“Katsu! Katsu, you naughty boy, where are you?”

Katsu, completely hidden by the tall grasses of the wild country around his home, giggled as his big sister passed right by him. “Katsu!!” she called. She turned in his direction. “Oh, Katsu, where are you?” Katsu gasped in horror. He recognized this game. He crawled away as fast as he could…in the wrong direction.

He ran straight into his sister’s legs. She lifted him by the middle. “Reiko,” giggled Katsu, “No fair!!! Let me win!!!”

Reiko tickled her brother. “It’s supper time, Katsu.” She dropped her brother unceremoniously on the ground. He landed with a ‘thud’ on his butt.

“What’s for dinner, Reiko?”

Reiko smiled down at her brother. “Wash up and you’ll find out soon enough.” Katsu giggled and ran into the house. Reiko smiled at Katsu’s back. “And wash your hands good!!!! I don’t want to see any dirt under your fingernails!!!” she called through her cupped hands.

“You won’t!!!” called Katsu.

Reiko smiled, following her brother into the house. She paused just inside the back door, slipping off her outdoor shoes and slipping on her house shoes. “Mother, where are you?”

“I’m in the living room, dear. Come quickly! There’s something I want you to see!”

Reiko hurried into the living room. Her mother was at the window pushing the curtains aside with Reiko’s grandmother next to her. They were both peering outside with interest. “Are Father and Kaoru coming?” Reiko’s grandmother motioned her over to the window. Reiko stood next to her mother and pulled the curtain back farther. She looked down the road. Five tall figures were walking down it. She recognized her older brother and her father, but she could not make out whom the other three were. “Who…?”

Reiko’s mother smiled. “We are to have company, Reiko. It looks as if Kazuo and Kaoru are bringing home some friends, Mother.”

Reiko’s grandmother nodded. “Yes, Yoko. Reiko, be a dear and set three more places at the dinner table.”

“Yes, Grandmother.” Reiko left the window. Reiko went into the kitchen and took three rice bowls from the cabinet. She walked out to the dining room. “Katsu!”

Katsu ran into the dining room. “Whoosh!!! I’m the wind!!”

Reiko laughed. “Oh, you naughty boy, Katsu. Let me see your hands.”

Katsu sighed and held out his hands to his sister. She looked them carefully over, scrutinizing every place that might hide dirt. Katsu fidgeted and squirmed, hating to be in one place at one time. “Very good,” said Reiko. “You can go.” Katsu let out a whoop and ran out of the dining room.

“Whoosh!!! I’m the wind!!!”

Reiko smiled and went over to the doors that made up the far wall of the dining room. She pulled them all to the side, so they were up against the kitchen wall, to create an open feel to the room. The late afternoon sun poured into the dining room, setting the room afire with light and warmth. A light summer breeze ruffled her dress and her hair.

Reiko turned from the beautiful view of the countryside and went to the closet in the hall. From it she pulled three pillows. They were square and made of dark blue silk. She took them into the dining room. “Reiko!!!” came her mother’s voice. “Reiko!! Come and get ready to greet our guests!!”

Reiko hurried to the front part of the house. Her mother and her grandmother were already in front of the house with Katsu. Reiko slipped out of her slippers and into her outdoor shoes. She hurried out the door and stood at her mother’s side. Yoko’s mother was on the side of her opposite could see the five men approach now. She named each one in her head. Father, Mr. Hanaku, a friend of her father’s and a successful merchant, Kaoru, and Mr. Hanaku’s two sons, Goro, captain of the guard in Tedo, and Kanaye, a friend and co-worker of her brother’s.

They were close, and walking at a leisurely pace. They were talking and laughing. Katsu took off, flapping his arms and shouting, “Squawk!!! I’m a bird!!!” Reiko fought her laughter.

Katsu jumped into his father’s arms. “Hello, Dad!!” he shouted. “You want to know what I did today?”

Kazuo laughed, tossing his son into the air. “Tell me.”

“Well, first, I ate breakfast, and then I played outside in the dirt! And then, Grandma dumped a bucket of water over my head and made me wash my hands! And then I ate lunch outside! And then I played outside some more! And then I was told to wash my hands good, ‘cause Reiko didn’t want to see any dirt under my fingernails. Then I was the wind! And then Reiko looked at my hands and said I did good! And then you came home! Ands that’s it.” Katsu nodded.

Kazuo placed his son on the ground as he came to sand before the women in his family. “Yoko,” he said. He hugged his wife. “Mama.” He hugged his mother in law. “And young Reiko.” He hugged his daughter.

“Welcome home, my love,” said Yoko.

“Welcome home, Kazuo,” said Reiko’s grandmother.

“Welcome home, Father,” said Reiko.

“We’ve brought some friends over for dinner. I hope that’s okay.”

“We are always prepared, my dear,” said Yoko.

“Mother,” said Kaoru. “Grandmother.” He hugged each in turn. “My little sister.” He lifted his sister off the ground with his hug.

“Welcome home, Kaoru,” said the three women in unison.

Kazuo smiled. “Sawao, Goro, Kanaye, my wife, Yoko, my mother-in-law, Waka, my son, Katsu, and my daughter, Reiko.” The three women bowed to the men, as the men bowed to them. “Well, let us move into the house.”

“Dinner is ready, Kazuo. Would you like to start with the meal?”

“Sounds delightful, Yoko.”

All nine people entered the house. “Please wait in the living room until we serve the meal in the dining room, gentlemen.” Yoko bowed to them and went off to the kitchen, her mother following. Reiko bowed and went to join them, but her father’s voice stopped her.

“Reiko, stay here for a moment.” Her father was seated on the floor in the living room. She bowed to him.

“Father?”

This is the first chapter. I hope that it doesn’t suck. Please, you’ve gone this far, leave me a little review, please. Thanks.

Luv,

ZoZo