by Ben Stevens
But as I talk Hanako start have very kind face. Normal she look like very serious business woman. But now she look like she understand my problem and want to help.
I think how many year I know her. Almost my whole life. Sometime it feel like she my more old sister even though we same age. It alway feel like she more old than me even when we child. It feel that way now.
I think I need Hanako help very much. Like she only person left in world I can trust. Before was also my father but now he gone. It strange thing but only now do I really think I never ever see him again.
Is so many emotion just come in my mind and sudden I start cry. Not loud cry but still is tear.
I feel very ashame. I try to pretend I just wipe my nose with tissue but it no use.
But Hanako just say ‘It OK Hiro no problem.’ She say ‘You recent have hard time.’
She push box of more tissue on desk to me. She have kind face I not really see before.
I manage to stop cry and just nod head. I feel ashame for to just look at Hanako. I not think she cry even when young child. Person like Hanako never cry.
I say ‘I OK now.’
Hanako say ‘OK then let get to business.’
She now again have the serious face. She lean forward in chair and look at contract on desk.
She take some minute. Look like she is think very much. I not say any thing.
Then Hanako look at me and shake head. She say ‘You sure this is all just because of what happen to your uncle dog?’
I say ‘Yes I sure.’
Hanako again shake head. She say ‘You have your uncle mobile number?’
I say ‘Yes.’
Hanako say ‘Tell me it.’
Then Hanako phone on desk ring. I mean not mobile phone but other phone. It big and have lot of button.
Hanako answer and say ‘Yes?’
She listen for short time. She tap few button on her computer keyboard and look at screen.
She say ‘OK then please book me flight to Frankfurt for early Friday morning.’
She also say thing which I know from watch English movie mean please hold all my call. But she not put phone back down.
She again say ‘Tell me your uncle number Hiro.’
I get my mobile phone out of jacket pocket. I find uncle number and say it to Hanako.
She dial number. She wait few second then start talk. She say her name and her company name.
Then she say ‘I am call because of my client Hiro Matsumoto san.’
I very surprise!
Hanako keep talk. I think my uncle is very surprise and is think what hell is happen? Also I think he try say something but Hanako not let him. She use polite Japanese but is much force in her voice.
She say ‘I am look at contract my client sign with Yes Loan.’ She say ‘I am have trouble understand some of it.’
She start to use very technical word I not understand. She have contract on desk. She move her finger along under some of word as she talk.
She say ‘Yes I understand that but’ then I not understand what she say again.
I feel bit like hopeless child. But I think Hanako is say that some of contract is not exact correct because of the Japanese money law.
As she talk Hanako write something on paper. She show it me. It say what is your uncle address?
I quick write address for her.
Hanako give quick nod and continue talk.
She say ‘May be this conversation is not work on phone.’
Because I think my uncle is keep argue that contract is OK. He very stubborn man and I think he not like it that woman is seem more clever than him.
Hanako then say ‘Yes I can meet you.’ She say ‘Shall we meet in one hour time?’
I not able to hear what my uncle say. But I think he just say let us meet because he think that this scare Hanako. But it not work. In fact Hanako have trick him in to say a thing that she want. I mean to meet.
I think my uncle fat face now is very red. I think he have to try very hard for to control his anger.
Hanako then say ‘I sorry but that is only time that is good for me.’ She say ‘If we meet I may be not have to do other thing because of my client problem with your company contract.’
Now I think my uncle is worry. Hanako still use the polite Japanese but there is also like threat in her word.
Because usual my uncle company just deal with poor people who not understand thing like money law. They of course not able to pay expert person like Hanako for to help them when get in problem.
I think my uncle understand that if he not do what Hanako say then may be he have trouble come. Because Hanako very clever and determine person. I think she can make many problem for my uncle and his company if she want.
Hanako listen.
She say ‘Yes I understand that.’ She say ‘It not take long if we meet.’
She give hard sound laugh and say ‘Matsumoto san I also busy person.’ (Matsumoto is of course my uncle family name also.)
Hanako look at what I write on paper and say ‘This is your address?’ She then say address. She also say ‘Are you in home now?’
I think this make even more worry and surprise for my uncle. I mean that Hanako sudden say his home address and not his office address. It mean like he not able to hide any place from her.
Hanako say ‘OK so I visit you at eleven thirty clock?’
She say like question but I know uncle realise he have no choice. He have to meet whatever time Hanako say.
Hanako sudden give small smile and put phone down.
She to me say ‘He say yes then end call.’
I say ‘Hanako thank you very much.’
She give quick wave of hand and shake head.
She say ‘It not finish yet Hiro.’ She say ‘He just say OK to meet us.’
I sudden feel nervous. I think now uncle is type of man who may be ask Bad Boy friend to come to his house when Hanako and me go. I worry now that I get Hanako in bad situation. That she not understand that my uncle is basic like the rich gangster boss who not like to lose.
Hanako say ‘Meet me outside this building in half hour.’ She say ‘I have to go out for short time.’
I say ‘Yes.’
Hanako stand up and I stand up also. We walk out of her office and she say good bye to smart dress woman who is sit behind desk.
We take elevator to first floor. I think I go now to small park that is near. I sit on bench there and wait for time when I go back to meet Hanako.
Park is same park where I one time see Sakura sit on bench with the Bad Boy.
It like many park in Japan. Small square area with some swing and slide for children. Also is some bench and few bush around edge. Not many grass. Toilet for man and woman and the disable person.
I sit on bench. There is woman who is give bread to pigeon. I not really pay notice to her at start.
But then I look more close and see that it is crazy woman from temple. I mean one I write about before who wear too much make up like the clown. Who one time produce the knife outside of temple office. Also who blame me when tree that fall because of typhoon damage her family tomb.
But crazy woman not notice me now. She just drop bread on floor and say word I not able to hear to many pigeon.
Then young police man come and ask her for to stop. He say that pigeon are problem in this area. (There is also thing like notice in park that say this.)
But crazy woman make the hiss noise like cat and police man sudden look nervous.
Crazy woman say ‘If I want give my pigeon bread I give pigeon bread!’
She say it like pigeon are her pet. She have the horrible voice from too much alcohol and cigarette. It sound bit like noise dog make.
Police man talk in soft polite voice. He say he understand what crazy woman say but that pigeon make mess.
But crazy woman just shake head and throw more bread on ground.
There are many pigeon walk around crazy woman feet. Sudden one
pigeon fly up at police man and flap it wing in his face.
Police man jump back and look very shock.
Crazy woman look very angry. She make more hiss noise.
She loud say ‘Now you upset my pigeon!’ She say ‘Let them eat bread in peace!’
Police man look very embarrass. He look at me for to see if I laugh. But I keep serious face because is not good thing to laugh at the police man. They have lot of power in Japan. Also I have serious face because I worry that crazy woman will again produce the knife.
But then police man quick say ‘Please stop feed pigeon when all bread is finish.’
Then he walk away. I think he not want any more problem with crazy woman.
Crazy woman look at me.
She say ‘You not just sit there!’ She say ‘Come help me feed my pigeon!’
I not think she recognise me as janitor from temple. I not think is choice but to do what she say. I mean so that she not start shout and make hiss noise at me.
So I stand up and crazy woman give me some bread and I throw piece down to pigeon.
Now pigeon walk around my feet. They not animal that are scare of human.
Crazy woman say more thing while she give pigeon bread. But she say these thing in low voice so I not able to hear what it is.
I think she is think she is able to talk to the pigeon. May be she think the pigeon is talk back.
I just please when all bread is finish and is time for to walk back and meet Hanako.
I say good bye to crazy woman but it not like she now able to see hear me.
I walk quick back to big building that contain Hanako office. Hanako is already there wait for me. She have the handbag and is wear expensive look coat.
She hold out hand and taxi stop in road. We get in back seat of taxi and Hanako say my uncle address. Taxi start to drive again.
I sit and try to look like am feel calm. I hope Hanako not realise I am very worry. She not look worry at all. She look serious but also relax.
Taxi stop outside uncle big house. I put hand in pocket for to get money to pay driver. But Hanako is already give the driver five thousand yen note. I try argue but Hanako just wave hand as she take change. I think she is have very serious mind now.
She press button by gate outside my uncle house. She stare at camera.
Woman who work as maid speak and Hanako say ‘We have eleven thirty clock appointment with Matsumoto san.’
I quick look at clock on my mobile phone. We five minute early. Maid press button that open big gate and we walk through big front garden to door of house.
Door open and maid let us in house. She take us straight to uncle office. This time I not see uncle much love dog.
Maid say ‘Matsumoto san say please wait for him here.’
Maid go but this time not return with the hot green tea. Also this time is only chair on uncle side of desk.
I think my uncle do this on the purpose. I mean so that Hanako and me have to stand.
But Hanako just get chair from other part of room and put by desk. Then she sit down and get contract out from inside of the handbag.
She look at contract as she say ‘Hiro why not sit down on sofa over there?’
I sit down on sofa where she point.
Hanako still look at contract when she say ‘I think it best if I do all talk.’
I say ‘OK.’
I feel so nervous is difficult for to swallow. I think any moment uncle come in his study with the Bad Boy friend.
But then uncle come in and he on own. He have very red angry face. He see that Hanako have move the chair to desk. His usual narrow eye now seem almost like they pop out of face.
Hanako stand up and make the small bow. Is polite but not too polite. It show she is here on serious business.
She say her name and hold out her business card with both hand. But uncle just make movement with hand that mean whatever and go to his side of desk and sit down.
This very rude. Normal in Japan person take card also with both hand and look at both side of card for few moment before speak. This show respect to person who give card.
Uncle say ‘Let make this quick.’
He just look at me for second then ignore me. So I just sit very quiet.
Hanako sit back down. She start to talk.
My uncle face get even more red and I almost worry that his fat head will explode with the anger. Because Hanako is go through contract on desk with much precise.
Like before when she talk on phone I not understand much of what she say. But is obvious she mean contract is break Japanese law. Not break in big way but instead have some small error.
I mean error that only money expert can notice. Error that I think uncle and his company think they able to hide from normal person. So that normal person have to do thing like pay more high interest on loan.
Everything that Hanako say sound very complicate. My uncle again try to argue but it no use. Hanako seem to know everything about money law. Hanako is just make my uncle look more and more baka. His red face now shine with the sweat.
I look at him and sudden just not feel worry any more. In fact feel like I want to smile. Because uncle can send man like Bad Boy friend to my house but he not able to argue with person like Hanako.
Final Hanako say ‘So Matsumoto san it not matter that my client sign contract with Yes Loan.’ She say ‘Because is clear this contract have some mistake that break the Japanese finance law.’ She say ‘So ultimate this contract and any thing it say is just not exist.’
My uncle just sit and open and close his mouth like the fish cut for sashimi. He so angry and shock he not even able to speak.
Then he look at me. His face sudden make ugly smile. But it not shark smile like he have before. This time he is not able to lie or cheat me.
No. Now is even more horrible smile that show he have lose. He know now that I have very clever friend who can assist me.
He to me say ‘You need this woman for to help you?’
Is mean of course that this make me like weak man. Because the man like my uncle alway think woman less important than man.
I just say ‘Yes.’
Because is true. I do need Hanako help.
I also to uncle say ‘Look like you need someone like her for to help you too.’
But it like Hanako not hear any of this.
Because she just say ‘If we can return for to business Matsumoto san.’ She say ‘Your company lend my client some money.’ She say ‘That of course will be pay back to you now.’
I try not to look shock. I wonder what Hanako is do! I not have money like that here with me.
But then Hanako take white envelope from inside her handbag and put on uncle desk.
She say ‘All money you lend my client is in there.’ She say ‘Please count it and sign receipt that is also in envelope.’
My uncle is now bite his bottom lip. He stare at Hanako with his again very narrow eye.
But Hanako in cool voice just say ‘I sorry Matsumoto san but I soon have other appointment.’ She very polite say ‘Please count money and sign receipt thank you.’
I realise now Hanako have go and get money from bank while I help crazy woman to give bread for to pigeon in park. She is very good friend. Hanako think of everything.
While uncle count money Hanako say ‘Thank you for agree to see me so quick Matsumoto san.’ She say ‘We now able to let this matter finish here I hope.’
Again is polite voice but still threat. Even I understand that Hanako mean if uncle do any thing else like send Bad Boy friend to my house again then she make lot of trouble.
Uncle just pretend like he not hear as he sign receipt but I know he understand what is mean. He is now walk on what Wendy before tell me is call the thin ice.
Hanako then say thank you and take receipt.
My uncle say ‘You can go now’ and maid open study door.
(I think that uncle may be have the button under his desk he press when he want maid to
come. May be it make him feel like he is rich bad man in thing like the James Bond action movie.)
Hanako stand up and give one more small bow. She very professional.
She say ‘Thank you again for agree to see me Matsumoto san.’
But my uncle just make strange sound with throat and stare down at his desk. I not say any thing. Just follow Hanako out of room.
We follow maid to front door. She open door and press button for to open gate at end of garden. Hanako and me walk quick to gate and then stand in street. I start breath more normal now.
I not know what to say. I think for few second.
Then I say ‘Hanako thank you very much.’ I say ‘I promise I get all money back to you as soon as’
But Hanako stop me from talk when she smile at me and put hand on my shoulder. She say ‘Hiro next time you meet girl let me meet her also.’
Hanako still smile when she say ‘I make sure she OK for you and not cause you all this problem again.’
I have funny feel. Like shame but also happy. I look at ground but smile also. I nod head. I still want tell Hanako thing about money.
I say ‘Hanako I pay all money back.’
Hanako hold out hand and taxi that is pass by stop. Back door of taxi on left side automatic open and we get in. Hanako say address of her office and taxi start drive again.
In quiet voice Hanako say ‘Hiro we talk about that after new year.’ She say ‘Is not hurry and please not worry.’ She say ‘Just rest your self for while.’
I not able to speak for few moment. I stare down at my knee and then quiet say ‘You very good friend Hanako.’
I know Hanako is smile when she say ‘I know.’ She say ‘We now go get some coffee and sandwich then I have to go back to work.’
I again think how I very lucky to have friend like Hanako. One day I hope I can do special thing for her like she do for me today. To proper show all feel I have for her in my heart.
But I very sad to think that day may be never come. Because person like Hanako never need the other person help.
It good that I now can again do work at temple with the relax mind. Because job I begin next day is quite difficult and I need for to be able to concentrate.
