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B1-57 / CEFR B1 / EPISODE 57

A Letter from the Doctor

Finding a starting point for a reply

SceneFrank has a letter from the doctor who made him. A blank sheet of paper and a pen lie beside it. Tina is visiting.

The friends sitting together with a letter.
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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

Frank has a letter from the doctor who made him. A blank sheet of paper and a pen lie beside it. Tina is visiting.

フランクの手元には、彼を作った博士からの手紙がある。その横には白紙の便箋とペン。ティナが遊びに来ている。

Frank01

The doctor sent me a letter today.

今日、博士から手紙が届いたんだ。

Tina02

He still writes to you? What does he say?

今も手紙をくれるの？何て書いてある？

Frank03

Yes, he always has. He says gardening tires him out more now, but he's still asking if I'm eating right.

うん、ずっとね。最近は庭仕事で前より疲れるそうだ。なのに、僕がちゃんと食べているかを心配してる。

Tina04

That sounds like a father.

お父さんみたいね。

Frank05

He's like one. I've spent an hour trying to reply.

父親みたいな存在だよ。返事を書こうとして、もう一時間たってる。

Tina06

What's stopping you?

何が引っかかってるの？

Frank07

I want to visit, but I can't promise a date yet.

会いに行きたいけど、まだ日程を約束できないんだ。

Tina08

You don't have to. Start by thanking him for writing.

約束しなくてもいいのよ。まずは、手紙をくれたお礼から書いたら。

Frank09

I'll start a draft, then. "Thank you for your letter."

じゃあ、下書きを始めるよ。「手紙をありがとう」。

Frank10

What should I write next?

次は何を書こう？

Tina11

Tell him you're eating right.

ちゃんと食べてるって伝えたら。

Frank12

Does toast count as dinner? I've had it all week.

トーストは夕食に入る？今週はずっとそれなんだ。

Tina13

No. Let's have dinner first. Then it won't be a lie.

入らない。先に夕食にしましょう。そうすれば、嘘にならないでしょ。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“gardening tires him out more now”

Tire someone out means to make them very tired. Tire alone can mean to cause fatigue, but out emphasizes exhaustion. Gardening now leaves him more tired than before.

“Does toast count as dinner?”

Count as something means to be regarded or accepted as that thing. Asking whether toast counts as dinner reveals that Frank has been eating little else all week.

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