She sighed again, her round face deflating in a frown. “Did you see all of the new businesses in town?”
“Yeah. I saw a Midori Sankaku is almost open and a popular restaurant that had a line out the door. What does that have to do with Akiko-chan?”
Mom dabbed at her lips with a handkerchief. “About three years ago, the town council got a great idea for revitalizing the businesses here. We have all of this space, what with all of the abandoned farms, but we didn’t know what to do with it. Tajima-san decided to ask a few economists what could be done, and they came up with this plan that has worked in other prefectures.”
I nodded and remembered Shin Tajima, the mayor of Chikata, a perfectly capable and pleasant man who’d been running the city for some time. He’d always lamented that there was nothing he could do to make people stay in the countryside. The city had pulled them in with better jobs and a more modern life, and many of them abandoned farms they couldn’t maintain.
“The neighbors that own abandoned farm land have been selling their land to the town council, and the council has been consolidating it and selling it to Midori Sankaku.”
“Really? What would a grocery store want with land in Chikata?” Midori Sankaku conducted the majority of their business in the cities, with smaller stores in suburbs.
Mom gathered up the empty bowls and placed them on the tray. “They’re building something on the land — a few greenhouses and administration offices. Maybe a warehouse as well. I’m not entirely sure. I stopped going to the council meetings once I decided I wouldn’t need to sell my land to them.”
She rose from the table to bring the dishes to the kitchen, and I followed close behind with the leftover bowls.
“Which pieces of land are being sold off?”
Mom jerked her head in the direction of Akiko’s house. “Everything on that side of the road but Akiko’s family and the one next her, Senahara-san’s land.”
“Daichi Senahara is still alive?” I laughed. “I thought he would have drank himself to death by now.”
Mom’s lips twitched in a crooked smile. “He’s pickled his insides. He could live forever at this point. A few weeks ago, I was coming back from the city, and I saw him pissing in his fields with a saké bottle in his hand. He didn’t even have the decency to cover up his bare butt.”
We both dry heaved dramatically. “Gross.” I paused to clear my head of the awful image. “Huh. I had no idea anything was going on. Akiko-chan and I talk every other week, but she was always so busy, either working or taking care of her father. She came into the city to see me two months ago, and we didn’t talk about the town at all. We gossiped about the weird medical cases she sees in her patients and that guy she was dating for a while, and then she took the last train home.”
“She’s probably been keeping it from you. It’s been a stressful time for her family. Her father didn’t want to sell the land, and the regional manager of Midori Sankaku, Fujita Takahara, has been nagging at them for months.”
I placed the bowls and plates in the dishwasher and turned the water at the kitchen faucet to hot. “Hmmm, I wonder what Tama-chan thinks of this.” I grabbed the yellow sponge, rinsed it out, and wiped down the counters without even asking Mom. When we worked in the kitchen together, we were in sync. She cooked and I cleaned. I hated cooking, and I couldn’t stand most of the traditional dishes she made. It looked like I’d have to sneak in food from the convenience store once I started getting some money of my own.
“I’m not sure. Tama-chan works and travels, and that’s about it. He only came to see his father once a week, if that.”
That didn’t surprise me. I could hear Akiko’s voice, slurred with shochu during our last meet up, complaining about her brother and how he never helped out around the house. But he had been that way forever, so I never gave it more than a passing thought.
Mom grabbed her gardening apron from the hook by the door and placed her hat on her head. “So, if anything, I’m sure the nagging will continue now that Kano-san has passed away.” She grabbed a pair of cutting shears from the cubby next to the door and slipped on her gardening shoes. “I’m going out to pick mizuna. When I come back, we’ll bring food over to Akiko’s house and make sure everything is okay. Then I have a cooking class to teach this afternoon. You should come!”
She slipped out the door and left me in the kitchen.
I took a deep breath as I tossed the sponge in to the sink. Live at home again? Was I crazy?
No, I’d have to return to the city again as soon as possible.
Chapter Four
My mom spent so much time in the fields picking mizuna that she sent me over to Akiko’s house with a gift and an apology. She had to get the greens to the local store before they went bad, and she promised to drop by Akiko’s house later in the evening. I arrived on Akiko’s doorstep with a bundle of mochi rice cakes wrapped in a purple and red furoshiki cloth.
The door opened, and I bowed to Tama, looking like death took him last night and spit him back out that morning. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I wanted to bring you these rice cakes my mother made. I hope you and Akiko-chan are doing okay.”
Tama reached out and took the rice cakes from my hands, but he didn’t step aside to let me in. “I’m doing fine, but Akiko-chan is very upset. I think she hoped our father would live till he was two hundred.” He rubbed at the stubble growing on his cheeks, his eyes rheumy and red. “She just fell asleep for a nap. She was up all night crying after the police left.”
“Don’t bother her then,” I said, waving my hands. “She should get some rest.”
Tama lifted the package of rice cakes. “Thanks for this. Your mom is such a great cook. I’m honored that she would send these to us.”
“Of course. You know she loves you both.” I laughed and raised my eyebrows. “It’s a good thing I didn’t make them. Too bad that gene skipped me by a generation at least.”
Tama smiled and nodded his head. “Remember when we were dating and you tried to make me dinner? I’m just glad we didn’t have to call the fire department.” He laughed as I rolled my eyes at him. That was awkward. I had wanted to impress him since everyone knew my mom held the title of “world-class cook.” But instead, I almost burnt the whole house down. I should have stuck to paints and charcoals.
“Me too. I’m glad the house is still in one piece.” I shuffled back-and-forth on my feet and avoided eye contact with him. I could never forget he had cheated on me and made me the laughing stock of the town. But I needed to put those things behind me so I could help Akiko.
“Anyway, I’ll let Akiko-chan know that you dropped by.”
“Thanks. I’ll give her a call later.”
As I walked down the long driveway away from Akiko’s house, my stomach began to rumble. Since Mom was busy and I couldn’t cook, I decided to head into town to pick up something to eat. The early October sun hung just overhead, and it was a beautiful day to be out for a stroll. I missed this, working in the city. I’d only ever had the time to walk to and from work or walk on the weekends when I ran errands. Our farming neighborhood was only a kilometer from town, and I could make it there in about fifteen minutes.
With the shining and golden rice fields off to my right, I aimed towards town and hit the convenience store next to the gas station before the main strip. I grabbed a sandwich and a drink and paid for it with cash Mom had given me in the morning. True to form, I had no money of my own.
I found a bench in the park next to the town hall and sat down to eat. Since it was the weekend, families lounged on the grass having picnics. Their kids laughed and played while the parents exchanged plastic containers of food and talked. I remembered growing up when this park didn’t exist. The town council had built it when I was in high school. During the year, the park became a focal point for all of the local festivals, including my favorite fall festival that encompassed giant floats, a nighttime party with lit lanterns, and a trip to the Buddhist temple to
the north of us.
My eyes settled on the kids playing with sticks near their parents. Someday, I wanted a family of my own too, and already this one dream remained unfulfilled. I thought it would be easier to meet someone in the city where I’d have more men to choose from, but it was even harder. Most of the guys I worked with were only interested in advancing at their job, staying late, and coming in early to get ahead. No one wanted to date, and after-work drinking parties were the extent of socialization.
For a long moment, I dreamed the kids in the park were my own. I held their hands and swung them around. I called them to the blanket to sit and eat, and I sang songs with them before they ran off to play some more. Concentrating as hard on the daydream as I could, Tama popped onto the blanket next to me, a smile on his face and laughter playing about his lips as our kids ran to him and screamed for Daddy.
“Daddy! Look!” One of the little boys across from me ran to his father with a big piece of bark in his hand.
Nope. These were not my kids. Just a dream. And Tama? Really? He was my old boyfriend, the one who had cheated on me, and I had vowed never to go down that road again. Still, I’d liked the way he smiled at me today, even though he looked awful.
I packaged up my garbage and walked to the center of town. The Midori Sankaku bustled with activity as people inside stocked the shelves and a large banner that read “Coming Soon!” fluttered in the wind over the main door. The new restaurant, Sawayaka, had a small line out the front door and their specials blackboard on the sidewalk boasted of the homemade ramen soup with pork and local fresh greens. My mouth watered as the door opened, and the scents hit me dead in the face. I should’ve saved my money and came here for lunch. I promised to remember to ask my mom about the place. She must know the owner since she was the reigning queen of cooking in this town.
Wandering the main street, I was pleasantly surprised by all I saw around me. A year ago, Chikata had been failing with more businesses boarded up than ever before. Now, a new life had been injected into it. Was this because of the Midori Sankaku and their plans for a greenhouse that Mom told me about? With a new big business in town, more people would come to this area to shop or to work. The town council and mayor had gone well above and beyond duty in trying to revitalize the town. Could I open a business here? Plenty of abandoned buildings remained empty and unused. But what kind of business would work well for me? What would I even sell? I had no idea.
“Mei-chan?”
The voice that came from my right jolted me out of my thoughts.
“Mei-chan, it is you. Wow. I haven’t seen you in years. How are you?”
I froze as I tried to say something appropriate. My old high school rival, Haruka Shinaya, came out of the doorway of an elegantly designed hair salon and bowed to me. Right. This was her family’s salon, both her mother and father worked here as a hair dresser and barber, and now it looked like it belonged to her. Her family had been in Chikata for over a hundred years, and I’d always wondered if Haruka would take over this business someday. She never struck me as the type to stay in our town and cut hair for a living. She’d been the head of our class, beating me out by half a percentage, and naturally gorgeous with her long straight hair and glowing skin. She was the most ambitious person I knew, and I hated her to my core, mainly because I was jealous. Who wouldn’t be? She got to hang out at the hair salon all day while I had worked in the fields before and after school. I had figured she went on after college to become a high-ranking executive in some Tokyo or overseas business, and I’d never see her again. No such luck.
“I’m… good. In town for the weekend.” I swallowed the lie. I would be here forever by the looks of it. “How are you? Looks like the salon is doing well.” I gestured at the window and the chairs occupied, hardwood floors gleaming and brand-new rice paper lanterns lit up along the aisle between stations.
“It is. We remodeled last year, and since we’re close to the station, we get a lot of business.” She smiled at me warmly, and I tried not to shrink away. She hated me in high school. Why was she even talking to me?
“That’s great. I’m sure your family must be proud —” I stumbled over the last word as she lifted her left hand to sweep her bangs out of her face. “Wow. That’s a beautiful ring. Are you married?”
Jealousy burned in my chest. Of course, she was married, probably to a super hot man who’s rich and talented and…
“Engaged,” she said, clearing her throat. I’m glad I hadn’t gotten any further into my imagination. “We’re engaged.”
“Ah, well, congratulations.” I bowed to her to cover up my dumbfounded reaction to something I should have seen ten thousand kilometers away. “That’s excellent news. Who’s the lucky guy?”
Please don’t see how I’m faking this. I want to be a better person than this.
“Oh. You don’t know.”
All the blood drained from my face. How could I know?
“Tama and I are getting married in January.”
My failure was complete. The only way to save myself now was to get back to the city and into the good graces of my landlady, pay my rent, and find a new job. I couldn’t stay here now.
She wrung her hands together at the sight of my obvious discomfort, my face white and brow sweating. “We started dating earlier this year. It’s really kind of funny how it happened…” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, I have to get back inside and rinse someone out. It was good seeing you.” She bowed again, a slight twist of her lips enough to show me she was pleased with herself, and the place she put me in.
Always second best.
Chapter Five
Mom held her cooking classes in a teaching kitchen at the community center on the far side of town, past the police and fire department. She’d been teaching there for nearly twenty years, as long as I can remember and almost as long as Dad had been gone. And though the building had been updated throughout the years, her class always remained the same.
I arrived as the ladies were peeling and chopping, Mom instructing them to cleave the vegetables thicker so they’d cook up evenly once battered and deep fried. Tempura was on the menu today.
Standing outside the door so no one could see me, I took a deep breath and tried to forget the last twenty minutes. I left Haruka's hair salon and wandered about town, wondering what the heck had happened to me the last five years. How did I get so lost when I had it all? I’d done well in high school, had a great college education, an apartment in Tokyo, and a job. Granted, the apartment was the size of a bento box and the job sucked, but I had them. They were mine. Not anymore.
“Mei-chan!” Chiyo, the tiniest woman on the planet, walked to me, her arms wide and welcoming. I snapped back from my dingy box of a room in Tokyo to the small town I grew up in. “Look at how beautiful you are! Your cheeks are so rosy, and I love your outfit.” Chiyo always had the ability to compliment me, even if I had been sick and unwashed for days. Even if I hadn’t slept in weeks! She could look past the dirtiest, most unkempt person and find the beauty inside of them without so much as blinking. A true gift.
“Thank you,” I replied, shying under her exclamations. Other women in the room glanced up from their chopping to smile or nod their head at me. Chiyo already knew how to cook everything so she just came here to keep Mom company.
Mom was raised in Chikata, and she and Chiyo had been good friends since childhood. Chiyo’s husband, a man who sold all his land when he could no longer farm due to a bad back, passed away a few years ago from a heart attack, and Chiyo moved to a townhouse. My father had died when I was five, so Chiyo and Mom lived the bachelorette life together. They cooked, gossiped, visited the temple, and even shopped together in Tokyo. Inseparable.
“Looks like tempura is on the menu today?” I followed her into the kitchen and sat beside her at her station, waving to Mom at the front of the room. On the counter, Chiyo’s knife laid next to a pile of sweet potatoes and lotus roots, and a bowl full of fresh greens, probably fr
om Mom’s garden, awaited dressing.
“Let me cook for you, Mei-chan,” she cooed as she turned on the gas burner to heat up a wok of oil. “Oh, and I have a little gift for you, too.” She smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes compressing like a paper fan. From under the table, she pulled out a pink and orange furoshiki, a cloth-wrapped bundle, and handed it to me.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Inside, a red envelope wrapped in fancy gold ribbon, a selection of homemade sweets which I’m sure she made yesterday they looked so fresh, and a collection of newspaper clippings were packed in tight. I pulled out the envelope and opened it, finding six, brand-new 10,000 yen notes. I quickly stuffed them back in and rewrapped the bundle.
“Chiyo-san,” I admonished her, “I can’t take your money!” I kept my voice low so no one around could hear me.
“Shhh, I’m not giving you money. I’m paying you.”
“For what?”
“I bought your painting of Mount Fuji, the one that’s been in the barn for the last six years.” She nodded her head at me definitively, as the color drained from my face. “I’m paying good money for it. 50,000 yen.” She clasped her hands over her chest. “Oh, I’ve always loved that painting, and your mom said that you just lost your job. I’m so sorry.”
My mouth opened but nothing came out for a full ten seconds.
“You bought my painting? But why?” It was a piece of junk and I hated it. I had stuck it in the back of the barn so I wouldn’t have to look at it again. But knowing Chiyo, she’d been sneaking in there to look at my paintings. I’d tried to hide them, but I’d obviously done a poor job of it.
Her face lit up, a smile so broad I couldn’t help but smile back. “I bought the local sentō! It needs a picture of Fuji-san, and I thought it was perfect.”
“Wait, wait. You bought the sentō?” Chikata’s sentō, a public bathhouse, had been run by the Murita family since the dawn of time, or close to that. “Chiyo-san, you’re fifty-five years old. Why would you do a thing like that?”
The Daydreamer Detective Page 3