"Why, look at you!

" Yuichi said, as he patted a bright orange baby pumpkin, which looked like it had grown a few sizes since the night before. "You will grow into a large pumpkin like your brothers." Yuichi smiled as he thought about all the many ways that Mother could prepare pumpkin. Pumpkin boiled and flavored with soy sauce, deep-fried pumpkin, and pumpkin in soup. Yuichi loved pumpkin! He stood and stretched his arms. The hatake [1] was filled with bright red tomatoes, leafy greens, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and cauliflowerall of these vegetables he had helped his father to plant. Caramba, mrate! exclam Yuichi mientras le daba una palmadita a una calabacilla de brillante color naranja que pareca haberse multiplicado de tamao desde la noche anterior. Te convertirs en una enorme calabaza como tus hermanas. El rostro de Yuichi se ilumin al pensar en los platos tan variados que su mam preparaba con la calabaza. Cocida con salsa de soja, rebozada y en sopa. A Yuichi le encantaba la calabaza! Se puso de pie y estir los brazos. El hatake [1] rebosaba de tomates rojos, verduras de hoja verde, calabazas, boniatos, berenjenas, patatas y coliflores, todas las hortalizas que l haba plantado con su padre.

En un extremo de la huerta se encontraba un precioso rbol ume [2] , cuya corteza pareca negra entre las sombras. Tambin haba un pequeo rbol de kaki [3] cargado de diminutos frutos que an tendran que aguardar algn tiempo para estar maduros y listos para comer. Mientras Yuichi echaba un vistazo a la huerta, observ que era preciso quitar las malas hierbas del sembrado de berenjenas. Las malas hierbas se deben arrancar mientras son pequeas se dijo, haciendo eco de la leccin que su padre le dio sobre el tema. Si permitimos que crezcan, le robarn a las hortalizas los nutrientes de la tierra que tanto necesitan para crecer y ser nutritivas. Mientras inclinado comenzaba a arrancar las malas hierbas del sembrado de berenjenas, escuch que alguien lo llamaba por su nombre. Alz la mirada y vio a su amigo Taku que corra hacia l empuando una espada de madera. El padre de Taku era samurai [4]. Mrame! grit Taku. Mira mi espada! Yuichi se qued admirando el juguete nuevo de Taku. Es preciosa! Me gustara tener una igual.

At the edge of the garden stood a beautiful ume [2] tree, with bark that looked black in the shadows. There was also a short kaki [3] tree laden with small kakis; they still had a ways to go before they would be ripe and ready to eat. As he looked around the garden, he noticed that the eggplant patch needed to be weeded. "Weeds must be removed while theyre still small," Yuichi said, quoting his father's lesson on weeds. "Weeds that are allowed to grow rob the soil of nutrients that would otherwise be available to help the vegetables grow large and nutritious! As he bent over and began pulling weeds from the eggplant patch, he heard someone call his name. He looked up and saw his friend Taku charging toward him brandishing a wooden sword. Taku was the son of a samurai. [4] "Look at me!" Taku shouted. "Look at my sword!" Yuichi admired Taku's new toy. "How nice! I wish I had something like that."

Taku laughed and hopped with delight. "Of course you do! Come, let's play!" Yuichi looked at the eggplant patch that he had been weeding. The eggplants didn't seem as interesting as they had moments before. "I should do this first. The eggplants could suffer if I don't take good care of them." Taku began to jab at imaginary foes with his wooden sword. "No one will know. Besides, why do you do that anyway? Your mother could just as easily do it." "I like gardening," said Yuichi, though he was feeling less and less sure of just how much.

Taku solt una carcajada de satisfaccin. Claro que te gustara! Ven, juguemos juntos. Yuichi mir el sembrado de berenjenas que estaba desyerbando. Las berenjenas ya no le parecan tan interesantes como antes. Primero debo hacer esto. Si no cuido bien las berenjenas, las malas hierbas las pueden estropear. Taku comenz a combatir con su espada contra enemigos imaginarios. No se va a enterar nadie. Adems, por qu tienes que hacerlo? Tu mam tambin lo podra hacer. Me gusta cuidar la huerta repuso Yuichi, aunque ya no estaba tan seguro de cunto le gustaba.

"But do you really feel like gardening right now?" "Well I thought I did. Actually, I do feel like playing right now. Perhaps in a little while I will feel like gardening, and then I can get rid of these weeds." Yuichi and Taku spent much of the day playing in the shallows of the river near the village. They climbed up to Pine Hill and spread their arms like soaring hawks. They filled their pockets with shiny rocks, and they playacted mock battles. Since Taku had the only sword, the victor was the same every time. Pero ahora mismo tienes ganas de hacerlo? Bueno iba a hacerlo aunque, la verdad es que ahora mismo prefiero jugar. Quizs ms tarde tenga ganas de atender la huerta y entonces puedo arrancar esas malas hierbas. Yuichi y Taku pasaron casi todo el da jugando en la ribera poco profunda del ro que corra cerca de la aldea. Luego escalaron la colina de los pinos y extendieron sus brazos como si fueran halcones emprendiendo el vuelo. Se llenaron los bolsillos de guijarros brillantes y se enzarzaron en batallas simuladas. Como Taku era el nico que empuaba la espada, el vencedor era siempre el mismo.

Cmo pasaste el da? le pregunt su pap a Yuichi cuando se reunieron para cenar shake,[5] encurtido de daikon,[6] arroz y sopa de miso. [7] Estuve jugando con Taku respondi Yuichi. Sinti que le embargaba la sensacin de que tal vez no haba sido la mejor manera de pasar el da. Espero que te hayas divertido contest su padre mientras se llevaba una cucharada de sopa a la boca. Estamos teniendo unos hermosos das de verano que son muy valiosos. Momentos despus, el padre de Yuichi dijo con cierta preocupacin: Hoy me fij que en el sembrado de berenjenas estn creciendo las malas hierbas. T sueles ser muy cuidadoso y las arrancas. Pero hoy no te fijaste en ellas? S, padre, ya las vi dijo Yuichi, solo que esta maana no tena muchas ganas de trabajar en la huerta. Como el ao pasado hiciste un trabajo maravilloso ayudando a tu madre con la huerta, pensamos que ahora podras encargarte t solo de dicha tarea. Nuestra huerta nos provee de hortalizas con las que hacemos encurtidos, y de ume y caquis que secamos para comer incluso durante el invierno. S, ya s susurr Yuichi. El pap le pas el brazo por encima del hombro y le dijo: Quiero mostrarte algo despus de cenar.

"How was your day?" Yuichis father asked as they had their evening meal of shake,[5] pickled daikon,[6] rice, and miso [7] soup. "I was playing with Taku," said Yuichi, suddenly feeling that perhaps it hadn't been the very best way to spend the entire day. "I hope that was fun," said his father as he sipped from his miso bowl. "We have been blessed with beautiful summer days which are to be treasured." After a few moments, Yuichis father said with some concern, "Today I noticed that there were some weeds in the eggplant patch. You are usually very careful to make sure that no weeds grow there. But today, perhaps you did not see them?" "Oh, Father, I did see them," said Yuichi, "but I didn't feel much like gardening this morning. "You did such a good job helping Mother last year that we trusted you to watch the garden yourself this year. Our hatake is the reason we had the pickled vegetables and ume and dried kaki to eat, even throughout the winter months." "I know," Yuichi whispered. Father put his arm on Yuichi's shoulder and said, "After dinner, I will show you something."

Later, Yuichi and his father stood on the edges of the hatake. "What do you think this is?" Yuichis father asked as he pulled a pale flat seed from within his yukata [8] and pressed it into Yuichi's hand. "It is a pumpkin seed. It will be a pumpkin one day," Yuichi replied. "Oh really? So if I leave this pumpkin seed here on the ground, and I come back for it in five months, will I find a pumpkin plant?" "Oh no, Father. If you leave it here, it will be eaten by birds or blown away by the wind. You need to plant it." "So then, if I plant it and leave it alone after that, it will be alright?" Al anochecer, Yuichi y su padre se pararon junto al lindero de la huerta. Qu crees que es sto? le pregunt su padre mientras sacaba de su yukata [8] una semilla plana y de color plido, y la colocaba en la mano de Yuichi. Es una semilla de calabaza. Un da se convertir en una calabaza contest Yuichi. De veras? Si la dejo aqu sobre la tierra, y vuelvo dentro de cinco meses, encontrar una calabacera? Oh, no, padre. Si la dejas sobre la tierra se la comern los pjaros o la arrastrar el viento. Hay que plantarla en la tierra. Entonces, si la planto y la dejo sola, a su aire, sin cuidarla, estar bien?

Yuichi solt una carcajada. No, claro que no! Tenemos que regarla y echarle abono, asegurarnos de que los insectos no se comen sus hojas y arrancar las malas hierbas que crezcan junto a ella. Caramba, eso es mucho trabajo! respondi su pap sonriendo. Qu te parece si para el ao que viene no sembramos semillas de calabaza? Nada de semillas de calabaza! grit Yuichi. Y tampoco sembramos semillas de berenjena ni de tomate, ni ningn tipo de semillas. Es demasiado trabajo y yo quiero que te diviertas y lo pases bien. Pero, entonces qu comeremos en invierno? Quizs podramos plantar en esa poca nuestras hortalizas? Para ese tiempo sera demasiado tarde! No recibiran suficiente luz del sol y no hara bastante calor como para que crecieran. Pero, no prefieres jugar con Taku en el bosque a tener que cuidar la huerta? Yuichi guard silencio. Hubiera preferido aprovechar mejor el tiempo en lugar de pasarse el da jugando. El pap le puso el brazo por encima del hombro mientras observaban, a la luz de los faroles que colgaban junto a la puerta de la casa, las filas sembradas de tomateras, berenjenas, espinacas, coliflores, patatas y calabazas.

Yuichi laughed. "No, of course not! We have to water the seed and fertilize it, and then make sure that bugs don't eat the leaves, and also keep the weeds away." "Well now, what a lot of work that is!" Father said with a smile. "How about we don't plant pumpkin seeds next year?" "No pumpkin seeds!" cried Yuichi. "And no eggplant seeds or tomato seeds or any seeds at all! It is so much work after all, and I want you to have fun and enjoy yourself." "But then what will we eat throughout winter?" "Perhaps we might plant our vegetables then?" "By then it will be too late! There won't be enough sunlight, and it wont be warm enough for anything to grow." "But wouldn't you rather play with Taku in the fields than care for the plants?" Yuichi was quiet. He wished he had been able to see past his desire to only play that day. Father put his arm around Yuichi as they stared at the straight rows of tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, cauliflower, potatoes, and pumpkin in the light of the lanterns that hung outside their door.

Cuando solo hacemos lo que queremos, es porque solo pensamos en lo que nos hace felices en ese momento. Pero, por lo general, esas cosas son efmeras. A veces estoy cansado y no tengo ganas de echar las redes para pescar, pero cuando pienso en ti y en mam lo hago con alegra porque s que os pondris contentos y que as cuido bien de mi familia. *** A la maana siguiente, tras meditar en la conversacin de la noche anterior, Yuichi se calz rpidamente sus geta [9] y corri al hatake. Hoy os librar de todos esos hierbajos dijo a las berenjenas. Otra vez estaba ilusionado con su huerta. No eran simples berenjenas, esas hortalizas representaban todas las deliciosas comidas del ao. Oi [10], Yuichi le grit una voz conocida. Ven a jugar! Lo siento contest Yuichi, pero no puedo hasta ltima hora de la tarde. Tengo que desyerbar mi huerta su voz son amable pero firme. Taku qued sorprendido ante el tono tan solemne de Yuichi, y en su rostro se reflej el desconcierto. Se sent en el suelo. No prefieres jugar todo el da?

"When we do only what we feel like doing, it is because we are thinking only about what might make us happy right now. But these things usually do not last past nightfall. Sometimes I am tired and I do not feel like casting my nets for fish, but when I think about you and your mother, then I'm happy to do it because I know that you will be happy, and my family will be well cared for." *** The next morning, with the conversation from the night before firmly fixed in his heart, Yuichi hurriedly slipped on his geta, [9] and went to the hatake. "Today, I will clear all the bad weeds from around you," he said to the eggplants. His joy in the garden was restored. These were no longer just eggplantsthese vegetables meant delicious foods all year round. "Oi, [10] Yuichi," a familiar voice cried. "I've come to play!" "I'm sorry," said Yuichi, "but I can't go with you until later this afternoon. I must first rid my garden of these weeds." He was friendly but firm. Taku was quite taken aback at Yuichi's solemn statement, and looked very puzzled. He sat down. "Wouldn't you rather play all day, though?"

Bueno cuando pens en lo que sucedera si no atenda la huerta, me di cuenta de que prefiero cuidarla ahora y jugar despus. Eso no suena nada divertido! gru Taku. Pues la verdad repuso Yuichi con una sonrisa es que yo ya me estoy divirtiendo. Me imagino cmo se vern de gordas y brillantes estas berenjenas moradas cuando estn completamente maduras. Y cuando mam las ase y sepan deliciosas! Mam estar contenta, y pap orgulloso, y eso me hace feliz. Cuando seas mayor, quieres convertirte en samurai como tu pap? pregunt Yuichi a su amigo. No lo s. Cuando tengo ganas de jugar, juego o persigo liblulas. Otras veces, tengo ganas de acostarme en la cama y no hacer nada. No pienso mucho en el futuro. Bueno, es como con mis calabazas. Si no las cuido bien, se las comern los bichos. Tengo que hacer mi parte para que crezcan sanas y fuertes. Cuando sea mayor quiero cultivar muchas ms hortalizas que las que tengo ahora. Pero para eso tengo que aprender, y as me convertir, cuando sea adulto, en un buen hortelano.

"Well, when I think about what would happen if I didn't take care of my plants, I would much rather take care of them now, and play later." "That cannot possibly be any fun at all!" Taku said glumly. "Actually," Yuichi said with a smile, "now that you mention it, I am enjoying myself. I'm thinking about how bright purple and fat these eggplants will look once they are fully ripe. And then Mother will grill them and they will taste so delicious! Mother will be pleased, and Father will be proud, and that makes me happy. Do you want to be a samurai like your father when you grow up?" Yuchi asked his friend. "I don't know. When I feel like playing, I play. Other times, it is very pleasant to lie in bed and do nothing at all. I don't think much about the future." "Well, you see, it's like my pumpkins. If I don't take care of them properly, they could get eaten by worms or bugs. I need to do my part so that they will grow big and strong. When I grow up I want to grow many more vegetables than just the ones I have here. But I need to learn what I can now, so that I'll be a good farmer when I'm older."

There was a pause, then Taku slowly asked, "Do you think I could become a great samurai like my father?" "I think so. You are very good with a sword, but you must train." Taku's chest puffed up with pride, then he sighed. "But what should I do?" "You probably won't be able to play as much as you like, but if you are faithful, one day you will be a great samurai. Just like if I am faithful to garden, I will be a good farmer and have many vegetables in my garden. Would you like to play after I finish here?" Tras unos minutos de silencio, Taku pregunt pausadamente: T crees que me convertir en una gran samurai como mi padre? Claro. Eres un excelente espadachn, pero debes entrenar ms. A Taku se le hinch el pecho de orgullo, luego con un suspiro pregunt: Pero, qu debo hacer? Seguramente no podrs pasar tanto tiempo jugando como ahora, pero si eres constante, algn da te convertirs en un gran samurai. Al igual que yo: si atiendo bien mi huerta, me volver un excelente hortelano y mi huerta me producir muchas hortalizas. Cuando termine aqu, quieres que juguemos?

S, y creo que mientras tanto ir a hablar con mi padre para ver qu cosas tengo que aprender para convertirme en un samurai. Mientras Taku se alejaba, Yuichi se lo imagin vistiendo una brillante armadura y montando a caballo. Luego se imagin todas las hortalizas que tendran l y su familia cuando llegara la cosecha, y en su rostro se dibuj una enorme sonrisa.

"Yes. And for now I think that I will go and talk with my father about things that I can learn so that I can be a samurai. As Taku walked away, Yuichi imagined Taku as a great samurai with a horse and armor. Then he imagined all the many vegetables that he and his family would have from their harvest, and he smiled.

[1] hatake: huerta [2] ume: ciruelo [3] kaki: caqui [4] samurai: guerrero japons [5] shake: salmn [6] daikon: rbano blanco [7] miso: frijol de soja [8] yukata: tnica suelta que se usa durante el verano [9] geta: zuecos de madera [10] Oi: Oye

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

hatake: vegetable garden ume: plum kaki: persimmon samurai: a Japanese warrior shake: salmon daikon: white radish miso: soy bean yukata: loose robe that is worn during the summer months 9. geta: wooden clogs 10. Oi: hey

Cuentos bilinges para nios www.freekidstories.org

Story written by Tomoko Matsuoka. Illustrations by Didier Martin. Courtesy of My Wonder Studio.