9

BREAKFAST SURPRISE

The sunlight streaming into the hotel-room windows woke me up. I threw the covers off and leaped out of bed. I jumped up and down and sang, “Ohayo gozai masu!”

I was in Tokyo and today was my day!

Mom and Dad were already up and dressed. Dad was typing something on his laptop. Mom was reading her book.

“Wake up, Sophie,” I said. “We’re going to Tokyo Tower!”

Sophie groaned and pulled the covers over her head.

I bounced next to her, pushing away the wall of pillows that protected me from her sharp elbows.

“Come on!” I said. I pulled the covers off her.

“Jasmine! Stop! Leave me alone!” Sophie glared at me. Her hair was in a big tangle. She was scary-looking.

“You are going to miss out on all the fun if you’re crabby all the time,” I said, hugging Fred Just Fred.

Sophie growled, and I quickly scrambled off the bed to get dressed. When Mom finally got Sophie up and moving, we went downstairs to eat at the hotel’s breakfast buffet.

Mom and Dad got our food for us since it might have been hard for us to balance our trays. My tray was filled with a million little dishes. A feast! My tummy rumbled. I picked up my hashi, trying to decide where to start. Except I didn’t know what most of the things on my tray were. I squinted at the dishes, leaning my head right and left, hoping that would make the food look familiar.

I did not see doughnuts or cereal or bacon or toast. I did not even see those yummy pancakes we had yesterday.

“Why are you just sitting there?” Sophie asked. She used her chopsticks to pick up a tamago.

I knew what that was! I loved Japanese omelet—it was rolled and sliced, a little sweet and a little salty. I popped one in my mouth. Mmm.

“Oishii desu,” Sophie said.

“That means it tastes good,” I said. “See? I can understand Japanese.”

Now that I had a better look at my breakfast, I recognized most of the food after all. There was a little dish full of edamame. I loved popping the soybeans from the pod into my mouth. One time Sophie and I popped the beans at each other in an edamame war. Mom did not approve.

There was miso soup in a black bowl on my tray. I drank it Japanese style, without a spoon. I knew that in Japan it was polite to lift your bowl to your mouth to drink soup. Then I used my hashi to pick out the pieces of tofu and wakame from the bowl.

Japanese breakfasts were different from the kinds of breakfasts I ate at home. But I loved Japanese food! Sophie told me all about the different food. I already knew everything she said, but I pretended not to. It seemed like she was in a better mood. This made me happy!

When we were finished eating breakfast, it was time to leave for Tokyo Tower.

“Are you excited?” I asked Sophie as we walked to the subway.

“Leave me alone, Jasmine.” Sophie stalked ahead and caught up to Dad.

I did not understand how she went from happy one moment (maybe because she liked showing off how much she knew?) to grouchy the next. I was too excited about my adventure to think more about it.

This time I was ready for the subway. I remembered not to talk. At least not much and not loudly. I read a new manga in English that I bought at a bookstore last night.

Before I knew it, we were there! Tokyo Tower!

“Wowee zowee!” I said when we got to the base of the red-and-white tower. I leaned back and looked up up up at the tall tall tower. It was beautiful. I couldn’t wait to go to the top.

Fortunately the signs were in both English and Japanese. “The entrance and tickets are over there,” I said without pointing.

I pulled on Mom’s hand and led the way. Inside was cool and air-conditioned. It felt wonderful. We waited in line, but this time I didn’t mind because I was so excited that we would soon be at the top and looking at a wonderful view of Tokyo. I turned to smile at my sister, but she was not smiling.

“This will be fun,” I said.

She glared at me. Then she turned her head away. I was not going to let Sophie’s bad attitude ruin the best day ever!