Shinji's home-stay family lives in a posh residential area that looks over downtown Vancouver.
Hiromi rings the door-bell. Dorothy, the home-stay mother, answers the door. After a hurried exchange of greetings, Dorothy quickly gets to the point.
Shinji told me you were coming.
I was troubled because Shinji is acting very strange. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I hope you can help me.
Dorothy, looking upset, guides Hiromi to Shinji's room. Then she leaves the room for Hiromi, closing the door behind her.
Speaking English in the house is expected when the family is around, but alone in Shinji’s room its okay to speak Japanese.
After Dorothy leaves, Shinji starts talking, attempting to clear his head of all of his frustration at once.
It’s a strange story but the family told me I occupy the bathroom way too long. Not only that, I was told to keep the door open.
I was amazed but there was no other way. So I was doing my business with the door open when Dorothy saw me, screamed and ran away. Then she started telling me to move out of the house over and over. I don't know what's happening any more!
After hearing Shinji’s story Hiromi starts laughing hysterically. It was obvious Shinji misunderstood completely what his family explained about the bathroom door.
Trying hard not to laugh Hiromi explains to Shinji:
Over here, the bathroom doors are kept open when the bathroom isn’t being used. A closed door means the room is occupied. You might feel strange but you'll get used to it soon. They told you you occupy the bathroom too long because you close the door even when you aren’t in it.
Obviously you have to close the door when you are using the bathroom, though.
It's no wonder Dorothy flipped when you didn't!
Hiromi carefully repeats her explanation to Dorothy in English. After laughing loudly, and with a smile on her face, Dorothy tells Shinji that he may, of course, remain in her home. The episode has resolved itself peacefully.
As the three of them share a laugh, nobody notices Jimmy is standing silently behind them and watching. Jimmy is glaring hard at Shinji’s back. (to be continued)