The Tuesday Morning Footprints

Kai lived on the third floor of an apartment building. Every Tuesday, muddy footprints covered the back stairs. The prints started at the back door. They stopped right at the mail room.

Kai tinggal di lantai tiga sebuah gedung apartemen. Setiap hari Selasa, jejak kaki berlumpur memenuhi tangga belakang. Jejak itu dimulai dari pintu belakang. Jejak itu berhenti tepat di ruang surat.

Kai first thought a neighbor made the mess. He asked around, but no one knew. The mystery bothered him every single week.

Awalnya Kai mengira seorang tetangga yang membuat kotor. Ia bertanya ke sana kemari, tetapi tidak ada yang tahu. Misteri itu mengganggunya setiap minggu.

One rainy Tuesday, Kai got up early. He sat near the back door with his coffee. At seven o'clock, someone opened the door.

Pada suatu Selasa yang hujan, Kai bangun pagi-pagi. Ia duduk di dekat pintu belakang sambil membawa kopinya. Pukul tujuh, seseorang membuka pintu.

A mail carrier walked in with a big bag. Rain dripped from her yellow raincoat. Her boots left wet, muddy prints on the floor.

Seorang tukang pos masuk membawa tas besar. Air hujan menetes dari jas hujan kuningnya. Sepatu botnya meninggalkan jejak basah berlumpur di lantai.

"Good morning," Kai said with a smile.

"Selamat pagi," kata Kai sambil tersenyum.

"Good morning," the mail carrier said. "Sorry about the mud."

"Selamat pagi," kata tukang pos itu. "Maaf soal lumpurnya."

"This door saves time on rainy days," she said. "The front entrance is far around the building."

"Pintu ini menghemat waktu saat hujan," katanya. "Pintu depan jauh kalau harus memutari gedung."

"That makes sense," Kai said. "I was just curious."

"Masuk akal," kata Kai. "Aku hanya penasaran."

"I always try to wipe my boots," she said. "But the front mat sits too far away."

"Aku selalu berusaha membersihkan sepatu botku," katanya. "Tapi keset di depan terlalu jauh."

Kai had an idea right away. "What about a mat right here?" he asked.

Kai langsung punya ide. "Bagaimana kalau ada keset di sini?" tanyanya.

The mail carrier smiled and nodded. "That would help a lot," she said.

Tukang pos itu tersenyum dan mengangguk. "Itu akan sangat membantu," katanya.

Kai bought a thick mat that same day. He put it next to the back door.

Kai membeli keset tebal hari itu juga. Ia meletakkannya di samping pintu belakang.

The next Tuesday, Kai checked the stairs. The floor was clean and dry. A few small, damp marks sat on the mat.

Pada Selasa berikutnya, Kai memeriksa tangga. Lantainya bersih dan kering. Beberapa bekas lembap kecil ada di atas keset.

Kai smiled and picked up his coffee. The stairs stayed clean every Tuesday after that.

Kai tersenyum dan mengambil kopinya. Sejak itu, tangga tetap bersih setiap hari Selasa.