The Rain Cue

Wesley works backstage at a small city theatre. He is a stagehand. He moves the chairs and the tables. He pulls the ropes. He also makes the rain.

Wesley bekerja di balik panggung sebuah teater kecil di kota. Dia seorang kru panggung. Dia memindahkan kursi dan meja. Dia menarik tali-tali. Dia juga membuat hujan.

The rain machine is a long wooden box. It is full of dry rice. Wesley turns the box. The rice falls and makes a soft sound. The audience thinks it is rain.

Mesin hujan itu adalah kotak kayu panjang yang penuh dengan beras kering. Wesley memutar kotak itu. Beras berjatuhan dan menimbulkan suara lembut. Penonton mengira itu hujan.

Rhea works in the next room. She makes the costumes. All day she sews dresses and coats. She hums when she works. Wesley can hear her through the wall. He likes the sound, but he never says so.

Rhea bekerja di ruangan sebelah. Dia membuat kostum. Sepanjang hari dia menjahit gaun dan mantel. Dia bersenandung saat bekerja. Wesley bisa mendengarnya lewat dinding. Dia menyukai suara itu, tetapi tidak pernah mengatakannya.

Tonight is the first night of a new play. Wesley checks the rain box twice. Then Rhea comes in. She has a green coat in her hand.

Malam ini adalah malam pertama sebuah lakon baru. Wesley memeriksa kotak hujan dua kali. Lalu Rhea masuk. Dia membawa mantel hijau di tangannya.

"Hi," she says. "Is this the famous rain machine?"

"Hai," katanya. "Ini mesin hujan yang terkenal itu?"

"Yes," says Wesley. His voice is small.

"Ya," kata Wesley. Suaranya pelan.

"Can I hear it?"

"Boleh aku mendengarnya?"

He turns the box. The rice falls. Rhea listens with her head to one side.

Dia memutar kotak itu. Beras berjatuhan. Rhea mendengarkan sambil memiringkan kepala.

"It is nice," she says. "But it is quiet. The people in the back rows will not hear it."

"Bagus," katanya. "Tapi pelan. Orang-orang di barisan belakang tidak akan mendengarnya."

Wesley frowns. "The director likes it soft."

Wesley mengerutkan kening. "Sutradara suka yang lembut."

"Soft is good. But thin is not." Rhea looks around the room. "Do you have beans?"

"Lembut itu bagus. Tapi tipis tidak." Rhea melihat ke sekeliling ruangan. "Kamu punya kacang?"

"Beans?"

"Kacang?"

"My grandmother makes rain with dry beans. They are heavier. Try a few."

"Nenekku membuat hujan dengan kacang kering. Lebih berat. Coba beberapa butir."

Wesley laughs. It is a strange idea. But he finds dry beans in the kitchen. He puts a handful in the box. He turns it again.

Wesley tertawa. Idenya aneh. Tapi dia menemukan kacang kering di dapur. Dia memasukkan satu genggam ke dalam kotak. Dia memutarnya lagi.

Now the sound is full and deep. It sounds like real rain on a roof.

Sekarang suaranya penuh dan dalam. Terdengar seperti hujan sungguhan di atas atap.

"Oh," he says. "Oh, that is much better."

"Oh," katanya. "Oh, ini jauh lebih baik."

Rhea smiles. "I told you."

Rhea tersenyum. "Sudah kubilang."

The play starts at eight. Wesley stands in the dark by the stage. His hands are cold. The rain cue comes in the second act. He waits.

Lakon dimulai pukul delapan. Wesley berdiri dalam gelap di dekat panggung. Tangannya dingin. Isyarat hujan datang di babak kedua. Dia menunggu.

Someone touches his arm. It is Rhea. She stands next to him in a black sweater.

Seseorang menyentuh lengannya. Itu Rhea. Dia berdiri di sampingnya dengan sweter hitam.

"I want to see the rain scene," she whispers. "Can I stay here?"

"Aku ingin melihat adegan hujannya," bisiknya. "Boleh aku di sini?"

"Yes," says Wesley. His heart is fast.

"Boleh," kata Wesley. Jantungnya berdebar cepat.

On the stage, an actress opens a window. She looks out. The light turns grey and blue.

Di atas panggung, seorang aktris membuka jendela. Dia melihat ke luar. Cahaya berubah menjadi abu-abu dan biru.

"Now," whispers Rhea.

"Sekarang," bisik Rhea.

Wesley turns the box. The rice and beans fall. The sound is warm and strong. In the dark theatre, people lean forward. Someone near the front says, "Ah."

Wesley memutar kotak itu. Beras dan kacang berjatuhan. Suaranya hangat dan kuat. Di teater yang gelap, orang-orang mencondongkan tubuh ke depan. Seseorang di dekat barisan depan berkata, "Ah."

The scene ends. The lights go down. Wesley lets out his breath.

Adegan berakhir. Lampu meredup. Wesley menghembuskan napas lega.

"It was perfect," Rhea says.

"Tadi sempurna," kata Rhea.

"It was your idea," he says.

"Itu idemu," katanya.

"It was our rain," she says.

"Itu hujan kita," katanya.

After the show, the director comes backstage. She looks at Wesley and shakes his hand.

Setelah pertunjukan, sutradara datang ke belakang panggung. Dia menatap Wesley dan menjabat tangannya.

"The rain was wonderful tonight," she says. "Who changed it?"

"Hujannya luar biasa malam ini," katanya. "Siapa yang mengubahnya?"

Wesley looks at Rhea. Rhea looks at Wesley.

Wesley menatap Rhea. Rhea menatap Wesley.

"We did," they say together.

"Kami," kata mereka bersamaan.

Later the theatre is empty. Wesley puts the chairs away. Rhea folds the green coat.

Kemudian teater itu sepi. Wesley merapikan kursi-kursi. Rhea melipat mantel hijau.

"Next week there is a storm scene," he says. "It needs thunder. Do you want to help me make it?"

"Minggu depan ada adegan badai," katanya. "Butuh guntur. Kamu mau membantuku membuatnya?"

"With what?" asks Rhea.

"Dengan apa?" tanya Rhea.

"A big metal sheet. It is very loud."

"Lembaran logam besar. Suaranya keras sekali."

Rhea smiles. "Only if I can stand next to you again."

Rhea tersenyum. "Hanya kalau aku boleh berdiri di sampingmu lagi."

Wesley picks up the metal sheet. His ears are red. He carries it into the light.

Wesley mengangkat lembaran logam itu. Telinganya merah. Dia membawanya ke dalam cahaya.