Embarrassment of Mr.Yaguti

When I reached the ticket gate of Sannomiya Kobe station,first grader Inagaki and a dark boy were standing near the gate. Inagaki found me and said,"This is Yaguti in my classroom.He hopes to join our school journal club."
Yaguti said,"How do you do.I am Yaguti."
He took off his school cap and lowered the close clipping head abiding by school reguration.
"How do you do.Did you have been in other club?"
I asked him because many boys who want to join club in second term have left clubs in first term.
"In mathematics club"
Yaguti said.He seemed much ashamed.
"This guy is a son of Mr.Yaguti.".
When Inagaki said so, Yaguti's cheeks blushued. Words of Inagaki reminded me that his sound jaw and almond eyes were just like Mr.Yaguti's.
Mr.Yaguti tought us very strictly and was feared from students not to be good at mathematics. If they cannot solve probrems in the practice,they must stand in front of the blackboard allthrough the mathematics class. I was relatively good at mathematics and I was familiar with Mr.Yaguti.
"Why did you leave mathematics club,"I said.
"I don't like the atomosphere of the club".
"All menbers of our club will welcome you.Our hands are very short to make newspapers"
I said so and pat the shoulder of Yaguti.
Inagaki asked,"Can he go together to the newspaper company ?"
"Certainly.If he cannot proofreading work ,he may just see our work todat."
When I said it,Yaguti took his cap once again.
"Pardon me.I am too late."
So saying Minami,chief of the journal club,appeared. Inagaki introduced Yaguti to Minami as a son of Mr.yaguti,but Minami only nodded to them silently with his face firm.
Minami completely give up to learn mathematics ,so Mr.yaguti scolded him over again. Otuka,2 grader jocular boy,apeared and apolojized to be late exagerratedly.So,the air of the place became peaceful.
When we arrived at the newspaper company, Yaguti completely excited and his eyes shone brightly. He seemed to have been charmed by the newspaperman and the cameraman with armband scamperring busily in the corridor.
Working space given to us was a corner of printing type field separated by boards with frosted glass.We could see the printing type workers through slits of boards. Yaguti frequently stood up and were seeing them.Workers with apron were arranging very quickly printing types from the shelf to their small wood boxes.Yaguti seemed to be much interrested in their work.
When the proofreading of a school newspaper finished,Minami had just gone to negotiate the payment and Otuka went home immediately.So,Yaguti,Inagaki and I were left surroundinng the table.
"How Mr.Yaguti spend in your house".
I was interested in the behavior of strict Mr.Yaguti in home.
"My father is very nagging and my mother and sisters are nerves".
"Is he studying mathematics at home?"
"Yes,he study it very hard".
" You, too, will be very good at mathematics,I suppose".
Inagaki suppressed laughter with his hand.
Yaguti said,"I am not good at mathematics ".
"Oh,it's a surprize.You are son of mathematics teacher,aren't you?"
When I said so, the face of Yaguti changed very sad and he turned down.
"But,you like Mathematics don't you, because you join mathematics club."
"I hates mathematics.".
Yaguti said decidedly.
"Well, why did you join mathmatics club".
"I want to be a little good at mathematics.My father is so pityful.If I am so poor at mathematics,my father will lose his trust as a teacher. But I could't tolerate in the club." :
"Did your father teach you mathematics?"
"Yes,At the time of junior high school, he taught extensively ,but recently he has give up completely ".
I became somewhat pleasant remenberring Mr.yaguti teaching his son in embarrasment.
Then,Yaguti spoke to Inagki in low voice.He seemed to want to leave the topic .He watch the galley remainnig on the table and tried to learn the symbol of the proofreading.

It was about 2 weeks later. When our mathematics class ended, Mr.Yaguti called me.What happened? In suspection I approached the platform.
"I hear there is no activity in school journal club today.Is it true?;Mr.Yaguti whipered.
It was Friday.And our club was off. Mr.Yaguti seemed to hear it from his son.
"Yes sir. it's off today".
I answered.
"Do you like to go part of the way to home with me?".
"Certainly ",I said .
" Well,we will meet at 4 o'clock near the back gate".
The teacher said.
The teacher who had a cane in his hand and wear fine business suit appeared accurately 4 o'clock.
"My son have entered a newspaper club,I hear.Is it true?"
Going out of the gate, Mr.Yaguti said so immediately.
"Yes. He joined us about two weeks before"
"He seems delightful " so saying,Mr.Yaguti brandished a cane.
"I have thought all students not to be good at mathematics were idlers".
"It will be so from the situation of teachers".
"However, there was a student truely difficult to master mathematics , even if he made much effort.I found it lately".
"From your son?"
"Yes.Oh,yes".
The teacher seized out a big sigh.
"By the way,is it you ? The captain of school newspaper club."
"No"
"Oh,I am wrong.I think so because my son said your name frequently. Who is the chief ?"
"Minami,in D class "
The body of the teacher was jolt severely for a moment. Teacher stopoed walking and gazed at train which passed on the bank for a while.
Mr.Yaguti suddenly turned to me and took his hat off."Please kindly look after my son".
He lowered his head deeply. The wind blew and his hair which had turned half silver was disarranged.
Then a slight change was made in mathematics class of Mr.Yaguti.

unemoloyment

Kazuhiko was merry on that day. The beer which I prepared was drunk up, and he began to drink whiskey which he brought. Kazuhiko did not have regular employment about two years. He had worked on part-time job or intermittent job in convenience stores or bars. Now he has been formally employed in the company of network business at last. His new company createing the advertising homepage for cellular phones has achieved success. He said that the company had been entablished by his junior in university.Looking him who were talking of work happily,I thought this was the true face of this young man.
It was a tiny moutain hut that I met Kazuhiko for the first time.It was about one year ago. I was beguiling then lonesomeness losing my wife with being in the mountain. Kazuhiko who appeared in the hut was making the un-well-matched dress the mountain in twinter season. Shoes were ordinary ones, and he did not have rucksack or even a bag. An abrasion was in his face and blood was flowing. Although het said he had lost his way, I thought that Kazuhiko tried to bring his life to the end. Since his appearance worried me, I spoke to him at the time of supper and took a seat next him in the public sleeping room. From the countenance he had,old cloths and the lazy mustache, I thought that Kazuhiko would have lost his job. I was not good at speaking an insrtractive story,but I spoke my experience of channging jobs or losing jobs. When coming out of a hut in the next morning, I taught the place of my house and asked him to come.
After a week Kazuhiko came to my apartment. Since then Kazuhiko used to came about once a month.He said he had been restructured from heading trading company, although he was an elite employee. He had been divorced and living alone.
Television told the time signal at 10:00. Kazuhiko dranks up the remaining whiskey in his glass and stood up.He said “Thank you, I had a good time, thank you”
After wearing shoes in the entrance, he take out a small package from his pocket . “Whai is it?” “A little present for you.I am very much oblidged to you” “Not at all” “Please accept this” Kazuhiko handed me a small package decorated with a ribbon.
After Kazuhiko went away with tottering, I returned to sitting room.I removed wrapping paper, and opened the package.There were Twety 5000 yen goods ticket inside. I thought suddenly Kazuhiko would not come to this house any more. Large amount of goods tiket noticed me that.
As expected Kazuhiko stopped coming with a snap. Although I felt lonely, I thought that it might be good for him. He was independent now.　One year after our last meeting, a postcard came from Kazuhiko.He wrote that network business has an intense competition, the engineer was lured, and the company had collapsed and he lost job again. Although I telephoned Kazuhiko's cellular phone soon, the announcement of being impossible to use just flowed.
I gazed at the postcard again.Handwriting in it was wild and confused. I culd not stop worryng him. (END)

Bivouac

The footstep of Seiichirou suddenly stopped who was walking behind Takashi. Takashi looked back. The dusk was gathering. Seiichirou sat down on the ground where the sands and weeds were mixed.He was gazing at his right hand, smoking a cigarette.Takashi felt irritation and said.
"Professor,if you waste time here, we can not returm home today" "Look! look my hand.A viper bit me" Saying so, Seiichirou held out his hand to Takashi. Takashi was surprised, and grasped Seiichirou's hand. There were two small cracks between thumb and index finger at intervals of about 1cm.
"A while ago, when my hand attached on the slope, I felt piercing pain. I could not understannd what happened.Now blood has come out." The voice of Seiichirou was feeble.He was fat and his shirts got blackish by sweat. Takashi found the stabs had not been marked by a vyper at a glance. Takashi had helped a friend bitten by viper as a boy.
"These stubs were not marked by byper.Some glass with prickles stung your hand,I think"
"No, I am sure, viper bit me. Immediately after feeling an ache something escaped into the bush"
"O.K. If you were bitten by a vyper, it is seriously bad situation.You should have a serum injection.Before it you should have an emergency measure, binding your arm or sucking out poison"
"You are right, you are right. We should do it in a hurry"
Seiichirou rubbed the cigarette against a stone beside him. He opened his rucksack, and took out a white towel from inside. Takashi knew Seiitiro was not bitten by a viper. So,Takashi was calm in mind. However, since Seiichirou was 65 years old, preparation would be carried out for the worst.
"I will bind your hand". Saying so, Takashi twisted the towel around Seiichirou's fat arm. When Takashi bound the towel, Seiichirou frowned.
"It is too tight. It stops blood. My hand will rot"
"I understand" Takashi said so and loosened the knot.
"But sir, If binding is too loose,poison will head to heart" Takashi fastened the towel tightly little by little. "Does it work?"
Since Seiichirou bowed his head in assent, Takashi crossed the end of the towel and piled up the knot.
"Next, poison should be sucked out"
Saying so, Seiichirou looked at scars. "I have a cut in my mouse.I cannot suck "
Yesterday at the time of supper, Seiichirou had bitten his inner side of cheek by his teeth, and had uttered big voice. Probably, the crack has not healed up yet.
"I will do it, I will do it. But you may feel a pain" Takashi picked out the canteen from the rucksack and drank some water. He gargleed and breathed out. When he brough Seiichirou's hand to his mouth, there was delicate scent of a cinnamon.Takashi sucked hard. Bloody smell spread in his mouth. Takashi washed out his mouse by water. While repeating it 3 times, Seiichirou hardened his stout body and did not move.
"If a viper bit your hand,it will become swollen immediately. You should go to hospital soon.You had not better move now,so I will climb down alone this mountain and call for help" Takashi said so nevertheless he did not want to climb down alone.
Seiichirou groaned. "It will be dark soon.I wonder if you can get down from this mountain safely"
"But, we shoud call for help"
"It's true. But I don't like to die alone. Even if I will die,I hope your attendance" Seiichirou said patheticaly and raised his eyes in the air.
"Professor,I swear that you were not bitten by a viper.I swear. I have seen many persons bitten by vipers"
" You may be right. Anyhow,walking aroud is dangerous now. We will bivouac tonight"
"What?"
"Oh,you don't know bivouac,don't you,ha-ha. It is an old word. It means camping"
"Camping? Oh,I understand. Yes,yes,we should camp tonigt" There must be a dangerous cliff ner here.Tkashi could not but agree.
"I will collect firewood before becoming dark completely"
"Yes, you are asked" Seiichirou said so and began to take out a paper parcel from his rucksack.
Although it was gloomy inside woods, Takashi could found some withered branch. When he came back holing withered branch to the limit of arms, Seiichirou had fastened a cloth like a tent to the branch. Biside the rucksack sheets and messkit were arranged.
"I am surprised.Your preparation is complete.Is it tent?"
"Oh,It's handy tent,called Zelt. It happened to be in the bottom of my rucksack. It is better rather than it is not"
After putting on the tent, Seiichirou collects stones and began to make a kitchen range. He seemed to have regained energy as usual. "Professor,you had not better move around. If it is a viper, poison will takes effect drastically"
"Oh, that's right" Though Seiichirou said so,he didn't stop stacking stones. Seiichirou put a newspaper into the bottom of stone-made kitchen range and piled up the sprig on it. After the newspaper was fired with the writer, fire spreads gradually and began to burn a sprig. Discerning it, Seiichirou piled up the big branch. Seiichirou took out the canteen and filled messkit with water. He opened the paper parcel and drop somesing into the messkit. Takashi couldn't see what were dropped, because it was too dark aroud Seiichirou's hands. Seiichirou took out one strong and long out of the withered branches which Takashi has collected. It was passed through the misskit and streched over the kitchen range.
"Sir, You can do well these things, can't you?"
"I have climbed many mountains.I leaned field cooking in mountains"
Seiichirou said so, narrowing his eyes and gazed at fire.
"Doesn't your hand become swollen? Are you right?"
Takashi asked.Seiichirou held out the hand.
"There is no swelling. It must be other creature" Seiichirou laughed and turned his hand behind the head.
When he finished to have meal, Takashi became sleepy suddenly. It was dark completely.
"Takashi,you may sleep now " Seiichirou said wrapping misskit in paper.
"Just you should sleep"
"I will be in tent a little after you fall asleep. I am afraid my snore disterbs your sleep" Seiichirou took a blanket out of a rucksack and pass to Takashi.Takashi thought that Seiichirou had intension to stay in this mountain tonight from the first. Takashi remembered Seiichirou was walking awfully slowly today. Takashi entered into the tent by groping. Unexpectedly, inside was large . Although the floor was uneven, it was not hard due to grass on the ground. Takashi felt sleepy.He think about one-year-life with Seiichirou. Part-time weeding of Takashi caused to lodge at a detached hut of Seiichirou's residence. Seiichirou had ever been an professor of national university in which Takashi was learning, and after retirement he became a professor of a private college. He had lost his wife and he had been living alone. Seiichirou liked Takashi very much and he wanted to spend together with him. Takashi did not have a father. Takashi also felt particular familiarity to Seiichirou which Takashi had never felt. Takashi had a plan to go to Tokyo for employment soon and Seiichirou was severely disappointed at that.
Takashi woke suddely in the dead of night. Although it was dark and not visible, he felt Seiichirou's body immediately near him. It seemed that Seiichirou had turned the back to him. The scent of whiskey was filled in the tent. Probably, Seiichirou got drunk. Seiichirou's decent body odor smelt in the scent of whiskey.
"Are you awake?" Seiichirou asked in low voice.
"Yes"
"Parden me for staying at such a place"
"Not at all,it will be a good recollection"
"Thank you,Takashi,thank you" Seiichirou had the sign of turning round to Takashi. It seemed that Seiichirou had not been covered by a blanket.
" I can not stand to think that you will go away in several days.I miss you,I miss you" Probably, Seiichirou wanted to stay at a tent together, regretting separation. Probably, he said bitten by a viper to desire to spent a night together in a tent.
"Tokyo is not far"
"May be.But,Iam afraid you have forgotten me"
"I will visit your residence frequently hereafter"
"Is it true?"
"Sure"
"It's a promise"
"Yes,oh yes" Takashi approached Seiichirou and streched the blanket to cover him also.Calmly warmth of Seiichirou transmitted to Takashi across his clothes..

I started to write short novels

I am a Japanese and live in Tokyo. I have written many novels.In this blog I will write very short story in English.Please read my novels.