Hi, I've got a big request to you. I have a text. It is a part of a story of Joyce Hanman. I want to give it to my friend's girlfriend to elaborate on. Unfortunately she doesn't know English.
If you have some free time and you like chalanges I will be grateful if you could help me.( the truth is that I have no one to turn to for help)
I seldom ask someone else for doing thing for me, but I don't know French, at least not in the way the would allow me to start translating this text.
I just found that expression: He said in French is written dit-il :-)
There can be mistakes in the translation (it's not a homework).
Here's the text:
Slowly, Pavel put the letter down. I understand now, he said quietly. What a terrible letter! How
could she do that to you ...and to me?
Stanislava loved her daughter very much, Josef said sadly. She loved you, too, and didn't want to
lose you. I see that now. But she never liked me. And after that letter, how could I go back ti
Prague? You were dead, Lenka was dead. . He put his face in his hands,
The room was very quiet. Then Pavel put his hand on his fathers arm. Stanislava is dead now, he
said. You and I can begin again...He smiled. And learn to be father and son.
Josef's face was wet with tears. He put his hand over Pavel's hand and smiled back at him, but he
could not speak. Now there were tears in everybody's eyes.
After a minute or two Jan said, Dad, I know it's difficult for you. But can you tell us about that
Christmas in 1957? How did it all happen? I'd like to know...
Yes, said his father. You, and Pavel, must know. He turned to Pavel. But what did Stanislava tell
you?
Very little, Pavel said. She never wanted to talk about in. She told me that my mother died in
hospital. And you went away to England. That was all
I can understand that, said Josef. Poor Stanislava! She lost her daughter, because of me. And she
never liked our work for freedom, you see, She didn't understand. She just wanted a quiet family
life.
Christmas 1957... said Jan.
Yes, said Josef, In October and November of that year things got more and more dangerous for
Lenka and me. Our friends told us: „Leave, before the Russians get you. Get away to Austria, and
then to England. We didn't want to leave Czechoslovakia, of course, it was our home. But we
couldn't stay. Our friends helped us, and Jan and I got across the border on the day before
Christmas, December the 24th. It was night. There was no moon, and we got to Austria all right
through the fields and the snow. But the next night...
December the 25th, said Pavel. My grandmother told me the day. My mother died in a hospital bed
in Prague, she said.
Lenka died in the snow, on the road at the border, Josef said. She was so near Austria...so near
us...with you, Pavel, on her back...
The old man's voice stopped, and again, he put his head in his hands.
The music must come first.
For some minutes nobody in the room said anything. They looked at the old man in his chair, and they all thought about a snowy night in 1957. Then Pavel turned to Jan.
Let's forget 1957 for now, he said quietly. For me, this is a wonderful day. I have no family in Prague. My grandmother died many years ago. But now I have a brother, a father... He looked at Carol in her bed, and smiled. And a sister.
Why did you come to the hospital to see me? Carol asked. You had an accident because of me, Pavel said. I knew that. You called to me, and shouted, and then ran to me across the street, right in front of a bus. I didn't understand why, but I wanted to know that you were all right. Jan looked at Carol too. And are you all right, my love? I'm sorry, I forget about you... I'm feeling very well, Carol said happily. Now I understand everything, so I feel much better. My husband is my husband again - and we have a new brother. Oh, but there is one thing...She looked at her new brother. Why is your name Pavel Brychta, and not Pavel Vlach? The old man moved in his chair. Her name was Lenka Brychta, he said quietly, before she married me.
Yes, Pavel said. He looked at Carol. You see, my father didn't want me, I thought. So I didn't want my father's name, and when I was older, I changed it and took my mother's name. He turned to his father. I was an angry young man then, but now...
No, said Josef. Don't change it. It's a very good name. And you are Lenka's son. Suddenly the door opened, and Mr Rinaldi came in.
Carol, he said, the doctor says that you are better. Is it true? You look wonderful. Can you play in the concert tonight? You see, I can't find another harpist, and without a harp the music-He saw everyone for the first time, and stopped.
Oh, I'm sorry, he said quickly. I see you have friends here. But, you see, it's important It's an important concert for my orchestra and- He stopped again. Why are you all laughing at me? Jan stopped laughing first.
Mr Rinaldi, he said, you are the right man for Prague, the city of music. The music must come first! Carol,..Mr Rinaldi began.
Carol turned to Jan. I feel very well now and I'd like to play tonight. But I want all my family to come to the concert - my husband, my new brother, and their father, Can you all come? Please say yes! Jan looked at his father,
Are you all right, dad? Or are you feeling tired now? Shall we all go to Mr Rinaldi's concert?
Free tickets, of course, for all Carol's family, said Mr Rinaldi quickly. Christmas music in Prague again, Josef said slowly. And with my two sons. Wonderful, wonderful...He smiled happily at Jan and Pavel.
How can we say no? he asked.
---------------------------
quite long isn't it?
One more time I would be very grateful! If you need a help with English just ask.
Ps.
Jeżeli nic nie zrozumiałas/es a był/a byś w stanie mi pomóc. To moge przetłumaczyć tekst na Polski. Naprawde mi na tym zależy a nie mam do kogo się zwrócić.
Z góry dziękuje i pozdrawiam.