First Calligraphy of the Year.

This is a short essay.
Wonderful things happen at my workplace every day.
Have a handkerchief ready.

One New Year, I decided to do the first calligraphy of the year with the children at my workplace.

Just as we finished preparing the paperweights and inkstones,
a boy said,
"Teacher, what is the first calligraphy of the year?"

"It's where you write down what you want to work hard on this year."

"Ugh, I don't know!"

"I see, it's hard to think of something on the spot, isn't it? Well then, just write what you like. What do you want to write?"

"Hmm... Grandpa!"

Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed, but I couldn't. I knew that this child had said goodbye to his beloved grandfather at the end of the year.

"I see. Well then, try writing on this paper while thinking about your grandfather."

His brush raced across the calligraphy paper without hesitation.

"Teacher, I'm done!"
His face, wearing a look of satisfaction, left a deep impression on me.
The first calligraphy of the year he wrote while thinking of his beloved grandfather. I wondered what kind of gentle handwriting it would be.
I shifted my gaze to the calligraphy paper.

Bamboo
horse

"Whaaat!?"
My voice, sounding just like Diane Tsuda, echoed.

What's going on, what's going on!?
Where's Grandpa!?
Where did my beloved Grandpa go!?

"Wait, is this really okay?"

"Yeah!"

No further words were needed for his smile.
He understood the meaning of the first calligraphy of the year, didn't he?

That year, I never once saw him riding on stilts.