Tales of memories

Translation from "Souvenirs souvenirs"

7 – A modeler

- This is the day! The boy said to himself, coming in the shop.
- Oh, you're here again, the seller said. He recognized him.

The employee took a great box from the storehouse. The boy put slowly on a table some change, made with a lot of small coins. He was saving money from his pocket for several months to buy this present.

- That's it, the seller said, counting the money. Thank you my boy and enjoy yourself!
- Thank you Sir.

The boy couldn't wait anymore. Going back to his house, he looked in his bag once again. The box, some paintings, some brushes, all was here. He will start as soon as he would be back home.

He lived in one of these great suburbs, like any suburbs which existed at this time on Earth. His house, a standard-model, manufactured by a huge factory, was built with its little garden. It was an ordinary 40 square meters living area.

- I'm back, he said closing the door behind him.
- How was today? A female voice answered from the kitchen.
- I've bought another model.

He ran to his house and threw away all items on his desk. This box wasn't an ordinary present, it claimed some extra room. He started to work on it immediately.

- So, the third gun turret goes on this base, he said with a smooth voice.

With some glue, this turret was over. Painting and last details would come later, but this ship was great, even now. The model was at last 60 centimetres length, and it was said it was the most difficult to achieve.

But he did it, easily, in a short time. Soon, he started to paint it with attention. He was so precise in his work he decided to make some false rusts on the hull.

- That's look real, he said to himself.

A week later, it was time to show it to his mother. The model was over, fine on his black pedestal. The warship had all its turrets, its masts, its grey and red painting.

The boy took his precious ship and showed it. His mother wasn't very surprised with the high quality of the model. Only the time of work, one week, amazed her.

- You broke your last record, Yattaran, she said. Did you do all this in one week only?
- Yes, mum. This was an easy one… for me!
- What is the name of this ship? I'm sure I've seen it before.
- It's the Yamato battle cruiser, mum. You know, this ship was sent all far in the galaxy.
- Yes, I see.

Never his mother told him that his father died on one of these space ships, during one passed war. But, his husband wasn't a navy recruit. He was only an assistant on a cargo space ship. But, the war took his life.

- Dad would like it, doesn't he?

She looked at the ground and held her breath for a few seconds. She was thinking about what to say.

- Of course he does. Sure. We'll show it when he'd be back from Heavy Melder. He must achieve his delivery first, you know.
- Yes, but where's Heavy Melder? Yattaran Asked.
- Far, far away.

The oven rang, dinner was hot and it was time to eat something. Yattaran's mother ran to the kitchen to take the meal and hide her sadness.

They used to live in peace on Earth. If only this quite simple life could survive.

Yattaran was playing with his new battleship. The Spaceship Yamato was so great, so powerful!