Baths are quick these days – it’s said that an expecting mother should not spend too long in hot baths. I get us washed and dry, and in nice clean yukata. As is our usual, we sit on the back engawa to enjoy the fireflies in the garden. Makoto sits in front of me, as I dry out her hair and brush it – even short hair can get little tangles at the ends, especially in the hair of an active girl like Makoto. It’s too early for cicadas, so the sounds are those of crickets and night birds, over the sounds of the city.
“I miss Chichiue” she says it so quietly after a few minutes of silence.
“I do too,” I continue brushing her hair. We’ve talked about missing. How we can use how much we love him to help us when we feel lonely. And that it’s fine to be sad sometimes, not not all the time. Chichiue would not like that.
“You have his hair, you know, dark and straight.” I smile as I keep brushing, “and you’re getting to have his face sometimes.”
Evening – After bath
3 thoughts on “Evening – After bath”
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I know she’s struggling with some of her classes, most notably math, but trouble? “Go on,”
“Hahaue I don’t like sewing club. I want to sew, I can help you get ready for the baby.” She suddenly pats my belly. “But the big girl who helps teacher doesn’t like me. She’s always sort of grumpy.” She frowns, “but she picks on my work a lot more.”
I’m quiet and let her continue, as the words are flowing out. “Today I didn’t want to go. I went to watch Tsutomu practice – he’s so cool,” she says in a happy little sigh, “but Sakaya-san found me.”
And then what happened I want to ask, as I see that -look- come out again.
But she finally starts to speak. “I know I was bad but… she was really angry.” Her voice is almost down to a whisper, “she told Tsutomu that I was a dis- disobedient girl, and she held me by my collar”.
Wait, this girl touched my daughter? I’m quiet, trying to stay calm. Thanks to the bath I just gave her I know there are no marks but nobody should touch her.
“Tsutomo said I have to persevere. And not skip out.” I’m angry at this girl speaking to Makoto so – she shouldn’t have ran out of class but it seems like it was taken very seriously. Is this how schools are? I was told it was strict but nobody should touch her.
It looks like I’m going to have to talk to someone at the school. But why does this much older girl seem to take such a dislike to my daughter? I have a suspicion that unfortunately, the best school in Toyko is not on neutral ground. But at least I can get her away from this one particular girl. I can teach her to sew.
Tsutomo said I have to persevere
Is that why he held her hand?
“You should have told me, or someone, about sewing club,” I said, “but what the older girl did is not right.” She relaxes a bit, and smiles. She’s just a little girl, and she wants to be a good one. “But next time, tell me, my little love.”
We’ll sit and watch the fireflies a little longer.
(OOC – Hide and Makoto are still on the porch. The shoji screens are open as it’s a nice night so anyone could overhear anything.)
The gathering clouds that cover the crescent moon, will someday by the wind be blown away and a shining night will come.
But where’s the sparkle? I ask the night sky. Instead of the night answering, the wind speaks.
“You have his hair, you know, dark and straight.” I smile as I keep brushing, “and you’re getting to have his face sometimes.”
Parts of their conversation is drifted by the wind. I let the wind tell me what it wants.
“I’m not -supposed- to worry you. It will make you and the baby sick. And I don’t want anyone to be sick.”
I close my eyes and listen some more.
“I always need to know your worries. You’re the precious child of your father and I…
“But what about when he’s gone?”
“Well, you have me. And when he’s here, you have us both.”
I stop listening. They’ll never have him after all. -We- never did. A -foolish- hope.
I take my little girl upstairs and get her settled into bed, holding her hand until she goes to sleep.
(OOC – Close thread)