French Cup: A Neighborhood Story

Chapter 50: -Gyeong-Wan- Fruit Candy

"I tried to see a movie with my family last night. However, we were unable to enjoy ourselves due to the people in front of the theater. The amount of carrying on... My wife told me she was afraid. My children were uncomfortable, too. The people there seemed intoxicated. How inappropriate. We had to leave. We went to the cineplex further away. Very inconvenient. If not for those people, my family and I would have had a good time. I don't know why being intoxicated was allowed in that theater."

I was dusting the lobby for something to do. Tomoko was the one who had to listen to Matsuda-san complain. My ears were alerted, however, when he started talking about Charlotte's theater. That had to be the one he'd meant. Had he tried to go see Grease with his family? I was watching him out of the corner of my eye, pausing now in my work.

"We apologize, sir. We can suggest more appropriate entertainment options-"

"And another thing. There are no appropriate family restaurants in the area." He was using her word back at her. A mocking tone. 

I resumed dusting. As he spoke, there was only one thought in my mind: that theater isn't for you. I'd talked to Charlotte enough times to find out that her theater was about art, and wasn't for families. That wasn't its target audience. Strangely, as he complained, I was as calm as a tranquil pond. All of his complaining was rolling away from me. Not affecting me at all. It was such a change. Normally, I'd be completely bothered. Wanting to defend. But, this time, it seemed to me that he was as insignificant as a passing cloud on a sunny day.

Memories of last night, seeing Kazuya up there, dancing and being teased by Nikki. People in the audience giving them pink jackets to wear, and Nikki's not fitting. Him yelling over the movie that he's a man and this tiny jacket would not fit. Everyone laughing so hard at him that they were crying. Him holding up the jacket and asking very loudly if it was made for a chihuahua. Him trying to put it on and faking getting stuck with much distress, twirling around many times with his arms held hostage during the movie's dance scene and everyone dying laughing.

Matsuda-san and his family would not have had a good time. It made me want to laugh, what an unusual response. But, neither did I want to tell Matsuda-san off. There was nothing to defend. Charlotte's theater didn't need him and his family, and was much better off without them. My hope was with the neighborhood almost losing her, that she'd do well from now on. We knew how important she was before, but now she was something we couldn't afford to lose. We knew that heartache. Images of Kazuya crying about it, feeling him in my arms as he'd trembled about losing her. Seeing those chains on the doors. It would never happen again. We wouldn't allow it. 

"Those people," Matsuda-san complained, "outside of the theater. They were wearing those rainbow colors like the people on TV. The ones who ruined your event at the hotel last week. I recognized the colors. Due to last week, I would imagine they would have been banned from trespassing."

My ears more than alerted at this. My whole head turned to him. Stranger still, I didn't care who saw. 

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," Tomoko answered, now ignoring him and tidying up papers on the desk. She tapped them twice, fully absorbed in them. I was so proud of her.

"Those people. On the TV. They interfered with your 5K run."

"I'm sorry, we were told not to speak about that. It is in the past." She was using overly formal language now. 

"Clearly, it is not. They are still here."

Minami jumped in. "I'm sorry, Matsuda-san. Do you have a request that I can help you with? Tomoko asked if you'd like her to help you find a more appropriate entertainment venue. We can also help you find family restaurants in the area. There is a Denny's-"