Dela the "Energizer Bunny"

I first met Dela when I tried to take her picture.
But she had a better idea.
She took my phone and snapped dozens of pictures with it.
All corners of the filthy house that was the old Samuel Orphanage.
The spills on the floor. The dirty bathroom. The stained mattresses.
She ran around. She talked and laughed constantly.
She climbed the swing in front of the house and hung from the top bar.
But then she tried to climb a wall.
She fell and hit her head on the rocky pavement.
She had to get five stitches on her head.
A week later she fell from a climb again, and badly sprained her ankle.
It was like the Energizer Bunny ran out of battery.
She became very quiet.
She walked with a slight limp.
While others were watching TV, she sat alone behind the TV.
Dela, I hope your wounds are healed now.
You should be with people who watch you when you climb, and catch you when you fall.
Your energy is refreshing and your laugh is infectious. Don’t stop being you.

Dela, Si “Kelinci Energizer”

Saya bertemu Dela saat saya mau foto dia.

Tetapi dia punya ide sendiri.

Dia ambil HP saya dan memakainya untuk memotret seluruh sudut rumah Panti Asuhan Samuel yang sangat kotor itu.

Ada tumpahan di lantai, kamar mandi yang menjijikan, dan kasur yang penuh bercak-bercak.

Kemudian dia berlarian. Dia mengoceh dan tertawa tanpa henti.

Dia memanjat ayunan di depan rumah, dan bergelantungan dari atas ayunan yang tinggi.

Tetapi kemudian dia berusaha memanjat tembok.

Dia terjatuh dan kepalanya terbentur di tanah yang berbatu.

Dia harus mendapat lima jahitan di kepala.

Seminggu kemudian dia terjatuh lagi. Kali ini kakinya terkilir.

Kelinci Energizer seolah kehabisan baterai.

Dia menjadi sangat pendiam.

Jalannya sedikit pincang.

Saat yang lain menonton TV, dia duduk sendirian di belakang TV.

Dela, saya harap luka-lukamu sudah sembuh sekarang.

Dan saya harap kamu sekarang bersama orang-orang yang mengawasi kamu kalau sedang memanjat-manjat, dan menangkap kamu kalau terjatuh.

Tenaga kamu menyemangati yang lesu, dan tawa kamu menghibur yang sedih.

Jangan kamu ubah itu.