The Quiet Help Before Math Class

Idris arrives early to math class every day. He likes the quiet room before the bell. He usually reads a book alone.

Idris datang lebih awal ke kelas matematika setiap hari. Ia suka ruangan yang sunyi sebelum bel berbunyi. Biasanya ia membaca buku sendirian.

Today, a classmate named Priscilla sits two seats away. She stares at her homework with a worried face. She erases the same problem three times.

Hari ini, seorang teman sekelas bernama Priscilla duduk dua kursi darinya. Ia menatap pekerjaan rumahnya dengan wajah cemas. Ia menghapus soal yang sama sampai tiga kali.

Idris notices her frustration from across the room. He does not know Priscilla very well. He decides to offer help.

Idris melihat kekesalannya dari seberang ruangan. Ia tidak begitu mengenal Priscilla. Ia memutuskan untuk menawarkan bantuan.

"Do you want help with that problem?" he asks quietly. Priscilla looks up, surprised. "Yes, please," she says. "I don't understand this part."

"Mau kubantu dengan soal itu?" tanyanya pelan. Priscilla menengadah, terkejut. "Mau, tolong," katanya. "Aku tidak mengerti bagian ini."

Idris moves to the seat next to her. He points at the first step of the problem. "Try this part first," he says.

Idris pindah ke kursi di sebelahnya. Ia menunjuk langkah pertama soal itu. "Coba bagian ini dulu," katanya.

Priscilla tries his idea on her paper. The numbers start to look clear. She solves the rest of the problem herself.

Priscilla mencoba ide Idris di kertasnya. Angka-angkanya mulai tampak jelas. Ia menyelesaikan sisa soal itu sendiri.

"Thank you very much," Priscilla says. "I did not understand this for a long time."

"Terima kasih banyak," kata Priscilla. "Sudah lama aku tidak paham yang ini."

"You're welcome," Idris says. "I like math a lot."

"Sama-sama," kata Idris. "Aku suka sekali matematika."

The teacher walks in and starts the lesson. Priscilla smiles at Idris across the room.

Guru masuk dan memulai pelajaran. Priscilla tersenyum kepada Idris dari seberang ruangan.