byI the way the movie mentioned in this chapter is called Rodeo Do Not Own Inuyasha
Nor Do I Own Any of the Songs Featured or Mentioned in My Story.
-Reminiscence
Standing at the front door I wait for my father. Ever since I had seen one of my mother’s favorite movies, I found myself wanting to be like the woman performing. In the movie they performed ballet with men and women, but this one lady had caught my eye. At 7 years old I found myself obsessed with learning who the women was that danced on screen. I snuck the tape out of my parent’s room and fast forwarded it to the credits just to learn her name. She was graceful yet strong, posed and beautiful. Her name, Agnes De Mille, and I wanted to be just like her. I would stay up late at night after my father would get home and practice the moves on the screen just like Agnes. I imagined myself in her shoes dancing like her one day. So here I stood at the front door waiting for my father to get home from work.
He was a quiet man who had a temper and was a no nonsense type of person. You didn’t have his love if you were a failure. It was not uncommon for us to get spankings if we ever came home with a C on a test, most of the time my mother would be able to dissuade or distract him. At times they would argue and I would see what it did to my mother. My father had a foul mouth and sometimes when he couldn’t get my mother to stop arguing with him, the palm of his right hand was his favorite thing to do the trick.
My mother came to Japan much to the disapproval of my Grandfather. With her Blue eyes and long dark lashes she became the talk of the town. Eveyone always said there was like a peaceful feel about her all the time; that she would brighten a room, just by walking into it. My father watched her when she first moved to his town and oneday he finally built up the courage to say something to her.That’s when they fell in love and married; later on my older sister Rozu (pronounced Rose) was born. I came later on; I was born with our mother’s blue eyes, so my father decided on naming me Suteki (lovely). We were happy and everything was fine until I turned 4. That’s when things changed for some unknown reason and here I stood ready to beg my father for the chance to become a ballerina.
I quickly squared my shoulders upon hearing the front door lock click. Sliding the door open I watched my father step in with a serious determined look upon my face. Stepping up to his side I greeted him and offered to take his briefcase. He then walked in the direction of the kitchen.
“Where’s your mother?” he said while loosening his tie.
“She went next door to ask Ms. Seji if she could have a tomato from her garden for our dinner.” I said.
“Hmph.” He sounded while running his hand through his hair. “ where’s Rozu?”
“She went across the street to borrow a coloring book from her friend.” I said while he poured himself a glass of water.
“Everyone’s borrowing nowadays. Don’t see my reason for working.” He mumbled.
“Father, can I ask you something?” He turned to take a seat and stretch his back.
“What is it?” he asked while yawning.
“I saw this ballet performance last month. The one Mommy likes. I practiced the moves and I think I’m really good.” I said rushing at the last part.
“Is that so?” he asked, quirking his brow.
“I think I might be good enough to actually go to a school for dancing.”
“You’re 7, You need someone to tell you if you’re good enough for something. Besides I won’t spend a thousand dollars to send you to a building where all you’ll do is prancing around.”
“But Da-.” I started with my face flushing and starting to water.
“What I say goes Suteki. All you have to do is focus on your studies right now in life. You don’t know anything about money or responsibility. Education is all you have in life. Many don’t make it in show business, what makes you think you will? Even those that do make it into show business turn out to be in the end worthless, lazy, and broke!”
At that point I reached rock bottom. I just wanted to believe that I could do something like Agnes. He was my father, why did he have to use such mean words? The school I was thinking of was going to be opening up in a few months down the street. He could have at least waited to say name before he learned how much the tuition was going to be. But no, anything in his eyes was a waste of time and money.
It was then that I burst into tears and walked away. Rozu was just coming in with my mommy while I ran upstairs covering my shame ridden face to my room. A couple of minutes later I heard arguing and my sister come in our room. She found me in the corner weeping.
“I’m sorry Suteki. If it makes you feel better just know that I can’t ask dad for those singing lessons I wanted.” She said trying to cheer me up. Rozu had a really beautiful voice. It was like opera with soul. She had sung at one our school’s function once and even got an encore. Our father wasn’t there to attend but he’d heard about it from our mother who was so amazed and proud. But all he did was grunt and ask what was for dinner.
“It isn’t fair!” I sobbed louder as the fight downstairs escalated.
“Shhhhh, I know.” She said while holding and rocking me. We listened to each other’s heartbeats and spilled silent tears as we heard our mother’s quiet weeping while our father left and slammed the front door.
.
.
.
She awoke with a start to her alarm clock blaring. 12 am it said. She needed to get going to work but the dream she had of her childhood was bugging her. She felt tired and a sense of grief hanging over her shoulder.
“Just another day of a dancing stripper.” She said with heavy sarcasm. She then shook the heavy dirty man that lie next to her. He was broke and jobless, while she worked long hours trying to replace a dream she had doing it as a stripper. He on the other hand played occult and fake Satan with his buddies all day and having parties. Not today, he was going to a job interview. She next smacked his thigh only to receive a grunt in reply. ‘I just know today is going to be perfect.’ She thought while exiting the bed bare while scratching her bed ridden head.
TA DA! I know it’s nothing much but it’s leading up to something. Have you ever wondered where Kagome got all her special looks and abilities? Anyway love it, hate it, and tell me what you think in the reviews. They help me think that I’m a great writer!
-Reminiscence
