It had been a very hot, sunny day, and Akari and Koji had been paddling in the stream and looking for Kaeru to chīsana sakana (frogs and little fishes). They had sat down on a log by the river bank and were looking up at the sora(sky).
The Shiroi fuwafuwa no kumo (white fluffy clouds) were slowly changing to grey. “oh, Koji look that cloud looks like an Zou (elephant) with it’s trunk in the air.” Koji replied “And that one over the trees looks like something my Okaasan (mum) has burnt in a Nabe (pan) ; she is always burning food because she forgets she is cooking. Thank goodness we now live with my Ojiichan (grandfather) as I think I would have starved to death before I was seven years old.” Both of the friends laughed at this and Akari knew he was joking as his Okaasan (mum) is a brilliant cook.
Koji had moved permanently into his Ojiichan (grandfather) ’s home with his Okaasan (mum) and Otousan (dad) . His Okaasan (mum) was now working as a Oishasan (doctor) in the Byouin (hospital) nearer to her Otousan (dad) so they could help Mr Kita, who, though he was fit and healthy for a person of seventy-six, he did have a few aches and pains and his eyesight was not as good as it had been, and it was nearer for Koji’s Otousan (dad) to travel when he came home from Umi (sea).
Akari and Koji had enjoyed their day, but as they looked at the sky they could see that the few fluffy white clouds of a few minutes ago were turning into big grey clouds, so they decided to go and tidy Mr Kita’s shed out at the bottom of the garden so that they would be nearer home if it came on to rain.
There were all sorts in the shed, apart from wood, wood working tools. There was paint and brushes, old dolls and a pram, a dolls house with tiny furniture and plates, cups and saucers and a bag of old pretty dresses. These had belonged to Koji’s Okaasan (mum), Miyuki, from when she was a little girl.
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