B2-60 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 60

Stitched Together

Checking preferences even with a close friend

SceneFrank lives down the hall from his friend Tina. Tonight he knocks before coming in with black coffee for himself and a matcha latte for her. Her star map hangs above the table.

The friends talking over coffee and matcha latte beneath the star map.
Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

Frank lives down the hall from his friend Tina. Tonight he knocks before coming in with black coffee for himself and a matcha latte for her. Her star map hangs above the table.

フランクは友人のティナと同じ階に住んでいる。今夜は自分のブラックコーヒーとティナの抹茶ラテを手に、ノックしてから彼女の部屋に入る。テーブルの上の壁には星図が掛かっている。

Frank01

You left the door unlocked again.

また鍵を開けておいたんだね。

Tina02

It's unlocked for you. You always knock anyway.

あなたのために鍵は開けてあるの。それでも、いつもノックするけどね。

Frank03

Is this a good time for coffee, or would you rather have a quiet evening?

今、一緒にコーヒーを飲んでも大丈夫?それとも、今夜は一人で静かに過ごしたい?

Tina04

Stay. I could use some company.

いてほしいわ。誰かと一緒にいたい気分なの。

Frank05

All right. No plans, then?

分かった。じゃあ、何かする予定はなし?

Tina06

No plans. You know, I like our boring evenings.

なし。こういう、何も起きない夜って好きなのよね。

Frank07

Boring? What do you mean?

何も起きない?どういう意味?

Tina08

I don't have to plan anything special to see my best friend. We can just sit and talk.

親友に会うのに、特別な予定を立てなくていいってこと。ただ座って話すだけでいいでしょう。

Frank09

I like that too. And if something bothers us, we can say it.

僕も好きだよ。それに、何か気になったら、お互いに言えるしね。

Tina10

That's better than when I kept canceling our plans and you said "It's fine." I didn't realize you were upset.

私が何度も約束をキャンセルして、あなたが「大丈夫」って言ってた頃とは違うわね。がっかりしてるって気づかなかったもの。

Frank11

Exactly. Now I'd tell you I was disappointed, and we could find another day.

うん。今なら、がっかりしたって伝えて、別の日を相談できる。

Tina12

Then let's keep this: coffee, talking, and telling each other when something's wrong.

じゃあ、これからもこうしていましょう。コーヒーを飲んで、話して、何か気になったらちゃんと伝えるの。

Frank13

Deal. I'll bring the drinks tomorrow. And I'll still knock.

そうしよう。明日も飲み物を持ってくるよ。それでも、ノックはするからね。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Stitched Together”

Stitch something together means to sew or join separate pieces. Frank has stitches, and Tina greeted them with You have stitches! So cool! when they first met, recalled in B2-16. The title can be read in two ways: his physical stitches and the gradual connection between two lives that began in different places. This episode takes place on an ordinary, uneventful evening.