As long as the flower still blooms by: Mackenzie Wooldridge xxxMy father was a samurai. I remember him as honor and duty and love in a great large presence. He always did what he thought was right. He worked hard to install those virtues in me. I hope he has succeeded. xxx The samurai Asakura Soteki sat alone. His head was bowed as he meditated. A knock on the door startled him from his reverie. xxx " Enter." His voice was soft. A young servant man bowed in the doorway. He hesitated before he spoke. xxx " My lord, the honorable shogun has summoned you. You are to present youreslf at the battlefield a week from now." He hesitated once more, then backed out of the room. The man sighed and stood slowly. He walked out onto the porch and stared over the rolling Japanese landscape. A small shape ran towards him. A young girl grabbed a handful of his kimono. xxx " Honorable father, you can't go! How will I be able to run the house by myself?" The man gently unclasped the girl's small hands from his kimono. He kneeled down in front of her and looked firmly into her eyes. xxx " I will do as the honorable shogun has commanded me, Nara. Just as I am going to command you to do your best to take care of the houshold." Nara hung her head as tears made their way down her cheeks. She nodded, bowed repectfully and walked away. xxx That night there was a great feast to celebrate the lord's departure. They served dried chestnuts, miso, kelp, awabi, white rice, and tempura vegetables. The sake flowed and the men got pleasantly drunk. They got to bed at an ungodly hour and passed out. xxx Soteki stood outside with his daughter watching the sun rise. The girl leaned her head against his side and he laid his hand on her head. xxx " I don't want you to go, father. What if you get killed?" xxx The man contemplated his daughter's question. His eyes wandered to the cherry tree. xxx " Nara, do you see those cherry blossoms? At the end of the year they will fade and return next year. Such is life. In time it will fade. But it will be when the purpose of our life is done." The girl smiled through more tears. xxx "I understand father." xxx The next morning the company rode off, leaving only the marks of their horses' hooves. A young girl waving into the distance with all her might until they could no longer be seen, then turned and walked back into the house. xxx My father never returned from battle. He was killed defending a young servant. But I never cried for him. I see the cherry blossoms in the spring and I know he is content. Glossary of Japanese words kimono: traditional Japanese clothing. It had two layers, both usually made of silk. miso: a fermented soybean and rice dish. awabi: abalone tempura: food dipped in batter and deep fried. sake: a wine made of rice.