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Chapter 26 - The Roller-Skating Goat (1/3)

The Day the Streets Changed Forever

POV 1 – Pak Udin (Fried Snack Seller, 52 years old)

I've been selling fritters in front of that public elementary school for twenty years. But that day... I almost dropped my stuffed tofu in shock.

There was a goat—yes, a real goat—zooming down the asphalt street... wearing metallic purple roller skates!

Kids screamed, mothers gawked, and me... I just stood there with my mouth open and my fritter falling to the ground.

It zigzagged like a circus athlete. And what gave me chills—it occasionally bowed to the crowd like a performer's salute!

POV 2 – Rara (Elementary School Student, 9 years old)

I saw it with my own eyes! That wasn't a normal goat!

It could brake! It could turn! When it nearly hit the meatball cart, it jumped and slid through like in a cartoon.

The next day, I drew it in my sketchbook. My teacher said, "Stop imagining things, Rara."

But I know it was real. And… that goat had sad eyes. Like... it was looking for something.

POV 3 – Bu Darmi (Neighborhood Chief, 61 years old)

As the head of this neighborhood, it's my duty to maintain order. But this roller-skating goat caused quite the commotion.

Lots of residents came asking for answers. Some said, "Ma'am, is that a real animal or a robot?" Others wanted to register it for Indonesia's Got Talent.

I reported it to the subdistrict office. But they only replied, "Are you sure you're not just rambling, ma'am?"

Now every night, kids keep watch by the roadside waiting for the goat to pass. This isn't just an animal anymore... it's become a symbol of hope in a boring life.

POV 4 – Agung (Engineering Student, 21 years old)

My friends and I were once accused of pulling off the roller-skating goat prank. But I swear on my final project—it wasn't us!

Still, as a future engineer, I'm curious. I analyzed its wheel tracks. Speed, pressure, turns. This goat clearly has remarkable motor skills.

My theory: it's either the result of an experiment... or an escapee from a secret circus.

But what keeps me up at night: who trained it? Or... what if the goat isn't an ordinary creature at all?

POV 5 – Mbah Kromo (Village Elder, 89 years old)

People may laugh. But in the old days... there was a legend.

Back during the colonial era, there was a mystical goat owned by a warrior—one that could dance and disappear. It was called Si Topel.

They said, when a village grew weary, Topel would appear to offer joy... or deliver a warning.

Perhaps... it has returned. In a new style.

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Interesting Fact: In several parts of the world, animals that "behave like humans" are often linked to myths of changing times. In psychology, such collective phenomena are called mass delusion—but they can also be seen as symbols of hope during stagnant periods.

Philosophy: Sometimes, it's the absurd that makes life feel real. Because through laughter and strangeness, we're reminded that the world is still full of surprises.

Local Rumor: After the incident, villagers began to believe that if you dream of a goat wearing roller skates, it's a sign your life is about to change drastically—either for the better, or into total chaos.

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