The Parrot That Learned the Wrong Word

Stellan's family has a gray parrot named Peanut. Peanut lives in a big cage in the living room. He repeats anything he hears.

Keluarga Stellan punya seekor burung beo abu-abu bernama Peanut. Peanut tinggal di sangkar besar di ruang tamu. Ia menirukan apa pun yang didengarnya.

One evening, Stellan's older sister Lila drops a plate in the kitchen. "Oh, great," she says loudly, in a flat, annoyed voice.

Pada suatu sore, kakak perempuan Stellan, Lila, menjatuhkan piring di dapur. "Wah, hebat," katanya keras-keras, dengan suara datar dan kesal.

Peanut listens closely from his cage. He tilts his head to one side.

Peanut mendengarkan dengan saksama dari sangkarnya. Ia memiringkan kepalanya ke satu sisi.

The next morning, Peanut says it too. "Oh, great," he says, in the exact same flat voice. He says it again and again, all day long.

Keesokan paginya, Peanut mengatakannya juga. "Wah, hebat," katanya, dengan suara datar yang persis sama. Ia mengatakannya berulang-ulang, sepanjang hari.

"Peanut, please stop," Stellan says, laughing a little.

"Peanut, tolong berhenti," kata Stellan sambil tertawa kecil.

By the weekend, Peanut says the phrase often. When his food bowl is empty, he says it. When the door closes too loudly, he says it too.

Menjelang akhir pekan, Peanut sering mengucapkan kalimat itu. Saat mangkuk makanannya kosong, ia mengucapkannya. Saat pintu tertutup terlalu keras, ia juga mengucapkannya.

"This is a problem," Lila says. "Grandma visits tomorrow, and she hates that phrase."

"Ini masalah," kata Lila. "Besok Nenek berkunjung, dan Nenek benci kalimat itu."

Stellan looks at Peanut and thinks for a minute. "We need to teach him something new," he says. "Something he'll want to say more."

Stellan memandang Peanut dan berpikir sebentar. "Kita harus mengajarinya sesuatu yang baru," katanya. "Sesuatu yang lebih ingin ia ucapkan."

They spend the evening near the cage. When Peanut stays quiet, they give him a piece of apple. When he says a new word, they say kind words to him.

Mereka menghabiskan malam itu di dekat sangkar. Saat Peanut diam, mereka memberinya sepotong apel. Saat ia mengucapkan kata baru, mereka mengatakan kata-kata yang baik kepadanya.

"Good bird!" Stellan says again and again, in a happy, bright voice.

"Burung pintar!" kata Stellan berulang kali, dengan suara riang dan ceria.

By bedtime, Peanut starts to copy the new phrase instead. "Good bird! Good bird!" he squawks proudly from his perch.

Menjelang waktu tidur, Peanut mulai menirukan kalimat baru itu. "Burung pintar! Burung pintar!" cicitnya dengan bangga dari tenggerannya.

The next day, Grandma arrives and walks straight to the cage.

Keesokan harinya, Nenek tiba dan langsung berjalan ke sangkar.

"Good bird!" Peanut announces. Grandma laughs and claps her hands.

"Burung pintar!" seru Peanut. Nenek tertawa dan bertepuk tangan.