I’m about fourteen in this memory. Early May, our annual family gathering takes place in a Japanese hot spring resort. I take a long bath with other female relatives, and when we come out, we spend some time cooling down in the changing room.
While older relatives chat on the bench, I walk over to the mirror and start drying my hair. Next to the sink in front of the mirror, I spot a collection of expensive-looking skin care products. They are samples from the gift boutique downstairs. If we use them and like them, we can buy the products at the shop – that’s the idea, but for me, these are simply a great opportunity to try out some luxurious skin care products I never use at home.
I make sure to use all the sample products, starting from the face cleansing oil and ending with the face moisturizer. As I dab a generous amount of moisturizer onto my face, a familiar figure approaches me. It’s my grandmother.
“Oh, look who’s sitting here!” she exclaims, her face red from the long bath. “I didn’t recognize you. Your skin is glowing – I thought it was a princess sitting in front of the mirror!”
Even if it is a joke, her expression is so serious that I cannot help but proudly announce, “It’s because I’ve used these expensive skin care products! You can use them, too, you’ll also become a princess!”
But my grandmother doesn’t believe me. She laughs and compliments me again before heading back to join the others in the bench area. Soon, we all leave the changing room. Our bath time is over.