A Certain Mr. Takahashi by Ann Ireland

Author:Ann Ireland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC000000
Publisher: Dundurn Press
Published: 2003-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

“D’you think it’s all right to leave him alone?”

The sand, now hours without sun, is cool between Jean’s toes.

They look back at him, flat out on the ground, his belly rising and falling like some volcanic disturbance.

“Sure, why not?”

They walk parallel to the shoreline, silently, content to listen to the waves lapping near their feet and occasional cars swinging along the beach road. Colette strides, her long legs marking out a stork’s path.

We are physically so unalike, Jean marvels. Everyone says: “Of course Colette takes after her father.” The rest of the equation is left dangling.

Sea-rusted air salts her lips and she licks them. She hops over a sand castle someone has built, its moat now overflowing and the water destroying the curtain wall. Are the king and queen holed up in the keep, desperate for their lives as they peep out at the darkening world? Do they stare back into the bare room with its one lean potato and half bucket of drinking water?

Through her thoughts rises a new sound, unnameable. Maybe just ringing in her ears; it’s been a long day. Her attention jerks to Colette. Her sister’s hands dig into the front pockets of her jeans, rigid as wings.

The sound is like sobbing. It draws Jean in like a natural force, and she drops an arm over Colette’s broad shoulders.

“What’s happening?”

Her own voice is hoarse.

The answer is forever in coming.

“Nothing . . . really.”

As if realizing how silly this sounds, Colette laughs through her crying, a congested noise. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get all sappy.”

“Don’t apologize—please.”

They walk on, matching pace.

“It’s just—” A deep breath. “Nelson. I don’t know what the hell’s going on.” Colette shakes the words out as if they have been bunching in her head all day.

“I know this sounds ridiculous, but whenever I’m away from him I start doubting. How do I know if he’s the right guy? What if I’ve blown it?”

Jean is determined not to show surprise.

“What makes you doubt?” She is calm and attentive. The world has closed to this little dark room, and she is immensely proud.

“Everything!” Another dull laugh. “We’re constantly having misunderstandings and can’t talk about them because . . . because any explanation would be misunderstood. That doesn’t make sense.” Colette stops talking and pulls out a handkerchief to blow her nose. “You know, sometimes I think we should have married each other, Jean. Think how it would simplify life—we could just go on as we had.”

“Yeah, sure,” says Jean. Suddenly she feels jittery. “Walk off into the sunset. The Mackenzie sisters.”

“That’s very good!” Colette loops an arm around Jean’s waist. “You’d have to return to the Great White North.”

“Just like that.”

“Just like that. I suppose I could divorce Nelson.”

“I don’t get it.” Jean pulls away. She’s shivering. “Why are you saying all this? What do you want me to do? Take you seriously?”

“Oh, I’m serious,” replies Colette. “You better believe it.”

They reach a point where the beach narrows as it rounds the cliff.

“Sit for a moment?” says Jean.

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