Chapter 19
“Man, is it cold!” Kotaro exclaims. “Even with this big ol’ thing on, I’m still freezing!” He, Haruko and Naoyuki trudge through the building pile of snow, still more of the white flakes falling over their heads. “Hey,” Kotaro blurts out, “you guys aren’t wearing boots, are you? Your feet must be ice cubes by now!”
Haruko looks down into the white blanket covering her feet. “Yeah, they’re really cold,” she admits. She glances over at Naoyuki and asks, “How about you?” Naoyuki tries to lift his foot out of the snow and takes a large step forward.
Kotaro looks ahead and sees that they are almost to the freeway. The road is already covered by a good few inches of snow. With only a measly dollar and some odd change between them, the three didn’t have the fare for a bus. “If we’re gonna try to go by car or something, we need to do it before the snow gets too high on the street.” He hears the snow crunch behind him, and Haruko shrieks. “What’s wrong?” Kotaro calls, spinning around.
Haruko kneels down and tries to pull Naoyuki to his feet. “Are you okay?” Naoyuki nods tiredly in reply.
“Don’t you dare fall asleep in this cold,” Kotaro warns Naoyuki. We’ve already been walking for a good hour or so, he thinks. He looks at the reddened fingers poking out of Naoyuki’s coat sleeves. If his hands look like that, his feet must be numb by now. “We definitely need a ride. Let’s see if we can flag someone down.”
The kids wave their arms wildly, hoping for a vehicle on the road to pull over. Most of the drivers barely spare them a glance. The snow steadily grows heavier; the wind, colder. Drivers begin turning on their headlights. They might not even see us now; the snow's falling too thick, Kotaro thinks.
“I can’t even see down the sidewalk that far,” Haruko frets. My legs sting; my hands are numb, too. She rubs her hands together for a minute before waving again for another car.
Naoyuki glances toward Haruko, then over at Kotaro. I dragged them out here, he thinks. The least I can do is see if there’s a way to get out of the cold. He strains his eyes to see through the snow. I don’t see any ‘Open’ lights. And it’s all stores and factories and stuff down here. Naoyuki turns around and starts feebly waving his arms. Someone, stop, he begs inwardly, watching as another car whizzes by. Please. Then passes another. Naoyuki’s vision starts to blur. His legs buckle, and he falls forward.
“Naoyuki!” Haruko cries. She bends over to help Naoyuki up again. “C’mon, you can lean on me.” His face looks kind of pale, she realizes as she pulls him to his feet and props him up with her shoulder.
Finally, the welcome soft squeal of a car’s brakes approaches them, then a pair of headlights beams through the snow. A young man gets out of the car and steps toward Haruko, Kotaro, and Naoyuki. “Do you kids need a lift?” he offers. “Come on, this is no time to be outside.”
The kids glance at each other uneasily, then Kotaro climbs into the car and helps Haruko pull Naoyuki in before Haruko climbs in, too, and closes the car door behind her. The driver climbs back into his seat. “Where are you three headed in weather like this?” he asks. “Are your houses somewhere nearby?”
“We’re heading here,” Kotaro replies, handing the man the map.
“Are you serious?!” the driver cries. “That’s a long way. How ‘bout we stop at my house and give your folks a call–?”
“Our friend’s parents live there,” Kotaro tells the man.
The man hesitates, then says, “All right. I’ll take you to my place ‘til the snowstorm lets up. Then we can talk about getting you to your friend’s house.” He pulls back into traffic.
“Thank you,” Haruko says.
***************************
The man stops in front of a small house off the main road from the freeway. “We’re here,” he announces, unlocking all the car doors. Revived after their break in the heated car, the three kids pile out and run through the more-than-knee-deep snow to the house.
“Cold! Cold!” Haruko cries, dancing around to pull her feet out of the crunchy white blanket on the ground. “It’s in my shoes, my socks are all wet!”
“Haruko, you had snow in your shoes before we even got to the freeway,” Kotaro says matter-of-factly. “How is this any worse?”
Naoyuki starts dancing around, as well, shaking the wet from his shoes, and cringing at the cold when his feet sink back into the icy snow covering the ground. He tries to lift his legs higher and loses his balance, falling lightly on the cushioning snow. “Naoyuki!” Haruko cries, giggling a little as he shakes the snow from his head. She reaches out and pulls him to his feet.
“You look like you’re having fun, despite the cold,” comments the man as he walks to his front door and pulls out his keys. Unlocking it, he says, “Come on in.” The kids race in, and the man shuts the door gently behind them. He follows the kids, takes off their coats, and hangs them up to dry.
“Nice place,” Kotaro comments as he and his friends kick off their soaked shoes.
Suddenly they hear barking, and a ball of golden-brown shaggy fur comes barreling toward them. Naoyuki screams and bolts behind the couch as the dog jumps up and nearly knocks Haruko over. “Woah!” she cries.
“Down, boy!” the man tells his dog.
“A golden retriever,” Kotaro says. “I love these dogs; he seems nice.” He kneels down and pets the dog when it comes over to him and starts sniffing his legs. “Wish we could have one, but my dad’s allergic.”
“That one’s a big, harmless fur-ball,” the man assures the kids. “He’s too big to jump up on you, though.”
“What’s his name?” Haruko asks.
“Mattie,” the man replies. He looks around for Naoyuki and spots him ducking behind the couch. “You scared of dogs, little guy?” he asks. “It’s all right, Mattie won’t hurt you.”
The dog starts sniffing at Haruko and jumps up to lick her. “He’s trying to kiss me!” Haruko cries in delight as she reaches out to scratch its ears.
“Sit, Mattie!” the man commands the big dog. The golden ball of fluff immediately sits up on its haunches and looks up at him, panting and wagging its tail. “Good boy!” Mattie barks in reply.
“Naoyuki, come here and let Mattie sniff you,” Haruko calls. “It’s okay, he doesn’t bite.”
“Mattie, sit,” the man tells his dog when it starts to get up again. He goes and puts his hand on the dog’s rear to keep it still. “Come on,” he says, waving Naoyuki over. “You’ve got to let a dog sniff you; that’s how it gets to know you.”
Haruko maneuvers over to retrieve Naoyuki and brings him out from behind the couch. “Come on.” Naoyuki warily takes a few steps toward the dog and nervously puts out one hand (as the other was firmly clamped onto Haruko’s arm). Mattie puts up his nose and sniffs Naoyuki, then tries to stand up and lick his hand. “See?” Haruko says. “Nothing to fear.”
Naoyuki still backs off, and the man leads his dog away. “You all must be hungry,” the man says. “My kids will be home soon, so I’ll start making supper. Make yourselves comfortable and warm up. There are blankets in the closet to your right.”
The kids each grab a blanket from the closet, then settle down on the floor in front of the couch and survey the house. “He seems like a nice guy,” Kotaro says. “And it sounds like he’s willing to give us a ride to your folks’ house, Naoyuki.”
Naoyuki nods.
“No one else is home,” Haruko observes. “I wonder where the mom is.” She notices Naoyuki frown, and puts her hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find your mom soon,” she says. Naoyuki blushes and seems to cheer up a little at the thought.
Kotaro turns toward Naoyuki and cautiously inquires, “So what exactly is going on here? Why do your folks live so far away from you?”
Naoyuki shrugs.
“C’mon, I know you feel more strongly about it than that,” Kotaro presses.
When Naoyuki still doesn’t reply any further, Haruko says, “Naoyuki, if you want to tell us, you can do it when you’re ready.”
Naoyuki bows a little in response. His eyes ease shut, and he starts to nod off. “Tired?” Haruko asks. “Me, too.” Naoyuki leans sideways as he falls asleep and comes to rest against Haruko’s shoulder. Haruko smiles as he curls up and falls into a deep slumber.
Kotaro laughs a little. “That was fast.” His smile fades, as he says, “You know, I think he thinks of you like a sister. He really trusts you now.”
“Yeah?” Haruko asks. Kotaro nods. “I’m afraid he’ll get mad at me if I ask him too much,” Haruko says. “You know what I mean? That’s why..I don’t want to pry about his mom and dad moving so far away. But I do wonder why they’d do that? It seems like they ditched Naoyuki or something...”
Kotaro frowns. “Don’t tell Naoyuki what I’m about to say to you,” he warns her. “I just want you to be prepared for what we’ll run into at his folks’ house.” He crawls over to Haruko’s other side and whispers in her ear.
“No way...!” Haruko whispers back.
Kotaro nods. “That’s what my dad told me.”
Haruko stares down at Naoyuki and frowns sadly. “Why...? Poor Naoyuki...”
***************************
The three kids are awakened by Mattie’s excited barks and the aroma of food. The dog comes scrambling into the living room and laps Haruko on the face. She giggles and cries, “That tickles, Mattie!”
Kotaro, who is already up on his feet, rubs the dog’s flank and scratches it behind the ears to keep it occupied while Naoyuki rubs the sleep from his eyes and sits up. Naoyuki yelps when he sees the big dog in front of him and bolts to his feet, following Haruko away. “Dinner’s ready!” the man calls from the kitchen.
Two other children emerge from the short hallway at their left – the girl, only about four or five; the boy, closer to their age. “Hi!” calls the boy. The dog runs to the kids, barking and wagging its tail excitedly. “Mattie!” cries the girl, her brown ponytail bobbing as she hugs the dog around its neck.
The kids’ father calls again, and they, followed by Kotaro, Haruko and Naoyuki hurry to wash their hands and run into the kitchen, the dog following alongside, its claws tapping lightly on the linoleum. The kids settle down at the table, where extra, mismatched chairs had been set out for Haruko, Kotaro and Naoyuki, and plates and silverware were already set for everyone. Mattie lays down nearby as they began to eat. “The storm is supposed to pass by tomorrow at around noon,” the man says. “The kids won’t have school, though, and they’ll be coming with us to take you three to your friend’s house.”
“So you’re taking us?” Haruko cries. “Thank you!”
The man nods. “Though I’m curious as to why you’re on this trip alone.”
Haruko and Kotaro exchange uneasy looks.
The man sighs. “Never mind,” he says. “Anyway, these are my kids, Ushio and Hana Fubuki.”
“I’m Kotaro Nomura, and these are my friends, Haruko Miyai and Naoyuki Kondo,” Kotaro introduces everyone. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And thanks for picking us up, and having us over for dinner and everything, Mr. Fubuki,” Haruko adds.
“You’re very welcome,” he replies. He watches Naoyuki tense up and follow Mattie’s movements with his eyes as the dog walks around under the table, begging for scraps, and nudges Naoyuki’s legs. “Your friend doesn’t talk much, does he?” Mr. Fubuki asks.
“Nope, not much at all,” Kotaro answers him.
After they are finished eating and wash their hands, Ushio and Hana invite the kids to play, and they spend the evening on games, gradually getting Naoyuki into the fun. All to soon, the call for bedtime goes out, and Ushio and Hana get ready to go to sleep. “Guess we should do the same,” Kotaro says. “I know I’m beat.”
He, Haruko and Naoyuki go into the living room, where they’d left their blankets, and settle down again. “Haruko, take the couch,” Kotaro says. “You’re a girl.”
Haruko climbs onto the couch with her blanket and curls up to sleep as she watches Naoyuki try to get comfortable below her on the floor. Naoyuki pulls his teddy bear from the hood of his jacket and curls up with it. Mr. Fubuki comes in a second later with pillows for the three of them. “Here you go,” he says. “I’m sorry, we don’t often have visitors.”
“It’s okay,” Haruko says. “Thank you again, Mr. Fubuki.”
Not long after he leaves, Kotaro is already snoring. Haruko sees Naoyuki still tossing from side to side, trying to get comfortable. “Having trouble falling asleep?” she asks.
She hears Naoyuki give her a little “Uh-huh.”
“Me too,” she says, “Kotaro snores too loud.”
Naoyuki chuckles.
“You feel okay about tomorrow?” Haruko asks.
Silence.
“Are you asleep? Naoyuki?”
“They just left,” she hears Naoyuki say softly. “and I don’t know why.” There is a long pause before he adds, “It was..three years. And when I finally find out where they are,...my uncle says...he doesn’t want me to see them..and tells Shizuyo he’ll take me away if I don’t give back their address.”
“Then that’s why you couldn’t bring Miss Shizuyo?” Haruko asks.
“Uh-huh.”
His voice is so small and kind, Haruko thinks, but so sad. “So they just..up and left...”
“Mama always looked worried,” Naoyuki mumbles. “Maybe it was my fault... ‘cause I was always sick..like he said about the bills, or something. Papa and Mama always talked about the bills after I got sick..when they thought I couldn’t hear.”
I’m not sure what he’s talking about anymore; I’m surprised he’s still rattling on like this, Haruko thinks. I guess he just needs to let it all out. “I’m sure it wasn’t your fault, Naoyuki,” she says. “It wasn’t your fault, getting sick. I’m sure your mom and dad have some other reason.”
“Haruko,...I’m a little scared...”
Haruko leans over the edge of the couch and pats his arm until he eases into sleep. “No matter what we find when we get there,” she whispers, “I’ll be right here for you, Naoyuki.”
