Christmas 1995
“Please call me Seth.”
“Alright… Seth, after numerous attempts to contact you have failed it was our decision to meet with you and conduct business in person. Do you know a Mrs. Atsuko Tanaka?” as she took some papers out of her briefcase and spread them out on the coffee table.
“Nope, doesn’t ring a bell. Who is she?”
“Well, please pardon my bluntness but perhaps you remember her by her maiden name, Atsuko Chihiro.” Thinking he misunderstood what she was saying she now had his full attention.
“Excuse me? What did you say?”
“I know this is a lot to take in but were you not in Tokyo about five years ago in 1991? That was the last year he worked for Cannon Street Coffee before retiring. A Ms. Atsuko Chihiro who was then an executive vice president at the Cannon Street Coffee Tokyo division claims you were.” Seth sat back on the couch and his eyes immediately looked out at the little boy playing outside with Buddie.
“Ms. Atsuko married a Mr. Haru Tanaka, a local businessman, in 1991 and he accepted and adopted her infant son Itsuki as his own.” Tragically, they were both killed in an automobile accident six months ago. Other than Itsuki, they had no other blood relatives and in her last will and testament, in the event of their deaths, guardianship of Itsuki would be given to you . . , his biological father.
“Wait, are you sure about this?” Trying to absorb all of this news, he stood silently by the picture window watching the little boy playing with Buddie, who was still obviously hurting by the loss of his parents.
” Look at him Seth, and you’ll know.”
That was a rough transitional year for the Gonzales family. Mary and Annie had to learn how to become big sisters to a little brother they didn’t even know existed. At first there was resentment towards little Itsuki and not wanting to share their father with a stranger. But a maternal and protective instinct kicked in with Mary. He was an innocent, cute little boy and for months didn’t speak a word and through no fault of his own, the only mother and father he had ever known were taken from him. He was thrust into an unfamiliar home, strange new country and unfamiliar language. Mary always had a sense of fairness, just like her mother and Itsuki’s situation was totally unfair.
Since Seth was a work from home artist with a flexible schedule, he walked Itsuki to the nearby Oak Heights Elementary School and picked him up every day. He got along well at school but still wasn’t talking. Annie was having a hard time accepting him. She was eight years older than Itsuki and for the first few months practically ignored him. On Saturdays Mary would take him to watch Annie’s soccer games which seemed to make him very happy and proud, since she was the best player on the team. But still she obviously kept her distance.
Christmas 1996
Seth would always have a sit-down family dinner every Sunday night, a long-standing tradition and a time where they could voice anything bothering them.
“Annie, would you please pass the mashed potatoes to your brother?” She did so reluctantly with Seth shaking his head in bewilderment. He knew his daughters were good kids and allowed as much time as was necessary for them to adapt to their new family dynamic.
“Mary, I have to be downtown to meet Layla on the new book tomorrow. Can you pick Itsuki up from school?
“Dad, I have that drivers training class after school on Mondays.”
“Oh yeah, I guess it’s up to you Annie.”
“But Dad. . .”
“Yes?” in a stern reply.
“Oh alright,” as she stormed from the table. Seth gave Itsuki a smile and a wink which he returned in kind.
“Okay, now who wants ice cream?”
to be continued