Ge-ge-ge no nyobou 9/16
Sep. 28th, 2010 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkera.k.a. putting your finger on the important point
Genbee and Shigeru were in the living room, sitting with a large wooden block on small feet between them. The top was inscribed with a matrix of black lines, 19 x 19. A number of small round disks, like buttons, in black and white, sat on the intersections. They were playing Go.
Shigeru looked over the board, then reached down and placed a black disk in a largely untouched area. Genbee looked at it, then up at Shigeru. "There? You're going there?" Shigeru chuckled. "Putting your finger on a weak spot, upsets your opponent."
Yoshiko came into the kitchen. She said to Fumie, "Aiko is really upset." Fumie said, "Yes, this is really messed up. Maybe better to let it go." Yoshiko said, "Aiko looks like Shigeru." Fumie said, "What do you mean?" Yoshiko said, "She's studying while she's upset, and her back looks just like Shigeru." Fumie said, "Anyway you look at it, it's pretty sad."
Upstairs, Aiko flopped on her bed. She muttered, "What were they thinking?" Then she remembered Fumie asking her to be patient, and telling her that Shigeru just wanted her to be close. Aiko sighed.
In the parents room, with the picture of Genbee on the shrine, Miyako handed a box to Kinuyo. Miyako said, "Souvenir cookies from Hakone. It's not much, but I hope you like it." Then Miyako unfolded a bundle wrapped in a large cloth. She said, "It's starting to get cold, too. I hope you can use this." She took out a bundle of cloth. Kinuyo unfolded it. It was a kimono coat. Kinuyo said, "You made this?" Miyako smiled. "Yes. But it's not so special. I'm getting old, my hands are tired, the sewing is probably not so good." Kinuyo thanked her and folded it up again.
Kinuyo said, "Would you like some tea?" Miyako nodded. While Kinuyo poured the hot water into the teapot, Miyako looked across the room. Shuhei's rocking chair, his coffee equipment, and his Victrola record player all sat there. Kinuyo poured two cups of tea and put one in front of Miyako.
Then Kinuyo looked at the picture of Shuhei and said, "I always thought I would die first." Miyako said, "Why?" Kinuyo smiled. "My heart is bad. All the doctors say there's nothing wrong, but I know. Every little bit, my chest gets so tight." Kunio shook her head. "I always thought when he was alone, he could do what he liked. Although I made sure that he practiced some things." She chuckled. "Actually, he made better tempura than I can." Then she shook her head again. "Whoever thought that I would be alive? I should've let him go to more of the plays and movies that he liked." She got out a tissue and sniffed, rubbing her nose. "All I ever did was complain. Although... I think being here, it isn't so lonely." She smiled. "More than 60 years." Then she frowned again. "A wife and husband are funny. We've got three sons still alive, but losing my husband, it's still lonely. We've even got grandchildren. But it's not the same." As tears dripped down her cheek, Miyako stroked her arm. Miyako said, "You are a good wife."
Looking at the Go table, Genbee said, "It's hard to figure out what to do." Shigeru said, "Which place?" Genbee shook his head. "No, I meant talking to children. Parents..." Then he leaned forward and put down a white disk. "I'll go here." Shigeru lifted his hand and put down a black disk. "Here." Genbee lifted his hand and said, "Wait."
Miyako walked in the door and said, "You really can't do that. It's bad." Genbee looked at her and said, "Do you know how to play Go?" Miyako shook her head with a smile. "No. But once you make a mistake, you can't go back."
Yoshiko, watching from the kitchen, turned to Fumie and said, "That was about Aiko, right?" Fumie nodded. "Yeah." Miyako came into the kitchen. Yoshiko said, "Grandma, you said that just right." Fumie said, "Nice." Miyako looked at them and said, "Me? I didn't say anything."
At the Go table, Genbee leaned forward and said, "It's hard to say..." Shigeru looked at the table and said, "Yes, difficult." Genbee stretched his hand out and put a white disk down. Shigeru said, "Wait."
Yoshiko said, "They're very much alike. Both really interested." Miyako said, "He's really enjoying playing." Fumie said, "They promised to play a long time ago. When they first met, in the bookstore. Genbee asked if Shigeru played, and said that they would have to play the next time he was here."
Genbee reached out and put his finger on the board. "How about this?" Shigeru tilted his head. "Well..." Genbee said, "Not good?" Shigeru shook his head. "Wait..."
Later, at an outdoor teahouse, Aiko, Fumie, and Yoshiko sat on one side of the table. Miyako and Genbee sat on the other side. They admired a nearby tree. Genbee said, "It's like an old painting." Miyako said, "I didn't know that Tokyo had pretty places like this."
Fumie chuckled. Miyako said, "What?" Fumie smiled. "The first time I came here, I said the same thing."
Genbee excused himself to go to the toilet.
Miyako looked across the table at Aiko. Miyako said, "Aiko? Do you know the old song, Yasugibushi?" Aiko said, "Yes, I think so." Then Yoshiko said, "Something like this?" She sang a short phrase. Miyako nodded and said, "There are lots of words to it. Recently Genbee has been singing one version. It says I want a tiger who can jump a thousand ri." Yoshiko said, "What does that mean?" Miyako said, "It's from an old story about a tiger who goes a thousand ri far away and comes back a thousand ri during a day to take care of its children." Yoshiko looked at Fumie and said, "A thousand ri? That's 4,000 kilometers, right?" Fumie said, "That's right."
Miyako said, "Fumie and Akiko, her older sister, both went far away to Tokyo. But they've been very happy, had good marriages. Genbee made really good decisions." Then she frowned. "But he's always been worried. Would they be healthy? When would he see them again? I think he wishes he could come and go like the tiger in the song." Fumie said, "Mother..."
Miyako looked at Aiko and said, "He really understood Shigeru worrying about you, and he made a bad suggestion. I'm sorry."
Genbee came back. Without sitting down he said, "We really should go." Everyone started to stand up.
Aiko said, "Grandfather?" Genbee looked at her. "Next time you visit, maybe we can do some things together." Genbee smiled. "Yes, maybe when the cherry blossoms are out."
Then he looked at Miyako and said, "Did you want to go to the souvenir store?" Fumie said, "I'll pay. You go ahead." Genbee and Miyako walked ahead.
As Aiko and Yoshiko walked with Fumie to the door, Aiko said, "Grandmother seems to follow Grandfather, but she puts her finger on important points." Yoshiko said, "Like last night, she pointed out his mistake." Fumie said, "She doesn't talk much, but she understands."
Aiko looked at Fumie and said, "Like you." Yoshiko said, "Yes!" Aiko said, "That's why you get along so well with Dad." Yoshiko said, "I guess Grandpa picked the right man." Fumie shook her head at the two of them and said, "You two! Hurry up."
Six months later, in September, Aiko sat at the table, underlining phrases in her notes. Fumie said, "You should eat your breakfast." Aiko said, "But I have to prepare." And she looked at the clock and said, "I gotta go!" She grabbed her notebook and stood up. Fumie said, "So is teaching school interesting?" Aiko smiled and said, "Yes. The kids are cute. I'm teaching third-year elementary, and I really like it."
At the school yard, kids ran up to Aiko and greeted her. She looked at the falling leaves and said, "Another day, fight on!"
Upstairs in the bedroom, Yoshiko was still sleeping. Fumie came in and said, "Wake up!" Yoshiko rolled over and said, "That cake tastes so good." Fumie shook her, and said, "Wake up!" Yoshiko blinked and said, "Just a dream?"
Later in the kitchen, Fumie came in and looked at Yoshiko at the table. Fumie said, "Are you still eating?" Yoshiko said, "It's OK today to be late. Besides, Aiko was up so early making noise." She took a bite of her toast. "Every day she's doing so much overtime." Fumie said, "Yes, she really likes it. Right now it's a little hard, but that's OK." Yoshiko said, "Does work have to be so hard?"
Fumie said, "I think if you wanted to, you could work that hard." Yoshiko scratched her head. "Yes, but at what? That's the problem."
<To be continued>
Genbee and Shigeru were in the living room, sitting with a large wooden block on small feet between them. The top was inscribed with a matrix of black lines, 19 x 19. A number of small round disks, like buttons, in black and white, sat on the intersections. They were playing Go.
Shigeru looked over the board, then reached down and placed a black disk in a largely untouched area. Genbee looked at it, then up at Shigeru. "There? You're going there?" Shigeru chuckled. "Putting your finger on a weak spot, upsets your opponent."
Yoshiko came into the kitchen. She said to Fumie, "Aiko is really upset." Fumie said, "Yes, this is really messed up. Maybe better to let it go." Yoshiko said, "Aiko looks like Shigeru." Fumie said, "What do you mean?" Yoshiko said, "She's studying while she's upset, and her back looks just like Shigeru." Fumie said, "Anyway you look at it, it's pretty sad."
Upstairs, Aiko flopped on her bed. She muttered, "What were they thinking?" Then she remembered Fumie asking her to be patient, and telling her that Shigeru just wanted her to be close. Aiko sighed.
In the parents room, with the picture of Genbee on the shrine, Miyako handed a box to Kinuyo. Miyako said, "Souvenir cookies from Hakone. It's not much, but I hope you like it." Then Miyako unfolded a bundle wrapped in a large cloth. She said, "It's starting to get cold, too. I hope you can use this." She took out a bundle of cloth. Kinuyo unfolded it. It was a kimono coat. Kinuyo said, "You made this?" Miyako smiled. "Yes. But it's not so special. I'm getting old, my hands are tired, the sewing is probably not so good." Kinuyo thanked her and folded it up again.
Kinuyo said, "Would you like some tea?" Miyako nodded. While Kinuyo poured the hot water into the teapot, Miyako looked across the room. Shuhei's rocking chair, his coffee equipment, and his Victrola record player all sat there. Kinuyo poured two cups of tea and put one in front of Miyako.
Then Kinuyo looked at the picture of Shuhei and said, "I always thought I would die first." Miyako said, "Why?" Kinuyo smiled. "My heart is bad. All the doctors say there's nothing wrong, but I know. Every little bit, my chest gets so tight." Kunio shook her head. "I always thought when he was alone, he could do what he liked. Although I made sure that he practiced some things." She chuckled. "Actually, he made better tempura than I can." Then she shook her head again. "Whoever thought that I would be alive? I should've let him go to more of the plays and movies that he liked." She got out a tissue and sniffed, rubbing her nose. "All I ever did was complain. Although... I think being here, it isn't so lonely." She smiled. "More than 60 years." Then she frowned again. "A wife and husband are funny. We've got three sons still alive, but losing my husband, it's still lonely. We've even got grandchildren. But it's not the same." As tears dripped down her cheek, Miyako stroked her arm. Miyako said, "You are a good wife."
Looking at the Go table, Genbee said, "It's hard to figure out what to do." Shigeru said, "Which place?" Genbee shook his head. "No, I meant talking to children. Parents..." Then he leaned forward and put down a white disk. "I'll go here." Shigeru lifted his hand and put down a black disk. "Here." Genbee lifted his hand and said, "Wait."
Miyako walked in the door and said, "You really can't do that. It's bad." Genbee looked at her and said, "Do you know how to play Go?" Miyako shook her head with a smile. "No. But once you make a mistake, you can't go back."
Yoshiko, watching from the kitchen, turned to Fumie and said, "That was about Aiko, right?" Fumie nodded. "Yeah." Miyako came into the kitchen. Yoshiko said, "Grandma, you said that just right." Fumie said, "Nice." Miyako looked at them and said, "Me? I didn't say anything."
At the Go table, Genbee leaned forward and said, "It's hard to say..." Shigeru looked at the table and said, "Yes, difficult." Genbee stretched his hand out and put a white disk down. Shigeru said, "Wait."
Yoshiko said, "They're very much alike. Both really interested." Miyako said, "He's really enjoying playing." Fumie said, "They promised to play a long time ago. When they first met, in the bookstore. Genbee asked if Shigeru played, and said that they would have to play the next time he was here."
Genbee reached out and put his finger on the board. "How about this?" Shigeru tilted his head. "Well..." Genbee said, "Not good?" Shigeru shook his head. "Wait..."
Later, at an outdoor teahouse, Aiko, Fumie, and Yoshiko sat on one side of the table. Miyako and Genbee sat on the other side. They admired a nearby tree. Genbee said, "It's like an old painting." Miyako said, "I didn't know that Tokyo had pretty places like this."
Fumie chuckled. Miyako said, "What?" Fumie smiled. "The first time I came here, I said the same thing."
Genbee excused himself to go to the toilet.
Miyako looked across the table at Aiko. Miyako said, "Aiko? Do you know the old song, Yasugibushi?" Aiko said, "Yes, I think so." Then Yoshiko said, "Something like this?" She sang a short phrase. Miyako nodded and said, "There are lots of words to it. Recently Genbee has been singing one version. It says I want a tiger who can jump a thousand ri." Yoshiko said, "What does that mean?" Miyako said, "It's from an old story about a tiger who goes a thousand ri far away and comes back a thousand ri during a day to take care of its children." Yoshiko looked at Fumie and said, "A thousand ri? That's 4,000 kilometers, right?" Fumie said, "That's right."
Miyako said, "Fumie and Akiko, her older sister, both went far away to Tokyo. But they've been very happy, had good marriages. Genbee made really good decisions." Then she frowned. "But he's always been worried. Would they be healthy? When would he see them again? I think he wishes he could come and go like the tiger in the song." Fumie said, "Mother..."
Miyako looked at Aiko and said, "He really understood Shigeru worrying about you, and he made a bad suggestion. I'm sorry."
Genbee came back. Without sitting down he said, "We really should go." Everyone started to stand up.
Aiko said, "Grandfather?" Genbee looked at her. "Next time you visit, maybe we can do some things together." Genbee smiled. "Yes, maybe when the cherry blossoms are out."
Then he looked at Miyako and said, "Did you want to go to the souvenir store?" Fumie said, "I'll pay. You go ahead." Genbee and Miyako walked ahead.
As Aiko and Yoshiko walked with Fumie to the door, Aiko said, "Grandmother seems to follow Grandfather, but she puts her finger on important points." Yoshiko said, "Like last night, she pointed out his mistake." Fumie said, "She doesn't talk much, but she understands."
Aiko looked at Fumie and said, "Like you." Yoshiko said, "Yes!" Aiko said, "That's why you get along so well with Dad." Yoshiko said, "I guess Grandpa picked the right man." Fumie shook her head at the two of them and said, "You two! Hurry up."
Six months later, in September, Aiko sat at the table, underlining phrases in her notes. Fumie said, "You should eat your breakfast." Aiko said, "But I have to prepare." And she looked at the clock and said, "I gotta go!" She grabbed her notebook and stood up. Fumie said, "So is teaching school interesting?" Aiko smiled and said, "Yes. The kids are cute. I'm teaching third-year elementary, and I really like it."
At the school yard, kids ran up to Aiko and greeted her. She looked at the falling leaves and said, "Another day, fight on!"
Upstairs in the bedroom, Yoshiko was still sleeping. Fumie came in and said, "Wake up!" Yoshiko rolled over and said, "That cake tastes so good." Fumie shook her, and said, "Wake up!" Yoshiko blinked and said, "Just a dream?"
Later in the kitchen, Fumie came in and looked at Yoshiko at the table. Fumie said, "Are you still eating?" Yoshiko said, "It's OK today to be late. Besides, Aiko was up so early making noise." She took a bite of her toast. "Every day she's doing so much overtime." Fumie said, "Yes, she really likes it. Right now it's a little hard, but that's OK." Yoshiko said, "Does work have to be so hard?"
Fumie said, "I think if you wanted to, you could work that hard." Yoshiko scratched her head. "Yes, but at what? That's the problem."
<To be continued>
