The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-05-29
Always aHobby

good condition He turned away
and began digging gently again
The child regarded his thin back
wistfully and then turned away He
heard the clop- clOp of her receding
geta and relaxed. The child was
getting impertinent and too inqui-
sitive.
An errant breeze spun over the
low roofs and dipped into the gar
den and rippled the water in the o.
val pool It fluttered the leaves and
the rustling was like the applaud
ing of thousands of far distant
hands. The GOODNESS had become
the evening chill and the man lean
ed back reluctantly
Kimura-San would be along at a
ny moment Maybe it would be ef-
fective to be found here in the midst
of the beautifully tailored garden.
The flint-head would open those
suspicious eyes and stare in amaze
ment
He thinks I'm a dried-up book
keeper. g. and nothing more. He
doesn't know that | have the pa
tience to create and cultivate with
skill He'll open his eyes and stare.
He rose and walked toward the
house scanning each shrub. He
stopped his neck craned In the
soft earth bordering the pool there
were The imprints of geta. A childs
geta He saw the rubber ball float
ing in the water and quick rage ear
ed him and his hands trembled. The
child again. The internal child with
the carelessness of all children had
allowed her ball to buonce over the
fence into his garden And she tried
to get it He looked about quickly
for a branch that would serve as a
switch, not thinking that there ne
yer was an extra loose twig in this
OrQefeQ, cnaSCe Sdfuen
He heard Kimura's voice. lie was
Just at the gate and he was talking
with someone, not sharply or pre-
emptorily as was his wont but gent
ly.
The man knew his Seething an
ger showed but he walked to his
gate and looked out. 1t was Kimu-
a-san all right He had on his bu-
siness clothes carried the same UNI
brella he brought TO work. rain o.
shine, and he was talking to Taxa
ko. The imp was standing there
rotating her body with that eXag
gerated bashfulness that was SO il
ritating Why didn't she stan,
straight and look people in the eye
Why did she get pink and mout
those idiotic. childish phrases?
80 you are daughter" he hear
Kimura-san say and he sneere
within himself at the glossy hypo
! critical softness in the voice. Tn
man was a hydra-headed monster
that's what he was. The only per
son he could impress was a youn
, child.
Kimura-san was still TALKING
Now, do you know. I never kne'
your father had little girl. Ism
, that funny?"
Takako nodded solemnly an
took Kimura- sans hand And sh
7 smiled Daddy never talks to me
she said.
' oh he's very busy, you know Il
: ah has lot of things
/ think about but he loves you vel
5 much"
f Does he really and truly"
2 The man watched them both ar
his pale bookkeeper's face Shove
2 disgust. He stood, uncertain ar
Kimura- san saw him.
Y Hello" he said and he took Il;
e kakO's hand and smiled down at h
+ and came i'm the gate as the man IL
r side backed away. I'm little ca
d ". | walked over because it's sue
S a nice evening and l guess / st
= talk pretty fast" He smiled down
Takako DO you like to walk"
e She leaned against him. her smt
face alight will you walk n
| sometime? Daddy has never walk
me F."
| 81 think we can have some walk
d Kimura san came in the ga
still holding Takako's hand and t
ID man saw his chance. The sun "
III just right: the shadows threw eve
re ything into shady, blended rel
and the beauty of the garden "
m there, for anyone to see. 1t "
ut simple and showed artistry and
in wing care