Theme: 'March is' #ShirokumaLiteratureClub
'March's Slate Blue'
March has many days of bad weather. That conversation drifted past me as I was stocking shelves. The gin bottle, now low on stock, was a dull blue, calling up memories buried in the busy days. Come to think of it, where did I put that thing?
***
I went to the sea. It was already five years ago. The sea in March was windy and cold, no matter what. No matter how much I rubbed my numb hands together, I couldn't get warm, and my exposed face was starting to feel the pain. The culprit who invited me to such a place was peering into the rocky area, shouting about how crazy it was. I've been hanging out with him since our first year of high school, and we usually just mess around and act like idiots.
'It's seriously freezing and there's nothing here. I guess we can't swim after all.'
Even though we were graduating in a few days, he was seriously worrying about something even an elementary schooler would understand. What an idiot. Can he even make it through college like that? Imagining him dozing off in a vast classroom like the ones I've only seen in movies, I feel a mix of exasperation and worry. I can't lend him my notes anymore, after all.
I'm going to help out at my family's business and eventually take it over. This might be the last time I can spend time like this with him, as he's leaving this town. I don't intend to get sentimental, but my gaze, which isn't exactly cold-hearted, settles on him.
'I'll give this to you.'
What he handed me, with an expression that could be taken as either smiling or grimacing, was a small blue pebble that looked like a shard of glass. He turned his back on me and dashed away, shouting. He told me to treasure it as if it were him. What an idiot.
He's a real idiot, tripping spectacularly as his feet got caught in the sand and yelling about how cold it was. And I'm probably a huge idiot too, for running to help him knowing I'd get covered in sand. The gray, cloudy sky and the rough, high-waved sea didn't seem like they would be on our side. The pebble I tucked into my pocket even less so. Well, that's fine, I guess. When we laughed out loud while wrestling, I felt like the center of my frozen body warmed up just a little bit.
***
After ringing up customers and chatting with the regulars, it was time for deliveries to the bar I supply. While checking the invoices and getting into the light truck, I searched the dashboard coin purse, and there it was. Was it always this small? Looking at it through the light, it seemed a little prettier than I remembered. I can't say I've kept it with great care, but having it here in my hand makes me feel strangely embarrassed and ticklish.
What kind of future did we imagine, we who laughed like idiots almost every day? Now, I can't remember anything, and I never imagined I would end up feeling nostalgic for such trivial daily life.
Reality is as unpredictable as the weather in March. It's sunny, it's cloudy, and there are even days of extreme cold like that one. Is it because of the years that have passed, or because of the trivial event that the grayish-blue color reminded me of, that I feel like I can still do this?
Alright, I've decided. On the way back, I'll take a little detour and go to that sea. A casual message with a photo will surely be perfect as a cheer for him.
(End)
*This is a short story I previously posted on Kotoamu, retitled and revised.
I participated in this project.
#ShirokumaLiteratureClub #ShortStory