The Tale of Ginger and Pickles
A free B1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A cat and a terrier run the village shop and give everyone unlimited credit — but with no money ever coming in, their generous business is heading for trouble.
Once upon a time there was a village shop. The name over the window was "Ginger and Pickles."
Dahulu kala ada sebuah toko desa. Nama di atas jendelanya adalah "Ginger and Pickles."
It was a little small shop just the right size for Dolls—Lucinda and Jane Doll-cook always bought their groceries at Ginger and Pickles.
Itu adalah toko kecil mungil yang pas ukurannya untuk para Boneka—Lucinda dan Jane Doll-cook selalu membeli bahan makanan mereka di Ginger and Pickles.
The counter inside was a convenient height for rabbits. Ginger and Pickles sold red spotty pocket-handkerchiefs at a penny three farthings.
Meja kasir di dalamnya memiliki tinggi yang nyaman untuk para kelinci. Ginger and Pickles menjual sapu tangan bertitik-titik merah seharga satu setengah penny.
They also sold sugar, and snuff and galoshes.
Mereka juga menjual gula, tembakau hidung, dan sepatu karet.
In fact, although it was such a small shop it sold nearly everything—except a few things that you want in a hurry—like bootlaces, hair-pins and mutton chops.
Sebenarnya, meskipun tokonya begitu kecil, toko itu menjual hampir segalanya—kecuali beberapa hal yang mungkin kau butuhkan dengan tergesa-gesa—seperti tali sepatu, jepit rambut, dan potongan daging domba.
Ginger and Pickles were the people who kept the shop. Ginger was a yellow tom-cat, and Pickles was a terrier.
Ginger dan Pickles adalah orang-orang yang menjaga toko itu. Ginger adalah seekor kucing jantan kuning, dan Pickles adalah seekor anjing terrier.
The rabbits were always a little bit afraid of Pickles.
Para kelinci selalu sedikit takut kepada Pickles.
The shop was also patronized by mice—only the mice were rather afraid of Ginger.
Toko itu juga dikunjungi oleh para tikus—hanya saja para tikus itu agak takut kepada Ginger.
Ginger usually requested Pickles to serve them, because he said it made his mouth water.
Ginger biasanya meminta Pickles untuk melayani mereka, sebab katanya itu membuat mulutnya berair.
"I cannot bear," said he, "to see them going out at the door carrying their little parcels."
"Aku tak tahan," katanya, "melihat mereka keluar dari pintu membawa bungkusan-bungkusan kecil mereka."
"I have the same feeling about rats," replied Pickles, "but it would never do to eat our own customers; they would leave us and go to Tabitha Twitchit's."
"Aku merasakan hal yang sama tentang tikus got," jawab Pickles, "tapi tak akan pernah baik memakan pelanggan kita sendiri; mereka akan meninggalkan kita dan pergi ke toko Tabitha Twitchit."
"On the contrary, they would go nowhere," replied Ginger gloomily.
"Sebaliknya, mereka tak akan pergi ke mana pun," jawab Ginger dengan murung.
(Tabitha Twitchit kept the only other shop in the village. She did not give credit.)
(Tabitha Twitchit memiliki satu-satunya toko lain di desa itu. Ia tidak memberi kredit.)
Ginger and Pickles gave unlimited credit.
Ginger dan Pickles memberikan kredit tanpa batas.
Now the meaning of "credit" is this—when a customer buys a bar of soap, instead of the customer pulling out a purse and paying for it—she says she will pay another time.
Nah, arti "kredit" adalah begini—ketika seorang pelanggan membeli sebatang sabun, alih-alih mengeluarkan dompet dan membayarnya—ia bilang ia akan membayar lain kali.
And Pickles makes a low bow and says, "With pleasure, madam," and it is written down in a book.
Dan Pickles membungkuk rendah serta berkata, "Dengan senang hati, Nyonya," dan itu dicatat dalam sebuah buku.
The customers come again and again, and buy quantities, in spite of being afraid of Ginger and Pickles.
Para pelanggan datang lagi dan lagi, dan membeli dalam jumlah banyak, meskipun mereka takut kepada Ginger dan Pickles.
But there is no money in what is called the "till."
Tetapi tak ada uang di dalam apa yang disebut "laci kas."
The customers came in crowds every day and bought quantities, especially the toffee customers. But there was always no money; they never paid for as much as a pennyworth of peppermints.
Para pelanggan datang berbondong-bondong setiap hari dan membeli dalam jumlah banyak, terutama para pelanggan permen toffee. Tetapi selalu saja tak ada uang; mereka tak pernah membayar bahkan sepeser pun untuk permen mint.
But the sales were enormous, ten times as large as Tabitha Twitchit's.
Tetapi penjualannya luar biasa besar, sepuluh kali lebih besar dari toko Tabitha Twitchit.
As there was always no money, Ginger and Pickles were obliged to eat their own goods.
Karena selalu tak ada uang, Ginger dan Pickles terpaksa memakan barang dagangan mereka sendiri.
Pickles ate biscuits and Ginger ate a dried haddock.
Pickles memakan biskuit dan Ginger memakan ikan haddock kering.
They ate them by candle-light after the shop was closed.
Mereka memakannya di bawah cahaya lilin setelah toko itu ditutup.
When it came to Jan. 1st there was still no money, and Pickles was unable to buy a dog licence.
Ketika tiba tanggal 1 Januari masih saja tak ada uang, dan Pickles tak bisa membeli lisensi anjing.
"It is very unpleasant, I am afraid of the police," said Pickles.
"Ini sangat tidak menyenangkan, aku takut pada polisi," kata Pickles.
"It is your own fault for being a terrier; I do not require a licence, and neither does Kep, the Collie dog."
"Itu salahmu sendiri karena menjadi anjing terrier; aku tak perlu lisensi, begitu pula Kep, anjing Collie itu."
"It is very uncomfortable, I am afraid I shall be summoned. I have tried in vain to get a licence upon credit at the Post Office;" said Pickles. "The place is full of policemen. I met one as I was coming home."
"Ini sangat tidak nyaman, aku takut aku akan dipanggil ke pengadilan. Aku sudah mencoba sia-sia untuk mendapatkan lisensi secara kredit di Kantor Pos," kata Pickles. "Tempat itu penuh polisi. Aku bertemu satu ketika sedang pulang."
"Let us send in the bill again to Samuel Whiskers, Ginger, he owes 22/9 for bacon."
"Mari kita kirim lagi tagihan itu kepada Samuel Whiskers, Ginger, ia berutang 22/9 untuk daging asap."
"I do not believe that he intends to pay at all," replied Ginger.
"Aku tak percaya ia bermaksud membayar sama sekali," jawab Ginger.
"And I feel sure that Anna Maria pockets things—Where are all the cream crackers?"
"Dan aku yakin sekali Anna Maria mengantongi barang-barang—Ke mana perginya semua biskuit krim itu?"
"You have eaten them yourself," replied Ginger.
"Kau sendiri yang memakannya," jawab Ginger.
Ginger and Pickles retired into the back parlour.
Ginger dan Pickles pun mundur ke ruang belakang.
They did accounts. They added up sums and sums, and sums.
Mereka menghitung pembukuan. Mereka menjumlahkan angka demi angka, dan angka.
"Samuel Whiskers has run up a bill as long as his tail; he has had an ounce and three-quarters of snuff since October."
"Samuel Whiskers sudah punya tagihan sepanjang ekornya; ia sudah mengambil satu setengah ons tembakau hidung sejak bulan Oktober."
"What is seven pounds of butter at 1/3, and a stick of sealing wax and four matches?"
"Berapa harga tujuh pon mentega seharga 1/3, ditambah sebatang lilin segel dan empat batang korek api?"
"Send in all the bills again to everybody 'with comp'ts,'" replied Ginger.
"Kirim lagi semua tagihan itu ke semua orang 'dengan salam hormat,'" jawab Ginger.
After a time they heard a noise in the shop, as if something had been pushed in at the door. They came out of the back parlour. There was an envelope lying on the counter, and a policeman writing in a note-book!
Setelah beberapa saat mereka mendengar suara di toko, seolah ada sesuatu yang didorong masuk lewat pintu. Mereka keluar dari ruang belakang. Ada sebuah amplop tergeletak di atas meja kasir, dan seorang polisi sedang menulis di buku catatannya!
Pickles nearly had a fit, he barked and he barked and made little rushes.
Pickles hampir kejang, ia menggonggong dan terus menggonggong serta membuat serangan-serangan kecil.
"Bite him, Pickles! bite him!" spluttered Ginger behind a sugar-barrel, "he's only a German doll!"
"Gigit dia, Pickles! gigit dia!" seru Ginger tersendat-sendat dari balik tong gula, "dia hanya boneka Jerman!"
The policeman went on writing in his notebook; twice he put his pencil in his mouth, and once he dipped it in the treacle.
Sang polisi terus menulis di buku catatannya; dua kali ia memasukkan pensilnya ke mulutnya, dan sekali ia mencelupkannya ke dalam sirup gula.
Pickles barked till he was hoarse. But still the policeman took no notice. He had bead eyes, and his helmet was sewed on with stitches.
Pickles menggonggong sampai serak. Tetapi sang polisi tetap tak menghiraukannya. Ia memiliki mata manik-manik, dan helmnya dijahit dengan benang.
At length on his last little rush—Pickles found that the shop was empty. The policeman had disappeared.
Akhirnya pada serangan kecil terakhirnya—Pickles mendapati bahwa toko itu kosong. Sang polisi telah menghilang.
But the envelope remained.
Tetapi amplop itu tertinggal.
"Do you think that he has gone to fetch a real live policeman? I am afraid it is a summons," said Pickles.
"Menurutmu apakah ia pergi mengambil polisi sungguhan? Aku takut itu surat panggilan pengadilan," kata Pickles.
"No," replied Ginger, who had opened the envelope, "it is the rates and taxes, £3 19 11-3/4."
"Tidak," jawab Ginger, yang telah membuka amplop itu, "itu tagihan pajak dan retribusi, £3 19 11-3/4."
"This is the last straw," said Pickles, "let us close the shop."
"Ini sudah keterlaluan," kata Pickles, "mari kita tutup toko ini."
They put up the shutters, and left. But they have not removed from the neighbourhood. In fact some people wish they had gone further.
Mereka memasang penutup jendela, dan pergi. Tetapi mereka tidak pindah dari lingkungan itu. Bahkan beberapa orang berharap mereka pergi lebih jauh lagi.
Ginger is living in the warren. I do not know what occupation he pursues; he looks stout and comfortable.
Ginger kini tinggal di lubang kelinci. Aku tak tahu pekerjaan apa yang ia jalani; ia tampak gemuk dan nyaman.
Pickles is at present a gamekeeper.
Pickles saat ini menjadi penjaga hutan buruan.
The closing of the shop caused great inconvenience. Tabitha Twitchit immediately raised the price of everything a half-penny; and she continued to refuse to give credit.
Penutupan toko itu menimbulkan banyak sekali ketidaknyamanan. Tabitha Twitchit segera menaikkan harga semua barang setengah penny; dan ia terus menolak memberikan kredit.
Of course there are the trades-men's carts—the butcher, the fish-man and Timothy Baker.
Tentu saja masih ada gerobak-gerobak pedagang—tukang daging, penjual ikan, dan Timothy si Tukang Roti.
But a person cannot live on "seed wigs" and sponge-cake and butter-buns—not even when the sponge-cake is as good as Timothy's!
Tetapi seseorang tak bisa hidup hanya dari "seed wig" serta kue bolu dan roti mentega—bahkan ketika kue bolu itu seenak buatan Timothy sekalipun!
After a time Mr. John Dormouse and his daughter began to sell peppermints and candles.
Setelah beberapa saat Tuan John Dormouse dan putrinya mulai menjual permen mint dan lilin.
But they did not keep "self-fitting sixes"; and it takes five mice to carry one seven inch candle.
Tetapi mereka tidak menyediakan "ukuran enam yang pas sendiri"; dan dibutuhkan lima ekor tikus untuk membawa satu batang lilin tujuh inci.
Besides—the candles which they sell behave very strangely in warm weather.
Selain itu—lilin-lilin yang mereka jual berkelakuan sangat aneh di cuaca panas.
And Miss Dormouse refused to take back the ends when they were brought back to her with complaints.
Dan Nona Dormouse menolak menerima kembali sisa-sisa lilin ketika dibawa kembali kepadanya dengan keluhan.
And when Mr. John Dormouse was complained to, he stayed in bed, and would say nothing but "very snug;" which is not the way to carry on a retail business.
Dan ketika Tuan John Dormouse dikeluhkan, ia tetap di tempat tidur, dan hanya mau berkata "sangat nyaman"; yang bukanlah cara untuk menjalankan bisnis eceran.
So everybody was pleased when Sally Henny Penny sent out a printed poster to say that she was going to re-open the shop—"Henny's Opening Sale! Grand co-operative Jumble! Penny's penny prices! Come buy, come try, come buy!"
Maka semua orang senang ketika Sally Henny Penny mengirimkan poster cetak yang mengumumkan bahwa ia akan membuka kembali toko itu—"Pembukaan Sally Henny Penny! Obral Bersama Besar-besaran! Harga sepenny-sepenny dari Penny! Ayo beli, ayo coba, ayo beli!"
The poster really was most 'ticing.
Poster itu memang sangat menggoda.
There was a rush upon the opening day. The shop was crammed with customers, and there were crowds of mice upon the biscuit canisters.
Ada serbuan pada hari pembukaan. Toko itu dipenuhi para pelanggan, dan ada kerumunan tikus di atas kaleng-kaleng biskuit.
Sally Henny Penny gets rather flustered when she tries to count out change, and she insists on being paid cash; but she is quite harmless.
Sally Henny Penny agak gugup ketika ia mencoba menghitung uang kembalian, dan ia bersikeras dibayar tunai; tetapi ia sama sekali tidak berbahaya.
And she has laid in a remarkable assortment of bargains.
Dan ia telah menyediakan berbagai macam barang obral yang luar biasa.
There is something to please everybody.
Ada sesuatu untuk menyenangkan semua orang.
