February 13^th 7am JST

Sendai, Japan

(February 12 6pm CST)

 

            I woke up to the annoying beeps of my alarm. I had just had a dream, but all I could remember was a strange pink rabbit with a yellow beak telling me to listen more and talk more. It was a very evil looking little rabbit. I sat up and ran my hand through my hair and then rubbed my eyes. It was a big day today. I was finally taking the entrance exam into Tohoku University. I had been studying non-stop for the past year for this exam. I got out of bed and walked downstairs to the bathroom. I noticed it was awfully quiet in the house, but it was Saturday and everyone usually slept in anyways. I washed my face, gargled, and brushed my teeth.

I went back upstairs, walked to the back of the hall to my parents room and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I knocked again and opened the door a crack. The room was empty. It was odd of Mother to be up this early. I walked to my sisters room and knocked. Again, no answer. I opened the door and that room too was empty. I walked back downstairs. I looked in the kitchen and living room. Not one was there. Then I remembered. They had been making a racket last night and Yoshie had said something about some boxes.

            “Shit” I ran up to my room and grabbed the cell on the desk. I flipped it open and an e-mail appeared on the screen.

 

            Brother

           

We’re all at Uncle’s new house unpacking. Even Mom’s here! Come and join us when you wake up. Here are the directions…

 

            “She forgot after all,” I sighed. I had reminded her about it just two days ago. I had an inkling that she wasn’t paying attention and it seemed as if I was right. I started pulling on my school uniform as I gathered my things together. Then I went into Yoshie’s room and grabbed her schedule book and some paperwork from her desk. Once I was sure I had everything I locked up the house, got on my bike, and took off.

            It was lucky that I had woken up early to get a few extra hours of studying in. It took me half an hour to get to the house. The door was unlocked so I let myself in. I could hear Yoshie squealing about something from the second floor.

            “YOSHIE!!!” There was a moment of silence and then Yoshie pounded down the stairs.

            “Yah! You came!!” She smiled but then noticed that I wasn’t, “What’s wrong?” I held out her planner opened to today’s date. “Yea, so? I’ve still got a week to study.”

“Yo-chan. Today is the 16^th.” She looked at me a bit uncertain, as if she was

trying to tell if I was lying or not. Then when she realized that I was not, her eyes got big.

            “MOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!” She screamed and ran off into the kitchen.

“Ah, Kazuo, what’s all the racket?” Dad poked his head out from the living room.

            “They seem to have forgotten we had our entrance exams today.”

            “That’s today? Yoshie!” He yelled as he crossed the hall into the kitchen. I looked at my watch; Yoshie had an hour and a half to get to the school and I only had an hour. Yoshie dashed past me and went into the bathroom. Luckily for her the water had been connected. Unfortunately the gas had not. Mother followed a moment later with a bottle of Fabreeze in her hand.

            In 20 min Yoshie was cold but refreshed and ready. I had hoped Dad would take us, but it was Mother who ushered us out the door. First she dropped Yoshie off and then took me to the University. I was one of the last ones they let into the testing hall.

            The test lasted a couple of hours, but I left feeling fairly confident about it. Mother was waiting in the car to pick me up.

            “So, how did it go?” She asked as I buckled myself in.

            “Fine.” I leaned my elbow on the door and looked out the window.

            “I’m sorry I forgot about today. I could have sworn it was next week. Man, With your Uncle coming, my mind’s been a mess.”

            “It’s nothing new, so why apologize now? And even if you’re doing it to be polite, don’t bother.”

            “What are you talking about?” She attempted to look at me while she tried to check traffic at an intersection only to get honked at by a taxi. I didn’t reply as she asked me again. I glanced forward and noticed we were on the wrong side of the road. Quickly I grabbed the wheel and pulled the car onto the right side. Luckily we had already left the downtown area and were going down a vacant neighborhood street lined with houses. Well, actually it was lined with the stone walls that surrounded the houses.

            “What are you doing?”

            “Stop the car, Mother. You’re driving on the right side again.”

            “Huh?”
            “The right side. Not the left side, like everyone else.” I clarified. She pulled over, almost clipping a telephone pole that sat on the side of the road. I got out and walked around the car, “Move over. You can’t drive properly when you’re upset.”

            “I am not upset!” She slapped her hand against the wheel.

            “Yes you are, now move over.” I didn’t give her a chance and started to get in on top of her.

            “Kazuo!” She quickly pulled herself to the other side, “I was just asking you a question!”

            “And here is your answer. All you’ve ever done is think about him. He’s the only important person in you’re life. So it’s no surprise that you forgot something that has been important to me for the past three years.”

 

 

February 12^th 4pm EST

Indiana

(February 13 6am JST)

 

            “Alright, we’re here. Everyone take a deep breath and put on your happy smiles.”

            “I have to wear my happy smile for three weeks?”

            “Only when your grandmother is in the room.”

            “I don’t know if my cheeks will last!” Mercedes slapped her cheeks a few times, adjusting her smile appropriately. We pulled into a tree hidden drive. In the distance, through the bare, leafless trees, sat the blue house. As we rounded the turn in the drive we could see and hear a cocker spaniel barking. A slightly plump woman, who was well into her sixties, was standing in front of the house. Her hair was short and dusted with a dark brown. It was the first time in three years to see her, and it was sad to see how much older she had gotten.

 

            He called me just as they entered town. Even through I knew it would take them another fifteen minuets to reach the house I immediately pulled on my coat and stepped into the chilly air to wait. Bella went out with me and spent her time chasing the few birds that had hung around all winter. The second their truck hit our gravel lane Bella started barking. Luckily she’s a coward, so I didn’t have to worry about her running off.

            The truck pulled up and the engine was cut off. The three of them piled out of it looking tired. They approached and I noticed they were ‘smiling’.

            “Take those things off your face and put on some real ones!” I scolded them as I pulled them into a hug. “She’s not here right now. I sent her into town for something.”

            “Oh, thank you, Mimi. I don’t want o wear them out too fast!” Mercedes laughed and hugged the dog. I looked at Emily confused but she just laughed and shook her head.

            “Let’s get your things inside and then you can relax,” I announced, walking to the back of the truck and pulling the hatch open. A suitcase came tumbling out and I was barely able to get out of the way.

            “Mom, let me get that. They’re pretty heavy.” Kaden come around and picked up the suitcase that had fallen. I grabbed a small bag that was probably Mercedes’ as Emily appeared and pulled the other large suitcase from the truck. We were able to get everything they needed into the house in one trip.

            “Kaden, go wake up your Papaw. He’s been worried about you. I’ll take these two to their rooms so they can freshen up.” Kaden nodded and walked over to an old recliner that sat in front of a rather large TV. I pulled the suitcase behind me, and headed down the hall. I could hear Kaden even as we reached the end.

            “Dad! Dad!!”

            “Eh?! Oh!!! Look what the cat dragged in!!”

            “Mimi!” I jumped and looked down at Mercedes. “Mimi, which room is mine?”

            “Oh, I’m sorry. You get the computer room, but no playing with it unless someone is with you. Understood?”

            “Yes, ma’am!” Mercedes grabbed her bag and ran into her room. I followed Emily into her and Kaden’s room.

            “I’m sorry you have to put up with Rebecca. She had been talking about getting an apartment in town, but…”

            “It’s okay, Karah. She is his mother after all,” Emily smiled.

            “Take you’re time and rest; I’ll call when dinner is ready.” I left the room and glanced back into Mercedes’ room. She was laying on the bed with her eyes closed. I walked back to the living room; David was still awake and was now flipping through the stations. “Where’s Kaden?”

            “He went to talk to Jen. How much longer till dinner?”

            “It’ll be a bit. Don’t worry, you won’t starve.” I walked through the living room and into the kitchen. I couldn’t start dinner until Rebecca was back with the groceries. I looked in the cupboard and found I still had enough fixings to start some cookies while we waited.

            “WHAT?!!?!!?!?!?!?!!??!?!”

            “Oh my…” I shook my head, “Looks like she told him.” I walked into the laundry room where it shared a wall with what had been the garage and was now an apartment. We had originally converted the garage for my parents, but they had died quite a few years ago. I had hoped to change it into a sewing room, but Rebecca and Jennifer decided to move in before I could do anything about it.

            “Kaden, will you cool off? I already have Mom at my throat. I don’t need you too!” There was a thump as someone sat in a chair next to the wall.

            “I’m surprised you’re still live if you’ve told Mother.”

            “Well, I told her it was Matt’s.”

            “And that’s the guy I met three years ago?”

            “Right.”

            “So, where is this other guy?”

            “I don’t know. He disappeared after I told him.”

            “Right. So, what are you going to do?”

            “I…don’t know.” I heard Kaden sigh and the bed squeaked.

            “You are planning to tell Matt right?”

            “I want to, but…”

            “But?” 

            “His family hates me. I had to beg just to find out he had joined the Navy.” I could hear Jen sniff a little before she went on, “I tried to get them to tell me how to contact him, but they said he left to get away from me. I know it’s a lie, but what else can I do?”

            “We have to tell him. You won’t be able to keep it a secret from Mother for long.”

            “Won’t be able to keep what a secret from me?” Their mother was home, and one thing that Rebecca hated worse was finding out someone was keeping a secret from her. I decided that then was a good time to get away before anyone found me eavesdropping. I walked back into the kitchen and found Mercedes standing on a chair looking at the ingredients I had set out.

            “Mimi, you weren’t going to make cookies without me, were you?”

            “Of course not. I was just getting it ready.”

            “Well, get over here and let’s get started.” I smiled. It was nice to have a young one in the house again. We had just opened the flour container when the door to the apartment flew open and Kaden stomped into the kitchen pulling his sister behind him. This was the first time I had seen the two together in three years, and it still amazed me how much they looked alike, even though they had different fathers.

            “Kaden Zachary Reynolds, Jennifer-Brent Olivia Reynolds! GET BACK HERE!! I asked you two a question!!” Rebecca stormed in after them filling the kitchen with a cloud of rage. Her long thick blond hair was pulled up in a ponytail and her blue eyes were blazing.

            “And I gave you and answer, Mother.” Kaden shot back and then turned to me, “Jen and I are going out for a bit, Mamaw. We’ll get pizza in town.” He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and disappeared from the kitchen. Rebecca stood there for a moment, staring at the door.

            “Mimi, help!” I looked down and Mercedes had ignored the scene and was trying to fill a measuring cup with flour. The flour container unfortunately was too tall for her and was tempting to spill over. I grabbed the container and helped her measure the flour.

            “Mercedes Reynolds.” Rebecca had finally realized we were there, “Come over here and give your Mamaw a hug.”

            “Okay,” She chirped, then turned, and hugged me.

            “Mercedes, that’s you’re Mimi.” Rebecca smiled, but her lip was twitching.

            “No, that’s my Mamaw. I just call her Mimi.”               

            “You better go hug her, and put on your smile.” I patted her on the rear to get her moving. Like a good girl she put on a fake smile and ran into her grandmother’s arms.

            “Karah, I saw Kaden and Jen leave, where are they…going…” Emily trailed off when she noticed Rebecca. Rebecca too had noticed her daughter-in-law. For a moment Rebecca’s smile wavered but she plastered it on again.

            “Emily! It’s so nice to see you!” Emily too plastered on her smile.

            “You too. It’s been too long.” They hugged each other lightly and then Rebecca excused herself and returned to her room.

            “I wish you two would just fight to release some of the tension that’s around when you’re both in the same room.”

            “Sorry, Karah. My Mom always told me never to fight if there was a chance to be civil.”

            “And she’s right. But I still wish you would.” Emily laughed and then joined in to help with the cookies.