Book 3: Chapter 1: 22nd of August (Saturday)
It was another Saturday morning, towards the latter half of summer break. Outside the window, I could hear cicadas holding a live concert. I pondered life while eating some rolled omelette with my chopsticks. Generally, during summer break, a weekend basically puts a school-free day on top of your already school-free day, which then creates this feeling like you’re missing out on something. Can’t we just take all of the Saturdays in this 40-day summer break interval as extra holidays after the end of this vacation?
I don’t think it’s that big of a request to make. If a public or national holiday falls on a Sunday, we generally get Monday off, so we technically should get all the Saturdays that happen during summer break—or if that’s too much to ask, at least the Sundays—converted into vacation once summer break ends. Don’t you agree? I considered this idea so much that I brought it up during breakfast.
“You already have an entire month of summer break, and yet you want even more? Is there anything you want to do or something?” My old man seemed astonished in reaction, so I stopped eating and started thinking.
“—No, not really.”
“So why?”
“I just felt like I’m wasting time.”
“That’s youth for you.”
“I don’t think age has anything to do with this.”
“Once you reach my age, you’ll be unable to think of anything to do even if you suddenly get a day off.”