He laughed, as if to himself, then continued to watch me quietly.
?Which axe you hoping for, Etsuko?? he asked, eventually. ?A boy or a girl??
?I really don?t mind. [fit?s a boy we could name him after you.?
?Really? Is that a promise??
?On second thoughts I don?t know. I was forgetting what Father?s first name was. Seiji - that?s an ugly sort of name.?
?But that?s only because you find me ugly, Etsuko. I remember one class of pupils decided I resembled a hippopotamus. But you shouldn?t be put off by such outer trappings?
?That?s true. Well, we?ll have to see what Jim thinks.?
?Yes.?
?But I?d like my son to be named after you, Father?
That would make me very happy.? He smiled and gave me a small bow. ?But then I know how irritating it is when relatives insist on having children named after them. I remember the time my wife and I argued over what to call Jim. I wanted to name him after an uncle of mine, but my wife disliked this practice of naming children after relatives. Of course, she had her way in the end. Keiko was a hard woman to budge.?
?Keiko is a nice name. Perhaps if it?s a girl we could call her Keiko.?
?You shouldn?t make such promises so rashly. You?ll make an old man very disappointed if you don?t keep to them.?
?I?m sorry, I was just thinking aloud.?
?And besides, Etsuko, I?m sure there are others you?d prefer to name your child after. Others you were closer to.?
?Perhaps. But if it?s a boy I?d like him to be named after you. You were like a father tome once.?
?Am I no longer like a father to you??
?Yes, of course. But it?s different?
?Jiro is a good husband to you, I hope.?
?Of course. I couldn?t be happier.?
?And the child will make you happy.?
?Yes. It couldn?t have happened at a better time. We?re quite settled here now, and Jiro?s work is going well. This is the ideal time for this to have happened.?
?So you?re happy??
?Yes, I?m very happy.?
?Good. I?m happy for you both.?
?There, it?s all ready for you.? I handed him the lacquer lunch-box.
?Ah yes, the left-avers? he said, receiving it with a dramatic bow. He lifted the lid a little. ?It looks delightful though.
When I eventually went back into the living room, Ogata-San was putting on his shoes in the entryway.
?Tell me, Etsuko,? he said, not looking up from his laces. ?Have you met this Shigeo Matsuda??
?Once or twice. He used to visit us after we were married.?
?But he and Jiro aren?t such dose friends these days??
?Hardly. We exchange greeting cards, but that?s all.?
?I?m going to suggest to Jim he writes to his friend. Shigeo should apologize. Or else I?ll have to insist Jiro disassociates himself from that young man.?
?1 see.?
?1 thought of suggesting it to him earlier, when we were talking at breakfast. But then that kind of talk is best left till the evening.?
?You?re probably right.?
Ogata-San thanked me once bore for the lunch-box before leaving.
As it turned out, he did not bring the matter up that night. They both seemed tired when they came in and spent most of the evening reading newspapers, speaking little. And only once did Ogata-San mention Dr Endo. That was at supper, and he said simply: ?Endo seemed well. He misses his work though. After all, the man lived for it.?
In bed that night, before we fell asleep, I said to Jiro: ?I hope Father?s quite content with the way we?re receiving him.?
?What else can he expect?? my husband said. ?Why don?t you take him out somewhere if you?re so worried.?
?Will you be working on Saturday afternoon??
?How can?t afford not to? I?m behind schedule as it is. He happened to choose the most difficult of times to visit me It?s just too bad.?
?But we could still go out on Sunday, couldn?t we??
