Rīgas vidusskolā, rudens krāsās rikšojot, kāds notikums aizsākās literatūras klasē.

At Rīgas high school, as the autumn colors sprinted by, an event began in the literature classroom.

Lapām krītot ārpusē, Artis, aizrautīgs un nedaudz satraukts pusaudzis, gatavojās prezentēt savu projektu par latviešu dzejniekiem.

With leaves falling outside, Artis, an enthusiastic and slightly nervous teenager, prepared to present his project on Latvian poets.

Viņš stāvēja pie tāfeles, priekšā klasē pilnā ar draugiem un skolēniem, cerot, ka viņa mēģinājums pievienot humoru neizgāzīsies.

He stood at the blackboard, in front of a room full of friends and classmates, hoping that his attempt to add humor would not fail.

Artis bija cītīgi gatavojies.

Artis had diligently prepared.

Viņš lasīja par Aleksandru Čaku, par to, kā Rīgas ielas atdzīvojas viņa dzejā.

He read about Aleksandru Čaku, about how the streets of Rīgas come to life in his poetry.

Taču viņu joprojām mocīja doma — vai viņam nav jābūt smieklīgam, lai iepatiktos klasesbiedriem?

However, he was still haunted by the thought — did he need to be funny to appeal to his classmates?

Viņš bija dzirdējis anekdoti par Čaku, bet nebija pārliecināts, vai spēs to pienācīgi pastāstīt.

He had heard an anecdote about Čaku, but wasn't sure if he could tell it properly.

Artis sāka prezentāciju.

Artis began the presentation.

Ar katru teikumu viņš kļuva aizrautīgāks.

With each sentence, he became more enthusiastic.

Viņš runāja par vietām, kas iedvesmoja Čaka dzeju.

He spoke about the places that inspired Čaka’s poetry.

Lapas ārpus logiem rotaļīgi čaukstēja, un Mārtiņš, klasē sēžot, vaicāja: "Vai tas tiešām bija tāds Rīga, kā tu saki?

The leaves outside the windows rustled playfully, and Mārtiņš, sitting in the class, asked, "Was Rīga really like that, as you say?"

" Artis atbildēja, smejoties: "Tā to redzēja Čaks, un varbūt arī es, kad no rīta ceļos.

Artis replied, laughing: "That's how Čaks saw it, and perhaps I do too when I get up in the morning."

"Artis beidzot nonāca pie stāsta, kuru gribēja padarīt smieklīgu.

Artis finally reached the story he wanted to make funny.

Dodoties izskaidrot kādu īpašu dzejas rindkopu, viņš nejauši nepareizi izrunāja vārdu.

As he went on to explain a particular stanza of poetry, he accidentally mispronounced a word.

Istaba ietrīsējās smieklos.

The room erupted in laughter.

Vārdiem mainoties, ieejot jautājuma zīmē vietā, kur vajadzēja būt nopietnībai, bijušais satraukums pazuda.

With words changing, questioning where seriousness was supposed to be, his prior nervousness disappeared.

Ilze, kas līdz tam bija klausījusies mierīgi, tagad smējās līdzi ar visu klasi.

Ilze, who had been listening quietly until then, now laughed along with the rest of the class.

"Tas ir labākais, ko esmu dzirdējusi par Čaku," viņa teica, aplaudējot.

"That's the best thing I've heard about Čaku," she said, applauding.

Artis smaidīja — nevis ar kauna sārtumu, bet ar atvieglojumu.

Artis smiled — not with a blush of shame, but with relief.

Viņam tas patika.

He liked it.

Viņš nevēlējās kļūt par komiķi, bet saprata, ka, mēģinot un kļūdoties, arī var veidot saikni ar citiem.

He didn't want to become a comedian, but realized that trying and erring could also build a connection with others.

Kad beidzot smiekli dzisa un klase rimās, Artis jutās pašpārliecināts.

When the laughter finally subsided and the class calmed down, Artis felt confident.

Viņš bija sapratis, ka pat ja neplānoti smiekli rod ceļu, viņi var būt tilts starp cilvēkiem.

He had realized that even if unintended laughter finds its way, it can be a bridge between people.

Un dažreiz, kur sausums vai nopietnība nesasaucas ar mūsu gaidīšanām, paliek draudzīgums un atvērti smaidi.

And sometimes, where dryness or seriousness doesn’t meet our expectations, friendliness and open smiles remain.

Ar to Artis atgriezās savā vietā, zinot, ka veido jaunu saikni — gan ar dzeju, gan ar klasi.

With that, Artis returned to his seat, knowing he was forging a new connection — both with poetry and with the class.