ソフィアは大学に通いながら、駅前のパン屋で働いている。Sofia works at a bakery by the station while studying at university.朝六時に店に入り、焼きたてのパンを並べる。She comes in at six in the morning and sets out the freshly baked bread.日本語には自信がないが、常連の客の顔は覚えた。She is not confident in Japanese, but she has learned the regulars' faces.「いつものでいいですか」と言えるのが、うれしい。She is pleased that she can now say, "The usual, is it?"
ある日、店長の宮本さんがソフィアを呼んだ。One day, Miyamoto, the manager, called her over.「来月、新しい人が三人入るんだ。教える係をお願いできないかな。」"Three new people are starting next month. Could I ask you to train them?"ソフィアは驚いて、思わず首を振った。Sofia was so surprised that she shook her head without thinking.「私なんか、まだ間違えてばかりですよ。」"Someone like me? I still get things wrong all the time."宮本さんは「だから頼むんだよ」と言って、笑った。"That is exactly why I'm asking you," Miyamoto said, and laughed.
その夜、ソフィアはアルバイト用のノートを開いた。That evening, Sofia opened the notebook she keeps for the job.教えることなんか、何もないと思っていた。She had thought she had nothing whatsoever to teach anyone.ところが、一年半の間に書いた注意が並んでいた。Yet it was full of notes she had written over the past eighteen months.「クロワッサンは袋の右から入れる」「雨の日はパンが早く売れる」。"Put croissants into the bag from the right." "On rainy days the bread sells quickly."けれども、始めた日の自分には、決して分からないことだった。But they were things the Sofia of her first day could never have known.
次の月、新しい三人がやって来た。The following month, the three new staff arrived.三人の一人が、「先輩は日本語がお上手ですね」と言った。One of the three said, "Your Japanese is very good."ソフィアは「まだまだです」と答えてから、少し考えた。Sofia answered, "I have a long way to go," and then thought for a moment.せっかくほめてくれたのに、この返事でよかったのだろうか。They had gone to the trouble of paying her a compliment; was that really the right reply?
次の週、また同じことを言われたとき、「ありがとうございます」と答えた。The next week, when she was told the same thing, she said, "Thank you very much."レジの向こうで聞いていた宮本さんが、小さく笑った。Miyamoto, listening from the other side of the till, gave a small laugh.「謙遜なんか、あまりしなくていいんだよ。」"You don't need to be so modest, you know."「私なんか」という言葉は、もう使わないことにした。Sofia has decided not to use the words "someone like me" any more.