Manga Touch by Jacqueline Pearce

Author:Jacqueline Pearce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
ISBN: 9781554696666
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2007-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

chapter eight

As we approach the school, I find myself hoping Melissa and the others will see me. Me, being popular. But then I catch myself. How lame. I don’t care what Melissa and her so-called friends think. Unlike her, I don’t need a bunch of groupies hanging off me to feel good about myself.

A bus is already parked in front of the school, and Mr. Crawford and Ms. Delucci are standing in front of it.

Ms. Delucci waves me over. I say goodbye to Fumiko and the others.

“We’re getting an earlier start on our tour today,” Ms. Delucci tells me. “If you can help me round up the others, I’d appreciate it.”

I look at her blankly. Me, round up the others? I don’t think so. Interpreting my look correctly, Ms. Delucci sighs.

“Well, we’ll have to wait until the homeroom teachers announce it, then,” she says.

“We could always leave without the others,” I suggest.

“Right,” she says sarcastically. Then we catch sight of DJ and a couple of other boys. “Though it is tempting,” she adds.

When our group has assembled beside the bus, Mr. Crawford holds up his hands for our attention. Before he can say anything, DJ calls out.

“Are we going to the racetrack today?”

“No, Derek, we are not going to the racetrack,” Mr. Crawford says with forced patience. “You can do those things on your own time. Today we are going to a Japanese historical site.”

There are a few groans.

“What kind of historical site?” Zach asks from near the front.

“We’re going to visit an old town called Seki-cho,” Mr. Crawford explains. “In the old days, Japan was ruled by the Shogun, the head of the samurai lords. He lived in Edo, which is now Tokyo. The emperor was only a figurehead then, and he lived in Kyoto. All the lords had to have homes in Edo as well as on their own land. They had to spend every second year in Edo, so the Shogun could keep control over them.”

Mr. Crawford is in socials-teacher mode. “So, there was always a lot of traffic flowing to and from Edo. The main route between Kyoto and Edo was called the Tokaido road. There were stations or rest stops all along the route. Seki-cho was one of those stops. It hasn’t changed much in two hundred years.”

“That’s just great,” Melissa grumbles. “I guess they don’t have Starbucks or McDonald’s, then.”

A few people snicker.

“And we have one more surprise,” Mr. Crawford continues. “Mr. Akimoto can’t come with us today. He’s making arrangements for a special trip tomorrow.”

“Where? Where are we going?” Several interested voices interrupt.

“I’m not going to tell you until we know for sure,” Mr. Crawford says. “I’ve got a cell phone with me, and Mr. Akimoto will call as soon as all of the plans have been confirmed.”

He holds up his hand for attention as talk ripples through the group.

“Now, since Mr. Akimoto can’t be with us, the school has decided to let its two top English students join us.” He pauses to let this sink in.

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