Water Eggplant and a Kitchen Knife (8)

     Mrs. Sebumi came to Sakai after she married Mr. Sebumi.  Whenever she knew something new about the town, she talked about it with him with relish.  As Mr. Sebumi grew up in Sakai, he often wondered what she was curious about.  Anyway, he loved her smiles with overflowing happiness.

     “I didn’t do much.”

     “I got such a nice gift thanks to you.  I really appreciate it.”

     Mr. Sebumi gave her a bow.

     “We had prepared for our parting for a long time.  When the time came, it was just strange.”

     Mr. Sebumi laughed, wondering whether he was sad or not.

     When her disease was detected, Mrs. Sebumi used the phrase “solo transfer” so as not to make her husband sad.

     “When that happens, you will have to do ‘solo transfer’ in this world alone.  You should prepare yourself to do everything by yourself without me.”

     She tried to teach any and every household chore to her husband.  However, she was running out of time.

     “You said you would help do domestic chores after marriage, but you didn’t at all.  You have to pay for your laziness.”

     Mrs. Sebumi smiled but still kept teaching patiently.

     “Just remember.  In addition, will you sharpen these knives too?  My wife has used them since we married.  They are important for us, and I want to keep them neat and usable.”

     Nagisa got a set of knives.  There weren’t so many knives, but Nagisa found them very heavy.  The knives seemed to have become heavy, absorbing immeasurable sadness.

     “Well then, I have to cook supper.”

     “What will you have for supper?”

     She didn’t know why, but she carelessly asked him.

     “What do you think is good?  Don’t suggest something too difficult for me to cook.  Have a heart, please.”

     He answered her question with his question.  Nagisa was troubled.  She didn’t know whether it was easy to cook the food Haruko and Kotaro had made for her.

     “Those questions trouble you, don’t they?  I didn’t know how troublesome it was to plan everyday’s menu.”

     Mr. Sebumi grinned.

     “You recommended her a knife.  Thanks to you, I have to cook, and have to live on.”

     “Next time, I will show you how to sharpen your knives.”

     “Oh, you teach me something more troublesome.  Again, it’s thanks to you that I have to take care of them.”

     Mr. Sebumi looked ahead brightly, and disappeared into the dusk.  Watching after him, Nagisa remembered what Kotaro had said to her.  What he said when he served water eggplants.  As they easily discolore, please have them as soon as you can.

     —--There are some that can exist just for instance.  Sen Rikyu once said you can meet one once in your lifetime.  Exactly.  Once-in-a-lifetime event was in a trivial time, and you could easily let it go by.

     Nagisa tried to believe ordinary days would come back again.

     Her grandfather would come back without any trouble, and would continue to sharpen knives healthily.