| Upon arriving in Wakayama, Eke made a | | | | she was. Grandpa Suki upon arrival took Eke |
| bee-line to her bedroom and set her luggage | | | | by the hand and walked her alone to the back |
| in the corner and without even turning on a | | | | porch where he reminded her of the importance |
| light, landed face down on the mattress and | | | | of family and the responsibilities of |
| was immediately fast asleep. She didn't wake | | | | Japanese children to honor and obey their |
| up till well past noon the next day, which | | | | elders and to remember the importance of |
| was to her good fortune since dad was at work | | | | saving face. (It is inbred from an early age |
| and so she had time to talk to mom before he | | | | in the Japanese culture that family is a |
| returned to get a sense for what she was | | | | source of stability and strength and that in |
| about to face. | | | | order to reach a child's full potential, they |
| | | | need the support of their family.) |
| It wasn't just her dad that was the problem. | | | | |
| Mom was cooking up a storm in the kitchen as | | | | Eke understood all of this and she listened |
| Eke made her appearance. She soon found out, | | | | respectfully. But she also knew what was in |
| the entire adult Suki family including her | | | | her heart and at the right moment, she was |
| grandfather, was coming for dinner at six to | | | | going to tell her father how she felt about |
| talk to Eke. | | | | Carlo and hope that because of his love for |
| | | | her open his. |
| "Are you hungry?" "How did you sleep", | | | | |
| mother Suki said to her daughter. Eke nodded | | | | The evening from that point forward consisted |
| affirmative as she sat down at the table with | | | | of Eke listening to the adults talk to her |
| elbows up and hands on each side of her head | | | | about what was expected as a Japanese |
| while she took one last moment to gather | | | | daughter and the advantages of miai-gekkon |
| herself before asking mom "what was going | | | | and how "it has worked for centuries in |
| on." Mother Suki could see the anguish in | | | | Japan" and how the western cultures suffer |
| her daughters face and walked over and | | | | from such a high rate of divorce. The case |
| extended her arms as Eke started once again | | | | was made clear and again Eke listened with |
| to cry saying "mom, why did dad have to do | | | | her head but silently thought from her heart |
| this? I only had 3 weeks left till | | | | as she wished Carlo was at her side. |
| graduation." "Your father loves you, honey, | | | | |
| and he only wants the best for you. Just | | | | The evening seemed to last forever which is |
| listen to him and give him time and things | | | | often the case when we wish we weren't there. |
| will all work out," she concluded. | | | | But Eke got through it. The one thing that |
| | | | did concern her, though, and it was made very |
| Eke and mom talked for the rest of the | | | | clear; the family had circled the wagons and |
| afternoon and she shared her feelings about | | | | convincing them of anything was not going to |
| Carlo and her American parents and her | | | | be easy. |
| wonderful experience in America. And this | | | | |
| seemed to calm her as her mom just listened. | | | | Carlo finished his breakfast and although it |
| Mother Suki could tell immediately that her | | | | wouldn't have been his first choice, the food |
| daughter had grown a lot since being in | | | | was filling and he was so hungry that most |
| America and that she was fearful that Eke was | | | | anything would have tasted good. He walked |
| not going to lie down and just accept things | | | | back to the hotel thinking that he needed to |
| as they were desired by the family elders. | | | | get a plan to get in contact with Eke and/or |
| This scared her for Eke was all she had - her | | | | her family. If he had to, he could just take |
| only daughter; her best friend; her life over | | | | a chance and catch a taxi and go straight to |
| the past 19 years. But she listened with sad | | | | the house. But then again, although that was |
| eyes and love in her heart. | | | | his preference, he knew that might be |
| | | | considered disrespectful. So he was going to |
| That evening, everyone started to arrive and | | | | have to find a different way for now since he |
| Eke greeted them with respect and love for | | | | had some time - He was prepared financially |
| her family had always been there for her as a | | | | to stay in Japan for up to 3 weeks. (... |
| child and family was an important part of who | | | | |