neither of us.
?In fact,? he said at last, ?I suppose I did rather well. I persuaded their representatives to sign an agreement. Not exactly a contract, but to all purposes the same thing. My boss was quite surprised. It?s unusual for them to commit themselves like that. He told me to take the rest of the day off.?
?Why, that?s splendid news,? Ogata-San said, then gave a laugh. He glanced towards me, then back at his son.
That?s splendid news.?
?Congratulations,? I said, smiling at my husband. ?I?m so glad.?
Jiro looked up, as if noticing me for the first time.
?Why are you standing there like that?? he asked. ?I wouldn?t mind some tea, you know.? He put down his towel and began combing his hair.
That evening, in order to celebrate Jiro?s success, I prepared a more elaborate meal than usual. Neither during supper, nor during the rest of the evening, did Ogata-San mention anything of his encounter with Shigeo Matsuda that day. However, just as we began to eat, he said quite suddenly:
?Well, Jiro, I?ll be leaving you tomorrow.?
Jiro looked up. You?re leaving? Oh, a pity. Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit.?
?Yes, I?ve had a good rest. In fact, I?ve been with you rather longer than I planned.?
?You?re welcome, Father,? said Jiro. ?No need to rush, I assure you?
?Thank you, but I must be getting back now. There?s a few things I have to be getting on with.?
?Please come and visit us again, whenever it?s convenient.?
?Father,? I said. You must come and see the baby when it arrives.?
Ogata-San smiled. ?Perhaps at New Year then? he said. ?But I won?t bother you much earlier than that, Etsuko. You?ll have enough on your hands without having to contend with me.?
?A pity you caught me at such a busy time/? my husband said. ?Next time, perhaps, I won?t be so hard pressed and we?ll have more time to talk.?
?Now, don?t worry, Jiro. Nothing has pleased me more than to see how much you devote yourself to your work.?
?Now this deal?s finally gone through,? said Jim, ?I?ll have a little more time. A shame you have to go back just now. And I was thinking of taking a couple of days off too. Still, it can?t be helped, I suppose.?
?Father,? I said, interrupting, ?if Jiro?s going to take a few days off, can?t you stay another week??
My husband stopped eating, but did not look up. ?It?s tempting,? Ogata-San said, ??but I really think it?s time I went back.
Jiro began to eat once more. ?A pity,? he said.
?Yes, I really must get the veranda finished before Kikuko and her husband come. They?re bound to want to come down in the autumn.?
Jiro did not reply, and we all ate in silence for a while. Then Ogata-San said:
Besides, I can?t sit here thinking about chess all day.? He laughed, a little strangely.
Jiro nodded, but said nothing. Ogata-San laughed again, then for several moments we continued to eat in silence.
?Do you drink sake these days, Father?? Jiro asked eventually.
?Sake? I take a drop sometimes. Not often.?
Since this is your last evening with us, perhaps we should take some sake.?
Ogata-San seemed to consider this for a moment. Finally, he said with a smile: ?There?s no need to make a fuss about an old man like me. But I?ll join you in a cup to celebrate your splendid future?
Pro nodded to me. I went to the cupboard and brought out a bottle and two cups.
?1 always thought you?d go far,? Ogata-San was saying.
?You always showed promise.?
?Just because of what happened today, that?s no guarantee they?ll give me the promotion,? my husband said. ?But I suppose my efforts today will have done no harm.?
?No, indeed,? said Ogata-San. ?I doubt if you did yourself much harm today?
They both watched in silence as I poured out the sake. Then Ogata-San laid down his chopsticks and raised his cup.
?Here?s to your future, Jiro,? he said.
My husband, some food still in his mouth, also raised his cup.
?And to yours, Father,? he said.
Memory, I realize, can be an unreliable thing; often it is heavily coloured by the circumstances in which one remembers, and no doubt this applies to certain of the recollections I have gathered here. For instance, I find it tempting to persuade myself it was a premonition I experienced that afternoon, that the unpleasant image which entered my thoughts that day was something altogether different ? something much more intense and vivid ? than the numerous day-dreams which drift through one?s imagination during such long and empty hours.
