The Picnic Bento at the Park

It was a beautiful, cool spring day in the city of Sakurai, Nara Prefecture. Pretty Lyn, with her light brown hair and bangs, was feeling happy. Sunlight was warming her cozy house. "The weather is perfect! Let’s have a bento picnic!" she declared.

Everyone clapped their hands and cheered. It had been a long, cold winter, and they were very happy to go out again.

The family began to pack. Lyn grabbed a giant reusable shopping bag and started filling it. "Thump, rustle!" She packed a big, patterned picnic mat, tissues, towels, paper plates, plastic spoons, forks, and cups. She even added two open bags of chips.

Linda, with her long wavy brown hair, had an equally important job. She carefully placed four insulated, colorful traditional obento (bento boxes) into her own bag. The boxes were filled with delicious foods like salmon, colorful vegetables, chicken, pickles, and some fresh fruits (whole bananas and oranges).

While the girls finished packing, Star and Pinkysan were ready. Star, the big, handsome Akita Inu from Akita Prefecture, was wearing a very ruffled peach spring dress. Pinkysan, the adult calico cat with her distinct three-color fur (orange, white, and black), was already sitting on Star's back! "We will walk together to the car," Lyn laughed, grabbing her keys. Lyn was going to drive!

They loaded all the bags into the boot of their blue family car. "Okay, everyone! To the car! Picnic time!" Lyn said. Star gave an excited woof: "Picnic! Star help!"

After a smooth drive, the family arrived at their destination. It was a lovely, traditional Japanese garden park. The garden was famous for its specific small arched Japanese wooden bridge, which crossed over a clear pond. They could see dozens of colorful koi fish swimming peacefully in the water.

The park was beautiful. It was filled with long rows and fields of different colored Tulips: red, yellow, orange, and purple. The smell was wonderful. Lyn stopped and closed her eyes. "Sniff, sniff!" "I love the smell of the Tulips!" she said with a big smile.

The blanket is covered with the four open bento boxes, chips, plates, cups, and four bottles of apple juice. Lyn is about to eat a piece of salmon, Linda is having colorful vegetables, and Star and Pinkysan are looking curiously at a whole banana!

The picnic was delicious. The family was very happy to be eating outside. But then, a quiet sound came from the side.

Flap, flap! Rustle! A cheeky brown sparrow-like bird flew down from a branch. It landed very close to Star's bento box. Star had a few pieces of yummy chicken remaining.

"Woof! Woof!" Thump, thump, fast! Star barked loudly! The Akita Inu, wearing her peach dress, started to chase the cheeky bird around the pond. Woof, flap! The bird quickly flew away. Mrow, ha ha! sound effect and music notes. Pinkysan was watching everything from her perch on the blanket. She was laughing, seeing Star chase the bird! "Mrow, ha ha!"

Everyone finished their bento. Linda opened a whole banana with a smile. "Try a banana, Pinkysan!" she said.

Pinkysan looked at the yellow fruit. Her big eyes focused. ""Meow..." She put one paw in front of her face. ""Meow, yuck!"* (thought bubble Banana? with confusing look). Pinkysan just look at the banana because she does not like that fruit.

The picnic was wonderful, but the afternoon sun began to dip low over the distant hills. "Yawns!" Lyn said. "I’m very tired from driving such a long way to the park!"

Lyn lay down on the picnic mat, closing her eyes. Massage! Squeeze, squeeze, soft! Star got a clean white towel and began to give Lyn’s legs a wonderful, strong massage. Woof, mrow, purr!

A few meters away, Linda sat back against the big orange tree trunk. "My goodness! I’m tired too," she whispered. Massage! Purr, purr, purr! Pinkysan sat near Linda’s legs and began to give Linda a soft, purring massage, kneading her paws gently. The two pretty ladies were smiling with their kind, caring pets.

"Its already noon," Linda said, stretching. The family noticed that the golden sun was now a beautiful sunset, coloring the clouds pink, orange, and purple. Glow, shine, bright!

"Time to go home," Lyn said, sitting up with a smile. Everyone quickly started to pack their things. Rustle, fold, click! Star helped carry the empty cups, and Pinkysan balanced the empty chip bag on her head. "We did a good job! It was a good day," Linda added, loading the car.

The family got back into the car and drove home, tired but very happy. It was a wonderful Spring picnic in the garden, filled with bento, chasing birds, bananas, and wonderful family and pet teamwork.