#小卖部的小音响

Under the shade by the construction site, I zone out

The construction site is still just him today, working away happily. I spot a patch of open space in the shade that I’m quite satisfied with. After sitting down, I start resting my chin on my hand again with my legs crossed, enjoying this rare moment. The sky is so blue; sigh, I should bring a lounge chair next time; hmm, when it gets hotter, there will surely be plenty of mosquitoes, maybe bring a cattail leaf fan; wait, might as well set up a small table to brew some tea, have some watermelon; yes, maybe add some cold dishes, peanuts, and melon seeds, a speaker to play some tunes; seems like a projector for outdoor movies wouldn’t be half bad... absolutely perfect!

A plane flies over, dragging a long tail pointing toward the sun. The sunset is so beautiful. I look at the man mixing concrete; he has no intention of looking up. Watching how absorbed he is, I momentarily lose myself, recalling scenes of playing in the mud as a child—lost in a world of my own imagination, finding joy in creating, and if there were others on the same path, I’d be cheering with excitement, even though it was just a pile of sand and water. It has indeed been a very, very long time since I truly immersed myself in something; that feeling is truly long-lost.

He looks like a fearless explorer-creator; he would toil in the fields, alertly surveying the land with a handy weapon, yet he always seems to walk within his own river, aiming for the distant peaks, I think. Could he be a pioneer gold prospector in the modern world? I imagine everyone as indigenous to the land, yet nomadic among the clouds. Wait, who am I?

Realizing it’s a dream, I open my eyes, but the sunset is gone and the twilight has faded. Staring at it just now made me feel increasingly dizzy; I actually had a fantastical dream of another world. This place is really quiet and suitable for resting, time to head back. As I stand up and stretch, I steal a glance and am stunned—why is this person still there? I look closer, and his face seems to have a faint glow, sparking and flickering, even though the surroundings are dim and lightless. What a strange person, strange place, strange event; I need to leave immediately. Then he turns his head, but everything looks normal. I tap my forehead and mutter to myself, must be seeing things or still half-asleep, what a false alarm. Seeing him notice me, I prepare to wave a greeting to signal my departure, when he suddenly transforms into a beast with glowing eyes and lunges at me.

Ah! I scream, waking up with a start, finding myself clutching the bedsheet in terror. Outside the window is a bright, white sky; sigh, it was a nested nightmare after all. It’s been several days, but I still can’t forget the images from the dream. It hints at everything so starkly. I look toward the farmland by the river and the forest in the distance. On my way home, I don't know if it's the morning sun being too bright, but I feel my eyes glowing. Pushing the door open, the hoe hanging on the wall is pointed straight at me. I take it and instinctively mimic a few motions in the air; it feels surprisingly natural. Maybe I should plant something, I think. That night, I had another dream, a dream where I transformed into a hound, stepping into the forest to search for wild grasses to weave into a spring wreath. Today, at the construction site, I wave the hoe and think, I can make this dream come true. 

Video Cover: The mascot for the JR East (railway company) transport card Suica (Suica Penguin)

Video Audio: Волкодав (Wolfhound) - Мельница (Melnitsa band)