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“Kanae went to university in Washington.” Kumiko points to her daughter, who lifts her head to agree with her mother. “They have Space Needle there. Have you seen it?”
“Yes, I have.” I wait to be asked to help or given a duty. My hands are waiting to be supporters of the cause if it means dinner.
“Kasumi stay home; she does not go to college in Texas.” Kumiko makes the joke, and I let my heart feel at ease as she says it.
“Probably a good idea if she has a mom like you.”
Kumiko likes what I say and smiles at both her daughters. I try to figure out who is the oldest; Enzo hasn’t ever mentioned it. Just that he had two sisters and a brother.
“You want to learn to fold?” She gestures to the gyoza in front of us, and I quickly jump up.
“Yes, please. I would love to.”
Kumiko shows me how to do it and calls me a natural. I swear, the praise in her voice makes me want to make five hundred.
“What is your father’s surname?” she asks with the excitement to connect with her Japanese roots.
“Yoshioka.” It is nice to have a unique name, not fun to be in elementary school, and wait at the end of the line for everything.
“Is it your name also, Phoebe-san?” San, a term for endearment.
“Yes, Kumiko.”
“Do you know where it comes from?” She gives me a small smile to encourage me.
“Um, western Japan. Something about a good hill?” I haven’t done a ton of research about the background. The people I should ask aren’t around.
“Lucky, it is the lucky hill. From the Ryukyu Islands.” It’s a nice fact I will remember for later.
“Careful, Mom is a professor of Eastern Asian history,” Kasumi warns me, but I love to learn.
“What about your last name?”
“Used to be Miyamoto, for the shrines. From Okinawa.”
“It’s beautiful.” And we both smile.
“Where is your father from, Phoebe?” The question shouldn’t worry me, but I have to think about the few times my mother gave any information up on my father.
“San Diego.” I don’t look up to see if she approves.
“California.” Kumiko plays the word out.
“What about you, Kumiko?” I change the subject and shifted the focus on her. Because I don’t know more about my Japanese side, more than my father knows my first name.
Her daughters let out an annoyed sigh.
“Shush, Phoebe asked, and I am proud to tell you where I come from.” Kumiko wipes her hands on her apron and walks around the counter until we are side by side.
“I love learning about people. When Enzo and I go on trips overseas, it is my favorite thing to learn about different cultures and communities.” I try to sound like an intelligent woman and not a random girl. Her son is fucking in holy places.
I crack up a bit as I say holy places. I cover it with a cough to hide my fear of the dirty words I have spoken out loud to Enzo during our naked sessions.
“I was born in a city called Kimitsu. My family is mountain people.” I can see the way her eyes light up, remembering her home.
“Mountain people? Really, Mama?” Kasumi rolls her eyes at her mother’s stories.
Kumiko ignores her daughter and continues.
