‘And you can’t buy good manners from a ticket machine, can you?’
Just then the announcement came over the speaker, ‘NEXT STOP, TAKARAZUKA-MINAMIGUCHI. TAKARA-ZUKA-MINAMIGUCHI.’
The queenpin of the housewives suddenly stood up.
‘Ladies, let’s get off here.’
‘Uh, but aren’t we supposed to be going to Takarazuka …?’
‘Thanks to all these people, I don’t feel like it any more. Let’s have our lunch today at the Takarazuka Hotel.’
As the train slowed, the housewives hurriedly prepared to disembark, and once the train stopped and the doors opened, they all filed out.
An absurdly heavy scent of perfume lingered after them.
The queenpin had namedropped the jewel of a hotel along the Imazu Line, which also seemed to linger.
‘Wow … having to deal with all of them could spell disaster for the hotel!’ the young man said.
‘Maybe I was a bit harsh.’ The young woman’s expression was contrite.
Tokié broke into their conversation.
‘Don’t worry – that hotel has history and prestige on its side. They’ll know exactly how to handle them.’
‘I certainly hope so,’ the young woman said pleasantly, making no move to sit in any of the still vacant seats, instead heading towards the far door, in an attempt to escape the intense lingering odour.
‘I must express my appreciation. Thank you for coming to our aid.’
‘Not at all, it wasn’t …’ The young woman looked down, sheepishly.
Her boyfriend nudged her. ‘You can be surprisingly feisty,’ he laughed. ‘Without always thinking about the consequences, which can be a worry sometimes!’
‘Yes, but today I figured it was justified to wade in,’ the young woman said.
‘Well, I’m grateful to you for jumping in.’
‘I was afraid you’d think I was meddling.’
Her boyfriend laughed puckishly.
‘I’m sure you have the firepower to have defeated them on your own, but it’s better that you had reinforcements from your granddaughter and her pup to lay siege to those old ladies.’
‘That’s right – thanks to you, it was over in a flash.’
‘It’s true, winning is about believing you can win,’ said the young man with another amused smile.
The young woman stooped down to meet Ami’s gaze, and then she peeked into the carrier.
‘So cute, is that a miniature Dachshund? Is he your dog?’
Ami was about to nod happily in response to the young woman’s question – whereupon Tokié chimed in.
‘No. This dog belongs to my husband and me.’
Ami pouted melodramatically. ‘I take care of him too …’
‘Yes, dear, you do help but that’s all. The dog is mine and Gramps’s.’
‘But Gramps is in the cemetery …’
‘Ken still belongs to Gramps and me. Like I always tell you.’ When it came to this matter, Tokié never budged an inch. ‘If you want to have a dog of your own, first you must demonstrate the ability to be responsible for taking care of the dog by yourself.’
‘But I love Ken.’
The couple that had given them ground support watched, wide-eyed, as Tokié and Ami did battle. Perhaps they thought that the relationship between the two of them was rather more idiosyncratic than a typical grandmother and granddaughter.
Tokié was aware that everyone seemed to think that grandchildren ought to be doted upon constantly. When she had tea with friends in her neighbourhood, they were all amazed by the way she treated Ami, always telling her that she ought not to take for granted how often Ami came over to spend time with her.
‘No, dear. Ken is Gramps’s and my dog, and that’s final.’
‘You’re being mean, Granny! You’re a meanie!’
‘If I’m mean, then all well and good. But you’d better stop making a fuss on the train. If you throw a tantrum, we won’t go to the dog run. We won’t get any ice cream on Hana Road either.’
Hana Road was a promenade that ran between Takarazuka Station and the Takarazuka theatre, and it was landscaped with seasonal flowers. Beside the promenade, there was a mall with genteel shops and boutiques, among which was a candy shop that sold Ami’s favourite soft-serve ice cream.
‘Meanie …’ Ami may have been unhappy about the situation but she spoke more softly now.
The young man burst out laughing.
‘Gran, you’re merciless to your granddaughter! And here was I thinking grannies were supposed to spoil their grandchildren.’
‘You may find that I deviate somewhat from conventional standards.’
Tokié’s response seemed to send the young man into another fit of laughter. At which point the young woman tugged on his sleeve.
‘Masashi-kun … sorry, but I don’t feel well.’