The Mirror
Mama and Mari were in London. Papa was spending the night in Tokyo. I had gone to eat dinner over Big Brother's house. They were so kind to feed me. Lulu was at Big Sister's house with Shinpei and Hana.
That night, I left the lights on in my room. All night. I probably shouldn't have. But I was scared. Electricity is one of the most expensive household bills. We were told to be careful about our unnecessary usage. It was getting late. We finished dinner around 9 p.m. Big Brother didn't come home until late. I sat in the living room watching the baby. Big Brother's wife was cooking us dinner. I was not very useful. I asked several times, very politely to help. Maybe I
wasn't forceful enough?
I started homework around 11 p.m. We were given a one-page text to comprehend for the next day's class. I left the piece for last. I was too busy reading my new bought shoujo manga.
The summer was hot. Stifling hot. It was mushiatsui. The cotton shirt over the back of his arms stuck to his biceps like second skin. He took the summer job. A security guard. Walking the grounds of the school. Ensuring that no kids would break into the school in the middle of the night. Alone. He made the final round of the night. The wind was unusually howling. He heard a noise. Grabbed his flashlight and his baton. Headed towards the hallway in the entrance of the school. He doesn't believe in ghosts. That's why he took the job. He saw the shadow move at the door. He glanced in the mirror. He saw himself. Looking back at him. And then he saw himself smile. He saw his hand moving towards his neck. He glanced down. His hand was still
holding onto the baton. The other to the flashlight. He threw a quick look into the mirror again. Both hands were at his neck. He was smiling.
My pen dropped. I ceased to translate and quickly glanced up behind me. The full length mirror Mari had given me to use was laughing at me. I saw my own reflection and grabbed the bed sheet. Throwing it over the mirror. It ceased to laugh. But I didn't cease to be scared.
The shadows on the sliding doors seemed to loom over me. I dared not move. It was easier to be close to the cockroach that hid beneath the TV stand. It was hot. But I was cold inside. I cuddled in my blanket and closed my eyes. It was all quiet. If I died tonight, Grandma
wouldn't know. They wouldn't know until Papa came back. Until Mama and Mari came back. And so I turned on the TV, hoping to pass time. Hoping to forget. But I couldn't. I couldn't, yet I fell asleep. Succumbing to the lull of the pounding in my head.
The next morning I awoke. The sun shone straight into my window. The light in my room was still on. The neighbors probably told Mama about my excessive use of electricity. I went to school, not ready for class. But I didn't care. Mama and Mari weren't home. Everything will
be better once they're home.
That night, I left the lights on in my room. All night. I probably shouldn't have. But I was scared. Electricity is one of the most expensive household bills. We were told to be careful about our unnecessary usage. It was getting late. We finished dinner around 9 p.m. Big Brother didn't come home until late. I sat in the living room watching the baby. Big Brother's wife was cooking us dinner. I was not very useful. I asked several times, very politely to help. Maybe I
wasn't forceful enough?
I started homework around 11 p.m. We were given a one-page text to comprehend for the next day's class. I left the piece for last. I was too busy reading my new bought shoujo manga.
The summer was hot. Stifling hot. It was mushiatsui. The cotton shirt over the back of his arms stuck to his biceps like second skin. He took the summer job. A security guard. Walking the grounds of the school. Ensuring that no kids would break into the school in the middle of the night. Alone. He made the final round of the night. The wind was unusually howling. He heard a noise. Grabbed his flashlight and his baton. Headed towards the hallway in the entrance of the school. He doesn't believe in ghosts. That's why he took the job. He saw the shadow move at the door. He glanced in the mirror. He saw himself. Looking back at him. And then he saw himself smile. He saw his hand moving towards his neck. He glanced down. His hand was still
holding onto the baton. The other to the flashlight. He threw a quick look into the mirror again. Both hands were at his neck. He was smiling.
My pen dropped. I ceased to translate and quickly glanced up behind me. The full length mirror Mari had given me to use was laughing at me. I saw my own reflection and grabbed the bed sheet. Throwing it over the mirror. It ceased to laugh. But I didn't cease to be scared.
The shadows on the sliding doors seemed to loom over me. I dared not move. It was easier to be close to the cockroach that hid beneath the TV stand. It was hot. But I was cold inside. I cuddled in my blanket and closed my eyes. It was all quiet. If I died tonight, Grandma
wouldn't know. They wouldn't know until Papa came back. Until Mama and Mari came back. And so I turned on the TV, hoping to pass time. Hoping to forget. But I couldn't. I couldn't, yet I fell asleep. Succumbing to the lull of the pounding in my head.
The next morning I awoke. The sun shone straight into my window. The light in my room was still on. The neighbors probably told Mama about my excessive use of electricity. I went to school, not ready for class. But I didn't care. Mama and Mari weren't home. Everything will
be better once they're home.
posted by Lishtar at
10:42 PM
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