Sunday, March 26, 2017

大企业的经营



  “那家公司很知名,听说有很多竞争对手,所以入门的检查才会这么严格。”

  回到店里之后,立花这么告诉我。他在店内时,会隐藏起内心的少女,言谈举止都很正常。

  “因为听说除了企业间谍以外,还会有人做出一系列恐怖活动。”

  “恐怖活动!?”

  我大惊失色,忍不住大声叫了起来。我们巡视周围,观察有没有客人后,又继续聊了起来。

  “对啊,因为那些公司也制造武器,而且知名企业往往背负国家形象,所以很容易成为攻击目标。”

  除此之外,还会成为拒买运动的对象,大企业的经营真的不是一件容易的事。听了立花的话,我的心情很微妙。

  我搭乘的公共交通工具就是那家公司的产品,但他们也靠买卖伤害他人的工具赚钱。看起来像是从杂志中走出来的女人在漂亮的办公室工作,她买漂亮衣服所花的钱,到底是靠买卖什么产品赚来的呢?

≪和果子的杏≫[萩和牡丹] 132页
坂木司 著  王蕴洁 译
ISBN 978-986-5706-60-9




全都有故事



  “有背景故事的商品。”

  椿店长回到店里,打量着展示柜。这个月的生果子是‘光琳菊’、‘跳月’和‘松露’,都很有秋天的味道,如果要有故事的话,呈现赏月感觉的‘跳月’应该比较合适吧。我表达了自己的意见,店长叉着手,偏着头思考。

  “你说的也不错,但几乎所有的和果子都有故事,所以很难挑选。”

  “全都有故事?”

  “对,历史越悠久,不是就会增加很多故事吗?而且用于茶席时,也会留下很多逸事。”

  原来如此。我点了点头,听到开店的音乐响起,慌忙回到展示柜中央,向通道上的客人鞠躬。

  ……

≪和果子的杏≫[萩和牡丹] 119页
坂木司 著  王蕴洁 译
ISBN 978-986-5706-60-9




Saturday, March 18, 2017

最重要的人活在心里



  原来是女儿代替母亲张罗丧事。真是辛苦了。

  “你父母亲的感情一定很好。”

  “是啊,所以一周年忌了,我妈妈还是整天在哭。”

  我的心好像突然揪紧。有相遇,就会有分离。虽然知道这是无可奈何的事,但是感情上无法接受。没错,即使过了再久也一样。

  但是,听到立花接下来说的话,我恍然大悟。

  “但是如果太伤心的话,故人也会很难过。”

  “是啊,寺院的住持也这么说,如果活着的人一直无法放手,我爸爸就无法成佛。”

  我知道,这就是椿店长想要告诉杉山奶奶的话。

  “我爸爸看到我妈妈整天在哭,一定会很难过。等一周年忌结束之后,要稍微改变一下家里的气氛。”

  年轻女子抬起头,拨了拨头发。

  向前看,大步走,然后继续活下去。

  活着的人不能够整天以泪洗面。杉山奶奶没有觉察这件事,仍然低头沮丧,椿店长向她伸出了手。

  最重要的人活在心里,不要让那个人难过。我似乎听到了这句话。

  不知道店长心中那个重要的人是谁?

≪和果子的杏≫[一年一次的约会] 105-106页
坂木司 著  王蕴洁 译
ISBN 978-986-5706-60-9




Sunday, March 12, 2017

我无法回答



  虽然不知道是因为传言董事即将换人,还是已经正式公布了这个消息,总之,这家公司的股价正在逐渐恢复。

  “社会上的很多事真的是息息相关。”

  我无法判断这件事件到底是好是坏,也许那个被赶走的人想要告发内部的不法情事,所以无法轻易说:“太好了”这句话。

  这个世界上的很多事,无论是好是坏,都必须等到事后才会知道结论。比方说,我没有继续升学,也没有进公司任职,而是在这家店打工,当朋友问我,你最近在忙什么,我无法回答。眼前的我只能继续向前走。

≪和果子的杏≫[和果子的杏]057页
坂木司 著  王蕴洁 译
ISBN 978-986-5706-60-9




Saturday, March 11, 2017

Little Johnny Buttermilk



  Every day, he walked to town with pails of buttermilk.

  Every evening, he returned with empty pails and pockets full of coins.

  He was called Johnny Buttermilk.

Little Johnny Buttermilk
after an old English folktale by Jan Wahl, illustrated by Jennifer Mazzucco
ISBN 978-0-97483-559-3




Sunday, March 5, 2017

Sisters



  "But," said Mrs. Chicken, "you SHOULDN'T eat me."

  "Why not?" asked crocodile.

  "Beacuse," said Mrs. Chicken, "I'm your SISTER."

Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile
Won-Ldy Paye & Margaret H. Lippert, illustrated by Julie Paschkis
ISBN 978-1-250-04673-4




They Love Them All



  Then Kwaku Ananse and Aso Yaa spread out all the fire children. Some were hardly cooked at all and were white. Some ware rosy pick, some honey yellow, some dusky red, some nut brown - and some midnight black. Kwaku Ananse and Aso Yaa loved them all, because they were their children.

The Fire Children
retold by Eric Maddern, illustrated by Frane Lessac
ISBN 978-986-6319-73-0




A Single Drop of Water



  The creatures huddled at the edge of the forest and watched.

  All except for one.

  Little Hummingbird did not abandon the forest. She flew as fast as she could to the stream. She picked up a single drop of water in her beak.

  ……

The Little Hummingbird, P
by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas
ISBN 978-1-55365-533-6




Saturday, March 4, 2017

Medium Like Me




  Polly ate her bun and felt a bit better. The raindrops were making pretty patterns on the windows.

  "I'm sorry about the play-dough and the raisins," she said.

  "That's OK," said Mummy. Look around. It's not just you. Everybody is waiting."

  Polly looked. All around the bakery people were looking at their watches and fiddling with their phones and staring out to sea.

  "Are they waiting for puffins and daddies?" said Polly.

  "Well, they're all waiting for someone," said her mummy.

  "Even the grown-ups?"

  "Even the grown-ups."

  "Do they feel sad too?"

  Polly's mummy lifted Polly up onto her lap.

  "It is always sad when people you love are far away," she said, "whether you are big or small."

  "Or medium like me," said Polly.

  "Or medium like you," said Mummy.

Polly and the Puffin, The Stormy Day, P39-41
Jenny Colgan
ISBN 978-0-349-13192-4




Waiting is Hard




  Ouside, the storm grew stronger and stronger. There was still no Daddy and still no Neil. Even Mummy was standing at the window now.

  "Waiting is hard," said Polly, taking her mummy's hand.

  "Yes it is," said Mummy.

Polly and the Puffin, The Stormy Day, P30
Jenny Colgan
ISBN 978-0-349-13192-4




It wasn't the Same




  Polly tried to play with Wrong Puffin to help the time pass, but it wasn't the same as playing with Neil.

  Nobody was fighting with Evil Rubbery Duckie.

  Wrong Puffin didn't want any cereal. He didn't even want a lollipop.

  And Neil missed the fluffy towels coming out of the drier.

Polly and the Puffin, The Stormy Day, P28-29
Jenny Colgan
ISBN 978-0-349-13192-4