There are not many local shops left in my neighborhood. In fact, at least two have closed down since I moved here in 2012. I finally decided to start stopping by a few months back. Since I don’t have to teach afternoon classes on Wednesdays, I’m usually the only customer in the store when I go. This allows me to slowly browse the narrow aisles looking at all the various kinds of inexpensive chocolates and senbei and powdered drinks. Looking at who shops when when I walk by at other times, though, I would bet I am one of the older customers, age wise, of the shop.

The store is run by an friendly obaachan. Usually we talk about the weather. This time, I came up to the counter with a soda and ice cream.

“It’s been pretty hot,” she says

“Yea, but it is supposed to cool down tomorrow, isn’t it”

“But that just means it’s the start of the rainy season, and that’s no good either.”

I took my change and walked into the muggy afternoon sun and up the hill to my place.

It started raining in the early afternoon the next day and the news said it wouldn’t stop for days.