The Ballad of Clouds - A Short Story

That day after school Misaki and I walked along the river carrying our leather school packs and talked about skipping stones and telling fortunes. She held out her arms and balanced on the wall. I held the straps of my pack and walked on the ground next to her. In the distance the smokestack of the factory blew smoke into the gray sky. On days like that day the smoke rose and I would lose it among the clouds and wonder why smoke and clouds were of the same gray.

You know, Misaki said, some people can read the future in the smoke of the smokestack.

Can they? I asked.

She jumped down from the wall and landed in front of me. Yes. Do you believe it?

No.

Why not?

No one can see the future.

I think they can, she said.

The beads in her pigtails clanged together and she spun around and I followed her. This was how it always was. I followed her. And years later I married Misaki after we graduated from high school. The cloud dragon who ruled in the skies and ruled over the town blessed our marriage and blessed my gift of sight. Even as I pledged to love her forever, I recalled the lie I had spoken that day. I could see the future and it came to me in dreams not in smoke.

Misaki gave birth to Nora a year after we married. Nora was only two years old when I dreamt of Misaki’s death. I woke that morning and ran to the shrine as car horns honked and I crossed the street in sweated dread. I screamed at the wooden statues and chiming bells and when I looked to the sky I was met only with the far away thrum of the cloud dragon’s roar.

Those of us with the gift of sight had three rules the cloud dragon forced us to live by. We must never speak of the fact that we could see the future. We must never try to alter the future ourselves. And therefore we must never proclaim to others what we saw of the future or darkness would descend forever over the town and no one would ever be permitted to leave. And the one who broke the promises would be taken to the sky. 

So that day I prayed at the shrine until evening. Then I came home and hugged Nora and told her that it would be alright as Misaki hummed a tune and made omelettes in the kitchen.

#

Nora walked out of her elementary school. She followed the line of students around the block and through the snow. The clouds above rippled and shook. Nora put her hands in her pockets and waited at the crosswalk. As usual, the group of boys from her class were there.

Go! Ken yelled. He pushed Jin into the street.

Jin ran. His breath floated white near his head. 

A car sped around the bend and slammed on its brakes. Horn blaring, it skidded to a stop and crunched the snow beneath heavy tires.

Jin made it to the other side. His cheeks were red.

The driver rolled down his window and cursed them and sped away. Ken laughed and skipped to the other side. Then he turned around and looked at Nora. Your turn, he called.

Nora shook her head. I’m not playing, she said.

Come on! Don’t be afraid. He looked around the bend. There’s no one coming. Go now!

Nora took one step but heard the crunch of tires and hesitated. The next car appeared. The driver stopped and waved Nora on. She gave them a small bow and crossed the street.

Ken stuck a finger in her face. Why don’t you ever play?

It’s dangerous, Nora said.

Ken frowned. The cars always stop. Tomorrow, promise you’ll play!

Nora wrinkled her nose as snow fell on it. She wiped it and it was numb. I don’t know.

Come on, Nora, Jin said. He smiled at her. We’ll all play tomorrow.

She nodded. Okay.

Good! We’ll see you tomorrow.

Nora waved to them as they walked away. Then she took her hands from her pockets and patted her mittens on her hot cheeks. She walked to her family’s apartment building and took the key from her school pack. She unlocked the door and stepped inside.

I’m home! she called. She took off her shoes and walked up the stairs.

Her father stood in the kitchen. Oil bubbled in the frying pan and eggshells lay cracked on the counter. A pile of onions sat on the kitchen scale. He stared at it.

Papa? Nora said.

Her father turned. His eyes were red but after a moment he smiled at her. Welcome back, he said.

What are you making? she asked.

Omelettes. Your favorite. He took the sliced onion off the scale and threw it into the pan. But I think this scale is broken, he said. Everything is too heavy.

Too heavy? Nora asked.

Her father didn’t answer her. He finished making the omelettes. Nora sat down on the floor at the low table and took out her schoolbooks. She started copying the characters in her workbook to practice her handwriting. 

When the omelettes were finished her father put them on plates and set one before her. He sat down across from her at the table and they thanked the cloud dragon for their food and ate. Her father lit a cigarette and took one of Nora’s books and looked at it.

The boys asked me to play again today, Papa, Nora said after she finished eating.

And what did you tell them?

Nora looked down.

What did you tell them, Nora?

I said yes I would play tomorrow.

I told you never to play that game, her father said.

I know but the boys ask me every day.

He blew smoke. Promise me you will never play that game. You must promise me.

Okay I promise.

Good.

Her father finished his cigarette then told her to get her coat. We’re going out, he said.

They got in his old car. Nora sat in the passenger seat and turned on the radio. The heater smelled of smoke and dust. Her father drove out of the parking lot and past the crosswalk near the bend. It was already dark and her father drove to the department store.

Why did we come here? Nora asked. She got out of the car.

Her father lit another cigarette and held her hand. We’re going to buy candles, he said.

Candles?

Yes.

They walked through the automatic doors and across the linoleum floor. Her father let her choose as many candles as she wanted. She didn’t know why she was choosing them but she chose them anyway. They bought the candles and then got in the car and drove to the supermarket. Her father let Nora pick out whatever she wanted and she bought cakes and ice cream. He told her she needed to eat something healthy so she put an apple in the basket.

And promise me you’ll never play that game, her father said.

I already said I wouldn’t.

Promise me again.

Okay I promise.

When they got back home her father filled the bathtub and Nora bathed and got ready for bed. She put on her pajamas and lay on the futon and her father came into her room and kissed her forehead.

Why did we buy all those candles today, Papa? she asked.

Because I think you’ll use them tomorrow, he said.

#

I woke up early the morning after we bought the candles. Snow still fell outside. I cracked open the door to Nora’s room and watched her sleep. I smiled and bit my lip and then looked out the window but the snow was blurry.

I knelt at the altar in the corner of the apartment. I rang the prayer bowl three times and took Misaki’s photo in my hand. I had traded Misaki’s life for the sake of the town. She had died and I had let her die and the town had continued to live in the light. And so the town had continued. The town knew the light but the only light I knew was sleeping softly in her bedroom and otherwise there was nothing but darkness for me.

Walking down the apartment stairs I said one more prayer and then knocked on my neighbor’s door. An old woman answered.

Mrs. Kon, I said.

Good morning. Is everything alright? she asked.

May I come in?

Sure.

I walked inside and sat on her couch. Mrs. Kon offered me tea but I refused. 

Do you mind if I smoke? I asked.

Go ahead, she said.

I lit a cigarette and the smoke was stark against the white ceiling. I’ve made my decision, Mrs. Kon, I said.

What do you mean?

I’m going to do a terrible thing to protect my daughter.

Mrs. Kon shook her head. I don’t understand, she said.

I have the sight, Mrs. Kon. I’ve always had the sight. And two nights ago I had a dream that Nora would be hit by a car at the crosswalk.

The old women held her hands over her ears.

You must listen to me, Mrs. Kon, I said. I held up the key to my apartment. Please go inside and watch over Nora. Make sure she doesn’t go to school today. Please I beg of you. Whatever you do.

Mrs. Kon’s hands fell from her ears. But now you’ve cursed us! You’ll send this town into darkness!

Don’t blame Nora. Please. You’ll watch over her. Yes? You’ve lived a good life, Mrs. Kon. Please watch over Nora. And make her promise never to play that game. And make her omelettes sometimes if you can.

She looked down at her lap but she nodded and took the keys.

I thanked her. When I stepped outside the sky groaned. Clouds swirled and the song of the cloud dragon grew and grew. It shook the buildings and the sidewalk. I walked down the street and gave the smokestack one last look. I made my way to the shrine, pinching my cigarette between my lips.

He was waiting for me when I arrived. 

#

Nora woke. She looked at the clock and saw she was late for school but it was still dark. She stepped out into the living room. Mrs. Kon sat on the floor and looked out the window. An unlit candle lay sideways on the table.

Mrs. Kon? Nora asked.

The woman didn’t answer.

Mrs. Kon, what’s going on? Where’s my father?

Mrs. Kon pointed outside.

Nora walked to the window of the apartment. The sky was black and starless and moonless and in the distance, the smokestack belched smoke so dark that it blended with the veil and Nora could see nothing. She could see nothing and she could hear only the ballad of clouds.