Kappa and the Cucumber

Pocha was a kappa.

A kappa is a small water boy.

He lived in a river.

The river was in a small village.

The village was in Japan.

It was a quiet place.

The river was small and slow.

The water was clean.

The water was cold.

Pocha lived under the water.

He liked his home.

He liked the water.

He liked the rocks.

He liked the green water plants.

The river was a good home for a kappa.

Pocha was small.

He was as small as a child.

His body was green.

His hands were green.

His feet were green.

He had big eyes.

He had a big mouth.

He had a short tail.

On his head, he had a plate.

The plate was small.

The plate was round.

The plate had water in it.

The water in the plate was important.

With the water, Pocha had power.

Without the water, he was weak.

So Pocha always had water in his plate.

Pocha was a cute kappa.

But people did not see him.

He was a water spirit.

He was a friend of the river.

Fish came to the river.

Big fish and small fish.

Frogs came to the river.

Green frogs and brown frogs.

Birds came to the river.

White birds and black birds.

Pocha looked at them every day.

"Hello, fish," Pocha said.

"Hello, frog," Pocha said.

"Hello, bird," Pocha said.

But the fish did not talk back.

The frog did not talk back.

The bird did not talk back.

They were not his friends.

Pocha was a kappa.

The fish was a fish.

They lived together, but they did not talk.

Pocha had no friends.

But Pocha was not very sad.

Why?

Because he had something good.

He had cucumbers!

Pocha loved cucumbers.

He loved them very, very much.

Cucumbers were his favorite food.

A cucumber is long and green.

A cucumber is good to eat.

A cucumber is cool and fresh.

"Cucumbers are the best!" Pocha said.

"I love cucumbers!"

Pocha said this every day.

He said it many times a day.

Every day, Pocha ate cucumbers.

Where did he get them?

The people in the village gave them to him.

The people were kind.

They were good people.

They knew about Pocha.

They knew kappas like cucumbers.

So they put cucumbers in the river.

Every morning, the people came to the river.

A man came with a cucumber.

"Here, kappa," he said.

He put the cucumber in the water.

The cucumber went down the water.

The cucumber came to Pocha.

A woman came with a cucumber.

"Here, kappa," she said.

She put the cucumber in the water.

The cucumber went down the water.

The cucumber came to Pocha.

A boy came with a cucumber.

A girl came with a cucumber.

An old man came with a cucumber.

An old woman came with a cucumber.

Cucumbers came down the river all day.

Pocha saw them.

He took them.

He ate them.

"Yum, yum, yum!" he said.

"Thank you, people!"

Pocha was very happy.

He had many cucumbers.

He had cucumbers for breakfast.

He had cucumbers for lunch.

He had cucumbers for dinner.

He had cucumbers all day long.

He smiled.

He laughed.

He danced in the water.

Cucumbers made him happy.

But sometimes Pocha looked up.

He looked at the sky.

He looked at the trees.

He looked at the village.

He saw children play.

The children played together.

They ran together.

They laughed together.

They held hands.

They were friends.

Pocha looked at them.

"I want a friend too," he said.

"A friend to play with.

A friend to talk to.

A friend to be with."

But Pocha was a kappa.

And kappas had no friends.

So Pocha looked at his cucumbers.

"It is OK," he said.

"I have cucumbers.

Cucumbers are my friends."

But cucumbers did not talk.

Cucumbers did not run.

Cucumbers did not laugh.

Cucumbers were just food.

Pocha was a little sad.

But he ate his cucumbers.

And he was happy again.

One day, summer came.

The sun was very hot.

The sky was very blue.

The trees were green.

The grass was green.

The river was warm.

It was a very hot day.

Pocha sat in the water.

He looked up at the sun.

"It is hot today," he said.

"I want a cucumber.

A cold, fresh cucumber."

He looked up the river.

He waited.

He waited for a cucumber.

But no cucumber came.

"That is strange," Pocha said.

"Where is my cucumber?"

He waited more.

The sun went up in the sky.

It was hotter and hotter.

Pocha was very hot.

But no cucumber came.

He waited and waited.

The sun went down in the sky.

The day was almost over.

But still, no cucumber came.

"Why?" Pocha said.

"Why no cucumber?

I am hungry.

I want a cucumber.

Please, river, give me a cucumber!"

But the river did not answer.

And no cucumber came.

That night, Pocha did not eat.

He went to sleep hungry.

"Tomorrow," he said.

"Tomorrow, a cucumber will come."

The next day, Pocha woke up.

He looked up the river.

He waited.

But no cucumber came.

"Where are the people?" Pocha said.

"Why do they not give me cucumbers?

Did I do something bad?

Are they angry with me?"

Pocha was sad.

He was very, very sad.

He sat in the water and cried.

"I want a cucumber," he said.

"Please, please, please."

But no cucumber came.

Another day passed.

And another.

And another.

No cucumber came.

Pocha was hungry.

Pocha was sad.

Pocha was lonely.

He had no cucumbers.

And he had no friends.

Pocha sat in the river.

He thought and thought.

"What can I do?" he said.

"I have no cucumbers.

I am very hungry.

I am very sad."

He looked up the river.

"Maybe the cucumbers are up there.

Maybe I can find one.

I will go look for cucumbers."

Pocha was a little scared.

He did not go out of the water very often.

Kappas were water spirits.

They liked the water.

They needed water.

The water in his plate was important.

"But I must try," he said.

"I am too hungry."

Pocha got up.

He walked to the side of the river.

He came out of the water.

He stood on the grass.

The sun was hot.

The wind was warm.

"Hot," Pocha said.

"It is very hot."

He looked around.

He saw the grass.

He saw flowers.

He saw trees.

He saw a path.

The path went into the village.

"Maybe I can go to the village.

Maybe I can find cucumbers there."

Pocha walked on the path.

But he walked slowly.

He was scared.

"What if people see me?

What if they do not like me?

Kappas are not always friends with people.

Some people are scared of kappas."

But Pocha walked on.

He had to find cucumbers.

He had to.

He walked and walked.

The path went between the fields.

The fields were green.

There were many fields.

But Pocha did not see any cucumbers.

"Where are the cucumbers?" he said.

"I want a cucumber.

Just one cucumber."

He walked more.

He was very tired.

He was very hot.

The water in his plate was less now.

"I need water," he said.

"I need to go back to the river soon."

He turned and walked back.

He walked back to his river.

He went into the water.

"Ah, water," he said.

"Good, cold water."

He sat in the river.

He was so sad.

"No cucumber," he said.

"No friend.

Just me."

He put his head in his hands.

And he cried.

Pocha cried and cried.

Big tears came from his eyes.

The tears fell into the river.

"I am so sad," he said.

"I want a cucumber.

I want a friend.

I am all alone."

But then, Pocha heard something.

He heard a soft sound.

It was a small sound.

"What is that?" he said.

He stopped crying.

He listened.

The sound came again.

It was a sad sound.

Someone was crying.

But it was not Pocha.

"Who is that?" Pocha said.

He looked up.

He looked at the side of the river.

There was someone there.

It was a little girl.

A small girl from the village.

She was sitting by the river.

She was crying.

Her hands were on her face.

Tears came from her eyes.

She was very sad.

Pocha was surprised.

"A girl?" he said quietly.

"A little girl is crying.

Why is she sad?"

Pocha looked at her.

She had long black hair.

She wore a red dress.

She was very small.

She was younger than Pocha.

Maybe she was five years old.

Or six years old.

Pocha did not know.

She was crying and crying.

Her tears fell into the river too.

"I want to help her," Pocha thought.

"But she is a human.

What if she is scared of me?

What if she runs away?

What if she screams?"

Pocha hid in the water.

Only his big eyes came out of the water.

He watched the girl.

She did not see him.

She kept crying.

"What can I do?" Pocha thought.

"I want to help.

But I am scared."

The girl said something.

She talked between her tears.

"I want my hat," she said.

"I lost my hat in the river.

My mother made my hat.

It was red and pretty.

But I lost it.

The water took it away.

Now my hat is gone.

And my mother will be sad."

Pocha listened.

"Her hat?" he said quietly.

"She lost her hat in the river?

Maybe I can find it.

Maybe I can help her."

Pocha thought hard.

"I will help her," he said.

"I will find her hat.

But I must be quiet.

She does not need to see me."

Pocha went into the water.

He swam down.

He looked under the water.

He looked here.

He looked there.

He looked everywhere.

He saw fish.

He saw rocks.

He saw water plants.

But no hat.

He swam more.

He went down the river.

He went up the river.

He went left.

He went right.

And then he saw it.

A red hat.

The red hat was on a rock.

A small red hat.

A pretty red hat.

"This is her hat!" Pocha said.

He took the hat.

He swam up.

He came to the top of the water.

The girl was still crying.

Pocha put the hat on a rock.

The rock was near the girl.

Then Pocha hid in the water.

The girl heard a small sound.

She looked up.

She saw the rock.

She saw the hat.

"My hat!" she said.

She got up.

She ran to the hat.

She picked it up.

"My hat! My hat! My hat!"

She was so happy.

She held the hat to her face.

"Thank you, river!" she said.

"Thank you, thank you!"

But then she stopped.

She looked at the water.

She saw two big eyes.

The eyes looked at her.

"Oh!" she said.

She jumped back.

"What is that?"

Pocha was scared too.

He went down in the water.

But the girl was not running away.

She was just standing.

She looked at the water.

"Hello?" she said.

"Who is there?

Hello?"

Pocha did not move.

"It is OK," the girl said.

"I am not scared.

Please, come out.

Did you find my hat?

Thank you so much."

Pocha was surprised.

The girl was not scared.

She was kind.

Slowly, slowly, Pocha came up.

First his head.

Then his eyes.

Then his nose.

Then his mouth.

The girl looked at him.

Her eyes were big.

"You are a kappa!" she said.

Pocha nodded.

"Yes," he said in a small voice.

"I am a kappa.

My name is Pocha.

Do not be scared.

I am a good kappa.

I am not bad."

The girl smiled.

"You are cute," she said.

"You are not scary.

You are like a small green boy.

Hello, Pocha.

My name is Hana."

Pocha smiled too.

"Hana?" Pocha said.

"That is a nice name.

Hana means flower."

"Yes," Hana said.

"My mother gave me my name.

She likes flowers."

Pocha came out of the water a little more.

Now Hana could see his whole face.

"You have a plate on your head," Hana said.

"Yes," Pocha said.

"All kappas have plates.

This plate has water in it.

I need the water."

"That is interesting," Hana said.

"You are so cute.

I have never seen a kappa before."

"People do not see kappas," Pocha said.

"We live under the water.

We do not come out very much."

"Why did you come out today?" Hana asked.

Pocha was quiet for a moment.

"I am very hungry," he said.

"And very sad."

"Why are you hungry?" Hana asked.

"And why are you sad?"

Pocha looked at the water.

"I love cucumbers," he said.

"I love them very, very much.

Every day, the people give me cucumbers.

They put them in the river.

And I eat them.

But not today.

And not yesterday.

And not the day before.

Many days, no cucumber.

I am very hungry.

And I am sad because I have no friend.

I am all alone in the river.

The fish do not talk to me.

The frogs do not talk to me.

The birds do not talk to me.

I have no friend."

Hana looked at Pocha.

Her eyes were sad.

"Oh, Pocha," she said.

"You are alone?

That is so sad.

I am sorry."

"Why do the people not give me cucumbers now?" Pocha asked.

Hana thought for a moment.

"I know!" she said.

"The cucumbers in the village are not ready yet.

It is summer, but the cucumbers come later this year.

The man with the cucumber field said so.

He said his cucumbers grow slowly this year.

Soon, they will be ready.

But not yet."

"Oh!" Pocha said.

"So that is why?

The people are not angry with me?"

"No, no!" Hana said.

"The people love you, Pocha.

They want to give you cucumbers.

But the cucumbers are not ready.

They will give you cucumbers soon."

Pocha was so happy.

"Thank you, Hana!" he said.

"You make me so happy.

Now I know.

The people do not hate me.

The cucumbers are coming.

I just have to wait."

Hana smiled.

"But you are still hungry," she said.

"And you are sad because you are alone."

"Yes," Pocha said.

"That is true."

Hana thought again.

Then she smiled big.

"I have an idea!" she said.

"Come with me!"

"Where?" Pocha asked.

"To find cucumbers!" Hana said.

"I know a small field.

It is not in the village.

It is near the forest.

There are some cucumbers there.

Maybe we can find one for you."

Pocha was so excited.

"Really?" he said.

"You will help me find a cucumber?"

"Yes!" Hana said.

"And then we can be friends.

You can be my friend.

And I can be your friend.

Do you want to be friends, Pocha?"

"Yes!" Pocha said.

"Yes, yes, yes!

I want to be friends!"

Pocha came out of the water.

He stood on the grass.

Hana looked at him.

"You are so small," she said.

"You are not much taller than me.

You are like my little brother."

Pocha laughed.

"And you are my new friend," he said.

"My first friend."

Hana put on her red hat.

"Let us go!" she said.

"The field is this way."

She walked.

Pocha walked next to her.

They walked together.

The sun was hot.

But there was a small wind.

The wind was nice.

Pocha was happy.

He had a friend now.

A real friend.

He had a friend to walk with.

He had a friend to talk with.

This was a new feeling.

A good feeling.

"This way!" Hana said.

She walked on a small path.

The path went between the trees.

The trees were big and green.

Pocha looked up.

"The trees are so tall!" he said.

"I do not see trees like this in the river."

"Yes," Hana said.

"The trees are nice.

They give us cool shade."

They walked more.

Pocha asked many questions.

"What is that tree?" he asked.

"That is a pine tree," Hana said.

"What is that flower?" he asked.

"That is a sunflower," Hana said.

"What is that bird?" he asked.

"That is a small brown bird," Hana said.

Pocha was happy.

He learned many new things.

Hana was a good friend.

She told him many things.

"Hana," Pocha said.

"Yes?" Hana said.

"Why were you crying by the river?"

Hana looked down.

"I was scared," she said.

"My mother made me a red hat.

She made it for me last week.

I love my hat.

But today I went to the river.

And I bent down to look at the fish.

And my hat fell off.

The water took it away.

I was so sad.

My mother worked hard to make it.

And I lost it.

I was scared to go home without it.

That is why I was crying.

But then you found it!

Thank you so much, Pocha.

You are a good friend."

Pocha smiled.

"I am happy I could help," he said.

They walked more.

They walked over a small hill.

They walked past a big rock.

They walked across a small bridge.

Pocha was getting tired.

"Are we almost there?" he asked.

"Almost," Hana said.

"Just a little more.

Look! There is the field."

Pocha looked.

He saw a small field.

The field was green.

Many plants were in the field.

Long green plants with big leaves.

And on the plants...

Cucumbers!

Long green cucumbers!

Many, many cucumbers!

Pocha's eyes got big.

"Cucumbers!" he said.

"Cucumbers, cucumbers, cucumbers!"

He jumped up and down.

"Look at all the cucumbers!"

Hana laughed.

"You love cucumbers, do you not?" she said.

"Yes!" Pocha said.

"I love them so much!

Can I have one?

Just one?

Please, please?"

Hana looked at the field.

"Hmm," she said.

"This is not my field.

But I know the man who has this field.

He is my uncle.

His name is Mr. Tanaka.

He is a good man."

"Will he be angry?" Pocha asked.

"If I take a cucumber?"

"No," Hana said.

"Wait here.

I will go and ask him.

His house is right there."

Hana pointed to a small house.

"OK," Pocha said.

"I will wait here."

But Pocha was so hungry.

And the cucumbers were so close.

And so green.

And so fresh.

He went near a cucumber plant.

He looked at a big cucumber.

"Oh, you are so nice," he said to the cucumber.

"I want to eat you so much."

But he did not take it.

He waited for Hana.

Soon, Hana came back.

And with her was a man.

The man was old.

He had a big smile.

"Hello there, little kappa!" he said.

"My niece told me about you.

She says you are very hungry.

She says you love cucumbers."

Pocha was a little scared.

He hid behind Hana.

"Do not be scared," Mr. Tanaka said.

"I am not angry.

I am happy you came.

I know the people put cucumbers in the river for you.

But this year, the cucumbers in their gardens are not ready.

My cucumbers are ready.

You can have some!"

Pocha came out from behind Hana.

"Really?" he said.

"Yes, really!" Mr. Tanaka said.

"Take all the cucumbers you want!

I have many.

Take ten! Take twenty!"

Hana laughed.

"Pocha, look!" she said.

"You can have all these cucumbers!"

Mr. Tanaka picked a big cucumber.

He gave it to Pocha.

Pocha held the cucumber.

It was cool.

It was green.

It was perfect.

He ate it.

"Mmm!" he said.

"So good!

So good, so good, so good!"

He ate one cucumber.

Then he ate another.

And another.

And another.

He ate fast.

He ate happy.

He ate with a big smile.

Cucumber after cucumber.

Mr. Tanaka and Hana watched and laughed.

"This little kappa really loves cucumbers!" Mr. Tanaka said.

"I have never seen anyone eat like this!"

Hana laughed and laughed.

"Pocha, slow down!" she said.

"The cucumbers are not going anywhere!"

But Pocha did not slow down.

He was so happy.

After many cucumbers, Pocha was full.

"Thank you, Mr. Tanaka," he said.

"Thank you so much.

I am full now.

I am so happy."

"You are welcome, Pocha," Mr. Tanaka said.

"And Hana, take some cucumbers home too.

For your mother."

Mr. Tanaka gave Hana a bag.

The bag had many cucumbers.

"Thank you, uncle!" Hana said.

Pocha looked at Hana.

"Hana," he said.

"Yes?" Hana said.

"You are my friend.

My first friend.

I am so happy.

Thank you, Hana.

Thank you, Mr. Tanaka.

Thank you, cucumbers."

He laughed.

Hana laughed too.

The sun was going down.

The sky was orange and pink.

"It is late," Hana said.

"I must go home.

My mother is waiting for me."

"Oh," Pocha said.

"You have to go?"

"Yes," Hana said.

"But Pocha..."

"Yes?"

"Can we be friends?

Can we meet again?"

Pocha's eyes were big.

"Yes!" he said.

"Yes, please!

I want to see you again.

You are my best friend, Hana.

My only friend."

Hana smiled.

"You are my friend too, Pocha.

Let us meet at the river.

Every day, after my work.

I can come to the river.

We can talk."

"Yes!" Pocha said.

"Yes! I will wait for you every day!"

Hana said goodbye to Mr. Tanaka.

"Thank you, uncle.

Thank you for the cucumbers."

"You are welcome," Mr. Tanaka said.

"Come back soon.

And bring your kappa friend!"

Hana and Pocha walked back together.

They walked over the small bridge.

They walked past the big rock.

They walked over the small hill.

They came back to the river.

The river was nice in the evening.

The water was cool.

The birds were going to sleep.

"Here is the river," Hana said.

"This is your home."

"Yes," Pocha said.

"This is my home.

Will you really come back tomorrow?"

"Yes!" Hana said.

"I will come back.

I promise.

I will come every day."

Pocha was so happy.

"And I will be here," he said.

"I will wait for you.

And we can talk.

And we can play."

Hana took something from her hat.

It was a small flower.

A small white flower.

"Here," she said.

"Take this flower.

This is a present from me.

This is for our friendship."

Pocha took the small flower.

He held it in his small green hand.

"Thank you, Hana," he said.

"I will keep this forever.

And I have something for you too."

He went into the water.

He came back with something.

It was a small, smooth stone.

The stone was round.

The stone was pretty.

It had nice colors.

"This stone is from my river," Pocha said.

"Take it.

This is from me to you."

Hana took the stone.

"It is so pretty!" she said.

"Thank you, Pocha.

I will keep it forever too."

She held the stone in her hand.

She smiled at Pocha.

"Goodbye, Pocha," she said.

"See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Hana," Pocha said.

"See you tomorrow."

Hana walked away.

She walked back to the village.

She waved her hand at Pocha.

Pocha waved back.

He watched her go.

She got smaller and smaller.

Then she was gone.

Pocha went into the water.

He sat in the cool water.

He looked at the sky.

The stars came out.

One by one, they came out.

He held the small flower in his hand.

"Hana," he said.

"My friend.

My first friend.

Thank you."

He smiled.

He was not sad now.

He was not lonely.

He had a friend.

A real friend.

And tomorrow she would come back.

And the day after.

And the day after that.

The moon came up.

The moon was big and white.

The moon looked down at Pocha.

"Hello, moon," Pocha said.

"I have a friend now.

Her name is Hana.

She is very kind.

She is very nice.

She is my first friend."

The moon did not answer.

But the moon was bright.

And the night was warm.

And Pocha was happy.

He went to sleep in the water.

He held the small white flower in his hand.

And he dreamed of cucumbers.

And he dreamed of Hana.

Pocha was the happiest kappa in the world.