#Weekly Short Short Note Hydrangea Boy

Grandpa said to me while looking at the sky.

"Tomo, why don't we go for a drive to the dam lake at Kise River?"
I took my eyes off the book I was reading and said,
"That's fine, but what's with the sudden request?"
Grandpa had a happy look on his face and said,
"Hydrangeas are planted all around the dam lake, and I thought it might be the best time to see them."

I put Grandpa in the car and followed the mountain road for an hour each way.

"We're here, Grandpa."
Grandpa stumbled a little as he sat down at the rest area overlooking the dam.
He looked around for a while and took a deep breath.
"It's a nostalgic scent."
I asked,
"Grandpa, do you know this area?"
"Ah, I certainly do. The village where I was born is at the bottom of this dam."
I couldn't help but raise my voice,
"It's submerged under this dam lake?"
Grandpa told me,
"This dam was built 60 years ago. Back then, I had just married your late grandmother. We moved to the land where I live with you now in search of a new life. I had many friends, and when we left this village, we all promised each other that we would gather once a year. That's why we all planted hydrangeas around the dam."
I looked around,
"You're right, they are blooming beautifully."
"Mr. Honda planted lacecap hydrangeas, Mr. Tomoda planted mountain hydrangeas, and I planted oakleaf hydrangeas."
"Looking at those hydrangeas reminds me of those days, but now, I'm the only one left."

Grandpa closed his mouth after that.

I gathered my courage and said to Grandpa,
"From now on, I will protect those hydrangeas. Let's come back here next year and the year after that."
"Is that so? That's very kind of you."
Grandpa looked at my face happily
and smiled.

In the car on the way home, I whispered once more,
"Grandpa, please stay healthy for a long time."

The End
#HydrangeaBoy
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