sejuk. Jas hitamnya tetap dipakai walau orang lain pakai kaos dan celana pendek. Kaos sleret-sleret Madura tetap setia di balik jas.
“Panas, tape’ engkok biasa.” (Panas, tapi saya biasa.)
Di imigrasi, petugas membaca paspornya cukup lama.
“So… your job is?”
Brodin menjawab pendek dan jelas,
“Wanderer.” (Pengembara.)
Lalu menambahkan sambil senyum,
“I travel every week.” (Saya jalan-jalan tiap minggu.)
Petugas tertawa.
“That’s a good life, mate.”
Brodin mengangguk.
“Yes, thank you.” (Iya, terima kasih.)
Tujuan pertama Brodin: Sydney Opera House. Ia berdiri lama, memandangi bangunan putih itu.
“Very beautiful.” (Sangat indah.)
Lalu pelan ke dirinya sendiri,
“Bentukna tak biasa.” (Bentuknya tidak biasa.)
Tak jauh dari situ, Brodin masuk toko souvenir. Ada kaos “Australia”, topi kanguru, bumerang kecil, dan magnet kulkas berbentuk koala. Pegawai toko menyapa santai,
“G’day, mate!”
Brodin agak kaget tapi senyum sopan.
“G’day.” (Halo.)
Ia menunjuk bumerang.
“How much is this?” (Berapa harga ini?)
Saat harga disebutkan, Brodin mengangguk cepat.
“Okay, no problem.” (Oke, tidak masalah.)
Lalu menambahkan,
“I want two.” (Saya mau dua.)
Sambil berbisik,
“Sengko’ ka Bangkalan, bumerang apa balik?” (Sampai Bangkalan, bumerangnya balik tidak ya?)
Pegawai toko tertawa dan menjelaskan cara melempar bumerang. Brodin mencoba di luar toko. Bumerangnya terbang… dan jatuh. Tidak balik.
Brodin menatap bumerang di tanah.
“Hmm… not working.” (Hmm… tidak bekerja.)
Lalu tertawa sendiri.
“Tak papa, pajangan.” (Tidak apa-apa, buat pajangan.)
Di kasir, Brodin membantu ibu-ibu lokal yang kesulitan membawa tas.
“Let me help you.” (Biar saya bantu.)
Ibu itu tersenyum lebar.
“Thank you!”
Brodin menjawab cepat,
“You’re welcome.” (Sama-sama.)
Lalu pelan,
“Mon bisa bantu, bantu.” (Kalau bisa bantu, bantu.)
Sore hari, Brodin duduk di tepi laut sambil membuka tas belanja. Topi kanguru, kaos Australia, magnet koala, dan bumerang kecil.
“My friends will like this.” (Teman-teman saya akan suka ini.)
Ia menutup tas dengan puas.
=======-
“Brodin, the Opera House, and a Boomerang That Refused to Come Back”
Brodin landed in Sydney wearing a black suit under the bright Australian sun—clearly committed to his personal brand. Everyone else wore shorts. Brodin wore dignity.
At immigration, the officer asked about his job.
“Wanderer,” Brodin said calmly.
“I travel every week.”
The officer laughed. “Living the dream, mate.”
At the Sydney Opera House, Brodin stared in silence.
“Very beautiful,” he whispered.
In a souvenir shop, Brodin bought boomerangs, kangaroo hats, and koala magnets. He even tried throwing a boomerang.
It did not come back.
Brodin looked at it and nodded.
“Yeah… decoration mode.”
Of course, he helped strangers, smiled politely, and shopped for his Bangkalan friends like a true Helpful Traveler.
Sydney: sunny, relaxed, and officially Brodin-approved.
