Sixty-Five
The al had concluded, everyone satisfied. My father was leaning back on his cushion, another glass of whiskey in his hand, while my mother was talking animatedly to Shaeula and Aiko, waving her hands around. “… you know, I always thought that Aki would get married to Eri-chan, since they were always close as kids, but now a strong new rival has arrived. Shaeula, dear, can you tell more about yourself, if you are going to join the family…”
“Mom, you are embarrassing Eri-chan…” Aiko hissed, looking at her friend who was hiding her red face with her hands.
Yeah, mom still can’t handle her drink, unlike father. Ironic, considering British people were supposed to be far better drinkers than the Japanese… I eyed the beer cans lying empty beside her. Never mind embarrassing Eri-chan, I’m feeling pretty shad myself… having my mother insisting to their faces they should be my romantic partner must have been torture for the poor girls, it certainly was for !
As I tried to think of a tactful way to stop her, my father spoke. “So, son. I think we have sothing else to discuss.” He sounded serious, so I unconsciously sat up straight.
“Yes father?”
“Aiko now has her passport, as you suggested, but just where were you planning to take her? If it is a business trip, it is surely unprofessional to have family along. If you are now finally reaping the benefits of your hard work, it would be a sha to spoil it now, would it not?”
At his firm advice everyone else had stopped talking, rely looking at in silence. Well, all except Shaeula, who is ignoring the mood and is still drinking…
“Well, yes it is business. Shaeula and I have so tasks to complete, though it should still leave plenty of ti for leisure. But you know, I thought I’d be a good chance for Aiko to see what travelling abroad is like, since it isn’t like we’ve had much opportunity unfortunately.”
At that Aiko raced over and pulled into a hug. “Thanks big bro. you’re the best brother a girl could want.”
“I know I am, but please… get off…” I flushed as I pushed away my clingy sister, who chuckled and told to not be so embarrassed.
“But that still hasn’t told us where we are going, big bro. Okinawa or sowhere similar I’m guessing?”
“Well actually… Las Vegas. You know, the USA?”
At that everyone went silent, and Aiko’s face fell, Eri-chan suddenly looking as if she was going to burst into tears. The hell? I don’t get it…
Shaeula, once more not reading the atmosphere, frowned. “Is there sothing wrong with this Las Vegas-Vegas? Everyone seems rather downcast.”
“it’s not that, dear.” My mom said to Shaeula. “Las Vegas isn’t… exactly cheap, you know.”
“Wow, Yeah…” My sister said mournfully. “Sorry big bro, but I thought that I could talk you into taking Eri-chan along. We used to go on trips together as a family all the ti before you moved to Tokyo, so I thought I’d be really nice if she could co with us, just like old tis… but…” she trailed off, and Eri-chan took over.
“I’m sorry big brother. It was selfish of . I can’t afford such a trip…”
Ugh, this atmosphere, it was supposed to be a happy reveal… I was silent as I considered the options. I could certainly spare the cash, my luck on the train ride in alone would more than cover it with significant spare funds, but would it be appropriate to travel with Eri-chan, considering she was a young girl not yet out of school…
Seeing my silence everyone else grew more despondent, my father shaking his head, my mother patting Eri-chan on the shoulder comfortingly.
“I fail to see the issue here-here.” Shaeula broke in again, reaching for the nearly empty bottle of whiskey. As she poured herself another glass she grinned. “Akio here can easily support the cost. Such matters are trivial to him-him. I for one see no problem in having Eri accompany us.”
“Really, it’ll really be fine big bro?” Aiko was giving puppy-dog eyes, the look of hope in them almost painful.
“Yeah, why not, whatever. I can and the reservations I’ve made and book the flights. I guess it would be good to have Eri-chan there so Aiko isn’t causing trouble all alone…” I an, I would have invited Eri-chan were it not for the fact that she’s of an age where being out unsupervised with a guy, even one as gentlemanly as , really isn’t appropriate… But since everyone seems to think it’s not an issue…
“Wow, rude much! I never cause trouble!” Aiko pouted, a broad grin across her face.
“Are you really sure?” Eri-chan asked, and I reassured her.
“Don’t worry about it. If I couldn’t do it I’d say so. Like my troubleso sister said, we always used to go to the beach together when we were young, right? Besides, you’ve never been abroad either, have you? You might as well make the most of this chance.”
“Ohohoho, and just where is our invite? Or do you only want the young and cute with you? I sll a Las Vegas wedding in the air!” my mother interjected slyly.
As Eri-chan went bright red yet again, hiding her face, I looked at my mother with exasperation. “Co on mom. You lived abroad for years, and father travelled for work. Aiko and Eri-chan haven’t been out of Japan, and I barely rember my childhood in Britain. Maybe next year we can all go together, if things are still going well for ?”
“Are you really sure about this?” My father asked again, and I t his steely gaze.
“I am. I work to make money to look after my family, don’t I? Now that work is finally paying off, we might as well enjoy it.”
“You hear that Eri-chan?” Aiko was extrely excited. “Wow. We are off to Arica. USA woooooo! We have so much to pack. We’ll have to buy stuff too. Wow, I hope we have enough money. Your parents’ll be okay with this right…”
As Aiko overran Eri-chan with her enthusiasm, my father proceeded to lecture about not letting fun interfere with my work and lose the montum I’d built up, as well as making sure to keep my sister, Eri-chan and Shaeula out of trouble. I nodded along, agreeing.
Once everything had settled down, I looked out the window. The sun was dipping below the horizon, the evening drawing in.
“That reminds . It’s ti to go visit the shrine. You coming, Shaeula?”
As Shaeula went to stand, Aiko grabbed her arm. “Oh no you don’t. You can go alone big bro, Shaeula is going to stay here with and Eri-chan. We’ll have a nice long girls talk, all right?”
“If Akio is fine with that-that, I would be happy to stay and talk with you.” she acquiesced.
“Fair enough. I can handle our business myself.”
“All right then. Co on Shaeula, Eri-chan. Let’s have a bath first and then get ready for a fun night of gas and chatting! No sleep until dawn!” she looked at one last ti. “Oh, and no flirting with young girls, okay big bro? When you have two flowers waiting for you here, picking more is really bad!”
I waved away her inane comnts and headed out, leaving our small house and heading out into the hot evening, listening to the quiet noises of the rural wilds, cicadas chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. It didn’t take too long to reach the shrine, which was further up the mountain from the side street where we lived. The Torii gate was faded, the ceremonial ropes looking tired and frayed, and the two statues of the kami of the shrine were as worn as I rembered.
Ugh, I hate dogs. I’ve never really got over that ti one attacked Eri-chan and Aiko. No-one ever did own up to whose dog it was… it was pretty big and well-fed for a stray… reminiscing about the past I reflexively touched my abdon, where a set of faded scars remained where the wild dog had mauled as I tried to fight it off, shielding Eri-chan and my sister from harm. There had been blood everywhere and Eri-chan was hysterical. Still, I rember standing tall and smiling as if it didn’t hurt, reassuring them both everything was okay. Thinking about it, that was probably the most heroic I’ve ever been until recently… damn, after it ran off we never did see that dog again…
Putting aside those mories I mounted the steps, passing under the arch to Chairoakitara shrine, dedicated to the brown dog of the mountains. As I crested the steps, pleased at no longer feeling out of breath like I used to, I ca across a young girl sweeping the steps in a shrine maiden outfit, using a traditional bamboo brush. When she saw she hurried over, her brownish pigtails swinging.
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