The Beans That Liked to Listen

In April, the school garden was in trouble. The soil was dry. The bean plants were thin and pale. The class watered them every day. Nothing changed.

Pada bulan April, kebun sekolah sedang dalam masalah. Tanahnya kering. Tanaman kacangnya kurus dan pucat. Kelas menyiramnya setiap hari. Tidak ada yang berubah.

Uma looked after the beans on Tuesdays. She was twelve, and she was shy. In class, she never raised her hand. When the teacher asked her to read, her voice shook.

Uma merawat kacang-kacang itu pada hari Selasa. Usianya dua belas tahun, dan dia pemalu. Di kelas, dia tidak pernah mengangkat tangan. Saat guru memintanya membaca, suaranya gemetar.

One Tuesday after school, she went to the garden alone. The sun was low. The beans leaned to one side.

Pada suatu Selasa sepulang sekolah, dia pergi ke kebun sendirian. Matahari sudah rendah. Kacang-kacang itu miring ke satu sisi.

"I am sorry," she said to them. "I do not know how to help."

"Maaf ya," katanya kepada mereka. "Aku tidak tahu cara membantu kalian."

She sat down on the grass. She had a book in her bag. It was a story about a fox and a boat. She took it out and began to read, very quietly. She read to the beans because nobody else was there.

Dia duduk di atas rumput. Di tasnya ada sebuah buku. Isinya cerita tentang seekor rubah dan sebuah perahu. Dia mengeluarkannya dan mulai membaca dengan sangat pelan. Dia membaca untuk kacang-kacang itu karena tidak ada orang lain di sana.

At first, her voice was small. But the garden was calm. The beans did not laugh. Her voice grew stronger. She read the whole first chapter.

Pada awalnya suaranya kecil. Tetapi kebun itu tenang. Kacang-kacang itu tidak menertawakannya. Suaranya makin kuat. Dia membaca seluruh bab pertama.

When she stood up, she felt a little better. She took her bag and went home.

Ketika berdiri, dia merasa sedikit lebih baik. Dia mengambil tasnya lalu pulang.

The next Tuesday, she came back. The beans were taller. Not much, but she saw it. She looked at the one next to the fence. It was a full hand higher.

Selasa berikutnya, dia datang lagi. Kacang-kacang itu lebih tinggi. Tidak banyak, tetapi dia melihatnya. Dia memandangi kacang di dekat pagar. Tingginya bertambah satu telapak tangan penuh.

"That is strange," she said. She touched a leaf. It was green and soft.

"Aneh sekali," katanya. Dia menyentuh selembar daun. Daun itu hijau dan lembut.

Uma read to them again. This time, she read two chapters. Her voice moved up and down with the story. When the fox spoke, her voice went low and slow.

Uma membacakan cerita lagi untuk mereka. Kali ini dia membaca dua bab. Suaranya naik turun mengikuti cerita. Saat si rubah berbicara, suaranya menjadi rendah dan pelan.

In May, the beans grew as tall as her knee. Small white flowers opened on every plant.

Pada bulan Mei, kacang-kacang itu tumbuh setinggi lututnya. Bunga-bunga putih kecil mekar di setiap tanaman.

Bruno, a boy from her class, saw her one afternoon. He walked past the fence with a ball. He stopped.

Bruno, seorang anak laki-laki di kelasnya, melihatnya pada suatu sore. Dia lewat di dekat pagar sambil membawa bola. Dia berhenti.

"Are you talking to the plants?" he asked.

"Kamu bicara dengan tanaman?" tanyanya.

Uma jumped. Her face went hot. "No," she said. "I mean, yes. I read to them."

Uma terlonjak. Wajahnya terasa panas. "Tidak," katanya. "Maksudku, iya. Aku membacakan cerita untuk mereka."

Bruno laughed, but not in a mean way. "That is silly," he said. "Plants do not hear."

Bruno tertawa, tetapi bukan tawa yang jahat. "Itu konyol," katanya. "Tanaman kan tidak bisa mendengar."

"These do," Uma said. She pointed. "Look."

"Yang ini bisa," kata Uma. Dia menunjuk. "Lihat."

She opened the book. She read one line, loud and clear. Slowly, the beans leaned toward her like children. A small green leaf turned in her direction.

Dia membuka buku itu. Dia membaca satu baris, keras dan jelas. Perlahan, kacang-kacang itu condong ke arahnya seperti anak-anak. Selembar daun hijau kecil berputar menghadapnya.

Bruno's mouth opened. He dropped the ball. It rolled across the grass. Neither of them moved.

Mulut Bruno ternganga. Bolanya terlepas. Bola itu menggelinding di atas rumput. Tak satu pun dari mereka bergerak.

"They like it," he said at last.

"Mereka suka," katanya akhirnya.

"I think they like my voice," Uma said.

"Kurasa mereka suka suaraku," kata Uma.

"You have a lot of listeners," Bruno said. He smiled. "You should read to the class too."

"Pendengarmu banyak sekali," kata Bruno. Dia tersenyum. "Kamu juga harus membaca untuk kelas."

"I cannot," said Uma. "I am afraid."

"Aku tidak bisa," kata Uma. "Aku takut."

"The beans are not afraid. You read to them every week."

"Kacang-kacang itu tidak takut. Kamu membaca untuk mereka setiap minggu."

She thought about it. That night, she wrote a list of her reading days. She counted nine. Nine times she read without fear.

Dia memikirkannya. Malam itu, dia menulis daftar hari-hari membacanya. Dia menghitung sembilan. Sembilan kali dia membaca tanpa rasa takut.

On Open Day, parents came to see the garden. The beans stood tall and full. Families took photos. The teacher asked if someone wanted to speak.

Pada Hari Terbuka, para orang tua datang melihat kebun. Kacang-kacang itu berdiri tinggi dan penuh. Keluarga-keluarga berfoto. Guru bertanya apakah ada yang ingin berbicara.

Nobody spoke. Then Uma lifted her hand.

Tidak ada yang bicara. Lalu Uma mengangkat tangan.

She stood in front of the beans with her book. She took a long breath and began to read. Her voice was clear. The crowd grew quiet. The beans turned slowly toward her, and everyone saw it.

Dia berdiri di depan kacang-kacang itu dengan bukunya. Dia menarik napas panjang dan mulai membaca. Suaranya jelas. Orang-orang menjadi hening. Kacang-kacang itu perlahan berpaling kepadanya, dan semua orang melihatnya.

When she finished, Uma closed the book. Then she bowed to the plants.

Setelah selesai, Uma menutup bukunya. Lalu dia membungkuk kepada tanaman-tanaman itu.