綱を切る Cutting a Rope

綱を切る

　最近二人の高校生が道路にロープを張ったためにミニバイクに乗った女性が大怪我をした。そのため高校生が逮捕された。私は70年前のことを思い出した。

ある晩、たぶん私が四歳ころ、道路の上、約八十センチのところに綱が張ってあった。私は綱が交通の邪魔になると思って、家から包丁を持ってきて綱を切った。いいことしたと思った。

　ところが、翌日の朝食の時、父が「自転車が川に落ちて怪我をした。綱に気がつかなかったのかな」と言った。

　私は驚いた。川が工事中で、通行人が落ちないように綱が張ってあったのだ。私は知らん顔をして朝飯を食べていた。

ごめんなさい

今頃遅いが

天国の人

Cutting a Rope

     Recently two high school boys were arrested for stretching a rope across a street, causing a minibike driver to fall and seriously injure herself. This reminded me of an incident that took place about 70 years ago.
     One evening when I was around four years old, I happened to see a rope stretched across a street about 80 centimeters above the ground. I thought it would interfere with the traffic, went to my house, fetched a kitchen knife, and cut it. I thought I did something good.
     However, during the breakfast the next morning, my father said,
     “A biker fell into the ditch and injured himself. I wonder why he didn’t notice the rope.”
     I was surprised to hear what he said. That’s why the rope was stretched across the street. It prevented the passenger from falling into the ditch which was under construction. I kept silent but kept eating breakfast concealing my embarrassment.

he must have died

by now

a big apology