The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-05-29
A Short Story. :.
a By ROGER SPLINTER

Ine green COOllltSS VI lllt BdluCll anu
paused before going farther. When
the sun hung low at this hour the
tall buildings just behind the little
house shut the hot rays off the
in his garden and had a
deeper, luxuriant color as if surging
with the vitalizing life-stream as
cending from the rich soil.
He stood a moment and his eyes
dwelt briefly on each carefully plan
ted shrub and tree; then he let them
all merge in a small panorama OF
The Whole garden-his handiwork.
He had a right to be proud. His
pale bookkeepter' face reflected
the satisfaction, the relaxation a
man feels when he surveys the re-
sui S of his loving albor The over
all effect was good. He knew his
technique was good He knew that
his care, his meticulous pruning and
watering and fertilizing had been
souadly conceived and executed
This was a beautiful garden.
He walked slowly to the gnarled
twisted tree, the decoratlvely prun-
ed tree that marked the far end OF
his garden plot. and he squattel be-
side it. He'd been right. The tree
looked best here; after tn succession
of shrubs there should be a larger
growing thing at this very spot.
He smiled wryIy as he began dig
ging carefully in the loose rich soil
around the trees upper roots. Il
Kimura-san knew how long he'd
worked here in this small square oil
fertile land, he'd arch his bushy eye
brows and SNORT. Kimura-san
thought he was lazy. Well, let XII
mura san think anything he want
ed to think.
When a man bent over ledger all
day and squinted at rows and rows
of figures that meant nothing to
him it was wonderful. it was re-
taxing to come home to the deer
green of healthy growing things
that he'd nurtured and fused over
These things e.. these leafy
swelling climbing, thirsty, livinG
things were yours. You'd conceived
them. You'd planned them ant
you'd patiently raised them from
the seeding stage. from the frs
slender fragile shoot to the robus
flora they are now
Kimura-san was only interested
in making money. At least no on
| knew whether he had a hobby o
not Certainly he could afford t
have an expensive hobby. In fact
he could afford to raise salaries
Kimura- san thinks that everyon
who works for him is too compla
cent and has no initiative. Away
he watches. Then he says that tn
work done, the systems used, tn
basic ideas used are all the same
always And he means me. H
means me when he says those thing
but it has no effect because l wi
not work any harder. Not on the sa
larry he pays. If he wants NOR
work, he'll pay more Twenty year
doing the same thing. If he want
more work or ideas .. or ne
system he'll need to pay more.
The man squatted in the shade
of the low tree and his pale. indoc
face looked like wrinkled blool
under the edge Of the tree and h
thin body was like another shrub
brown that had sprung from til
soil.
The little girl coming from tt
house slowed and watched the flc
wer bloom of a face moving slow
among the green things and ST
stopped and put her finger in h
meath He heard the click of HI
geta as she took the last step ar
he glanced up and took his ham
from the soil and rubbed them Il
gether.
"Takako, why aren't you on Il
street playing?"
Her voice was piping and timi
7 wanted to say hello, daddy"
He strove to keep his voice eve
well. hello Now run along al
play with your little friends.
, She fingered, lettering up a
down on her wooden geta. ~
never talk to me after you con
home and I.
I'm busy. can't you see !
busy? My boss might come tonie
and I want, to have the garden