[Fairy Tale] "Yu-kun's Wings" - Have you ever felt connected to someone in your dreams?

- A fleeting dream a boy had on a summer afternoon.

It is a story with a warm lingering feeling, as if children all over the world are connected by an invisible kindness.

Please, take a peek.

§ 1

On a summer afternoon, five-year-old Yu-kun was wandering alone through the neighborhood park.

As the sound of cicadas buzzed loudly, a pure white butterfly fluttered across his path.

"Oh, a butterfly."

Yu-kun became absorbed in chasing the white shadow and started to run.

He ran and ran, and when he turned the corner of the hedge, the butterfly landed right in front of him.

(Wow, it's so close.)

When he thought that,

Yu-kun's field of vision was floating high above the ground.

The white butterfly he had been chasing just a moment ago was flying right beside him.

He had become a light feather himself, drifting and floating on the wind through the familiar alleyways of his neighborhood.

Yu-kun was not surprised that he had turned into a butterfly.

He just felt light and comfortable.

When he reached the front of the corner supermarket, he saw a bicycle he recognized.

Oh, it's Mom.

Mom had shopping bags hanging from the handlebars and looked like she was on her way home.

Yu-kun felt happy, so he fluttered over to right in front of his mother and gave his wings a little shake at the tip of her nose.

"…Mom, you know"

Though no voice came out, Yu-kun flapped his wings as hard as he could.

His mother stopped her bicycle and stared intently at the two white butterflies dancing before her.

Then, she squinted as if the light were a bit bright and murmured in a gentle voice.

"Oh, butterflies. Flying together, I wonder where they are going."

Just by seeing that kind face, Yu-kun's heart felt warm and cozy.

Yu-kun flew alongside the other butterfly, circled widely above his mother's head, and then,

floated up higher and higher toward the blue summer sky.

§ 2

"…Yu-kun, Yu-kun, wake up."

I heard my mother's voice by my ear, much clearer than before.

Startled, I opened my eyes to find myself in my usual room.

My mother was gently smoothing out my favorite towel blanket over my stomach as she woke me up.

"Look, I just bought some ice cream from the neighborhood shop. Eat it before it melts."

Still feeling like I was in a dream, Yu-kun sat up in bed.

Then, he stared intently at his mother's face and said,

"Oh, Mom.

You were just out shopping on your bike, weren't you?

I turned into a butterfly, you know.

I turned into a butterfly and flew around you."

As his mother took the ice cream, which was slightly cold and covered in condensation, out of the shopping bag, she said,

"Is that so? You came to visit me, didn't you?"

Just by saying that,

she smiled softly and gently, so gently, stroked Yu-kun's little head.

Afterword

Thank you for reading until the end.

Mom listens to Yu-kun's story,

and simply accepts it with a gentle pat.

Perhaps it is because such kindness (a place) exists,

that Yu-kun can spread the wings of his imagination as far as he likes,

and fly freely into the sky.

For a child, the presence of an adult who believes in them 100%,

is the greatest emotional support of all.

Now then,

the "other white butterfly" that was flying right beside Yu-kun,

...

...Perhaps in that moment, somewhere in a city far away in the world,

there was 'someone' who, just like Yu-kun, was wrapped in a towel blanket,

dreaming the same dream and flapping their wings toward the same blue sky...

On a summer afternoon,

as if children all over the world are connected by an invisible kindness,

I hope you can feel that warm lingering sensation.

Postscript

Actually, I shared two such small fairy tales (stories) when I first started on note.

This time, I am happy to have woven a new third story after about two months and to have returned to this gentle world line.

If you liked the atmosphere of this one, please take a quiet peek at the two past stories (secrets) that I have carefully lined up in my magazine.

-- A small announcement about the next work.

After this gentle picture book time comes to a close,

Everything will change completely...

On Saturday night, I will deliver a slightly different kind of "short story for adults."

A night for a man and a woman who sleep while simply confirming each other's body heat.

[New Short Story]

"Midday Pandemic"

Scheduled to be released this Saturday night.

Please look forward to it...