Oct. 7th, 2002 10:02 am
Shibaki diary (9th month, 1st day)
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muckefuckI awoke from my afternoon nap around 2:30, mere moments before I began to here the clomping of the people upstairs. For a while, I could decide on no course of action. The Lord Abbot was to call me at 3 p.m. to ask whether I'd succeeded in getting cinema tickets, but the truth was I had failed. I pulled out my manuals on seal script and leafed through them until I heard the phone. It was probably all for the best, he said, because he was so tired that he would most likely sleep through a movie. My elder brother had rung right after he'd fallen asleep and he'd been unable to continue his nap afterward.
I was furious at my elder brother, who had been reminded many times not to call during the afternoon for exactly this reason, and immediately rang him to scold him. The line was busy, so I called my younger brother to inform him that we had no tickets for tomorrow and to ask him what he intended to that evening. His wife answered. They had just returned from Ikea in Awajiro where the crowds had been terrible. However, they now had bookcases for the six-mat room on the ground floor. These needed to be assembled, but her parents were coming for a visit that week and she hoped her father would see to that. I spoke to my younger brother, who was rather chagrinned, since that room had always been something of a retreat for him and he was concerned that, if it were spruced up, his wife might want to begin spending time there as well.
I rang my older brother again and got through this time. Our conversation was pleasant overall and it was he who brought up the telephone call to the Lord Abbot. I told him that he was not to call that number again and he agreed that it was the simplest solution. After the better part of an hour, I rang off and put through a call to Mrs Hite. Her husband was going to the cinema that night with my younger brother and a mutual friend. I had tried to call this friend and determine where they might be eating dinner so that I could join them for that at least, but there was no answer. Mr Hite was also out of the house, but his wife gave me a number she thought I might be able to reach them at. Ms Giroumura and I had not seen each other in some months, so we chatted at length until I noticed the fading sunlight and said I'd best try that number if I wanted any chance of reaching them.
There was no answer. As a result, I found myself quite without plans for the evening. It was a beautiful autumn day; the threatened rain had never materialised. Yet, somehow I had managed to spend only a minimal amount of time outside. I had hoped there might be time for a walk in the park before dinner, but I was already hungry. I gobbled down some tea-cakes and wondered what I might go to eat. There was a good sushi restaurant nearby and I thought I would stroll through the gardens until I could hold out no longer, then go there to dine.
As I formed this plan, I remembered Mr Oka. He had called two days earlier hoping that we might do something together, but I had been out. It seemed he usually had no plans for dinner, so I took the liberty of ringing him. He was free and would be delighted to see me. We could meet at a restaurant, but it would be much easier for him if he could pick me up instead. I told him I had considered returning to a nearby park to read in the fading sunlight. He would look for me there in an hour.
Stepping into the warmth outside, I began to feel a little foolish for throwing on an overkimono. The park is mere steps from my door. Although I had remembered seeing it labeled "Kanemura Sankoku" on maps, the sign identified it as "Nakakita Park". Luckily, there were no bums loitering there at this hour. I went to the bench where I had sat earlier in the day, which faced southwest and was shaded from the afternoon sun by an overhanging linden tree. I sat and read, occasionally glancing up at the patterns in the fast-moving clouds.
After a while, the golden light of sunset began to flood the sky. There were many patches of dark clouds and I thought that a view of the sun setting behind them would be especially lovely. Unfortunately, the storefronts lining Kakari-dori to the west blocked my view of the horizon. I thought if I moved up to a spot in front of Roumon Music Store, I might be able to look down the lane I lived on. Of course, I was worried that, if I did this, Mr Oka would have difficulty finding me. It didn't help matters that I was at a crossroads and I could think of plausible reasons why he might approach from any of the four directions.
So I ended up stretching out beneath the crabapples in front of Roumon and dividing my attention between my book; the north sky, which shone with bright gold light; the western sky, with its dark clouds; and the roads, where Mr Oka might at any moment appear. Actually, before I did this, I stood for a spell and gazed off to the south. The clouds there had a most painterly quality, with a richness of colour that suggested a very skillful ink wash.
A large blackish cloud emerged from above the shops and large drops began to fall. The clouds had been passing overhead speedily for some time and I figured it wouldn't last. But it only became stronger and soon I was forced to take shelter beneath the eaves.
I was furious at my elder brother, who had been reminded many times not to call during the afternoon for exactly this reason, and immediately rang him to scold him. The line was busy, so I called my younger brother to inform him that we had no tickets for tomorrow and to ask him what he intended to that evening. His wife answered. They had just returned from Ikea in Awajiro where the crowds had been terrible. However, they now had bookcases for the six-mat room on the ground floor. These needed to be assembled, but her parents were coming for a visit that week and she hoped her father would see to that. I spoke to my younger brother, who was rather chagrinned, since that room had always been something of a retreat for him and he was concerned that, if it were spruced up, his wife might want to begin spending time there as well.
I rang my older brother again and got through this time. Our conversation was pleasant overall and it was he who brought up the telephone call to the Lord Abbot. I told him that he was not to call that number again and he agreed that it was the simplest solution. After the better part of an hour, I rang off and put through a call to Mrs Hite. Her husband was going to the cinema that night with my younger brother and a mutual friend. I had tried to call this friend and determine where they might be eating dinner so that I could join them for that at least, but there was no answer. Mr Hite was also out of the house, but his wife gave me a number she thought I might be able to reach them at. Ms Giroumura and I had not seen each other in some months, so we chatted at length until I noticed the fading sunlight and said I'd best try that number if I wanted any chance of reaching them.
There was no answer. As a result, I found myself quite without plans for the evening. It was a beautiful autumn day; the threatened rain had never materialised. Yet, somehow I had managed to spend only a minimal amount of time outside. I had hoped there might be time for a walk in the park before dinner, but I was already hungry. I gobbled down some tea-cakes and wondered what I might go to eat. There was a good sushi restaurant nearby and I thought I would stroll through the gardens until I could hold out no longer, then go there to dine.
As I formed this plan, I remembered Mr Oka. He had called two days earlier hoping that we might do something together, but I had been out. It seemed he usually had no plans for dinner, so I took the liberty of ringing him. He was free and would be delighted to see me. We could meet at a restaurant, but it would be much easier for him if he could pick me up instead. I told him I had considered returning to a nearby park to read in the fading sunlight. He would look for me there in an hour.
Stepping into the warmth outside, I began to feel a little foolish for throwing on an overkimono. The park is mere steps from my door. Although I had remembered seeing it labeled "Kanemura Sankoku" on maps, the sign identified it as "Nakakita Park". Luckily, there were no bums loitering there at this hour. I went to the bench where I had sat earlier in the day, which faced southwest and was shaded from the afternoon sun by an overhanging linden tree. I sat and read, occasionally glancing up at the patterns in the fast-moving clouds.
After a while, the golden light of sunset began to flood the sky. There were many patches of dark clouds and I thought that a view of the sun setting behind them would be especially lovely. Unfortunately, the storefronts lining Kakari-dori to the west blocked my view of the horizon. I thought if I moved up to a spot in front of Roumon Music Store, I might be able to look down the lane I lived on. Of course, I was worried that, if I did this, Mr Oka would have difficulty finding me. It didn't help matters that I was at a crossroads and I could think of plausible reasons why he might approach from any of the four directions.
So I ended up stretching out beneath the crabapples in front of Roumon and dividing my attention between my book; the north sky, which shone with bright gold light; the western sky, with its dark clouds; and the roads, where Mr Oka might at any moment appear. Actually, before I did this, I stood for a spell and gazed off to the south. The clouds there had a most painterly quality, with a richness of colour that suggested a very skillful ink wash.
A large blackish cloud emerged from above the shops and large drops began to fall. The clouds had been passing overhead speedily for some time and I figured it wouldn't last. But it only became stronger and soon I was forced to take shelter beneath the eaves.