The Language Inside (29 page)

then her mother leaves

Shin and Kenji say good-bye

Kako, too

it’s already ten-thirty at night there

and they need to go home

then, when it’s just Madoka and me, she says

you know . . . 

when your mom finished talking with my mom

and your mom gave the computer to Toby

as Toby was walking upstairs with the computer

Shin asked Toby if you have a boyfriend yet

and Toby said . . . 
well, maybe

I groan

no!

what did Shin say?

he said yappari
—of course

so? do you?
Madoka asks

tell Shin it’s not even a maybe
I say

but Madoka’s brows are raised

her eyes bore into mine

at least not yet
I add

and then we’re laughing

and I tell her all that’s been going on

with school, and Zena, and dance club pirouettes

and fouettés and a little about Samnang

Madoka theorizes that Serey is Samnang’s

stepsister or aunt or daughter

and we’re yakking almost as fast

and crazy as if we were in the same room

and she’s saying don’t worry about Shin

because he’s got his eye on some girl in the archery club

then Mom comes in to announce that my grandparents

have arrived from Vermont

and I have to tear myself away from Madoka

to step back into America

Gram and Gramps

my mother’s parents

hug us and hold our hands

and once I’ve combed my hair

they drive Toby, Mom, me and YiaYia

to Newburyport where we walk along

the waterfront and among the old houses

we’re at the mouth of the river

the exact same one that flows through

Lowell and YiaYia’s town

but here I can’t stop gulping the air

because it smells of the sea

at the restaurant where we stop for lunch

Gram and Gramps, who’ve visited us in Japan

ask about Madoka

and our cat Shoga

and Toby’s friends

and if I’m keeping up my Japanese

and what foods we miss most

and if I’d like to come visit them in

Vermont for part of the winter break

for once I don’t waste my energy

thinking I might not be here then

I tell them
sure

even though I don’t like winter

and all the gear you have to wear

and I’ve only ever been to Vermont

in summer

we’ll make skiers of you yet
says Gramps

and Toby fist-pumps

and when he kicks me

I do a mini fist pump, too

Gramps presents Toby and me

with wooden boxes he made with hinged lids

all decorated with carvings of ferns

to hold your American treasures
Gram says

they’re beautiful
I say, then joke

but everything here is so big

Gramps says
true

but I’m sure you’ll find some small treasures

mementos of your time here

I tell him that later

I’ll pick up a shell or pebble

or something to remember

this day in Newburyport

for my first treasure

then YiaYia and Gram and Gramps

present my mother with the long necklace

made of all different size and color beads

each bead

from a friend

or relative

all mailed in little packages to Gram

strung together on a silk cord by YiaYia

to give Mom strength

and positive thoughts

during surgery

Mom is quiet and gives

YiaYia, Gram and Gramps long hugs

and the waitress goes teary

when she learns the significance

of the hugs

               the beads on the table

                         and the illustrated key to each bead

                            that Gramps created

finally the sting

of all that Serey talk is dulled

and I forget about Samnang

and stop thinking about Shin

and what Toby said to him

and whether Madoka’s relatives

feel abandoned by us

because I know

this is what I needed

and Mom needed today—

family

the day before the surgery

Dad arrives

Mom picks him up at Logan

and they are both there

waiting for me, then for Toby

to get home from school

and when we’re finally all together

we do a big goofy group hug