There is a cozy coffee shop near the corner of Sembon and Imadegawa street crossing: Sizuka is my favorite place though I am not a frequenter and usually go there only when accompanied. The mistress of the shop is an old lady and she likes talking very much, and I like to listen to her conversation with a regular customer, while I am chatting with my pal.

千本今出川の交差点ほど近くにある静香という喫茶店、僕は常連でもないし連れがいる時にしか行かないのだけれど、居心地よくてお気に入り。そこの店主は年配の女性で話が好きで、僕は彼女が常連さんと話しているのを自分の連れと駄弁りながら片方の耳で聴くのが好きだ。

I once asked her about the shop’s name “Sizuka” which sounded like a feminine name, and I guessed it was hers. She explained that, when her father bought the shop, the name was succeeded along with the premises from the original owner who was a former geisha called Sizuka, thus the shop’s style.

一度、女性の名前のような店の屋号について、彼女の名前かしらと思って尋ねたことがある。彼女のお父さんが静香という名のかつて芸者さんだった元のオーナーから店を買ったときに、そのまま名前も引き継いだそうだ。

The owner is a rather short lady and the shop’s counter is too high for her; yet, she stretches to reach for the tea tray on the counter when she serves coffee and pancake. I always like to see her demeanor which is like a cute little girl, standing on tiptoe, helping her parents to set the table for dinner of something.

オーナーは背の低い女性で、お店のカウンターは彼女には高すぎる。それでもコーヒーやホットケーキを客に運ぶときに、カウンターの上のトレイに背伸びする彼女のしぐさは、まるで可愛らしい女の子が両親のお手伝いで晩ごはんの配膳か何かを手伝うのにつま先立ちしているようだ。

However, rarely has it been seen any more for her to walk around in the shop. Last couple of times I visited, she wasn’t spry as before. She seemed to have a physical problem in her knee or hip joint, had somebody else help her with fixing drinks, and just sat on a seat all the time as I was there; nevertheless, she was in high spirits and chatting with the customers as usual.

ところが、この頃は彼女が店内を歩くところをめったに見かけない。訪ねたここ数回、以前のような活発さがなく、膝か腰に問題を抱えているように見受けられた。店のことは他の人に手伝ってもらって、僕の居るあいだ中ほとんど座っていた。それでも、気持ちはしっかり元気で、いつもどおりお客とあれこれ話をしていた。

So, I didn’t  (or at least, try not to) worry about her health condition as long as she is full of pep– until recently when I noticed Sizuka was closed on a weekday, not once but consecutively…

なので気の張りがあるかぎり、彼女の健康にあまり心配はしない（少なくとも、しないでおこうという）ことにしていた、、、最近、静香が平日に、それも連続して閉まっていることに気付くまでは。

Takoyaki Rokuchan near Sanjo Shotengai was closed down unnoticed, and Tomoe restaurant on Horikawa street was gone and the building was taken down completely flat. I am anxious for my favorite shop mistresses who are at about my mother’s age. I just hope Shizuka’s owner is OK and her coffee shop will reopen soon.

三条商店街近くにあったタコ焼六ちゃんはいつの間にか店じまいし、堀川のともゑ食堂も閉まって建物さえ無くなってしまった。母ぐらいの歳の僕の好きなおば(あ)さんたち、今頃いったいどうしているのだろう。静香のママさんは元気でいてくれて、じきにお店が再開されることを望むばかり。。。