LACKING FRAGMENTS: A Novel (Completed)

A Figurine, a Restaurant, a Scene IV

"Father, I would like to have the originals! Please, please."

     "Those exact ones?"

     She nodded.

     "Alright," I tried to assure her. "I'll let him know. Get a hand of those—"

     "Oh, I'm sorry, sir," Haru interrupted. "But—and I mean it when I say I'm sorry, sir—those are just display materials and not for sale. Mere displays. Similar to every cartridge of various gaming consoles you see behind the glass, those are only intended to be nothing but public presentation. A videogame exhibition, yet not up for grabs."

     "Come again?"

     "In simple words, they're not for sale, sir."

     "But I wanna play Mario Kart!" pushed my daughter. She was raising one of her eyebrows, all while as she craved for her chosen game. "Also, the game Father suggested to me— the farming stuff. I want that one too, I wanna have both! Please."

     "Harvest Moon," I specified. "Little one, the game I suggested is called Harvest Moon. A farming simulation, a role-playing game."

     "Yes, Harvest Moon," continued my daughter. "If those displays are not for sale, then how come they're displayed? What's the purpose? And if you were to ask a kid like me, it will be useless management of decorating space. If those games are displayed, what's the reason? No meaning, whatsoever. They are supposed to be sold... All displayed has to be for sale. Am I right, Father?"

     I nodded.

     "Smart girl," said Haru.

     "So?" I added. "What are you waiting for? How come you're saying it's not for sale if it is?"

     "Sir, I mean, displays are not for sale— the copies are. However, the shipment of your products will take some time to arrive. And you, sir, your daughter and your wife, have to wait for at least four to five hours. Give-and-take situation, involving time."

     "Wait, hours?" I then asked. "We have to wait for hours?"

     "No! You gotta be kidding us!" shouted Kiki.

     "Yes," I empowered the statement, "we can't wait that long, it'll be crazy. We have to check around the supermall. My wife might buy something that catches her eyes. No. We cannot wait for hours. Four hours— it's too long."

     "Just for laughs, sir, would you mind if we play a game of chance?"

     "Excuse me?"

     "A game of chance," repeated Haru.

     "I'm sorry, but we don't follow you."

     "I only mean, sir— while you wait, I can accompany you if we begin a simple carnival game, a game of chance. We will spend the rest of the time. And well, if you win against me, here is the deal, so listen carefully..."

     "There's a deal?"

     "All of your preferred items," he said, "will be free of charge."

     Kiki asked: "Both Mario Kart and Harvest Moon?"

     "Correct, little girl. Those two cartridges."

     "Sorry, but no thank you." I intruded. "We can pay. We're not obligated to play mind games with you. As I told you, we still have somewhere else to go."

     "Then happy waiting, sir."

     "No! Four hours are too long, Father," Kiki said to me, as if wishing to the stars that she couldn't wait not even half an hour. "And look around, even everyone and everything else reduced in speed. Even Mother. It'll feel more than four to five hours, I think."