18 Takeshi
The telephone rang. Aiko picked it up. It was Norman.
"What's up, Norman? she asked.
"Not the usual thing," he said. His innuendo was obvious.
Aiko laughed.
"We're going to Japan in a couple of months," Norman said.
"Really? Good for you two. Why now? You've never hinted at wanting to visit Japan before?" she observed.
"It's not me; it's the school board. It wants to send me to attend a four-day educational conference," Norman explained. "So we're planning to take advantage of the airline ticket to spend a extra week in Japan before the conference starts."
"That's a smart idea," Aiko remarked.
Then Norman came to the main point of his call. "Because you know the language, we thought maybe you and Gerald might want to come with us. It would be fun to go with good friends, especially when one of them, you of course, knows the language and culture."
"It's not a bad idea," Aiko mused, "but..."
Aiko was interrupted by what she heard at the other end of the phone.
"Let me talk to her," she heard little Emma tell her huge husband.
Aiko heard noises indicating that the phone had switched hands.
"Please come, Aiko! Please, please come!" Emma pleaded. It would be so much if you were there, especially while my oaf of a husband is hobnobbing with or lecturing his fellow educators."
"But you're an educator too!" Aiko protested.
"True, but I'm not a delegate. If I want to go to Japan, I have to pay my own way. The school board only covers Norman's conference expenses including his airfare, five nights at the hotel, and all meals."
Aiko knew that perky Emma had a very excitable, and exciting, personality.
"It would be so much fun," Emma continued to babble. We can shop, and take tours and so much more while he's stuck in that boring conference. Please come Aiko. Please come."
"I'll have to talk to Gerald," Aiko informed her. "I don't know what his commitments are. I'm not even sure if he'd be in the mood to travel after our unusual adventure in Peru."
"Please try," Emma pleaded.
Aiko heard Norman muttering in the background that she shouldn't be imposing herself on their friends.
Apparently Norman made an unsuccessful grab for the phone.
"Never you mind, Norman. I'll do the talking."
When she heard Emma on the phone, she asked her next question. "Where exactly is the conference?"
Aiko heard Emma ask Norman the same question."
"Tokyo," she heard him reply.
"Tokyo," Emma repeated into the phone unnecessarily.
"I've got relatives there," Aiko stated. "Gerald and I could probably stay with them, but you understand we'll have an obligation to spend some time with them."
"No problem, Emma said.
"Let me get back to you," Aiko promised. "I have to talk to Gerald and check our schedules. It might be a few days before I have an answer."
"Just come. Please come," Emma pleaded once again.
* * *
A couple of weeks later, Aiko and Gerald invited Emma and Norman to spend the weekend with them.
They spent Saturday afternoon doing the usual barbecue thing and talking about the usual subjects. The men were engrossed in their own conversation when Aiko took Emma aside.
"Have you guys decided to come with us to Japan?" she asked excitedly.
"We'd like to," Aiko told her, "but Gerald can't get away from work. He's in the middle of a major project, which in all probability will keep him occupied well beyond the time of Norman's conference. And to be honest, he's not really in the mood to travel even if he had the free time."
Emma looked extremely disappointed. She pouted.
Aiko laughed. "It's not a totally lost cause," Aiko announced. "Gerald has no objection to me going with you two. I can get time off from work," Aiko added, "and I can avoid some costs by staying with relatives."
"Oh great!" Emma shrieked loudly enough to cause the men to stop their dialogue and look their way. "Aiko is coming to Japan with us," Emma announced loudly to her husband.
"I know," Norman said, "Gerald just told me.
"Really? Oh this is so great!"
"Be forewarned, though," Norman continued, "during the conference I may be far too busy to pay attention to either of you. So I suggest you think about what you might do while I'm busy hobnobbing with my colleagues."
"You remember that discussion we had about what might be allowed if a married couple is separated for a while?" Gerald asked, grabbing the other three's attention. "You know, the one allowing a spouse to make his or her own decision when they have to be apart for a while?"
"Yeah," said Norman.
"Well, this trip is an occasion where this rule could apply. While you're in Japan, Aiko can make her own decisions without asking me first. She can entertain you, Gerald winked at this point, "provided Emma is okay with such an arrangement."
"I'm okay with that," Emma responded. "I don't mind sharing my husband with her. It's only fair. She's the one doing the work to show us around. We have to keep her happy too," she said smiling.
* * *