小さな語りシリーズ2024/06/03　　Small Story Serie

2024/06/03「おこづかい」"Pocket money"

初夏の空は、まるで磨き上げたガラスのように透き通っていた。校庭に響く子供たちの歓声の中で、彼は友達と一緒に遊び回っていた。汗をかきながらも、元気いっぱいに走り回る彼らの顔には、笑顔が溢れていた。

放課後、彼は家に帰る途中で近所の商店街に立ち寄った。商店街は古い風情を残しながらも、新しい店が少しずつ増えてきていた。歩きながら、彼はふと今日のお小遣いのことを思い出した。いつもは少しずつしかもらえないお小遣いが、今日は特別に多くもらえていたのだ。

少し興奮しながら、彼はお気に入りの文房具屋へ向かった。店内にはカラフルなペンやノートが並び、見るだけで心がときめいた。店員のおばさんが優しく微笑みかけ、「今日は何を探しているの？」と声をかけてくれた。

「新しいペンが欲しいんだ」と彼は答えた。「お小遣いをもらったから、自分へのご褒美にね」

おばさんはうなずきながら、いくつかのペンを見せてくれた。彼は一つ一つ手に取りながら、どれにしようかと真剣に考えた。その瞬間、小さな幸福感が彼の中に広がっていった。

彼が選んだペンを手に入れて店を出ると、外の空気が心地よく感じられた。風が彼の頬を撫で、夏の香りが漂ってきた。彼はそのまま家に帰り、母親にペンを見せながら、「ありがとう、お小遣いのおかげでこれを買えたよ」と嬉しそうに言った。

母親は優しく彼の頭を撫で、「良かったね。でも、大切に使うんだよ」と微笑んだ。

その夜、彼は新しいペンで日記を書いた。今日は特別な一日だった。お小遣いで自分の好きなものを買う喜び、そしてその小さな喜びを誰かと分かち合う温かさ。彼の心は満たされ、いつまでもこの幸せな気持ちを忘れないだろうと、そう思いながら眠りについた。

ーーー

The early summer sky was clear and transparent, like polished glass. In the schoolyard, filled with children's laughter, he played with his friends, running around energetically with smiles on their faces despite the sweat.

After school, on his way home, he stopped by the local shopping street. The street retained its old charm while new shops began to appear. Walking through the street, he suddenly remembered his pocket money. Today, he had received more than usual from his mother.

Feeling a bit excited, he headed to his favorite stationery store. Inside, colorful pens and notebooks lined the shelves, filling his heart with excitement. The shopkeeper smiled gently and asked, "What are you looking for today?"

"I want a new pen," he replied. "I got some pocket money, so I thought I'd treat myself."

The shopkeeper nodded and showed him several pens. He picked them up one by one, seriously considering which to choose. At that moment, a small sense of happiness spread within him.

With the chosen pen in hand, he left the store, feeling the pleasant outside air. The wind caressed his cheeks, and the scent of summer wafted through the air. He returned home and showed the pen to his mother, saying happily, "Thanks to the pocket money, I could buy this."

His mother gently patted his head and smiled, "That's great. But take good care of it."

That night, he wrote in his diary with the new pen. Today had been special. The joy of buying something he loved with his pocket money and the warmth of sharing that small happiness with someone. His heart was full, and he fell asleep thinking he would never forget this happy feeling.