Zen Queen by Kirsty McManus

Author:Kirsty McManus [McManus, Kirsty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-12-23T05:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

I’ve been in Japan for almost two weeks now, but I haven’t really felt like I’ve paid much attention to the place. Apart from Kurama, I haven’t been anywhere except the city.

With my accommodation and money problems hopefully sorted, I feel like I’m seeing everything properly for the first time. Before today, everything had a bit of a depressing grey sheen to it. But now, even the most depressing and grey parts seem to sparkle with possibility. I am in charge of my own destiny! I can work here for a while and save some money for my ticket home. Or maybe I’ll like it so much that I’ll decide to stay indefinitely. And maybe Don will get my message soon and he can figure out what’s going on with my job at Ace. But I don’t even care that much anymore. It might be nice to have a break from graphic design for a while.

Maybe Luke will come to visit me and he’ll like it so much that he’ll stay too. But I know that’s just wishful thinking. I barely know the guy. We’ve had two face-to-face interactions and a couple of brief exchanges on e-mail and Facebook. As if he’d come all the way to see me based on that.

But right now it feels like anything could happen. I’m so happy. I practically skip all the way back to Masahiro’s house from the station. I feel like a character in a movie where everything finally works out in the heroine’s favour. My personal choice for an upbeat soundtrack would be I Can See Clearly Now.

Masahiro is at work of course, but Chihiro and her mother should be at home. I can’t wait to tell them the good news. I’ll have to look up the Japanese word for job.

“Chihiro!” I bounce in the front door. “I found work!”

There’s no answer.

“Hello?”

Still nothing. Maybe they went out.

I go upstairs and see Chihiro kneeling on the floor holding her mother’s hand. The old woman has her eyes closed and she looks a bit grey.

“Chihiro? Is everything okay?”

Chihiro doesn’t respond. She seems to be frozen, staring into space.

I start to panic. “Chihiro? Is your mother all right? Do we need to call a doctor?”

Chihiro has tears running down her face.

“We have to call an ambulance!”

Chihiro doesn’t move.

What’s the emergency number? I quickly whip out my phone and call Sarah.

“Sarah, what’s the number for the ambulance?”

“What, why? Are you okay? Do you need me to come get you?”

“I’m fine. It’s just a woman I’m staying with is sick, I think.”

“Call 119. Are you sure you don’t want me to…”

“Thanks.” I stab the button to disconnect and then call 119. I’ll apologise to Sarah later for my abruptness.

“Hello, do you speak English?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“There’s a sick woman here. Can you please send an ambulance?”

“What’s your address?”

“Um, I’m not sure. It’s right near Awaji station.”

‘Is there someone with you who might know the address?’

“Oh, yes, hang on.”

I thrust the phone at Chihiro. She looks at it uncomprehendingly.

“Talk

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