The story of a boy and a female teacher who both harbor painful memories associated with rainy days.

#nana56b


Lines from the story

One of those nursery rhymes everyone's heard at
least once is “Rainy Day.”

As a kid, I hated that song with a passion.

Shortly before I started elementary school, my
mother passed away before
she could attend my entrance ceremony.

On a day of torrential rain, while driving home
from shopping, she
collided head-on with a large dump truck. Both
she and the truck driver
died instantly.

All I remember is my father's back, clinging to
my mother as she lay in
the hospital,

crying out loudly, “It must have hurt, it must
have hurt.”

After that, whenever it rained heavily, I would
remember it

and always end up crying.


That day, too, it was pouring...

During lunch, the song “Rainy Day” started
playing.

Tears began falling from my eyes again, and
finally, I started crying out
loud.

My classmates noticed and looked over,
wondering what was wrong.

Then, my homeroom teacher spoke to me.

My homeroom teacher back then was an older
woman named Ms. Sugimoto.

With her plump figure, friendly smile, and
flashy glasses,

the students called her “Grandma Teacher,”

but she actually seemed to like that nickname
and didn't mind it at all.


She knelt down, bringing her face to my level.

As I cried and told her what happened, she
gently rubbed my back,

nodding along with her distinctive Kyushu
accent, “I see, I see.”

When I finally stopped crying, Ms. Sugimoto
said, “Well then, shall we
walk home together?”

And she offered me her small, rather flashy
red checkered umbrella.

On the way, she invited me into her house,
and we talked about all sorts
of things.


She told me, “From now on, let's go home
together on rainy days.” I was
overjoyed.

For one reason or another, along with some
embarrassment, that was the
only time we walked home together after that.

But from that moment on, I didn't dislike the
rain quite so much anymore.

Many years have passed since then.

Ms. Sugimoto, I hope you are well?

This year, I achieved my dream of becoming a
teacher.

Next time I visit my hometown, I hope to come
by and pay my respects.