B2-39 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 39

Mountain Village

Comparing attachment to home with life now

SceneLate evening in Frank's room. Tina has found Frank's home village on a map on her phone. He has never told her much about it.

The friends discussing a map app at home. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Late evening in Frank's room. Tina has found Frank's home village on a map on her phone. He has never told her much about it.

夜遅く、フランクの部屋。ティナがスマホの地図で、フランクの故郷の村を見つけた。彼はその村のことを、あまり話したことがない。

Tina01

Found it! Your village. One road, one bridge, one bus stop.

見つけた！あなたの村。道が一本、橋が一つ、バス停が一つ。

Frank02

The bus came twice a day. If you missed the morning one, you waited until four.

バスは一日二本だった。朝のを逃したら、4時まで待つんだ。

Tina03

So what did you do all day? Besides wait for the bus.

じゃあ一日何してたの？バスを待つ以外に。

Frank04

Chores, books, long walks. In the evenings, I sat by the river until it got dark.

家の仕事と、本と、長い散歩。夕方は、暗くなるまで川のそばに座ってた。

Tina05

Alone?

一人で？

Frank06

Mostly. The village had kind people — and no one my age. The youngest neighbor was sixty.

たいていはね。村の人たちは優しかった——でも、同じ年頃は誰もいなかった。いちばん若いご近所さんで60歳だった。

Tina07

Did you like being alone, or did you just not know anything else?

一人が好きだったの？それとも、ほかを知らなかっただけ？

Frank08

Both, I think. I loved the river. But I didn't know what I was missing until I came to the city — and someone talked to me till four in the morning.

両方だと思う。川は大好きだった。でも、何が足りなかったのか分からなかったんだ。街に出てきて、朝の4時まで僕と話し込む誰かに出会うまでは。

Tina09

Guilty. So which is better — there or here?

それ、私ね。で、どっちがいい？あっちと、こっち。

Frank10

There, I heard the river from my bed. Here, I hear you singing down the hall at seven a.m.

あっちでは、ベッドから川の音が聞こえた。こっちでは、朝7時に廊下の先から君の歌が聞こえる。

Tina11

That's not an answer. Would you ever go back?

それ、答えになってない。いつか戻ることはある？

Frank12

To visit, someday. To live, no. I'd miss the singing. ...Some of it.

訪ねるなら、いつか。住むなら、ノー。歌が恋しくなるから。……一部はね。

Tina13

Some of it?! Okay. Tomorrow at seven, you're getting the whole album.

一部？！いいわ。明日の朝7時は、アルバム丸ごと聞かせてあげる。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Guilty.”

Guilty. jokingly admits responsibility, shortened from the courtroom expression Guilty as charged. Tina acknowledges that she was the unnamed person who kept talking with Frank until four in the morning.

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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Words & context

“Guilty.”