Panties for Sale (37 page)

Chieko smiled, remembering her Grandmother.
 
She hadn’t thought about her in ages.
 
What would her grandmother do, she
wondered?
 
Her
grandmother had been a geisha.
 
And
although Japanese geisha officials swore up and down that it was just a
respectable entertainment service, Chieko suspected that being a geisha wasn’t
just about giving concerts and serving tea.
 
If the stories that Chieko had heard from the Tokyo girls were true, it didn’t sound to be
that different than escorting.
 
Well,
except for the studying and the traditions.
 
And the tea ceremony.
 
And the
clothing.
 

She still remembered sneaking up
into the attic and peeking inside her grandmother’s old trunks, carefully
pulling out the delicately tied rolls of silk, unraveling her gorgeous
kimonos.
 
Chieko could sit for hours tracing
her fingers over the fine embroidery.
 
Watching as the delicate pink cherry blossoms came alive under her
fingers and sprayed their sweet spring fragrance into the stale attic air.
 
The crisp yellow and red gingko leaves
rustled in the strong blowing wind of damp rainy autumn days, their sharp
points pricking Chieko’s fingers as she traced their reckless flight down the
dark gray silk.
 
And her favorite; her
grandmother’s dark blue kimono that faded as it sank beneath the rolling,
crashing ocean waves that swept around the bottom of the robe, splashing specks
of silver up into the winter sky.
 
Chieko
always thought that must be what a sailor must see, out at sea, alone
surrounded by wild frothing waves and a pale grey sky stretching out forever in
every direction.
 
An undulating pattern
of beauty and unlimited freedom.

Wait. Did Angela just ask her if she was going to get a
boob job?
 
Fake breasts?
 
Chieko shook her head.
 
That woman is so crazy!
 
Why would she waste her money on that!
 
Imagine a Japanese girl with big boobs?
 
With a sigh, she picked up the pen and
continued to write.

I regret that my actions have
caused you sorrow and embarrassment.
 
I
am writing you now to let you know that I am safe and well.
 
I am in Toronto,
Canada.
 
I am studying English and am working at a
part time job to pay the bills.
 
I plan
to return one day to Japan
to begin my university training.
 
I will
write you again when I have a more definite plan for my future.
  
I just wanted to let you know so you would
not worry.
 
I am safe and in good health
and think of you with fondness.
 
I think
of my actions with regret and ask you to remember me from time to time.

Please do not worry about me.

I think of you often and
remember you with love.
 

Your faithful daughter,
Chieko

Chieko rewrote the letter on formal paper, folded it
carefully and put it in her handbag.
 
She
slipped on her shoes and jacket, slung her bag over her shoulder and let
herself out; testing the door to make sure it locked behind her.
  

Stuffing her hands into her pockets she walked quickly down
the street, stepping off the sidewalk into High Park and following a narrow
foot path into the wooded area.
 
As she
felt the late afternoon sunshine on her face, Chieko began to relax. She loved
being close to the calming stillness of nature. As she breathed in the
crispness of the late summer air, she noticed her footsteps left tracks in the
damp mud of the path. Twice, she paused inhaling the damp earthiness, sensing
the aliveness of kami - the Shinto forest spirits of the forest.
 
“Arigato kozaimus,” she whispered three times
into the still air, asking for blessings from the tree spirits.
 

As she emerged from the tranquility of the wooded area, the
roaring waves and wet fishiness of the water assaulted her senses.
 
The waters of Lake Ontario looked cold and
wild and Chieko shivered in her light jacket.
 
No swimmers brave enough to battle the waves today.
 
She walked along the lake shore, dodging the
cold spray as the waves crashed against the rocks and watching in awe as the
sun rays turned the white caps into a cacophony of sparkling gold.
 
She carefully scrambled along the rocky shore
and onto the large boulder that jutted out into the surf.
 
She crawled right to the top, careful not to
slip and stood up tall, gazing out over the far horizon.
 
She closed her eyes and focused on the roar
of the water and the warmth of the late afternoon sun on her face trying to
block all other thoughts from her mind.
 
Slowly her breath joined the rhythm of the crashing waves.
 

After a few moments, she opened her eyes and took out the
letter she had written earlier.
 
Unfolding it, Chieko read it out loud to the wind.
 
When she finished, she folded the paper into
the shape of a small boat.
 
Finding a
calm area sheltered from the wind among the rocks, she lit the small boat with
her lighter and placed it into the waves.
 

The flames blazed bright against the dark green of the
water.
 
The small boat battled valiantly
but all too soon it was overcome by a large wave. It capsized and slowly sank
into the murky water.
 
Chieko waited
watching until all traces of the letter had gone.
 
Then she turned and walked down back down off
the rocks.
 
One day she would write the
letter again.
 
And that day, she would
actually mail it.

Alex sighed and turned off her mustang’s engine.
 
She looked down the tree lined street and
listened to the neighbourhood sounds of children’s laughter, a dog barking and
the low roar of a lawn mower.
 
Birds sang
out from the trees and a squirrel scampered across the street.
 
Shaded under the large chestnut tree, Alex
watched a middle aged father help his son sort out his hockey equipment.
 
“Handsome,” she muttered, noticing the slight
graying at the man’s temple and the ruggedness of his face.
 
“And still in pretty good shape.
 
Wonder if anyone out here gets Sunday morning
deliveries?”
 
She laughed, thinking of
all her past middle aged clients who were probably spending their Sunday
afternoons with their oblivious families as well.
 

Alex pushed her sunglasses up on her nose, noticing the
afternoon sun sparkling off the lake behind her parent’s house. The drive up
north, out of the city had been peaceful and refreshing.
 
The sky was clear and blue and the leaves
were just beginning to change their colours, creating a kaleidoscope of green,
orange and yellow.
 
There was a patch
along Highway 400 that Alex just loved at this time of year.
 
The farms on either side of the highway grew
mustard plants and for a few rare weeks, the flowers were in bloom creating an
almost fluorescent carpet of bright yellow.
 
It was stunning.
 

The drive had also given Alex some time to think.
 
The past few weeks had been a blur. She still
couldn’t believe that Joseph had bought an apartment for her.
 
Joseph had been so adorable and generous,
spending his time with Alex, shopping for furniture, decorating, and moving
in.
 
But what gave Alex the biggest
thrill, was just hanging out with him.
 
Being there when he got home from work.
 
Snuggling into his warm arms in the morning when he pressed the snooze
button and reached for her.
 
And just
walking down the street with him, talking about everything and nothing at the
same time.
 
It made her glow every time
another women glanced admiringly at him, knowing that he was hers.
 
She looked down at her hands remembering how
Joseph had reached for her hand after leaving Flo’s diner.
 
It was just automatic.
 
Already an old habit.
 
Her hand had never felt so at home.
 

Everything was going great, except, well, the money
thing.
 
It was all Joseph’s money.
 
Now that she quit escorting she didn’t have
any income of her own.
 
Not that Joseph
didn’t take care of her.
 
He did.
 
It just felt awkward for Alex.
 
Being a kept women.
 
She was so used to worrying about money,
getting a job, keeping a job, watching her bank account go up and then go
down.
 
She didn’t like asking for
money.
 
Or having to worry what someone
else would think about her spending choices.
 
She sighed.
 
She’d get used to it
she supposed.
 
Isn’t that how most
married women lived?
 
Checking her
reflection in the rear view mirror, Alex grimaced and then opened the car door.

“Hello there,” a voice boomed out from the garage.

“Oh, hey, hi dad,” Alex peered into her dad’s dark
workspace, inhaling the familiar aroma of smoked cigars and wood shavings.
 
Alex’s mother didn’t like her father smoking
and refused to let him near the house with his cigars.
 
So Alex’s dad usually spent most of his spare
time building shelves and cabinets in the garage.
 

Her dad grinned as Alex walked in the door.
 
Shit!
 
Alex stopped and looked down at the floor.
 
She had never realized it before, but most of
her clients had been about the same age as her dad.
 
They were definitely somebody else’s dad.
 
She shuddered and turned quickly away, her
eyes landing on her dad’s finished cabinet.
 
She pretended to admire it as she tried to shake off that creepy feeling
of regret and revolt growing in her stomach.
 
It wasn’t your dad, for god’s sake, she told herself.
 
He’s not like that.
 
Get over it.
 
Alex took a deep breath in, trying to push away the past.

“Your mother will be glad to see you.
 
She thinks you’re up to something?”

Alex looked up at him in surprise.
 
“Me?
 
No, nothing.
 
Just work.”

As Alex’s father smiled at her, his eyes twinkled with
laughter.
 
Alex’s stomach sank.
 
How come he always knew when she wasn’t
telling the truth?
 
“Better make up a
story quick then.
 
Make it exciting to
get your mother off the scent,” he laughed and popped his cigar back into his
mouth as he started sanding a piece of wood.
 
“Call me, when dinner’s ready,” he called out as Alex ducked out of the
garage and slowly walked down the path to her parent’s house.

The front door was open and she could hear voices
inside.
 
She followed the sounds into the
kitchen.
 
“Elixia,” her mother looked up
as she walked in.
 
“You made it.
 
Thank god.
 
Just in time.
 
Mary and Frank are
helping me set the table.
 
They have a
big announcement but they said they wouldn’t say what it is until after
dinner.
 
So,” she winked at Alex’s
sister, “I decided we would have an earlier dinner tonight.
 
How was the traffic?”

“Oh, fine.
 
Not too
busy.
 
It’s a beautiful day.”
 
Alex walked around the kitchen table to get a
good look at her sister.
 
“Mom said you
lost weight?”
 
She didn’t look any
skinner.
 
How could she?
 
Alex never thought of Mary as fat.
 
She wasn’t.
 
She was shorter than Alex, with a smaller chest.
 
She had always worn size 8 or 10 which was 2
sizes smaller than Alex.
 
But her face
was rounded.
 
Ok, maybe she had gained a
bit of weight since she got married.
 
But
she wasn’t fat.
 
Actually, it looked good
on her.
 
She looked healthy.
 
Nothing to worry about.
 
Yet, for some reason, Alex’s mother always
did.
 

“Well a little,” Mary rolled her eyes. “I’m working on it.”

“Working on what?
 
You look great.”

“No,” Mary sighed. “I gained so much weight over the
summer.
 
It’s awful.
 
Did Mom tell you about our house?”
 

“Yeah,” Alex said as Mary’s husband came in and wrapped his
arms around her sister’s waist.

“Hey Alex,” Frank said as he leaned around to kiss Mary on
the cheek.
 
“Yeah, we’re pretty excited.”

“Stop it,” Mary giggled and tried to shrug him off.

Alex rolled her eyes and wandered over to the fridge.
 
Her mother smiled at the happy couple.
 
“Aren’t they adorable?
 
Your father was like that too, when we were
young.
 
Frank is such a nice man.”

Alex rolled her eyes again and grabbed a few raspberries
that were waiting in a bowl.
 
She stood
with her back to the family, the fridge door open, searching for whipped cream
or cake to go with the raspberries.
 
Alex
didn’t like Frank.
 
Of course, it really
didn’t matter, she didn’t have to.
 
She
wasn’t married to him.
 
He was just
seemed too high strung for her.
 
And too
self-absorbed.
 

Her sister actually washed and ironed his business shirts
for him and laid out what he was going to wear each morning before he went off
to work.
 
Mary had told Alex one day that
she had been too busy to make Frank’s lunch before he left, and he had called
her in the middle of the day, to ask her to make him one and bring it to him at
work.
 
Mary had laughed at how cute he
was.
 

Alex smirked as Frank walked by.
 
If her sister laid out his clothes every
morning, you’d think she could find him pants that weren’t so tight.
 
What a dork!
 
It was funny to watch him though, walk around her house, trying to
impress her family like he was this big business hot shot.
 
He was a manager of a call centre.
 
He hadn’t even gone to university.
 
Alex shook her head.
 
Why did her parents like him?
 
Because, she thought wryly, apparently a
marriage certificate made you a real person.
 
If her parents only knew.
 
Joseph
was at least 10 times as rich as Frank.
 
He was the boss of a hell of a lot more than a call centre.
 
His business shirts were sent out to the
cleaners and his pants fit.

“Elixia, close the fridge!
 
And stop eating all the dessert!” Her mother snapped. “Go and call your
father.
 
Dinner is ready.”
 
Alex closed the fridge and went out to call
her dad.
 
This is going to be a long
dinner, she thought.

“Ok, you two lovebirds,” Alex’s mother smiled at Mary and
Frank as she poured the tea, “so what is your announcement?”

Mary looked at Frank. “You tell them.”

Frank reached over and squeezed Mary’s hands.
 
“Don’t you want to?
 
It was your idea.”

“No, you go ahead.”

“Oh, my god,” Alex said, “you’re pregnant?”

Alex’s mom screamed and clapped her hands over her mouth,
her eyes twinkling with excitement.

“No,” Mary glared at Alex. “Thanks Alex.
 
No, we’re not pregnant.”

“Yet,” Frank squeezed Mary’s hand tight.

Mary smiled and looked up at her mother, father and Alex
who were all staring at her.
 
“Frank got
a raise.
 
That was our announcement.”

“Oh wonderful, dear,” Alex’s mother clapped her hands.
 
“What a wonderful thing since you just bought
the new house.”

“Yes,” Mary smiled. “It all worked out so well.”

“Congratulations,” Alex’s dad stood up and shook Frank’s
hand.
 
“Be sure to put some of that
aside.”

“Of course, of course,” Frank was beaming from ear to ear.

“That’s great.
 
How
much do you get?” Alex asked

“Alex, please don’t be rude.”

“Let’s just say it’s substantial,” Frank grinned,
readjusting the waist of his pants.

“Does that mean you are the boss of the call centre, now?”

“Why,” asked Mary, “you looking for a job?”

“No,” said Alex, “no, I’m ok.”

“Are you?
 
Because
Mom said you’re just temping.
 
You know,
Frank could put in a good word for you.
 
Frank says they are always hiring customer representatives.”

“No, I’m fine,” Alex glared at her sister.

“Yes, dear, isn’t that nice of Frank?” Alex’s mother
said.
 
“I think it’s just a lovely idea.”

“Not right now.
 
I’m
pretty busy with work and well, I’m moving into a new apartment.”

“What?” her mother dropped her fork. “You are?
 
What happened?”

“Did you get evicted?” Mary asked.

“No, no, everything is fine.
 
I just found a place I like better.”

Alex’s mother frowned. “Are you sure it’s ok?
 
Do you want your father to come down and
check it out?
 
I don’t want you to get
into another mess.”

“No, mom, it’s good.
 
Really.
 
It’s nice.
 
Right downtown, so it’s better for work.
 
And well, it’s this lady from the office.
 
You know the advertising agency.
 
She’s going through a divorce, her husband
left her, so she needs a roommate to help with the rent.”

“Alex,” her mother sighed, “do you really need another
roommate?”