Dear People of the World (formerly Dear Americans)

The second short novel after "The flight to Tokyo"

Marrying man remembers his past love in San Francisco.

 

 

 

Ken Kanzaki, 30 year-old man left the movie theater with his fiancé, Naomi. They were getting married next month.

“That was great movie” said Naomi. Ken wasn’t impressed by the movie. It was a boring love romance with a lot of cliche.

Naomi was 28 year-old beautiful woman. She was going to be his wife. Ken met her in arranged marriage meeting, so called “Omiai” in Japan . She was a daughter of a big automaker president, who was a biggest client for his family’s company. After the Omiai, they soon got along with each other. Then they started to love each other. Although their encounter was arranged by their parents, they were very sure love between them was real.

 

 

They were walking on the corridor inside the shopping mall. Naomi found a jigsaw puzzle shop. She liked it very much. They got into the shop.

There were many kinds of jigsaw puzzles inside the shop. Famous paintings, animals, and famous sceneries. Ken was not interested in jigsaw puzzles at all. He did not understand why his fiancé liked such a thing so much. But as soon as he saw one jigsaw puzzle pasted on the wall. He stopped and looked at it for a while.

 

“View of San Francisco , why are you looking at? Oh, that is where you used to live” said Naomi. What he was looking at was the view of San Francisco City , which contained Golden Gate Bridge , and buildings on the hill.

Ken graduated from the university there 7 years ago. He started his college days 11 years ago when he was 19.

“That is your favorite city, isn’t it” said Naomi. “Yes. That was a very beautiful city and I had great memories” responded Ken.

The most memorable one was what happened 10 years ago, when he was 20 and sophomore student.

 

 

 

Ken was remembering it.

 

 

 

10 years ago, Ken was a student at San Francisco Pacific University . He was one of hundreds of foreign students there. He was taking a Philosophy course as one of G.E. in spring semester. It was his second year in the U.S. Why he chose the university in the U.S. was because his father wanted him to do so. His father ran the trading company and wanted Ken to succeed it in the future. His father wanted Ken to have international experience because he would have to deal with foreign clients in the business. Ken just followed his father’s wish. He did not mind studying in America . English was his favorite and best subject. He liked Hollywood movies, too.

 

After a year and half since he arrived in San Francisco , he got used to living in the city. He made friends with Americans and foreign students. He even got an American girlfriend. She was blonde and blue eyed glamorous girl named Jane. Relationship between the two lasted half a year. Ken broke up with her a few months ago. Ken just recently recovered from the heartbreaking.

 

 

“Why do we love each other? Let’s think about it” said the instructor. His name was Craig Jordan. The students called him “Craig.” He was a man in early 30’s with blonde and blue eyes. He was a very handsome and liked by many female students.

One girl said to him “it is because we have to reproduce offspring.”

“Yes, you are right. Love may be just a tool to make a descendant to succeed humankind. Maybe it is just our animal instinct” said Craig with confidence. A lot of girls were looking at him smiling. Seemed like some of them wanted him to make love with them.

Ken laughed and kept laughing. He could not stop laughing.

Craig Jordan looked at Ken and said “What is so funny?”

Ken answered “That doesn’t make sense. If that is the reason we love, how do you explain why two men or women are loving each other?”

“You mean, gays and lesbians?”

“Yes, they can’t make a child. Why do they love, Mr. Jordan ?”

“Well, this is very interesting question. You are from Japan , aren’t you. Gay culture here in this city should look very strange to you.”

“No, it doesn’t” said Ken with confidence.

“That is a surprise. I heard Japan is very conservative society. Maybe because recent gay liberation movement came to your society and affected your people.”

“I am saying our country has traditionally tolerated gay culture and that proves the idea that a love is just for reproduction doesn’t make sense.”

The class became silent for a moment. Then Craig said to Ken.

 

 

“That is interesting. Why don’t you make a briefing for that? As you know, this course requires each student to make a briefing in class after midterm exam. I assign you to do this topic” said Craig smiling.

     

     

To be continued to Chapter 2.

Updates the story irregularly.

This novel is copyrighted by the author of this blog, Masagata.