第３話 壁のない家／ｈｏｕｓｅ ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔ ｗａｌｌ
文字数 2,550文字
古民家が立ち並ぶ風情のある通りだった。
危うげに建つその家は、立派に修復されたそば屋と文具屋に挟まれている。
中には昔ながらのかまどがあった。壁に貼られた和紙は裏紙利用なのか、流麗な筆文字が時を感じさせた。
スマホのライトを頼りに二階に上がると、散乱した古裂や紙、古い和ダンスがタカミの目に入った。埃が立たぬようそっと歩く。
小動物が横切っても不思議でない状況である。
「天井、低いですから気をつけてください」
シンカワさんが注意したとたん、「イテッ」とイツキの声。
「ゴミも多いけど、お宝もそれなりにありそうですね」
「そうなんです、タカミさん。以前は骨董屋でした」
「しかし広いな。こりゃ片付だけでも大変だ。これまで誰も案内してないんですか」
「興味持たれる方は多いです、これだけの佇まいですから」
「なんで決まらないの？」
「先日の方は大工さんを連れて来られたんですが、見積が高くて手が出せない、と。
実は壁が一面なくて、ベニヤで仮止めしてあります。電気も水道も引き直さないといけないし」
「でもこの家、素敵ですよね、シンカワさん。ほら、通りの眺めなんてすごくかっこいいし。
二階は宿にして窓際でコーヒーでも飲めたら最高ですよ」
小さな灯りを頼りにあちこち見ていたイツキは、タカミの気持ちが昂るのを感じた。
「私もそう思います。部分的に吹き抜けにして、カフェにするのもいいかな、って」
一体リノベーションにいくらかかるのか。
話が盛り上がるふたりを置いて、イツキはそっと階段を降りた。
It was an elegant street lined with old houses.
The house stood precariously between a magnificently restored buckwheat noodle shop and a stationery shop.
Inside, there was an old-fashioned kamado. The Japanese paper on the wall, perhaps made from the paper used for backing, was covered with flowing brush strokes that reminded me of the past.
As Takami climbed up to the second floor, using the light from her cell phone, she saw scattered old rips, papers, and old Japanese-style chest of drawers. She walked softly so as not to raise dust.
It would not have been surprising if a small animal had crossed the room.
"The ceiling is low, so be careful,"
As soon as Mr. Shinkawa warned them, Itsuki's voice came out, "Ouch!
"There is a lot of trash here, but there seems to be a fair amount of treasure as well".
"Yes, that's right, Takami. It used to be an antique shop".
"It's a huge space. It's a lot of work just to clean it up. Hasn't you shown any client around so far?"
"Many people are interested in it, because it looks like this."
"Why haven't they decided yet?"
"The other day, one of my client brought a carpenter with him, but he said the estimate was too high to afford it.
In fact, one wall is missing, and it is temporarily fixed with veneer. And the electricity and water have to be reconnected".
"But this place is so beautiful, isn't it, Mr. Shinkawa? The view of the street is really cool.
It would be great if we could use the upstairs as an inn and have coffee by the window!"
Itsuki, who was looking around by the small light, felt Takami's excitement rising.
"I think so too. It would be nice to make a partial atrium and turn it into a cafe!!"
What a hell to cost to renovate the house?
Itsuki quietly descended the stairs, leaving the two of them talking.
危うげに建つその家は、立派に修復されたそば屋と文具屋に挟まれている。
中には昔ながらのかまどがあった。壁に貼られた和紙は裏紙利用なのか、流麗な筆文字が時を感じさせた。
スマホのライトを頼りに二階に上がると、散乱した古裂や紙、古い和ダンスがタカミの目に入った。埃が立たぬようそっと歩く。
小動物が横切っても不思議でない状況である。
「天井、低いですから気をつけてください」
シンカワさんが注意したとたん、「イテッ」とイツキの声。
「ゴミも多いけど、お宝もそれなりにありそうですね」
「そうなんです、タカミさん。以前は骨董屋でした」
「しかし広いな。こりゃ片付だけでも大変だ。これまで誰も案内してないんですか」
「興味持たれる方は多いです、これだけの佇まいですから」
「なんで決まらないの？」
「先日の方は大工さんを連れて来られたんですが、見積が高くて手が出せない、と。
実は壁が一面なくて、ベニヤで仮止めしてあります。電気も水道も引き直さないといけないし」
「でもこの家、素敵ですよね、シンカワさん。ほら、通りの眺めなんてすごくかっこいいし。
二階は宿にして窓際でコーヒーでも飲めたら最高ですよ」
小さな灯りを頼りにあちこち見ていたイツキは、タカミの気持ちが昂るのを感じた。
「私もそう思います。部分的に吹き抜けにして、カフェにするのもいいかな、って」
一体リノベーションにいくらかかるのか。
話が盛り上がるふたりを置いて、イツキはそっと階段を降りた。
It was an elegant street lined with old houses.
The house stood precariously between a magnificently restored buckwheat noodle shop and a stationery shop.
Inside, there was an old-fashioned kamado. The Japanese paper on the wall, perhaps made from the paper used for backing, was covered with flowing brush strokes that reminded me of the past.
As Takami climbed up to the second floor, using the light from her cell phone, she saw scattered old rips, papers, and old Japanese-style chest of drawers. She walked softly so as not to raise dust.
It would not have been surprising if a small animal had crossed the room.
"The ceiling is low, so be careful,"
As soon as Mr. Shinkawa warned them, Itsuki's voice came out, "Ouch!
"There is a lot of trash here, but there seems to be a fair amount of treasure as well".
"Yes, that's right, Takami. It used to be an antique shop".
"It's a huge space. It's a lot of work just to clean it up. Hasn't you shown any client around so far?"
"Many people are interested in it, because it looks like this."
"Why haven't they decided yet?"
"The other day, one of my client brought a carpenter with him, but he said the estimate was too high to afford it.
In fact, one wall is missing, and it is temporarily fixed with veneer. And the electricity and water have to be reconnected".
"But this place is so beautiful, isn't it, Mr. Shinkawa? The view of the street is really cool.
It would be great if we could use the upstairs as an inn and have coffee by the window!"
Itsuki, who was looking around by the small light, felt Takami's excitement rising.
"I think so too. It would be nice to make a partial atrium and turn it into a cafe!!"
What a hell to cost to renovate the house?
Itsuki quietly descended the stairs, leaving the two of them talking.
