The Promise
A quiet man and a warm vow
This morning, I walked to Mr. Mori's garden .
He was watering his flowers, and he smiled at me.
"Good morning, Aya," he said in a kind voice.
I felt a little nervous, but I wanted to ask about the notes.
"Mr. Mori, do you leave the kind notes on our street?" I asked.
He put down his can and looked at me quietly.
"Yes," he said . "I do."
My beat fast, but his face was warm and .
He told me about his wife, Hana, who loved this street.
"Hana started the notes many years ago," he said.
"She always drew a small maple leaf on each one."
Before she died, she made a with me.
"I will keep the street warm," he said. "I promised her that."
His eyes were bright, but I could see a little too.
"I would like to make people happy," he said slowly.
"I would like to Hana's every week."
I felt in my eyes because his words were so .
"That is a beautiful ," I said to him.
"I will help you, Mr. Mori. I would like to write notes too."
He looked , and then he smiled a big smile.
"Thank you, Aya. You have a warm ," he said.
We stood together and watched Coco run to the .
The little dog knew Mr. Mori's secret all along.
I walked home, and my felt full and happy.
But one question stayed in my mind that night.
What exactly did Hana say before she left this world?