==JAPAN: KM== [Environment]

A boy heard a soft voice saying, "What's the matter with you, dear?"
The boy's eyes were filled with tears and his face was brushed by the sunset. He ran and ran. He ran through the town, across the small river, and rushed up the hill until his slender legs were caught by the tree-roots in the woods. Then he discovered where he was --in the woods. Feeling tired, he sat down on the ground. Then he heard the voice through shinning leaves, and an old man appeared in front of him. When he looked up, the smiling old man said softly again, "What's the matter with you, dear?"
The boy had a brother who was very bright, kind, reliable, and loved by everyone, especially his parents. "I...I am NOT a boy like my brother, however, I have tried to be...but I... I can't get my parents love. Mom, Dad, and my brother hate me. I hate myself too. I had better run away from home for good!" he cried. The old man listened quietly to the boy's story, and then he said, "All right, dear, you may do so, but you need not leave today. You can bear your problem just one more day, can't you?" The boy was a little disappointed, because he expected the dependable looking man to advise him not to run away from home and to be strong. But the old man's voice caught his heart and he became calm. "I see.... I'll wait." he said.
Several years passed and the boy forgot about the strange old man. He grown up, married a pretty girl and had a beautiful baby boy. He was extremely happy. But his happiness was shattered and he found himself once again desperate and standing in the woods covered with snow.
The cold wind trifled his hair and hit his cheeks sharply. The deep snow prevented him from moving. Then he heard the familiar voice, "What's the matter with you, dear?" Soon he was reminded of the old man with rich gray hair and his gentle green eyes. He was surprised to see the old man look exactly the same man as he had been before. "It's been a long time since I met you here. Now I want to say good-bye to you and everyone for good." He said.
He had been conscripted into the army and forced to go into the battlefield. While in the war he thought himself a murderer and he couldn't help hating himself. Even worse he had had news that his wife had died of disease and his only son was missing. He was desperate.
The old man said to him, "All right, dear, you may do so but you need not leave today. You can bear your problem just one more day, can't you?" The miserable man exclaimed, "No, I can't! How can you say that?" The old man answered softly, "You need not worry about yesterday or tomorrow. You have only to live for today. You may think of nothing and lie on a warm bed." The voice was so persuasive that he murmured, "I see... I'll try..." The old man smiled at him gently.
To his joy, his son was soon found and returned home. "Thank god, He is alive!" He was thankful to the heaven.

A long time passed. He became old...very old, with rich gray hair. His son had grown up and was independent. He lived by himself. One spring morning he made up his mind to go into the woods. He smelled the good old trees and grass. He waited and waited for the old man. But this time his face was filled with satisfaction because he came back here to thank the old man. Owing to the kind old man, he need not despair any more. But to his disappointment, no matter how long he waited for the old man, the man didn't show up. He went to the woods the next day and the next day.... But he couldn't see the old man any more.
One day, while waiting for the man, seated upon a stump in the woods, he heard someone sobbing. Then he found a very sad little girl. Suddenly an idea hit upon him. "Oh, she is what I was! God, I know what I should do for her!" He came close to her and said softly, "What's the matter with you, dear?"

COMMENT
In this story I was deeply impressed by the old man's words.... "You need not worry about yesterday or tomorrow. You have only to live for today." I think his words must be the author's own thoughts. Although living for today, regardless of yesterday or tomorrow, is very difficult in a sense, it is such a fine way of living.
The title "In the Woods" is fantastic, and it suits this story. She has made a very good choice. In the long run, I want to know who that old man is.

Hitoshi Yamashita