Several years ago, I was visiting home in Japan when my mother suggested we should buy a new summer hat for me. The one I had worn for many years had gone missing just before my trip.
“A good hat is important to protect your head and eyes from the sun!”
With such enthusiasm, we drove to the nearest shopping mall. After visiting all the stores and checking out every hat we came across, however, we still did not find one that suited me. I was about to settle for some mediocre hat when a tall female mannequin with an elegant summer dress caught my eye. On top of her head was a wide-brimmed brown straw hat.
“Hey, look…” I reached for the hat. “This could be…”’
“Oh!” My mother also looked up. “Why don’t you try it on?”
The moment I wore the hat, my mother’s face lit up. So did mine when I saw myself in the mirror.
“This is perfect!” I exclaimed. “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!”
The funny thing was that the place was a clothes shop and this summer hat was the only hat they carried. That too, more as a decorative item. But that single hat turned out to be the perfect match for me.
Because of the miraculous encounter, my new summer hat became my special favourite.