That evening the sun began to set on the village, as the villager's hearts were heavy with anxiety. Knowing what they were possibly going to be faced with had everyone confused and frustrated. The boy, his father, and mother sat having dinner in silence. The boy himself after a rather full day and getting to sit in on a meeting saw his father diplomatically handle the fear that was running rampant within the community. Talking with elders as well as the everyday man about the quickly approaching foreign ships. This inspired something in the boy he felt proud of his father and wanted to become more like him serving the people of the island.
As they continued to eat in silence, the father motioned to the boy that after dinner, they must have a talk. His mother looked up from her dinner at her husband, fearful of what his next words may be. There was no avoiding what was to happen next. After so many years of peaceful living and trade, the fear that everything all may come to an end wreaked havoc across the island. Even in the home of the most diplomatic man, they were forced to face the new realities.
The boy finished his meal as is mother cleared the table with a grim look on her face. The boy's father ushered his son to the open living space and sat him down in front of him. The father proceeded as if it was painful for him to speak, looking at his only son who had brought him much joy. He was nearly 12 years of age with the bone structure of his father and tender heart of his mother. Across the island, village fathers were approaching their sons with the same question the father and boy were about to be asked. His mother stood in the next room listening intently. The hurtful words came to the father sporadic and broken he proceeded. The fathers were forced due to the impending danger of the foreign ships to allow their eldest sons to decide if they wanted to become samurai or stay a villager. The apparent problem with the plan was that if those newly recruited boys were to be samurai, they'd need to be trained. With a day or less till the arrival of the foreign ships, it looked as if they were to be lambs to the slaughter if things got violent. This was a move to appear more prominent and more protected and self-sufficient in dealing with the apparent danger.
The boy's father was still hoping things could be handled diplomatically. There'd be no need for violence, and the young samurai would be saved. They may even find new people to trade with or even an ally. This was the best-case scenario. Worst case, the island would be taken over, villagers slain or enslaved, and it could only continue to get worse within these extreme outcomes. The father looking at his boy posed the question. By holding out a hammer, which was a symbol for creating and mending the homes they lived in and developing a future on the island for villagers today and tomorrow. In his other hand, he held a sheath samurai sword from the father of his father, who for many years sat hidden away and rarely seen.
The boy looked at both items held out by his father. At his age and understanding of the situation, he couldn't really fathom what his choice may genuinely mean. His mother did, and as she heard her husband deliver the question, she held her breath for the answer. The boy looked at the hammer he had seen this many times before it was solid iron a bit rusty, but genuinely uninteresting. The sword was foreign he'd seen it unsheathed once before and imagined what it would be like to use it imagining a life as a samurai. The boy reached out his hand and chose the sword taking it from his father's side and held it on his own. It was massive, more substantial than he thought, but at the same time easy to manipulate and wield. The father looked at his son's fascination with the weapon, fearful of what he may have to face. His wife let out a cry seeing her son's choice was final; this was the plan.
The fathers of the boys who elected to be samurai were to meet at the temple that night. Their meeting was to see if they had enough to pose as an army. One by one father and son ventured into the temple. Each father who entered had concern written on their faces worried they'd be sending their sons to an early grave. Throughout the boys each wielding his own sword were excited, but soon became informed of their new duties and to the plan they were now a significant part of. As they began to try to outfit the newly drafted samurai with uniforms from years past the eldest man standing alone in the corner of the temple watching felt a shudder in his bones as the foreigners finally reached the island.
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