Kanazawa by David Joiner

Author:David Joiner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stone Bridge Press

Avery’s generosity moved Emmitt. Tokyo didn’t sound bad the way he described it, but Emmitt reminded himself that he could write a similar letter that might sway Avery, encouraging him and Koyo to move back to Kanazawa.

Tokyo was only two decades younger than Kanazawa, which was founded in the 1580s, but so much of it had been destroyed in earthquakes, fires, and near the end of World War II that vestiges of its history were few. Now, however, it was a miracle of design and engineering, and no city even half its size could compare with it for safety, cleanliness, law and order, and many other things. But it had also felt claustrophobic, especially during rush hours. Its bus and train systems were no less confusing to him than a detailed diagram of the human nervous system. And people were everywhere. No matter where he went, he felt the city encroach.

Kanazawa felt like home to Emmitt in ways Tokyo was too modern and sprawling to rival. With its manifold paths back through time, what Kanazawa offered was enough. Until Asuka moved to Tokyo, Mirai had almost never questioned their plan to live here.

Emmitt returned to the lobby, which was quieter now that most students had gone home. He approached Mirai’s studio and from the doorway observed his wife help three students put finishing touches on their flower arrangements and calligraphy.

Without Mirai noticing, he stepped inside and swept up the cuttings on the floor, then collected and brushed clean the small saws, floral scissors, branch hatchets, and kenzan flower holders her students had used during their lesson.

When the students left, Mirai asked him to straighten the tables and chairs and throw away a bag of trash. When he had, and she still wasn’t done, he said, “You’re coming in before the exhibition, aren’t you? Do the rest then. You’re exhausted, so let’s go home.”

As they walked to the car Emmitt told Mirai what Avery had written.

Mirai faintly smiled. “I didn’t ask him to recruit you, I hope you know.”

He pulled into the road and, before he could reply, slammed the brakes as two schoolchildren cut across in front. Although he felt nothing, he saw one of them jerk to the side and nearly fall to the ground. He had hit the boy, though apparently not enough to hurt him. The children remained standing in front of the car, and Emmitt jumped out. With one foot on the road and one still inside the car he called out to them.

“Are you okay? Are you all right?”

The children darted to the other side of the road. They were lucky not to be hit again in the open lane beside him, but traffic lagged behind them. When the children made it to the other side, they turned to stare at Emmitt open-mouthed, straightening their yellow school caps. The boy Emmitt had hit bowed quickly to them, but when his friend didn’t also bow the two boys laughed, as if it had all been a

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