Kuromoji-ya Cafe ④

The ice cream melted and started to pool at the bottom. I was so engrossed in listening that my hands seemed to have unwittingly stopped. I often enjoyed the parfait, eating it on a waffle and even with a white egg on top. After finishing his lunch, a male customer took out another cigarette. I wondered if he was going to smoke again, as I had just enjoyed a delicious parfait, but now I was getting the flavour of cigarettes. While I was thinking so, the male customer stopped the waiter and said. 'Matcha parfait, please.' The cigarette is taken out and put away in a box. While facing the parfait with melting ice cream, which I had to eat in its delicious state, I couldn't help but notice the ladies. I also hear a different story.

Mrs. Halmeku.
'I go back to Miyazaki sometimes. I gradually feel warm attachemt to my birth county as I get old. It's a nice place, really. Every time I go back, I'm pround of the place. There's lots of nature and the food is delicious. I think I took my grandchildren there the other day. They like it, my children like it too. Oh, the grandchildren was lovely at that time. On Father's Day she sent him a letter that says; "Dear Dad. I always love you."

Mrs. Adidas.
"Oh, did she say I love you? You say that at your age? Oh my. It's kind of cute when a child says it is really addorable."

Mrs. Halmeku.
"Yes, it is. That's what happiness feels like. I was talking to my husband the other day." We have a small house, we're both healthy, we can eat good food, have a bit of fun, travel and so on, what could be happier? That's happiness."

What the loose and calm but cute atomsphere that they make...? It was as if the conversation was connected, but it wasn't. But it feels like they are smoothly connected. It sounds as if the topic is progressing without being too far off the mark, but it also feels like there's a sharp curve. Is it because of the tone and rythm of their talk? Or is it because they are just moving forward without stopping, as is perfectly normal? Anyway, Mrs. Halmeku seems to feel comfortable with using happiness as a talking point.

Mrs. Adidas.
"Eh? Your husband says so?"

Mrs. Halmeku.
"Yes, he does. We usually say that in our house."

Mrs. Adidas.
"Oh my goodness. We don't say anything without talking, like at a wake. We even turn our backs when we sleep."

Mrs. Halmeku.
"It's fine, it's not like that. Every couple is different. My husband is a chatty one. Your husband is still working, it's wonderful."

Mrs. Adidas.
"Well, I don't know. It might be wonderful."

Mrs. Halmeku.
"I don't remeber clearly though, it was your daughter, wan't it? Didn't you say something about Iwate? You said it was a nice place."

The conversation changed again. Whenever there was a mood or words of negativity or modesty, one of them would immediately affirm it and follow up with a response. Is changing the subject a sign of this?

Mrs. Adidas.
"Yes. My daughter's husband recently built a house in Iwate. Tohoku is unknown conty to us, isn't it? It's far away, it's in the countryside. I asked her many time that why would you want to move and build your house in that place? Are you sure you want to do this? But she was told that it was hard to find a house in such a good location for such a good price, then in fact, it was definitely good. So they bought it because it also would be an asset."

Mrs. Adidas, starting to talk as if she'd just come up for air! It is Bingo that Mrs. Halmeku's quickly changing the topic of their talk.

Mrs. Halmeku.
"Ah. That's good. It's a nice place, isn't it?"

Mrs. Adidas.
"It is! It's a nice place. When you visit there, it's a good place to travel. It's a good place, you can see why Kenji Miyazawa could write poetry, or something like that. It has an atmosphere that reminds me of the scenery when I went to England. I'm going in recent times."

Mrs. Adidas is excited. She seems to be having a lot of fun. Mrs. Halmeku, I don't know if you're aiming for her or not, but it feels like you're letting her talk to you!

Mrs. Halmeku.
"That's good for you, didn't you say you are going for a month or something?'

Mrs. Adidas.
"No, it is just only two weeks. I really want to go for a month (laughs), but this time for two weeks. See, I'm worried about the roses. If I leave them alone for too long, I don't know what will happen. I have to go back."

Oh, so this is where the roses come in. They were connected. ... No, are they?