The Wrong Bookshop

Lucas ordered a coffee and sat in the empty corner of the café. He took out his book and tried to read. But the man at the next table was watching him.

Lucas aliagiza kahawa na kuketi pembe tulivu ya mkahawa. Alichukua kitabu chake na kujaribu kusoma. Lakini mzee aliyekuwa meza ya jirani alikuwa akimwangalia.

"That's a very old edition," the man said. Lucas looked up. The man was wearing a heavy jacket, even though the café was warm. "I used to sell books like that one. Around the corner. The shop is gone now."

"Hicho ni toleo la zamani sana," mzee alisema. Lucas aliinua kichwa. Mzee alikuwa amevaa jaketi nzito, ingawa mkahawa ulikuwa na joto. "Mimi nilikuwa nauza vitabu kama hicho. Kona ya barabara. Duka halipo tena."

"Gone?" Lucas asked. He felt awkward, but he didn't know how to leave the conversation. "What kind of shop?"

"Halipo?" Lucas aliuliza. Alihisi aibu, lakini hakujua jinsi ya kuondoka mazungumzoni. "Ilikuwa duka la aina gani?"

The man laughed quietly. "Old books. Forty years. Then the building was sold to a bank. The bank closed too, three years ago. Now it's a clothing store." He looked out the window. "Every time I pass by, I forget for one second. I almost go inside."

Mzee alicheka kimya. "Vitabu vya zamani. Miaka arobaini. Kisha jengo liliuzwa benki. Benki pia ilifungwa, miaka mitatu iliyopita. Sasa ni duka la nguo." Aliangalia nje dirishani. "Kila wakati ninapopita pale, ninasahau kwa sekunde moja. Karibu niingie ndani."

Lucas closed his book and listened. The man did not ask for anything. He just wanted to tell someone about a place that used to be there.

Lucas alifunga kitabu chake na kusikiliza. Mzee hakuomba chochote. Alitaka tu kumwambia mtu kuhusu mahali ambako palikuwepo hapo awali.