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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It was an unusual day to be born, February 29 1996.  It seemed like the child steadily growing in young Mrs. Kaneshiro's swollen stomach was ready to come out and see the world at just over 8 months. It wasn't expected of course but none the less the couple was ecstatic to see the coming of their first born baby. Mr. Kaneshiro who had heard this news in the middle of a meeting rushed to the St.Micheals hospital from a taxing day at his job as the director of fiancé, at least he was able to end his day in a happy note, as he wouldn't forgive himself if he wasn't there to celebrate his child's coming. He was welcomed into his wife's delivery ward by yelling, and directions being thrown about.

He met his wife huffing and puffing on a wide bed, her legs spread apart and elevated, gathering her strength to push once more. His eyes scanned her face, glistened with sweat, making her dark skin seem to glow and scrunched up as if she was trying to repel the horrid pain she must have been feeling. Her hair that she would spend a lot of time to fix was wild and untamed. He grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly wishing more than ever to be able to help shoulder some of the pain she felt.

Even with the clear contrast of pigmentation they were able to overcome hurdles and were certain that they would over this obstacle together, and bring in the rewards with open arms. His thoughts were cut off by high- pitched cries that echoed the room. His heart beamed with joy, he saw the replicated look on his beautiful wife's face as she held their new born baby girl in their arms. "What should we call her" his wife whispered ever so slightly as she gazed at the child in wonder. Mr. Kaneshiro had never felt so much happiness for something he had accomplished, he wanted his child's name to reflect the happiness and pride he felt looking at her. "Joy, can her name be Joy?" he asked his wife knowing that she felt the same as he, and could understand the reasoning behind the name.

"It's beautiful" she replied looking from the babe into her husbands eyes hoping her eyes could reflect the love he displayed clearly for the world to see. The nurses took the child from the couple to be examined while the couple quietly conversed until Mrs. Kaneshiro fell asleep. Mr. Kaneshiro softly brushed aside a lock of wild African hair that had fallen on his wife's face, he wondered how he could be so lucky to have the life he had now, to have the woman of his dreams giving birth to his child and lying beside him.

It had not been an easy choice to pick heart over mind, especially with his traditional wealthy Asian parents and his wife's traditional African parents. There had been arguments, manipulations, and persuasion on both sides, but lucky for him, the two held onto one another like glue to paper, never separating. They had moved away from their families to Canada where they too hoped to establish their own family, and avoid the prying eyes of their relatives. He was grateful for the strength they both possessed, for it gave him this day.

      The nurses gave them their baby's testing results claiming joy to be a healthy baby weighting at 5.7 pounds. The nurses called into attention of a birth mark resembling a small filled in outline of a rose. It was an interesting discovery the nurses had made, the birthmark was not affecting the baby's health in anyway but the design of the rose was so intricate resembling a tiny red tattoo that would take the most skilled tattooist mouths to aim to copy the stem on rose, full with thorns. From far away one would perceive it as a simple drawing glued to the skin, however under a magnifying glass there was layers upon layers that made this simple rose more complex.

It was the most beautiful design the nurses laid eyes on.

      Three days had passed since the birth of Joy Kaneshiro; Mrs. Kaneshiro was excited to take her baby girl to her new home. With Mr. Kaneshiro working tediously to catch up with missed work, Mrs. Kaneshiro took advantage of the driver her husband had gotten for her when pregnant. She knew the days of not driving herself were numbered, though it was her decision, to drive herself, she would still miss the relaxation of not driving for hours at a time. 

She was snapped out of her thoughts when her driver, Dave alerted her of having reached the middle of the circular driveway in front of their front door. She slowly picked herself up wincing as the pain of birth affected her in small ounces, she pulled joy's baby car seat towards her and out of the car, waiting for Dave to drive off, she looked at the 2 storery house she and her husband had gotten a couple of months ago, imagining the laugher, and cry's that would come from joy, she imagined joy growing up in different stages in this house, the arguments that would make joy storm out, and life's disappointments what would make joy wish to stay in this house. She smiled widely pulling the carriage towards her face to look at joy. "Welcome home joy" Joy opened her large brown eyes as if acknowledging her mom's words. Mrs. Kaneshiro opened the door to begin her life with joy.

   One year later 1997  {POV switch}

A loud cry woke me up from my dreamless state, groaning softly I face my husband looking at the dark bags under his eyes I could tell he was more tired than I was  he had answered the cry's earlier on in the night, while I worked on getting my sleep. I stroked the bags stretching it out, and laid a dry peck on his nose. "I'll get that...sleep" I told him getting out of bed to go to the room next door. I met joy wailing in her crib, tears coming down her face. Picking her up, I cooed her whispering cute words into her ears. I sniffed her wincing as I turned my head away from her "oh... joy did you poop on yourself". I went to her washroom picking up extra clothes on the way, it was 5:30 am and almost time to morning routine so I decided to give Joy a bath as well. I washed her body going over the birthmark on the left backside of her shoulder as well.

I later made a traditional Japanese breakfast which included rice, natto and a raw egg for my husband David. And some Nigerian cuisine for myself as I would need a lot of energy throughout the day, I also blended some carrots and peas for Joy to eat. As I was feeding a rather messy joy, David comes down dressed up for work with his tie and his hair out of place, I left joy to play by her for a while I fixed David for work, he placed his hands on my waist as I did  so. "When do you think you'll be back from work today?" I asked trying aimlessly to untangle the ball of knots that sat at the collar of his neck. It wasn't his fault he didn't learn how to groom himself , he was used to having someone at his beck and call to assist him with unnecessary tasks.

"Maybe around 12 pm if nothing interesting happens, I'm pretty ahead in my tasks" he replied moving his ever wondering hands under the hem of my shirt. His fingers creeping up my bare skin, teasingly making it's way under the cup of my bra. The temperature rose from 20 degrees to 40 in a matter of 2 seconds.

"Maybe we can do something fun afterward's, how about it"  he spoke softly with a small smile planted on his face, knowing full well what his little actions did to me.

I tried hard not to think of possibilies that "afterwards" could contain. I knew he wasn't indicating activities that could include Joy, which raised awareness in my desired mind.

"What about joy?"

"We could drop her off at a baby sitter's, how about the elderly Nigerian lady you spend a lot of time with in university, that is if you are hesitant about other people."

"That could work" I whispered back to him still feeling the effects of his touch.

"Then I'll come home and we could drop her off?" he asked me now transporting his other hand  down the nether regions. I caught his hand quickly and pulled it to next to my cheek, I then lightly kissed it.  "Later" I whispered to him peeling myself off of him to send him on his way to work, I knew if I didn't, he wouldn't be getting to work anything soon.  I went to the kitchen to grab some disposable towels to wipe Joy's mouth. I heard the door being opened reveling David.

"I forgot something"

"What did you forget I'll go..." I didn't get to finish my sentence due to me being pulled away suddenly and finding lips on my own, hands on my waist pulling me closer, the all too familiar sensations caused me to deepen the kiss leaving me hazed and panting, I smiled quite brightly then for  I couldn't think of anyway else to express what I was feeling at the moment. My attention by brought to joys giggling and light clapping as she looked at us. I ruffled the curls that was set on her head and looked back at David.

"Is that what you forgot"

"Yes, that and my car keys, I'll go get that"

"Ok" I replied still feeling flushed from the kiss

"I'm leaving" David said in Japanese. As he opened the door

"Take care" I replied

I went to the window carrying joy along with me to wave David goodbye as he drove off to work.