Aru furui ie no, makkura na tenjou ura ni, "TSE" to iu namae no nezumi ga sunde imashita.

Aru hi TSE-nezumi wa, kyorokyoro shihou o mimawashi nagara, yukashita kaidou o aruite imasu to, mukou kara itachi ga, nani ka ii mono o takusan motte, kaze no you ni hashitte mairimashita. Soshite TSE-nezumi o mite, chotto tachidomatte hayakuchi ni iimashita.

"Oi, TSE-nezumi. Omaen toko no todana no ana kara, konpeitou ga barabara koborete iru ze. Hayaku itte hiroi na."

TSE-nezumi wa, mou hige mo pikupiku suru kurai yorokonde, itachi niwa orei mo iwazu ni, issan ni socchi e hashitte ikimashita. Tokoroga todana no shita made kita toki, ikinari ashi ga CHIKURI to shimashita. Soshite, "Tomare, dare ka." to iu chiisana surudoi koe ga shimasu.

TSE-nezumi wa bikkuri shite yoku mimasu to, sore wa ari deshita. Ari no heitai wa, mou konpeitou no mawari ni yonjuu no hijousen o hatte, minna kuroi masakari o furikazashite imasu. Nisanjuu piki wa konpeitou o katappashi kara kudaitari, tokashitari shite, su e hakobu shitaku desu. TSE-nezumi wa buruburu furuete shimaimashita.

"Koko kara uchi e haitte naran. Hayaku kaere. Kaere, kaere." ari no tokumu souchou ga, hikui futoi koe de iimashita.

Nezumi wa kurutto hitotsu mawatte, ichimokusan ni tenjou ura e kakeagarimashita. Soshite su no naka e haitte, shibaraku nekoronde imashita ga, doumo omoshiroku nakute, omoshiroku nakute, tamarimasen. Ari wa maa heitai da shi, tsuyoi kara shikata mo nai ga, ano otonashii itachi me ni oshierarete, todana no shita made hashitte itte ari no souchou ni kentsuku o kuu to wa, nan taru shaku ni sawaru koto da to TSE-nezumi wa kangaemashita. Soko de nezumi wa su kara mata chorochoro haidashite, kigoya no oku no itachi no ie ni yatte mairimashita.

Itachi wa choudo, toumorokoshi no tsubu o, ha de kotsukotsu kande kona ni shite imashita ga, TSE-nezumi o mite iimashita.

"Douda. Konpeitou ga nakatta kai."

"Itachi san. Zuibun omae mo hidoi hito da ne. Watashi no you na yowai mono o damasu nante."

"Damasha sen. Tashika ni atta no ya."

"Aru niwa attemo, mou ari ga kitemashita yo."

"Ari ga, hei. Soukai. Hayai yatsura da ne."

"Minna ari ga totte shimaimashita yo. Watashi no you na yowai mono o damasu nante, madoute kudasai. Madoute kudasai."

"Sore wa shikata nai. Omae no ikiyou ga sukoshi osokatta no ya."

"Shiran, shiran. Watashi no you na yowai mono o damashite. Madoute kudasai. Madoute kudasai."

"Komatta yatsu da na. Hito no shinsetsu o sakasama ni uramu to wa. Yoshiyoshi. Sonnara ore no konpeitou o yarou."

"Madoute kudasai. Madoute kudasai."

"Ei, sore. Motte ike. Temee no moteru dake motte usechimae. Temee mitai na, gunyagunya shita otokorashiku mo nee yatsu wa, tsura mo mitaku nee. Hayaku moteru dake motte dokka e usero." itachi wa PURIPURI shite, konpeitou o nagedashimashita. TSE-nezumi wa sore o moteru dake takusan hirotte, ojigi o shimashita. Itachi wa iyoiyo okotte sakebimashita.

"Ei, hayaku itte shimae. Temee no totta, nokori nanka ujimushi ni de mo kureteyaraa."

TSE-nezumi wa, ichimokusan ni hashitte, tenjou no su e modotte, konpeitou o KOCHIKOCHI tabemashita.

Konna guai desu kara, TSE-nezumi wa dandan kirawarete, tare mo anmari aite ni shinakunarimashita. Sokode TSE-nezumi wa shikata nashi ni, kondo wa, hashira da no, kowareta chiritori da no, BAKETSU da no, houki da no to kousai o hajimemashita. Naka de mo hashira to wa, ichiban nakayoku shite imashita.

Hashira ga aru hi, TSE-nezumi ni iimashita.

"TSE-nezumi san, moujiki fuyu ni naru ne. Bokura wa mata kawaite MIRIMIRI iwanakucha naranai. Omae san mo ima no uchi ni, ii yagu no shitaku o shite oita hou ga ii darou. Saiwai boku no sugu atama no ue ni, suzume ga haru motte kita tori no ke ya iroiro atatakai mono ga takusan aru kara, ima no uchi ni, sukoshi oroshite hakonde oitara dou dai. Boku no atama wa, maa sukoshi samuku naru keredo, boku wa boku de mata kufuu o suru kara."

TSE-nezumi wa mottomo to omoimashita no de, sassoku, sono hi kara hakobikata ni kakarimashita.

Tokoro ga, tochuu ni kyuu na saka ga hitotsu arimashita no de, nezumi wa sandome ni, soko kara SUTON to koroge ochimashita.

Hashira mo bikkuri shite,

"Nezumi san, kega wa nai kai. Kega wa nai kai." to isshou kenmei, karada o mage nagara iimashita. Nezumi wa yatto okiagatte, sore kara kao o hidoku shikame nagara iimashita.

"Hashira san. Omae mo zuibun hidoi hito da. Boku no you na yowai mono o konna me ni awasu nante."

Hashira wa ikanimo moushiwake ga nai to omotta no de,

"Nezumi san, sumanakatta. Yurushite kudasai." to isshou kenmei wabimashita.

TSE-nezumi wa zu ni notte,

"Yurushitekure mo nai ja nai ka. Omae sae anna koshaku na sashizu o shinakereba, watashi wa konna itai me nimo awanakatta n da yo. Madotte okure. Madotte okure. Saa, madotte okure yo."

"Sonna koto o ittatte komaru ja arimasen ka. Yurushite kudasai yo."

"Iiya, yowai mono o ijimeru no wa watashi wa kirai nanda kara, madotte okure. Madotte okure. Saa, madotte okure."

Hashira wa komatte shimatte, oioi nakimashita. Sokode nezumi mo, shikata naku, su e kaerimashita. Sore kara wa, hashira wa mou kowagatte, nezumi ni kuchi o kikimasen deshita.

Sate sono nochi no koto desu ga , chiritori wa aru hi, TSE-nezumi ni hanbun ni natta monaka o hitotsu yarimashita. Suruto choudo sono tsugi no hi, TSE-nezumi wa onaka ga itaku narimashita. Saa, itsumo no toori TSE-nezumi wa, madotte okure o hyaku bakari mo, chiritori ni iimashita. Chiritori mo akirete, mou nezumi to no kousai wa yamemashita.

Mata, sono nochi no koto desu ga, aru hi BAKETSU wa TSE-nezumi ni, sentaku SODA no kakera o sukoshi yatte,

"Kore de maiasa okao o oarainasai." to iimashitara, nezumi wa yorokonde tsugi no hi kara, mainichi sore de kao o aratteimashita ga, sono uchi ni nezumi no ohige ga juppon bakari nukemashita. Saa TSE-nezumi wa, sassoku BAKETSU e yatte kite, madotte okure madotte okure o, nihyakugojuu bakari iimashita. Shikashi ainiku BAKETSU niwa ohige mo arimasen deshita shi, madou wake ni mo ikazu, sukkari maitte shimatte, naite ayamarimashita. Soshite, mou sore kara wa, chotto mo kuchi o kikimasen deshita.

Dougu nakama wa, minna junguri ni konna me ni atte, korite shimaimashita no de, tsui niwa dare mo TSE-nezumi no kao o miru to isoide waki no hou o muite shimau no deshita.

Tokoro ga sono dougu nakama ni, tada hitori dake, mada TSE-nezumi to tsukiatte minai mono ga arimashita.

Sore wa harigane o ande kosaeta nezumitori deshita.

Nezumitori wa zentai, ningen no mikata na hazu desu ga, chikagoro wa, doumo mainichi no shinbun ni sae, neko to issho ni oharaimono to iu fuda o tsuketa e ni made shite, koukoku sareru no desu shi, soude nakute mo, ganrai ningen wa, kono harigane no nezumitori o, ippen mo yuutai shita koto wa arimasen deshita. Ee, sore wa mou tashika ni arimasen to mo. Sore ni, samo sawaru no sae kitanai you ni minna kara omowarete imasu. Sore desu kara jitsu wa, nezumitori wa ningen yori wa nezumi no hou ni, yokei doujou ga aru no desu.

Keredo mo, taitei no nezumi wa nakanaka kowagatte, soba e yatte mairimasen. Nezumitori wa, mainichi yasashii koe de,

"Nezu chan, oide. Konya no gochisou wa aji no otsumu da yo. Omae san no taberu aida, watashi wa shikkari osaete oite ageru kara. Ne, anshin shite oide. Iriguchi o PATAN to shimeru you na sonna koto o suru mon ka ne. Watashi mo ningen niwa mou kori kori shiteru n da kara. Oide yo. Sora."

Nante nezumi o yobikakemasu ga, nezumi wa minna,

"Hen, umaku itteraa." to ka,

"Hei, hei. Yoku wakarimashite gozaimasu. Izure, oyaji ya, segare to mo soudan no ue de." to ka itte sorosoro nigete itte shimaimasu.

Soshite asa ni naru to, kao no makka na genan ga kite mite,

"Mata hairanai. Nezumi mo mou shitteru n da na. Nezumi no gakkou de oshieru n da na. Shikashi maa mou ichinichi dake kakete miyou." to iinagara, atarashii esa to torikaeru no deshita.

Konya mo, nezumitori wa sakebimashita.

"Oide oide. Konya wa yawarakana hanpen da yo. Esa dake ageru yo. Daijoubu sa. Hayaku oide."

TSE-nezumi ga, choudo toori kakarimashita. Soshite,

"Oya, nezumitori san, hontou ni esa dake o kudasaru n desu ka." to iimashita.

"Oya, omae wa mezurashii nezumi da ne. sou da yo. Esa dake ageru n da yo. Sora, hayaku otabe."

TSE-nezumi wa PUI' to naka ni haitte, mucha mucha muchatto hanpen o tabete, mata PUI' to soto e dete iimashita.

"Oishikatta yo. Arigatou."

"Soukai. Yokatta ne. Mata asu no ban oide."

Tsugi no asa, genan ga kite mite okotte iimashita.

"Ei. Esa dake totte ikiyagatta. Zurui nezumi da na. Shikashi tonikaku naka ni haitta to iu no wa kanshin da. Sora, kyou wa iwashi da zo."

Soshite iwashi o hanbun tsukete ikimashita.

Nezumitori wa, iwashi o hikkakete, sekkaku TSE-nezumi no kuru no o matte imashita.

Yoru ni natte, TSE-nezumi wa sugu detekimashita. Soshite ika nimo on ni kiseta you ni,

"Konban wa, oyakusoku doori kite agemashita yo." to iimashita.

Nezumitori wa sukoshi muto shita ga, muri ni koraete,

"Saa, tabenasai." to dake iimashita.

TSE-nezumi wa PUI' to haitte, PICHA PICHA PICHA' to tabete, mata PUI' to dete kite, sore kara oofuu ni iimashita.

"Ja, ashita, mata, kite tabete ageru kara ne."

"BUU." to nezumitori wa kotaemashita.

Tsugi no asa, genan ga kite mite, masumasu okotte iimashita.

"Ei. Zurui nezumi da. Shikashi, maiban, sonna ni umaku esa dake torareru hazu ga nai. Doumo, kono nezumitori me wa, nezumi kara wairo o moratta rashii zo."

"Morawan. Morawan. Anmari hito o misokonau na." to nezumitori wa donarimashita ga, mochiron, genan no mimi niwa kikoemasen. Kyou mo kusatta hanpen o kuttsukete ikimashita.

Nezumitori wa, tonda utagai o uketa no de, ichinichi punpun okotte imashita. Yoru ni narimashita. TSE-nezumi ga dete kite, samo taigirashiku iimashita.

"Aaa, mainichi koko made yatte kuru no mo, nami taitei no kocchanai. Sore ni gochisou to ittara, seizei sakana no atama da. Iya ni nacchimau. Shikashi maa, sekkaku kita n da kara shikata nai. Kutte yaru to shiyou ka. Nezumitori san. Konban wa."

Nezumitori wa, harigane o puripuri sasete okotte imashita no de, tada hitokoto,

"Otabe." to iimashita. TSE-nezumi wa sugu PUI' to tobikomimashita ga, hanpen no kusatte iru no o mite, okotte sakebimashita, .

"Nezumitori san. Anmari hidoi ya. Kono hanpen wa kusattemasu. Boku no you na yowai mono o damasu nante, anmari da. Madotte kudasai. Madotte kudasai."

Nezumitori wa, omowazu, harigane o ryuuryuu to narasu kurai, okotte shimaimashita. Sono ryuuryuu ga warukatta no desu.

"PISHA'. SHIINN." esa ni tsuite ita kagi ga hazurete, nezumitori no iriguchi ga tojite shimaimashita. Saa mou taihen desu.

TSE-nezumi wa kichigai no you ni natte,

"Nezumitori san. Hidoi ya. Hidoi ya. Uu, kuyashii. Nezumitori san. Anmari da." to iinagara, harigane o kajiru yara, kurukuru mawaru yara, jidanda fumu yara, wameku yara, naku yara, sore wa sore wa oosawagi desu. Sore de mo, madotte kudasai, madotte kudasai wa, mou iu chikara ga arimasen deshita.

Nezumitori no hou mo, itai yara, shaku ni sawaru yara, GATAGATA, BURUBURU, RYURYU to furuemashita. Hitoban sou yatte toutou asa ni narimashita.

Kao no makka na genan ga kite mite, ko'odori shite iimashita.

"Shimeta. Shimeta. Toutou, kakatta. Iji no waru sou na nezumi da na. Saa, dete koi. Kozou."

(Rz.B.K. : 2006.1.29)