She looks through me.
“Type in Masahiro’s number!” I shove the phone in her face.
She presses a few buttons and then goes back to staring out the window.
“Masahiro, it’s Jessica. Chihiro’s mother is sick and the ambulance is here. Could you please come home? Chihiro is acting strangely.”
“Of course. I will be there as soon as I can.”
I hope he doesn’t get into trouble for taking all this time off.
I decide to wait until he returns before trying to get to the hospital. I’m not going to have any luck asking Chihiro for directions. It’s like she’s in a coma or something.
***
Masahiro arrives home quickly.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Chihiro is barely talking. I think she thought her mother was dead.”
Masahiro puts his hand on Chihiro’s shoulder and says something softly.
She nods.
“Why is she like this?”
“I think she panicked. This happened last year and her mother almost died then. Chihiro thought maybe this time was final.”
“What happened last year?”
“The doctors think maybe it was a stroke.”
“But she seemed fine yesterday.”
“Yes, it wasn’t very severe, but she was at home by herself for a few hours before Chihiro found her last time. Maybe she didn’t know what to do this time.”
“I guess if my mum was sick, I’d freak out a bit too.”
“Do you want to come to the hospital with us?”
“Do you want me to? I can stay here. What about the girls?”
“Oh, yes. I can get my neighbour to pick them up, but if you want to meet them when they get home, I would be grateful.”
“Of course. No problem. Go on. Go and see if she’s all right.”
“Thank you Jessica. You are a good girl.”
I wave my hand dismissively and shoo them out the door.
When the girls get home, I make them some toast and tea. They don’t seem overly concerned that their parents are away. I’ve only known them for a day, and they already think I’m part of the furniture. They ask me questions in Japanese and then giggle when I can’t answer.
I open up my laptop and look for an online phrasebook.
“Hah-jee-meh-MOSH-the. Wah-TAH-shee no nah-mah-eh wa Jessica dess.” I read out the phonetic pronunciation. I hope what I said was “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Jessica.”
The girls think this is hilarious. I must have the accent wrong again.
“Jessica, you cute.”
“Hey! You can speak English!”
“We learn English at school. We also get English teacher on weekend.”
“Wow. Your dad didn’t tell me. What grade are you in?”
“I am grade six and Mai is grade four.”
“Can Mai speak English too?”
“She is not so good.”
She looks at Mai and says something in Japanese. Mai seems to agree with her.
She turns back to me.
“We like you, Jessica. Will you stay with us?”
“For a while. But I have a new job. At Starlight.”
“Starlight English school?”
“Yep.”
“I like Starlight Sparkle. Wait!”
She runs off and comes back with a stuffed purple version of the picture I saw at the school today. “Look! Starlight Sparkle!”
“That’s pretty.”
“What pretty mean?”
“Pretty is like cute.”
“Oh.” She seems to take this seriously.
“Jessica, you pretty.”
“Thank you. I think you and Mai are pretty too.”
She grins. “We go to watch TV now.”
“Okay, have fun. Your parents will be home soon.”
They don’t even ask where they are, and I’m relieved I don’t have to explain anything yet. There’s no use worrying them if everything’s going to be fine.
***
I suddenly find myself with some spare time on my hands. I think I’ll call Alex. Now that I’ve sorted out my finances, it won’t be so hard to tell him what actually happened. I don’t even have to worry about wasting money on calls seeing as I’m about to get a salary advance.
“Alex!” I almost weep at the familiar sound of his voice.
“Sweetie! How are you? I just read your e-mail! I wanted to call but I didn’t have your number. Wait, I just have to go outside. I’m still at the shop and the reception is terrible in the office.”
I hear shuffling for a moment. I imagine him pushing his way through the racks of clothes and shoes. If only he could see where I was, sitting on a legless chair in the corner of my adopted family’s living room.
“All right, so tell me everything. Is Japan all that you hoped?”
I breathe out. Finally, I can tell him the truth.
“Not exactly. The job was a disaster and I got fired. And somehow I got fired from Ace too.”
“What? How come?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain it to you when I see you in person. But I’ve found another job and I start next week so it all worked out for the best.”
“Well, I guess that’s something. But why didn’t you just come home?”
“Er, well I didn’t feel like I’d really seen any of the country yet,” I lie. “And besides, I still haven’t been away long enough for everyone to have forgotten about that article in the paper and the whole fashion show debacle.”
“You know the incident at the fashion show was never broadcast.”
“Yeah, I know. I appreciate what you did for me. Hey, and guess what? Apparently Luke didn’t see it either.”
“How do you know that?”
“We’ve been chatting on Facebook.”
“Ooh. How’s that going?”
“Good so far. But it’s obviously not going to work in the long term. He’s there and I’m here.”
“All the more reason for you to come home. I miss you. And so does the gang.”
“Yeah, right. I haven’t heard from any of them since I left.”
“Well, you don’t make it easy. None of us have your contact number.”
“But they could have e-mailed. Or messaged me on Facebook.”
“You know they miss you in their own way.”
“Whatever. So how’s Brisbane? How’s the shop?”
“Good. We’ve been run off our feet since you left. And of course with Christmas coming up in a few months, it’s only going to get busier.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re doing well.”
“Thanks. So when would you like me to visit? I’m sure I can get someone to run the shop for a week or two while I take some time off.”
“Whenever you like. I would love to see you! I move into my new place in a few days, so you can stay with me. I haven’t met my roommate yet, but I’m sure he or she won’t mind. They’re a pretty cruisy bunch at my new work.”
“So did you find a new advertising agency?”
“Uh, no. It’s a school.”
“What, like an arts school?”
“No, like an English school.”
“You’re going to be an English teacher?” He sounds incredulous.
“Yeah, why?” I reply defensively.
“I don’t know. It’s just that you’re not exactly known for your grammar.”
“My grammar is perfectly fine, thank you very much.”
“If you say so,” he laughs. “But I swear I remember you using the phrase ‘more better’ when describing your preference for Sex and the City over Friends.”
“Yeah, well I was drunk then, wasn’t I?”
“As long as you’re happy, I say go for it.”
“Thank you. I’ll remember your lack of support when I’m manager of my whole department.”
“I just said I was happy for you, didn’t I?”
“Yeah but I don’t think you meant it.”
“Okay. I think I believe you now.”
“Good. Well, I better go. I’m sure this call is costing you a fortune. Call me in a few days when you’re in your new place and we’ll start organising my trip.”
“Cool. It’s good to hear your voice.”
“You too, sweetie.”
“Bye.”
I hang up, still a bit teary. I miss our daily banter. It’s just not the same being on the other side of the world.
But there’s no time to dwell on it. An exhausted looking Masahiro and Chihiro walk through the door. I anxiously greet them. “Is everything okay?”
“She will be fine. But she needs to stay in hospital for a few days.”
“Oh good.” I hadn’t realised how tense I was until that moment.
“I want to thank you, Jessica. Chihiro says you were a big help. She didn’t know what to do and her mother might be worse if you did not take control.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad it all worked out in the end.”
“She is very grateful. And she says sorry for acting strange.”
“It’s okay. Tell her I understand.”
“You will stay with us for a while?”
“Actually, I got a job today. At Starlight.”
“Oh really? Good for you. You need a place to live? You can stay here as long as you want.”
“That’s very sweet, but they provide accommodation, so I should be out of your hair in a few days. Thank you for the offer, though.”
“Out of my hair?” he asks confused.
I laugh. “Sorry, Masahiro. It means I won’t bother you anymore.”
“You are not a bother. At least let me drive you to your new place when you leave.”
“Thank you. That would be lovely.”
I excuse myself to have a shower before bed.
I feel so lucky right now.
EIGHTEEN
I’m kind of sad to be leaving my adopted family. Part of me thinks it would be easier just to stay put. I could share the cooking with Chihiro and hang out with the girls in the evenings. I could even earn my keep by replacing their English teacher.
But I know deep down that it’s not a long-term solution. I need to gain some independence and prove to myself that I can make it on my own here.
Andy moved out of his apartment this morning so I’m going to move in this afternoon. I start training tomorrow.
Masahiro drives me to my new building in his Nissan Cube. I love it. There’s LED accent lighting all around the interior, and even shag pile carpet on the dash.
I’m glad he offered to drive. I’ve accumulated a bit of stuff already in the short time I’ve been here.
The girls presented me with a Hello Kitty pencil case before I left and made me promise to come back and visit all the time.
Chihiro also gave me a gift—a sushi mat and an ornate set of chopsticks.
I feel terrible that I didn’t get them anything in return. I’m still not very good at Japanese etiquette. I’ll have to send them a nice present at Christmas.
Chihiro’s mother is back home already and almost back to normal. She seemed a little less crotchety when I last saw her—maybe because she knew I played a part in getting her to the hospital and ensuring her safety.
We pull up at a huge concrete building. It reminds me of the council flats you see on UK cop shows. But I don’t care. This is my first step to freedom.
Masahiro helps me take all my bags to the sixth floor. He doesn’t want to hang around, even when I ask him to stay for a cup of tea. I think he’s still a bit worried about Chihiro and her mother.
We stand facing each other outside my door. He shakes my hand.
“Jessica. Thank you for staying with us. Please visit anytime.”
“No, thank you, Masahiro. Without your help, I would be living on the street. Or with those men down at the river.”
He laughs. “Stay away from men at the river. They are dangerous.”
I know he’s just being protective, so I don’t argue with him.
“Okay. You take care.”
Alana said my roommate should be home, but she wasn’t sure who it was. She told Andy to tell them I would be arriving today.
I knock tentatively.
“Just a second,” a muffled male voice calls out.
Interesting. A male roommate.
The door swings open.
“Oh! It’s you.”
“Hey, Pop Trivia Girl!”
It’s Blondie from the Coconut Club. I can’t remember his name.
“I’m sorry, I’ve had a total mental blank. What’s your name again?”
“Zac.” His eyes sparkle. “It’s Jess, right?”
“Yes. Sorry, I should have remembered you. It’s just been a long few days. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”
“That’s okay. So you’re my new roomie, hey?”
“It appears so.”
“Cool. Well, come on in.” He grabs one of my bags. “What will your man back in Australia think?”
“Oh. I don’t know. I’m sure he won’t mind. But what about you? Don’t you have a girlfriend?”
“Miki’s fine. She’s not the jealous type.”
Huh. She seemed exactly the jealous type from what I saw the other night.
“That’s good. No awkwardness, then.”
“Nope. And I have to say, you’re a vast improvement on Andy. He wasn’t the best looking bloke, and he often left his clothes all over the living room. Plus, he seemed to think it was okay to watch TV naked.”
“Ew!”
“Of course, if you want to do it, that’s another story,” he winks.
“Ah, thanks. But I don’t think so.”
He ushers me down the tiny hall.
“Your room is the one on the left. Mine is on the right. And as you can see, we have this very small combined living and dining area. Oh, and kitchen.”
He points to a counter along the side of the multi-purpose room with a small sink, stove and fridge crammed in the corner.
“Well, this is cosy.”
“That’s one word for it. But at least you don’t have to pay key money.”
“What’s that?”
“Most rentals here charge a non-refundable fee of three to six months’ rent. It can really wipe out your savings.”
“Gosh.”
“Yeah, Starlight have a deal where they basically pay your wage each month but first take out tax and rent, and whatever else they see fit to charge. But if you’re only staying for a year or two, it works out well.”
“I’m just glad to have somewhere I can call my own. Do you know I spent a night in an internet café because I had nowhere else to go?”
His eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yep. And then I found this guy’s wallet and he was so grateful to get it back that he let me stay with him and his family until Alana got me a job at Starlight.”
“You’re one crazy chick.”
“You don’t know the half of it. I’ll tell you the rest later.”
“Deal. Hey, you want a drink?”
“Yeah, okay. What have you got?”
“Beer or Chu-Hi.”
“Chu-Hi will do.”
He opens the fridge and passes me a can, grabbing a beer for himself.
“Take a seat…on our very uncomfortable plastic couch.”
“Thanks.”
Zac sits on a matching dining chair. “So you said you were from Brisbane?”
“Yes. You have a good memory.”
“I know. It’s something I’m famous for,” he deadpans.
“And I think I remember you saying you were from Melbourne? What did you do there?”
“I worked for a phone company.”
“Which one?”
“The one I’m sure you hate.”
“I can’t say I’m a fan of any of them, so you’re probably right.”
&
nbsp; “And you?”
“I worked for Ace Advertising.”
“Oh, yeah. Don’t they have a building in every city? I think there’s one near Spencer Street in Melbourne.”
“That’s right! I can’t believe you know that!”
“I used to walk past it on the way to my office.”
“Oh, right. Well, I was actually posted here for work, but then the project fell apart and I basically lost my job and I couldn’t get home. So here I am.”
“I’m glad. It’ll be nice to have a fellow Aussie at work. Those Poms think they own the place.”
“Ha-ha. Right.”
***
Zac leaves me to settle in and disappears into his room to get ready. He’s going out with Miki and her friends tonight. I turned him down when he asked if I wanted to tag along. If her friends are anything like her, I can’t see myself having a good time.
There’s a small built-in wardrobe in my room, and I have a tatami floor. I’m so excited to have my own room! They’ve even given me new bedding so I don’t have to hunt around for my own. It’s all rolled up in a huge coil and covered in plastic wrap, and reminds me of one of those big round hay bales you see in cow paddocks.
I put my toothbrush and toothpaste in the cubicle bathroom. I wonder if every bathroom in Japan was designed by the same architect. The toilet is a slightly new concept, with a faucet that runs into a sink on top of the cistern—but everything else is the same as all the other bathrooms I’ve seen so far.
I spend the remainder of the evening exploring the few blocks around my building, and orienting myself with the local 7-Eleven and one-hundred yen shop. While I’m out, I stock up on a couple of tea towels and toiletries. I can finally start buying proper household items! The moisturising lotions are weird, though. They all say that they’ll make your skin whiter. Why would I want to do that? Where are the ones with tan in them?
With my little shopping spree done, I call Alana to tell her I’m all moved in.
“Oh, that’s right,” she says when I fill her in on the identity of my new roommate. “I forgot Andy lived with Zac! I must have been completely out of it last time I visited their place. They only live a couple of floors up from me. Hey, what are you doing now?”
“Not much. I just went out and bought a few bits and pieces.”
“Come and join us for a drink.”
Zen Queen Page 16