Fly me home (short novel)
This novel is originally written in Japanese, translated by author.
It is purely fictional and are NOT related to any person or groups.
日本語版↓
"Va' pensiero,
sull'ali dorate"
A line of the song (*1) nearly came out of her mouth, and Mrs. Washio laughed at herself. Being sixty-something and still wants to fly home on wings of gold! The Express Azusa she is riding now is headed to her country, Nagano prefecture(*2). Maybe this could be called Wings of gold too?
Is it because of my age? Night after night I dream of my country. That blue northern Alps, the Utsukushigahara highlands over the city, and the beautiful Matsumoto castle reflected on the water. Yes, but these are the only unchangeable ones. The city of Matsumoto (*3) I knew is no more. I am surprised every time I go.
For I am a rootless grass now, Mrs. Washio sighed as she gazed at her soft white hand with slight furrows. An opal ring wavers in a rainbow, a delicately carved ring with gold. Her mother's mother hid it during the war to save it from metal confiscation(*4). I don't put it on every day, but today is special.
On a sunny winter day, in a vacant express train, alone, leaning her cheeks on the window. Mrs. Washio is still pretty. Clad in black silk, her long gray hair fixed in the back. Her gracious face is like a big canvas, with a straight nose line, and her big eyes are always lit with light. I look like my mother, thought Mrs. Washio, as she looks at her face in the darkness of a tunnel.
"Shin-chan"
Mrs. Washio unconsciously voiced it out. It startled her but her voice seemed vacuumed into a vacant train and the loud motor. Shinkichi, Shin-chan, my only brother. That lukewarm rainy day, when we buried our mother at a hillside cemetery overlooking the city of Matsumoto, Shin-chan said to me, "You look like mother now, sister."
My little brother six years younger, already in his late fifties. So busy teaching at a local National university, don't have time for us family. But when I see him, I always wanted to embrace that messy hair of his. Thinking how can siblings be so different? He was an atheist.
Mrs. Washio reflected on the Catholic church she went to as a girl. That building is long gone and replaced. Dressed in crisp clothes, Mother took us to the church north of the castle. I was taught how to make the sign of cross, “In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” I think I still remember that, Mrs. Washio slightly moved her right hand.
No wonder Shinkichi couldn’t develop any faith. Going to Mass was a part of Mother’s vanity. Mother so ostentatious, so proud of her lineage. It wasn’t much after all. It’s just that our family was of Samurai class (*5) and my grandfather was a mayor before the war. But I could not despise her. She loved us, even to the point of suffocation.
The train stopped at Kami-suwa station (*6), a lakeside resort where hot spring vapors rise in the white snow. And after that, she didn't see any passenger other than herself. When I was little, Lake Suwa (*7) got frozen every year, and the ice made ridged cracks. Probably it won't be happening this year either. These days people won't believe me if I say I skated on Lake Suwa when I was a girl.
After all, I didn't believe Jesus, Mrs. Washio looking at the snowscape outside, resting her cheek in her hand. Until I met my husband. Forty years ago, during spring break, I came home from my university, and I went up to the castle. It was a Catholic university in Nagoya (*8) my mother told me to go, and I was happy to get away from home. But still, Nagoya was too flat. It doesn't have blue Alps mountains…
Yet, Mrs. Washio now lives in flat Tokyo, for the boy who rescued her that day from falling off the steep steps inside the castle. A medical student, two years older than her. Named Jun and pure just like the name (*9). He is already a grandpa, though without grandchildren. He succeeded the Washio pediatric clinic from his father. A famous old doctor so fond of children.
Jun's papa didn't approve of me at first, for I was a Catholic. Washio family had been protestant since the 1870s (*10) and Papa was the most zealous one in the lineage. He was a Christian in the sense that he was Christ-like, not religion. He followed wherever Holy Spirit is moving, and got so excited with every new revelation from God.
Gradually, I was influenced by Papa's passion. Maybe Jesus exists after all. Because papa was desperately in love with Christ. When he says the name Jesus, his narrow eyes shine with light. So bright as if turning the light on.
Then one day, papa said he wants to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. He was furious after asking several pastors and got declined. It's written in the Book of Acts, why can't they do that? He fussed. I've never thought about it but it made sense to me too. At last, papa said he will go to America. Ordering Jun to look after the clinic.
In America, papa found the truth he was seeking for. He excitedly proclaimed it's like the Bible became a new book! He also told me, that Jehovah of the old testament is the same as Jesus in the new testament. That over there, Holy Spirit comes down like a cloud and people begin dancing and shouting. I wanted to see it myself too, but my daughter was still small by then and it was difficult.
That's our history, Mrs. Washio thought. After that papa built a church in Tokyo, with a young Philipino pastor. A church that preaches the message for this end time. A church waiting with anticipation for Christ to come to pick His Bride any day. Teaching not doctrine nor creed, but what Paul, Peter, and others had taught.
We are like a pillar, an unseen pillar. Every Sunday, we make a building for God. Though we have a literal church building with roof and walls. Our mission is to be always there, so when someone comes to seek Christ, they could find a church there. That's been my life and I don't regret it at all.
(…to be continued to part 2)
note
Va' pensiero is a song from Opera "Nabucco" by Verdi. The song is also called "The Chorus of Hebrew Slaves" longing to go back to their homeland. "Fly my thought on wings of gold."
Nagano prefecture is an inland prefecture, about two and half hours by train from Tokyo.
The city of Matsumoto is located in the middle of Nagano prefecture. The population of about 240,000 and its altitude 600 meters. Famous historic town with 400 years old castle still standing (Matsumoto castle.) On its west are the Japanese northern Alps of 3000 meters class. On its east is a highland called Beautiful (Utsukushigahara) 2000 meters high.
Metal confiscation during the war is talking about WW2 (1941-1945). That is why pre-war jewelry rarely survived in Japan.
Samurai class is in the Japanese word Shizoku. After the 1868 revolution, the former Samurais lost their job and salary, they were created as Shizoku, but most of them suffered financially. From this class, many intelligents arose because of their high education during the Edo period.
Kami-suwa station is on the Chuo Main line, Suwa, Nagano-prefecture. A hot spring resort.
Lake Suwa is famous for natural phenomenon called "Omiwatari", God's crossing. In winter when the lake is fully frozen, large cracks appear on the surface ice. Because of the climate change, the lake does not get frozen so easily these days.
Nagoya is a fourth most populated city in Japan. Population of 2.3 million. South of Nagano prefecture thus Matsumoto has bond with Nagoya too.
Named Jun and pure just like his name, Jun means pure in Japanese.
Washio family being protestant since 1870's. During the Edo period, Christianity was banned and it was only lifted in 1873, five years after the 1868 revolution.
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