The Bridge of Paper Straws

Mr. Garrick gave the class a project. Each pair had to build a bridge. The bridge had to hold a heavy bag.

Pak Garrick memberi kelas sebuah proyek. Setiap pasangan harus membuat jembatan. Jembatan itu harus mampu menahan sebuah tas yang berat.

Evander looked at the list on the board. His partner was Halima. He frowned a little.

Evander melihat daftar di papan tulis. Pasangannya adalah Halima. Dia mengerutkan dahi sedikit.

Halima was the best student in science. She won every contest. Evander won the art prize each year.

Halima murid terbaik dalam pelajaran sains. Dia memenangkan setiap lomba. Evander memenangkan hadiah seni setiap tahun.

"I have a plan," Halima said. She opened her notebook. "We use flat beams and short sticks."

"Aku punya rencana," kata Halima. Dia membuka buku catatannya. "Kita pakai balok datar dan batang-batang pendek."

"That looks plain," Evander said. "I want a tall arch. It looks strong and pretty."

"Kelihatannya biasa saja," kata Evander. "Aku mau lengkungan yang tinggi. Kelihatannya kuat dan cantik."

"Pretty bridges fall down," she said.

"Jembatan yang cantik itu mudah roboh," katanya.

"Plain bridges are boring," he said.

"Jembatan yang biasa itu membosankan," kata Evander.

They sat in silence. Then Halima smiled a little. "Let us build two bridges. We test both."

Mereka duduk diam. Lalu Halima tersenyum sedikit. "Ayo kita buat dua jembatan. Kita uji keduanya."

"Good idea," Evander said. "My bridge will win."

"Ide bagus," kata Evander. "Jembatanku yang akan menang."

"No, mine will win," she said. She wrote the date in her notebook, like a bet.

"Tidak, punyaku yang menang," katanya. Dia menulis tanggal di buku catatannya, seperti sebuah taruhan.

They worked for three days after school. The room was quiet and warm. Evander cut paper straws with small scissors. Halima made beams from thick card.

Mereka bekerja selama tiga hari sepulang sekolah. Ruangan itu sunyi dan hangat. Evander memotong sedotan kertas dengan gunting kecil. Halima membuat balok dari karton tebal.

Sometimes Evander looked at her notes. Her drawings were neat. Her numbers were small and clear.

Kadang Evander melihat catatan Halima. Gambar-gambarnya rapi. Angka-angkanya kecil dan jelas.

Sometimes Halima looked at his arch. His line was smooth. It was like a long, perfect road in the air.

Kadang Halima melihat lengkungan buatan Evander. Garisnya mulus. Seperti jalan panjang yang sempurna di udara.

"How do you draw so well?" she asked.

"Bagaimana kamu bisa menggambar sebagus itu?" tanyanya.

"I draw every night," he said. "How do you count so fast?"

"Aku menggambar setiap malam," kata Evander. "Bagaimana kamu bisa berhitung secepat itu?"

"I count my steps to school," she said. They both laughed.

"Aku menghitung langkahku ke sekolah," katanya. Mereka berdua tertawa.

On the second day, Evander forgot his lunch. Halima gave him half of her sandwich. She did not say a word about it. He did not say thank you until the next day.

Pada hari kedua, Evander lupa membawa bekalnya. Halima memberinya setengah roti lapisnya. Dia tidak berkata apa-apa soal itu. Evander baru mengucapkan terima kasih keesokan harinya.

On the third day, Halima lost her pencil. Evander found it on the floor. He kept it for a minute. Then he gave it back. On the end was a tiny drawing of a bridge.

Pada hari ketiga, Halima kehilangan pensilnya. Evander menemukannya di lantai. Dia menyimpannya sebentar. Lalu dia mengembalikannya. Di ujungnya ada gambar kecil sebuah jembatan.

On Thursday, the test began. Mr. Garrick put the heavy bag on Halima's bridge. It held for a minute. Then it bent in the middle and fell.

Pada hari Kamis, pengujian dimulai. Pak Garrick menaruh tas berat itu di jembatan Halima. Jembatan itu bertahan selama satu menit. Lalu bagian tengahnya melengkung dan jembatan itu roboh.

"Oh no," Halima said. She looked at the floor.

"Aduh," kata Halima. Dia menatap lantai.

Then Mr. Garrick put the bag on Evander's arch. The arch held longer. But the two sides moved apart. The bridge fell too.

Lalu Pak Garrick menaruh tas itu di lengkungan Evander. Lengkungan itu bertahan lebih lama. Tapi kedua sisinya bergeser menjauh. Jembatan itu roboh juga.

"Mine lost too," Evander said. "I did not make the ends strong."

"Punyaku juga kalah," kata Evander. "Aku tidak membuat ujung-ujungnya kuat."

"And my middle was weak," Halima said.

"Dan bagian tengah punyaku lemah," kata Halima.

They looked at the two broken bridges. Evander picked up a flat beam. Halima picked up a curved straw.

Mereka memandang kedua jembatan yang rusak itu. Evander mengambil sebuah balok datar. Halima mengambil sebatang sedotan yang melengkung.

"Your arch and my beams," he said slowly.

"Lengkunganku dan balokmu," kata Evander pelan.

"Together," she said.

"Bersama-sama," kata Halima.

They stayed late that evening. Evander made the arch. Halima put a beam under each end. She cut the card. He held the pieces still. The glue made their fingers sticky.

Sore itu mereka tinggal sampai larut. Evander membuat lengkungannya. Halima memasang sebuah balok di bawah setiap ujungnya. Dia memotong karton. Evander memegang potongan-potongannya agar tidak bergerak. Lem membuat jari-jari mereka lengket.

"Hold it here," she said. She put her hand on his hand.

"Pegang di sini," kata Halima. Dia menaruh tangannya di atas tangan Evander.

"Okay," he said. He did not move for a long time.

"Oke," kata Evander. Dia tidak bergerak lama sekali.

When the sun went down, the room was empty. They looked at the new bridge. It was tall and it was strong. It was also very pretty.

Ketika matahari terbenam, ruangan sudah kosong. Mereka memandang jembatan baru itu. Jembatan itu tinggi dan kuat. Juga sangat cantik.

"I think we both lost," Halima said.

"Kurasa kita berdua kalah," kata Halima.

"I think we both won," Evander said.

"Kurasa kita berdua menang," kata Evander.

On Friday, the class watched. Mr. Garrick put the bag on the new bridge. Nobody spoke. The bridge did not bend. It did not fall.

Pada hari Jumat, kelas menyaksikan. Pak Garrick menaruh tas itu di jembatan baru. Tidak ada yang bicara. Jembatan itu tidak melengkung. Jembatan itu tidak roboh.

Mr. Garrick added a book. Then he added two more. The bridge stood strong.

Pak Garrick menambahkan sebuah buku. Lalu dua buku lagi. Jembatan itu tetap berdiri kokoh.

"This is the best bridge in the class," Mr. Garrick said.

"Ini jembatan terbaik di kelas," kata Pak Garrick.

Halima looked at Evander. He looked at her. They were both smiling.

Halima menatap Evander. Evander menatapnya. Mereka berdua tersenyum.

"We have a problem," Evander said. "Whose bridge is it?"

"Kita punya masalah," kata Evander. "Ini jembatan siapa?"

Halima took a pen. She wrote two names on the card by the arch. Then she gave him the pen.

Halima mengambil sebuah pulpen. Dia menulis dua nama pada karton di dekat lengkungan. Lalu dia memberikan pulpen itu kepada Evander.

"Your turn," she said.

"Giliranmu," katanya.