I

An origami bird lay still. An old clock on the table, a hat and a coat hanged on the wall, a crumpled sketch of a family, smiling. All seemed well with the sun beaming down and itself smiling. A suitcase lay open on the floor, ready to take leave.

A hand grabs the family picture by the frame, wrapping it carefully in a cloth of white linen. Placing the picture frame inside the suitcase, delicately, it was now finally ready for a long journey. A hand rests on the suitcase, heavy with reluctance. A warm touch of another questions this journey, but he seems adamant though sorrow fills him. His eyes tell this. Behind him, a crumpled sketch of a family, his family. In silence they understood.

As light from the living room crept inside, the little girl is awoken from her sleep and gives a big yawn. Eating her breakfast, she notices the suitcase on the floor. She knows her father is leaving. She continues to finish her breakfast. Father wears his favorite black hat, mother slips on a scarf, and the little girl puts on a beanie while mother fixes her coat. With all her might, the little girl helps carry the big suitcase for her daddy. She wants to help all she can.

The three walk slowly in front of their house. The three pace slowly still.

The little girl looks up to her father, her eyes betray her as she tries to put on a brave face. She then looks down knowing nothing she can say or do could break daddy's resolution. Only her hand grips her fathers' more tightly. From a distance, the masses start to gather as a train bellows.

Before departing, the man opens his hat to reveal an origami bird. The man gives it to his daughter and tells her that all will be well. They hug. His wife tries to hold in her tears but lets them fall as they embraced. The man then whispers that all will be well. As the train moves slowly, they all held hands for one last time and they eventually depart. Bereaved from a husband and a father, the mother and the little girl knew that all will be well. The billowing black smoke from the leaving train bids them farewell.


(Narrated with reference to The Arrival by Shaun Tan)