Behind the temple was a small, elevated graveyard. Many stupa shrines were erected like a forest along the hedges of flowers like roses. A black iron ring like a wheel as big as the full moon was attached to each stupa. The ring clattered as it turned. Take told me if the ring comes to a standstill and does not move again, the person who turned it goes to paradise. If it stops and begins to turn in the opposite direction, the person goes to hell. When Take turned, a pleasant sound was raised as it turned for a short time and it always quietly stopped. However, by chance, when I turned it, the ring went in reverse. I remember going to the temple alone one autumn and turning one of those metal rings. And one day it clattered and turned in reverse as everyone said. While suppressing a fit of rage about to erupt, I persisted in turning it dozens of times. Nightfall came and I left the graveyard in despair.…
Eventually, I entered grammar school in my hometown. My memories of that time shift. Before I knew it, Take disappeared and went to be a wife in some fishing village. Was she worried I would follow her? Without a word to me, she suddenly disappeared. During the Obon Festival the next year, Take came to my house, but I gave her the cold shoulder. She asked about my grades, but I didn't answer. I would have told anyone else. Take said, "Overconfidence leads to failure," and did not praise me too much.
My mother was sick and I didn't drink one drop of my mother's milk and was cradled by a wet nurse immediately after birth. When I turned three and toddling around, my wet nurse left. In her place, a nursemaid named Take was hired. At night, I slept cuddled by my aunt, but the rest of the time, I was always with Take. From three to eight years old, I was raised by Take. Then one morning, I woke with a start and called to Take, but she didn't come. I was surprised and knew something had happened. I screamed and cried. I wailed with the heartbreaking thought, Take's gone! Take's gone! I sobbed convulsively for the next few days.
Even today, I cannot forget the pain of that time. One day a year later, I bumped into Take, but she acted strangely aloof, which enraged me. I never saw her again. Four or five years earlier, I was asked to be a guest on the radio broadcast Furusato ni Yoseru Kotoba (Words to My Hometown). I read a passage about Take from Memories. When I think of home, I remember Take. She probably did not hear the broadcast of my reading.
There was no news and has not been any to this day. From the start of this trip to Tsugaru, my long-cherished wish was to see Take. I am interested in enjoying the self-control of saving the good thing for last. My going to the port in Kodomari was the last item of this trip's itinerary.
No, before going to Kodomari, I thought I would go to Hirosaki right after Goshogawara, walk the streets of Hirosaki, go to the Owani Hot Springs, spend one night there, and finally go to Kodomari. I was gradually disheartened by the small amount remaining of my travel expenses from Tokyo. Was I tired of traveling? From here on, I will be drained by walking around here and there. I gave up on going to the Owani Hot Springs and changed my plan of going to Hirosaki on my way back to Tokyo. I made up my mind to spend the night at my aunt's home in Goshogawara and tomorrow go straight to Kodomari. I went with Kei-chan to my aunt's home in Trendy Town, but my aunt was out. Her grandchild was ill and had been admitted to a hospital in Hirosaki, and she went to attend to the child.
My cousin smiled and said, "Mother knew you were coming and wanted to see you. She called and asked for you to go to Hirosaki."
My aunt arranged for this cousin to marry a doctor, who would take their family name.
"Oh, I'm thinking about going to Hirosaki on my way back to Tokyo and will be sure to stop by the hospital."
"Tomorrow, you're going to Kodomari to see Take," said Kei-chan, who despite being busy with her own preparations, did not return home but spent time with us.
"To see Take," said my cousin with a sober look, "That's nice. Who knows how happy Take would be."
My cousin seemed to understand how much I yearned to see Take."
I worried about how would we meet. Of course, there's no reason to make any arrangements. Simply relying on the knowledge of Koshino Take of Kodomari, I will pay a visit.
"I've heard there's only one bus a day to Kodomari," said Kei-chan and stood to examine the
