Chapter 27 – In Her Little Head

Lately, Kioko has been having fun. Kioko found a good big brother. We met him in this really huge desert city. He was thin. But now big brother Joshua had muscles on him. Sister Leiko tells me he was malnourished, and that was the reason why he was thin. Kioko likes big brother Joshua. She plays with Kioko every day and he would agree to my requests.

We would play on the garden of the stronghold. There’s this big flower there, the roses and the tulips are so amazing that Kioko founds herself looking at them all the time.

Kioko likes this stronghold. It isn’t smelly. There are no bullies that would play with big sister even though she hates it. This place really cheered them up. Back when we were in that dark and smell room. Brother Joshua would always cry with really dark eyes. It was scary. He would laugh. He would grind his teeth and say, “No, this is just a dream, please wake me up” while slapping himself. I didn’t know what he meant by that. But now I know since he told me. He doesn’t really like remembering what happened there. Kioko doesn’t understand. He's acting like Big Sister when it comes to this topic.

I remember having this big brother once. He was like us but he had stripe ears. Where was he? The last time I remember was that his head bloomed like a flower. He was staring at the sky with no light on his eyes. Big Sister Leiko was rather loud when she saw that. I don’t really get it.

Anyway, I always asked Sister, “When will we return home?” but sister always says, “Soon, but for now just be good and follow sister”. Kioko doesn’t understand sister. But since it was sister saying that, I trust sister.

I also have a new uncle. He had these big bull-like horns. He looks scary with all the muscles and scars on him. But like Brother Joshua, he is really kind. He would pat Kioko’s head and sometimes he would let Kioko ride on his shoulders.

Uncle Shig’s really kind and calm. But sometimes I would find him staring at the moon. He would hold a blue cloth in his hand saying, ‘My love’ and praying with his eyes closed. Uncle Shig saw me when I peek at him once. He didn’t scold me and just said, “Do you want to hear a story, Kioko?” and I nodded. He told me.

“Once upon a time there was a very hot-headed bull. This bull wore a red garb. This red garb came from a friend who likes him, was a hothead. She wore blue, it was her color. His was red. Together, they fought in many lands and protected many people. Some say that they are evil. Some say that they are good. The red garb man loved his partner. To him she was everything. But one day, she went to heaven. The red garb man was left alone to walk the road. His heart withered but the red garb man knows that he’ll be joining her in heaven.”

Kioko did not understand why the blue garb woman went to heaven first. Uncle Shig smiled, and told me, “She was tired so went there first.” I then asked, “Are you tired too?” which Uncle Shig replied, “Yes, I am tired too. But do not worry about it okay? I’ll take care of you three.”

Kioko doesn’t understand. But it made Kioko ask Big Sister, “Sister, was mother and father tired? Was that why they went to heaven?” and she looked at me with this sad smile. “Yes, they were tired so they went to heaven.”

“Are you going there too when you are tired?” I asked. Big Sister Leiko hugged me suddenly. “No, I am not going there yet. Not until my heart still beats loudly, never.” I didn’t get it. But I said, “Okay, so don’t go to heaven yet without me okay?”

Sister Leiko smiled at me. “I won’t.”

Kioko did not really understand why. I asked other people but they looked at me oddly. I tried asking Big Brother Joshua but he would change the topic and instead plays patty-cake with me. Kioko founds it as weird but doesn’t think much about it.

Though one day, this bad man tried to bully Old Gale. Old Gale was nice so Kioko didn’t understand why that bad man wanted to bully him. Luckily, Brother Joshua pushed the bad man away. The bad man’s head bloomed like a flower. Just like that stripe-eared big brother. Just like mother and father.

Brother Joshua injured his leg. Kioko would bring him food. But lately, Big Brother Joshua has been making these mean eyes. When he sleeps he would start shouting about his mother and father. He would shout, “No! No!” while sleeping that I sometimes Sister Leiko would go to his room and pat his head. Big Brother Joshua would calm down. He would start sleeping.

I didn’t let Big Sister see peeking. But once she leaves I would go to Big Brother Joshua’s room and looked at the things he gathered in his room. It was his stuff so Kioko didn’t touch them. I patted his forehead too. This made Big Brother tensed down.

Kioko returned to her room. There, I started to draw and memorize the words. I fell asleep. But I was alarmed up by this really loud bang. I rubbed my weary head. I went out and skipped towards where the study room was. Big Brother Joshua has stopped going to the study room for a while now. Kioko understands that he was injured. Old Gale understands too so he didn’t mind much.

Lately, Kioko noticed that there are many soldiers running around. Old Gale looked at me oddly. He changed the topic and told me to focus on my studies.

Kioko doesn’t really understand why they would look at me like that. Kioko doesn’t really understand that great now. Ever since bad men came to the village and bullied Kioko’s head, Kioko has started to understand things less. Kioko doesn’t think much of it though.

As long as Big Sister Leiko, Brother Joshua and Uncle Shig are with me. Kioko is happy!