Big Sound Temple

by Ben Stevens

  She say ‘Oh Hiro kun.’

  Her boss then give us funny look and start to come near. I give small sign with my eye to Sakura.

  She understand what is mean. She loud say ‘What you like to eat?’

  I know already but still I again look at menu. I feel like want to laugh. I very happy. I ask for the fry chicken.

  Sakura say polite word which mean I hear and understand. Then she shout order at two men who cook. Boss smile and shake head. I think he know what happen but not care.

  I think it important I study English hard now. Because one day I want to take Sakura to England or America. I think it important for man to know language of country where he take the woman. So he not look baka when foreign people talk to him.

  There is thing in Japan call the Narita divorce. (Narita big airport in Tokyo.) This when new marry couple go on the honey moon to foreign country.

  Before woman think man may be have good job and is strong and clever. That he alway in control of situation. Then they get to foreign country and man not know what to do. Is laugh at and alway have to pay too much money.

  Woman say ‘I think you smart man but you not!’ She say ‘What happen if we have child and you not know what to do?’

  By time they return to Narita they decide to divorce. But often Narita divorce only happen to couple who have arrange marriage. Who not really know each other before get marry.

  I think Sakura and me already know each other very well. We have very same spirit. So I not worry about Narita divorce in may be future. Just make sure my English very good before go place like London or New York City.

  Wendy look tire and happy again when I go for lesson. She have the sweet smell on breath. She move her hand a lot when talk and say honey often.

  This secret thing but I think for more old woman she look OK. Make most more old man happy to be with her.

  I wonder why she still live alone. I mean just with cat. Because I not think in heart she like to be alone.

  Today Wendy try to explain when to use the and a. This one of the most hard thing for Japanese person to learn when speak English.

  Wendy give the example. She say ‘I had a gin and tonic.’ Then she say ‘The gin and tonic is on the table.’

  Then Wendy doorbell ring. She look confuse.

  She say ‘Was not expect company.’ She say ‘Sorry Hiro honey one second.’

  She get up from table leave kitchen and walk along hall to door.

  Then I hear her say ‘What you do here?’

  Is voice of Japanese man who answer. I know even though he speak English. Because his English not very good.

  He say ‘Just want for to see you.’

  His voice sound like he is little drunk. I imagine man dress like salaryman in suit with red face.

  Wendy voice not sound happy.

  She say ‘What those?’

  He say ‘Flower for you.’

  I stand up from table and walk to kitchen sink. I look out of kitchen window. Wendy apartment quite high up and nice view at night. It dark now. Many light of city. Wendy one time tell me this view can be call romantic.

  I wonder if Wendy like the Japanese man. But only for short time.

  I hear Wendy say, ‘OK thank you but please not come like this again.’

  Man say ‘Please when can we meet again?’

  Wendy say ‘I call you now please go.’ She say ‘I teach now.’

  Man say ‘I very sorry.’

  Wendy say ‘Good bye’ and I hear door close.

  I quick sit at table again.

  Wendy come in with lot of flower. I think expensive to buy. Wendy face look almost angry. Never see her face like this before.

  Then she look at me and laugh and give the hic cup.

  She say ‘Is there significant other in your life Hiro honey?’

  She then try to explain what she mean.

  In end she just give sigh that I know is mean to be funny and say ‘Do you have girlfriend Hiro?’

  I feel little strange to answer yes. But I think I know why she ask. Because not want flower.

  I right. Because Wendy say ‘Great then please take these and give to her.’ She say ‘Save me have to put in trash.’

  I say ‘No thank you.’

  I try think of reason because I say no. I say ‘May be not see girlfriend again before flower die.’ I say ‘Then I have to put flower in trash.’

  Wendy again laugh and say ‘Got you.’

  She put flower in kitchen sink and then sit down at table.

  She ask ‘How old are you Hiro?’

  I say ‘I twenty four.’

  Wendy look at me some time. She seem to be busy think of something. Then she say ‘OK where were we?’

  I know she mean about lesson. We continue with when to use the and a.

  Wendy good teacher but I know I never proper understand about the and a. But is OK because I learn many other thing in her lesson.

  I alway work Saturday so have day off in week instead. This mean I have two day off every week because not usual work Sunday.

  This week I take day off on Friday and arrange for to meet Sakura outside estate agent office that is near shopping arcade.

  I already see good apartment advertise in window. It small but look nice and not in expensive part of city. Only ten minute tram journey from izakaya where Sakura work. Rent cheap and good place to live for young single person.

  But when I arrive at estate agent office Sakura already inside and is talk to the woman agent. They look at magazine full of apartment.

  Sakura have dress very smart and look like professional worker. She see me walk in and to agent say ‘This my boyfriend.’

  Sakura to me say ‘We find nice apartment can go now for to look at it.’

  Sakura say ‘It only short walk and agent come with us.’

  I say ‘What apartment we go and see?’

  Sakura close magazine and say ‘You soon see.’

  We walk out of estate agent office and walk along busy road. Stop outside very big apartment block which is name SunCity High. SunCity High is build only two year ago. It have the security door and nice carpet and big elevator with mirror. Everything very clean. Also it in centre of city.

  I think rent be very expensive. But I not able to say this to Sakura with agent here. Just go inside door and take elevator to five floor. Leave elevator and agent open door to apartment. Four apartment on each floor.

  Inside I see is 2LDK apartment. This mean two bedroom, living dining room and kitchen. It look very luxury. Lot of sun come through window.

  Smell of new tatami mat. Kitchen big and new. Polish wood floor in kitchen and dining room. Bedroom are Japanese style with slide door of wood and paper and tatami.

  Sakura to agent say ‘This very nice.’

  Agent say can rent straight away.

  Sakura say word which mean like is nothing more to say. Sound like she say OK she rent.

  I say ‘One moment please how much is rent?’

  Agent say. As I expect it very expensive. More than two time rent of small apartment I see in estate agent office window.

  Sakura nod head and say ‘Is OK.’ She tell agent we take it.

  Agent smile and say let go back to estate agent office for the paperwork.

  I quick say ‘Thank you we meet you there in half hour.’

  Sakura give me look I not like but agent just smile and say ‘I understand.’

  We leave apartment and take elevator down. We say good bye to agent outside apartment block and then I take Sakura to cafe that is in shopping arcade.

  Sakura look angry and I not say any thing until buy two coffee and sit at table. I want for to say many thing. Not know where to begin.

  I say ‘What you do?’

  Sakura fold arm and not drink coffee. Her eye hard as she look at me. Sometime hard to think she can cry so easy.

  Sakura say ‘What is matter?’

  I say ‘OK why choose so expensive apartment?’ I say ‘W
hy to estate agent say we both live there?’

  Sakura say ‘I not say that.’

  I say ‘Well that seem what you mean.’

  Then Sakura reach over for to touch my arm. Her eye soft now.

  She say ‘Hiro kun I talk to my friend Midori.’ She say ‘Midori say she live in apartment with me and pay half rent.’ She say ‘But we just need you to help us at start.’

  I say ‘I not interest in Midori.’ I say ‘I do this thing for you because you say you very not happy at home.’

  Sakura say ‘But if Midori live there too it mean I can live nice place.’ She say ‘I give you rent money every month and you just pay from your bank.’ She say ‘Just need your help for to pay deposit and first month rent.’ She say ‘I pay that back also in future.’ She say ‘I have problem with my bank account at moment so am not able to pay from that.’

  Situation have become very complicate in my mind. When I say to Sakura I want to help her I mean small apartment for just her. I think may be I help pay half rent on small apartment. I imagine that soon we live together at my house behind of temple anyway.

  I tell Sakura about small apartment I see and think is good for her. I say where it is.

  She look like is bad smell under her nose. She say ‘That horrible area to live!’ She say ‘Is that all you want for me?’ She say ‘I am young woman and need some space.’

  I say ‘How much is deposit for apartment we just see?’

  Sakura say is three month rent. There is also first month rent to pay immediate. This lot of money. But I tell my self Sakura spend whole life in small apartment with bully father and depress mother. This is thing I am do for to help her.

  I say ‘OK go to estate agent office.’ I say ‘I meet you there.’

  She say ‘Where you go?’

  I say ‘Bank.’

  I take money from machine in bank. Then I think have to go quick back to my house for to get thing call hanko. This like small stamp that use ink to sign person family name on important document. Every Japanese family have one.

  I go back to estate agent office. I sit at desk with Sakura beside me and write many detail like phone number and job descript in long document. Rent now is automatic pay by my bank every month.

  I use hanko for to put my name at end of document. I give estate agent four month rent money in envelope and she give me two key for front door. Agent bow as me and Sakura leave office.

  Outside Sakura look very happy. She say ‘Thank you Hiro kun.’

  I happy to see Sakura happy.

  I say ‘Is OK.’ I say ‘Do you need my help for to move thing?’

  She say ‘No is all OK.’ She say ‘You go home and relax I call you soon.’

  Then she say ‘Oh please give me other key.’

  Because when estate agent give us two key Sakura take one and I take other. Because of Sakura pretend we both live at apartment.

  Sakura say ‘So I can give to Midori.’

  This mean I not have key. But I not live at apartment.

  I give Sakura key and she quick kiss my face then is gone. I stand in street and look up at blue sky for few moment.

  I happy for Sakura but four month rent is lot of money. I have good job but not rich man. I wonder when she give me next month rent money for her and her friend.

  I not call Sakura until Sunday morning. Want to see if she call me first. But she not call so I call her. I try several time before she answer.

  As alway she have heavy mouth and not say much on phone. But she say OK when I ask her come to my house in evening.

  After I start do serious clean of house. I mean mop floor and take spider web from ceiling. I hear mouse and hope they be quiet when Sakura come. They normal only make noise when is very bad weather like typhoon. I think Sakura not like the mouse.

  I have delay long enough. Now is time for to clear my father room. Father not have many possession. Not much more than futon he sleep on and big wood cupboard with clothe.

  I fold all his clothe and put in two big plastic bag. I decide what to do with clothe later. Is enough now just to tidy up.

  Is two draw at bottom of big cupboard. Inside more clothe. I empty draw and find some photo. They old photo.

  One photo show my father and his father when my father still boy. This when my grandfather janitor at temple. My grandfather stop whole temple burn to ground when mad monk set fire to temple hall.

  My grandfather see flame from house and run to temple. He have to hit mad monk because mad monk attack him. Jump on his back like the evil monkey and try to stop my grandfather put out flame.

  My grandfather use fire extinguish to knock out mad monk and then on the flame. He have to wait for fire engine. This because only steep and narrow slope for vehicle go up to temple. For car usual OK but big vehicle like the fire engine have many problem drive up slope.

  (A few year ago in very hot summer Yamashita san think he have heart attack. Temple call ambulance. But it take so long for ambulance drive up slope that two ambulance man just run up hundred stone stair with stretcher. Doctor later tell Yamashita san his heart condition is OK. Pain cause because he eat big bowl of ice noodle too fast.)

  Other photo is of my father my mother and me. I very young. My mother look about same age as me now. She not look happy. My father try to smile but little success. My mother very pretty and may be wonder why she marry only the temple janitor.

  I think soon after this photo was take she go. I just wake up one morning and my father help me dress for school. This never happen before.

  I ask my father where my mother is. He say she go away some where for little time. I ask where. He say tell me later. I ask when she come back. He say tell me later. Alway later.

  Only when I more old he explain that my mother leave in night. Just pack suitcase and call the taxi and go. She send my father one letter that say she not come back. That she make the very bad mistake with him.

  I ask my father one time where letter is. He say he get drunk and angry and burn it. He say alway regret this after. Because want now for to show it me. So I know for sure is my mother choice she not want for to see me.

  But I believe my father. He just hard work man who like sometime to drink the beer and go fish. Is not bad side to my father.

  My mother just get bore and go. It happen. I not really remember her so not really miss her.

  But is sometime strange to think she may be dead and I not even know.

  Sakura say she come at six thirty clock.

  Is eight clock when she knock on my front door. I open door and she quick run inside.

  She say ‘Oh Hiro I very scare!’

  I try hold her arm but she not allow me.

  She say ‘How can you live here?’

  I not know what she mean. I ask her.

  She say ‘Outside is chikan.’

  (I later check this word in Japanese English dictionary. It mean pervert. Chikan often stand in very crowd train and touch school girl. But sometime also hide in dark lonely place and follow the woman. In place where is chikan is often poster to warn people. But I never see or hear of chikan around temple or on mountain. Because usual when is dark in evening it only me walk up mountain to house and not young pretty woman. So not very interest for the chikan unless he like the young man.)

  I say ‘I go look.’

  Sakura look around her with wild eye.

  She say ‘Please not leave me here!’

  I say ‘What is problem with this house?’

  She say ‘Please Hiro just walk me back to bottom of stone stair.’ She say ‘I go home from there.’

  I say ‘But I want to see talk to you.’ I say ‘I order us pizza.’

  But Sakura just shake head and say no. She look tire and I think is smell of alcohol.

  I say ‘OK I come see your new apartment.’

  Sakura look at me angry now.

  She say ‘Give me space Hiro!’ She say ‘Give me just two second for to get thing organise before you come!’r />
  She make me feel like I never leave her alone. Like I alway bother her. But I think I patient man.

  I say ‘OK I just walk you to bottom of stone stair.’

  I think she want hold my hand as walk back down mountain but she just put hand in pocket.

  I say ‘Sakura where you see chikan?’

  Sakura say ‘Not see just is feel.’

  She say ‘Is everywhere dark and many place for man like that to hide.’ She say ‘Sorry but I not want come here again even when is day.’

  It get more light as we come around side of temple. Because bright outside light left on so to make burglar man stay away.

  There is no chikan any where here. I think Sakura can just say she scare because is dark and many tomb on mountain.

  But I not say this. I just hope soon thing be OK between us. Because not nice feel between us at moment. Just want to spend time with her but alway difficult. Now she say she not even come to my house when is day.

  We get to stone stair. We not even at bottom when she say ‘Thank you I go on own now.’

  I think she say something about when we can meet. But she say nothing as she walk away down stair. I want say something. But not good to say something I think because she just tell me she need the space.

  I turn and walk back toward my house. My mind have many question. Some not nice question but I not able to help for to think them.

  I never think I suspicious person before I start go out with Sakura.

  Alway leaf fall from many tree and bush around temple. Not just in autumn. Some temple tree and bush lose the leaf in spring and also summer.

  But now is become autumn every morning so many leaf to sweep. It take may be two or three hour to sweep all around temple and down all hundred stone stair.

  Sometime young people meet by temple gate at bottom of stone stair at night. Next morning alway many empty can of drink and finish cigarette. Not nice for visitor to temple to see so I quick clear this rubbish at start of work.

  I use big net for to take leaf out of big pond at back of temple. I see koi with no tail and see it body heal. It now swim almost as well as other koi with tail.

  Koi all gather at side of pond when I feed small green ball that smell like fish. Koi have different colour. Gold orange black red and yellow. Sometime all these colour just on the one fish.