母は、寒くなると必ず何かを編んでいる。When the weather turns cold, my mother is always knitting something.今年は、孫のみなみのために赤いマフラーを編んでいる。This year she is knitting a red scarf for her granddaughter Minami.みなみの誕生日は十二月の初めだ。Minami's birthday is at the beginning of December.私が知っている限り、母が締め切りに間に合わせたことは一度もない。As far as I know, my mother has never once finished anything by her deadline.居間のかごには、去年の編みかけのセーターがまだ入っている。In the basket in the living room, last year's half-knitted jumper is still sitting there.
「今年は大丈夫よ」と母は笑う。"It'll be fine this year," my mother laughs.それでも、十一月の終わりになると、母の手は急に速くなる。Even so, when the end of November comes, her hands suddenly speed up.ある夜、台所でお茶を飲みながら、母がぽつりと言った。One evening, while we were drinking tea in the kitchen, she said quietly:「目が見える限り、編んでいたいね」"As long as my eyes still work, I want to go on knitting."若いころ、母は洋服の仕立ての仕事をしていたそうだ。When she was young, she apparently worked as a dressmaker.細かい作業は、今でも苦にならないらしい。Fine, close work still seems to cost her no effort at all.
誕生日の三日前、私は居間をのぞいた。Three days before the birthday, I looked into the living room.机の上には、編みかけのマフラーと、ほどいた毛糸が置いてあった。On the table were the half-knitted scarf and a pile of unravelled wool.色の並びが気に入らなくて、途中まで戻したという。She had not liked the order of the colours, she said, and had undone part of it.間に合うかな、と私は思った。I wondered whether she would finish in time.でも、口に出すのはやめた。But I decided not to say it out loud.
当日の朝、母は紙の袋を持って玄関に立っていた。On the morning of the day itself, my mother was standing in the hall with a paper bag.袋の中には、赤と白のしま模様のマフラーが入っていた。Inside the bag was a scarf in red and white stripes.みなみはそれを首に巻いて、鏡の前でくるくる回った。Minami wrapped it round her neck and spun round and round in front of the mirror.「来年は手袋かな」と母が言った。"Gloves next year, perhaps," my mother said.もう次のことを考えているらしい。She seems to be thinking about the next thing already.できる限り長く、この冬の景色を見ていたいと思う。I want to go on watching this winter scene for as long as I possibly can.かごの中のセーターは、まだ途中のままだ。The jumper in the basket is still only half done.