When fall arrives, the circus comes to Paghman village, one of the few
pleasures for the villagers. Yamo and his friend Mirado are very
excited. Yamo misses his brother, who has gone off to war. Mirado's
father is also away at war. At the circus, the boys browse the vendors,
ride the swings and enjoy the shows. Mirado plays his father's flute
with the circus band and his music moves the people's hearts. When the
circus moves on the next day, Mirado leaves with it. As the villagers
prepare for the severe winter ahead, Yamo thinks about his friend Mirado
and wonders how he is doing. Finally, snow falls. The villagers are
happy, since the snow leads to the next year's harvest. Kobayashi's
illustrations portray the beautiful village life that fall. Then, on the
final page we are stunned to learn: "This winter, my village was
destroyed by the war, and people escaped to other villages." But the
reader is ultimately left with hope, as the springtime announces the
villagers' return.