A Date in Spring

The winding path was tranquil, bordered by cherry trees whose petals had long since fallen, creating a tapestry of pink and white below two men’s feet as they walked. The air was cool, carrying a faint fragrance of lingering blossoms and fresh earth. Lanterns hung from the branches, swaying gently and casting a soft, warm glow as evening approached.

"I’m sorry we came past the peak of the blossoms this year," Michael said, breaking the silence. "It’s always so hard to find a hotel in this area when the trees are in full bloom."

Robert chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No worries Mike, we came just in time. I have a date tomorrow, you know. I’m going to take her out to watch the cherry blossoms together."

Michael raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "A date, huh? Tell me about her."

A dreamy smile spread across the older man's face. "She’s phenomenal. I love everything about her."

“Oh yeah? Is this Aiko you’re talking about?” Michael said, raising his eyebrows.

“That’s the one Mike!” Robert exclaimed, “We’ve already had two dates, and everything’s been smooth sailing so far. I’m gonna take her out to see the cherry blossoms - Hanami I think they call it. I think that’s a good opening, but I dunno anything about the restaurants round here so I better think of something.”

“Sounds like you’ve really fallen for her.” Michael said.

“Fallen for her? I’m in love!” Robert said jubilantly. “She’s so sweet and gentle, but she’s got a real head on her shoulders! It’s a rare combination. And you know what I find real sexy?”

"So how did the two of you meet?" Michael said, looking off into the distance as he changed the subject.

"Under the cherry blossom trees at a shrine near the dock," Robert reminisced, his eyes glazing over. "I was on shore leave when the blossoms began to bloom. Carrying a small notepad, I wandered through town until I stumbled upon a temple. There, beneath a Sakura tree, sat the most beautiful girl, gazing into the pond. As I sketched her, she vanished from sight. I was looking around when she startled me from behind. She giggled like a little girl when I almost fell into the pond.”

The men passed underneath an ancient torii gate, which stood proudly guarding the temple’s entrance, it’s vibrant red contrasted the fading blush of the petals beneath it.

“Anyway, I let her watch me draw, and we got talking. She was studying English at a university nearby, she could speak it pretty good - which is just as well, since my Japanese wasn’t up to par. She was also a shrine maiden you see which was why she was hanging around with nothing better to do. She let me watch as she finished her duties. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t supposed to, I started sketching her as she worked, but she soon had me on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor - cleansing the shrine she called it. Afterwards, she gave me tea and showed me a ceremonial dance the shrine maidens had to learn. We talked together for hours. She seemed a little bored and lonely at the shrine, I don’t think they have anyone else her age,” Robert trailed off. “… I’ve never felt more connected to someone, you know. I know it’s real love.”

Michael let out a chuckle. "Real love? Any you’ve had two dates with this woman, and on one of them she made you clean for her?"

"That’s all it took. Sometimes, you just have a special feeling," Robert said with conviction. They reached a koi pond. He stopped, staring at his reflection in the water, as if searching for something in his own eyes past the vibrant koi which swam below. “Like is short, y’know. it passes you by when you don’t stop to make the most of it. I won’t here forever and if I take the chance and fail at least, I’ll know it wasn’t to be.”

They reached a bench overlooking a pond that snaked its way around the temple’s perimeter, and Robert sat down, catching his breath, he stared down again at the koi swimming gracefully below.

“So your second date then, how did it go?” Michael finally asked breaking the silence.

“We went down to a festival they put on every spring, I had nothing to wear for it but my navy uniform, being at the festival with an American man and a girl in a kimono seemed to raise some eyebrows amongst the older locals, but she didn’t seem to care.”

Carp glided beneath the surface, their movements slow and graceful as the two men gazed down at them.

Robert went on. “The festival was kinda like a county fair, but not one I’d ever seen that’s for sure, everything was new, the food, the music. They had this stand where you had to catch goldfish with a little paper paddle. She tried, over and over again to catch one, she wanted to bring it back to the shrine’s pond, so something of herself to remains after she’s gone. You said I’m in too deep, but she’s been talking about coming over to America with me when my service ends. That’s gotta mean something.”

“It sounds like you’re both taking things fast.” Michael agreed.

“I’ve asked to meet her again at the shrine when she’s on duty, I was hoping for it to become our regular meet up spot if we go steady.” After a moment, he spoke again. "I told my parents about her, and they were fine with me getting together with a Japanese woman. But she’s still worried about what her dad will say, he seems the traditional type."

Michael nodded, his expression thoughtful. They continued walking until they arrived at the shrine. Encircling the scarlet building with its black shingled roof, a grove of cherry trees stood bare, their branches stark against the sky, the ground beneath bathed in a pale pink carpet of petals that already showed signs of decay. Robert’s expression fell, confusion creasing his brow as he took in the sight before him.

"The blossoms are all gone," he murmured, a trace of panic in his voice. "The date can’t go ahead. I’ll have to figure something else out."

Michael placed a reassuring hand on Robert's shoulder. "It’s okay, Dad. You’ll figure something out, I’m sure. Why don’t you tell me some more about how you and Mom met?"

The older man’s eyes softened, and he smiled. "Well, it was a beautiful spring day, just like this…"

“So does this place look familiar?” Michael asked.

“I saw her sitting underneath a sakura tree just like one of these, you know mom used to be a shrine maiden right? What a sight she was, her smile as radiant as the blossoms themselves. I remember thinking, ‘This is the woman I’ve been waiting for.’ We talked for hours under that tree.”

“And you knew, even then?”

Robert nodded. “Yes, even then. Some things, you just feel in your bones. You gotta jump on chances like that when they come, you can let life pass you by. You know, I’ve got a date with her again real soon.”

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the landscape as the two men finally arrived at the shrine. Sitting near its edge under a cherry tree sat a woman, her white hair was framed in gold by the fading sun as they approached. Michael waved, but the older man paid no attention, until a sudden rush of recollection hit him, lifting back the fog.

“Aiko.” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder.

She took his hand, squeezing it gently. “Yes, Rob. I’m here.”

The old man’s eyes glistened with tears.

“He’s done so well today,” Michael started “He’s been talking plenty about the past, even remembers when the two of you met.”

Michael handed the old man a sketchpad and sat underneath the cherry tree alongside his mother. “Hey dad, why don’t you draw a picture?”