Umbroo was a bright blue umbrella who lived with a ten-year-old girl named Emily. Emily loved Umbroo very much. She took him everywhere when it rained. Umbroo was very happy with Emily. He kept her dry and safe from the rain and wind. One cloudy Tuesday morning, Emily's mother said, "Emily, take your umbrella today. The weather report says it will rain this afternoon." Emily picked up Umbroo and smiled. "Come on, Umbroo. We're going to the city center after school. Mom wants to buy some books at the bookstore." At school, Emily put Umbroo in her locker. She could hear the rain starting outside during her math class. "Perfect timing," she thought. "Umbroo will keep me dry when I go home." After school, Emily and her mother walked to the city center. The rain was getting heavier. Umbroo protected both Emily and her mother as they hurried from shop to shop. First, they went to the bookstore. Then they visited the pharmacy. Finally, they stopped at a small coffee shop called "Sunny Day Café." The café was warm and cozy. Emily and her mother sat at a table near the window. Emily put Umbroo next to her chair and forgot about him. She was too busy eating chocolate cake and talking to her mother about school. "We should go now," said Emily's mother after thirty minutes. "Your father is cooking dinner tonight, and we don't want to be late." They paid for their coffee and cake, took their shopping bags, and ran to the bus stop in the rain.
アンブルーは明るい青い傘で、10歳の少女エミリーと一緒に暮らしていた。エミリーはアンブルーが大好きで、雨の日はどこへ行くにも連れていった。アンブルーもエミリーといるのが幸せで、雨や風から彼女を守るのが役目だった。ある曇った火曜日の朝、母は『今日は傘を持っていきなさい。午後は雨よ』と言った。エミリーはアンブルーを手に取り笑った。『行こう、アンブルー。放課後は街の中心へ行くの。お母さんが本屋で本を買うんだって』学校ではロッカーに入れ、数学の授業中に雨の音がし始めた。『ちょうどいい』とエミリーは思った。『帰りはアンブルーが濡らさない』放課後、エミリーと母は街へ向かい、雨は強くなった。アンブルーは二人を守りながら店を回り、本屋、薬局のあと、『サニーデイ・カフェ』という小さな喫茶店に入った。
On the bus, Emily suddenly remembered something. "Mom! Where's Umbroo?" She looked around the bus, but Umbroo was not there. "Oh no! I left him at the café!" "Don't worry, sweetheart," said her mother. "We can go back tomorrow and get him. The café people will keep him safe." But Emily was very sad. She loved Umbroo, and she didn't want him to spend the night alone in a strange place. Back at the café, Umbroo was still leaning against Emily's chair. The other customers had gone home, and the café workers were cleaning up. Umbroo felt lonely and scared. Where was Emily? Why didn't she come back for him? "Hello there," said Maria, one of the café workers. "Someone forgot their umbrella. I'll put it in our lost-and-found box. Maybe they'll call tomorrow." Maria picked up Umbroo and put him in a dark box behind the counter. Umbroo felt even more alone. He missed Emily's warm hand holding his handle. He missed protecting her from the rain. He wanted to go home.
カフェは暖かく居心地がよかった。二人は窓際の席に座り、エミリーは椅子の横にアンブルーを置いたまま忘れてしまった。チョコレートケーキを食べ、学校の話に夢中だったのだ。30分ほどして母が『そろそろ行こう。お父さんが夕食を作ってるし遅れたくない』と言った。会計を済ませ、買い物袋を持って雨の中をバス停へ走った。バスの中でエミリーは急に思い出した。『ママ！アンブルーは？』見回してもいない。『カフェに置いてきた！』母は『大丈夫、明日取りに戻ろう。お店の人が預かってくれるよ』となだめた。
The next morning, Umbroo woke up in the dark box. He could hear people talking and coffee machines working, but he couldn't see anything. The box was very small and uncomfortable. "I have to get out of here," Umbroo thought. "I have to find Emily. She must be looking for me." Umbroo tried to push the box lid with his handle, but it was too heavy. He tried to shake the box by moving back and forth, but nothing happened. He was getting very frustrated. At lunchtime, Maria opened the box to put in a lost wallet. This was Umbroo's chance! He pushed his handle up as hard as he could. The box lid flew open, and Umbroo jumped out. "Oh!" said Maria, surprised. "How did you get out of the box?" She tried to catch Umbroo, but he was too quick. He rolled across the floor and toward the front door. A customer was just leaving the café. Umbroo quickly rolled outside before the door closed. For the first time in twenty-four hours, he was free!
でもエミリーはとても悲しかった。大切なアンブルーに、知らない場所で一晩ひとりでいてほしくなかった。一方カフェでは、アンブルーが椅子に寄りかかったまま残されていた。客が帰り、店員が片づけをする中で、アンブルーは心細くなった。エミリーはどこへ行ったのだろう。なぜ戻ってこないのだろう。店員のマリアが『忘れ物の傘ね。落とし物箱に入れておくわ。明日連絡があるかも』と言い、暗い箱にしまった。アンブルーはますます孤独になり、エミリーの温かい手が恋しくてたまらなかった。
But now Umbroo had a big problem. He didn't know where Emily lived. The city was very big, and there were so many streets and buildings. How could he find her? Just then, the wind started blowing very hard. Umbroo felt himself being lifted up into the air. "This is it!" he thought. "The wind will help me find Emily!" But the wind was too strong. Umbroo flew over cars and buses, over shops and offices, over parks and playgrounds. Everything looked so small from up high, and he couldn't control where he was going. Finally, the wind became weaker, and Umbroo landed in a busy shopping street. People were walking everywhere, carrying shopping bags and talking on their phones. None of them was Emily. Umbroo felt sad and confused. The city was much bigger than he had imagined. How would he ever find Emily in such a huge place? But Umbroo was a brave umbrella. He decided not to give up. "I'll search every street and every building if I have to," he said to himself. "Emily is somewhere in this city, and I'm going to find her."
翌朝、アンブルーは暗い箱の中で目を覚ました。人の話し声やコーヒーマシンの音は聞こえるのに、何も見えない。箱は狭くて居心地が悪い。『ここから出なきゃ。エミリーを探さなきゃ。きっと探しているはず』アンブルーは柄でふたを押したり、体を揺らしたりしたが、びくともしない。苛立ちが募っていった。昼、マリアが落とした財布を入れようと箱を開けた。その瞬間がチャンスだった。アンブルーは柄を思い切り突き上げ、ふたを跳ね上げて飛び出した。
Just as Umbroo was planning his search, dark clouds covered the sky. The first drops of rain began to fall. The rain was getting heavier, and people on the street were running to find shelter. Umbroo saw a young businessman in an expensive suit standing at a bus stop. The man was getting completely wet because he didn't have an umbrella. "I should help him," thought Umbroo. "That's what Emily would want me to do." Umbroo rolled over to the businessman and opened himself up above the man's head. The businessman looked around, confused. "Where did this umbrella come from?" he asked. But he was grateful for the protection from the rain. When the man's bus arrived, he tried to take Umbroo with him. But Umbroo closed himself and rolled away. The businessman was surprised, but he smiled and waved goodbye. "Thank you, mysterious umbrella!" he called. A little further down the street, Umbroo saw a young mother with a baby in a stroller. She was trying to cover the baby with a small blanket, but the rain was soaking them both. The baby was starting to cry.
マリアは驚いた。『えっ、どうやって出たの？』捕まえようとしたが、アンブルーは素早く床を転がって入口へ向かった。ちょうど客が出るところで、扉が閉まる前に外へ転がり出た。自由になったのは24時間ぶりだった。しかし大きな問題がある。エミリーの家がどこかわからないのだ。街は広く、道も建物も多い。どうやって見つければいい？そのとき強い風が吹き、アンブルーはふわりと持ち上げられた。『これだ！風がエミリーのところへ連れていってくれる』と思った。
Umbroo rolled over and positioned himself above the stroller. The mother looked around to see who was helping her, but she couldn't see anyone holding the umbrella. "This is strange," she said, "but I'm very thankful for the help." When they reached their destination, Umbroo gently closed himself and moved away. The mother called out, "Thank you, whoever you are! You saved us from getting sick!" As Umbroo continued down the street, he began to feel better. Helping people felt good, just like helping Emily had always felt good. Maybe finding Emily would take time, but he could help others while he searched. Next, Umbroo saw an elderly man with a walking stick trying to cross a busy street. The rain made the pavement slippery, and the old man was having trouble walking safely. Umbroo opened himself and positioned his handle next to the man's walking stick, giving him extra support. Together, they crossed the street safely. The old man patted Umbroo's handle and said, "You're a good umbrella. Someone taught you well." These words made Umbroo think of Emily. She had always been kind to other people. She helped her classmates with homework, and she always said "please" and "thank you" to shop workers. Maybe helping others was Umbroo's way of staying connected to Emily while he looked for her.
けれど風は強すぎた。アンブルーは車やバスの上、店やオフィス、公園や遊び場の上を飛び、下の景色は小さく見えたが、行き先を自分で選べない。やがて風が弱まり、にぎやかな買い物通りに落ちた。人々は買い物袋を持ち、電話で話しながら行き交うが、そこにエミリーはいない。アンブルーは悲しく途方に暮れた。街は想像以上に大きい。けれど彼は勇敢な傘だ。『あきらめない。エミリーがいるまで、通りも建物も全部探す』と自分に言い聞かせた。
As the afternoon continued, Umbroo helped many more people. He protected a group of school children who were waiting for their school bus. He helped a pizza delivery man carry his boxes without getting them wet. He even helped a small dog find shelter under a shop awning. By evening, the rain had stopped, but Umbroo felt tired and no closer to finding Emily. He rolled into a quiet park and found a bench to rest under. As he lay there, he wondered if Emily was looking for him too. Was she sad? Was she worried about him? "Tomorrow I'll continue searching," Umbroo promised himself. "And I'll keep helping people along the way. That's what Emily would do." The next morning, Umbroo woke up feeling stiff and cold. Sleeping outside was not comfortable, and he missed his warm spot in Emily's bedroom. But he was determined to continue his search. As he rolled through the park, he heard a voice calling, "Hey there, blue umbrella! Over here!" Umbroo looked around and saw a green trash can near the park entrance. The trash can was waving one of his handles at Umbroo.
探し方を考えていると、黒い雲が広がり、雨粒が落ち始めた。雨はすぐに強くなり、人々は走って雨宿りを探した。アンブルーはバス停でずぶ濡れになっている高そうなスーツの若いビジネスマンを見つけた。傘がないのだ。『助けてあげよう。エミリーならそうする』アンブルーは近づき、頭上でぱっと開いた。男は周りを見回し『どこから来た傘だ？』と不思議がったが、雨をしのげて感謝した。
"You can talk?" asked Umbroo, amazed. "Of course I can talk!" laughed the trash can. "My name is Binny. I've been watching you help people yesterday. That was very impressive! But you look lost. Are you okay?" Umbroo felt happy to meet someone friendly. He told Binny his whole story - about Emily, about being left at the café, about his escape and his search. "That's a beautiful story," said Binny. "Love and loyalty are the most important things in the world. But I have to tell you, this city is enormous. Looking for one person without a plan is very difficult." "What should I do?" asked Umbroo. "You need local information," said Binny. "Let me introduce you to my friends. They know this city better than anyone."
バスが来ると男はアンブルーを持って行こうとした。だがアンブルーは閉じて転がり去った。男は驚いたが笑って手を振った。『ありがとう、謎の傘！』少し先で、赤ちゃんを乗せたベビーカーの若い母親が、薄い毛布で必死に覆っていた。赤ちゃんは泣き出している。アンブルーはベビーカーの上に位置し、二人を雨から守った。母親は誰が助けているのか分からず戸惑いながらも『変だけど本当に助かる』と言った。目的地に着くと、アンブルーは静かに閉じて離れた。『ありがとう！風邪をひかずにすんだわ！』
Binny called out, "Hey, Lampy! Come meet my new friend!" A tall street lamp near the park path flickered his light. "Hello there, umbrella! I'm Lampy. Binny told me about your situation. I might be able to help you." "Really?" asked Umbroo hopefully. "I see everything that happens on my street," explained Lampy. "Every day, hundreds of people walk past me. If your Emily lives in this neighborhood, I might have seen her. What does she look like?" Umbroo described Emily in detail - her long brown hair, her bright smile, her red backpack, the way she always said "thank you" to him when they arrived home safely. "Hmm," said Lampy thoughtfully. "There are several children who match that description. But wait - did you say she has a red backpack with a white star on it?"
さらに進むと、アンブルーは少し元気になった。人を助けるのは気持ちがいい。エミリーを守っていたときと同じだ。探すのに時間がかかっても、その間に誰かの役に立てる。次に彼は、杖をついて混んだ道を渡ろうとしている年配の男性を見つけた。雨で路面は滑りやすい。アンブルーは開いて柄を杖のそばに差し出し、支えになるようにして一緒に渡った。男は柄をたたき『いい傘だ。誰かにちゃんと教わったんだな』と言った。
"Yes, yes!" said Umbroo excitedly. "That's Emily!" "I think I know her!" said Lampy. "There's a girl who walks past me every morning on her way to school. She always looks sad lately, and she keeps looking at the sky whenever there are rain clouds. She never carries an umbrella anymore." "That must be Emily!" said Umbroo. "She's sad because she lost me! Which way does she go?" "She comes from the residential area east of here," said Lampy. "But it's a big area with many streets and many houses. You'll need more help to find the exact location." Just then, a red mailbox nearby called out, "Did someone say they need help finding an address? That's my specialty! I'm Postman Pete, and I know every house in this district!" Umbroo was amazed. The city was full of helpful objects! "Can you help me find Emily's house?" he asked.
その言葉でアンブルーはエミリーを思い出した。エミリーはいつも親切で、クラスメートの宿題を手伝い、店の人にも必ず『お願いします』『ありがとう』と言う子だった。人を助けることは、離れていてもエミリーとつながっている方法なのかもしれない。午後の間、アンブルーはさらに多くの人を助けた。スクールバスを待つ子どもたちを守り、ピザ配達員が箱を濡らさず運べるようにし、店のひさしの下へ小さな犬が避難するのも手伝った。夕方、雨は止んだが、アンブルーは疲れていた。
"I'll need more information," said Pete. "Do you know her family name? Or any other details about where she lives?" Umbroo thought hard. "I remember her mother talking about 'the new pharmacy on Maple Street' when we went shopping. Emily said her house was close to Maple Street." "Maple Street!" said Pete excitedly. "That's in the Riverside neighborhood. There are about fifty houses there, but it's much better than searching the whole city!" "How do I get there?" asked Umbroo. "It's quite far from here," said Lampy. "You'll need to cross downtown, then go over the river bridge, then through the university district. It's at least five miles away." Five miles seemed like a very long distance to Umbroo, but he was determined. "I can do it," he said. "I have to find Emily."
公園の静かなベンチのそばで休みながら、エミリーも自分を探しているのだろうかと考えた。悲しんでいるだろうか、心配しているだろうか。『明日も探し続ける。道中で困っている人がいたら助ける。エミリーならそうする』と彼は約束した。翌朝、アンブルーは体がこわばって冷たく感じた。外で寝るのはつらい。それでも決意は揺らがない。公園を転がっていると、『おい、青い傘！こっちだ！』と声がした。入口近くの緑のゴミ箱が取っ手を振っていた。
"Wait," said Binny. "You don't have to do this alone. We'll help you plan the best route, and we'll ask our friends along the way to help you too." Umbroo felt warm inside despite the cold morning air. He had real friends now, and they wanted to help him. Maybe he wasn't so alone after all. With directions from his new friends, Umbroo began his long journey to the Riverside neighborhood. Postman Pete had given him a detailed route: first downtown, then across River Bridge, through University District, and finally to Maple Street. The downtown area was very busy and dangerous for a small umbrella. Cars and buses rushed past, and there were so many people that Umbroo kept getting kicked and stepped on. Several times, people tried to pick him up and take him, but Umbroo always managed to escape. As he was crossing Main Street, a strong gust of wind caught Umbroo and blew him directly into the traffic. Cars honked their horns and swerved to avoid him. Umbroo was terrified! He spun around and around, unable to control his direction. Just as a large truck was about to hit him, a street cleaning machine stopped and blocked the truck. The driver of the cleaning machine, an old man named George, climbed out and picked up Umbroo.
『君、話せるの？』とアンブルーが驚くと、ゴミ箱は笑った。『もちろん！僕はビニー。昨日、君が人助けしているのを見てたよ。すごかった。でも迷子みたいだね。大丈夫？』アンブルーは嬉しくなり、エミリーのこと、カフェで置き去りにされたこと、脱出したこと、探していることを全部話した。ビニーは『それはいい話だ。愛と忠誠は大事だよ。でもこの街は巨大だ。計画なしで探すのは大変だ』と言った。『どうしたらいい？』と聞くと、『地元の情報が必要だ。友だちを紹介するよ』
"Careful there, little umbrella," said George kindly. "The streets are no place for you to be rolling around alone. Are you lost?" Umbroo couldn't speak to humans the way he could speak to other objects, so he gently pushed George's hand in the direction he needed to go. "Ah, you want to go toward the river," said George, understanding. "I'm heading that way to clean the bridge walkway. Would you like a ride?" George put Umbroo safely in the back of his cleaning truck. For the first time in days, Umbroo could rest and watch the city go by without worrying about cars and people. When they reached River Bridge, George carefully placed Umbroo on the sidewalk. "Good luck, little friend," he said. "I hope you find what you're looking for." The bridge was long and windy. Halfway across, Umbroo heard a small crying sound coming from below the bridge railing. He looked down and saw a tiny kitten stuck on a narrow ledge. The kitten was wet, scared, and too frightened to move.
ビニーは『ランピー！新しい友だちだ！』と呼んだ。公園の道のそばの街灯がチカッと光った。『こんにちは、傘さん。僕はランピー。もしエミリーがこの辺に住んでいるなら、見たことがあるかもしれない。どんな子？』アンブルーは、長い茶色の髪、明るい笑顔、赤いリュック、家に着くと必ず『ありがとう』と言ってくれることなど、詳しく説明した。ランピーは考え込み、『赤いリュックに白い星がついてる？』と聞いた。『そう！それがエミリー！』
Umbroo knew he had to help. He opened himself wide and carefully lowered his handle down to the ledge. "Grab on," he called to the kitten in object-language. The kitten, whose name was Mittens, understood immediately. She climbed onto Umbroo's handle, and he slowly lifted her up to safety on the sidewalk. "Thank you so much!" said Mittens gratefully. "I've been stuck down there for hours. I thought no one would ever find me!" "Are you okay?" asked Umbroo. "How did you get down there?" "I was chasing a bird and climbed over the railing," Mittens explained. "But then I got scared and couldn't climb back up. My owner must be very worried about me." Umbroo felt a connection with the little cat. They were both separated from someone they loved. "I'm looking for my owner too," he said. "Her name is Emily, and she lives near Maple Street."
ランピーは『たぶん知ってる。毎朝この道を通って学校へ行く女の子がいるんだ。最近いつも悲しそうで、雨雲を見るたび空を見上げてる。もう傘は持っていない』と言った。アンブルーは『それはエミリーだ！どっちへ行くの？』と急いだ。ランピーは『東の住宅地から来るけど、範囲が広い。もっと助けが必要だ』と言った。すると近くの赤い郵便ポストが『住所探しなら任せて！僕はポストマン・ピート。ここの家は全部知ってる』と名乗り出た。
"Emily?" said Mittens excitedly. "A girl with long brown hair and a red backpack?" "Yes! Do you know her?" Umbroo could hardly believe it. "She feeds the stray cats in my neighborhood every day," said Mittens. "She's very kind. She always brings us food and water, especially when it rains. She uses a blue umbrella..." Mittens stopped and looked at Umbroo carefully. "Wait. Are you that blue umbrella?" "Yes, I am!" said Umbroo. "Emily has been so sad lately!" said Mittens. "She comes to feed us, but she doesn't smile anymore. She keeps looking at the sky and saying, 'I hope Umbroo is safe somewhere.' She misses you very much!" This news made Umbroo both happy and sad. Happy because Emily missed him and loved him, but sad because she was unhappy.
アンブルーは『エミリーの家を探せる？』と頼んだ。ピートは『姓か、もっと情報がいる。どこに住んでるか覚えてる？』と言う。アンブルーは思い出した。『お母さんが“メープル通りの新しい薬局”って言ってた。家はメープル通りの近くだと思う』ピートは『メープル通り！それならリバーサイド地区だ。家は50軒くらいあるけど、街全部よりずっといい』と言った。ランピーは『ここから遠い。繁華街を越えて、川の橋を渡り、大学地区を通って、少なくとも5マイルはある』と教えた。
"Can you take me to her?" asked Umbroo hopefully. "Of course!" said Mittens. "I know exactly where she lives. Follow me!" Together, Umbroo and Mittens continued across the bridge. The wind was still strong, but now Umbroo felt confident. He had a guide who knew Emily, and soon he would see her again! But their adventure was not over yet. As they reached the end of the bridge, storm clouds gathered overhead, and rain began to fall heavily. The storm came suddenly and fiercely. Rain poured down like a waterfall, and the wind howled like a wild animal. Umbroo had never experienced such terrible weather, not even when he was safely with Emily. "We need to find shelter!" called Mittens over the noise of the storm. "This is too dangerous!"
5マイルは長いが、アンブルーは『行ける。エミリーに会わなきゃ』と言った。ビニーは『ひとりで行かなくていい。最短ルートを考えて、道中の友だちにも頼もう』と励ました。アンブルーは温かい気持ちになり、長い旅を始めた。ピートの道順は、まずダウンタウン、次にリバー橋、大学地区を抜けて、最後にメープル通り。ダウンタウンは小さな傘には危険だった。車やバスが走り、人が多く、踏まれたり蹴られたりした。拾って持ち去ろうとする人もいたが、アンブルーは逃げ切った。
But as they looked for a safe place to hide, Umbroo saw something that made him forget about his own safety. A wedding party was standing outside the University Chapel, and the bride was crying because her beautiful white dress was getting soaked. The photographer was trying to protect his expensive camera, and all the wedding guests were getting completely wet. "I have to help them," said Umbroo to Mittens. "But the storm is too strong!" warned Mittens. "You could get blown away!" "Emily would want me to help," said Umbroo firmly. "She always helps others when they need it." Umbroo opened himself as wide as he could and positioned himself over the bride and groom. But the storm was so powerful that he could barely stay in place. The wind kept trying to flip him inside out and blow him away. The bride looked up in amazement. "Where did this umbrella come from?" she asked. But she was grateful for the protection.
メインストリートを渡っていると突風が吹き、アンブルーは車道に飛ばされた。クラクションが鳴り、車がよける。ぐるぐる回って制御できず、恐怖でいっぱいになった。大型トラックが迫ったそのとき、道路清掃車が止まり、トラックをふさいだ。運転していたジョージという年配の男性が降り、アンブルーを拾い上げた。『危ないよ、小さな傘。道は君の居場所じゃない。迷子かい？』人間には話せないので、アンブルーは行きたい方向へ手をそっと押した。
The wedding photographer quickly took several pictures of the bride and groom under Umbroo's protection. "These will be the most unique wedding photos ever!" he said. But suddenly, an enormous gust of wind caught Umbroo and lifted him high into the air. He spun around and around, unable to control his direction. Below him, he could see Mittens running and calling his name. The wind carried Umbroo over buildings, over trees, over streets full of people running for shelter. He was flying higher and faster than ever before, and he was terrified. What if he was blown far away from the city? What if he never found Emily now? Just when Umbroo thought he was lost forever, he crashed into something soft and bouncy. He had landed in a large tree in someone's backyard. The branches caught him safely, but now he was stuck twenty feet above the ground. From his position in the tree, Umbroo could see the whole neighborhood spread out below him. There were rows of houses with gardens, small shops, and tree-lined streets. In the distance, he could see a green street sign that read "Maple Street." "I'm close!" thought Umbroo excitedly. "Emily must be somewhere near here!"
ジョージは『川のほうへ行きたいのか。ちょうど橋の歩道を掃除しに行くところだ。乗っていくかい？』と言い、アンブルーを荷台に安全に置いた。数日ぶりに、アンブルーは車の心配なく休めた。リバー橋に着くと、ジョージは歩道に降ろして『幸運を祈るよ、小さな友だち。探し物が見つかるといいね』と言った。橋は長く風が強い。途中、手すりの下から小さな鳴き声がした。下を見ると、細い足場に小さな子猫が取り残され、濡れて怖がっていた。
But getting down from the tree seemed impossible. The branches held him tightly, and every time he tried to move, they tangled around his spokes and handle. As the storm continued, Umbroo saw people running through the streets below, trying to get home before the weather got worse. Many of them didn't have umbrellas or raincoats, and they were getting soaked. Among the running figures, Umbroo suddenly saw a familiar shape. A young girl with long brown hair was hurrying down the street, holding a school bag over her head for protection from the rain. Even from high up in the tree, Umbroo recognized her immediately. "Emily!" he called out in object-language, hoping somehow she might hear him. "Emily, I'm here!" But Emily couldn't hear him over the storm, and she couldn't see him in the tree. She ran past the backyard where Umbroo was trapped and disappeared around a corner. Umbroo felt desperate. Emily had been so close! She was probably almost home now, but he was still stuck in this tree. How could he get down? How could he reach her?
アンブルーは助けるしかないと思った。大きく開き、柄をゆっくり下ろした。『つかまって』と呼びかけると、子猫は理解して柄に乗り、アンブルーは慎重に歩道へ引き上げた。子猫はミトンズという名前で、『ありがとう！何時間もここにいた。誰も見つけてくれないと思った』と言った。アンブルーは『大丈夫？どうしてそこへ？』と聞く。『鳥を追って手すりを越えちゃった。でも怖くなって戻れなかったの。飼い主が心配してるはず』ミトンズの話に、アンブルーは自分と重なるものを感じた。
As if in answer to his thoughts, Umbroo heard a familiar small voice calling from below: "Umbroo! Umbroo! Where are you?" It was Mittens! The brave little cat had followed him through the storm and found him. "I'm up here in the tree!" Umbroo called back. Mittens looked up and saw Umbroo tangled in the branches. "Hold on! I'm a good climber. I'll help you get down!" Mittens quickly climbed up the tree to where Umbroo was stuck. Her small paws were perfect for untangling the thin branches that held Umbroo's spokes and handle. "There you are!" said Mittens as she worked. "I was so worried when the wind carried you away. I saw you help that wedding party - that was very brave!"
アンブルーは『僕も飼い主を探してる。エミリーって名前で、メープル通りの近くに住んでる』と言った。ミトンズは目を輝かせた。『エミリー？茶色い長い髪で赤いリュックの女の子？』アンブルーは『そう！知ってるの？』と驚いた。ミトンズは『うちの近所で野良猫に毎日ごはんをくれる子だよ。雨の日は特に。青い傘を使ってた…』と止まり、アンブルーを見て『待って、その青い傘ってあなた？』と言った。『そうだよ！』
"Thank you for coming after me," said Umbroo gratefully. "I saw Emily! She ran right past this backyard just a few minutes ago!" "Really?" said Mittens excitedly. "Then we're very close to her house! I told you I knew this neighborhood well." After several minutes of careful work, Mittens managed to free Umbroo from the branches. Together, they climbed down to the ground, though it was quite difficult for an umbrella to climb down a tree! The storm was finally beginning to calm down, but it was still raining steadily. Mittens led Umbroo through several backyard gardens until they reached Maple Street. "Emily's house should be just a few blocks down this street," said Mittens. "I remember she lives in a yellow house with a red door and a small garden in front." They walked down Maple Street, looking carefully at each house. There were white houses, blue houses, green houses, but no yellow house with a red door.
ミトンズは『エミリー、最近すごく悲しそう。餌はくれるけど笑わない。空を見上げて“アンブルーは無事かな”って言うの』と教えた。その言葉にアンブルーは嬉しくも切なくなった。『連れていってくれる？』と頼むと、ミトンズは『もちろん！家も分かるよ。ついてきて！』と答えた。二人は橋を渡り続けた。風は強いが、今は案内がいるので心強い。ところが橋の終わりに近づくと、暗雲が集まり、激しい雨が降り出した。嵐は突然で、滝のような雨と獣のような風だった。
"Are you sure this is the right street?" asked Umbroo after they had walked for fifteen minutes. "I... I think so," said Mittens, looking confused. "Maybe I made a mistake. There are several streets in this area that look very similar." Just then, they heard a voice calling from across the street: "Mittens! There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" It was an elderly woman with gray hair and a kind face. She was carrying an umbrella and wearing a raincoat. Mittens ran across the street to the woman. "Mrs. Peterson! I got lost during the storm!"
『避難しよう！危ない！』とミトンズが叫んだ。だが安全な場所を探す途中、アンブルーは目を離せない光景を見た。大学の礼拝堂の前で結婚式の一行が立ち尽くし、花嫁は白いドレスが濡れると泣き、カメラマンは機材を守ろうと必死で、招待客もずぶ濡れだった。アンブルーは『助けなきゃ。エミリーならそうする』と言った。ミトンズは『風が強すぎるよ！飛ばされる！』と止めたが、アンブルーは『それでも助ける』と決めた。
"I was so worried about you!" said Mrs. Peterson, picking up Mittens and cuddling her. "You shouldn't wander so far from home during bad weather." Umbroo watched this reunion with mixed feelings. He was happy that Mittens had found her owner, but he felt lonely again. Everyone seemed to have someone who loved them except him. Mrs. Peterson noticed Umbroo lying on the sidewalk. "Oh my, someone dropped their umbrella. It's a beautiful blue one too." She walked over and picked him up. "This is my friend Umbroo!" Mittens explained in cat-language that only other animals and objects could understand. "He's looking for his owner, a girl named Emily who lives near here!" But Mrs. Peterson couldn't understand Mittens. She just heard normal cat meowing sounds. "Don't worry, Mittens. I'll take this umbrella to the community lost-and-found center tomorrow. Someone must be missing it."
アンブルーはできるだけ大きく開いて新郎新婦を覆った。しかし嵐は強烈で、風がひっくり返そうとする。花嫁は驚いて上を見上げ、『誰が…？』と言いかけたが、風の音でかき消された。アンブルーは必死に踏ん張ったが、突風が一段と強くなり、彼は空へ持ち上げられてしまった。『だめだ！』と心の中で叫ぶ。傘の布は風を受けて帆のようになり、アンブルーは建物や木々、雨宿りをする人々の上をどんどん飛ばされ、高く高く舞い上がった。
"No, wait!" Umbroo wanted to say, but humans couldn't hear him speak. Mrs. Peterson carried both Mittens and Umbroo to her house, which was just around the corner. It was a cozy little house with a cat door and toys scattered around the garden. Inside the house, Mrs. Peterson put Umbroo in the hallway closet with several other umbrellas. "You'll be safe and dry here tonight," she said kindly. "Tomorrow I'll make sure you get back to your owner." As Mrs. Peterson closed the closet door, Umbroo felt trapped again. He was probably closer to Emily than he had ever been since leaving the café, but now he was stuck in another dark place. "Don't worry," whispered Mittens through the closet door. "I'll help you escape tomorrow morning, and we'll continue looking for Emily together. I promise I won't give up on helping you find her."
やがてアンブルーは大きな木の枝に激しくぶつかり、引っかかって止まった。下は知らない裏庭で、雨はまだ叩きつけてくる。『こんなところで…エミリーから遠ざかった』と彼は絶望した。木から降りようとしても枝が絡みつき、動くたびにさらに締まる。アンブルーは『ミトンズ！助けて！』と呼んだが、嵐の中で声は届かない。しばらくして雨の中を走る子どもの影が見えた。エミリーだった。彼女は濡れながらどこかを探している。
Umbroo felt a little better knowing that Mittens was still his friend and would help him. But lying in the dark closet, surrounded by stranger umbrellas, he felt more homesick than ever. Somewhere in this neighborhood, Emily was probably going to sleep in her warm bed, still missing her blue umbrella. And here he was, so close but unable to reach her. "Tomorrow," Umbroo promised himself. "Tomorrow I will find Emily, no matter what obstacles I face." Outside, the storm finally ended, and the first stars appeared in the clear night sky. Early the next morning, before Mrs. Peterson woke up, Mittens used her paws to open the closet door from the outside. It took her several tries, but finally the door swung open.
アンブルーは全力で揺れ、『エミリー！ここ！』と叫んだ。しかし嵐の音で聞こえないし、木の中の青い傘は見えない。エミリーは裏庭の前を走り抜け、角を曲がって消えた。アンブルーは胸が痛んだ。『今、すぐそばにいたのに』そのとき遠くから『アンブルー！どこ？』と猫の声がした。ミトンズだ。アンブルーは『この木の上！』と叫び、ミトンズは見上げて絡まっているのを見つけた。『待って！登って助ける！』
"Good morning, Umbroo!" whispered Mittens. "Are you ready to continue our search?" "Yes!" said Umbroo, feeling refreshed and hopeful. "Today feels like a lucky day." They quietly left Mrs. Peterson's house through the cat door. The morning air was clean and fresh after the storm, and puddles reflected the blue sky everywhere. "I've been thinking about yesterday," said Mittens as they walked down the street. "I might have confused Emily's street with another one. There's a street called Maple Avenue that's parallel to Maple Street. Maybe that's where she lives." "Let's try there," said Umbroo eagerly.
ミトンズは木に登り、爪で枝をたどってアンブルーのもとへ来た。『大丈夫？』ミトンズは絡みついた枝をかじったり引っかいたりして、少しずつほどいていく。時間はかかったが、ついにアンブルーは自由になり、地面へ落ちた。『ありがとう』とアンブルーは言った。『さっきエミリーを見た！この庭を通り過ぎたばかりだ。追いかけよう！』ミトンズは『うん。エミリーの家はこの通りを数ブロック行ったところ。黄色い家で赤いドアのはず』と教えた。
Maple Avenue was just two blocks away, and it looked quite different from Maple Street. The houses were newer, and each one had a small front garden with flowers and trees. As they walked down the avenue, Umbroo suddenly felt excited. Something about this street felt familiar, though he couldn't explain why. "Look!" said Mittens suddenly. "There's a yellow house with a red door!" They hurried toward the house. It had a beautiful garden full of roses and a mailbox that read "The Johnson Family." In the driveway was a blue car, and next to the front door were two pairs of muddy boots - one large pair and one small pair. "This must be it!" said Umbroo, his heart beating fast with excitement.
二人が急いで進もうとしたとき、通りの向こうから声がした。『ミトンズ！いた！ずっと探してたのよ！』ミトンズの飼い主のミセス・ピーターソンだった。彼女は濡れたミトンズを抱き上げ、『よかった…家へ帰ろう』と言った。ミトンズはアンブルーを見て困った顔をした。アンブルーは『僕も行くべき？』と迷う。ミトンズは小さくうなずき、飼い主に気づかれないようアンブルーを転がして近づけた。ピーターソン夫人は『あら、傘も落ちてる。家で乾かしてあげよう』と拾ってしまった。
Just then, they heard voices coming from inside the house. "Emily, you need to eat breakfast before school," said a woman's voice. "I'm not very hungry, Mom," replied a familiar young voice that made Umbroo's handle tremble with joy. It was Emily! "You've been sad all week, sweetheart," said the woman's voice gently. "I know you miss your umbrella, but we can buy you a new one." "I don't want a new umbrella," said Emily sadly. "I want Umbroo. He was special. He kept me safe for two whole years, and now he's lost somewhere in the city. What if he's scared? What if someone threw him away?"
アンブルーは複雑な気持ちでその光景を見た。ミトンズが飼い主と再会できたのは嬉しい。でも自分はまた誰かの家に連れていかれる。『いや、待って！』と言いたかったが、人間には声が届かない。ピーターソン夫人はミトンズとアンブルーを連れて家へ帰り、玄関でタオルでミトンズを拭き、アンブルーはクローゼットに立てかけた。『明日、落とし物として警察に届けよう』と彼女は言った。アンブルーは焦った。警察に行ったら、エミリーに会える可能性が遠のくかもしれない。
Umbroo's heart broke hearing how sad Emily sounded. He wanted to rush through the door and comfort her immediately. "Mrs. Peterson called this morning," continued Emily's mother. "She found a blue umbrella during the storm yesterday. She's bringing it to the community center this afternoon. Maybe it's yours!" "Really?" said Emily, sounding hopeful for the first time. "Can we go check after school?" "Of course, darling. But don't get your hopes too high. There are many blue umbrellas in the city." Umbroo looked at Mittens. "That must be me they're talking about! But I can't wait until this afternoon. I need to get to Emily now!"
その夜、ミトンズはこっそりクローゼットの扉のそばに行き、『心配しないで。明日の朝、私が脱出を手伝う。まだエミリーを探そう』とささやいた。外では嵐がようやくおさまり、澄んだ夜空に星が出た。翌朝早く、ピーターソン夫人が起きる前に、ミトンズはクローゼットを開け、アンブルーをそっと外へ転がした。『急ごう』二人は猫用の出入り口から静かに出て、雨上がりのきれいな空気を吸い込んだ。
"Look," said Mittens, pointing with her paw. "Emily is coming out of the house!" The front door opened, and Emily stepped outside wearing her school uniform and carrying her red backpack with the white star. She looked exactly the same as Umbroo remembered, except her face looked sad instead of happy. Emily started walking toward the bus stop at the end of the street. As she walked, she looked up at the cloudy sky with a worried expression. "It looks like it might rain again," she said to herself. "I wish I had my umbrella." This was Umbroo's perfect moment! He rolled out from behind the garden fence and positioned himself directly in Emily's path.
通りを歩いていると、アンブルーは突然ワクワクした。どこか見覚えのある道だ。『この匂い…この景色…』と感じた。角を曲がると、黄色い家に赤いドアが見えた。『ここだ！』ミトンズも『そう、エミリーの家！』と言った。そのとき家の中から声が聞こえた。『エミリー、朝ごはん食べなさい』と女性の声。エミリーが『いらない…』と言い、少し泣きそうな声だった。アンブルーは胸がいっぱいになった。やっと近づいたのに、まだ会えていない。
Emily stopped walking and stared at the blue umbrella on the sidewalk in front of her. Her eyes grew wide, and her hands started shaking. "Umbroo?" she whispered, hardly daring to believe it. "Is it really you?" She knelt down and picked him up gently. As soon as her warm hands touched his handle, Umbroo felt complete again. He was home at last! "Oh, Umbroo!" Emily cried, hugging him tightly. "I've missed you so much! I looked for you everywhere! I called the café every day, and I asked everyone if they had seen a blue umbrella. I was so worried about you!" Emily was crying, but they were happy tears. She held Umbroo close and spun around in circles, laughing with joy.
エミリーは『新しい傘なんていらない。アンブルーがいい。特別だった。2年間ずっと守ってくれたのに、私が忘れちゃった…』と悲しそうに言った。母は『分かってるよ。でも失くし物だから仕方ない。警察にも聞いたし、カフェにも電話した。見つからないの』とやさしく答えた。アンブルーは『ここにいるのに！』と思った。ミトンズは小さく『大丈夫。今、会わせる』と目で合図した。しばらくしてエミリーが家から出てきて、バス停へ歩き始めた。
"I'm never leaving you anywhere again," she promised. "From now on, you're coming with me everywhere, even when it's not raining. I love you so much, Umbroo!" At that moment, the first drops of rain began to fall from the cloudy sky. Emily looked up and smiled - the first real smile Umbroo had seen on her face since their reunion. "Perfect timing," she said, opening Umbroo above both their heads. "Just like old times." As they stood together under Umbroo's protective canopy, both Emily and Umbroo felt perfectly happy. The long, difficult journey was over. They were together again, and nothing would ever separate them again. From across the street, Mittens watched the reunion with a satisfied smile. Her mission was complete. She had helped bring two friends back together, and that felt wonderful.
エミリーは歩きながら、曇った空を見上げてため息をついた。ミトンズは茂みの陰からアンブルーを押し出し、エミリーの足元へ転がした。エミリーは足を止め、『え？』と驚いて見下ろした。青い傘。泥で汚れ、少し傷もある。でも間違いない。エミリーはそっと抱き上げ、『アンブルー？』とささやいた。『本当に…本当にあなた？』彼女の目に涙が浮かんだ。アンブルーは胸が熱くなるのを感じた。
As Emily and Umbroo walked toward the bus stop, sharing stories about their time apart (though only Umbroo could actually tell his story), Umbroo realized something important. His adventure had taught him that helping others and making friends were just as important as finding his way home. He would never forget Binny, Lampy, Postman Pete, George the street cleaner, and especially Mittens. They had all helped him when he was lost and alone, and their kindness had made his journey possible. That evening, Emily sat in her bedroom with Umbroo leaning against her desk. She was doing her homework, but she kept looking over at him and smiling. "Mom was so surprised when I came home with you," Emily told Umbroo. "She said it was like a miracle. She called Mrs. Peterson to tell her that the blue umbrella had found its way home by itself." Umbroo listened happily to Emily's voice. Her room looked exactly the same as he remembered - the pink bedspread, the bookshelf full of stories, the window that looked out over the garden.
エミリーはアンブルーをぎゅっと抱き、『もう二度と置き忘れない。雨じゃなくても、どこへ行くにも一緒』と約束した。アンブルーは言葉にできないほど嬉しかった。通りの向こうでミトンズは満足そうに微笑んだ。任務完了だ。友だちを再会させられた。ミトンズは静かにその場を離れ、家へ戻っていった。エミリーはバスに乗らず、家へ引き返した。『ママ！見て！アンブルーが戻ってきた！』母は驚き、『ええっ！どこで？』と叫んだ。
"I have so much to tell you," Emily continued. "Every day you were gone, I thought about you. I wondered if you were safe, if you were helping other people the way you always helped me. I hoped someone kind was taking care of you." If only Emily knew how true her hopes had been! Umbroo had indeed been helping people, and kind friends had taken care of him along the way. "Tomorrow is Saturday," said Emily excitedly. "No school! We can spend the whole day together. Would you like that, Umbroo?" Umbroo would have nodded if he could. There was nothing he wanted more than to spend time with Emily again. Emily's mother knocked on the bedroom door. "Emily, dinner is ready. And there's someone here who wants to meet Umbroo."
エミリーは『嵐のあと、道で見つけたの』とだけ言った。母は信じられない顔をしたが、すぐに笑って『奇跡みたいね。よかった』と言った。その晩、エミリーはアンブルーをきれいに拭き、傷のところに小さなシールを貼って直した。『これで大丈夫』翌日、エミリーは学校へアンブルーを持っていき、友だちに話した。『傘が帰ってきたんだ！』みんなは驚き、先生も笑った。アンブルーは誇らしく思った。
Emily picked up Umbroo and carried him to the living room. There, sitting on the couch, was Mrs. Peterson holding Mittens! "This is the lady I told you about," said Emily's mother. "Mrs. Peterson found Umbroo during the storm yesterday. Isn't that amazing?" "Hello, Emily," said Mrs. Peterson kindly. "I'm so happy your umbrella found his way back to you. It's quite mysterious how he appeared on your street this morning. My cat Mittens seemed very interested in him yesterday evening." Mittens looked at Umbroo and winked one eye - only Umbroo could see it. Their secret was safe. "Thank you for taking care of him," said Emily politely. "I'm very grateful."
金曜日の夜、エミリーはアンブルーに『明日は土曜日だよ。学校がない。丸一日一緒にいられる。うれしい？』と話しかけた。アンブルーは心の中で『もちろん』と答えた。土曜日の朝、エミリーは母と一緒にサニーデイ・カフェへ行き、マリアに謝った。『傘、見つかったんです。ご迷惑かけました』マリアは『よかった！心配してたのよ』と喜んだ。そこへ偶然ピーターソン夫人とミトンズも来た。エミリーの母は『この方が嵐の中で傘を見つけてくれたの』と紹介した。
"It was my pleasure," said Mrs. Peterson. "Mittens and I love helping reunite friends. Speaking of which, Mittens has been visiting your street quite often lately. I think she likes the food you leave out for the stray cats." "I love taking care of animals," said Emily. "Especially when it's raining. I always worry about cats and dogs getting cold and wet." Umbroo felt proud of Emily. She was just as kind and caring as he had always known her to be. After Mrs. Peterson and Mittens left, Emily and her parents had dinner together. Emily told them all about her week without Umbroo, how worried she had been, and how happy she felt now that he was back. "I learned something important this week," Emily said thoughtfully. "I realized how much Umbroo means to me. He's not just an umbrella - he's my friend. He's always protected me and kept me safe, and I never want to lose him again."
ピーターソン夫人は『お役に立ててよかったわ。ミトンズと私は、友だちを再会させるのが好きなの』と言った。ミトンズはエミリーの足元で小さく鳴き、アンブルーにだけ分かるように『よかったね』と言うように目を細めた。エミリーはミトンズをなで、『ありがとう』と言った。家に帰る途中、エミリーは考え込むように言った。『今週、大事なことを学んだ。アンブルーはただの道具じゃない。私の友だちで、家族みたいな存在なんだって』
"That's a beautiful way to think about it," said Emily's father. "Taking care of our belongings shows respect and gratitude." That night, Emily put Umbroo in his special corner next to her bed, just like she always used to do. "Good night, Umbroo," she said softly. "Sweet dreams. Tomorrow we'll have new adventures together." As Emily fell asleep, Umbroo thought about his incredible journey. He had been lost, scared, and lonely, but he had also discovered strength he didn't know he had. He had made wonderful friends, helped many people, and learned that the world was full of kindness. Most importantly, he had learned that love could overcome any distance. Even when he and Emily were apart, their love for each other had brought them back together. Now, safe in Emily's room, listening to her peaceful breathing, Umbroo felt grateful for everything - the adventure, the friends, the lessons learned, and especially for this moment of perfect happiness.
アンブルーもまた学んだ。離れていても、愛は距離を越えること。探している間に出会った人や物たちの親切も、彼に勇気をくれた。エミリーが見えなくても、エミリーのやさしさはアンブルーの行動を導いていた。これからの冒険は少し違う。エミリーは『困っている人を助けることが大切なんだ』と、アンブルーの旅から学んだ。雨の日だけでなく、晴れの日にも、二人は小さな親切を積み重ねていく。
Outside, rain began to fall gently on the roof. Umbroo smiled to himself, knowing that tomorrow he would have the joy of protecting Emily from the rain once again. There was no place in the world he would rather be. Six months later, Emily and Umbroo had settled back into their happy routine. Every rainy day, they went on new adventures together - to the library, to the park, to visit friends and family. But now their adventures were different. Emily had learned from Umbroo's experience that helping others was one of the most important things in life. Whenever they saw someone who needed help on a rainy day, Emily would share Umbroo with them. They helped elderly people cross wet streets safely. They protected mothers with babies from sudden showers. They even helped other children who had forgotten their umbrellas at school. Emily never knew that Umbroo could talk to other objects, but she noticed that he seemed happiest when they were helping others. "You're a very generous umbrella, Umbroo," she would say. "You love taking care of people, just like I do."
公園を通りかかったとき、ビニーがエミリーに見えないように“物の言葉”でささやいた。『また会えてうれしいよ、アンブルー！無事に帰れてよかった』アンブルーもこっそり『ありがとう、ビニー。君のおかげで道が見えた』と返した。近くの街灯ランピーは光を一度強く瞬かせ、郵便ポストのピートは誇らしげにカタンと音を立てた。みんなが応援してくれたのだ。アンブルーは胸がいっぱいになり、エミリーと一緒に歩き出した。
One day, while walking through the park where Umbroo had first met Binny, Emily stopped to throw away some litter. As she approached the familiar green trash can, Umbroo felt excited to see his old friend again. "Hello again, Umbroo!" Binny whispered in object-language while Emily wasn't looking. "I'm so happy to see you've found your way home!" "Thank you for all your help," Umbroo whispered back. "I could never have done it without you and the other friends we made." "That's what friends are for," said Binny cheerfully. "And look how much good you've done since you returned! I see you and Emily helping people in the park all the time. You're spreading kindness everywhere you go." Emily finished cleaning up the litter and picked up Umbroo again. "Come on, Umbroo. Let's go home and plan our weekend adventure."
歩きながらアンブルーは、心から満たされた気持ちになった。家とは場所だけではない。大切な人と一緒にいること。愛され、誰かを守り、そして困っている人を助けること。その全部が『帰る』ということなのだ。エミリーは空を見上げ、アンブルーの柄を握り直して笑った。アンブルーもまた、もう二度とあの暗い箱に戻りたくないと思った。けれどもし離れても、きっとまた帰ってこられる。そんな確信があった。
As they walked away, Umbroo felt completely content. He had learned that home wasn't just a place - it was being with someone who loved you. And love wasn't just receiving care - it was giving care to others too. Emily looked up at the cloudy sky and smiled. "I think it might rain this weekend," she said happily. "That means we'll have the perfect weather for helping people and having adventures together." Umbroo couldn't agree more. Rain meant adventure, rain meant being useful, and rain meant spending special time with Emily. What more could a homesick umbrella ask for? As they walked home together, neither Emily nor Umbroo noticed the small tabby cat following them at a distance, purring contentedly. Mittens liked to check on her friends sometimes, just to make sure they were still happy. And they were. They were very happy indeed.
家に帰る道の最後に、二人は少し立ち止まり、雨上がりの空気を吸った。遠くで猫がゴロゴロ喉を鳴らす音がした。ミトンズが時々、友だちが幸せかどうか確かめに来るのだ。エミリーもアンブルーも気づかなかったが、その小さな見守りは続いていた。そして本当に、彼らは幸せだった。とても、とても幸せだった。