Orphanage (1)
—Lampail Territory, Orphanage.
The orphanage, located next to the church, was a building with red bricks covered in ivy. The orphans here were children who had lost their parents due to various circumstances or had been abandoned by them. Anny was one of the former, having survived an accident when she was two years old. She started working as a kitchen apprentice for the Lampail family at six and has been with us ever since.
Red bricks are so charming, aren’t they? I remember watching movies in Yokohama with my husband, eating in Chinatown, and shopping in red-brick buildings.
As I gazed at the orphanage, lost in thought, my grandmother called out to me.
"Little Joan, are you okay?"
"Oh, yes. I was just thinking how lovely the red bricks are."
"Joan, are you nervous?"
I was about to demonstrate something in front of the orphanage children.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a demonstration like this since I last worked. I hope I can capture the children’s interest.
"I’m fine. Anny is with me too, right?"
"Huh? Yes, I’ll do my best!!"
I ended up making Anny nervous instead.
Two sisters from the orphanage approached us. One was an elderly sister, and the other was a sister slightly older than Anny.
"Director, it’s been a while. I’m sorry we haven’t been able to visit until now."
My mother greeted them.
"Thank you for coming, Madam. It’s been a while, Old Madam. Is this the young lady? Nice to meet you. I’m Sister Clarence, the director of the orphanage. This is Sister Tanya."
"Nice to meet you. I’m Joan, the eldest daughter of the Lampail family. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today."
I gave a graceful curtsy.
"Thank you for your kindness. As introduced earlier, I am Sister Tanya. We look forward to working with you today."
"Then let me show you around the orphanage."
Led by the Director, we toured the orphanage, with my grandmother, mother, and me following behind. Anny and Sister Tanya brought up the rear, whispering to each other and occasionally laughing quietly.
Anny looks so happy. I heard she hadn’t been to the orphanage in a while, so I thought she might have bad memories here, but it seems I was wrong. I’m glad.
Afterward, I taught the children about the convenience of lunch bags, how to make them, and how to dye handkerchiefs using vegetable peels. The children listened very attentively. The boys, in particular, were fascinated by the tie-dye technique. By tightly tying parts of the fabric with string before dyeing, those areas remain undyed, creating patterns.
Once my workshop was over, I handed out sweets to the children who participated, much like the old candy given out by kamishibai storytellers.
"Thank you, Young lady. Your explanation was easy to understand, and the children seemed very interested. I was especially surprised to see the boys taking the lead."
According to the Director, the boys had never shown interest in such handicrafts before and had never helped out.
"I think they’re more interested in Young lady than the work itself. Look, even now, they keep glancing over, wanting to talk to her."
As Sister Tanya said this, I looked around and noticed several children looking at me. Some smiled, some waved, some stared intently, and others quickly looked away.
"Mother, is it okay if I go talk to them?"
"Of course, but don’t force them."
First, I’ll go talk to the child who waved at me. They look a little older than me, maybe?
"Hello. I’m Joan. Want to talk?"
"Hi~ I’m Megan. This is Tani, and this is Tani’s brother, Koa."
Megan introduced Tani, the smiling girl, and Koa, the boy hiding behind Tani.
"How old are you three? Oh, I’m five."
"Huh? Jo… Young lady, you’re only five? Tani and I are eight. Koa is seven."
"... Five years old… amazing. You know so much."
Tani said.
"It’s not amazing. I just do what I want to do and make what I want to make. I get scolded a lot for doing too much. What do you three like?"
"I like sewing. That’s why I want to make the lunch bags you came up with and, when I grow up, become a seamstress who makes clothes."
That was Megan.
"... I like knitting more than sewing. The stretchy knitting was your idea, right, Young lady? … Young lady, you’re really amazing."
"Well, I just happened to stumble upon stretchy knitting while knitting. Koa, what do you like?"
"……… Flowers."
"Flowers? Do you like growing them?"
Koa nodded silently in response to my question.
"Sorry. Koa’s shy."
Tani apologized.
"Don’t apologize. Hey, Koa, do you want to come see our garden next time? There’s a greenhouse full of flowers. The gardener is really nice and can teach you all about flowers. So, I’d love for all three of you to come visit."
When I said this, Koa, who had been looking down, suddenly lifted his head, his eyes sparkling.
"R-really? Can we go?"
"Of course. I’ll talk to the Director about it later."
"Young lady, is it really okay for us to come too?"
"Of course. We’re friends, after all. Oh? Did I forget to ask? … Um, will you be my friends?"
I bowed my head.
"Huh? Oh, if it’s okay with you, then I’d be honored."
That was Megan.
"... Me too, please."
That was Tani.
"……… P-please…"
That was Koa.
"Yay~!!! Then, don’t call me ‘young lady’ anymore, okay?"
""""Huh!?"""
"Because we’re friends."
"But we’ll get scolded."
"It’s fine!! I’m the one asking. Right?"
"Then… Little Joan?"
"Yes, Megan, nice to meet you. Come on, Tani too."
"Little… Joan."
"Yes, Tani, nice to meet you. Koa, you too."
"……… Little… Jo…Joan."
"Yay, Koa, let’s be good friends. Now we’re all friends."
I smiled, and the three of them smiled back.
I did it—my first friends!!!
What do you think about this chapter?
Cuteeeee