The Bus Driver Who Waited

Ailsa drives the last bus of the night. It leaves the station at 11:40. Her route goes past the river, the hospital and the old market. At this hour, the bus is almost empty.

Ailsa mengemudikan bus terakhir malam itu. Bus berangkat dari terminal pukul 23.40. Rutenya melewati sungai, rumah sakit, dan pasar lama. Pada jam segini, bus hampir kosong.

Tonight she stops at the market and looks in her mirror. Far down the street, an old man runs toward her. He holds a big bag of shopping in one hand.

Malam ini ia berhenti di pasar dan melihat ke kaca spionnya. Jauh di ujung jalan, seorang pria tua berlari ke arahnya. Di satu tangannya ia menenteng kantong belanja yang besar.

The rule says the bus must leave on time. If she is late, the next driver is late too. Ailsa looks at the clock. It is 11:40.

Aturannya mengatakan bus harus berangkat tepat waktu. Jika ia terlambat, pengemudi berikutnya juga terlambat. Ailsa melihat jam. Pukul 23.40.

She waits. She counts slowly in her head. The man comes closer. His bag hits his leg with every step.

Ia menunggu. Ia menghitung pelan-pelan dalam kepalanya. Pria itu semakin dekat. Kantongnya memukul kakinya di setiap langkah.

At forty seconds, he climbs on. For a moment, he cannot speak. "Thank you," he says. "This is the last bus. I have no money for a taxi."

Pada detik keempat puluh, pria itu naik. Sesaat ia tidak bisa bicara. "Terima kasih," katanya. "Ini bus terakhir. Saya tidak punya uang untuk taksi."

"Sit down and rest," Ailsa says.

"Duduk dan istirahatlah," kata Ailsa.

She closes the doors and drives on. They pass the hospital, and then the dark river. The old man gets off near a small park. He waves from the street.

Ia menutup pintu dan melanjutkan perjalanan. Mereka melewati rumah sakit, lalu sungai yang gelap. Pria tua itu turun di dekat sebuah taman kecil. Ia melambai dari pinggir jalan.

The next week, he gets on the bus again, this time early. He gives her a paper bag. Inside is a warm pastry with cheese.

Minggu berikutnya, pria itu naik bus lagi, kali ini lebih awal. Ia memberi Ailsa sebuah kantong kertas. Di dalamnya ada kue pastri hangat berisi keju.

"Only once," he says. "The rules are the rules."

"Hanya sekali," katanya. "Aturan tetaplah aturan."

At the end of the line, Ailsa turns off the engine. She eats the pastry in the quiet bus.

Di ujung rute, Ailsa mematikan mesin. Ia memakan pastri itu di dalam bus yang sunyi.