Once upon a time, in a small village in Java, there lived an old woman named Mbok Sirni. She was lonely and wished for a child.

    One day, a scary giant named Buto Ijo appeared. He was big, green, and had a loud, booming voice.

    “I can give you a child,” said Buto Ijo, “but when she turns sixteen, you must give her back to me.”

    Mbok Sirni was desperate, so she agreed. Buto Ijo gave her a cucumber seed. “Plant this seed, and your wish will come true,” he said.

    Mbok Sirni planted the seed. Soon, a huge cucumber grew. When it was ripe, she cut it open, and inside was a beautiful baby girl. She named her Timun Mas, which means “Golden Cucumber.”

Timun Mas grew up to be a kind and lovely girl. Everyone in the village loved her, especially Mbok Sirni.

But as Timun Mas’ sixteenth birthday got closer, Mbok Sirni became very worried. She knew Buto Ijo would come to take Timun Mas away.

Mbok Sirni went to a wise hermit in the forest. “Please help me,” she begged.

The hermit gave her four magical pouches. “Give these to Timun Mas. When Buto Ijo comes, she must use them to escape,” the hermit said.

On Timun Mas’ sixteenth birthday, Buto Ijo came. “Give me the girl you promised!” he shouted.

Scared, Timun Mas ran away with the four pouches. Buto Ijo chased after her.

Timun Mas threw the first pouch behind her. It turned into a thick forest of sharp bamboo. Buto Ijo pushed through, even though it hurt him.

She threw the second pouch. A river of boiling lava appeared. Buto Ijo screamed in pain as he crossed it, but he kept chasing her.

Next, she threw the third pouch. It became a field of sharp needles. Buto Ijo roared as they pricked his feet, but he still kept coming.

Finally, Timun Mas threw the last pouch. It turned into a pond of sticky mud. This time, Buto Ijo got stuck. He struggled and screamed, but he sank deeper and deeper until he was gone.

Timun Mas ran back to Mbok Sirni, who hugged her tightly. The village celebrated, and they lived happily ever after, safe from the giant Buto Ijo.

Moral : 

No matter how big the problem, you can find a way to solve it with courage and smart thinking.

-The End-