娘のひなたは、今日初めてピアノの発表会に出る。My daughter Hinata is taking part in her first piano recital today.朝からほとんど口をきかない。She has hardly said a word since she got up.朝ご飯のパンも、半分残した。She left half her bread at breakfast, too.「そんなに心配することはないよ」と私は言った。"There's no need to worry so much," I told her.ひなたは小さくうなずいたが、顔は固いままだった。Hinata gave a small nod, but her face stayed stiff.
会場までは電車で三十分かかる。It takes thirty minutes by train to get to the hall.車内で、ひなたは何度も膝の上で指を動かしていた。On the train, she kept moving her fingers on her lap.母も手伝いに来てくれた。My mother came along to help as well.「子どもは本番になると急に強くなるものだ」と、母は平気な顔で言う。"Children suddenly get strong when the real thing starts, that's how they are," she said, quite unconcerned.「親まで緊張することはないのよ」と笑われた。"There's no need for the parents to be nervous too," she laughed.若いころは人前で手が震えたくせに、よくそんなことが言えると思った。Her own hands used to shake in front of people when she was young, and here she was saying that.
ホールの椅子は固く、客席は思ったより明るかった。The seats in the hall were hard and the auditorium was brighter than I had expected.ひなたの番は十二番目だった。Hinata was twelfth on the programme.前の子が終わると、ひなたは背中をまっすぐにして歩いていった。When the child before her had finished, Hinata straightened her back and walked out.最初の音が小さすぎて、私は息を止めた。Her first note was too quiet, and I held my breath.でも、二段目からは手が自分で動き出したように見えた。But from the second line, her hands seemed to start moving by themselves.一か所だけ間違えたが、ひなたは止まらなかった。She made a mistake in one place, but she did not stop.弾き終わって、ひなたは深くお辞儀をした。When she had finished playing, Hinata made a deep bow.
席に戻ってきたとき、その手はまだ少し震えていた。When she came back to her seat, her hands were still shaking a little.「よく弾けたね」と言うと、ひなたは「指が勝手に動いた」と答えた。"You played well," I said, and she answered that her fingers had moved on their own.帰りに、三人でアイスを食べた。On the way home, the three of us had ice cream.ひなたは「来年はもっと長い曲にする」と言った。Hinata said she would play a longer piece next year.さっきまで泣きそうだったくせに、もう次の話をしている。She was on the verge of tears a moment ago, and already she is talking about what comes next.こういう日のことを、親はいつまでも忘れないものだ。Parents never forget a day like this.来年の朝は、もう心配することはないだろう。Next year, on the morning itself, there will be no need to worry.