by Ben Stevens
Sakura cross her arm across chest. Still look up at sky. Is cool wind blow from sea. Gentle noise of wave on stone beach.
Sakura say ‘But my father come home early other day and shout at me.’
I see Sakura give smile that is not smile. She say ‘He try hit me but he drunk and now get more old.’ She say ‘I move too fast for him and go.’
She say ‘Thank you Hiro for give me chance to have apartment of my own.’
She still not look at me as she speak.
I feel shock for what Sakura say. Not really able to think.
I say ‘Is OK no problem.’
Sakura give big sigh and not speak for several minute.
Final she say ‘You want go love hotel?’
It feel like thing she think she have to say. That may be she think is for that reason only that I with her.
I say ‘No.’ I say ‘Is OK.’
I want go her apartment. Not for thing like at love hotel but just coffee even. But she not offer so I not say. I know she not want go my house. In dark or even at day.
I surprise when Sakura take my hand. We both look at sea and sky without talk. This should be relax time but I feel very much anger to Sakura father. Is strange but I not even know where Sakura parent live.
Then I remember Bad Boy. Man who not leave Sakura alone. This is problem now. This is person I must see and talk to. Say ‘Stay away from my girlfriend!’
I feel shame to say but this idea is very scare me. Because Bad Boy have not good reputation. I remember hear someone say one time that Bad Boy break the man hand. Because man say no when Bad Boy ask for money.
But now is no choice. Right from my school day I alway try to avoid meet the Bad Boy. Now I have to find him soon as is possible.
To cut leaf of tree in front of temple take special skill. Have to make all leaf at end of tree branch look like top of circle. That only way I able to describe way I cut leaf. I mean this is leaf that not fall from tree even in winter. Is alway green all year long.
My father spend many month for to teach me how to correct cut leaf. My father also say ‘Hiro alway clean tool when finish work.’
He mean tool like big scissor that cut the leaf. Use oil and piece of towel for to clean blade. My father get angry at me when I forget. Because he like everything be very neat and tidy. I try now to keep thing like this but sometime not success.
When I learn to cut leaf well my father please. He say ‘Now is two of us to cut all temple tree.’ He say ‘This mean is more easy.’
But now just me. Have to work fast for to cut all tree. I use tall ladder and sometime climb tree branch to cut leaf.
Priest wife Okaasan see me and say ‘Please to be careful Hiro kun.'
Because my father one time fall from tree and land on head. Have to go to hospital because he be knock out. This when I young boy. But I careful.
I have many tool and other thing in small hut that is around side of temple. I think in English can call this hut shed. Back door of shed lead to big koi pond. There is also area at back of hut where my father keep different piece of wood. Because he good carpenter.
Sometime priest or monk ask me build notice board for temple from the wood. But I not good carpenter as father. I learn garden work well from him but not some other thing. Because he die before he can teach me all thing about this job.
I am cut tree outside temple hall when Yamashita san come outside. He cough and light the cigarette. He look up at me on ladder and smile.
Then he say ‘Hiro san what is matter?’
I feel confuse. I stop cut leaf for moment. I say ‘Sorry I not understand.’
Yamashita san say ‘You have some worry line on face and you more thin than before.’ He say ‘I hope you OK.’
Some person only ask question like this because like to hear of the other person trouble. But Yamashita san not like this. He just very care man. Like to help people if he can.
I say ‘Everything is OK not problem.’
He say ‘You can alway talk to me Hiro san.’
I feel sudden angry. Like he interfere in my business. Then I think I feel angry because his question make me think of Sakura. It make me remember I have to talk to Bad Boy.
I again say ‘Everything is OK no problem.’
I start cut leaf again to show just want do my work. Yamashita san say word which mean I understand and walk away.
I worry that my face show my problem in life. This not good thing. But I not think I look as worry as priest.
Next day Sakura send message to my phone. It say I am think of you. I wonder when I see her next.
Then I get call on phone. It not from Sakura. It from estate agent office. Woman on phone say have be complain from other people in apartment block where Sakura and friend are live. Say is very much noise in night and smell of the cigarette in elevator.
Woman from estate agent office say ‘Please to be more careful.’ Because she think I live in apartment with Sakura. That we just normal couple.
I not able to say it not me who live there. Because I sign all document for rent of apartment.
So I have to say ‘Very sorry I be more careful.’
Woman from estate agent office say OK this time. But if happen again she have to give the warn notice. This not good thing.
I say I understand and call finish.
I try phone Sakura but no answer. This time I say message to answer phone. I say what estate agent office tell me.
Is late evening when other message come from Sakura. She not phone. She write that her friend Midori have party at weekend. Sakura say Midori sorry. Sakura say she call me soon but busy at moment for to look for work.
I not want go Wendy lesson on Wednesday evening. I feel very tire and think may be cold come. But not good to cancel lesson late so I wear mask and walk to Wendy apartment.
She laugh when open door. She say ‘Are you infectious Hiro?’
She explain what she mean when we sit down at kitchen table. I ask her to write for me new word that is infectious.
I see there are new flower in kitchen sink. My nose condition not good because of cold and wear mask but I think there is sweet smell.
Wendy say not worry to infect her because she also have the sniffle. She explain word sniffle.
She say ‘We both under weather.’
My head start to hurt because many new English word and expression for to try understand. I think I never learn the English well.
I not able to concentrate well. Keep worry about Sakura and apartment. If more problem may be estate agent office keep deposit. This much money.
I wish I am able to talk to Sakura again. I hope she know I care for her very much. I think she may be have the hard heart because of tough family life.
Then Wendy say ‘Something on mind Hiro?’
For first time in Wendy lesson I feel irritate. I think why Wendy have to alway say English word or expression I not understand?
Then I think may be it mean do you have problem? But I come here just for English lesson. Not to talk about my life.
So I say ‘I fine.’ I say ‘I not understand this word here.’
I point to word in English text she give me read. Word is summit which I know mean top of mountain. But I just not want to be ask the personal question.
Wendy again give me strange look. Then she give the shrug of shoulder and say ‘OK.’ For rest of lesson we just practise English.
I pay Wendy and go. I not feel well but still not want go home. It get lonely sometime just on own in house for every evening.
Also I remember my father. When he feel ill he drink oyuwari. This is strong Japanese alcohol call shochu mix with hot water. My father say because he drink oyuwari sometime like medicine he never have day sick from work. I mean unless he have accident like fall off ladder and bang the head.
So I think I go to Shianbashi for to drink some oyuwari. Shianbashi is drink area of city. It not far from temple. It have many bar and narrow street. Many bright
light and sign.
Nice look woman stand in street and try get man go to expensive bar. But sometime is fight and salaryman be sick in gutter.
Shianbashi place to go if want forget all thing for short time. It have three kanji or Chinese character that make up word Shianbashi. This word mean like Hesitation Bridge. (I use Japanese English dictionary for to find word hesitation. Because want to translate as exact as is possible.)
Many year ago Shianbashi area was on island different from city. Have to cross bridge over river that is now just wide road and tram line for to get to Shianbashi.
Also gate to Shianbashi was close at eleven clock in evening and not open until seven clock in morning. So have to stay in Shianbashi whole night if want late drink.
So before cross bridge many man in old time think shall I go or no? This is why word that mean like hesitation is use before word that mean bridge. Man in old time know if stay in Shianbashi whole night probable have no money in morning. Also if marry then his wife be very angry.
But is no bridge or gate now. I find bar that I go with father sometime. It narrow bar and customer can only stand. Two man who work behind bar say welcome to me and I order drink.
Bar already busy. I put money in bowl on counter. Each customer is give bowl. Every time they have drink some money take from bowl. It not expensive bar like some other.
These expensive bar call snack bar. Have pretty woman work there who pour drink talk and light the cigarette for customer. I only go snack bar one time in life. When friend have twenty one year old birthday.
Some builder man come in. I talk to one of them about the baseball. I have some more drink. I start to feel OK. My father correct. Oyuwari good drink when have cold. Also not feel so irritate about Sakura and apartment.
I am talk to one man who work behind counter when he look at entrance to bar. His face seem worry.
I look also and big surprise. There is Bad Boy! He walk in bar with two men who look tough as him. One man have cap with word Fuck You! write on front.
Two man behind bar say welcome and Bad Boy order three beer in bottle. He not put money in bowl on counter but he still get drink. Bad Boy friend who is not wear the cap drink beer quick then drop glass bottle on floor.
Floor is cement so bottle break. Bad Boy and two friend laugh like is joke.
Two man behind bar laugh also but they look little scare. One man come around bar with brush for to clean glass but Bad Boy say ‘Leave it!’
Man with brush try to look as if still joke. He say word which mean like you are special customer. He say very sorry. Say have to clean up so other customer not get injure.
Bad Boy just laugh. Then to other man behind counter Bad Boy say very fast Japanese that use lot of slang.
It how gangster man talk. It hard for normal person like me to understand. Just gangster and person who work in night business like bar for long time know what is said.
But I think Bad Boy say ‘You are late with money!’
Man behind counter give embarrass smile and quick look at other customer. Other customer pretend not hear see like me. But is not good feel now in bar.
Bad Boy look straight at me but like he not recognise me. Like now he have the other business.
Man behind bar to Bad Boy quick say ‘Please let talk outside.’
Bad Boy say ‘Tomorrow!’
He finish beer but put bottle on counter. He make sign with head to two friend that mean let go. They leave bar and I follow. They walk up narrow street. They push each other and laugh. Other man in street move for to let them pass.
One of Bad Boy friend go to woman who give leaflet for snack bar and try kiss her. Woman laugh but she also look scare. I think she not Japanese. Many woman from country like China work in night business.
I say Bad Boy proper name. But my voice very weak because I scare. He not hear. I sudden want go toilet.
But I tell my self this something I have to do. For Sakura. I say Bad Boy real name again.
This time he hear. He turn around for to look at me. I surprise when he just laugh.
To friend who wear cap with Fuck You! write on front Bad Boy say ‘Look is chibi!’ (Remember this word mean like small weak child.)
His two friend look at me and laugh. I think they very drunk. I also little drunk. But still feel very scare. I hope Bad Boy and friend not see my leg shake.
Bad Boy say ‘You come for drink with us chibi?’
His friend laugh again. I think they laugh at everything Bad Boy say. They look tough but I still think they scare of Bad Boy. Because he very violence man.
There is strange feel like I in tunnel as I walk toward Bad Boy and friend. Feel like is even hard for to breath. My heart move very fast.
I say ‘Leave Sakura alone!’
Now I think for sure Bad Boy be angry. But he just laugh. He walk toward me and I think I be hit. But he just put arm around my shoulder. He talk in the soft voice to me.
He say ‘You first girlfriend?’
I try talk but my mouth very dry. Bad Boy have many scar around mouth. His breath very bad.
He have his face close to mine so he can talk soft.
He say ‘Why you think a woman like that go out with you?’
I able to say ‘You not know any thing about me and Sakura!’ I say ‘Stay away from her!’
I shout because I think may be look tough but I know is no use. I just get red face and look scare.
Bad Boy pat my back with his hand. His friend make horrible smile as they watch.
Woman who I think is not Japanese is again try to hand out leaflet to other man walk past. She take no notice of what is happen now. I on my own.
Bad Boy say ‘She know you have good job at temple.’ He say ‘She know you get pay well so she say OK for to go out.’
I not think as I say ‘How she know?’
Then I think I just most baka man in world for to ask question like that. But I think now Sakura alway say no when I ask her go out before. I mean when I not get much money because I still learn job from father.
Bad Boy say ‘Chibi’ like is my name. He talk like how father talk to the naughty son.
He say ‘Chibi this not big city.’ He say ‘Word get around Chibi and woman like Sakura listen.’
Sudden I really angry. Like mad. I use both hand for to push him away. I say very bad word which mean like big shit head.
Bad Boy friend stop the laugh like two stupid monkey. They look mean now.
Bad Boy stare at me. His hand make fist. I remember how he make teacher have to go dentist when he only fourteen. I mean when Bad Boy only fourteen. Everyone in whole school scare of him then.
I not angry any more. I just think I did very stupid thing.
Then feel like my right ear is explode and I fall on ground. Bad Boy stand above me. He hit me but hand move so fast I not see.
He say ‘Chibi you have lot to learn about the woman.’ He say ‘Chibi if I want see Sakura I do.’
I manage stand back up. I see woman who hand out leaflet quick walk away but I not care about her. Some other group of man are point at me and Bad Boy.
I to Bad Boy say ‘You see Sakura again I kill you!’
There is other explode in left ear. I again fall on ground. Then is kick in my stomach. I not able to breath.
I look up and see Bad Boy face. It have spit fly from lip. Look like danger animal in zoo.
One of his friend say ‘Kick his face!’
Then I hear woman shout. I not able to hear very well because of punch to my both ear. But woman shout again and I realise is English language.
She say ‘What hell do you do?’ She say ‘You not tough just big bully!’ Then she say ‘Oh poor Hiro.’
I able to see woman now and it Wendy Williams. She push Bad Boy back and stand between me and him.
She say ‘Go before I call police!’
I try to get breath. My stomach hurt very much.
I say ‘Wendy he not speak the English.’
She not look down at me. She keep look at Bad Boy. She say ‘He understand what I mean.’
Bad Boy laugh again. He look at friend and they laugh also. Some people have come out of bar either side of street to see what is happen.
I think Bad Boy want go now. Because police will come soon. Someone call them. I mean someone who have business in Shianbashi. Because not good for business to have man like Bad Boy beat up person outside the bar.
What happen now not usual for to see in Japan. Normal Japan very safe country.
Bad Boy sudden push Wendy to one side. I think he kick me again.
But he just say ‘You need gaijin woman for to protect you?’ He say ‘Next time I see you I finish job.’
He mean to beat up me again. But more worse. Then he spit on me.
Wendy kneel down beside me as Bad Boy and friend walk away.
She say ‘Oh Hiro let get you to hospital.’
I not let her help me as I stand up. I use sleeve of shirt for to wipe Bad Boy spit from my face.
I say ‘I fine thank you.’ I say ‘Please I have to go now.’
Wendy put both hand on my shoulder and look in to my eye. I think she is more drunk than usual. She have the many bracelet on wrist.
She say ‘Hiro you in shock.’ She say ‘Let me get you coffee at least.’
I say ‘I fine’.
I start walk away. I feel very embarrass. But then I look back at Wendy. She just stand watch me go. She look like confuse. I think she brave woman for to help me.
I say ‘Thank you for help me Wendy.’ Then I walk fast away.
I walk past woman who is hand out leaflet. She quiet say something I not hear. I think may be she ask if I OK.
I say ‘Sorry I not hear.’
In more loud voice she say ‘Do you want massage?’ Because this also part of her night job.
I say no thank you. I just want get home quick. Feel home most safe place.
Then I think may be Bad Boy know where I live. Because may be Sakura already tell him.
Next day I feel very ill. Lucky is my day off from work. I spend most of day lie on futon. Not want eat any thing. I have very bad cold and my ear also hurt from Bad Boy punch. I watch some baseball and sleep.