『わらえなかったじょせい』 子供のためのオーディオブック
英語で読める “Woman Who Could Not Smile” の絵本
Woman Who Could Not Smile
Page 1
Once upon a time, there was a pretty girl. She had a kind mother, and she had many friends. But one day, the girl’s mother died. After that, her father married another woman who became her stepmother.
Page 2
The stepmother was not kind at all! She did not let the girl visit her friends. She made her do all of the work around the house. The girl had to cook and clean, and she had to take care of the cows in the field.
Page 3
The girl wanted to have a happy life again, so she planned to ask the god, Imana, for help. She waited and waited. Then one day, she had her chance! One weekend, her father and stepmother went to another village to buy a new cow.
Page 4
The girl took some food and water, and she sneaked out of the house. She ran into the dark woods to look for Imana. After many days, she found the god. He was sitting by a small pool of water.
Page 5
Imana looked at the girl. He asked her, “Why have you come to me?” The girl said, “I had a happy life before, but now I am sad. I would like to be happy again.” Imana said, “I will give you a happy life. But you must never smile!”
Page 6
The girl promised that she would never smile, even when she was happy. So, Imana turned the girl into a beautiful woman. And he gave her beads and necklaces. Then, Imana said to her, “Go back to your village and find your husband.”
Page 7
The woman went to her village, and she met a man. Soon, they were married, and they had a child. The woman was happy, but she could not smile. Her stepmother knew there must be a magical reason why the woman could not smile.
