Rain at Last
The village remembers the river spirit
Three days after we cleaned the river, the sky changed.
Gray clouds slowly gathered above our quiet green village.
A cool blew across the clean, shining river.
Then the first drops of rain fell from the sky.
"Rain! The rain has finally come!" the children shouted.
Everyone ran outside and lifted their hands to the sky.
The soft rain fell on the dry brown fields.
The rice plants drank the fresh, cool water.
I stood by the river and watched the falling rain.
The water rose higher and sang a happy song.
My grandmother smiled and held my hand very .
"The river spirit has heard us," she said softly.
Near the bank, I saw my kappa friend again.
His green skin was , and his dish was full.
"Thank you, Saki. You have saved our old river," he said.
"I feel strong and happy for the first time."
"Now I will to my home in the water."
"Will I see you again someday?" I asked him.
"I will always watch over you and this village," he said.
The kappa slowly went down into the clear water.
He waved his small hand and then disappeared.
Weeks later, the rice fields have turned green again.
The village has remembered the old river spirit at last.
Every year now, we give the river rice and cucumbers.
I have learned that we must care for .
The river and its kind spirit are our true friends.