The Golden Cucumber

Once upon a time there was Mbok Sirni, an old widow who was really longing for a child to share life. Her husband has passed away long time ago. One day a giant came to her house and offered her to raise a child. However he demanded to have the child back for his meal when the child’s age to reach six years old. Mbok Sirni agreed.

The giant gave her cucumber seeds to be grown. After two weeks, around the cucumber seeds planted there was the biggest cucumber and sparkling like gold. Mbok Sirni harvested it carefully. She found that inside the cucumber there was a pretty baby girl who then she named her Timun Mas or golden cucumber. Day after day Timun Mas grew as a kind and lovely girl.

One day came the giant asking what Mbok Sirni had promised. Frightened of losing Timun Mas, she proposed to extend the promise so that the giant must come again in 2 years. The giant agreed. He imagined the delicious ripe Timun Mas in the next 2 years.

Mbok Sirni loved Timun Mas even more. However, every time she remembered her promise she became sad. One night Mbok Sirni dreamed that if she wnat to save her child, she has to meet an ascetic in Gundul Mountain. In the morning, she at once left for Gundul Mountain. In Gundul Mountain she met the ascetic who gave her 4 small bundles, which are cucumber seeds, needles, salt, and balacan (chilli and shrimp paste condiment) as the charm.When she arrived at home she gave Timun Mas those 4 bundles given by the ascetic and told her to pray.

The next morning the giant came again to ask for Mbok Sirni's promise. Mbok Sirni told Timun Mas to go out through the back door. The giant found and pursued her.

Timun Mas remembered her bundles and then she spread the cucumber seeds behind her. It was really miraculous; the forest became the field of the luxuriant cucumber. The giant ate them but the cucumber even increased the giant's power.

Then Timun Mas spread the needles, and instantly very high and sharp bamboo trees grew. With his bloody foot the giant continued pursuing Timun Mas.

Timun Mas opened the salt bundle and spread it behind her. Instantly the forest became the ocean. The giant could pass the ocean in his painful.

The last thing Timun Mas finally scattered was balacan. It instantly turned to the boiled mud ocean. The giant finally died after he was drifted and sunk in the boiled mud ocean.

"Thank You God, You have saved me," Timun Mas expressed her gratitude. Timun Mas and Mbok Sirni then live happily ever after.