A Test from God

The sheep couldn’t see.

Para domba tidak bisa melihat.

There were six of them, the smallest children in the play, in white wool costumes with sheep heads. Somebody’s grandmother made the heads last year. They are beautiful heads. They have tiny holes for eyes.

Ada enam domba, anak-anak paling kecil dalam drama itu, memakai kostum wol putih dengan kepala domba. Nenek seseorang membuat kepala-kepala itu tahun lalu. Kepalanya sangat bagus. Tetapi lubang matanya kecil sekali.

“Sheep, walk to the stable, please,” I said. “Slowly.”

“Domba-domba, berjalanlah ke kandang, ya,” kata saya. “Pelan-pelan.”

The six sheep walked slowly, straight into the piano.

Keenam domba berjalan pelan-pelan, lurus ke piano.

Ruth went on playing. One sheep sat down on the floor and began to cry. Another sheep walked the other way, out of the door and into the yard. I ran after it into the dark. It was a boy called Danny, and he wanted to go home.

Ruth terus bermain. Seekor domba duduk di lantai dan mulai menangis. Domba lain berjalan ke arah yang salah, keluar dari pintu ke halaman. Saya berlari mengejarnya ke dalam gelap. Dia anak laki-laki bernama Danny, dan dia ingin pulang.

“Danny, the stable is this way.”

“Danny, kandangnya lewat sini.”

“I can’t see the stable, Miss. I can’t see anything. I can see my feet.”

“Saya tidak bisa lihat kandangnya, Bu. Saya tidak bisa lihat apa-apa. Saya hanya lihat kaki saya.”

I brought him back. Ruth stopped playing at last and looked at the six sheep, now all on the floor.

Saya membawanya kembali. Ruth akhirnya berhenti bermain dan melihat keenam domba, yang sekarang semuanya di lantai.

“In 2024 we had a real one,” she said. “It was easier.”

“Tahun 2024 kita punya domba sungguhan,” katanya. “Lebih mudah.”

It was Thursday, the first real rehearsal, and it went like that until half past four. The kings forgot their gifts. Mary laughed every time Joseph looked at her. Sophie Price said “Do not be afraid” beautifully, four times, and Inês stood next to her as the second angel and said nothing at all. She didn’t look at me once.

Hari itu Kamis, latihan sungguhan yang pertama, dan semuanya begitu sampai pukul setengah lima. Para raja lupa hadiah mereka. Maria tertawa setiap kali Yusuf melihatnya. Sophie Price mengatakan “Jangan takut” dengan indah, empat kali, dan Inês berdiri di sebelahnya sebagai malaikat kedua dan tidak mengatakan apa-apa. Dia tidak melihat saya sekali pun.

While the children drank their juice, I wrote a note for Marco and put it on his box of tools: “Bigger eyes for the sheep, please. C. Novak.” I put the six sheep heads next to it.

Waktu anak-anak minum jus, saya menulis catatan untuk Marco dan meletakkannya di kotak alatnya: “Mata domba yang lebih besar, tolong. C. Novak.” Saya meletakkan keenam kepala domba di sebelahnya.

At twenty past four Efua came to the door, and Amara went with her, quick and quiet. At half past I sent everyone home, and I locked the hall door myself. I checked it twice. I always check things twice.

Pukul empat lewat dua puluh Efua datang ke pintu, dan Amara pergi bersamanya, cepat dan diam. Pukul setengah lima saya menyuruh semua pulang, dan saya sendiri mengunci pintu aula. Saya memeriksanya dua kali. Saya selalu memeriksa dua kali.

On Friday morning, at twenty past eight, Mr Doyle came to my classroom. He is about fifty, with grey hair and a grey coat, and he has been the caretaker of St Nicholas for thirty years. He stood very straight in the door.

Jumat pagi, pukul delapan lewat dua puluh, Pak Doyle datang ke kelas saya. Umurnya sekitar lima puluh tahun, rambutnya abu-abu, mantelnya abu-abu, dan sudah tiga puluh tahun dia menjadi penjaga gedung di St Nicholas. Dia berdiri sangat tegak di pintu.

“Miss Novak. The baby is gone.”

“Bu Novak. Bayinya hilang.”