Old Time Rock And Roll

(Here’s a story I wrote after viewing a painting of a small boy chasing after a rabbit in the mountains. I did do a bit of research, too. This is one look at the rural way of life in Japan in the 1600’s… because, like I was there. Ego, eh?).

STILL LIFE
With his axe in hand, the ragged, bare-foot boy leaped over the two-metre wide chasm in hot pursuit.
His prey was a plump grey rabbit with a wildly tufted chest. Had Saburo looked below in his instant of leaping, he would have seen the raging river over 1,000 metres below.
It was autumn in Hokkaido (northern region of eastern Japan), and the multi-coloured death suits of the trees were unable to distract him from his appointed task.
His father and two older brothers had traveled southwest to join the Osaka Wars as hired swordsmen 10 years ago. Saburo was now the man of the house… he was only 12-years-old.
His mother and twin sister, Mai, depended on him for food. Mai worked the Daiymo’s (samurai lord) rice paddies in the valley below for a pittance, while his mother took in a few coppers by doing laundry in the freezing river. Survival was a day-to-day concern.
With the cold winter nearly upon the land, Saburo knew the rabbit would be both a welcome meal and a warm garment.
A trivial matter like a leap across a gorge could not stop him. Even if he fell, and death be inevitable, it would at least be a release from the harshness of his existence. But no. He had his mother and sister to think of. No sacrifice could be too large.
With goat-like ability, Saburo kept his quarry close. He knew his axe would only have one chance to find its mark.
On seemingly tireless legs, the pursuer and his prey ran along the mountainous trails and through the brush.
Suddenly, the impossible happened.
The rabbit’s over-sized feet lost its grip on a gravely stretch of rock.
Pouncing and deftly swinging the axe in one motion, he caught his prize.
Tying its legs to a stick found nearby, Saburo ran back to his home.

Somewhere staring at a painting,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by Bob Segar & The Silver Bullet Band.