A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul (Jack Canfield) - 「こころのチキンスープ (3)」- 161冊目

ジャンル: その他
英語難易度: ★★☆
オススメ度: ★★★☆☆

「こころのチキンスープ」2冊目です。 (1996年発刊)
O.Henryの話みたい。異なるのはこれは小説ではなく実話だということ。それぞれのエピソードは玉石混交なのですが、印象深かったものを少しばかり…

メモポイント

● 「Information Please」
これが実話だとは…
ある日、一人で留守番をする幼い少年が指を怪我してしまった。母親がふだんよく電話番号案内をしているのを見ていた少年は、それを何でも相談できる魔法の電話だと信じていて、見よう見まねで番号案内のお姉さんに電話をした。

「information please. ぼく、ゆびをケガしちゃったの」
「まあ、タイヘン、ボウヤのおウチには他には誰もいないの？」
「うん、ぼくだけ…ハンマーでゆびをたたいちゃった」
「血は出てる？おウチにアイスボックスはあるかしら？」

これがキッカケとなり、少年とお姉さんの数年に渡る交流が始まります。学校の勉強のこと、飼っているペットが死んじゃった時のこと… いつも少年は電話しました。「Information please 」
この話、とても印象に残るラストです。機会があれば、続きをぜひ読んでみてください。

● 心に残った詩を。(最初の部分だけですが)

“If I Had Only Known”
by Craig Morris/ Jana Stanfield

If I had only known it was our last walk in the rain
I’d keep you out for hours in the storm I would hold your hand, like a life line to my heart
And underneath the thunder we’d be warm
If I had only known it was our last walk in the rain

If I had only known I’d never hear your voice again
I’d memorize each thing you ever said
And on these lonely nights, I could think of them once more
And keep your words alive inside my head
If I had only known I’d never hear your voice again

まだ続きます。
「これが最後だとわかっていたのなら…」

● 「Good News」
これも有名。あるゴルファーと病気の子を持つ母親の話。以前に別の本の感想を書いた時にも紹介しました。
(26冊目「Beyond Happiness 」に抄訳を書きました)

Robert De Vincenzo, the great Argentine golfer, once won a tournament and, after receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to leave. Some time later, he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor’s bills and hospital expenses.
De Vincenzo was touched by her story, and he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. “Make some good days for the baby,” he said as he pressed the check into her hand.
The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. “Some of the boys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there after you won that tournament.”
De Vincenzo nodded. “Well,” said the official, “I have news for you. She’s a phony. She has no sick baby. She’s not even married. She fleeced you, my friend.”
“You mean there is no baby who is dying?” said De Vincenzo.
“That’s right,” said the official.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week,” De Vincenzo said.

「深いところに、火が灯った」