Life Messenger • Part III • Routine

Routine

Days went by peacefully. All of ShengJi’s fears of leaving his father’s motherland were vanishing. A well-oiled routine was in place, contributing greatly to the little boy’s sense of security. If there was one aspect of his life in Shanghai that he did not like, it was his father restless schedule. Never knowing if his father would be present for his birthday, or simply for dinner, filled the boy an early taste of loneliness.

Every morning, Shizuka cooked a traditional Japanese breakfast. The smell of rice and miso filled up the house and everyone waited patiently for the cooker’s usual ring (a simplified version of Kira Kira Boshi), indicating that the meal was ready. Right before lunch, a nurse would visit and run the usual tests on Nadeshiko. The verdict was always the same: “Her condition is not getting better or worst. She needs rest. Keep from overworking the body. As long as she is stable, you can hope for a few more weeks…”

In the afternoon, Shizuka went to school. ShengJi was lectured almost every single day, at precisely 12:25 p.m., or right before Shizuka’s bus, that he had to stay quiet and let his mother sleep. Whenever she did, she’d always have this strange look in her eyes, as if she was worried about something bad happening. Nevertheless, when he was alone with his mother, ShengJi spent most of his time in her room. Nadeshiko told him stories about warriors of the ancient eras, travellers and inventors, but she would also tell the boy about plants, flowers, their life and virtues. She sometimes fell asleep as she was talking.

When slumber took over his mother, ShengJi left to play in the garden or in the park near the house. He was truly fascinated by the unique shapes of leaves, blooming colours, and variety of scents. In a way that he couldn’t explain, he felt deeply connected to nature. Sometimes, he simply placed his hand on a tree trunk and sensed energy flowing from his fingertips to his whole body. His favourite tree stood gracefully in front of the house; a mature weeping willow.

Whenever possible, he found a new plant and collected a piece to lay delicately between the pages of an old encyclopedia. The day after, he showed his mother and asked more about his new treasure. ShengJi loved how his mother brightened up whenever she was observing or describing what was, in her words, “nature’s greatest gift.”

Shizuka came back home around 5 p.m. and always went straight to the kitchen for dinner preparation. ShengJi helped out setting the table; his sister always complimented the way he placed every piece perfectly aligned with each other, which made the boy quite proud of himself. At dinner, Shizuka often inquired about her mother’s health and asked if ShengJi had been nice.

A few weeks went by following the same scenario. Spring was growing with flowers shoots and vivid trees. The beginning of April announced important changes for ShengJi: the beginning of a new school year.