The Blossom and the Firefly by Sherri L. Smith

Author:Sherri L. Smith [Sherri L. Smith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 1, HistWW2, Japan, rom, YA
Published: 2020-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

HANA

The sun is a pearl in a silvery sky when we arrive at base this morning. The men often depart before sunrise, but not today. Mariko and I clamber down from the back of the truck and take a moment to pinch our cheeks and straighten our blouses, dusting the backsides of our monpé. There will be families here today. We want to look our best so they will know their sons and brothers have been well cared for.

Sensei leads us in rows down to the airfield. This time, it will be the boys from our barracks flying, so we are in front. Reiko’s mother, Tomihara-san, is there with two other women from the neighborhood association. The boys will have been to see her last night, slipping her their final letters home. Ones the army censors will never see. On the flight line, heads turn and we see new faces. Some families have made the trip to see their sons off. Not every pilot is able to send word of his final flight. Plans change quickly to match the movements of the war. Even then, travel is difficult, especially for civilians. They do not always reach the base in time. But today, a few have succeeded. Mothers in formal kimono, carefully packed and carried a long way, so as to look their best for their sons. Fathers—some in Western suits, most in clean work clothes. A couple hold hampers, the remnants of last meals shared with their children. It looks like a line at a train station, an extended family going on holiday.

But there have been no holiday outings since I was twelve years old.

“Oh, Hana, look!” Mariko gasps.

But it is not the parents Mariko is pointing to with her eyes. It is the lead aeroplane, and the one third in line. Kazuko and Sachiko must have arrived early. Both planes are covered in cherry blossoms. It is as if the earth has given shape to these aeroplanes, showering them in blessings. The pilots who fly these two will surely scatter magnificently across the sky.

We look at each other with big eyes and break away from the group, rushing up the hillside through the damp grass to gather our own cherry tree branches. We clamber back with a few sad twigs, heavy with dew. I shake mine a few times, but lose more blossoms than water.

“Hey!” Mariko exclaims, dodging the shower of drops I send her way.

“Sorry. Do we have time to decorate?” I wonder, but then the boys are lined up, the ceremonial saké cups are drained, the white funeral boxes and scraps of paper with the pilot’s jisei are on the little table. The ground crew is ready, and it is time to wave goodbye. We take our places in the line and bow deeply as the boys from our barracks come forward.

Nakamura gives a small box of chocolates to Sachiko. “These were sent by my mother. I don’t have the stomach for them now, but perhaps you will,” he tells her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.