Big Sound Temple

by Ben Stevens

  Person before light candle on top of tomb. But then priest say this too danger because of risk of fire. So now there is just light that is shape like candle but use the bulb and is power by battery. Often person who visit relative tomb forget to turn off this light when leave so monk or me turn off when we close temple in evening.

  There is small but heavy door make from stone. This door slide open at bottom of tomb. Inside are jar of person ash on wood shelf. Sometime these wood shelf get old and rot and so I make new shelf. Now I wonder who do this job after I no more temple janitor.

  Behind temple big kitchen is area where priest and his wife live. Sometime I do small fix job there but it is private place and so I not describe it.

  One time Wendy tell me that most property in America have what is call the central heat system. She describe how the radiator work.

  But no property in Japan have the central heat system or radiator. Heat come from air condition unit that in winter can also blow out the warm air. Also common is stove that use fuel like kerosene.

  The temple become very cold in winter. Yamashita san often make joke that is more cold inside temple than outside. But I think this is actual true.

  So the temple have many stove. In summer these are keep in big cupboard that is behind the Buddha statue in temple hall. When it get cold stove are take out of cupboard and the many electric fan use in summer now put in.

  Just in temple hall are eight stove. Four stove in shoin room. Temple office have two stove and there are four left over for other use if necessary.

  Stove burn fuel quickly and there is big metal tank of fuel near stair that lead up to dojo for to fill stove. I mean I fill big plastic box from tank and then take this box to stove that need more fuel. I use pipe to take fuel from plastic box to stove.

  Have to be very careful no fuel spill on thing like tatami mat. This something my father alway tell me. He say something that in Japanese is call no misu. This mean like person must not make any mistake. Because if fuel spill on tatami mat it obvious like danger and also mean whole mat have to be replace. Impossible for to clean spill fuel from mat.

  So I alway use maximum concentrate when fill stove in place like temple hall and shoin. Now I have to fill stove almost every two day. Big problem if there is thing like service in temple hall but no fuel in stove.

  This is job I suppose monk have to learn how to do after I leave temple.

  Priest arrange for me to have interview at city hall. For new job with maintenance team that cut thing like grass tree and bush by side of road in city.

  I get hair cut and of course I wear suit for interview. This different suit than one I wear for my father funeral because that suit is all black.

  Man who interview me know priest and is friendly. He tell me my work hour eight clock in morning to four clock in afternoon. Go out in truck with tool and come back when finish. Of course there is some break in work day. It not sound like complicate work.

  Man soon say I have job if I want it. Because I already have all experience of what to do. I say yes please. Man say I start work on 6 January. This when short holiday that come after new year finish.

  Man say that day I come at seven in morning. For to meet team I work with and wear the light grey uniform before start work. Man say what my pay is. It is less than three quarter of what I am now pay from temple each month. But it is job.

  I am walk home from interview when I see small estate agent office. I look in window at some detail and picture of property. Most property is cheap and for student or young single person.

  So I walk inside estate agent office and say I am interest in one apartment I see is advertise. I fill in form with my detail like age. I worry that my name be recognise because of what happen after I rent apartment for Sakura. Like I say before this is small city and when something bad or strange happen soon many people know.

  But estate agent man just look at form say thank you and then say if I have time he can now show me apartment. It just five minute walk away. I say yes please and we go.

  Apartment is in old look building that have many apartment. Most just have one room very small kitchen and toilet bathroom. Apartment estate agent man show me is on three floor. There is no elevator just stair.

  Single room in apartment need new tatami mat. Because they very old and have turn yellow. Also is many thing like mark and scratch on wall. There is smell like old cigarette smoke.

  I think of my house behind temple where I have live my whole life and close eye for a few moment. In my mind I say thing in Japanese that I already know is not easy translate in to English.

  In fact Wendy before tell me English speak person often instead use French word cest la vie when feel like I am feel now. I mean when something not very good happen but person still try not for to feel very depress.

  Estate agent man ask if I OK. Because I have my eye close. I open eye and say I fine. I say I take room. So I can get key and start move my possession from my house to here at the steady pace when is time.

  I think that I try not to think too much. Rent is cheap at least. Priest have already offer for to pay deposit on apartment I find. This is the kind offer I suppose. Because he not have to do thing like this. He just feel bad because he have take away my temple job.

  Estate agent man say let go back to office for the paper work. I say OK. I follow estate agent man out of apartment toward stair and we walk down three floor and out of building.

  When I go to Wendy apartment for lesson she ask if I find the new job yet.

  I surprise she remember because I tell her about job when she drunk that night.

  She again say I can stay at her apartment if I have problem find some where to live. This is offer I think she only make before because she is drunk. Now however there is no sweet smell and she not call me honey.

  We have English lesson for short time then she look at me and smile. She still look like the attractive woman. But now I not feel for her like I feel that night we leave bar call Zigzag.

  Wendy say ‘We OK Hiro?’

  I know what she mean. She is refer to fact that I come home with her after we leave Zigzag. It fun time and she have lot of energy for the more old woman.

  But what happen at night and after alcohol not matter in day. It like I recent see Yamashita san at the temple and we just say hello and talk of normal thing. Thing that happen at night and in place like Shianbashi is like dream time.

  So what happen between Wendy and me after we leave bar that night not important now. Now we again just friend.

  But still I think if I stay at her apartment we sometime may be share same bed again. So for thing not for to become complicate I think is better I have own apartment.

  I say ‘We OK Wendy.’

  She again smile and say ‘Good.’

  We continue with English lesson.

  Now day before new year eve seem to pass very quick.

  I busy for to clean whole temple. I clean all window and use special machine that make steam for to very clean tatami mat in place like temple hall and the shoin room.

  Yamashita san tell me sink in man toilet have become lose on wall. I mean to fix it. But alway I busy for to do something else. It difficult job that need special tool and I not get chance for to do it.

  All wood I before cut with axe is put by old brick oven in temple big kitchen. This wood is burn inside oven and boil vegetable soup that is make by Okaasan and three woman that come to temple for to help her.

  Vegetable like carrot and cabbage that is use in soup is deliver in some big cardboard box. Visitor to temple drink soup and drink hot green tea. Temple buy many paper bowl and cup and plastic spoon for this. Last year may be four hundred people come to temple and we nearly not have enough bowl and cup for all visitor.

  Day before new year eve temple monk help me set up for big service in temple hall. We put out every chair in hall. Also put out long dark blue cushion that is call zabuton. We put many mokugyo in front of chair and zabuton. (R
emember I write about very old legend of the mokugyo or the wood fish before.)

  New year eve service is start at eleven clock in evening and last may be one and half hour. But person who come to temple can stay just for few minute if they want. Few person except obvious priest and monk stay for all service.

  Person usual come to temple for to hear little bit of service. Then ring temple bell and drink some soup and drink tea while talk to other person. Is happy and relax atmosphere.

  Outside temple hall and also on gate that is at bottom of hundred stone stair I hang thing that is like the banner. This banner is colour blue and white. It show thing like the temple name in three Chinese character and the temple symbol.

  On new year eve I work until two clock in afternoon. Then take rest until ten clock in evening when work start again.

  Sometime work not finish until three clock in morning. Because all person who work at temple have to help for to clear up after last visitor have leave. Clear up work have to be done then because new year day and four day that come after are holiday.

  Only one woman work in office (I mean two woman who usual both work in office take it in turn to work) and no monk work in these five day. Also holiday for janitor. But of course today is actual my last day I work at temple.

  It very cold. There is strong wind and some snow fall. But snow not stay long on ground.

  Last year snow stay and my father and me have to use shovel for to clear much snow from outside temple hall. Also from steep narrow slope that lead up to temple car park so car is able to continue drive up and down.

  When is two clock I go to my house. I have move some of my belonging to apartment I am now rent. Soon I think it only mouse who live in this house.

  I am recent become like the robot. Just pack and carry my clothe and other belonging and try to ignore my emotion.

  Simple fact is this last day I am temple janitor. Soon I just man who cut grass and tree for city council. Now no one say ‘That job sound interest’ when I tell them what I do.

  Work start again and I turn on all stove in temple hall before service begin. Also two stove in temple kitchen. I put some big blue plastic bin outside temple kitchen for visitor paper bowl cup and plastic spoon. (Visitor to temple queue by kitchen for to be give soup and tea.)

  Then I get big metal drum which is open at one end and stand it up by edge of car park. I put some big stone in bottom of drum so strong wind not blow it over.

  Then I fill half drum with wood and paper and start fire. So people can stand near fire and keep warm when are wait their turn for to ring temple bell.

  Okaasan and three woman work in temple kitchen for to make soup. They wear white mask and have hair in net. They work quick for to cut vegetable and put in very big metal bowl on top of brick oven that is boil water. They talk and laugh while work. One woman have the very loud laugh.

  People start come to temple and service start also. Three young monk are work in temple hall for service but Yamashita san stand by temple bell. He help people for to ring bell with the big piece of wood that hang from chain above person head.

  Person begin to queue for to ring bell. Soon queue go down half of hundred stone stair. People are wear many clothe because of cold wind and snow. Yamashita san ask some young people to remove their hat before ring temple bell. (This is for to show the respect.)

  In old day temple bell not ring before midnight. But in recent year it become OK for to ring bell if it soon become twelve clock. Because many people come to temple and everyone want to ring bell.

  Most people listen to little bit of service then come outside for to ring bell. Then they go get soup and green tea before return home.

  I stand by fire and say good evening to people I see. I not have much to do now. But later work again get very busy when is time for to clear up.

  Builder man who before do work at temple come and talk to me. He say there look like is problem with the drain pipe on side of temple hall. He say like he is just let me know. But I think he hope that he get job for to fix gutter pipe.

  But I tell builder man this my last day work for temple. I say I lose job because temple have to save the money. I not tell everyone this but I know builder man for some year.

  He look very shock and say he not believe what has happen. Say it cause this temple lot of problem not to have the full time janitor.

  He say to contact him if I need work. He say he often need person like assistant. Not need special builder skill just work hard. I say thank you but say I already get other job.

  Fire in metal drum burn in dark night. Many bright star in cold sky. There is also some light outside temple hall and office. Temple hall seem to glow with light behind wood paper window and door. It look very warm and cozy.

  There is sound of monk chant and people bang on mokugyo with the stick. I am wear many clothe and glove and stand by fire but still I feel little cold.

  Other person come stand by fire and hold hand toward flame. Wind blow some fire spark in air. I careful not to put too much wood on fire because not think it safe for flame to become too high.

  People are stand around and drink soup with plastic spoon and drink tea. Some children chase each other near temple bell. It very cold but there is happy atmosphere.

  I see crazy woman who wear too much make up and who one time produce the knife outside temple office. But even she is now smile as she talk to other woman.

  I happy to see many people are still come to Buddhist temple on new year eve. I think this year may be even more people come to temple than last year.

  Then I see my uncle. He have come to temple with his wife and young son. His son very small and shy boy. He hide behind his father fat leg. My uncle is wear very warm and expensive look coat. He have red face and look like he have drink alcohol before come here. He come to this temple because of our family tomb is here. But it hard for me to think person like this think that he is the Buddhist.

  His wife fold her arm across her chest and not look happy. I think she is want to go home. She is very beautiful woman and more young than my uncle. I not normal like think bad thing about other person. But I think she only marry my uncle because he very rich. I think if my uncle not very rich man beautiful woman like her not even notice him.

  My uncle talk to different people and laugh. Many people know him and know that he is rich man. So he is treat with lot of respect. He look at me just one time but total ignore me. I think that fine by me.

  I stand near to fire that is burn in metal drum. Not good to leave it burn if I not here for to watch it. Of course I have big bucket of water next to fire in case there is sudden problem.

  It now twelve clock. I say to people word which mean happy new year many time. Everyone is say this word.

  Then sudden I feel very depress. I try not to think this but soon my job at temple end. I mean in next two or so hour. I just really not want go or leave my home. This job and temple life part of who I am. And now it all just is take away from me.

  I think service in temple hall finish soon and visitor to temple all start go home. Then there is sudden very loud bang noise. It come from inside temple hall.

  Then there is sound of man shout and woman scream.

  Someone start keep say ‘Fire fire!’

  I look toward temple. Big wood and paper door sudden slide open and people are run outside. They also say ‘Is fire!’

  I run up three long step before temple hall. I quick take off shoe before go inside. There is fire near the gold colour Buddha alter. Fire is fierce burn and is spread up to timber ceiling. There is also many thing like book and paper flower by alter and these are also catch the fire.

  Priest already have fire extinguish and is use on flame. But I see it no use. Fire just spread too quick. But of course I still get other extinguish and try assist.

  One monk have got mobile phone from inside his black robe and is call the emergency service. He give temple address. He sound like very panic. He ask for fire engine to com
e and also the ambulance.

  But I not see anyone who look injure. I think people shout and scream because of shock at what sudden happen. Not because they hurt.

  Priest face is very sweat. He say ‘Hiro spray water there!’

  Because his fire extinguish is soon run out of the water. But fire is all around now. I not believe how quick this hall burn. Soon is danger to stay in hall. But I keep spray water.

  In loud voice I say ‘How this fire start?’

  Priest look at me. His face look white and very shock. His eye very wide and his mouth tremble.

  He say ‘Stove just explode’ in slow voice.

  Then he just start shout word which make no sense. I think he is may be start have the mental break down. That he have so many problem and this just the final thing which make him crazy.

  But this not good place for to have the break down. So I to monk who phone emergency service say ‘Please get him outside!’

  Monk also look like he too shock to hear or understand. I have to say word again before monk take priest arm and pull him to front entrance of temple hall.

  Water in my fire extinguish start run out. There is one more fire extinguish at back of temple but this place also now have much fire and smoke. Hard to see very far now and I start to keep cough.

  I think there is nothing more I can do. I not able to breath and it is get very very hot. Wood and paper window on side of temple near where fire start is almost all burn away now. Strong wind is blow in through empty space and push fire forward. Many spark blow and land and start new fire on thing like zabuton.

  I worry my clothe catch the fire. Fire all around the Buddha big gold colour statue now. Can only see his face and eye. This make me want cry. This is terrible thing that is happen.

  Water finish in fire extinguish and I run out of temple hall just before fire start block front entrance. There is loud roar noise in air. Everyone outside is just look at temple on fire. Long flame go up from temple slope roof against night sky. Flame block sight of very silver moon.