Big Sound Temple

by Ben Stevens

  But I have to also start think about my self. So I ask priest please to contact person he know on city council. For to say that I have to start new job more late than what we agree because I still in hospital.

  Priest look at Okaasan. She smile and nod head at me and say she leave priest and me alone to talk.

  After she go priest say ‘I sorry but you not have that new job any more.’

  I not believe this! I about to ask why but priest raise his hand for to show he want continue talk.

  He say ‘Because I phone Miyazaki san at city council and say sorry but ask him please to find someone else.’ Priest say ‘Because you are again work at temple.’

  Priest eye sudden become very serious. He raise voice little bit and quick touch my arm when he say ‘I think you most important person at temple!’

  Then he again calm person and give shrug.

  Priest say ‘What I do before was not good.’ He say ‘I realise that now.’ He say ‘But many problem at time and I just not able to think clear.’ He say ‘But that is finish.’ He say ‘Now we concentrate on build new temple hall and we start again.’ He say ‘That is all.’

  I not know what to say. I am just feel very happy. I can go back to my house and continue my janitor job for many year. May be I hope meet nice woman marry and have son for to give job to when I die or no more able to do work. This is main thing I want from life.

  Priest explain more about what is happen now at temple. Priest say two woman still come each day for to work in office. Priest and monk also keep do thing like visit people at home. Still judo and kendo lesson in dojo.

  But obvious temple not able to do thing like have service for may be next six month. I mean until new hall is build and other damage fix. (Six month is maximum how long big company tell priest build work take. Because company use many men and work fast for to get job finish quick as possible.)

  Priest say is strange that now what remain of temple still have many more visit person each day than ever before. They also ask when old wood statue of the Buddha is come back to the temple. Priest say when it is return he have to put it on display some where inside temple hall.

  Priest smile at me. I not able to remember last time I see priest smile.

  He say ‘You rest now and get well.’ He say ‘Because you be very busy when again work at temple.’ He say ‘For now monk have to do thing like sweep leaf each day and feed koi.’ He say ‘I go now good bye.’

  When I again on own I get out of bed. Just want to try little walk around room. My strength is slow start to return. Also little less pain in body than before.

  I walk to other window. I mean not big window that face west and have nice view of city. (Because this room is on six floor of hospital.)

  Other window more small and open outside a little bit. I know my father sometime use this window when he here so he can smoke what he think is the secret cigarette.

  Below is narrow street like alley that is behind hospital. It have back of building like ramen shop and pachinko parlour on opposite side. There is many metal box for air condition unit attach to outside wall and other thing like telephone wire. Also some bin in alley and bag of rubbish.

  Then I see fox. It is just walk along in alley. I surprise because I never see fox like this in day before. Usual they live in mountain around city and come out at night in to city centre. But not usual to see fox even at night.

  I am look down from quite high up but still fox look very big. Also very red fur that seem almost like it shine.

  Then fox raise it head and look up at me. I think I am go mad. Because fox is smile at me. I know no animal able to smile but no other way for to describe how fox mouth look. It like something from child TV cartoon.

  I just look at big fox and it look back at me and keep smile. It look very peaceful animal.

  Final I look back in room for few moment. I stare at bed. I am try to clear my mind. I think may be recent event have affect my mind more than I realise.

  Then I again look out of small window. Now there is no fox. Just alley. It like fox have just disappear. Or may be I am start go mad and it not even exist in first place.

  I close window and walk back to bed. Sudden I very tire. Out of west face window is very blue sky. Room bright with sun and so quiet for few moment I start worry I am may be become deaf. But then someone talk outside room in corridor and I again know I can hear OK.

  I get in bed. I am think about fox. It make me think strange thing. Like story I hear when I child. Thing like old Japanese legend my father read me sometime in evening.

  Then I tell my self that I again temple janitor. Have to concentrate on soon get well and fit for job. Not waste energy think about the strange thing.

  This make me feel better. I am able to clear my mind. I close my eye and soon again fall to sleep.