WAVES
sixth graders are in charge
of the bowling stall
at the Games and Play Day
coming up in mid-November
we’ve collected plastic bottles
decorated them with colored tape
so little kids can knock them
over with tennis balls, and now
we spend a whole class
arguing over the rules
while Ōshima-sensei
grades our homework
without thinking, I speak up
I suggest we create prizes
because that’s how it worked
at my school in the U.S. once
when the PTA held a fair
but Shunta whacks me
and Mika laughs too loud
saying we don’t need prizes
everyone just plays to play
so I keep quiet the rest of the day
we have two weeks to plan what to put
on the signs, how to arrange plastic bottles
and distances for lines for different age kids
all of which could be done in an hour
if everyone just stopped arguing
I’ve decided
I won’t contribute
won’t say a word
they can do without my help
at recess I don’t go outside
I just read manga in the library
this week it’s raining
when I pick up Cora
from the after-school center
and find her in the main room
throwing cushion blocks
at three other kids
she’s out of breath
from chasing kids
to whack them
and from escaping
being whacked
outside trudging up the hill
wrestling with our umbrellas
in wind that’s blowing rain
exactly sideways she says
she had to play that way
she’d tried drawing
but kids kept hitting her
I’m tired and thirsty she says
what’s our adventure?
this time I really don’t know
since it’s raining
and I didn’t plan on rain
only good weather
in which case I’d planned to
cross the bridge to the island
walk up to the shrine
maybe as far as the
supposed dragon cave
as we eat bananas and rice crackers
we watch TV weather
satellite images
precipitation projections
and warnings
about waves
when I see six meters for our coast
I watch the whole report again
paying close attention
because now I see a typhoon
in the corner of the screen
moving toward us
pushing rain, and wind, and waves—
and I know what our adventure will be
rain suits
I say to Cora
and she looks at me funny
I say six-meter waves
we’ve got to see them
we’re not supposed to go to the beach
even in good weather! she says
I pull on my rain pants and jacket
that Mom bought for our hikes
we won’t go onto the beach I say
just a high place for watching waves
boots she suggests
but neither of us has boots that fit
so we pull on the rain suits
and our already wet sneakers
we unlock our bikes
and coast downhill
with typhoon rain
pelting our faces
along the streetcar line
we are practically
the only ones
out on bicycles
and we are definitely
the only ones
out on the road
by the beach
where the wind
slams us
full force
wobbling
our bikes
we pedal down
the coast road sidewalk
but I hadn’t counted on
rain lashing us
so hard it hurts
at the crossing light
we fight against gusts
walking our bikes across the road
to the landing of concrete stairs
that lead down to the beach
and there, high above sand
and waves that we can barely see
we hold our handlebars
in the punching
howling wind
below us, surf
pounds the beach
so hard it’s like being
inside thunder
salt spray
tropical wind
and rain
slap us
and just
standing there
or trying to
we’re nearly
drowning
Cora shouts, but I can’t hear
so we turn our bikes around
on that beach stair landing
and there
by the crossing light
in an oversized
clear plastic raincoat
is a kid
he’s wearing flip flops
and his raincoat
flaps and snaps wildly
and under the raincoat
he’s wearing shorts
a sweatshirt
and I think
binoculars
he presses the crossing button
and when the light changes
the wind
thrusts us all
fast across the road
we don’t ride
just push our bikes
to escape that beach
the gusting salt
rain and sand
and when we turn inland
to the main street
between buildings
I shout to Cora
you okay?
she nods
but she’s frowning
and her eyes say
this is so NOT
a good adventure
the boy steps around us
shouts above the wind this way!
and beyond a noodle shop
he leads us off the road
to a streetcar crossing
that doesn’t have a gate
we’re so wet and nearly drowned
that we follow, watching
and listening for trains
as I carry my bike
and the kid carries Cora’s bike
over the streetcar rails
he motions for us to
lean them against a wall
then beckons for us to follow
through a tile-roofed gate
and suddenly we are in a garden
and the big gate door
is latching behind us