On The Highest Branch

Chapter 12

"Dwight, aren't you listening to June? He's a Kimura."

Marcel was arranging the pastries on the display window, a task he never entrusted to anyone else. For him, the art of pastry arrangement required a subtle touch, avant-garde creativity, and utmost focus, a potent combination he believed he alone possessed. But, now, he looked up, still holding a red velvet cupcake, to impress upon Grandfather the power that the name Kimura yielded.

Gramps frowned. He was at the cash register, tallying up the day's total. "And, are the Kimuras above the law?"

The café was still crowded, but all the customers had been served and it would be several minutes before they needed anything else. In between serving, bit by bit, June had reported to her grandfather and her friend everything that she had learned from Kedz earlier at lunch. Still, her grandfather was resolved to push through the charges he had filed against Hiro and the other boys.

June was worried. With the entire Kimura resources at their disposal, Hiro's family could easily destroy an ordinary citizen like Grandfather Dwight, no matter how upstanding. If triggered, who knows what damage they could inflict on his business, his reputation, his family, and even his life.

So now, even though June's shift had ended, she was still at the café trying to make her grandfather understand how dangerous it would be to cross the Kimuras. She admired her grandfather's pluck, but she'd rather have him healthy and happy than proud and dead.

"Of course not, Gramps." June struggled to keep the worry out of her tone as she helped him organize the receipts. "But, a case like this could drag on forever. They'd have a barrage of lawyers ready to block you every step of the way. We'd be wasting too much money and energy and time, and we'll probably never even get Hiro charged at all. Wouldn't it be easier to just let it go?"

Grandfather sighed. "Kids, that's exactly why that boy had never learned a lesson. Too many people before me had taken the easier way out and just let it go. For that young man to have a chance at a future, to have a chance to turn his life around, I need to stand my ground. With what you have told me, I might even be his last chance."

June sighed in exasperation, "Are you seriously worried about his future?"

"Yes, June. I ---"

Dwight was interrupted by the sound of a car from outside. All three of them, and several of the customers, looked out the glass window. A silver Audi was pulling up onto the pavement right in front of the café.

The driver's door was opened by an elegantly dressed woman of clearly Japanese descent. Her hair was in a perfect bun and she walked like she owned the world.

"That Gucci coat is at least 6,000 dollars. Another 5,000 bucks for those Louboutins. Hmmm. She could definitely do better."

June laughed, "Difficult to please, aren't we?"

Marcel scoffed, "Considering that they own dozens of malls, she is being a cheapskate."

Then, he looked more closely, and started panting, "Oh, oh, oh! Those sunglasses. Those are Shiels Jewelers Emerald. They go for at least 200,000 dollars. And, if I am not mistaken, that's a 2-million-dollar Hermes Kelly Rose Gold handbag. Oh, Good Lord!" Marcel was actually fanning himself with a Café Dahlia napkin. "Never, even in my wildest dream, have I dared hope to be in the presence of such magnificence."

"I don't need a TMZ commentary, Marcel." Grandfather sighed.

Marcel was impressed. "You know TMZ, Dwight? We have hope for you yet."