[2] 転ばぬ先の鍵 LOCK BEFORE YOU LEAVE

南山中学校　２年　日英バイリンガル通信　NO. 2 May 30, 1988

転ばぬ先の鍵

　「自転車がありません」とＦ君が言って来た。自転車置き場に置いておいたのにないと言う。鍵はかかってないとのこと。
　すぐ、Ｆ君とＷ君と私で自転車置き場、講堂の横、校舎の周辺、部室近辺、正門、東門、西門など２０分ほど捜した。しかし、どこにも見あたらない。仕方がないから、「今日は歩いて帰るように」と言って職員室に戻った。
　ところが、しばらくして、Ｆ君が「講堂の横にありました」と言って来た。一体だれが無断拝借したのか。ひどい奴だ。軽い気持ちで使用したと思うが、使用された方はえらい迷惑だ。腹がたつ。
　ところで、鍵をかけなかったＦ君も悪い。私達は家を出る時に鍵をかける。世の中には泥棒がいるからだ。自転車だって同じだ。鍵をかけなければ、持っていって下さいと言うのも同然だ。
　自分の物は自分で守るしかない。

LOCK BEFORE YOU LEAVE

　　F-kun came to me. “I can’t find my bicycle,” he said. “I put it at the bicycle parking lot this morning. I feel bad. I didn’t lock it.”
　　At once, F-kun, W-kun, and I went out, and looked for his bicycle around the auditorium, the club rooms, the main gate, the east and west gates, and some other places. But we could not find it. At last, we gave up. We were sad. “You have to walk home today,” I said to F-kun. Then, I went back to the Teachers’ Room.
　　After some time, F-kun came to me. He said, “I have found it. It was near the auditorium.” A bad boy used and returned it. Of course, F-kun did not know him. I got angry. That boy was bad, but F-kun was bad, too. He did not lock his bicycle.
　　We lock our houses. Only after that, we leave home. Why? Because there are thieves. Do you want someone to steal your bicycle? No? Then, you must turn the key and lock your bicycle.
　　A key is just a small thing, but it protects your life.