Kelingking: The Journey of a Brave Little One

Once upon a time, in a small village in the Riau Islands, there lived a very poor husband and wife. To make ends meet, they fished in the river and planted cassava in their small field. The couple had three sons: the eldest named Salimbo, the second Ngah, and the youngest, Kelingking.

From infancy, Kelingking displayed peculiar traits. His body was tiny and frail, earning him the name "Kelingking". Another unusual thing about him was his powerful appetite for milk, which often caused his mother great pain. Tragically, she passed away when Kelingking was just five months old, unable to bear the strain any longer. This heartbreaking loss caused his older brothers to resent Kelingking deeply, blaming him for their mother’s death.

After their mother’s passing, their father raised the three boys on his own. Every day, they helped him fish in the river, plant cassava, and collect firewood to sell at the market. Despite his small size, Kelingking was the most diligent worker of the three, earning their father's affection. This favoritism only deepened Salimbo and Ngah's hatred for Kelingking, spurring malicious intentions against him.

One day, Salimbo and Ngah devised a plan to harm Kelingking. They invited him to gather firewood in the forest without telling their father. Their true intention was to leave Kelingking stranded in the woods, where wild animals roamed. Oblivious to their scheme, Kelingking happily agreed to join them.

Once they reached the forest, the three boys began collecting wood. Due to his small stature, Kelingking could only gather twigs and small branches. As noon approached, they decided to rest under a tree. Suddenly, a deer darted past them.

“Kelingking! Chase that deer!” ordered Salimbo.
“Don’t let it get away, little brother!” Ngah encouraged.

Excitedly, Kelingking ran after the deer, disappearing into the depths of the forest. Seizing the opportunity, Salimbo and Ngah quickly fled, leaving Kelingking behind.

Back at home, the two brothers feigned grief as they told their father, “Father, forgive us. We couldn’t protect Kelingking. A tiger attacked him in the forest.”
“We tried to save him, Father, but the tiger was too fierce!” added Ngah.

“Are you sure about this?” their father asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.
“Yes, Father. It’s true,” they replied in unison. Heartbroken, their father mourned the loss of his youngest son, whom he cherished dearly.

Meanwhile, Kelingking had managed to catch the deer after a long chase. He tied its legs with vines and thought, “Father and my brothers will be so happy when I bring this home!” Just then, the deer spoke to him in a soft voice, “Young man, please let me go. I am the king of deer in this forest. If you set me free, I will teach you how to catch deer.”

Kelingking was shocked to hear the animal speak but decided to trust its words. “Alright, I’ll let you go. But you must teach me as promised,” he said, untying the deer.

True to its word, the deer taught Kelingking various techniques to catch and trap deer. Before departing, it advised, “Remember, only catch the naughty deer. Leave the good ones alone.”

With his newfound skills, Kelingking quickly caught two deer and tied them securely. Carrying the deer, he returned home safely, surprising his father and brothers.

When they saw Kelingking alive and holding two deer, Salimbo and Ngah were bewildered. How did he survive the forest? they wondered. Despite their jealousy, they helped prepare the deer for a family meal.

However, the brothers' resentment didn’t end there. They soon hatched another plan to rid themselves of Kelingking. This time, they took him to the sea, known to be infested with sharks. Pretending their net had snagged on a rock, they persuaded Kelingking to dive in and free it.

As expected, a group of sharks swarmed him as soon as he entered the water. Thinking their plan had succeeded, Salimbo and Ngah rowed back home and lied to their father once again. “Father, Kelingking was attacked by sharks. We couldn’t save him,” they said.

That night, as their father wept for Kelingking, there was a knock on the door. To his astonishment, Kelingking stood outside, unharmed, holding two large sharks. “Father, I’m home! Look, I’ve brought dinner!” he exclaimed cheerfully. His father embraced him with joy, while his brothers were left speechless and fearful of his resilience.

Time passed, and Kelingking grew into a young man. Determined to change his family’s fortunes, he decided to leave and seek his fortune. “Father, I’m going to travel and build a better life for us,” he declared. Despite his reluctance, his father gave his blessing.

Equipped with seven rice cakes for the journey, Kelingking embarked on his adventure. After months of wandering, he found himself in a dense forest. Exhausted, he rested under a large tree and fell asleep. In his dreams, a mysterious voice instructed him to tie his rice cakes with poison vines, place them in a river, and wait for the water to foam. Upon waking, Kelingking followed the dream’s instructions.

After catching a giant fish using this method, Kelingking ate its flesh, leaving only its head. Frustrated by the lack of further signs, he kicked the fish head away and continued his journey.

Days later, he arrived in a bustling village where news spread of a fish head that had mysteriously appeared in front of the royal palace. No one could move it, not even the strongest warriors. The king announced a challenge: whoever could remove the fish head would marry his daughter.

Seeing the fish head, Kelingking realized it was the same one he had discarded. Ignoring the crowd’s mockery of his small size, he circled the fish head seven times and effortlessly lifted it with his pinky finger, burying it behind the palace.

Amazed, the king declared, “Young man, despite your size, you possess great strength and courage. You shall marry my daughter.”

The wedding was celebrated with grand festivities, and Kelingking brought his father and brothers to live with him in the palace. Together, they lived happily ever after.