Ama sits on the bamboo floor and watches warm, orange-pinkish shafts of fading light flooding into Miko’s workshop. Little girl is thoughtful, but at the same time watchful. She seems to wait for something. Grandma’s skillful hands weave the mesh of a tatami mat. All of a sudden, she addresses Ama, not taking her eyes off work.
“Ama-chan, please, light okiandon. It’s getting dark.” Miko’s voice is peaceful, in concert with the smooth motion of her hands.
Little girl rises vigorously as if something she waited for, was finally fulfilled. Clearly, Ama is content with her duty. Little girl believes that okiandon lamps are nocturnal creatures who fall asleep by day and wake up to drift on the waves of darkness like cocoons lit from within. The one about to brighten up in a while is special for Ama. Miko keeps it in her workshop as if it is quite ordinary. But, little girl sees how grandma looks at it. Her eyes are enwrapped in this special tender mist while flicker through okiandon’s shape. Hinata, Miko’s friend gifted it to her. He knows how to make Ama laugh. His name means ‘sunflower’ or ‘facing sun’.
Little girl strokes the bamboo frame of okiandon tenderly.
‘Okiandon wakes up very slowly,’ grandma always says. ‘Don’t rouse it from sleep. Be gentle.’
Ama’s hand reaches out to the ceramic holder and plants little flame in its belly. Paper, indigo sphere brightens up. Ama knows that indigo is one of Miko’s favorite colors.
“Grandma?”
“Yes?”
“The shadow of the magical fox hasn’t visited me for the second time.” There is a note of disappointment in Ama’s voice.
“You can make him visit again.” Miko still keeps weaving the tatami mat. Ama perches next to her.
“But, what should I do, grandma? How could I encourage him to come?”
“Magical foxes can’t resist to gifts.”
“Ohhhhhhh, what might it be?” Ama’s eyes fill up with the clouds of little stars - fireflies.
Miko lifts her head, glances at Ama and says: “Each of the magical foxes is unique. It’s a receiver who chooses a gift for himself.”
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