The Late Prescription

Hollis stops at the pharmacy after work. He picks up medicine for his father every month. Today the line looks very long.

Hollis mampir ke apotek sepulang kerja. Setiap bulan ia mengambil obat untuk ayahnya. Hari ini antreannya tampak sangat panjang.

He checks in at the front desk. The worker checks the computer twice. "Your prescription needs ten extra minutes," she says.

Ia mendaftar di meja depan. Petugas memeriksa komputer dua kali. "Resep Anda butuh sepuluh menit lagi," katanya.

Hollis looks around the store. He usually waits in his car. Today he walks through the aisles instead.

Hollis memandang sekeliling toko. Biasanya ia menunggu di mobil. Hari ini ia berjalan menyusuri lorong-lorong toko.

He finds a shelf of greeting cards. His father's birthday is this weekend. Hollis picks a card with a garden on it.

Ia menemukan rak kartu ucapan. Ulang tahun ayahnya jatuh akhir pekan ini. Hollis memilih kartu bergambar taman.

He reads a few jokes inside a different card. This one makes him laugh. A woman nearby laughs too.

Ia membaca beberapa lelucon di dalam kartu yang lain. Kartu yang ini membuatnya tertawa. Seorang perempuan di dekatnya ikut tertawa.

"That one is funny," she says. "I always read the jokes first." Hollis smiles and puts the card in his basket.

"Yang itu lucu," katanya. "Saya selalu membaca leluconnya dulu." Hollis tersenyum dan memasukkan kartu itu ke keranjangnya.

A worker calls his name at the counter. He pays for the medicine and the card together. The worker hands him a small bag.

Seorang petugas memanggil namanya di meja layanan. Ia membayar obat dan kartu itu sekaligus. Petugas memberinya kantong kecil.

Hollis drives to his father's house with both gifts. His father opens the card first. He reads every joke twice.

Hollis mengendarai mobil ke rumah ayahnya dengan kedua hadiah itu. Ayahnya membuka kartunya lebih dulu. Ia membaca setiap leluconnya dua kali.