by John Jeng
you want?” the girl chirped, whisking away. “I will let Inari-sama know right away.” Tabitha had no sooner hung the ema on the rack than someone struck a gong, making her jump a mile.
“Inari-sama has heard your request!” Inaho informed her with gusto. She held out a red brocade bag, offering it to Tabitha. “As a souvenir, here is your special edition Inari Shrine omamori on the house. It will give you super-duper luck. Do not open it, though, or you might suffer a great misfortune like Pandora.”
Don’t open it? Well, okay. Tabitha took it, and they crossed under the torii, and descended the flight of stairs Inaho hadn’t finished sweeping.
“Well, this is it. Thanks for showing me around your shrine. I enjoyed the tour.” Tabitha turned to leave, but the shrine maiden reached out to grab her shoulder.
“I will give you some advice before you go,” said Inaho, turning grave. “Never feel sorry for yourself. Even if you are facing a bitter aspect of life, just take the opportunities you are given and grow.” Her words seemed to ignite amid the incandescent bulbs that shone overhead.
After Tabitha left the shrine with Inaho bowing in her wake, she had to admit that the high school girl was good at her job. Even though her coin purse felt lighter, her advice at the end was sound. Tabitha dangled the red omamori by its drawstrings in front of her as she pressed on the illuminated path. Should she be back in America next week, she’d at least managed to get a souvenir and leave a part of herself in the ema at the shrine. Though she might never see the eccentric shrine maiden again, she had to admit she felt a little better now.
An omamori from the Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.