Kino no Tabi:Volume2 Chapter2
It was the second day in the country.
While on her way to pick up Hermes at the car park after lunch, Kino encountered a bickering couple in front of the Motorad. From the looks of it, they seemed to be a married couple in their thirties, and beside them stood a boy, about ten years old and looking extremely lost.
The father said:
“That is why I am saying that you are being over protective.”
The mother retaliated with:
“No! You are being stubborn. This is for his own good.”
The 3 were blocking her access to Hermes, Kino began by clearing her throat.
“Emm...”
Before she could begin saying “Excuse me, can I pass through and get to my bike behind you?”, the father notice her and asked.
“What do you think?”
“About what? I didn't follow the conversation.” Kino appeared somewhat confused by the sudden question. But before the father could explain the situation, the mother interjected.
“This stubborn man insists that our boy doesn't need a bullet proof vest.”
“Why does he need something like that?” asked Kino.
“The war of course! Our son is joining the army.” replies the father.
“War?”
“Yes, it broke out a few months back, it is the first one we've had since the country was founded. The army has been recruiting soldiers for the frontlines. My son will be joining the army today. Not to boast, but he will make a fine soldier, probably will return a hero too!.... but this foolish wife of mine keeps insisting that he wears a bullet proof vest. What nonsense.”
“Hubby! The vest will protect our son from shrapnels.”
“He just needs to crouch down to avoid them, not to mention there are trenches to take cover in,”
“Even so, it will protect him from other harm. He can't be a hero if he gets hurt, our son needs to be able to do his best to become a hero.”
“But won't the vest be heavy? He can't move freely if he is bogged down, also he will be ridiculed if he is the only one wearing it.”
“No such thing, he just need to be proud and say its a gift from his loving mother.”
After listening to the parents, Kino glanced at the boy and said:
“I think you should ask the boy's opinion.”
“Oh... you're right. What do you think, Timmy? You will listen to mommy won't you?” the mother bended down to gently place her hands on his shoulders. The father also squat down next to him, holding up an encouraging fist.
“Come on son, you are a man right? Real men don't need this junk.”
“Don't worry, mommy and daddy will respect your decision.”
“That's right boy!”
The boy replied in a scared and halting voice.
“I.. I don't wanna go to war.”
The father immediately stood up and said in a hard voice. “We are doing this for your own good!”
The mother also stood up and stare down at her son.
“You need to join the army and become a hero. That way you will be able to enter a good collage and university, then you will get to work in a large company. Don't you understand, we are dong this for you. Didn't you say your friends in class are joining too? You don't want to lose out to them do you?”
“But... johnny's parent won't let him go.”
The mother began to raise her voice at her son.
“What johnny did is not his problem, you should decide for yourself.”
“Yeah, you shouldn't compare yourself with others.”
The poor boy's face went pale with terror after receiving the sudden outbursts from his parents.
The mother took out a brand new bullet proof vest from her bag, the vest was still wrapped in plastic with a piece of card attached, which reads: “To our brave young soldiers! Specially designed to reduce stress to shoulder, now with adjustable height to suit growing children, ideal for long term use.”
She half squat and place one hand behind her son, gently urging him.
“Put this one on and lets go to the recruitment center. Don't be scared, mommy will be with you.”
“Like I said, you are being overprotective.”
“I just want the best for our son!”
“I know, but just don't over do it.”
And so the bickering started anew. In the heat of it, the boy timidly said again.
“I don't wanna go.”
“Not again! You must have inherited that cowardice from your mother's side.”
“What?! He is as stubborn as you are! You old mule!”
Again the boy protested in an almost crying voice.
“I... really.... don't want to go.”
Kino interjected at the bickering parents and said.
“Maybe you should rethink this over with the boy?”
The parents gave Kino a horrid and insulted look as she said those words.
“Why don't you mind your own business? This is a family matter.”
“Yeah, this is our problem. We really are doing this for the best of our child.”
“Right...” Kino nodded.
“Come on.” The mother grabed the boy's hand and began to drag him away. “We should head to the recruitment center before its too late. We will decide about the vest once we get there.”
“Right. Let's go Timmy.”
Kino watch as the parents, each dragging their son, left the scene. She could only shake her head quietly and head towards Hermes. The Motorad greeted Kino as she kicked down the stand.
“Must have been tough.”
“It was.”
Kino answer honestly before hopping on to Hermes.
