Paka anayepanda basi

Kila asubuhi, basi linaposimama karibu na kona, paka mdogo hupanda. Hasubiri mtu yeyote. Hupanda ngazi peke yake, polepole na kwa utulivu, kama abiria anayefanya hivi kila siku. Dereva hutabasamu na kufungua milango zaidi kidogo. Paka hutembea katikati na kupata nafasi yake.

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.

Huketi kila mara kwenye kiti kilekile karibu na dirisha. Huketi wima na kutazama barabarani. Magari, watu, na maduka hupita haraka. Paka huvitazama kwa macho tulivu. Abiria wengine hucheka kimya kimya na kupiga picha. Wengine husema tu habari za asubuhi kwake. Abiria wa kudumu wanajua jina lake sasa, na huacha kiti hicho wazi.

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.

Basi linapofika kituo chake, paka husimama. Husubiri karibu na milango, kwa uvumilivu na uhakika. Milango hufunguka kwa sauti laini. Paka hushuka kwenye njia ya miguu na kutembea zake asubuhini. Dereva hufunga milango na kuendelea kuendesha. Kesho, kwenye kona ileile, abiria mdogo huyo atakuwa akisubiri tena.

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.