Wrapped in Kindness

“It’s sudden, but would you like to have a tea lesson today from three in the afternoon?”
I receive a LINE message from my teacher on a cold, rainy day that has felt like rain since the morning.

My teacher probably thought it was a long shot, but
I realized that there is not much left of November.
I was happy that my teacher wanted to have one more lesson this month,
and although I hesitated a little, I gathered my courage and replied, “I’ll go.”

Without a pause, my teacher replied, “Oh, you can come! Amazing, you are a model student. It’s raining, so be careful.”

While I was bustling about, the time to leave arrived in no time.

I had some rather unusual lemon and ginger chocolates, so I decided to bring them as a gift.

When I arrived on time, I saw the faces of the master, Tatsu-sensei, and his daughter, Mina-sensei.

As I entered, I saw the senior student I had met at the tea gathering the other day acting as a guest.
Another senior student, a veteran whom I was meeting for the first time, was performing the tea preparation.
Both of them were wearing kimono.
Invited in by Mina-sensei, I also became a guest.
“What do you need for tea?”
Mina-sensei asked me as I was about to enter empty-handed.
Oh... no, no.
I took out my sukiya bag containing the kaishi paper, toothpick case, fukusa, and folding fan from my fukusa-basami case, sat down next to the main guest,
and hurriedly placed my fan in front of me to offer a greeting.

The senior student acting as the main guest was told she would make her debut performing tea in early December, so she was watching the veteran senior student’s performance carefully.
For me, having just made my tea gathering debut recently, it was all Greek to me.

I just stared at the movements of the senior student who would be making her tea debut after two full years and the veteran senior student performing the tea.

The young Mina-sensei was sharp and provided guidance with clear emphasis.

I felt grateful and happy to be well-trained by Suzu-sensei, who is gentle and wraps you up in warmth.
I have been skillfully guided and have managed to continue for half a year.

I received the sweets and drank the thin tea.
Ah, a moment of happiness.
Even so, I cannot let my guard down.
It is strange, but it makes me straighten my back.

I left the vessel I ate the sweet from and the empty matcha bowl to my left, inside the boundary of my mat.

I admired the natsume (tea caddy) and chashaku (tea scoop),
and returned the admired natsume and chashaku to the host along with the main guest.
The movements I was doing for the first time were difficult; I couldn't remember them in one go.
Tea is indeed profound.
New things keep coming one after another.

There is still a long way to go...

The senior students finished their lesson and left.
“Kana-chan, let’s have your lesson over here.”
When I was called by Suzu-sensei from the adjacent Japanese-style room,
I prepared for the bonryaku temae (tray tea preparation) in the mizuya (preparation area).
After preparing, I placed my fan in front of me
and greeted her, saying, “I look forward to my bonryaku temae lesson.”

Recently, I rarely do anything strange, but I still cannot remember how to move my left and right feet.

Do I even look like someone who is truly learning tea?

Little by little, I am starting to be corrected on movements that had been overlooked until now, but...

Suzu-sensei, who is as supple as a willow, really is good at teaching.

After the students left, Mina-sensei, having finished her tea lesson, began practicing the tsuzumi (hand drum) in the next room.

It is somehow interesting to have my tea lesson while listening to the accompaniment and the sound of the tsuzumi...

My bonryaku temae lesson with Suzu-sensei proceeded slowly, very slowly.
As expected, she understands my pace.

As a left-handed person, I am not good at whisking tea with my right hand.
Even though I am told, "Kana-chan, it is fine to whisk the tea with your left hand,"
I always reply, "I will do it with my right."

Even though I can get the matcha to froth properly at home,
it seems I get nervous when I am in front of others.

After somehow finishing the lesson and offering my greetings,
it is already pitch black when I step outside.
Ah, I am exhausted.

After performing the etiquette of a guest for the first time,
and practicing the Bonryaku-demae twice...

I head straight home without stopping anywhere.

Even though it is the day after the day after I collapsed in exhaustion,
I find myself wanting to practice no matter what.

Practicing with Suzu-sensei is truly fun.
Wrapped in the kindness of my teacher,
everything feels comfortable.