by John Muir
CHAPTER 12
FITTED OUT
T.A. had finished his third cup of coffee before he realised that he had been dominating the conversation with his talk about the scenic beauty of his birth place.
"I'm sorry; I've been talking too much."
"Not at all. You've given me some good names and companies to contact. It makes me even more eager to visit New Zealand. But what are you going to do on your visit to Cagayan de Oro?"
"Mainly just to stay for a few days, then I’ll go on to the beach at Dakak. I'll have a look around some pawn shops here for some jewellery, gold bracelets, gold neck chains, that sort of thing."
"You're talking to the right man here. I own three pawn shops. We always have a large supply of good jewellery. For you, I'll let you buy anything you want for the price I paid for it. It'll be a lot cheaper. It won't be costing me anything, I'll just be turning over stock quicker."
T.A.'s thoughts began to run wild as to what he might be able to buy.
"Gee, that sounds all right to me."
"And, right here in Cagayan, I own a tailor shop. Why not get a suit or two made while I'm here. Again you only have to buy the material, the tailors don't have much work to do at the moment so I'd rather them be doing some work for my friends. I have to pay them whether they're working or not. They make all my clothes."
T.A. looked again at the suit Yamada was wearing and was impressed.
"I'm available whenever it's convenient for you. So you tell me when," said T.A. wanting to ensure that Yamada was not all talk.
Yamada looked at his watch.
"The clothes, we can get you measured up right now if you like. Yes, right now would be ideal. It'll give them something to do for me overnight. They'll be ready for you tomorrow then. Is now too soon for you?"
T.A. was surprised at the immediacy. "No. Not at all. I'll have to get changed, you know, get some socks and things."
"I'll phone the shop to tell them we're coming. Meet you in the lobby in thirty minutes?" asked Yamada.
T.A. nodded. It seemed that maybe his luck might have changed for the better.
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It took T.A. less than five minutes to grab what he thought he might need. He stuffed it all a small hand carry bag.
He looked at the note from Nilo that he had picked up earlier and decided to give him a quick call before he left. He was quite surprised when Nilo answered and after a few pleasantries he told Nilo about the Japanese-Filipino he had met and the suit he was going to be measured up for in a few minutes.
"But why? You know you can't trust the Japanese," Nilo insisted.
"C'mon. Don't be racist," T.A. responded.
"The Japs have been ripping off Filipinos' for years."
"But this guy was born in the Philippines and his Mum is Filipino."
"Makes no difference. The bad side will always come through."
"Hell Nilo, more Filipinos have killed themselves on Japanese motor bikes than the Japs ever killed in the war."
"You are my friend. I just don't want you to trust this man."
"Don't worry. I'll be careful, I promise. I'll phone you later tomorrow."
"You better. My sister wants to meet you."
T.A. checked his watch. "Sorry Nilo, I've gotta go. I'll catch you tomorrow."
T.A. hung up and made his way downstairs.
Because he was five minutes early he was not surprised that Yamada was not in the lobby. One of the bodyguards was. T.A. was surprised to see the bodyguard get up and walk toward him.
"Good evening, my name is Ueda. Yamada-san apologises. He asked me to refer you to a note he left with the clerk at reception."
T.A. was surprised at the good English spoken by the solid Japanese. There was no confusion between his pronunciation of r's and l's as with most Japanese. He made his way to Reception and they handed him a note.
'I tried to phone your room but the line was engaged. Please forgive me but I had to leave to solve a small problem. Please accompany Ueda and I will meet you at the tailors. Regards; Ken Yamada.'
T.A. folded the note and put it in his back pocket. He felt a little uneasy.
"Who gave you this note?" he asked the hotel receptionist.
"Mr Yamada, sir. He used the phone to try and call you but apparently your phone was engaged," replied the receptionist.
Having confirmed the note was from who it was purported to be from, he turned to Ueda.
"O.K. McDuff, lead on."
"Ueda, sir."
"Shakespeare actually Ueda."
"MacBeth actually, sir."
T.A. felt dumbstruck at Ueda's reply and followed him meekly out of the small side door by the Reception desk and into a waiting taxi.
"Ueda, you amaze me. Where did you learn about Shakespeare?"
"The English I am sure stole the plot for MacBeth from Japan. After all, wasn't MacBeth only a pretender as a Shogun. McDuff was a real samurai. All of this is typically Japanese."
The journey had seemingly hardly begun when the taxi pulled into the curb in front of 'Ari's Tailors'. T.A. followed Ueda through the door and the uncertainties he felt seemed to disappear when he saw Yamada already there.
Within minutes, two Filipinos, he was sure were 'gay', had measured him for his suit. He had been measured in places he had never been measured before. One of the tailors seemingly taking an unbearably long time checking the inside leg measurement and frequently 'accidentally' brushing T.A.'s private parts while measuring.
Next, T.A. was shown dozens of bolts of material. He selected six before finally reducing his choice to two. A middle brown colour and a mid-blue. Then deciding it would be unlikely that an opportunity like this would arise again, he decided to have two suits made, each with spare trousers.
After being given the price, he wished he had ordered three.
Yamada nodded approval at T.A.'s selection of materials and colour.
"Tomorrow, after you collect your suits, we will check out my shops. I am sure you will find something, possibly several things, you will want to buy."
"Sounds pretty good to me. What time?" asked T.A.
Yamada turned to the tailor and spoke with him for two or three minutes. "He will deliver one suit to the hotel at 8:30 A.M. which he would like you to try on. To confirm fitting is to your satisfaction."
"That sounds good too."
"The little man does not speak English, but if you are happy about the fit, to make him happy, wear the suit when you come in to collect the other tomorrow. I know he'll appreciate the thought and treat it as an enormous and great compliment."
T.A. felt himself grinning.
"Also I'll send Ueda to your room about 9:15 A.M. I have early business to attend to, but Ueda will bring you back here in my own Nissan Patrol."
T.A. noticed Ueda had just left the room.
"You don't have to go to all this trouble."
"No bother for me. My driver would only be sitting around doing nothing, engine running to keep himself cool with the air-con running. Just be ready for a long day tomorrow."
"Look, I really do appreciate what you’re doing."
"It really is my pleasure. Unfortunately though, I must now go and attend to some business. Ueda is organising a taxi outside to take you back to the hotel."
T.A. looked at his watch. It was already 9:00 p.m. The time had passed quickly. The tailors were already at the cutting table laying out the material he had selected.
"Just time for a late meal and perhaps an early night. I don't know how I will be able to repay you."
"I contacted some of those business names you have already given me in Sydney and various New Zealand cities early this morning. It has saved me hours of inquiries, so I feel I cannot do enough in return," replied Yamada.
Ueda re-entered and nodded at Yamada.
"It seems the taxi is here."
"Thanks a million once again."
"The pleasure is mine. I doubt I will see you at dinner this evening, I will be ve
ry late. Ueda and Iti will have to come with me. Because I have delayed you, I have arranged a supper to be delivered to your room. The hotel does allow me special meal privileges."
T.A. smiled and nodded as he followed Ueda out the door. Ueda opened the door for T.A.
"Enjoy the evening," said Ueda, with a broad smile on his face.
On the short ride back to the hotel, T.A. briefly thought about the smile on Ueda's face before cursing himself again for not ordering a third suit. Perhaps he might order another one tomorrow.
When he collected his key from reception, the clerk nodded courteously.
"Your room order will take about thirty minutes to prepare sir."
"Thanks. Can I have a wake up call at 8:00 A.M. please?"
"Certainly sir." The clerk reached below the counter and pulled out a book to make the entry. "Room 308 sir?"
"Yes thanks," T.A. nodded and walked to the lifts.
He barely had time to switch on the TV, when there was a gentle tap on his door.
"Gee, that was quick," T.A. called out through the door, then unchained and opened it.
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