Tilila’s Big Day

It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my birthday!
It’s my –

“Tilila, are you focusing?”

“Yesss, Uncle Kazu.”

“I have asked you not to call me that.”

“Kazu. Kazu. Kaaaazuuuu.” I like teasing my uncle. He’s always so serious, but he never really does anything. Except that one time I went too far. I get a chill in my back just thinking about it. I don’t go too far anymore.

“You are scared,” Kazuken says.

“Am not!”

“It is okay to be scared,” Kazuken replies, ignoring what I just said. I hate it when he does that. “I was scared when I went through my Rite of Five, too.”

“You were scared?”

“It is a scary thing, not knowing.”

“Then tell meee.”

“You know I cannot do that. Part of the rite is not knowing. Each child that turns five has their own special tasks designed just for them, and overcoming your fear of not knowing is a big part of it.”

“Why does it have to be a scary thing?”

“We all have our fears. If we did not have fears, we would not be human. It is important to still be able to do the right things even when we are afraid.”

“Ughhahhhh.” I throw my arms up in the air and fell backwards from my cross legged place on the floor. I hit my back softly on the tatami mat I like. It’s so much nicer than the stone floors. Mom has told me about other places that use wood, or even super soft carpets made from sheep, on their floors. I’ve seen the sheep kind a couple of times in Moano’s private chamber, but that’s it. It was weird. But soft. Very soft. I want to touch it again.

“If you are not going to finish your meditation, then you should run off to see your father down at the docks. He asked me to remind you he wanted to see you after morning meditation.”

“Okay!” I jump back onto my feet. Well, I try to. I fall back on my bum. Uncle Kazu puts out his hand to help me up, but I’m a big girl. I can get up on my own.

“Do you remember how to get there?”

“Yes!” Mommy or daddy used to take me everywhere, but now that I’m turning five they are letting me go on my own. I grab my brown bag and skip out of the shrine, running my hand along my favorite statue. The one of Noma-Izumina. She was really strong. Really pretty, too.

I’ve always liked the stone passageways of Nafuna. Grandma says they were made by Noma-Biruda and are the only ones like this in the entire world. They get super crowded, though. I have to be careful about where I am going. I run my hand against the wall. It helps me to understand where I am. A lot of it is smoothe, but there are some spots that are just a little rough that helps me know when to turn, even when I can’t see between all the big people. I feel the spot that feels like one of the squids that sometimes swim into the bay and squeeze through the people. Mommy taught me how to be real loud. “Excuse me!”, I yell. It is the only time that I’m allowed to yell. People look down and smile and move out of my way. Sometimes they ask me if I need help. Sometimes I do, but only if I get lost.

Today I’m not lost and I skip into daddy’s building outside the lowest level of the city. It’s the only building of the city. The rest of it is inside the cliffs. It’s not really daddy’s. He just works there. But he’s the portmaster and everyone in the building listens to him when he talks. Even Moano, the leader of the whole city, listens to him. Today only one person is in there with him. When I was a little girl I would just run up to him and give him a hug, but now that I’m big I know that I should wait til’ he is done. I look at the man and smile. He smiles back. He has a nice face. I’ve seen him a few times before. He’s the captain of a ship that goes all over the world. Katsumi-hon, I think? He’s told me stories of faraway places like Shindo, Odicia, and even Vinaya! I think he makes some of it up, though. I prefer mommy’s stories about Hamoni and Aino.

They talk about some adult things that I don’t really understand. Something about money and spices. There is a big pile of coins and a scroll on the desk between them. I stand at the window and watch the people on the ships. The windows are blocked by a paper curtain, so I move it aside and play with it with my hand. Most of the people were from either Nafuna or Aino. There used to be more people from The Northland and Vinaya, but not as many now. I always liked watching them because they were a bit strange. I like strange things. Strange is new and new is fun.

Whooshh

Ktchhhh

Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink.

I jump at the sound and turn. I let out a little scream too, but I cover my mouth to stop it. I hope daddy didn’t hear it. I straighten my robe and see all the coins rolling around on the ground.

“Oh, no!” Daddy says.

“Oh, no!” Katsumi says, too. “Good luck cleaning this all up, Kinta-hon. I need to be getting back to my ship with my scroll to let everyone know what we decided.” Kinta smiles at me and I smile back, and he leaves.

Daddy looks at the coins on the ground. “Today of all days. I have so much to do!”

“I can do it!,” I say, picking up the first copper piece.

“Are you sure, sweetie? They all need to be put together like they were before. The coppers with the coppers, the silvers with the silvers, and the golds with the golds.”

“Yes, daddy! I’ve helped you before. I can do it!”

“Thank you, sweetie. I am so busy today. You are a big help!”

I pick up each coin and stack them neatly back on his desk. They are cool on my fingers. I like the silver pieces the best. They are smoother and shinier than the copper. Daddy always says to be very careful with the gold pieces, so I’m a little scared to touch them. I don’t like them as much.

“Do you know why I wanted you to come down to see me today, Tilila?”

I think carefully. “Because it’s my birthday?” My voice is a little shaky. I don’t really know why he asked me to come. He didn’t tell me when he left this morning. Uncle Kazu didn’t tell me, either. It has to be my birthday, though?

Daddy nodded his head. “Do you remember what your mother said before she left on her voyage to Aino?”

I nodded bigly. “She said she’d be back before my birthday.” I curl my eyebrows. “Why isn’t she here?”

“Your mother loves you very much and wanted to be here to help you prepare for the ceremony, but her ship is a little slower than usual. She will be here tonight, but she might be late for the ceremony. Do you understand?”

I nod my head slowly, but I can feel tears in my eyes. I have the last silver piece in my hand, so I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. My lips twitch. I put my head down and tighten my lips so daddy can’t see. I put the coin on the silver pile and wipe my eyes and nose properly. After a few deep breaths I raise my head and smile. It isn’t a very good smile, but daddy smiles back so it must have been okay. “I finished.”

“So you did! I see the coppers with the coppers, the silvers with the silvers, and the golds with the golds. Just like I asked! Good job, Tilila!” He pats my head and I giggle.

“If mommy won’t be here, who is helping me get ready?”

“Grandma Ieda will help. I spoke with her this morning and she is excited to help you put on a kimono for the first time! You know, grandma has worn a lot of pretty kimonos in her life. She is an expert! Don’t tell mother I said this, but grandma might even be better than she is!” I smile. “She is waiting for you at the theater on the surface. Do you remember how to get to the theater?”

I nod and point where the theater should be with my finger. “Up there! I saw The Dancing Empress with mommy before she left!”

“You did! And you said you really liked it. Your mother did, too. Now, you had better get going. You don’t want to keep grandma waiting!”

I shake my head and look at the coin pile again. They are all in the right pile. I did a good job! But right next to it… “Daddy, that’s the captain’s scroll!”

“Oh, no! You are right! He must have forgotten it!”

I think for a moment. “I can bring it to him!”

“Great! Thank you, Tilila. I’m really busy and don’t have time to take it to him. I’m sure he will be happy that he won’t have to come back himself.” Daddy takes the scroll and puts it in my bag. “His ship is the biggest one in the harbor. When you get there, tell anyone that you have an important scroll for Katsumi-hon. They all know who he is.”

I nod. “I can do it!”

“I’m sure you will do great. Now go! Now both Grandma AND Katsumi are waiting for you!”

“Off I go!” I turn and run out the door. They are waiting for me! I have to be fast! I walk along the edge of the stone walkway of the port. I like seeing the fish. Big fish. Little fish. There are leaves and seaweed, too. And it’s less crowded at the edge. I fell in, once, but it was not so bad. It was scary when I fell, but I got to swim and sailors jumped in to help me out. There are lots of nice people in Nafuna. 

Biggest ship… biggest ship… biggest ship…

It is so hard! They are all so big! Ohhh. That one must be Katsumi’s ship. It has a really big blue sail at the top, and lots of oars, too. I skipped onto the wood pier the ship was docked at. I read the name. The Katsilus. I wonder if it means anything special. There must be hundreds of sailors on it! There are many vendors from Nafuna’s market there, too. They must be buying stuff to sell at the market. I smile at the ones I recognize. “Where’s Katsumi-hon?” I ask sailors at the bottom of the gangplank.

“Katsumi-hon? He’s a busy man. Why do you want to know?”

“I have his scroll. He forgot it in daddy’s building.”

The sailor looks at me for a moment with one raised eyebrow. It looks strange. I try to do it and she laughs. I don’t know why. “He’s up on deck. I can take it to him.”
“No! I said I would take it to him. I have to give it to him.”

The sailor laughs. “Alright. You can recognize him?” I nod. “Go on up. Be careful with your steps.”

I nod again. The ship’s deck is so high, and the gangplank is narrow. It doesn’t even have anything to hold on to! I hold my bag tightly and step carefully. I came to bring the scroll, and it won’t do if I get it wet by falling into the water. There are little spots on the gangplank that stick up. I step between them so they don’t make me fall.

The captain sees me immediately. “Ah, Tilila my dear, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

I didn’t understand what he meant. He watches me take off my bag. “You forgot your scroll,” I say, and give it to him.

“Wonderful! I was about to send someone back for it. Very important. It is my entire shipping manifest!”

“Ship-ping manifa?”

“Manifest. It means it tells portmasters like your father what I have on my ship.”

“Are there toys?”

“Haha! No, no toys this time. Maybe your mother will bring you something back for your big day.”

“Mommy isn’t here yet.”

“No, I don’t suppose she is.”

“I have to go see Grandma Ieda instead to get ready. She’s worn a LOT of kimonos. She’s an expert.”

“Oh, I’ve seen her in one! She could pass for an immortal for the grace she exudes.”

I don’t understand this captain. He uses big words. “Byebye!” I wave at him and the other sailors, put my bag on my shoulder, and carefully walk back down to the pier.

I see my friends playing at the end of the dock. I want to go play with them, but grandma is waiting for me.

“Ahhh!” a man says. It’s Shino! Mommy buys fish from Shino. She says he always has the best fish. He’s standing next to a big wagon full of fish. He has another bag that he’s trying to put on top, but it keeps falling off. “Oh, hi Tilila. Sorry if I scared you. I’m trying to take my fish up to the market, but I also got these spices from Katsumi. There is too much in my wagon and they just won’t stay!”

I look at the bag. It doesn’t look too heavy. “I can carry it for you! I’m going to see grandma in the market.”

“Are you sure, Tilila?” I nod and hold out my hands. “You are a lifesaver! Thank you, thank you!”

Shino helps me put my bag up over my left shoulder and around my neck, and then he puts his bag over my left shoulder and around my neck. I didn’t think about my own bag. Together they are heavy! “There. You look a little shaky. Are you sure you are okay?”

I could see his face. It says I can’t do it. I don’t like it when people’s faces say I can’t do things. “I can do it!” I announce loudly.

“Great! You can run on ahead if you’d like. I’m going to be slow with my wagon. If you get there first, your grandma can help you find my stall. You can leave the spices on the table. Do you understand?”

“I will!” I say and start running. I only take a few steps before slowing down to adjust the bags. They move around a lot when I run. I try to run again. Annnd stop after a few steps again to adjust. Maybe I should walk. I use the main path through the city. It is wider and less steep than other paths. It’s easier to walk in with the bags. There are still a lot of people moving from the port to the market. I stay near the wall, but I can’t touch it like I like to do because I have to hold the bags.

Oh no! I stop. I told Shino that I was meeting grandma in the market, but I am meeting her in the theater! Should I go back to tell him? I bite my nail and look back. How will I find his stall? I can feel butterflies in my tummy and I want to cry. No! I’m a big girl. I’m turning FIVE! I wipe the tears from my eyes. I can do this! I adjust the bags on my shoulders and keep going.

I get all the way to the market and breathe the cold air. I am tired, so I sit. My shoulders are sore, but I can’t take off the bags. I have to get Shino’s spices to his stall. How do I find his stall without grandma? I look around while I rest. I see stalls of colorful necklaces. Hemp and cotton tunics, robes, and dresses. I smell yummy steamed buns. But I don’t see fish anywhere. Of course not, silly! He is still bringing the fish! 

I stand up and walk through the market. I look for a stall that has a grill and a pot to cook fish and rice, but is empty. “Is this Shino’s fish stall?” I ask a lady next to a stall that might be the one. She shakes her head and says “No”. I try again at another and another. I want to give up and go to grandma for help. I’m really tired and my shoulders are really sore. I see one more stall to try. “Is this Shino’s fish stall?” I ask a nice looking lady that I’ve seen before.

“It is!” she replied. “But he isn’t here yet with the fish. If you come back in a little while he should be here.”

I shake my head. “I have his spices. He told me to leave the spices on his table.”

“Ah! What a nice girl you are! Leave them on the table, then. I will be sure he gets them!”

I try to take off the bag of spices, but it is too heavy for me now. I try again, but I can’t get it off.

“Let me help you,” the kind lady says. She gently lifts the bag off my shoulder and puts it on the table. It feels a lot better already. Ahhhh. 

“Thank you!” I say. I almost run off, but stop and bow like mommy taught me. Then, I run off to meet grandma.

I’m out of breath when I get to the theater. I like the theater. It’s made of stone. When I walk through the arch I feel like I’m walking into a different world, like the spirit world mommy talks about. I like sitting at the back of the theater because I can see better because it’s high. I also like the front because no one is in front of me. But the stage is too high to see everything. The back is better.

Grandma is sitting at the back, watching the actors practicing. The director is telling them some things right now. Something about being big and loud. “There you are, precious!” grandma says. She opens her arms and I run into them. 

“Sorry I’m late!”

“Late?” Grandma says, surprised. I tilt my head. “You cannot be late when we never agreed on a time!” I smile. 

“Daddy says you will help me with the kimono.”

Grandma takes my shoulders and looks at my eyes. “You will look so pretty and strong!” She pats my shoulders. “But we need to eat first! There are some mushrooms nearby that I need to make lunch.”

I follow grandma along the cliffs. I like walking on the soft grass. It’s much nicer than walking on all the stone in the city. I also like the wind. It’s always windy up on the surface. Sometimes it gets so windy that all the awnings of the market get blown away! Mommy says that’s why they aren’t allowed to leave them up overnight. Everyone has to pack up all their things every day and put them back out in the morning. It’s a lot of work. She says that people in other cities don’t have to do that. It sounds a lot easier.

“Ah, here we are. There are the mushrooms over there.” Grandma points at the ground right by the edge of the cliff. There is a little dirt path to walk down. It looks really dangerous. I see grandma's legs shake a little. “I’ll just go get them!”

“Grandma, no!” I yell over the wind. “You stay here!” I stomp my foot on the ground so she’ll listen. “I’ll get the mushrooms!” Grandma tries to talk, but I walk past her quickly. Grownups like to say things to stop you. It’s best to not give them the chance. I get to the top of the dirt path. A gust of wind almost blows me backwards. My legs become all wobbly too! I’m scared… but I can’t let grandma come so close to the edge. I can do it!

I turn sideways and slide my feet down the path. I lean towards the cliff and put my hands against it. It isn’t so narrow that I can’t walk normally, but I feel safer this way. Step by step I get closer until the mushrooms are right there. I reach out my hand to pick them, but I can’t quite reach. I take another step and the tips of my fingers touch them. I reach a little further and manage to grab the first one! I open my bag and put it in. I slide a little further and get the rest of them. My bag is very full!

I slowly slide back the way I came. Another gust of wind comes and nearly blows me over! I sit down on my knees and close my eyes tightly.

“Are you okay, dear?” grandma asks. I nod. “I can’t hear you over the wind. Are you okay?”

“Y-Y-Yes, grandma!” I stand back up. I can feel my legs shaking, but if I don’t keep moving grandma will try to come down! I keep my eyes closed and use my hands to know where to go. I keep going until my hands don’t have a cliff to touch anymore because it is too low. I open my eyes and run the last few steps off the dirt path. I hug grandma tightly and bury my head into her robe.

“The wind came really strong there, didn’t it?” said grandma. I nod. “You are certainly a brave girl. These will taste extra delicious in our lunch!”

I hold grandma's hand and we walk. I don’t want her to know how scared I was after she called me brave, and holding her hand makes me feel better. We get back to the theater and I see Moano talking with the director. Pelenda, I think her name is. They are all alone now. All of the actors are gone.

“The sailors are saying that a storm is coming tonight,” says Moano. “It will start raining before sundown.”

“We will have to start the play early,” Pelenda replies. “I like to finish with the torches when it is dark, but it can’t be helped.”

“We’ll need to let the people know about the change,” Moano says. “We can put up a sign here, but if we really want to be sure people can see it we should put up a sign on the main board in the center of the city. But I have to meet with our vendors now in preparation for a meeting with a representative from Aino later.”

“Hmm,” Pelenda thinks. I like how her eyebrows curl at the ends when she thinks. “I have to meet with our costume maker to make some changes for tonight.”

“I can do it!” I say. “I know where the board is!”

“Oh, Tilila! Hello there!” Pelenda says. “That would be wonderful! Do you think you can get it high enough for people to see?”

“Hmm,” I think. I rub my chin and try to curl my eyebrows. “I know! I can ask someone to put it up real high!”

Pelenda laughs. “That would be perfect. Just wait one moment and I’ll write the poster.”

Pelenda skips down the steps and disappears into the side room where the actors change their clothes.

“Moano-hon, will my mommy be okay in the storm?” I ask. The storm makes me scared for mommy.

Moano smiles. “Of course, Tilila! There is nothing to be worried about. I hear her ship will arrive before the storm hits. Not soon enough to attend your rite of passage ceremony, unfortunately, but very soon after. I am certain you will see her today!”

I nod and hold grandma’s hand tightly.

Pelenda comes running back up the steps. The way her gray and green robe flutters in the wind is very pretty. “Here is the poster. Just unroll it and ask someone to help you put it up!”

“Okay!” I answer. Grandma helps to put the scroll in my bag. It has to be done carefully so it isn’t squished.

I give grandma a hug and she kisses my forehead. “You go ahead, Tilila. Come to my dwelling after you finish putting up the poster.” I nod and run off. She’ll be slower because she’s old.

I get to the big central hall. It is in the middle levels of the city. The port is at the bottom, and the market is at the top. The hall is so high that it stole five levels to fit. It isn’t very busy right now, but more people will come later to find any new news for the day.

I go to the big board. I can reach the bottom of it, but I need it much higher so everyone can see it easily. “Excuse me,” I say to the lady next to me. I don’t recognize her, but the people in the city are friendly. Mommy told me that I can ask anyone for help if I ever need it. The lady doesn’t answer me. I try again. “Excuse me.” Still nothing. Hrmph. “EXCUSE MEEEE” I tug on the lady’s robe.

The lady grabs at her robe and looks down. She looks angry. But the look goes away fast and a smile replaces the frown. “Can I help you?”

“I can’t reach, can you help me?”

“You can’t reach? What can’t you reach?” I take the poster out of my bag and hold it up. “You want to put that up? What is it?”

“It’s from Moano-hon. It’s for the theater.”
“From Moano-hon, you say? Give it here!” I give her the poster and smile.

She starts to put it up, but it is only as high as her belly. “Higher!” I say. 

She holds it a bit higher and looks down at me. “Higher!” 

She holds it the height of her neck. “Higherrrr!!” 

Finally she puts it just above her head. “Perfect! Thank you”

I remember to bow to her and she pats me on the head. I walk back the way I came towards grandma’s dwelling. She lives on a level between the shrine and the surface so she can get between them easily. She spends most of her time at one or the other.

I can smell the ramen broth before I get to grandma's dwelling. It is sooo yummy! My stomach growls so loudly another old lady turns her head. Oops.

“There you are, Tilila! The ramen is all ready!”

I put down my bag and sit on the mat. Grandma uses a ladle to scoop broth and noodles out of the pot and into a bowl. On top she carefully adds the mushrooms I picked and a piece of fish. Grandma sits across the table from me. “Ha-Zentai, bless this meal,” we say together. I take my chopsticks and slurp my ramen loudly. Grandma is even louder! I giggle. I never tell mommy, but I like grandma’s ramen better than her’s.

“Mmmm, so yummy!” I say when I finish. I put my hands behind me and lean back.

“Well!” Grandma claps her hands. “It is time to get you ready!” I burp and my tummy suddenly doesn’t feel so good. “You are nervous.” I nod. “Come now. You are a big, kind, wonderful girl. You have nothing to be scared about! Everyone already knows how great you are. This is just to make it official!”

“But what if I do something wrong and I let everyone down?” I can’t sit still and fidget with my hair.

Grandma walks behind me and slaps my hand away. She starts to brush my hair to make it pretty. “Hmm. That’s a good question. I can’t rightfully answer, to be honest. You see, I once let down my entire family and tribe. Even though I’m old and wrinkly now, I still don’t know what they think of me.”

“Really?!”
“Really, really. Something I have learned in all my time in this world is that you can’t always make people happy. You will make some people mad. You will make some people disappointed. I think… I think what is important is what we do after we do that. There is no use worrying about something we might do. Do you understand, Tilila?”

I nod slowly. I think I understand. So many people will be there. But if grandma can make people mad and be okay, I can too! I try to sit still while grandma finishes my hair and makeup. It takes a long time and I keep wanting to play with my hands and move. And I reallyyy want to touch the beads hanging off the pins she put in my hair. When she finishes, she asks me to stand. She takes a small kimono out of a chest.

“IT’S SO PRETTY!” I scream. It is green and gold with little flowers on them. I hold out my arms so she can start putting it on me, but she just hangs it up and goes back into the chest to pull out simpler robes. She starts by putting those on me. I don’t know how many layers she puts on me, but she finally gets to the pretty one. She slips it on and I get very excited. She finishes by wrapping a rope around my waist and tying it in a pretty knot.

“All done!” grandma announces. I try to wait patiently while she gets the mirror. I dance on my spot a little, though. “Here you are! Beautiful!”
She holds up the mirror and I see myself. I jump forward and give her a big big hug. “I am beautiful! Thank you, grandma!”. I waited for this day for a long time, and now that I am finally wearing a kimono for the first time, I can’t stop smiling.

“Shall we go to the shrine?” grandma asks.

I smile at her. “Let’s go!”

I run my hand along the walls while we walk. I try to think of that feeling instead of the butterflies in my tummy that keep getting stronger. I can feel a strange feeling at the back of my mouth. I stop and bend over. Grandma squeezes my hand. It’s okay to be nervous. Take all the time you need.
“But we’ll be late.” I say. It was a mistake to talk. The feeling in my mouth gets stronger.

“Ptah. You are the guest of honor. It’s not you that’s late, it’s everyone else that early!” I smile a little. “Let’s take some deep breaths together. Breathe in… and out. In…. and out.” I breathe in and out with her, but mine are a lot shorter. “Better?”
“A little.” The feeling in my mouth starts to go away.

“Take some more breaths. Let me know when you are ready.”

I take more deep breaths. The feeling of grandma's hand helps. The butterflies go away and the feeling in my mouth is gone. “Okay. I’m ready. I’m ready. I’m… ready!” I try to run and pull grandma with me, but she is slow.

The butterflies come back at the shrine. There are so many people. Maybe a hundred! I could hear them all talking when we were getting close, but now they are all silent. Uncle Kazu is at the far side. The people are all on the sides. I squeeze grandma’s hand. “I’m scared.” I whisper to her.

“Me too,” she answers. “There’s a lot of people, aren’t there? How about we take this one step at a time. You squeeze my hand and I’ll squeeze yours.” I nod and squeeze tighter. I look at uncle Kazu while I walk. Step. Step. Step. Everyone is so quiet. My footsteps echo. Why is it so far? Has the shrine always been this big?

Uncle Kazu is really big. I didn’t ever see how big he is, but now that I’m at the front with him he is so much bigger than me. He’s a lot bigger than grandma, mommy, and daddy. And his robes are super scary. They are really dark with strange symbols on them. Grandma lets go of my hand and joins the other gusts. I feel alone.

“Welcome, family and friends. We have come together for Yukina Tilila’s Rite of Five. The Rite of Five is one of our most sacred traditions, set down by the monks of Hamoni from before even the Age of the Immortals. It is a time to reflect on each child’s unique traits and solidify them in the mind of the community. Tilila’s task was determined by those closest to her: to demonstrate her selflessness by helping five members of the community on the day of her Rite of Five.”

The feeling in the back of my mouth comes back. I have to help five people? Who do I help? How do I help them? Am I good enough to help them? I’m only five! They are all big adults. There’s nothing I can do to help them. And the day is almost over! This isn’t fair! I feel sweat dripping on my forehead. I want to wipe it away, but I can’t ruin the pretty kimono.

“Is there anyone here who has been helped by Tilila this day?” uncle Kazu asks.

“Yes, I was helped.”

I look at the crowd of people. Who said that?

“Come forward, Kinta-hon, and tell the community how you were helped.” It’s daddy! Did I help daddy?

“This morning a large pile of coins fell off my desk and onto the floor. It would have taken me a long time to pick them up and sort them again. Fortunately, Tilila-hon offered to do it for me. I was able to continue with my other tasks instead of falling behind.”

“Thank you, Kinta-hon,” uncle Kazu says. “Is there another who was helped?”

“Aye, I was helped,” It’s Katsumi! The ship captain!

“Come forward, Katsumi-hon, and tell the community how you were helped.”

“This morning I forgot my shipping manifest at the port inspection. Tilila-hon brought it to me. It was very relieving seeing it. Losing it is a rather big deal, as Kinta can attest to.” I can feel my cheeks turning red. No one has ever called me -hon before!

“Thank you, Katsumi-hon,” uncle Kazu says. Katsumi gives him a fancy bow. “Is there a third who was helped?”

“She helped me, too!”

“Come forward, Shino-hon, and tell the community how you were helped.”

“Well, let’s see. I was struggling with a lot of stuff down at the docks. I had all these fish, and I got some Vinayan spices from Katsumi-hon. The spices kept falling off my wagon. Considerate Tilila-hon here offered to carry the spices up to the market for me. She ran on ahead with them and when I got up, there they were waiting for me!”

“Thank you, Shino-hon,” uncle Kazu says. Shino gives him a bow. It isn’t nearly as nice as the one Katsumi did. “Is there a fourth who was helped?”

“That would be me!” Grandma!

“Come forward, Ieda-hon, and tell the -”

“Yes, yes. I know how this works.” Grandma is much slower than the others to get to the front. “Let’s see. Ah, yes. I was out to pick some wild mushrooms for lunch. I saw some nice big delicious looking ones down Lookers’ Path. Tilila-hon decided it was too dangerous for me and went down the path herself. She was very insistent, I might say. Very concerned for my well being. There were some gusts of wind that would have blown me right into the bay! Good thing it was sure-footed Tilila-hon out there instead of me.”

“Thank you, Ieda -”

“Oh, in case anyone was wondering, the mushrooms were delicious in our ramen!” I giggle at uncle Kazu’s face when grandma interrupts him.

“Are you done now?”

“Yes, yes. Go on ahead. You are doing great!” Grandma is funny when she talks to uncle Kazu. She makes him less scary.

Uncle Kazu takes a deep breath, and then continues. “Thank you, Ieda-hon. Is there a fifth who was helped?” The room was silent. I look at all the people and they are turning their heads at one another. What do I do? Do I need to find another person to help? Uncle Kazu clears his throat. “Is there a fifth who was helped?”

“Sorry! Sorry! That’s me! Moano!” He sounds really strange. But he’s the leader of the whole city! He must be really busy and have a lot of things to do. He’s allowed to sound strange.

“Come forward, Moano-hon, and tell the community how you were helped.”

It takes him a moment to get to the front. He is all the way at the back! “Hmm. Let’s see. It wasn’t quite me who was helped. It was Palenda-hon. But she is busy getting the play for tonight sorted, so here I am. I’m sure you have all seen the poster that tonight’s play is starting early because of a storm that is coming in. Palenda-hon and I were both too busy to put up the poster, but Tilila-hon was honorable enough to offer to put it up for us. If she hadn’t gotten it up, the performers would not have anyone to perform to tonight! That would not do. Tilila-hon saved the show. In a way, she helped everyone in the community! Many more than five, if you ask me.”

“Thank you, Moano-hon.” This time uncle Kazu and Moano took turns bowing to one another. “Five members of the community have come forth and told how Tilila helped each of them. On their word, in front of all of the community gathered here in the shrine of Ha-Zentai, Yukina Tilila is now a full member of the community by virtue of her helpful heart.” Uncle Kazu stands in front of me and bows. Everyone else bows too. All of them at me! I can feel water in my eyes and my lip twitches. I quickly wipe away the water with my hands before anyone can see. “Kinta-hon, bring forward the obi.”

I gasp. Daddy is holding the most beautiful obi! It matches my kimono perfectly. He kneels in front of me, takes off the rope, and replaces it with the obi.

“You may now wear kimonos and obis to signify your place within the community,” uncle Kazu says. Everyone cheers and I smile really big. “Now we walk to the docks so the rest of the community knows of this!”

Daddy takes my right hand and grandma takes my left. They lead me between the people and out of the shrine. All of the people follow us through the city. Everyone gets out of our way and looks at me. They even bow! I can’t stop smiling! My smile gets even bigger at the docks. “Mommy!” I let go of daddy’s and grandma’s hands and run to her. She is standing in front of a big big ship, and she’s wearing a blue kimono! She is super pretty! Her arms wrap around me and I start to cry. I’m not sad, though. I’m really happy!

“Look at you with your kimono and obi!” mommy says. “You must have done really well! You’ve become such a big girl!” I stand back and nod. A smile is still on my face even though the water is still in my eyes. Mommy carefully dabs them away with a cloth. “I’m sorry I could not be here for your big day. I brought you something from Aino to make it up to you.” A woman I haven’t seen before gives mommy a wooden box with carvings. It looks special. “This is for you, Tilila.”

I take the box from mommy and open it carefully. I don’t want to break it! Inside are sandals made of wood. “They are special sandals made by the shoemaker of the imperial family! This is what is worn by children going through their Rite of Five in Aino. It is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.”

“Hundreds?!”

“Hundreds!” Mommy taps me on the nose. “Well, put them on!”
I smile and take the sandals out of the box. Mommy takes the box from me so it doesn’t fall. I put the sandals on the ground and slide my feet in. They aren’t the comfiest in the world, but they are so pretty!

“They look great on you!” daddy says.

“Thank you, mommy!”

“Now that you are a big girl, you should start calling me mother,” says momm–

“Thank you, mother!” I give her a big hug.

“How was your adventure?” grandma asks mother.

“My adventure?” mother replies. She looks confused.

“You went all the way to Aino! I’d call that an adventure!”
Mother chuckles. “In that case, the adventure was mixed. The Ainoens don’t know any more than we do about what is going on in Northland, but I did get Tilila’s sandals. That part was much more important, anyway.” Mother pats my head and I giggle.

“Do you want to go on an adventure, Tilila?” grandma asks me.

I shake my head. “I want to stay here with daddy.”

Everyone laughs.

“Maybe one day you will change your mind,” says grandma. “Adventures are in the Yukina blood!”