-Japanese Wheat Photo to Help establish the mood for the work.
Yuki dangled her legs swinging them back and forth while she stared through the window at the snow-kissed 3rd grade playground. “Lunch time everyone, Narumi can you go rub the fog off the window and see if it’s still snowing?” Asked Miss Mai.
“I will Miss Mai,” Narumi jumped from her seat, grabbed a stool to get closer to the window, rubbed clear the fog and peered outside. “Miss Mai, it is starting to snow harder.”
“Thank you, Narumi.” She said while giving a big smile directly to Narumi. “So class, it's still snowing so we will all be eating inside today.”
“Awwwwww” groaned the entire class except for Narumi and Yuki.
“Now class settle down please.” She again looked directly at Narumi, “I'll be gone for only a second, if you need me I'll be in the teachers’ lounge filling up the hot water maker. Narumi you are in charge”
“You heard that, I am the boss round here now!” Narumi’s proclamation to the front row fell on deaf ears. Yuki watched all this unfold alone at her desk. She had always admired how in charge Narumi was, but also thought she was a bit scary.
“Yuki!”
“Oh, hey Narumi, can I help you with something? I was just about to start eating.”
“Yes, I want you to be one of my captains of the class!”
“Oh no, I am okay, Narumi, I am fine sitting with my doll Tomo.” Narumi seemed pleased with her answer, she continued to issue assignments and posts. Yuki wondered why Narumi always wanted to play with her. She would’ve loved to play but she was worried about hurting her fancy dress, she thought it was better if she just sat there for the day with Tomo. Yuki had just taken out Tomo and with one arm she held tight to her doll, and ate her apples carefully. “hmmm hm hmm” hummed Yuki as she went on seemingly enjoying her time with herself.
“Hey Yuki...um…. mmmmy name isss Ttttaaaiga...you look pretty today in your poufy white dress...ermm I mean you always..look um hey...wan..,” as he finally worked up the courage to make eye contact with Yuki to he see her still humming and seemingly oblivious to both reality and what he was trying to say. Taiga’s nerves turned to rage “Hey, are you even paying attention to me?” Seemingly calming back down “I know I’m not rich like you but I was wondering if you’d like this.”
“Hmm hm hmmm hm,” Yuki now hummed louder seemingly unaware of her admirer. Small giggles could be heard behind Yuki from three other girls, “Do you see Taiga? Why is he bothering the new girl?”
“Yeah he doesn’t even have a clean shirt, he’s going to make our town look poor to the new girl.”
“Yeah he is so poor, she probably can’t even see him.”
Taiga tried again, “Hey…umm…Yuki I was wondering if you’d like this.”
“HMMM HMM HMMMM HM HHMMM,” Yuki now with her eyes closed was humming along to a old song she remembered growing up still unaware of poor Taiga’s attempts.
Yuki was not use to people talking to her during lunch, or at any time for that matter being so new to the town. She didn’t really expect anyone to talk to her and was still puzzled by Narumi’s interest in her. But reality was not any of her concern she was now in her imagination having a wonderful picnic with Tomo as her guest of honor. The sun was shining on her picnic, and all the bees and birds were smiling and happy to see her and be her friend. But the arm of a storm was fast approaching. Suddenly “What are you...?” Before she could properly react, Yuki’s doll was already leaving her arm.
Time stood still, Yuki’s eyes opened wide. Taiga with his head down was pulling his arm closer to his dirty shirt with Tomo in hand. Narumi was still assigning military titles and deputizing the front row and was unaware. And Yuki still alone with an apple slice half in her mouth and a tear half down her cheek could not believe what was happening.
Yuki closed her eyes and let out a huge scream with a volume even she was unaware she had. She opened her eyes to the welcoming sight of the surprised faces of her classmates. She could hear the faint beginnings of laughter behind her from those same three girls. Her mind and body looked around franticly for refuge. She remembered beside her was an open craft supply closet. Without hesitation she flung herself through the door and slammed it shut. Poor Yuki closed her eyes and covered her ears desperate to return to her happy place. That blissful picnic with happy bees and birds, but that place was too far away now. Why is this happening to me she wondered, she thought over every time she was bad looking for a reason she might have deserved such a thing.
The laughing from the three girls was interrupted by a loud yell, “Shut up!”
"I know that voice...it's that boy who always has the dirty shirt. He's the one who took my doll." She could barely speak over her sobs. She heard someone knocking on the door. "Go away!" Yelled Yuki.
“It’s me, Narumi, can I come in?” knock, knock, knock, “I am opening the door now” Narumi who had just been speaking so gently had the gaze of a demon. Narumi gently handed the doll back with one hand and gave and smiled to Yuki. But in her other hand she furiously held Taiga by the caller. Yuki could see the deputized students all glaring down at the group of girls that laughed. “TAIGA, you have something to tell Yuki don't you!”
“Well um, I was, here's the thing.” Stammered Taiga.
“I don't plan to ask again!” Yelled Narumi, at this point, even Yuki was afraid.
“It's okay, I forgive him. I know Taiga is always starting trouble,” Yuki said while getting up. Yuki saw a big white mum with poufy white pedels similar to her dress, in Taiga’s hand. He was doing all it could to avoid eye contact, gestured a flower to Yuki.
“I'm sorry I took your doll. You looked pretty today, so this is from my family nursery I worked at this morning.” As soon as he finished he placed the flower into Yuki’s hand. Before Yuki could look down he was quickly dashing to the other corner of the class. Yuki was now smiling.
“Well you all sound lively as always. Narumi is everything okay?” Announced the teacher. She was holding papers in one hand, a water container in the other, and opening the door with her butt.
“Of course, Miss Mai, my deputies were on it!”
“Thank you for getting Tomo back Narumi, he means everything to me.”
“You are welcome, he actually looks like my old doll I lost years ago I’ve been wanting to ask if you’d play with me for days, but I get nervous and just start issuing orders.” She laughed.
“Next time it isn’t snowing let’s play together with Tomo, we can have Taiga bring the flowers!”