Lacrimosa

In Japan, you don’t get to be in Elementary School until age six, but because Momo’s parents were among those who think that education is the answer to everything, Momo was sent to a Kindergarten school with a certain Akane-san for a teacher. Akane had brown hair that reached her back and a smile that would make any man weak. She was wearing glasses which falls down the bridge of her nose every so often. Akane walked inside the bathroom and found little Momo tiptoeing to reach the sink. “Nnggh!”

“Aw, little Momo, here let me help you” Akane’s hand brushed Momo’s tiny fingers, she carried Momo so she can reach the sink. While they were splashing water around, Momo grinned and started singing.

Hush-a-by baby…
on the tree top~

“Wow you know your rhymes already! Momo-chan sugoi!” Akane grinned and sang with her.

They sang together:
When the wind blows…
the cradle will rock~

Akane blinked once and saw Momo looking at her in the mirror. A glance was all it took. Akane saw herself in the black pool of Momo’s eyes. That and more. Momo looked at her Kindergarten teacher’s dazed eyes and waved a hand in front of her teacher’s face. “Yoohoo! Akane-san?” and then more urgent, “AKANE-SAN?!” Momo called out but Akane’s mind and thoughts seem to be so far away. Momo squirmed free from Akane’s grasp. As soon as her hands were free, Akane’s hands automatically found it’s way to her stomach. It stayed there as if keeping a monster from ripping her stomach open.

“I’m going now Akane-san!” Momo skipped towards the exit and shut the door behind her.

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,

A cry of anguish from inside the bathroom. Like the sound of a woman who had her knees chopped off. A slow and agonizing wail echoed, like a careful rendition of Mozart’s last piece of work, afraid of striking the wrong chord. The wail turned into sobs, short and hiccup-y.

And down will *giggle* come baby, cradle and all. Momo muffled her laughter and went back to the classroom, skipping as she did so.

–

“Momo you won’t be going to school anymore starting today” Mrs. Yamamoto had that stern mom tone of voice. Momo didn’t look up from her coloring book. “Mm-hmm” she said dismissively. Mrs. Yamamoto closed the door to the kitchen and checked if Momo could hear her.

“Can you believe?! That Akane girl killed herself!” Mrs. Yamamoto told her husband who didn’t seem at all interested. “Turns out her father was abusing her…” she paused for good measure. Mrs. Yamamoto have always been such a terrific gossip.

“…sexually.” she finished.

Momo finished filling in all the white spaces of the picture. “TAN-AN! FINISHED!” she grinned.