Christine p.29-33"But it's a shame, isn't it?" That same Mom was now fighting with Dad and it seemed that she was leaving the house for the third time this year. Mom had grown strong from the clearinghouse being robbed and from going to Hawaii. Since ancient times [North] Korea (and South Korea) has had a national character deeply colored by Confucianism, and it was this tradition that the Zainichi community had also inherited. Confucianism is, to put it bluntly, a concept like "respect towards your superiors." In our home this became more like, "A woman and her child cannot oppose the head of the household (Father)." For that reason, until they went to Hawaii, Dad always had two more side dishes than Mom and me. Anyway, after they returned from Hawaii it increased to four. One day after dinner while patting his belly that had started to stick out he asked Mom, "Why have the side dishes increased lately?" Mom, who was doing the dishes in the kitchen, responded with a smile, "I thought it might give you diabetes." Dad had taken a counter punch without warning, at this astounding moment, Mom, who had returned from the kitchen back to the table, plopped down in the chair with a groan of exertion. Then she took a ladies weekly publication, which had been placed on the edge of the table, and spread it open as if to stand it on top of the table. The large type printed on the cover was clearly visible to Dad and me. "Evil Wife Poisons Violent Husband's Supper With Arsenic!" Mom's face on the back of the ladies weekly wore a smile like Jack Nicholson's. In this way Confucianism was defeated. Until the side dishes became equal it was like my mother, who hardly ever allowed me to go hang out, seemed to constantly go with friends to the movies, to karaoke, or to the salon. My mother was still in her thirties. I put the milk pack to my mouth and after I'd gulped down some milk I said to my dad, "You say that we have financial difficulties here at home, you're going out to play golf all the time aren't you? You've even gone so far as to buy a membership, it's not convincing at all." As soon as Dad got back from Hawaii he started playing golf. "Golf is an invigorating medicine for my life." He explained with an excuse. "You don't need medicine for your wife, do you?" "For the most part, women…" I interrupted Dad's speech. "North Korea, South Korea, China, and all countries where Confucianism has permeated them have reached their peak. The era has already ended where you could boast just because you were a man or futilely getting on in years." My father released his fury. "Do you intend to lecture me just because you've studied in school for a little bit?" Due to the chaos during the war and after the war Dad only went to elementary school. I hurriedly put the milk away in the refrigerator and left the kitchen dining area. Dad's voice followed me out. "What about dinner!" I answered, "I'll have curry-in-a-bag!" while climbing up the stairs to the second floor. As soon as I returned to my room, using a discreet phone, I called the place where Mom was staying. Always, it was decided that my mother would stay at the place of her friend, who managed a Yakiniku restaurant. Since I got no one when I called her friend's house I called the restaurant and just got my Mom. Mom said she was really busy with all the preparation and then continued. "How is that person?" "This time it might take about two weeks before he gives in." "Two weeks…?" "It's okay. I'll manage around here somehow or other." "That's no good is it. Come over here for dinner. Everyone wants to meet you." "Gotcha. Some time soon." After I hung up the phone I took off my school uniform and, wearing only my underwear, threw myself down into bed. I heard a noise like, "thud, thud" come from below. This was because Dad had started his jabbing practice. Whenever Dad was depressed he would continue his stretching and jabbing practice, and go at it just as if in pursuit of knowledge. ::thud, thud, thud, thud, thud:: I felt as if I was listening to the gloomy sound of raindrops. I was hungry, but I was no mood to eat curry from a bag. I jumped out of bed and took the ticket for Katoh's birthday party out of the pocket of my school uniform as it hung on the hanger. Looking at the front of my ticket I saw that the meeting place was in Roppongi. It was not a part of town that I liked. But since I felt it was better than being in the house, I decided to go out. I put on a black turtleneck sweater and blue jeans. I popped my head into the living room and informed my dad that I would be returning late. While continuing his jabbing he told me in a cheerless voice not to get into any trouble. ::thud, thud, thud, thud, thud:: Maybe he'd give in after a week. I left the house. I got off the Yamanote line at Ebisu and transferred to the Hibiya line and left for Roppongi. Roppongi Street made a turn at Almond; I went quickly down Gaien Street and headed for the place that was really near Toranomon. "Z," the meeting place for Katoh's birthday party, was in a location that lay pretty far back from the road. When I opened the massive, heavy, wooden door the electronic beat, the tobacco smoke, the smell of alcohol, and a mass of people rushed out all together in a flood from the dim interior. I tried to somehow avoid even just one person, but it was no use. After breathing deeply and filling myself up with air from outside I went inside. "Z" was a loft-style club. The first floor was a loft and the area below had been turned into a pretty broad dance floor. Takeshita from the same high school as me was on the side of the door. He was a guy that hung around with Katoh all the time.
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