The Cat Who Takes the Bus

Every morning, when the bus stops near the corner, a small cat steps up. He does not wait for anyone. He climbs the steps by himself, slow and calm, like a passenger who does this every day. The driver smiles and opens the doors a little wider. The cat walks down the middle and finds his spot.

Svako jutro, kad autobus stane na uglu, mala mačka ulazi unutra. Ne čeka nikoga. Sama se penje uz stepenice, polako i mirno, kao putnik koji to radi svaki dan. Vozač se nasmiješi i otvori vrata malo šire. Mačka hoda sredinom i pronalazi svoje mjesto.

He always sits on the same window seat. He sits up straight and looks at the street. Cars, people, and shops go by fast. The cat watches them with quiet eyes. Some passengers laugh softly and take photos. Others just say good morning to him. The regulars know his name now, and they leave the seat free.

Uvijek sjedi na istom sjedalu kraj prozora. Sjedi uspravno i gleda ulicu. Automobili, ljudi i trgovine prolaze brzo. Mačka ih promatra mirnim očima. Neki putnici se tiho smiju i fotografiraju je. Drugi joj samo kažu dobro jutro. Stalni putnici sada znaju njezino ime i ostavljaju joj sjedalo slobodno.

When the bus reaches his stop, the cat stands up. He waits by the doors, patient and sure. The doors open with a soft sound. The cat steps down to the sidewalk and walks away into the morning. The driver closes the doors and drives on. Tomorrow, at the same corner, the little passenger will be waiting again.

Kad autobus stigne do njezine postaje, mačka ustane. Čeka kraj vrata, strpljiva i sigurna. Vrata se otvore s tihim zvukom. Mačka izađe na pločnik i ode u jutro. Vozač zatvori vrata i nastavi voziti. Sutra, na istom uglu, mala putnica će opet čekati.