The Mail for a Name She Didn't Know

Solange moves into a small apartment on Birchwood Street. It is her first week there. Boxes still sit in every room.

Solange pindah ke sebuah apartemen kecil di Jalan Birchwood. Ini minggu pertamanya di sana. Kardus-kardus masih ada di setiap ruangan.

On Monday, a letter arrives at her door. The name on it is Priscilla Okafor. Solange does not know that name.

Pada hari Senin, sebuah surat tiba di pintunya. Nama di surat itu Priscilla Okafor. Solange tidak mengenal nama itu.

"Maybe it's for someone else in the building," she says to herself. She leaves it on the hallway table by the mailboxes.

"Mungkin ini untuk orang lain di gedung ini," katanya pada dirinya sendiri. Ia meninggalkannya di meja lorong dekat kotak-kotak surat.

On Tuesday, two more letters arrive for the same name. By Friday, five letters wait in a small pile. Solange decides to ask her neighbors about it.

Pada hari Selasa, dua surat lagi datang untuk nama yang sama. Menjelang hari Jumat, lima surat menunggu dalam tumpukan kecil. Solange memutuskan untuk menanyakannya kepada tetangga-tetangganya.

She knocks on the door across the hall. An older woman named Perla opens it.

Ia mengetuk pintu di seberang lorong. Seorang wanita yang lebih tua bernama Perla membukanya.

"Hi, I'm new here," Solange says. "Do you know anyone named Priscilla Okafor? I keep getting mail for that name."

"Halo, saya baru di sini," kata Solange. "Apakah Ibu kenal seseorang bernama Priscilla Okafor? Saya terus menerima surat untuk nama itu."

Perla thinks for a moment. "Oh, that's Priscilla. She lived in your apartment before you. She moved out about two months ago."

Perla berpikir sejenak. "Oh, itu Priscilla. Dia tinggal di apartemenmu sebelum kamu. Dia pindah sekitar dua bulan lalu."

"Do you know where she moved to?" Solange asks.

"Apakah Ibu tahu dia pindah ke mana?" tanya Solange.

"Not exactly, but the manager can check," Perla says. "His office is on the first floor."

"Tidak persis, tapi pengelola gedung bisa memeriksanya," kata Perla. "Kantornya ada di lantai satu."

Solange thanks Perla. She walks to the manager's office with the small pile of letters. The manager checks his files and finds a forwarding address.

Solange berterima kasih kepada Perla. Ia berjalan ke kantor pengelola dengan tumpukan kecil surat itu. Pengelola gedung memeriksa berkasnya dan menemukan alamat penerusan.

"I'll add a note to the mailbox," he says. "The mail carrier can update the route."

"Saya akan menambahkan catatan di kotak surat," katanya. "Petugas pos bisa memperbarui rutenya."

Solange writes "Please forward" on each letter. She drops them in the outgoing mail slot. The next week, no more letters for Priscilla arrive.

Solange menulis "Mohon diteruskan" pada setiap surat. Ia memasukkannya ke lubang surat keluar. Minggu berikutnya, tidak ada lagi surat untuk Priscilla yang datang.

Solange smiles at her own mailbox, now labeled with her correct name.

Solange tersenyum pada kotak suratnya sendiri, yang kini berlabel nama yang benar.