Ge-ge-ge no nyobou 9/18
Sep. 30th, 2010 04:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkera.k.a. perseverance
Aiko lay in her bed, with tears running down her nose and across her lip. She remembered proudly telling her mother that she was finally getting the students to respond. Yoshiko poked her head in through the curtain and said, "Aiko?" Aiko turned over and pulled the blanket over her head.
Fumie stood in Shigeru's office. She said, "Aiko is having a really hard time." Shigeru nodded. Then he slapped his chair and stood up. "Yes. I was right. She can just leave that school and work here." He walked into the visitors area. "We just got a lot more work, I don't know if Mitsuo can handle it all. This is good. Just quit teaching and work here."
Fumie looked at him and said, "What are you talking about? She's upstairs crying, not sure which way to go." Shigeru walked back to his chair. He shrugged. "There's no problem. Just quit." Fumie said, "Oh..." Shigeru sat down in his chair. He said, "Tomorrow is Sunday. So she can start next week."
Fumie said, "I should have known." She turned and walked out of his office. Shigeru leaned back in his chair. He said, "Hum..."
Later, Aiko was sitting outside on the porch. Fumie came out carrying a basket. She paused momentarily, then smiled and looked up at the sky. Fumie said, "It's really nice weather today." She opened the lid on the washing machine. "It's really good for washing."
Aiko said, "Mom." Fumie looked at her. Aiko said, "I guess I'll quit teaching." Fumie said, "What?" Aiko said, "It'll make Dad happy." Fumie shook her head and said, "Aiko..."
Aiko said, "I thought I understood the children. I guess I thought too much. I'm just not a teacher, I guess."
Fumie set the basket down. She said, "If you're going to quit, quit. I won't quit being your mother, though."
In the office, Shigeru was drawing. Yoshiko stepped inside and said, "Dad?" He grunted. Yoshiko said, "Are you working this weekend?" Shigeru looked at a thick book of drawings, and made a note. He glanced at Yoshiko and said, "Work that you love never ends. Whether you're a monster or human, there's so much to do."
Yoshiko said, "You work so hard because you love your work, right?" Shigeru nodded. Yoshiko said, "Aiko is the same way. I thought she'd kill herself if she didn't become a teacher." Shigeru frowned. "Yeah..." Yoshiko said, "But now she's thinking about quitting. I guess just because you love the work doesn't mean it will go well, does it?" Shigeru said, "That's true. You can work hard, think it's going well, and still get lots of complaints. And at night, you worry about it." He set down his pencil and leaned back in the chair. "For a long time, I wanted to be popular. But I wasn't. I thought a lot about quitting."
Yoshiko nodded. She said, "Please tell Aiko. I think she'd believe you, if you told her about struggling." She walked out of the office.
Shigeru looked after her. He said to himself, "What does she mean?" Then he remembered talking to Fumie about how both of the girls were doing well.
Aiko sat in her room. She gazed at the wall and remembered Fumie saying, "If you're going to quit, quit. I won't quit being your mother, though." She shook her head and remembered Fumie sitting down beside her and saying, "To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure I wanted you to be a teacher. Live nearby, find a good husband, help Shigeru. I thought that was enough." Aiko answered, "I can see that." Then Fumie said, "But it's not just about Shigeru being happy. That wouldn't be you. You studied hard, passed difficult examinations, and became a teacher. Every day you worked hard. Now, you need to think hard about what's best for you." Aiko looked around the room. "What's best for me?"
Shigeru walked in and said, "Hey... put this up." He held out two sheets of paper with a slogan written on them. Aiko got up and took the sheets. She got thumbtacks and put them on the wall. Then she read it. "Confidence does not ensure success..." Shigeru read the second sheet. "... But perseverance lets you take advantage of it." Yoshiko had come in from her room and said, "That's in the workroom, isn't it?" Shigeru said, "Yes. It's from Goethe." Aiko said, "Goethe?" Shigeru nodded. "During the war, I carried his books. And read them many times."
Downstairs, Fumie said, "I wonder if Yoshiko has gone shopping yet." She walked up the stairs.
Aiko and Shigeru sat on her bed. He said, "What you like is good. But what you like and what's easy are just a little different." He shook his head. "Something that's difficult, sometimes you don't want to do it, but you still do it... that's what you really like." He shrugged. "When we're lost and confused and depressed, we may not know what we like. We're not gods." And he shook his head again. "And at night, you worry. But you wait and work for a good chance. That's all you can do." He chuckled. "Not facing a challenge is just boring."
Fumie stood in the doorway. She said, "Shigeru..."
Another morning, Aiko walked out the door. She called back, "I'm going." Then she looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. She told herself, "Keep on fighting!" She walked off with a smile.
Inside, Yoshiko sat at the table. Yoshiko said, "I think Aiko is doing better." Fumie said, "Yes. But she's got a lot to think about right now." Yoshiko said, "Like what?" Fumie said, "For example... how to best help the children read aloud." Yoshiko said, "Oh. A manga corner for reading would be good." Then she smiled. "Nice work!" Fumie said, "Yes. But what's really best is what the kids come up with themselves."
Yoshiko frowned. "But if she quits teaching, she can help Mizuki Productions." Fumie smiled. "I'm sure someone else will turn up." Yoshiko smiled. "Well, if she doesn't, I will." Fumie turned and looked at her. "What?" Yoshiko said, "I really enjoyed helping. I can't draw or do some of that, but I liked helping." Fumie said, "Are you serious?" Yoshiko said, "Yes."
Fumie said, "I'm sure it would make Shigeru happy, but... make sure that's what you really want." Yoshiko grinned. "Yes. I really like his manga. And helping makes me happy." Fumie said, "Yoshiko..." Yoshiko said, "But I'm not sure yet. Until I graduate, I might find something I like better." Fumie said, "Taking time to decide is best."
Another day, Fumie was carrying a tray of tea cups and cakes into the workroom. As she stepped in, Shigeru said loudly, "Yes! They've decided." Mitsuo said, "All right! At last." Fumie said, "What?" Shigeru looked at her and said, "They're going to do Kitaro as a TV anime! Daily starting October 12!" Then he grinned and said this, "Not just that. Starting in September, they're going to do a manga spotlight." Then he looked at everybody and said, "So, everyone! Fight on!" Sugai, Aikawa, and Mitsuo clapped.
This was the third time that Fuji television put Kitaro on as a TV anime, starting in 1985 and running three years.
On October 12, Fumie was talking on the phone. "Thank you! So everyone will be watching." She hung up and turned to Shigeru. "I think all of our friends are going to be watching." The phone rang again, and she picked it up. "This is Murai." After a moment, she said, "Oh, Kumiko!" Then she frowned. "What?" She listened for a moment, then said, "I understand. What about Mother?" She hung up.
Fumie looked at the phone as she said, "That was from home." Shigeru said, "Did something happen?" She said, "Genbee has had a stroke." After a moment she said, "What do I do now?"
This episode ended with many bits from next week. I think they stretched the time for previews from the normal minute to two minutes. Some of the ones I caught included: Fumie in a kimono in front of manga character sketches, saying "Arigato." (thank you). Genbee holding his hands up in prayer. Miyako nodding in the doorway. Aiko and Yoshiko smiling. The two editors -- Toyokawa and Kitamura, from Shonen Land -- in suits with drinks. Fumie and Shigeru standing in the woods. Kanou, the professional woman, in a purple dress. Shigeru and others in funeral suits. Kameda, the pawn shop owner, laughing. Fumie crying. A manga sketch of Kitaro, his eyeball father, the sandthrowing hag, and the ratman. Uraki waving an invitation. Inui and Sanae, Japan's smallest publisher and his wife. Shigeru in a top hat raising a glass of juice. The three wives in the doorway. Taichi laughing. Yuichi and Sachiko. Several others -- it looks like in the last week we're going to see everyone again. And the final bit with Fumie saying, "Always together."
<to be continued>
Aiko lay in her bed, with tears running down her nose and across her lip. She remembered proudly telling her mother that she was finally getting the students to respond. Yoshiko poked her head in through the curtain and said, "Aiko?" Aiko turned over and pulled the blanket over her head.
Fumie stood in Shigeru's office. She said, "Aiko is having a really hard time." Shigeru nodded. Then he slapped his chair and stood up. "Yes. I was right. She can just leave that school and work here." He walked into the visitors area. "We just got a lot more work, I don't know if Mitsuo can handle it all. This is good. Just quit teaching and work here."
Fumie looked at him and said, "What are you talking about? She's upstairs crying, not sure which way to go." Shigeru walked back to his chair. He shrugged. "There's no problem. Just quit." Fumie said, "Oh..." Shigeru sat down in his chair. He said, "Tomorrow is Sunday. So she can start next week."
Fumie said, "I should have known." She turned and walked out of his office. Shigeru leaned back in his chair. He said, "Hum..."
Later, Aiko was sitting outside on the porch. Fumie came out carrying a basket. She paused momentarily, then smiled and looked up at the sky. Fumie said, "It's really nice weather today." She opened the lid on the washing machine. "It's really good for washing."
Aiko said, "Mom." Fumie looked at her. Aiko said, "I guess I'll quit teaching." Fumie said, "What?" Aiko said, "It'll make Dad happy." Fumie shook her head and said, "Aiko..."
Aiko said, "I thought I understood the children. I guess I thought too much. I'm just not a teacher, I guess."
Fumie set the basket down. She said, "If you're going to quit, quit. I won't quit being your mother, though."
In the office, Shigeru was drawing. Yoshiko stepped inside and said, "Dad?" He grunted. Yoshiko said, "Are you working this weekend?" Shigeru looked at a thick book of drawings, and made a note. He glanced at Yoshiko and said, "Work that you love never ends. Whether you're a monster or human, there's so much to do."
Yoshiko said, "You work so hard because you love your work, right?" Shigeru nodded. Yoshiko said, "Aiko is the same way. I thought she'd kill herself if she didn't become a teacher." Shigeru frowned. "Yeah..." Yoshiko said, "But now she's thinking about quitting. I guess just because you love the work doesn't mean it will go well, does it?" Shigeru said, "That's true. You can work hard, think it's going well, and still get lots of complaints. And at night, you worry about it." He set down his pencil and leaned back in the chair. "For a long time, I wanted to be popular. But I wasn't. I thought a lot about quitting."
Yoshiko nodded. She said, "Please tell Aiko. I think she'd believe you, if you told her about struggling." She walked out of the office.
Shigeru looked after her. He said to himself, "What does she mean?" Then he remembered talking to Fumie about how both of the girls were doing well.
Aiko sat in her room. She gazed at the wall and remembered Fumie saying, "If you're going to quit, quit. I won't quit being your mother, though." She shook her head and remembered Fumie sitting down beside her and saying, "To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure I wanted you to be a teacher. Live nearby, find a good husband, help Shigeru. I thought that was enough." Aiko answered, "I can see that." Then Fumie said, "But it's not just about Shigeru being happy. That wouldn't be you. You studied hard, passed difficult examinations, and became a teacher. Every day you worked hard. Now, you need to think hard about what's best for you." Aiko looked around the room. "What's best for me?"
Shigeru walked in and said, "Hey... put this up." He held out two sheets of paper with a slogan written on them. Aiko got up and took the sheets. She got thumbtacks and put them on the wall. Then she read it. "Confidence does not ensure success..." Shigeru read the second sheet. "... But perseverance lets you take advantage of it." Yoshiko had come in from her room and said, "That's in the workroom, isn't it?" Shigeru said, "Yes. It's from Goethe." Aiko said, "Goethe?" Shigeru nodded. "During the war, I carried his books. And read them many times."
Downstairs, Fumie said, "I wonder if Yoshiko has gone shopping yet." She walked up the stairs.
Aiko and Shigeru sat on her bed. He said, "What you like is good. But what you like and what's easy are just a little different." He shook his head. "Something that's difficult, sometimes you don't want to do it, but you still do it... that's what you really like." He shrugged. "When we're lost and confused and depressed, we may not know what we like. We're not gods." And he shook his head again. "And at night, you worry. But you wait and work for a good chance. That's all you can do." He chuckled. "Not facing a challenge is just boring."
Fumie stood in the doorway. She said, "Shigeru..."
Another morning, Aiko walked out the door. She called back, "I'm going." Then she looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. She told herself, "Keep on fighting!" She walked off with a smile.
Inside, Yoshiko sat at the table. Yoshiko said, "I think Aiko is doing better." Fumie said, "Yes. But she's got a lot to think about right now." Yoshiko said, "Like what?" Fumie said, "For example... how to best help the children read aloud." Yoshiko said, "Oh. A manga corner for reading would be good." Then she smiled. "Nice work!" Fumie said, "Yes. But what's really best is what the kids come up with themselves."
Yoshiko frowned. "But if she quits teaching, she can help Mizuki Productions." Fumie smiled. "I'm sure someone else will turn up." Yoshiko smiled. "Well, if she doesn't, I will." Fumie turned and looked at her. "What?" Yoshiko said, "I really enjoyed helping. I can't draw or do some of that, but I liked helping." Fumie said, "Are you serious?" Yoshiko said, "Yes."
Fumie said, "I'm sure it would make Shigeru happy, but... make sure that's what you really want." Yoshiko grinned. "Yes. I really like his manga. And helping makes me happy." Fumie said, "Yoshiko..." Yoshiko said, "But I'm not sure yet. Until I graduate, I might find something I like better." Fumie said, "Taking time to decide is best."
Another day, Fumie was carrying a tray of tea cups and cakes into the workroom. As she stepped in, Shigeru said loudly, "Yes! They've decided." Mitsuo said, "All right! At last." Fumie said, "What?" Shigeru looked at her and said, "They're going to do Kitaro as a TV anime! Daily starting October 12!" Then he grinned and said this, "Not just that. Starting in September, they're going to do a manga spotlight." Then he looked at everybody and said, "So, everyone! Fight on!" Sugai, Aikawa, and Mitsuo clapped.
This was the third time that Fuji television put Kitaro on as a TV anime, starting in 1985 and running three years.
On October 12, Fumie was talking on the phone. "Thank you! So everyone will be watching." She hung up and turned to Shigeru. "I think all of our friends are going to be watching." The phone rang again, and she picked it up. "This is Murai." After a moment, she said, "Oh, Kumiko!" Then she frowned. "What?" She listened for a moment, then said, "I understand. What about Mother?" She hung up.
Fumie looked at the phone as she said, "That was from home." Shigeru said, "Did something happen?" She said, "Genbee has had a stroke." After a moment she said, "What do I do now?"
This episode ended with many bits from next week. I think they stretched the time for previews from the normal minute to two minutes. Some of the ones I caught included: Fumie in a kimono in front of manga character sketches, saying "Arigato." (thank you). Genbee holding his hands up in prayer. Miyako nodding in the doorway. Aiko and Yoshiko smiling. The two editors -- Toyokawa and Kitamura, from Shonen Land -- in suits with drinks. Fumie and Shigeru standing in the woods. Kanou, the professional woman, in a purple dress. Shigeru and others in funeral suits. Kameda, the pawn shop owner, laughing. Fumie crying. A manga sketch of Kitaro, his eyeball father, the sandthrowing hag, and the ratman. Uraki waving an invitation. Inui and Sanae, Japan's smallest publisher and his wife. Shigeru in a top hat raising a glass of juice. The three wives in the doorway. Taichi laughing. Yuichi and Sachiko. Several others -- it looks like in the last week we're going to see everyone again. And the final bit with Fumie saying, "Always together."
<to be continued>
