AKIKO AND THOUSAND SCULPTURES OF CRANE

Akiko was a ten-year-old little girl who was calm, full of love and cheerful. Because of her hard life, she grew into a melancholic girl. Akiko lived with her parents in a small village on the river banks of the Kazuko Royal, Japan.

Akiko’s mother had been paralyzed long time ago and unable to get out of bed. Akiko had to stay at home to take care of her mother and the entire household. Akiko wanted her mother recovered from her sick but her father was not earning enough money to pay for her mother treatment.

Akiko’s father was a builder. He worked with stone and wood. People would call him if there was a work to build a house or be a porter and Akiko’s father would take it and go for it. Akiko’s father stayed at home if there was no work.

Usually, people who moved to their new house built by Akiko’s father had a lot of used stuffs from their old house. He often got the stuff from them. One day father brought an overseas fairy tale books. He gave the book to Akiko. How happy she was. Although the letters of the book were quite dull and the tips of page were folded.

Akiko read about a tale from far away land on that book. In that land, people belief if anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes then their wish will come true. Akiko thought about it. She didn’t have any paper to make a thousand paper cranes, but the pieces of wood were always available.  Akiko was urged to make a thousand sculptures of crane.

Now, besides reading, akiko spent her time taking care of her mother while playing with pieces of her father’s wood. She learned sculpturing step by step. Her father would patiently help her if he was at home. Her father taught her not only of how to use a chisel blade but also how to recognize various type of woods. Akiko often observed the cranes in the lakeside. Akiko tried to imitate the shape of that bird. Of course, the result was not good at the beginning but gradually Akiko’s sculpture was better.

One day, a salesman stopped by to ask for a drink of water and rest at Akiko’s house. Akiko politely invited him to take a rest in the terrace. The salesman looked around the simple house of Akiko. He was fascinated by the dozens of crane sculptures in various positions. Some were pecking the food and the others were standing on one leg.

“This will be a best seller if I sell it in the cities,” muttered the salesman. He asked Akiko to sell it to him. First, Akiko gently and politely refused it. “I’m sorry, Sir. I want to make a thousand sculptures of crane that will make my wish comes true. I wish my mother recovers from her paralyzed.”

Then Akiko told the story she read from the book that her father gave.

“But, isn’t it said that you only make a thousand sculptures of crane. Make it. Not keep it. Give the number on it, so you remember how many sculptures finished. Let me buy it. You can use the money to pay the doctor and buy some medicine for your mother.”

Akiko thought a moment and then said “Well, You’re right, Sir.”

After all, our house is not big enough to store a thousand sculptures of crane that I’ll make.”

Then Akiko allowed the salesman bought her crane sculptures. The salesman always returned to buy a new and beautiful of crane sculptures. Akiko became a cheerfull girl. Smile was often seen. Especially when she knew her mother getting better and healthy because of herb medicines she drank. Akiko’s father refused a job that would make him away from home. He chose to be at home to help make the sculpture with akiko for sale.

Akiko kept make crane sculpture. Her sculpture of crane was more and more beautiful and looked like a live. Kazuko, the king, finally bought a sculpture that Akiko made. He marveled at the work of Akiko. His heart was touched after hearing the story of the Akiko’s life. Then the king invited Akiko and her parents to come to the palace. He commanded the royal physician to cure Akiko’s mother.

In return, The King asked that Akiko sculpt all of the next sculpture in the palace. Because of the royal physician’s treatment, Akiko’s mother was finally able to walk again while cranes that Akiko was made are still lacking one more than a thousand sculptures. Akiko grinned seeing her mother started walking.

Akiko had learned a valuable lesson from her old fairy tale book. Apparently not a thousand sculptures of crane granted her wish but perseverance and sincerity in doing her desire.

Akiko finished her thousandth crane sculpture. It was the great cranes of all. Wings outstretched and the position was ready to fly. The crane almost lifted her legs, only his fingertips still touched the ground and the head looked up to the sky. Akiko’s face was wreathed in smiles during completed the crane sculpture. While working, she thought what else the goal she would achieve later. She could certainly accomplish it if she tried diligently and earnestly.

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