==JAPAN: KM== [Pets]

* APRIL 4th
Today, an old woman and a girl whom I didn't know came to my room, but they were smiling tenderly. My mother who is usually on her guard against humans said nothing, and went on giving her milk to my brothers. The girl said something to me and took me up in her arms. Then I got my first car ride. I fell asleep before long, thinking that it seemed to me that my life with this girl's family would begin today. When I woke up, I was in a warm living room, which I didn't know. My mother wasn't there, and neither were my brothers. Probably, my face looked uneasy, because that girl called Kumiko was petting me and said, "Look! This cat's eyes are hanging down! It is funny for a cat." Kumiko and her family came to call me SAKURA since that day. I think it was very fine and outside was full of cherry blossoms.

* APRIL 5th
Today, I ate catfood, pressed into a can, for the first time. My dish was too big for me, because I am a small kitten yet. I ate with all my might, so I fell into the plate. Kumiko who was watching me chuckled and picked me up to her knees and helped me with my meal, using her palm as a dish. Now I have become an expert at eating my meal, and I can tell the time of meal when I only hear a rattling sound. Kumiko dishes up my dry catfood and can catfood, which makes the noise.

* APRIL 6th
Today, I was given a red-collar by Kumiko. She fixed it on to me, and brought me in front of a mirror. My figure reflected in the mirror was exactly that of a domestic cat not a stray one, but it seems to me that the red collar doesn't become me, because I am a boy. If I were selfish, I would have wanted a blue one. I sharpened my claws on the carpet, all the family got angry with me. And I was soon given a claw-whetting post made of corrugated cardboard in addition to the red-collar.

* APRIL 7th
Today, Kumiko and I played a chasing game. Kumiko was holding a string and running around in the house from the first floor and even to the rooftop. I chased after the end of the string enthusiastically. Kumiko and I too romped about, so was accidentally tore the Shoji, a paper-covered sliding door. There were many holes made in the Shoji. Of course, Kumiko's mother scolded us but we still enjoyed ourselves so much and later an afternoon nap in the sunshine was pleasant.

* MAY 1st
Today, Kumiko brought me outside for the first time. The plowed field in the back of our house seems terribly huge. In the warm spring sunshine there were many birds and insects. Everything was fresh for me. I learned a lot there, a tree climbing, playing hide-and-seek in the bushes, etc. ‚h made friends with Kenta, domestic dog in our neighborhood. I wondered why he was chained up at his doghouse. He usually looked at me enviously, because I played freely. Kumiko's father made a small hole at the front door for me, so I am now free to go in and out as I please. Now I have grown-up to be a cat, so I can go out alone.

* JULY 3rd
Today, it was rainy, too. Yesterday and the day before yesterday were rainy. I couldn't go out to playing. Kumiko taught me about the rainy season. We spent tedious hours in the house, watching TV. But I didn't understand why TV programs were so attractive. For me, playing outside was ever so much better. I think the reason ‚hgot bored was that I couldn't understand human language perfectly. Sometimes Kumiko studies so hard, preparing herself for an entrance examination. She wants to be a doctor. But I hate doctors, because one injected a drug into my arm. ‚vhen I went to the animal hospital, the doctor vaccinated me against a disease, but maybe the shot was more painful than the disease. While Kumiko is studying, I usually take a nap on her lap. In short, I was nestling close to her purring, and before long I fall asleep.

* JULY 5th
Today is a very fine day. We are having fine weather today after a long rain. So I am going out alone in a buoyant and happy mood. Today when I was crossing the road in front of my house, I ran into a big monster called a car. At the moment, I lost consciousness. The next thing I knew, Kumiko was crying clinging to the cold body. She called my name Sakura repeatedly and I tried to answer but my voice didn't reach her.
Now she doesn't see my figure but I can. We can't play together and enjoy talking, but I never forget our happy days and I am looking intently at her. Now she is a medical student. I am setting eyes on her from heaven keeping her chin up.
Hold out!

COMMENT
Reading through this essay, I got the impression that the author has a rich vocabulary of English. Every detail is so accurate that I could easily imagine what is going on. I think it is very effective in expressing each scene vividly that she wrote this essay as a diary of her cat. Especially, the last scene was touching. I think Sakura is looking forward to the day she become a doctor with a tender heart. Hang in there!

Daisuke Goto