The Stray Cat

Kira walks home from school every day. She takes the same path through the park. The park has tall trees and a small pond. Birds sing in the trees above her.

Kira berjalan pulang dari sekolah setiap hari. Ia melewati jalan yang sama melintasi taman. Taman itu punya pohon-pohon tinggi dan kolam kecil. Burung-burung berkicau di pepohonan di atasnya.

Today, the walk feels the same at first. Kira listens to music on her phone. She thinks about her homework and dinner. The path is quiet and empty.

Hari ini, awalnya perjalanan terasa sama saja. Kira mendengarkan musik di ponselnya. Ia memikirkan pekerjaan rumah dan makan malam. Jalan setapak itu sepi dan kosong.

Suddenly, she hears a small, sad sound. It comes from behind a big bush. Kira stops and takes out her earphones. She listens again, very carefully.

Tiba-tiba, ia mendengar suara kecil yang sedih. Suara itu datang dari balik semak besar. Kira berhenti dan melepas earphone-nya. Ia mendengarkan lagi dengan sangat saksama.

The sound is soft crying, like a baby. Kira walks closer to the bush. She looks behind the green leaves. A small gray cat sits there alone.

Suara itu rintihan pelan, seperti bayi. Kira berjalan mendekati semak itu. Ia mengintip di balik daun-daun hijau. Seekor kucing kecil berwarna abu-abu duduk di sana sendirian.

The cat is thin and very dirty. One of its legs looks hurt. It looks up at Kira with big eyes. Kira feels sorry for the little cat.

Kucing itu kurus dan sangat kotor. Salah satu kakinya tampak terluka. Ia menatap Kira dengan mata besar. Kira merasa kasihan pada kucing kecil itu.

"Hey there, little one," Kira says softly. "Are you lost?"

"Hai, Kecil," kata Kira lembut. "Kamu tersesat?"

The cat doesn't run away this time. Kira slowly holds out her hand. The cat sniffs her fingers and stays still. She picks up the cat very gently.

Kali ini kucing itu tidak lari. Kira perlahan mengulurkan tangannya. Kucing itu mengendus jari-jarinya dan tetap diam. Ia mengangkat kucing itu dengan sangat lembut.

Kira doesn't know what to do. She can't just leave the cat here. She decides to take it home. Her mom always says she is kind.

Kira tidak tahu harus berbuat apa. Ia tidak bisa begitu saja meninggalkan kucing itu di sini. Ia memutuskan membawanya pulang. Ibunya selalu bilang ia anak yang baik hati.

Kira wraps the cat in her jacket. She walks fast toward her house now. The cat is warm against her chest. It starts to make a small sound.

Kira membungkus kucing itu dengan jaketnya. Sekarang ia berjalan cepat menuju rumahnya. Kucing itu terasa hangat di dadanya. Kucing itu mulai mengeluarkan suara kecil.

At home, Kira's mom opens the door. "What do you have there?" she asks.

Di rumah, ibu Kira membuka pintu. "Kamu bawa apa itu?" tanyanya.

"I found a hurt cat in the park," Kira says. "Can we help her, please?"

"Aku menemukan kucing yang terluka di taman," kata Kira. "Bolehkah kita menolongnya, Bu?"

Her mom looks at the little cat. "Let's clean her up first," she says.

Ibunya memandang kucing kecil itu. "Kita bersihkan dia dulu," katanya.

Kira smiles and carries the cat inside.

Kira tersenyum dan membawa kucing itu masuk.