Hide in Your Shell, Ch. 3

The dinner was opulent as you might expect from a castle underneath the sea.  Ivan appeared to have invited everyone in the city and they were all drunk by the time Susie arrived.  When Susie walked in the dining room a hush spread over the audience and she was uncomfortable as everyone was staring at here.

"Ladies and Gentleman, Fish and Reptiles," said Ivan from his throne above the diners, "Please welcome back my voluptuous bride Svetlana who has returned from an unexpected and unwelcomed sojourn in the land of the air breathers."

The crowd erupted in applause.  Susie did a quick courtsey and her maids escorted her to a seat next to Ivan. 

"I trust our staff has been taking care of your needs?", asked Ivan.

"Yes, quite.  But they wouldn't let me keep my animal."

"Don't worry about the Cat, my dear, I think you are going to enjoy this."

With that Ivan clapped and the lights dimmed.  A huge view screen appeared behind the throne.  Ivan continued, 

"My lovely bride seems to have a case of amnesia brought about by my wicked sister.  I put together a presentation to jog her memory.   Please share this special moment with us as I present to you:  Svetlana--a retrospective.

What followed was a video that struck Susie as something akin to a home movie.  There were various scenes with her and Ivan swimming under the water, frolicking with dolphins, and vacationing in exotic underwater locations.  There were also wedding photos.   None of the photos were even vaguely familiar.  Indeed, Susie had the impression the videos may have been Photoshopped  with her face inserted.   Moreover, as the video began to drag on, she sensed that the previously racious crowd was growing board. She turned to Ivan:

"Dear, it's a very thoughtful video, but I believe the guests may be getting bored. Perhaps we should change the station."

"Don't worry about the guests my dear, they will like anything that is put in front of them. But if you want to change the channel, maybe we could put on something different."

Ivan clapped his hands again and the video channel changed to what looked like a commercial for a Ramen noodle Company in which two Elderly Japanese man were conversing at a counter of a noodle bar in Tokyo:

"Aren't the noodles here heavenly?  I know the chef must be divinely inspired."

You are shitting me my friend--the cook looks like an ordinary bloke to me.

"Amigo, you should not judge a book by its cover--would you like to hear the chef's story my friend?"

Do I have a choice?

"Our cook, Norio, has had a pretty amazing life. He was born to homeless parents.  His mother was something of a sex symbol among the homeless. She hooked up with many homeless men. Of course, back then, most homeless men were former CEOs of Japanese start up companies experiencing hard times.  After their companies tanked, these former CEOs did the honorable thing and disappeared to a life on the streets.   Norio's mother died early and Norio was raised by 10 homeless men, all of them extremely intelligent, any of which whom could have been his father.

Norio's early years were marked by much happiness. His playground became the vast fish market in Tokyo.  One of his fathers found a used soccer ball and gave it to him as a birthday present.  Day in and day out, Norio could be seen dribbling the soccer ball in and out of every alley and road in the market. 

Norio became quite proficient at soccer. He was discovered by a soccer coach and recruited to play for a team with the children of rich merchants.  Soon, his star begin to rise and he became a nationally famous soccer star.  However, his fame was short lived after the Japanese paparazzi disclosed his homeless background which had previously been concealed.  A huge scandal ensued and Norio was kicked off the team.     

Norio was heartbroken that his soccer dreams had been taken away from him.  To relieve his frustrations, he took up boxing and quickly became proficient. He progressed rapidly in competition. However, on the evening before his championship fight, he was confronted by a paparazzi about his past and lost his temper.   Norio punched the photographer and knocked him out.  The photographer pressed charges for battery and Norio spent the next two years in prison.   

While in prison, Norio met Kanjita, a social worker.  The two fell madly in love and were soon married.  Kanjita's ambition was to become an actress. Norio encouraged Kanjita's acting ambitions and after he was released from prison he became her business agent.   

Kanjita's acting career took off and she and Norio were soon seen on red carpets   everywhere from Cannes to Hollywood.  During the Cannes film festival one year, the couple chartered a Mediterranean yacht to Gibraltar.  On the cruise, the yacht stuck what was believed to be a massive turtle and capsized.  Kanjita drowned.  Heartbroken, Norio returned to Japan and opened this noodle business. 

I may never eat American food again. I miss being wined and dined as a dignitary.  I'm learning to sleep with one eye open.  My middle eye.  I may read everything that Gene Wolff has ever written. I could do worse.   There is a secret code there.  I'm going to experience it.