It is already past 8:30 when Shinji arrives home in North Vancouver. As Shinji goes into the kitchen to quench his thirst, Dorothy, who is cooking, turns around and says to Shinji:
Where have you been? I was worried because you didn’t call. Well, anyway, things turned out all right. I was late too because it took longer than I expected to do the shopping today. Michael and Jimmy are eating out and I am not hungry, so you are the only one eating tonight. I bet you are starving. I have spaghetti for you. Here, it’s done!
Shinji flips out.
A ryugaku agent in Japan told him he must call his homestay family if he is to be late or he will not be eating dinner. He has always been careful, but he forgot to call in today due to so many incidents. Since he didn’t call, although he is so stuffed, he feels he has to eat what Dorothy troubled to cook for him.
Shinji takes a deep breath, making sure Dorothy doesn’t notice. He sits down at the table.
Dorothy’s Spaghetti, piled up like a mountain on a big plate, looks just like the yaki-udon he ate not too long ago. Sweat on his forehead, Shinji takes a fork in his hand.
Dorothy sits in front of Shinji and makes conversation with him cheerfully without noticing anything at all.
How are your parents? Is school going well? Your father is running a company, isn’t he? Are you the future president? I would like to go to Japan someday and buy a kimono. I hope kimonos come with a button or zipper.
Shinji pretends he doesn’t hear anything about his parents and his father’s company, and he talks with Dorothy while imagining her in a Kimono with a zipper.
When the long and agonizing dinner is finally over and Shinji thinks he can go to his room, Jimmy comes home and enters the Kitchen. As Shinji tries to leave the kitchen, looking down to avoid Jimmy, Jimmy pretends to give Shinji a football tackle and he says to Shinji:
Hey, Shinji. How are you doing? I’ve got something to talk to you about. Why don’t you come to my room?
Again, the mood doesn’t allow Shinji to refuse. Jimmy must know that Shinji met with Christine! Even though he was jesting, his tackle looked so powerful to Shinji. Jimmy never speaks much to Shinji usually and his oddly friendly voice makes Shinji feel even more nervous.
Suffering from a stomach full of yaki-udon and spaghetti and feeling fearful, Shinji follows Jimmy into his room.
(To be continued)