First Aid Station3 "75 Years Hiroshima" Dr.Soko Day20/50

(Nobuko walked to look for her grandmother, in Hiroshima. She was exhausted and lied down on the ground. Then, a soldier gave a help to her and took her to a first aid station.)

Nobuko's Shoes

The soldier told Nobuko to wait there and he went somewhere. Nobuko sat on the rubble, took a piece of dry bread from the can, and closed the lid. She felt hungry. She then put the piece into her mouth and held it in her mouth until it melted. With her eyes closed and feeling the sweetness of dry bread, she thanked  for meeting a soldier with glasses by chance. 

She felt she got a little better with the soldier's kindness, whose name was unknown.

"Sorry for waiting.  You put your feet up here."
His hands were grabbing a few long cloths. Then he wrapped Nobuko's feet and broken shoes together with the cloths, and made a tight knot on the instep.

”Wrap your shoes with these cloth straps like this way. If you do this by yourself, these shoes won't break for a while.
Okay, your shoes are now up."
He smiled to Nobuko.

"Hey, you have to be careful about your feet. The rails around here are still hot enough to burn, so the rest of rubber bottom will melt again soon. Even the ground is smoldering and hot. It's hard to walk on the debris with scattered glass and nails. If you got a hurt on your foot, you can't escape anywhere. So, shoes are important. They are protecting you."

A drop of sweat fell from the soldier's glasses which are like the bottom of a  milk bottle.
Soon after they started walking together, they arrived at a small bridge.
Nobuko was staring only at the soldier's back, not to give a sight under the bridge. The soldier took Nobuko's hand, crossed the bridge together. Furthermore,  after crossing, he tried to walk a little more  to Teramachi.

Mr.Soldier

"Nobuko-chan, It is the time to say good-bye. To say honestly, Nobuko-chan...., I'm really at a loss.  I'm just a tiny person. My house was burned by a bomb, my family has disappeared. It is embarrassing to say, but I wanted to throw everything away and hate it."

Nobuko was stunned to hear about the soldier's words, but she was just listening to him.

"But I met you and walked together.. Now I have decided to do what I can, right in front of me.  I don't have confidence at all, but I try. If possible, I would like to have a strong mind. I want do my best to do what I can. So, I want you to say thank you, Nobuko-chan. Can you go to look for your grandmother alone?" 

Words flowed from Nobuko's throat.
"Yes. Me,too.  I will do my best."
"Yeah. Isn't it a little more up to my grandma's house? Good luck. If you can't meet your grandma, don't overdo it. You have to go home properly. Your family is waiting for you."
"Yes. Thank you so much."
Nobuko bowed deeply.
"Okay. Take a look at your face. "

He showed his smile to Nobuko.

"Well, take care!"
"Yes. Take care, Mr.Soldier"
The soldier with glasses waved his hand highly, and returned to the way he came from. 

Nobuko was staring at him until his figure disappeared.