Indonesia
The Bed and Breakfast Star
What does it feel to be a part of difficult family? Ask Elsa, the 10 years old girl in “The Bed and Breakfast Star”. The little girl lived with mom who lived a restless life for the pressure around, a step father who likes to smack her and two little step sisters.
Elsa must give up all her playing time to baby sit the chubby babies Hank and Pippa who were half her age. Dad and mom seemed to have too much at hand to be bothered with them. The family was constantly moving, making Elsa kept changing school. So, it’s only natural that her academic achievement was left behind.
And since the stepdad Mack was out of job, they ended up selling the house and moved to a shelter provided by social service. The facility it provided was not exactly that of a luxury house. The room was too small, elevator didn’t work, dirty toilet, small animals crawling in every corner, the fire alarm was only for decoration and even the distributed food fail to raise their appetite.
Despite the clear fact that their family was not a harmonic one, Elsa always tried to appear cheerful. No matter how bad the situation they had at home or school, Elsa always kept the smile on her face. She was also persistent in spreading the passion throughout the house. Unfortunately, Elsa’s humor always failed to bring smile in the house. Instead, it always got into her mom and dad’s nerve. Elsa got beaten a lot for it. However, that never stopped Elsa. She had a dream of becoming a TV star and well known comedian, which put her away from every problem she had.
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: HAFIDA INDRAWATI
