Stories that land

Yamamoto and the note from his mom

Back from swim practice, Yamamoto found a message from his busy mother. She had left him money for something to eat.

Before the story

Comedian Yamamoto (アンバランス・山本) recalls how he and his mother left each other notes when their schedules didn’t line up.

Back from swim practice

Yamamoto here. I grew up with just my mom. We used to write to each other a lot—we kept missing each other at home.

I came back from swim practice and found a note on the desk:

“Sorry, Eiji. Mom was busy today and couldn’t make you a meal. I’m leaving a 1,000-yen bill, so get yourself whatever you want to eat.”

But I couldn’t find that bill anywhere.

I was getting annoyed. “Forget it.” I opened the fridge, and there was another note:

“The 1,000 yen is up above.”

I opened the freezer, a little apprehensively.

There was a bowl that had been filled right up with water. And at the very bottom, frozen solid in it, was the 1,000-yen bill.

How long was that going to take to thaw?

I was starving…

Two illustrated men in dark jackets against a pale yellow background. The short-haired man on the left wears a red tie and holds a hand near his chest; the man on the right has longer black hair and a white shirt.

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