Susuki Town

A project entry for the Rainbow Creative Club

Preface
Walking through Uminonakamichi Seaside Park in the autumn, the pampas grass swaying in the wind looked as if it were talking to itself.
Today, I would like to share a small autumn story born from that scene.

Main Text
Under the blue sky, there was a town of pampas grass.
The pampas grass would listen to the stories brought by the wind every day.

"What happened today?"
The wind said proudly,
"Something amazing happened today."

The pampas grass swayed their white plumes and asked,
"What happened?"

Then the wind called out to one sleepy-looking stalk of pampas grass.
"Hey you there, don't you want to hear?"

"I'm sorry, I took some medicine last night, and I'm still sleepy..."
"What kind of medicine?" asked the other stalks.

"Hmm, I wonder what it was. I can't remember. But I feel like the bag said 'Rejuvenation Medicine'."
The pampas grass rustled in excitement.

"Where did you get that?" "Who makes it?"
Questions flew from everywhere, but the sleepy stalk just tilted its head.

"That is... I can't remember."
The pampas grass slumped in disappointment.
Seeing this, the wind said,

"Oh, I know about that."
The pampas grass turned their white plumes toward the wind all at once.
The wind puffed out its chest and said excitedly,

"That rejuvenation medicine is—"
The pampas grass held their breath, waiting for the next words.
However, the wind suddenly frowned and said,

"Oh, sorry, I have an urgent matter to attend to. See you next time!"
And then, it blew away somewhere.
In the town of pampas grass, only the lingering scent of the wind and the sound of white plumes swaying remained.

Look, you can see it, can't you...

The laughter of the pampas grass in the autumn light.

I created this story based on the image from this photo.

Afterword
The 'rejuvenation medicine' might actually be 'dreams' or 'hope'.
Believing in something and continuing to live while swaying in the wind today.
In the figures of the pampas grass, I saw a reflection of our own lives.
*This story is a work of fiction.

I wrote this for the Rainbow Creative Club's prompt.
Thank you for the prompt.