Her pencil...

She's been gone for a long time. It's been so long that I can't remember how many years it's been, or maybe it's because I haven't paid enough attention. I still remember when we studied together. Her house is across the street. We would walk to school together every morning. In the evening, she always returns first. Other than that day, I was lazy to play football with my male friends. When I was in kindergarten, her mother and my mother would walk me to school.

Four of us walked together.

with our mother walking next to us As for us, we will walk hand in hand. She likes to sing while walking to school.

"Pencil, pencil, for writing dreams. There will be only bright days, only happiness. Pencil, pencil."

She always let me sing too but I don't like singing. She often wrinkles her face and sticks out her tongue to make cackling noises.

No matter where, no matter when When there is Anta, there must be Andaman. Teachers always like to say things like this.

Even when I sleep, I sleep next to you. In just a moment, she was already asleep. Her narrow eyes when she sleeps are not much different from when they are open. Outside of that, she was startled and her eyes widened. It's the widest I've ever seen.

“Next school term starts, your child will have to walk to school himself. Please take care of Anta,” Mom told me and smiled.

“Mother doesn't know that Antahana is very talented. I don't have to take care of her. She probably needs to take care of me more.” I returned the smile.

This morning the weather is clear, with light sunshine and a gentle winter breeze. I looked into the gate of her house. After a while, she opened the door, followed by Anta's mother following behind.

“Take care of Andaman, Anta, be a good child for your teacher,” Anta's mother said, waving goodbye.

“Mother, Andaman must take care of me. Andaman is a man.” She turned to speak back to her mother and quickly shook her head.

"Going to school now, Mom. Bye." Anta turned to tell Mom again and waved goodbye.

We walked to school together for almost two years. Today was the first day of the trial without our mother walking us around. Because next semester we will be in Grade 1. Mom said she would let us walk to school ourselves. I feel like I've grown up not having to have my mom take me to school. But when I look at Anta

I thought she thought the same thing. But instead, he walked slowly. Not as cheerful as if my mother came along.

“Is something wrong, Anta, why aren't you singing today?” I asked curiously, but I was secretly glad that I didn't have to listen to that song.

It's nothing. I just want my mother to walk to school together. Mother didn't come and didn't know who to sing to. I know you don't like listening to the songs I sing.

I smiled with all my heart. It's not like that. She cries every day and doesn't see any change in her voice. You teach many songs.

Well, we like this song the most. But it's okay, we won't cry today because Mom isn't here. No need to smile, Andaman.

"Pencil, pencil, for writing dreams. There are only bright days, there are only happy days. Pencil, pencil." The pencil song sounded in my head. Even if you don't cry, help me, help me, get the pencil out of my head, pencil, pencil, write your dreams.........

"Have you come already? Hello, Anta Andaman." The voice of the teacher standing in front of the school greeted us.

Today there is a drawing and coloring activity on the topic. The friend I love the most I don't hesitate to draw Anta. Drawn while you were sleeping and walking to school together. I would like to write more about her. But at that time I was not good at reading and writing.

I secretly looked at Anta's picture. I'm secretly a little disappointed that Anta didn't draw a picture of me. The friend I love the most So who is the person in the picture?

“Who did Anta draw a picture of? Why does he look strange, with long ears and squatting?” I asked, wanting to know who Anta's favorite friend was.

"Oh, this isn't a person. This is Maru, the dog at Nianta's house." She smiled and laughed happily.

At first I was going to draw Andaman. But Andaman was already a man when we grew up. Andaman and we might get married.

-From a place of disappointment It turned out that my heart swelled and I was very happy.

Today we walked back to the house together. Holding hands together, singing loudly

"Pencil, pencil, for writing dreams, only bright days, only happy days, pencil, pencil"

Returning home, I told my mother this story. Mother laughed and said, “Did Anta say that?”

And then the day we were waiting for arrived. Anta and Andaman enter Grade 1 You and I normally walk to school together. But today she doesn't sing anymore. It wasn't that she didn't want to sing, she might have forgotten. But it's good, I secretly thought in my heart. We were in the same room, Grade 1/2.

There are three sections in total. Prathom 1/1 rooms are the rooms where students do the best. Anta said that next year she will be in the Prathom 2/1 room. Will Andaman go with her?

There was no response. We walked all the way to school.

“Hello, Andaman Anta. We walked together from Kindergarten until Grade 1,” said the voice of a male teacher standing in front of the school.

From the time we used to eat together and sleep next to each other, Anta went to eat with female friends. As for me, I went to eat with my male friends because I was going to play football on the field after I finished eating. As for the times, even though they sat next to each other, their backs were to each other. She talks to her friends, I talk to my friends. As for the walk back, I told her that I would play football on the field. Let her go home first.

As time passed, I entered 2nd grade. We still walk to school together. But not the sounds of talking and music from kindergarten.

“Pencil, pencil, for writing dreams, only bright days, only happy days, pencil, pencil” still rings in my head.

This year we didn't sit next to each other. Anta received good grades in the exam and was promoted to grade 2/1. As for me, I'm still in grade 2/2 as usual.

Greeting words from male and female teachers, the same sentences since kindergarten. We separated and walked in different directions.

She went to see her friend. I went to see my friend When it's time to line up to salute the national flag So we could see each other's faces because our rooms were next to each other.

“Today, Anta goes home first. We are going to play football with friends.”

I didn't think at all that How long have you been saying this sentence? Until the listener may be fed up.

It rained this morning. The walkway was soaked with rainwater. She opened her umbrella and waited for me in front of the house. As for me, I don't use an umbrella. Being a man, carrying an umbrella to school is not cool at all. When I left the house there was still an umbrella. Once it was out of my mother's line of sight, she put it in her bag.

“Andaman, do you know what day it is today?” Anta returned to her neutral expression.

"I can't remember what day it was." No matter how much I tried to remember, I couldn't.

“Today is Anta's birthday. Please come to our house in the evening and tell your aunt.”

“Alright, we'll tell Mom. But Anta, what gift do you want?” My shirt was soaked with rainwater.

I still secretly remember the pencil song. In kindergarten she used to sing while walking to school. What happened? Why doesn't she have it? Or you've grown up I think it's a nursery rhyme. I really wonder?

“Mom, I thought I would buy Anta a pencil as a birthday present.”

“Good, child. I remember Anta liked to sing pencil, pencil.”

When it's time to blow out the birthday cake The Happy Birthday song rang out. All the lights in the house were off. The birthday person blows out candles, his cheeks are puffy, his eyes are puffy.

Mouth twitched, he asked for some blessing. A light flashed on. Anta's mother cuts the cake and shares it with her friends. who attended the birthday celebration

“Mother, a gift to give Anta La,” my voice rose.

“It's in my bag. I almost forgot.” Mom reached into her bag and handed it to me.

“Happy birthday, Anta,” she smiled narrowly, her cheeks a bright red contrasting with her smooth white skin.

“Please open it after I get home, Anta.”

I think Anta will really like it. Maybe tomorrow you'll come back and sing the pencil song to me again.

That night, I slept well. In the dream, we walked to school together. And most importantly, she sings

"Pencil, pencil, for writing dreams, only bright days, only happy days, pencil, pencil" I'm happy but it's just in a dream.

Take a quick shower, wash your face, brush your teeth, eat, and get dressed for school.

Today the weather is clear, no rain, there is a light and cool breeze blowing in the morning. But I just noticed her face

"Anta, what's the matter? As for the present you gave, do you like it?"

Silence takes over Even the leaves did not move. Did I do something wrong? It means that Anta must not like the pencil that we bought for him. What happened? Since she stopped singing pencil songs There must be something to it, Anta, please tell me. I can only speak in my heart

The day passed and it was the last day of school. We hadn't seen each other in a long time when we were in class. Anta is still in the same room, Prathom 3/1, while I didn't get good grades in the exam, so I was dropped to Prathom 3/3.

From what I have seen Anta when lining up to salute the national flag. Now there is no more There was only time to walk to school together in the morning.

Next year, mother said that Anta will transfer to another school. Because it will be easier for you to enter the provincial high school entrance exam. And Anta is smart and should go to a famous school. I let many years pass. Still wondering about that. I have to ask.

In the morning we walked to school together as usual. Greetings from teachers since we were in Kindergarten until now we are in Grade 3.

“Hello Anta Andaman, these two come together all the time.”

School is out today. I didn't tell Anta to go back first. But she's gone back. Probably thought that I would be staying and playing football with my friends as usual. I saw his back swaying, so I hurriedly ran after him.

“Wait, wait, Anta, come back.” The owner of the name turned around with doubt.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know we'd go back together." She looked a little guilty.

We walk together With a quiet atmosphere But inside my heart was restless like there was a fire inside.

“Let me ask you something. We have been wondering for a long time.” My voice was a mixture of fear and courage. With her nod

“Why don't you sing pencil songs again? And another thing on my birthday last year. We bought her a gift of a pencil. The other day, she didn't seem to want to talk to me. I'm really curious. Please tell us, Anta." My expression was serious, wanting to know and relieve my doubts.

The sound of laughter rang out. Oh, this is the story.

“We don't sing pencil songs because our dog, Maru, ate a pencil and it stabbed her windpipe and died. When we sing a pencil song It reminded me of Maru. As for the birthday present, Anta really liked it. The color was beautiful, but it was a pencil. It reminded me of Maru. But now Anta has come to terms with it. Also, next year we will go up to grade 4.

I'm going to switch to using a pen." Laughter sounded again.

Everything resolved after many years of doubt. Maru actually ate a pencil and died.

“Is Anta really going to transfer schools?”

“If you pass the exam, you must go.”

The two of us walked home together. We made eye contact and smiled…………….until the front of the house and parted ways along the way.

"Pencil, pencil, for writing dreams, only bright days, only happy days, pencil, pencil"

................................Bye bye Pencil Next year we will be able to use pens...........................