The Bike Built on Saturdays

Every Saturday, the bike workshop opens at nine. It is a small room behind the community center. There are tools on the walls. Old wheels lie on the floor.

Setiap hari Sabtu, bengkel sepeda dibuka pukul sembilan. Tempatnya ruangan kecil di belakang balai warga. Ada peralatan di dinding. Roda-roda tua tergeletak di lantai.

Adrian runs the workshop. He is a calm man with oil on his hands. He teaches people to fix bikes. It costs nothing.

Adrian mengelola bengkel itu. Dia pria yang tenang dengan tangan penuh oli. Dia mengajari orang memperbaiki sepeda. Tidak dipungut biaya.

Today a new person comes in. She is a young woman with a big bag. Her name is Daria.

Hari ini ada orang baru yang datang. Dia seorang perempuan muda dengan tas besar. Namanya Daria.

"Hello," she says. "I want to learn about bikes. I know nothing."

"Halo," katanya. "Saya ingin belajar tentang sepeda. Saya tidak tahu apa-apa."

"That is a good place to start," says Adrian. "What do you want to do?"

"Itu awal yang bagus," kata Adrian. "Apa yang ingin Anda lakukan?"

"I want to build a bike for my niece. She is seven. Her birthday is in a month."

"Saya ingin membuat sepeda untuk keponakan saya. Umurnya tujuh tahun. Ulang tahunnya sebulan lagi."

Adrian smiles. "A small bike. Good. Come with me."

Adrian tersenyum. "Sepeda kecil. Bagus. Ikut saya."

He shows her the back room. There is an old pink frame on a stand. It is dusty, but it is strong. Next to it, there is a box of parts.

Dia menunjukkan ruang belakang. Ada sebuah rangka sepeda merah muda yang tua di atas dudukan. Rangka itu berdebu, tetapi kuat. Di sebelahnya ada sekotak suku cadang.

"This frame is for you," he says. "First, we clean it."

"Rangka ini untuk Anda," katanya. "Pertama, kita bersihkan."

They wash the frame with soap and water. Daria works hard. She makes a mess. Water runs down her sleeve. Adrian gives her a towel. He says nothing, but he smiles.

Mereka mencuci rangka itu dengan sabun dan air. Daria bekerja keras. Dia membuat kekacauan. Air mengalir di lengan bajunya. Adrian memberinya handuk. Dia tidak berkata apa-apa, tetapi dia tersenyum.

The next Saturday, they put on the wheels. The wheels are hard to fit. Daria pushes, and the wheel does not move. She pushes again. It still does not move.

Sabtu berikutnya, mereka memasang roda. Roda itu sulit dipasang. Daria mendorong, tetapi roda tidak bergerak. Dia mendorong lagi. Tetap tidak bergerak.

"Stop," says Adrian. "Do not push so hard. Look at the small holes. They must match."

"Berhenti," kata Adrian. "Jangan mendorong sekeras itu. Lihat lubang-lubang kecilnya. Lubang itu harus pas."

She looks. The holes do not match. She turns the wheel a little. Then it slides into place.

Daria memperhatikan. Lubang-lubangnya tidak pas. Dia memutar roda sedikit. Lalu roda itu meluncur ke tempatnya.

"Oh!" she says. "That is easy."

"Oh!" katanya. "Mudah sekali."

"Everything is easy when you see it," says Adrian.

"Semuanya mudah kalau Anda sudah melihatnya," kata Adrian.

In the third week, they work on the brakes. Adrian shows her the small cable. His hand is near hers. Daria does not look at the cable. She looks at his hand. It is big and slow and careful.

Pada minggu ketiga, mereka mengerjakan rem. Adrian menunjukkan kabel kecil kepadanya. Tangannya dekat dengan tangan Daria. Daria tidak melihat kabel itu. Dia melihat tangan Adrian. Tangan itu besar, bergerak pelan, dan hati-hati.

"Do you see it?" Adrian asks.

"Anda lihat?" tanya Adrian.

"Yes," she says quickly. "The cable. Yes."

"Ya," katanya cepat-cepat. "Kabelnya. Ya."

She pulls the cable too tight. The brake sticks. Adrian laughs. It is a low, nice laugh.

Dia menarik kabel itu terlalu kencang. Remnya macet. Adrian tertawa. Tawanya rendah dan menyenangkan.

"Again," he says. "Soft hands."

"Sekali lagi," katanya. "Tangan yang lembut."

In the fourth week, the bike is nearly done. There is only one job left. They must add the seat and the bell. They also add white tape.

Pada minggu keempat, sepeda itu hampir selesai. Tinggal satu pekerjaan lagi. Mereka harus memasang jok dan bel. Mereka juga memasang pita putih.

Daria brings a surprise. It is a small paper bag. Inside, there are two bread rolls with cheese.

Daria membawa kejutan. Sebuah kantong kertas kecil. Isinya dua roti dengan keju.

"For you," she says. "You help me every week."

"Untuk Anda," katanya. "Anda membantu saya setiap minggu."

"Thank you." Adrian takes a roll. "This is the best job of the day."

"Terima kasih." Adrian mengambil sebuah roti. "Ini bagian terbaik hari ini."

They sit on two boxes and eat. The workshop is quiet. A bird sings outside the window.

Mereka duduk di atas dua kotak dan makan. Bengkel itu sunyi. Seekor burung berkicau di luar jendela.

"Why do you teach this class?" Daria asks.

"Mengapa Anda mengajar kelas ini?" tanya Daria.

"My father taught me," says Adrian. "He said, 'A bike is a good first friend.'"

"Ayah saya yang mengajari saya," kata Adrian. "Dia bilang, 'Sepeda adalah sahabat pertama yang baik.'"

"I think he was right," says Daria.

"Menurut saya, ayah Anda benar," kata Daria.

She puts the bell on the handle. It makes a small, bright sound. Daria rings it three times. Adrian laughs again.

Dia memasang bel di setang. Bel itu berbunyi kecil dan nyaring. Daria membunyikannya tiga kali. Adrian tertawa lagi.

"One more thing," he says. "We must test it."

"Satu hal lagi," katanya. "Kita harus mengujinya."

"But it is a bike for a seven-year-old," says Daria.

"Tapi ini sepeda untuk anak tujuh tahun," kata Daria.

"We are not heavy. We will go slowly."

"Kita tidak berat. Kita akan pelan-pelan saja."

They carry the pink bike outside. The street is empty and sunny. Daria sits on the seat. Her knees are high. Adrian runs next to her and holds the back.

Mereka membawa sepeda merah muda itu ke luar. Jalanan kosong dan cerah. Daria duduk di jok. Lututnya tinggi. Adrian berlari di sampingnya dan memegangi bagian belakang.

"Do not let go," she says.

"Jangan dilepas," katanya.

"I will not," he says.

"Tidak akan," katanya.

The little bike wobbles down the road. Daria rings the bell the whole way. Adrian does not let go.

Sepeda kecil itu oleng menyusuri jalan. Daria membunyikan bel sepanjang jalan. Adrian tidak melepaskannya.