Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"GOOD MORNING, DWIGHT," Evelyn greeted the bespectacled man as he got out of his car. He had parked right next to her, swerving into the spot like a crazy person. "Morning," Dwight replied, locking his car. "Evelyn. You are fluent in Japanese, correct?"
Her eyebrows raised. "Um, somewhat," she replied. "Why?" He matched her pace, hands now straight at his sides. "I have decided to take a martial arts class and my sensei is Japanese." She nodded along with his words, bottom lip bitten between her teeth. "I would like to impress him. And make him feel as though he can trust me."
"Are you sure he's Japanese?" she asked. Dwight snatched open the door before she could reach it and motioned her inside. "Of course," he replied. "I know how to decipher the specific ethnicities of Asians." She lifted her hands in surrender. The security guard offered her a small smile in greeting as the duo made their way toward the elevator. "Do you know if your instructor knows Japanese?" she asked next. "Some don't, you know. Americans get very angry when they hear people of color speaking in a different language."
Dwight even pushed the button before Evelyn could. "I believe so," he answered. "He uses the language when instructing sometimes." The elevator doors slid open and both Dwight and Evelyn stepped inside. Her arms crossed over her chest from habit. "Do you know any phrases already?"
She felt like she may have been asking too many questions. Dwight nodded his head. "What do you know?" The tall man straightened and cleared his throat. "どうもありがとうございます。(Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu.)" Evelyn smiled at Dwight. "Any more?" He nodded, silently. A miniscule smile began to tug at his lips. "失う準備をしてください。(Ushinau junbi o shite kudasai.)"
"Wow," she replied, stunned. She had expected him to know simple phrases, like asking where a bathroom is. Or maybe even if he was handsome. She hadn't expected him to know how to say prepare to lose. "Nice," was all she could think to say. The elevator stopped, doors pulling open. "It sounds like you've got a good handle on the language."
"I would like to know more," he admitted. "I would like to be able to hold a conversation with him." She stepped off first, Dwight tailing her. Evelyn couldn't stop the frown that floated across her features. "That's a lot of studying, Dwight. And it will take time to remember all of the words. You can ask someone how they are and there's a million ways they could respond."
"I'm willing to try," he stated. She believed him. When Dwight wanted something done, he worked hard for it. He quickened his pace to grab the door for her and Evelyn couldn't help but smile. "I'll help," she concluded. "I can write out the alphabet for you and we can start on specific phrases everyone should know."
