From the desire of two hearts, a wish is answered for a
child of their own, when a knock at the door reveals an extraordinary beautiful little
girl standing in the snow, wrapped in a gossamer white kimono, bowing respectfully to her
new parents.
From the beginning, her gentle manner and her untiring
energies endear the two old people to this mysterious girl. Her hands work without
stopping to make the two comfortable, and her magic songs croon them to sleep at night,
but it is the secret sounds that she performs behind the paneled soji screens well into
the morning light, that gives rise to questions among the neighbors of the small village.
"What is that girl doing?" one woman screeches
out to the closed door
"Nothing good, I can imagine" chimes in another
voice as they begin to gather.
"Come out now, we want to know what it is that is
going on in there."
The mother and father appear at the doorway and ask that
all of the people go back to bed. "There is nothing to see. It is only our daughter
hard at work as she always is."
"But what is she doing that makes so much noise in her
work?" inquires another persistent voice.
"The soft click and clack are like music to our ears,
we do not hear a noise." Her parents stay adamant in defense of their treasured
daughter.
With one great shove to the first two rows of standing
people, a wiry woman pushes her way forward. "I want to see what she is doing!"
"Yes we all do!" the others take up the response.
"Please, do not ask this of me." Kako's mother
cried out. "If you disturb her she will go away."
"Go away? What do you mean go away?"
Before anyone knew what was happening the wiry woman leaped
upon the porch and stepped into the house, walking hurriedly in the direction of the
closed paneled soji screens.
"NO!" cried her mother, "Please do not open
those…..." her words hung in the air, her pleas unheard.
The screen was opened, and everyone held a long gasp as the
sight revealed itself to the waiting and curious crowd.
COMMENTARY:
There are times when we must accept the mystery of a
person, when it is, that they give so much of themselves to others in their waking hours.
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