イタルは、家族は母と自分二人だけの食卓にこそ象徴されていると思っていた。兄貴は山名家の象徴になどなれないし、なりたくもない。彼が美鈴さんと結婚し、新居に移ったのも、父親の気配が残るこの家から逃れたかったからだ。イタルは何度も母親にそう話して聞かせたが、彼女には別のもっと納得がいく説明が必要であった。イタルがとぼけていると、母親は自説を展開し始める。

ーミツルの神経質な性格が多少なりとも緩和されればと思ったんだけどね、かえって結婚してからミツルの様子はおかしくなったね。ミツルの気の障ることが起きても、美鈴さんは無頓着なんだよ。少しくらいいたわってやればいいのに、冷たく突き放してるんじゃないか。頭のいい女なのかも知れないが、愛嬌がないのが困りもんだね。今度の家出にしたって、ミツルが懲りて帰ってくるまで、わざと放っておくつもりだよ。離婚なんてことにならなきゃいいんだけど。

  母親は常に兄を贔屓目で見ているから、兄の非も兄嫁に責任を負わせようとする。夫を中心に全てが回転する世界に住む最後から二番目の女が母だ。自分がこだわっている家族のありさまは旧時代のそれだとわかっているのだが、あと一世代は続くものと信じて疑わない。母親は、父親のいる茶の間の雰囲気や息子たちの少年時代の懐かしい風景や匂い、気分をひきずっていた。

ーイタル、おまえはどうせ暇だろうから、あすにでも美鈴さんに会って、胸の内を聞いといで。

ーそんなもの聞いてどうする？よその夫婦の問題にあまり首を突っ込むもんじゃないよ。

ーおまえたちは兄弟じゃないか。

ー兄貴の嫁さんは他人だよ。

ー他人といってもあの子たちは夫婦じゃないか。ミツルは大阪に行く前はどんな様子だったか、知らないはずはない。私へのあてつけで知らんぷりしているかも知れないしねえ。

  それは穿ち過ぎというものだ。母親はどうにも理解しかねる兄の行動をあくまで、夫婦の不仲という一点に絞り込んで自分を納得させたいようであった。

     The way Itaru figured it, the real symbol of the Yamana family was the dining table he and his mother shared. He knew his brother was neither able nor willing to be that symbol. The only reason his brother got married and moved out was to get away from this house and the memories of their father associated with it. Itaru tried explaining this to his mother, but to no avail. She wanted a more palatable explanation. Not getting one from Itaru, she proceeded to give her version of events.

     "I had hoped that marriage would make Mitsuru a little less high-strung, but it only made him worse. The thing is that Misuzu doesn't give a hoot about his feelings. You'd think she could show him some kindness and compassion when he's upset. Instead she turns her back on him. She may be intelligent, but she's such a sourpuss. Now Mitsuru ups and takes off. Misuzu's going to just go about her business as if nothing has happened. She's going to wait until he's had enough and comes whimpering home. I hope they don't end up getting divorced."

     In her eyes Mitsuru could do no wrong, so naturally she blamed Misuzu for her son's shortcomings. She was one of the last survivors of a dying breed of women who lived in a world where everything revolved around their husbands. She was aware that her concept of the family was outdated, but she was also convinced that it could survive one more generation. She would not let go of the past: how it felt to have her husband sitting in the living room; the sweet sights and smells of her young sons.

     "You never have anything to do, Itaru. Why don't you go over and talk with Misuzu tomorrow and sound her out?"

     "What for? I don't think we should be poking our noses into other people's affairs."

     "Mitsuru's your brother, isn't he?"

     "Misuzu's not family."

     "That may be so, but she's married to your brother. She knows more than she's letting on about why Mitsuru went to Osaka. Maybe she's playing possum just to irritate me."

     Her interpretation of the situation was way off base. She was apparently trying to convince herself that marital trouble alone was responsible for her son's totally incomprehensible behavior, while ignoring other possible causes.

ご意見・ご感想はまで送ってください。

Copyright (C) 1998-2010 Jeffrey G. Stocker