As we sat drinking our tea, I was struck, not for the first time, by the odd contrast of the tea-set alongside the shabbiness of the cottage and the muddy ground beneath the veranda. When I looked up, I realized Sachiko had been watching me. ?I?m used to good crockery, Etsuko,? she said. ?You see, I don?t always live like? ? she waved a hand towards the cottage ? ?like this, Of course, I don?t mind a little discomfort. But about some things, I?m still rather discerning.?
I bowed, saying nothing. Sachiko, also, began to study her teacup. She continued to examine it, turning it carefully in her hands. Then suddenly she said: ?I suppose it?s true to say! stole this tea-set. Still, I don?t suppose my uncle will miss it much.?
I looked at her, somewhat surprised. Sachiko put the teacup down in front of her and waved away some flies.
?You were living at your uncle?s house, you say?? I asked. She nodded slowly. ?A most beautiful house. With a pond in the garden. Very different from these present surroundings.?
For a moment, we both glanced towards the inside of the cottage. Mariko was lying in her corner, just as we had left her, her back turned towards us. She appeased to be talking quietly to her cat.
?1 didn?t realize?, I said, when neither of us had spoken for some time, ?that anyone lived across the river?
Sachiko turned and glanced towards the trees on the far bank. ?No, I haven?t seen anyone there?
?But your babysitter. Mariko was saying she came from over there.?
?1 have no babysitter, Etsuko. I know nobody here.?
?Mariko was telling me about some lady.
?Please don?t pay any attention?
?You mean she was just making it up??
For a brief moment, Sachiko seemed to be considering
something. Then she said: ?Yes. She was lust making it up.?
?Well, I suppose children often do things like that.?
Sachiko nodded. ?When you become a mother, Etsuko,? she said, smiling, ?you?ll need to get used to such things.?
We drifted on to other subjects then. Those were early days in our friendship and we talked mainly of little things. It was not until one morning some weeks later that I heard Mariko mention again a woman who had approached her.
Chapter Two
In those days, returning to the Nakagawa district still provoked in me mixed emotions of sadness and pleasure. It is a hilly area, and climbing again those steep narrow streets between the clusters of houses never failed to fill me with a deep sense of loss. Though not a place I visited on casual impulse, l was unable to stay away for long.
Calling on Mrs. Fujiwara amused in me much the same mixture of feelings; for she had been amongst my mother?s closest friends, a kindly woman with hair that was by then turning grey. Her noodle shop was situated in a busy side street; it had a concrete forecourt under the cover of an extended tool and it was there her customers ate, at the wooden tables and benches. She did a lot of trade with office workers during their lunch breaks and again on their way home, but at other times of the day the clientele became sparse.
I was a little anxious that afternoon, for it was the first time I had called at the shop since Sathiko had started to work there. I felt concerned on both their behalves ? especially since I was not sure how genuinely Mrs. Fujiwara
had wanted an assistant. It was a hot day, and the little side street was alive with people. I was glad to come into the
shade.
Mrs. Fujiwara was pleased to see me. She sat me down at a table, then went to fetch some tea. Customers were few that afternoon ? perhaps there were none, I do not remember ? and Sachiko was not to be seen. When Mrs. Fujiwara came back, I asked her: ?How is my friend getting along? Is she managing all right??
?Your friend?? Mrs. Fujiwara looked over her shoulder towards the doorway of the kitchen. ?She was peeling prawns. I expect shell be out soon.? Then, as if on second thoughts, she got to her feet and walked a little way towards the doorway. ?Sachiko-san,? she called. ?Etsuko is here ?1 heard a voice reply from within.
As she sat down again, Mrs. Fujiwara reached over and touched my stomach. ?It?s beginning to show now,? she said. ?You must take good care from now on.?
?I don?t do a great deal anyway,? I said. ?I lead a very easy life.?
?That?s good. I remember my first time, there was an earthquake, quite a large one. I was carrying Kazuo then. He came perfectly healthy though. Try not to worry too much, Etsuko.?
?I by not to.? I glanced towards the kitchen door. ?Is my friend getting on well here??
Mrs. Fujiwara followed my gaze towards the kitchen. Then she turned to me again and said: ?I expect so. You?re good friends, are you??
?Yes. I haven?t found many friends where we live. I?m very glad to have met Sachiko.
?Yes that was fortunate.? She sat there looking at me for several seconds. ?Etsuko, you?re looking rather tired today.?
?I suppose I am.? I laughed a little. ?It?s only to be expected. I suppose.?
Yes, of course.? Mrs. Fujiwara kept looking into my face. ?But I meant you looked a little ? miserable.?
?Miserable? I certainly don?t feel it. I?m just a little tired, but otherwise I?ve never been happier.?
