Lesson 1: Jiro meets Tom

Tom is waiting at the airport for his home-stay family to arrive, clinging to the photograph he is to use to identify them. The Tanakas look like a nice family—Mrs. and Mr. Tanaka seem happily married in the picture, their oldest son standing high over their shoulders beside the oldest sister, their middle son and youngest daughter squabbling at the time the photograph was taken. He glances down to the glossy piece in his hand again, ignoring the marks his sweaty fingers have left, before sending another anxious look around the terminal.

Worry is gnawing at his stomach just as he looks up, and sees the younger son—he's pretty sure that's who it is—standing on the other side of a few rows of chairs, squinting at him. The teenager blinks owlishly when their eyes meet.

He maneuvers around the rows, and, tips respectfully at the waist once he's a few feet from Tom. He speaks.

"たなかじろです。よろしく。"

Tom is frozen for a beat at the spill of Japanese that comes from the teenager's lips, before he remembers—duh —and prodes his brain into action. Damnit, he should have taken his mother up on those reviews.

Licking his lips, he mirrors the other's bow and says,"トムアカウです。よろしく。"

Jiro grins widely at his stuttered introduction, not unkindly. He replies, "アカウさん、家へ どこですか?"

"ホナルルです。たなかさんは?"

Jiro gives him another, small smile that Tom takes to be a plea for permission as his reaches a hand for the handle of his carry-on. "とうきょです。" He answers.

Tom follows him to the baggage claim, and is happy to notice that much of his anxiety is left behind.

Translations
(1) I am Jiro Tanaka. How do you do?
(2) I am Tom Akau. How do you do?
(3) Mr. Akau, where is youy home?
(4) Honolulu. And yours, Mr. Tanaka?
(5) Tokyo.

A/N: Did so major, and much-needed reworking. (6/10)