He flushes slightly when he sees me.
“Uh, I just want to apologise for last night. When Miki drinks, she can get a bit, er, vocal in the bedroom.”
“I barely heard anything,” I fib.
“Oh, that’s good. Sorry anyway. Did you sleep well?”
You mean after the two hours of screeching, giggling and unexplained thumping? And I say unexplained, because we have futons, so there’s no bedhead to thump. And two hours? Is he some sort of animal?
“Yeah, fine thanks.”
“Cool. So, it’s your big day today, huh? First day of training.”
“Yeah—actually I should probably get a move on. I have to be there by eleven-thirty.”
“Good luck. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“I hope so.”
“I’ll see you in there a bit later.”
I shower again to wake myself up and put on my lucky suit. I should have worn it to my first day at Bella—that way I might not have gotten fired. But it was all crumpled at the time, so I had to wear my second best suit, which somehow fared better in transit.
I hurry out before Miki makes an appearance. I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face if I saw her.
I grab a pastry from the French patisserie on my way to the station—they are so good! I haven’t been to Paris, but I’m pretty sure they would taste exactly the same there.
It’s after rush hour so my train carriage is only half full. I sit on one of the comfy seats and watch the now familiar landscape shoot by. I wonder how everyone back home is doing. I should try calling Mum and Dad again at some stage. They never have their mobile phones on, so they’re often difficult to reach. I also have a wistful urge to talk to Luke. I’ll definitely contact him tonight. I’ve been telling everyone he’s my boyfriend so much that I almost feel as if he is.
When I arrive at the school, it’s already bustling. Alana is in the staff room, looking a bit worse for wear. She drank a lot more than I did last night, so I’m not surprised.
“I didn’t get home until almost seven this morning,” she admits. “Dad and I went to an all-night restaurant after karaoke and then to a club called The Playpen. At least I think that’s what it was called. God, my head hurts.”
“Well, I had the privilege of listening to Miki’s lovemaking noises for two hours last night,” I reveal.
“Two hours?” Alana lifts an eyebrow. “Interesting.”
“I know, right? It’s not just me who thinks that’s a really long time to have sex?”
“Well, it’s not unheard of. But I didn’t think little Zaccy had it in him. So, do you think he’s got a big…?” she trails off suggestively.
“Maybe we should change the subject,” I say looking around. “The workplace probably isn’t an appropriate location to be discussing this kind of thing.”
“Are you sure that’s the reason you want to change the subject? And not because you’re jealous of Miki?” she asks slyly.
“No! He’s my roommate! It’s bad form to talk about the size of his… you know.”
“Whatever. You started it.”
“Anyway,” I say, trying to direct the conversation back to safer territory, “who’s my trainer?”
“I think you’ve got Nigel.”
“Is he nice?”
“Yes, he’s really friendly. I think he’ll like you.”
“I hope so.”
I head over to the front room, where a rather worried looking guy is already waiting.
“First day, huh?” I ask, smiling.
“Yeah,” he replies. “This is my first time overseas. I’m from Ohio.”
“I’m from Australia, but I’ve already been in Japan for a few weeks,” I explain. “Are you going to be working in this branch?”
“No. They’re placing me at Momoyama-dai. So, how are you finding it so far? I think I made a huge mistake coming here. I’m not prepared at all.”
I smile. “You’ll get used to it. Just give it a bit longer.”
A skinny guy with braces holding up his pants interrupts us.
“Ah, so I see you two have met,” he beams.
“Sort of. I’m Jess,” I say to both of them.
“Jeff,” the new guy offers.
“And I’m Nigel. I’ll be your trainer. We’re going to have a lot of fun today.”
Please let that be true. I’m useless in a classroom setting.
“Okay, let’s get started. I assume you’ve both brushed up on your transitive and intransitive verbs?”
Jeff and I look at each other fearfully. What?
Nigel chuckles. “Just kidding. I don’t expect you to know that. But for the record, a transitive verb shows action upon something, and an intransitive verb just is. For example, you climb a staircase, you don’t just climb. But then when you go to bed, you sleep, you don’t have to sleep something. Make sense?”
We both nod like robots. I wish I’d paid more attention to my communications subject at uni. I’m not even sure I was taught that.
Nigel grins. He’s very perky and he talks like he’s singing a nursery rhyme. I feel like I’m being taught by Miss Lippy in Billy Madison.
“Okay, here are your training books.” He hands us each a huge, dusty manual. They look like they were written in 1973.
“Please turn to page sixty-four. We’ll start with an easy lesson. I’ll pretend to be the student, and Jess, you be the teacher. Jeff, you can watch.”
“All right. Lesson twenty-eight. Booking a Flight.”
***
I don’t believe it. Grover was right. We’ve done this lesson about fifty times, and Nigel keeps pretending to get stuck on the word ‘available’.
“Why do you keep asking me what that means?” I ask, exasperated.
“Because,” Nigel responds patiently, “this is a big word for the students. If they understand it, they can pass the lesson. If they don’t, then they’ll have to do it again.”
“Fine. What if I just say it’s like the word ‘accessible’?”
“They probably won’t know what that means either. You’ll have to be a bit more creative. Here, let me show you.”
He draws a little sketch on a piece of paper in front of us that looks like a plane. He puts people in all the seats but leaves one empty and draws a circle around that one.
“Ah.”
Nigel smiles modestly. “It all comes with practice.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but Jeff looks even more worried than before.
“Don’t worry, Jeff,” Nigel soothes. “You’ll pick it up in no time.”
“I have my doubts,” he says dolefully.
“Why don’t you two have a break? When you come back, we’ll go and try a real lesson.”
I look at Nigel, horrified. “But we’re not ready yet, surely!”
“Yes you are. All the lessons follow the same format. Just do what you were doing a moment ago.”
“But I thought we had several days of training ahead of us.”
“You do. But there’s nothing better than jumping straight in. I’ll be watching from the door in case you need me.”
I’m not sure I like the sound of that.
“Okay, come on Jeff. Let’s go get a drink.”
Jeff follows me to Mister Donut next door.
I order coffee and donuts for the two of us, and we sit at a table near the window, watching the people stream by.
“I don’t think I can do this,” Jeff confides.
“I’m sure it will be all right,” I say, trying to convince myself at the same time.
“Yeah, but you were doing so well in there, you’ll be fine. I just kept freaking out. I haven’t done much apart from uni, and I only finished that six months ago.”
“What were you studying?”
“Naturopathy.”
“Why aren’t you trying to get a job in your field? Why come to Japan and get a position as an English teacher?”
“Well, I haven’t told anyone t
his at home, but you don’t know any of my friends or family, so I can probably tell you.”
My ears prick up. “Yes?”
“I’m gay,” he blurts out. “I was sick of hiding it, and I wanted to go somewhere for a while where I could be myself.”
“Oh,” I say, a bit lost for words. I thought he was going to say something like he couldn’t get a job because he cheated on his exams, or he suddenly developed a fear of touching patients.
“See?” he says miserably. “Even you’re going to treat me differently now.”
“No, no!” I protest. “My best friend is gay! Maybe I can introduce you when he visits. He might be able to give you some tips on how to cope back home.”
Jeff looks a bit happier. “I’d like that.”
“Look, I know it’s scary, but you’ll be surprised how supportive everyone can be.”
“I doubt it,” he says, drooping again. “My parents are strict Catholics. They’re going to freak out when they find out they have a gay son.”
“How do they feel about you doing naturopathy?”
“I don’t know. I told them I was studying medicine. I just failed to mention it was natural medicine.”
“Oh, Jeff. You’ll have to tell them eventually. I’m sure they’ll be confused when you graduate much earlier than if you were a medical doctor.”
“I know. I told them I was taking some time off before settling into the last few years. I just wanted the chance to sort myself out first.”
“Well, if there’s anything I can do, let me know,” I offer.
“Thanks, Jess. You’re already way nicer than most of the people I know back home.”
“You’ll find everyone is nice here. We’re all in the same boat. Hey, I think we should get back. It’s almost time for our lesson.”
Jeff grimaces. “I’m not looking forward to this at all.”
***
It must have all been an act. There’s no other explanation.
Jeff is an amazing teacher. He’s slipped right into education mode like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Nigel and I are watching from the door, our mouths gaping open.
I’m astounded at his ability to explain concepts so easily. He even thought up some clever sketches to illustrate the more complicated words.
At the end of his lesson, he congratulates each student on their efforts.
To say Nigel is impressed is an understatement.
“Well done, Jeff! That was excellent!”
“Are you sure I did okay?” Jeff says anxiously. “I’m worried I did that middle part too fast.”
“No, it was spot on. You’re already better than a lot of our experienced teachers.”
Jeff smiles shyly, obviously pleased.
“Okay, your turn Jess.”
I’m secretly feeling very confident. If Jeff can do it that easily, so can I.
I sit down in the little room with my first group of students—an elderly man and two high school girls.
I smile at each of them, and that’s when I suddenly get an attack of the nerves. What am I doing here? I’m no teacher! My mind goes blank and I start to see spots in front of my eyes.
I open the text book with shaky hands. What lesson am I supposed to be doing again?
I see Nigel and Jeff out the corner of my eye watching me, giving me encouraging looks.
I take a breath.
“Hi everyone. Today we’re going to do Lesson 28 – Booking a Flight.”
***
Well, I think that went okay. Maybe not as well as Jeff, but I’m sure it was a passable effort. The elderly man was a bit distracting due to a slightly overwhelming case of halitosis—and the two girls kept giggling and chatting to each other in Japanese—but I did pretty well considering.
Nigel leads us back to the training room.
“Okay Jess, that was good. Just a tiny bit of feedback—don’t be too hard on the girls. I know they aren’t supposed to speak Japanese in class, but yelling at them isn’t good for business.”
Gosh. I didn’t yell at them, did I?
“And you didn’t distribute your attention evenly between the girls and the elderly gentleman.”
“That’s because he had bad breath—I couldn’t concentrate while he was talking.”
Nigel smiles. “Dental hygiene can be a problem with some of the students—but we’re professionals. You’ll just have to deal with it.”
“Okay.” I feel a bit deflated.
“But otherwise, you both did very well. We’ll try another lesson this afternoon.”
***
By the evening, I’m faring much better. Jeff and I conducted another lesson each, and Nigel gave us both top marks. Nigel even said that we were two of the best students he’s ever had. I don’t know if he was just being kind, but it was nice to hear.
After our training, we go to the staff room to meet the other teachers.
Zac, Alana and Grover are there. There are also a few people I kind of know from the two group outings. I introduce Jeff to those I’m familiar with and they all greet him warmly.
“So, how did it go?” Zac asks me.
“Okay, I think.”
“She got in trouble,” Jeff chuckles mischievously.
“What?” Zac looks surprised.
“I didn’t realise I was raising my voice,” I explain. “But a couple of the girls were giggling and talking in Japanese.”
“Oh. I bet it was Saori and Satoko. Don’t worry about it—they’re total brats. I’ve told them off myself a hundred times. They think they own the place because their parents are loaded.”
I relax. “That makes me feel a bit better. At least I’m not the only one who found them difficult.”
“I’m surprised Nigel didn’t give you a couple of easy students for your first lesson.”
“It wasn’t all bad. My other lesson went well.”
“Good. I knew you’d settle in, no problem.”
“Well, I’m off. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
“I’ll see you at home,” Zac replies. “Although, there’s a chance I might be going out with Miki later.”
“That’s fine. See you later.”
Jeff walks with me down to the train.
“What’s the deal with you and Zac?”
“He’s my roommate. Why?”
“Oh. I just thought because you guys seemed so close…”
“Well, I guess we’re both from Australia. And he’s friendly enough.”
“So I guess Miki is his girlfriend?”
“Yep.”
“Shame. I think you’d make a cute couple.”
Why is everyone so keen to pair us up? I’m too tired to bother explaining about Luke, so I just shrug.
***
Jeff gets off the train at Higashimikuni, and I ride the last stop alone.
I kind of hope Zac does stay out tonight. It will be nice to have a bit of time to myself.
When I get home, I open the door and see Miki making herself at home, sprawled on our plastic couch and watching TV. The whole apartment reeks of cigarette smoke. A familiar box is lying on the floor in front of her.
“Are they my cigarettes?” I ask, recalling my impulse buy in Singapore.
“Oh, yeah. I hope you don’t mind.”
I do, actually.
“Uh, but weren’t they in my room in my suitcase?”
She stares at me. “I think so. Why?”
“Well, it’s just that I would rather people ask before they go through my stuff. And going into my room, for that matter.”
“Oh. Sorry.” She sounds anything but. “I ran out of cigarettes and it was easier to open yours than go outside.”
I’m sure it was.
“Well, next time, please just ask before helping yourself.”
She’s stopped listening. I think I’m going to have to set some boundaries if we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.
“You know that Zac isn’t going to be home unt
il later?”
“Yeah, he told me. I thought I would just hang out here in the meantime. My parents are driving me crazy.”
“You live with your parents?”
“Of course. I’m only twenty-one. I’ll move out when I get married.”
Wow. So independent.
“Do you have a job? Or do you go to college?”
“Nope. Zac pays for everything. I don’t need a job. My dad gives me an allowance for anything else I need to buy. And who needs college?”
“But don’t you think it’s a good idea to have a backup in case you don’t find a husband?”
She snorts. “Of course I’ll find a husband. It’ll probably be Zac anyway.”
“Really?” I wonder what Zac thinks of all this. “I wouldn’t have thought he had that much money.”
“All you gaijins have money.”
I laugh incredulously. “Is that what you think?”
“Well, the ones that come here do. If you’re working in Japan, you either got transferred from a good job in your own country or you went to college, because you can’t teach English without a qualification.”
I don’t even know where to begin to explain how misguided she is. Doesn’t she know you can defer all your uni fees and go on the dole in Australia? I knew a lot of people back home who were practically living in poverty but still went to uni. They lived in massive share houses with ten other students and survived on baked beans and two-minute noodles for three years until they graduated. And they didn’t necessarily have that much money afterwards either.
“Okay, whatever. But you speak English pretty well. Why don’t you use that?”
“Any moron can speak English. My dad was posted to the States for a couple of years when I was thirteen and I picked it up in, like, three weeks. But as I said, I don’t need a job. My life is great the way it is.”
I give up and retreat to my room. I picked up some sushi on the way home but I don’t want to eat at the dining table with Miki hanging around. I’ll just have to make do with my bedroom floor.
I switch on my laptop and log onto Facebook. I change my current location to Osaka, Japan and wait to see if I get any comments.
A chat window appears.
Him: Why hello there.
My heart flutters. Just who I was hoping for.
Me: Hey.
Him: How’s your Japanese adventure going?
Zen Queen Page 18