Vines
First, I had to find Michiko and talk to her. That
shouldn�t be too hard, right? Her family owns a huge sake brewery. Their name is
well known around Japan. I should start there. I looked her up in the phone book
to get an address, and my luck began to turn around for that day.
�Ah!� I said to myself on my
lunch break. �Here she is!� I wrote down the address and put the paper in my
pocket. A smile came onto my face. Found
ya!
I tried to keep myself under
control. Glancing at the clock never helped time go faster. I had learned that
the hard way before. I still can�t help doing so, though. I took in deep breaths
to keep myself calm. Damn it! Why does
time have to drag on? I sat back in my chair. I needed something to do until
six o�clock. I looked around at my desk; maybe a little paperwork could keep my
mind occupied. I picked up my pen and got to work. I fought to keep myself awake
in the process. Of course, I had little success with that. I jerked myself awake
just as I began to fall asleep, and finished up the last paper. Just in time for
me to go find my future wife.
Michiko lived in an upscale neighborhood at the time. The
houses were all newly built. Not in a cheap way, either. I suspected that old
money was involved in this case. With parents like Michiko�s, I wouldn�t be
surprised. I took out the sheet of paper and read over the address.
�White Cherry Blossom Cloud House,� I read to myself. I
looked around at the multiple houses on either side of me. Based on the
information the taxi driver told me during the hour-long drive to the wealthier
parts of Tokyo, I should be looking for a big white house with a plum red roof.
I rolled my shoulders around as I gathered up my thoughts.
Alright, I thought confidently. I can do this. I began my
walk down the road. Near the back end of the pond, I found the house I was
searching for. My jaw dropped, my eyes as big as saucers.
�Whoa!� I mumbled. This wasn�t
a house. My future wife lived in a freaking castle! This place could put all of
the castles of this country in the picture books. No, it looked much better than
those castles. I blinked many times. Old
money could buy all of this? Okay! I walked down the path and made it to the
door. I counted to ten backwards in my head before knocking. I paced around a
bit and straightened my hair before the door opened. I stood straight and saw my
Michiko looking me up and down.
�Yes?� she asked. I put on a smile for this lovely lady.
�Hi,� I said. Michiko blinked.
�Can� I help you?� she asked.
�I�m Iwao,� I said. �Remember? We met earlier this
morning waiting for taxi.� It took her a moment to remember what I was talking
about.
�Oh, yeah!� she said. �How did you find me?�
�I looked you up in the phone book.�
�You did? So, what brings you by?�
My cheeks turned bright red as I gathered up my courage.
�I really like you! Will you go out on a date with me?� I looked up at her.
Michiko gave me a little smile.
�A date?� she repeated.
�Yes,� I replied. �If it�s too much, we could just go to
lunch together or something.� I hoped that she would say yes.
�It�s too early for us to go out on a date,� Michiko
said. �But lunch is just fine. How is Sunday afternoon?� I nodded my head up and
down while blushing.
�Perfect!� I said aloud. �I�ll be happy to go to lunch
this Sunday afternoon!�
�Anything else?� she asked. I shook my head.
�No,� I said. �I guess I�ll leave.� I quickly turned and left. I actually have a date this week!