On November 7th, we had a morning assembly for Grades 1 to 3. The kindergarten senior class was also supposed to join. I was thinking about what to talk about, and finally I decided to read a picture book.

This week, more than two weeks after the assembly, several students suddenly asked me:

“What happened to Mary?”

“Did you always dislike your father?”

I have given many talks at morning assemblies, but this was the first time students asked me questions afterward, so I was very surprised.

So today, I would like to introduce the picture book I read again. I hope you can also talk about it at home.

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“Goodbye to Merry”

When I was in Grade 1, my family had a dog named Merry.

Merry was very smart and very cute.

Every day after school, I played with him.

We played ball, we ran together, and we had a great time.

But one day, something sad happened.

Some Grade 2 boys threw stones at Merry.

They threw stones again and again.

Merry was usually very quiet and kind.

But this time he was scared and could not stop himself.

He bit one boy on the leg.

The boy cried a lot and ran home.

The next day, the boy’s mother came to school.

She said, “My child was bitten by the dog! Please take responsibility!”

At that time, my father was the principal of that school.

He apologized to the mother and said,

“We will give the dog away.”

That evening, my father told me,

“Merry will be taken by someone from the next village tomorrow.”

I was very surprised and said,

“Why? Merry is my family! He is like my little brother!”

But my father said nothing.

The next day, a man from the next village came.

He took Merry away.

Merry pushed his feet on the ground because he didn’t want to go.

I cried louder than ever in my life.

Merry looked like he was crying too.

After that day, I disliked my father for a long time.

But now…

I am the principal of AMICUS.

I can understand a little of how my father felt.

I think my father was also very sad.

But he had to take responsibility as an adult.

My father passed away more than 30 years ago.

But if I could meet him again, I would say:

“Dad, I’m sorry. And thank you.

I will never forget Merry.

And I will never forget you.”

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Picture books are special because everyone can imagine the story in their own way.

After the assembly, some students asked me:

“What happened to Merry after that?”

Maybe they felt sorry for me and wanted to understand my feelings.

Some asked, “Did you dislike your father for a long time?”

Maybe they wanted to know what happened between me and my father after that day.

This was my first picture book—and probably my last.

It is only my memory written as a story.

But I was very happy that students were thinking deeply and trying to feel the feelings of the people in the story.