Hikoichi's Living Umbrella

New Crown English Series 3 (Heisei 14) pg. 32-35

The Lady wants Hikoichi's living umbrella. She and the aide, Kinnosuke, make a plan to get it.

Lady	:	Lord, have you seen Hikoichi's umbrella?
Lord	:	Hikoichi's umbrella? What about it?
Kin	:	His umbrella is different. It's alive.
Lord	:	What do you mean?
Lady	:	They say it opens on rainy days.
Kin	:	And it closes on sunny days.
Lord	:	Really? Then I must have it.
Lady	:	Send someone for it.
Lord	:	Get it or don't come back.

The aides, Kinnosuke and Kakunoshin, go into the town. They find Hikoichi at his shop.

Hikoichi	:	May I help you?
Kaku	:	Our Lord wants to buy your living umbrella.
Hikoichi	:	I can't sell it.
Kin	:	You must. It's the Lord's order.
Hikoichi	:	Never. This umbrella is so important that I can't sell it.
Kaku	:	But the Lord says we must get it or die.
Kin	:	Yes. We must get it.
Hikoichi	:	Well, OK. This is a special umbrella. Please treat it carefully.
Kaku	:	We will. Here's your money.

The aides leave. Hikoichi holds the money and smiles.

The Lord and his Lady are happy. They put the umbrella in the tokonoma. For ten days the Lord, his Lady and their aides watch it.

Lord	:	The umbrella is still closed. Is it sleeping?
Lady	:	It may be. They say it wakes up and opens only when it rains.
Lord	:	Well, I hope it'll rain soon.
Kaku	:	Oh! What's that sound?
Lady	:	It's raining! Look! It's raining!
Kin	:	Let's watch the umbrella. It'll open now.
Lady	:	Did it move? I think it's opening.
Lord	:	No, it isn't. It's a trick. Bring Hikoichi here. Right now!

The aides bring Hikoichi to the castle.

Lord	:	Your umbrella isn't alive.
Hikoichi	:	Oh, Lord! What's wrong? Show it to me. Oh no! The umbrella is dead.
Lady	:	It was never alive.
Hikoichi	:	Did you feed it everyday?
Kin	:	Of course not.
Hikoichi	:	I asked you to treat it carefully. But no one has fed it for ten days.
Lady	:	Do you mean ....
Hikoichi	:	My poor umbrella was hungry. It was too weak to live.
Lord, Lady, Kin, Kaku	:	We killed it!

Hikoichi holds the 'dead' umbrella and cries. Secretly he touches his money.