STORIES
163 - The Geisha
2010
In the dining room ...
CHINATSU:
... For the benefit of Shichi, I think first, we need to explain the
special gift our parents created. Vanni, if you would please?
VANNI:
When our parents first got together, father was creating gadgets, with
hopes of becoming an inventor. Mother was a mystic with a talent for
magic. They combined their skills and created a time traveling device.
VANNI:
... It can take you to anytime. Once we, my siblings and I, reached a certain age, we were given one to explore as we pleased.
SYRRAH:
You see Shichi, both Vanni and his sister are from the future.
VANNI:
Not too far into the future. When I left Tokyo it was 2040.
CHINATSU:
I chose to journey back in time to the golden age of the Geisha.
I wanted very much to learn their ways and become one.
SHICHI:
This may be a silly question but - what exactly is a Geisha?
CHINATSU:
We are hostess, dancers, poets, reciters and musicians. We are
trained to entertain in a most graceful way. We are perfection.
CHINATSU:
I arrived in Kyoto in 1912 and entered an okyia, where Geisha live.
I worked very hard and became very successful. My okasan
– the owner of our okyia made me legal heir to her house.
CHINATSU:
... All was well until a certain man was included among the
guests at the teahouse where my presence was most requested.
SYRRAH:
And this certain man changed everything?
CHINATSU:
He did.
SYRRAH:
I knew a man had to be involved in this.
They tend to disrupt our plans and bring trouble.
VANNI:
Is that some sort of a dig, wife?
SYRRAH:
Not necessarily husband. However, trouble often arrives in the form of a man or woman, depending on which gender one happens to be.
VANNI:
I see your point.
CHINATSU:
This man and I, we enjoyed each other's company very much. I knew he could not stay, as he was from a far away land and his business would bring him back here. This didn't matter for I was geisha.
SYRRAH:
Now I understand you, Chinatsu. He left you a ... memento?
CHINATSU:
Yes. I have his daughter. Her name is Meg.
SHICHI:
You have a child?
VANNI:
I have niece? Why isn’t she here with you?
CHINATSU:
I have tried. Our time travel devices are for one person only.
VANNI:
Little sister, are you telling me that my niece is trapped back in Kyoto?
CHINATSU:
Yes. That is why I came here, to you.
CHINATSU:
... I will return to Kyoto and when I do, I will give Meg my device and
send her here, to you. I am asking you, my favorite brother, to raise her.
I do not want her to have a life of little choices, and as the daughter of
a Geisha that is the way it will be - unless you do this for me?
SYRRAH:
We would be honored, but surely we can find a way
to have you both return?
SHICHI:
There must be a way.
CHINATSU:
No, I have already visited my parents. Father gave me his
device. When I journeyed back with both devices, father’s stayed
where I began. One person, one device - that is the way it works.
SHICHI:
If you go back to Kyoto and send your daughter here,
Wouldn’t that leave you stuck there, forever?
CHINATSU:
It is more important to me that Meg lives here.
GRACE:
That's a fantastic story! You have a little girl? I think that’s wonderful, yes I do. How old is she? I’ll bet she’s cute. You must miss her a lot ...
SYRRAH:
Young Grace, how long have you been eavesdropping?
GRACE:
Only a little while. Hello Kitty wanted a cookie, yes she did. We were
on our way to the kitchen and heard you talking. Isn’t it wonderful?
We’re going to have a new little girl in the house.
SYRRAH:
Yes, it seems that way. I think I hear Pica crying.
Would you be a dear and go check on her for me?
GRACE:
Oh sure, but I don’t hear a thing.
SYRRAH:
A mother knows. I will join you in a short while.
Grace leaves.
SHICHI:
I went to Magick School, let me contact some of my old professors.
Maybe they can come up with a better solution.
CHINATSU:
I know very little of magic. Do you think they can help?
SHICHI:
It’s worth a try.
