The Ball Boy at Court Four

On Monday, Teodor started his first job. He was a ball collector at a tennis club. He was fourteen.

Pada hari Senin, Teodor mulai bekerja untuk pertama kalinya. Dia menjadi pemungut bola di sebuah klub tenis. Umurnya empat belas tahun.

A coach named Vito met him at the gate. Vito wore a white cap and carried a bucket.

Seorang pelatih bernama Vito menemuinya di gerbang. Vito memakai topi putih dan membawa ember.

"Today you work on court four," Vito said. "Stand by the net post."

"Hari ini kamu bekerja di lapangan empat," kata Vito. "Berdirilah di dekat tiang net."

"What do I do there?" Teodor asked.

"Apa yang harus saya lakukan di sana?" tanya Teodor.

"You watch the balls. When a point ends, you pick them up."

"Perhatikan bolanya. Kalau satu poin selesai, kamu mengambilnya."

Teodor stood by the post. Two women played a fast game. The yellow balls flew past him again and again.

Teodor berdiri di dekat tiang itu. Dua wanita bermain dengan cepat. Bola-bola kuning melesat melewatinya berulang kali.

On Tuesday, Teodor stood by the post again. He picked up six balls. He put them in the bucket. His arms hurt a little, but he liked the work.

Pada hari Selasa, Teodor berdiri di dekat tiang itu lagi. Dia mengambil enam bola. Dia memasukkannya ke ember. Lengannya sedikit pegal, tetapi dia suka pekerjaan itu.

On Wednesday, a woman named Uzma played a long match. She was the best player at the club. Teodor wanted to do a very good job.

Pada hari Rabu, seorang wanita bernama Uzma bermain dalam pertandingan yang panjang. Dia pemain terbaik di klub. Teodor ingin bekerja dengan sangat baik.

Uzma hit a hard shot. The ball hit the net and rolled onto the court. It stopped near the line.

Uzma memukul bola dengan keras. Bola itu mengenai net dan menggelinding ke lapangan. Bola itu berhenti dekat garis.

Teodor saw the ball. He ran onto the court and picked it up.

Teodor melihat bola itu. Dia berlari ke lapangan dan mengambilnya.

"Stop!" Uzma shouted.

"Berhenti!" teriak Uzma.

The other player stopped. The point was still on. Teodor stood in the middle of the court. The ball was in his hand.

Pemain yang lain berhenti. Poin itu masih berjalan. Teodor berdiri di tengah lapangan. Bola ada di tangannya.

Uzma walked to the net. "Please wait until the point ends," she said.

Uzma berjalan ke net. "Tolong tunggu sampai poinnya selesai," katanya.

"I am sorry," Teodor said. His hands shook.

"Maaf," kata Teodor. Tangannya gemetar.

Vito came to the fence. He did not look angry. "Come here, Teodor," he said.

Vito datang ke pagar. Dia tidak tampak marah. "Kemarilah, Teodor," katanya.

Teodor walked off the court and gave Vito the ball.

Teodor berjalan keluar lapangan dan memberikan bola itu kepada Vito.

"A loose ball is not a problem," Vito said. "A player on the court is a problem."

"Bola yang lepas bukan masalah," kata Vito. "Pemain di lapangan itulah masalahnya."

"I wanted to help," Teodor said.

"Saya ingin membantu," kata Teodor.

"I know. Here is the rule. You stay still during a point. You move after the point."

"Aku tahu. Ini aturannya. Kamu diam selama satu poin. Kamu bergerak setelah poinnya selesai."

"Stay still," Teodor said. "Then move."

"Diam," kata Teodor. "Lalu bergerak."

"Yes. And roll the ball. Do not throw it. Roll it to the player's feet."

"Ya. Dan gulirkan bolanya. Jangan dilempar. Gulirkan ke kaki pemain."

Vito showed him how. He held a ball low. He sent it along the ground. It rolled straight to the baseline.

Vito menunjukkan caranya. Dia memegang bola rendah. Dia mengirimnya di sepanjang tanah. Bola itu menggelinding lurus ke garis belakang.

Teodor tried it five times. The first ball went left. The second went right. The fifth ball rolled to Vito's shoe.

Teodor mencobanya lima kali. Bola pertama melenceng ke kiri. Bola kedua ke kanan. Bola kelima menggelinding ke sepatu Vito.

"Good," Vito said. "Now go back to your post."

"Bagus," kata Vito. "Sekarang kembali ke tiangmu."

Teodor went back. Uzma smiled at him from the court. She did not say anything. She picked up her racket and served.

Teodor kembali. Uzma tersenyum kepadanya dari lapangan. Dia tidak berkata apa-apa. Dia mengambil raketnya dan melakukan servis.

The ball hit the net again. It rolled onto the court. Teodor wanted to run. His legs wanted to run. He held the post with one hand.

Bola mengenai net lagi. Bola itu menggelinding ke lapangan. Teodor ingin berlari. Kakinya ingin berlari. Dia memegang tiang dengan satu tangan.

The two women hit the ball back and forth. They hit it six times. Then Uzma missed, and the point ended.

Kedua wanita itu memukul bola bolak-balik. Mereka memukulnya enam kali. Lalu Uzma meleset, dan poin itu selesai.

Teodor waited one more second. Then he walked onto the court. He picked up the loose ball. Then he found two more by the fence.

Teodor menunggu satu detik lagi. Lalu dia berjalan ke lapangan. Dia mengambil bola yang lepas. Lalu dia menemukan dua bola lagi di dekat pagar.

On Thursday, he did the same job. He did not run once. He rolled every ball to the right place. Vito watched him from the fence and nodded.

Pada hari Kamis, dia melakukan pekerjaan yang sama. Dia tidak berlari sekali pun. Dia menggulirkan setiap bola ke tempat yang tepat. Vito mengawasinya dari pagar dan mengangguk.

On Friday, Vito gave him a new white cap. It had the club name on it.

Pada hari Jumat, Vito memberinya topi putih yang baru. Topi itu bertuliskan nama klub.

"You earned that," Vito said.

"Kamu pantas mendapatkannya," kata Vito.

Teodor put on the cap. Then he went to court four. Uzma was already there. She held a ball in her hand.

Teodor memakai topi itu. Lalu dia pergi ke lapangan empat. Uzma sudah ada di sana. Dia memegang sebuah bola.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Siap?" tanyanya.

Teodor stood still by the net post. She hit the first ball of the game. It crossed the line. He stood still and waited for the point to end.

Teodor berdiri diam di dekat tiang net. Uzma memukul bola pertama dalam permainan. Bola itu melewati garis. Dia berdiri diam dan menunggu poin itu selesai.