Ge-ge-ge no nyobou 8/17

Aug 17, 2010 11:09

a.k.a. what really happened?

In the street in front of the house, Sachiko, the sister-in-law and accountant, walked quietly away from the house. She paused and looked back. She said to herself, "I'm sorry, Fumie, but I hope you have a quiet dinner." Then she turned and walked on.

Shuhei and Kinuyo sat in the living room. Fumie, Aiko, and Yoshiko were in the kitchen. Shuhei said, "So Shigeru has been talking about southern islands, eh?" Fumie nodded. Then she looked at Yoshiko and said, "Go tell Shigeru that dinner is ready." Yoshiko ran off. Shuhei said, "I understand how pretty they are. I was in Indonesia, Java, you know." Fumie said, "You were? What were you doing there?" Shuhei said, "Oh, yes. This was before the war. I was selling farm insurance. Coffee, tea, all kinds of farm products. We did very well." Kinuyo looked at him. "Yes, and as a climax, you paid it all out again. That's why we're poor."

In the dark work room, Yoshiko ran up behind Shigeru who was working at a desk under a desklight. She said, "Dad! Dinner!" He said, "Oh, good. I'm hungry." He got up and stretched. Yoshiko stared at his empty sleeve.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, everyone stood around the table. Kinuyo looked at the food spread out, and snorted. "Tofu dengaku? Tofu with sweet miso? That's all?" Fumie said, "Yes, I thought with the heat, a light meal would be good." Kinuyo shook her head. "That's good for Shuhei and I, we're old, but Shigeru needs stamina food. Eel!"

Shigeru came through the doorway with Yoshiko. Everyone looked at him. He said, "What's wrong?" Kinuyo walked over and patted his shoulder. "I'm sorry you're not getting enough to eat."

Later, after dinner, Aiko helped Fumie with the dishes. Aiko said, "Grandmother was pretty rude. I hope you're not too upset. I thought dinner was very good." Fumie chuckled, and dried a dish. "Thank you." Aiko said, "By the way, I was invited to a birthday party this Thursday. Is it OK to go?" Fumie said, "Yes. Is this Tomomi?" Aiko said, "No, it's a new girl. Akagi." Fumie smiled. "It's nice to see you happy about school."

Yoshiko came in and looked at Fumie. "Mom, why is Dad missing an arm?" Fumie looked at her. Yoshiko said, "Tell me?" Fumie walked over and knelt down. "A long time ago, your father had an accident." Yoshiko said, "An accident?" Fumie said, "Yes, and he lost his arm." Yoshiko said, "Will he get it back? It it was Kitaro, it would come back." Fumie shook her head. "No, it's gone."

Aiko said, "That's the first time I've heard you talk about Dad's arm. So it was an accident."

Yoshiko said, "Let's watch television." Aiko smiled and went to sit in front of the television with Yoshiko.

Fumie looked at them. She wondered if she should explain about the war, and losing his arm to a bomb. Then she shook her head. "No, maybe later. It's too early."

The next day at school, Tomomi met Aiko in the schoolyard on the way in. Tomomi said, "Did you bring a bag for the project like the teacher said?" Aiko shook her head. "I forgot all about it! What am I going to do? Do you have an extra one?" Tomomi shook her head. "I just brought one." The new girl, Akagi, came up and said, "Did you remember the bag?" Aiko said, "I forgot. What should I do?" Akagi said, "I've got an extra one. You can have it." Aiko said, "Oh, thanks!" Akagi gave her the bag, and left. Tomomi looked after her and said, "She really is nice."

Meanwhile, Sugai, the clumsy assistant, showed Matsukawa, the new Shonen Land assistant, an attractive woman, into the visitor's space. As she sat down, she said, "So Sensei is taking a walk?" Sugai said, "Yes, he likes to think while walking. He'll be back soon." Matsukawa said, "I understand you do the dots." Sugai said, "Yes, but the dots are very important. Do you remember the cave that Shigeru walks into? That was all dots." Matsukawa said, "How long have you been here?" Sugai said, "Six years. I'm the senior assistant." Matsukawa said, "So you've been here from early." Sugai nodded.

Just then, Shuhei walked in. He was wearing his good suit and tie. He glanced around, "Oh, isn't Shigeru here?" Then he looked at Matsukawa and smiled, "Oh, you're here today. Matsukawa, right?" She said, "Yes, I wanted to talk to Sensei. Shonen Land would like him to do a special this summer. Maybe a war story? Or something he can do quickly." Shuhei sat down. "Well, I know he's got lots of stories. I took him to plenty of kamishibai, and we always enjoyed the cliffhanger... come back tomorrow to find out what happens next." He laughed. Matsukawa said, "Do you remember the names of those stories?" He leaned forward. "Oh, yes. There was..."

Sugai snorted. Shuhei looked around. "Oh, you're busy, aren't you? Go ahead back to work, I'll take care of Matsukawa." Sugai got up and left, glaring at Shuhei.

Later, as Shuhei did a short Kabuki imitation, Shigeru came in. Shuhei looked up and said, "Oh, here you are. I was entertaining Matsukawa." Fumie came in the other door and said, "Shuhei? Is this where you are? Kinuyo was looking for you." Fumie had 2 cups of tea on a tray. Shuhei stood up and said, "Well, I had better leave. Don't want to interrupt work."

Shigeru sat down. "What can I do for you today?" Matsukawa said, "Well, Kitamura was wondering about an extra story this summer. He thought maybe a war story, something you could do quickly?" Shigeru shook his head. "I can do a war story, but it won't be fast. You tell him it takes time to do a war story." Matsukawa looked down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." Fumie looked at them, and wondered at the harsh tone of Shigeru's response.

In the classroom, Aiko, Tomomi, and Akagi stood at Aiko's desk. Aiko said, "You really helped me today. Thanks again." Akagi said, "Well, maybe you could do me a favor?" Aiko said, "What?" Akagi leaned forward over the desk. "Could you ask your father to put me on television?" Aiko said, "What?" Akagi said, "I really want to be on television. I can help Kitaro chase the monsters. Just ask?" Aiko said, "I don't..." Akagi said, "If you ask your father, and he asks the television people, I'll be sure to be on. And then I'll become a model, and everyone will know me! Please..." Aiko said, "I guess I could ask?" Akagi grabbed her arm. "Oh, that's great!" Aiko said, "Wait, I can't promise..." Akagi said, "But if you ask your father, I'm sure he'll do it." She turned and ran out of the room, waving, "Thanks!"

Later, in the kitchen, Fumie was making breaded pork chops. As she rolled the pork chops in breadcrumbs, she wondered again about Shigeru's harsh answer to being asked about a war story. He was usually so happy to be asked to do a story.

Aiko tugged on Fumie's apron. "Hey, mom?" Fumie jumped. "Oh, you surprised me." Aiko said, "You didn't hear me the first time." Fumie said, "I was thinking, I guess." Aiko said, "Can I help?" Fumie said, "Yes, you can wash the dishes in the sink." Aiko went over and started to wash the dishes. Fumie set the pork chop down and wiped her hands on a towel. "It's unusual for you to want to help." Then she put her hands on Aiko's shoulders. "I think I know. You want to earn some money to buy a birthday present for your friend, right?" Aiko said, "Uh, right." Fumie said, "Well, if you do a good job, I'll pay for the present." She went back to the pork chops.

After a moment, Aiko said, "Mom? Do you think I could ask Dad about putting someone on television?" Fumie looked at her. "What?" Aiko looked at the dishes. "It's just... a friend asked at school about being on television, and I thought maybe I could ask..." Fumie said, "I don't think so." Aiko frowned at the dishes. "What if you ask? Then he could ask the people who make the television show, and..." Fumie shook her head. "I wouldn't do it. I don't interfere with his work." Then she looked at Aiko. "Did you promise?" Aiko glanced around and smiled. "No. I just said I would ask. That's OK, I understand."

Kinuyo yelled for Fumie from the other room. Fumie looked at Aiko. "Are you sure it's OK?" Aiko nodded. "Yes." Kinuyo yelled again, and Fumie left.

Late that evening, Shigeru was reading in his office. Fumie came in, and said, "Shigeru? I brought tea?" He gestured at the visitor's table, just outside his office. "Put it over there." He kept reading. Fumie set the tea down, then stepped into his office. "What are you reading?" He looked up. "Oh. This." He handed her the old manga. It was a war story by Shigeru Mizuki.

asadora, ge-ge-ge no nyoubou, morning drama, tv, japan, ge-ge-ge no nyobou

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