Ge-ge-ge no nyobou 5/29
May. 29th, 2010 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkera.k.a. a saleslady?
Fumie looked at her budget. "Three months with no money? I should work. I can work!"
As she rode her bicycle to the bookstore, she was surprised to see a crowd in the doorway. She parked her bicycle and hurried over to see what was happening. She looked over their heads and saw the wife from the public bath, giving Kiyo, the old woman from the bookstore, a facial massage using the cream that the wife was selling. The wife showed how to rub up the cheeks, and said, "See how the wrinkles vanish?" A woman beside her said, "Oh, would it help me?" The wife said, "Of course. Take those wrinkles around your eyes right out." The woman laughed and said, "I'll take it!" Other women agreed. The wife said, "Okay, as soon as I finish her massage, I'll sell you each a membership."
Later, in the dining room of the bookstore, the wife preened. Her friends from the other shops, Kiyo, Michiko (the bookstore owner) and Fumie asked her how the work was going. She smiled, "I'm doing well. The other day, I was the number one in sales!" Then she said, "But it's really because of Michiko." Michiko said, "Well, in the afternoons, the bookstore makes a good place to show women your cosmetics. And besides, it helps me too." One of the other women said, "What?" MIchiko nodded. "Right now, people aren't coming to the rental manga shops like they did. This brings them in." Then Michiko looked at Fumie. "Actually, how are you doing? I heard that rental manga publishers are closing. It must be hard for the manga authors?"
Fumie gulped, and said, "Well, actually, I came here today to talk with you." The wife from the public bath said, "Oh, don't worry. If you're having trouble, you can sell cosmetics. It's really good money." Then she looked at her watch. "I had better go down to the office and let them know how I did today." She picked up her cosmetics case and started to stand. Fumie grabbed her arm.
She looked at Fumie. "Yes?" She knelt again. Fumie sat back. "Oh, nothing...I just..." Then the other woman started to stand up again, and Fumie grabbed her arm. The other woman looked at her. Fumie said, "Do you think... could I sell cosmetics?" Michiko said, "Fumie!" The wife looked thoughtful and said, "Well, I've only been doing it for a short time, but..." Kiyo said, "Your first time working outside your home, and starting with a sales job...are you sure that's a good idea?" Fumie took a deep breath and said, "I want to work."
At the cosmetics office, Fumie rubbed cream into a woman's cheeks. The well-dressed cosmetics saleslady watching across the table said, "That's right." She smiled, and told Fumie, "You can do this. I think you'll do well at it." Fumie said, "Really?" The saleslady said, "Oh, yes. You're very sincere, and people like that. Why don't you come back tomorrow, and we'll do your training." Then she looked at Fumie's clothes. Fumie was wearing her everyday blouse and skirt, with a housewife's apron. "But do take off the apron. You need to look like a woman's dream, not housework."
Fumie left the cosmetics office. She walked her bicycle around the shopping area, and wondered to herself. "Can I really be a saleslady?" She remembered trying to sell instant ramen, and the problems that she had with that. She worried as she went home.
Back at home, Fumie hesitantly opened the door to Shigeru's work room. She said, "Could I talk to you a little?" He was working on a manga drawing, but grunted. Fumie stepped into the room and said, "There's a woman in the bookstore, actually from the public bath, and she's selling cosmetics. And I asked, and... well, I thought maybe I would try selling cosmetics." Shigeru started laughing. Then he looked over at Fumie and said, "This is really funny." He pointed to the page he was drawing. It had kappa with a yo-yo. "I was remembering people at the World's Fair and their reaction to yo-yos." Fumie looked at it, and smiled. Shigeru put the sheet back, and started working on it again. He mumbled, "Maybe later you can help me a little bit." Fumie watched him for a moment, then left the work room.
Back in the kitchen she looked at her budget. "Three months before we get money. I want to work. I can do it." She closed her budget book, and stood up.
The next morning, Fumie looked around the cosmetics office. The walls had posters for cosmetics, along with a large poster with several slogans, such as "always greet the customer with a smile." The saleslady explained that the company provided the cosmetics case, and that if Fumie sold more than a certain amount, she would earn bonus points and more money. Fumie listened to the explanation of what she could make, and said, "Do you really pay that much?" The saleslady said, "Yes. But if you don't sell, you don't make any money." Fumie nodded.
The saleslady got out a cosmetics case and set it on the table. "Well, I think you're ready to go." Fumie said, "What, today?" The saleslady said, "We could explain things forever, but the only way to really learn sales is to do it. Today, you'll go out with a partner. Tomorrow, you'll be on your own." Then she called the wife from the public bath. "Are you ready?" The wife from the public bath said, "Yes."
At a woman's house, as Fumie watched, the wife from the public bath said, "You know, you really should try our massage service. I think you'll enjoy it. And then we can talk about our sales program." The woman said, "Oh, maybe, but I was just getting ready to go out." The wife from the public bath said, "That's great. Just a little more cream and massage, and you'll be ready to go out with a smile. Why don't we just do the massage today, and we can talk about our sales another day?" The woman said, "Well... I guess I would enjoy a massage..."
Back in the cosmetics office, the wife took their cosmetics cases and set them aside. Then she turned to Fumie and said, "Are things really that bad?" Fumie said, "What do you mean?" The wife said, "I was so surprised to hear that you wanted to work. I think things must be really bad to make you leave the house and work." Fumie said, "Actually, I wanted to work. I needed to know that I could do things." The wife nodded. "I think you'll do very well. I've been watching people for many years at the public baths, and I can tell what kind of a person you are. You'll do fine."
In another house, the wife was giving a woman a facial massage. She rubbed her cheeks and said, "You have such young skin." The woman said, "Oh, you're teasing." The wife said, "No, I've been watching people for many years at the public baths, and I know you've got young skin." The woman laughed at her. Then she looked across the kitchen, and said, "Oh, my rice is ready. I need to take it out." The wife said, "You've got one of those new automatic rice cookers? They look very useful." The woman said, "Yes, but how can I..." Fumie said, "Let me take care of the rice." The woman said, "OK, just put it in the rice bowl there."
Fumie walked across the kitchen and opened the catches on the lid of the rice cooker. She took the lid off. Then she picked up a towel and raised the inner lid. The smell of the rice wafted up into her face. She dropped the lid back on the rice, pressed her hand to her mouth, and ran out of the kitchen.
Fumie knelt by a doorway into the garden, her hand to her mouth. The wife came out behind her. "Are you all right?" Fumie took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, I just felt nauseous. I guess I'm worrying too much. Or maybe I ate something bad this morning." The wife looked at her and said, "Could you be pregnant?" Fumie looked at her, wide-eyed. "Pregnant?" The wife tilted her head.
Today's episode ended with a medley of bits for the upcoming week. One was a visibly pregnant Fumie sitting at a table stroking her stomach -- perhaps a vision of the future? Another was Shigeru's mother and father, with his mother saying "They're going to have a baby." Michiko and Kiyo asking Fumie, "But are you happy?" Shigeru saying, "Children now would be hard." Tomita, the publisher, throwing someone into the hall in front of Shigeru. Shigeru and Fumie carrying a bundle. And Fumie saying, emphatically, "I am going to have this baby."
Fumie looked at her budget. "Three months with no money? I should work. I can work!"
As she rode her bicycle to the bookstore, she was surprised to see a crowd in the doorway. She parked her bicycle and hurried over to see what was happening. She looked over their heads and saw the wife from the public bath, giving Kiyo, the old woman from the bookstore, a facial massage using the cream that the wife was selling. The wife showed how to rub up the cheeks, and said, "See how the wrinkles vanish?" A woman beside her said, "Oh, would it help me?" The wife said, "Of course. Take those wrinkles around your eyes right out." The woman laughed and said, "I'll take it!" Other women agreed. The wife said, "Okay, as soon as I finish her massage, I'll sell you each a membership."
Later, in the dining room of the bookstore, the wife preened. Her friends from the other shops, Kiyo, Michiko (the bookstore owner) and Fumie asked her how the work was going. She smiled, "I'm doing well. The other day, I was the number one in sales!" Then she said, "But it's really because of Michiko." Michiko said, "Well, in the afternoons, the bookstore makes a good place to show women your cosmetics. And besides, it helps me too." One of the other women said, "What?" MIchiko nodded. "Right now, people aren't coming to the rental manga shops like they did. This brings them in." Then Michiko looked at Fumie. "Actually, how are you doing? I heard that rental manga publishers are closing. It must be hard for the manga authors?"
Fumie gulped, and said, "Well, actually, I came here today to talk with you." The wife from the public bath said, "Oh, don't worry. If you're having trouble, you can sell cosmetics. It's really good money." Then she looked at her watch. "I had better go down to the office and let them know how I did today." She picked up her cosmetics case and started to stand. Fumie grabbed her arm.
She looked at Fumie. "Yes?" She knelt again. Fumie sat back. "Oh, nothing...I just..." Then the other woman started to stand up again, and Fumie grabbed her arm. The other woman looked at her. Fumie said, "Do you think... could I sell cosmetics?" Michiko said, "Fumie!" The wife looked thoughtful and said, "Well, I've only been doing it for a short time, but..." Kiyo said, "Your first time working outside your home, and starting with a sales job...are you sure that's a good idea?" Fumie took a deep breath and said, "I want to work."
At the cosmetics office, Fumie rubbed cream into a woman's cheeks. The well-dressed cosmetics saleslady watching across the table said, "That's right." She smiled, and told Fumie, "You can do this. I think you'll do well at it." Fumie said, "Really?" The saleslady said, "Oh, yes. You're very sincere, and people like that. Why don't you come back tomorrow, and we'll do your training." Then she looked at Fumie's clothes. Fumie was wearing her everyday blouse and skirt, with a housewife's apron. "But do take off the apron. You need to look like a woman's dream, not housework."
Fumie left the cosmetics office. She walked her bicycle around the shopping area, and wondered to herself. "Can I really be a saleslady?" She remembered trying to sell instant ramen, and the problems that she had with that. She worried as she went home.
Back at home, Fumie hesitantly opened the door to Shigeru's work room. She said, "Could I talk to you a little?" He was working on a manga drawing, but grunted. Fumie stepped into the room and said, "There's a woman in the bookstore, actually from the public bath, and she's selling cosmetics. And I asked, and... well, I thought maybe I would try selling cosmetics." Shigeru started laughing. Then he looked over at Fumie and said, "This is really funny." He pointed to the page he was drawing. It had kappa with a yo-yo. "I was remembering people at the World's Fair and their reaction to yo-yos." Fumie looked at it, and smiled. Shigeru put the sheet back, and started working on it again. He mumbled, "Maybe later you can help me a little bit." Fumie watched him for a moment, then left the work room.
Back in the kitchen she looked at her budget. "Three months before we get money. I want to work. I can do it." She closed her budget book, and stood up.
The next morning, Fumie looked around the cosmetics office. The walls had posters for cosmetics, along with a large poster with several slogans, such as "always greet the customer with a smile." The saleslady explained that the company provided the cosmetics case, and that if Fumie sold more than a certain amount, she would earn bonus points and more money. Fumie listened to the explanation of what she could make, and said, "Do you really pay that much?" The saleslady said, "Yes. But if you don't sell, you don't make any money." Fumie nodded.
The saleslady got out a cosmetics case and set it on the table. "Well, I think you're ready to go." Fumie said, "What, today?" The saleslady said, "We could explain things forever, but the only way to really learn sales is to do it. Today, you'll go out with a partner. Tomorrow, you'll be on your own." Then she called the wife from the public bath. "Are you ready?" The wife from the public bath said, "Yes."
At a woman's house, as Fumie watched, the wife from the public bath said, "You know, you really should try our massage service. I think you'll enjoy it. And then we can talk about our sales program." The woman said, "Oh, maybe, but I was just getting ready to go out." The wife from the public bath said, "That's great. Just a little more cream and massage, and you'll be ready to go out with a smile. Why don't we just do the massage today, and we can talk about our sales another day?" The woman said, "Well... I guess I would enjoy a massage..."
Back in the cosmetics office, the wife took their cosmetics cases and set them aside. Then she turned to Fumie and said, "Are things really that bad?" Fumie said, "What do you mean?" The wife said, "I was so surprised to hear that you wanted to work. I think things must be really bad to make you leave the house and work." Fumie said, "Actually, I wanted to work. I needed to know that I could do things." The wife nodded. "I think you'll do very well. I've been watching people for many years at the public baths, and I can tell what kind of a person you are. You'll do fine."
In another house, the wife was giving a woman a facial massage. She rubbed her cheeks and said, "You have such young skin." The woman said, "Oh, you're teasing." The wife said, "No, I've been watching people for many years at the public baths, and I know you've got young skin." The woman laughed at her. Then she looked across the kitchen, and said, "Oh, my rice is ready. I need to take it out." The wife said, "You've got one of those new automatic rice cookers? They look very useful." The woman said, "Yes, but how can I..." Fumie said, "Let me take care of the rice." The woman said, "OK, just put it in the rice bowl there."
Fumie walked across the kitchen and opened the catches on the lid of the rice cooker. She took the lid off. Then she picked up a towel and raised the inner lid. The smell of the rice wafted up into her face. She dropped the lid back on the rice, pressed her hand to her mouth, and ran out of the kitchen.
Fumie knelt by a doorway into the garden, her hand to her mouth. The wife came out behind her. "Are you all right?" Fumie took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, I just felt nauseous. I guess I'm worrying too much. Or maybe I ate something bad this morning." The wife looked at her and said, "Could you be pregnant?" Fumie looked at her, wide-eyed. "Pregnant?" The wife tilted her head.
Today's episode ended with a medley of bits for the upcoming week. One was a visibly pregnant Fumie sitting at a table stroking her stomach -- perhaps a vision of the future? Another was Shigeru's mother and father, with his mother saying "They're going to have a baby." Michiko and Kiyo asking Fumie, "But are you happy?" Shigeru saying, "Children now would be hard." Tomita, the publisher, throwing someone into the hall in front of Shigeru. Shigeru and Fumie carrying a bundle. And Fumie saying, emphatically, "I am going to have this baby."
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-05-31 12:42 am (UTC)Don't fret about keeping up. I try to avoid getting too far behind, because the show comes out all the time and I know if I get way behind I will have to struggle to catch up. But the postings will still be here whenever. Glad you're enjoying them!
no subject
Date: 2010-05-31 12:54 pm (UTC)I guess I was thinking of how many situational comedies in the U.S. tend to lean on the baby plot line, which always almost ends up shows the end is coming. My resentment with this started with a fictional historical series called "Poldark," of all things. In the book, the main male character declares his love for the main female character after a rocky relationship, and then she announces she is pregnant. In the television version, she announces she is pregnant and THEN he announces he loves her. It may seem like a small difference, but time after time I've seen this--the man get the epiphany he is really in love when he realizes he has sired an offspring.
That bugs me, for some reason. No rational reason for it. Just does.
But I don't see Shigeru coming out with a passionate declaration -- I like the fact that they are exploring the problems with having a child (the discrimination against Fumie being able to work, for example; the expense; being poor, etc.
I have to admit, this series is different from what I expected.