capitalism.txt

Eriko

"Eriko, let's start something new. What do you answer to this sentence? I'll write it on the board here, look. What did you, USE, to do, when you were a schoolgirl?"

"Use to? Eeto ne. When I was a schoolgirl, I take, I taken, did taken examinations - "

"Okay. Let's look at this. I, used, to, take examinations. This is another way of saying things, that happened in the past."

I can't keep my eyes off her rump. I don't know if it's just me, but it's getting fuller and the material getting tighter every week, every time I see her. You'd think foreigners would lose weight here, but no. And she wears it so well. She's beautiful.

Of course I know what she's talking about, I do remember something along these lines. The German nuns who ran the Catholic school when I was a child, they mentioned it. Funny, they couldn't have been that good at English either. I wonder why they charged my parents so much for sending me there? They were handy with a ruler or a cane, I suppose, and a Japanese teacher isn't. Maybe I'd learn quicker if you were the same, Hannah.

"So Eriko, listen up. We say "used to" for something that happened, in the past, a lot of times. Something you did, before, like every day, or every week, or always, not just one time. Like a habit or a hobby."

"Ah. Naruhodo. Ano, I...used to..."

Be obscenely proud of Kenji. Think he wouldn't screw around, think even when I figured it out that everything would be alright. I used to look away from women on the subway, try not to touch them. I used to be ashamed for a different reason.

"Well, when I was in college, I used to party every night!"

"You used a, party? Every night?"

"To party, yes. Sorry, it's a verb too. I'll put it on the board again; I party, you party, they partied all weekend, and so on. Damn! Sorry, let me just get that."

Please don't apologize for dropping your pen on the floor, Hannah. You have a lot to learn, and I want you to be slow at it. Bend forward for me, pick it up, take your time. Let the dirty old woman enjoy you.

"And, ano, you used...DID you use to, drank beer?"

"Did I use to drink beer? Not so much! My drinks were cocktails. You like cocktails, Eriko?"

"Before, I liked. Ah, I used to liked. Cocktails. Now I don't drink alcohol. What cocktails did you use, to liked?"

"Um, I liked White Russians a lot. You know White Russians? Also, mojitos, do you know mojitos?"

I haven't the faintest idea; I used to get gin and tonic or whiskey sours with the girls from the women's college. Good times. Filthy jokes. We were wild. If we missed curfew, we'd stay out all night. We'd be propping each other up by morning. We got poor little Chigusa almost expelled with such games. Vomiting into an antique cannon by the old naval fort. I still remember the feel of her tight little body as I held her that night; I tried to forget so many times over the years.

"Well a White Russian is coffee liqueur, vodka and milk; a mojito, well, I forget."

"Is it delicious?"

"Sure is. And what did you USE to do, Eriko, before you got married?"

"Before I got married? Ano, I was student. I finished to study, then - paato! - I married. No, ano, no...between."

"No in between time, huh? You got married - as soon as - you finished college? Write it down. You can say things like 'I go to bed as soon as I come home' for example, or 'Please phone me as soon as you arrive'. It means there's no time in between."

I will be free as soon as Kenji dies.