Yotsuba& Sandwiches

Lunch soon approached and Yotsuba glanced across at the newcomer. If the bell rang for lunch with no harmful affects from him, she would now be certain he wasn't up to anything bad. The teacher was scared into life as the bell rang out, and with no nasty after-effects, Yotsuba slowly sauntered out of the classroom, along the corridor and up onto the playground. She was a genius. She knew how to get to the classroom, leave, and go to and from the playground.

Lingering behind her was James, trying to make it not obvious that he was following her- he'd very easily get lost. She knew he was behind her and slowly turned. He stopped, shrieking slightly at being discovered. Yotsuba grinned. She'd tracked him all throughout break without him ever realizing.

"What do you want?" she asked kindly.

"I kind of get lost easily, so I was following you…I didn't want to end up in the wrong place."

The grin remained present. Someone was asking her for help! Now she could give it, be like one of the adults. A chance to act serious, be thanked. Now to talk in a respectable manner, just like adults…well apart from her Dad and Jumbo.

"Do you have your own lunch?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Well then that makes everything easier. If you follow me I'll take you up to the playground- you can eat with me and my friends."

The boys' face suddenly lit up. "Really? You mean that?"

Yotsuba nodded. "Follow me."

The boy tried to stay close to the girl as they climbed up the stairs and began the dangerous task of crossing the playground. He was nervous at first, but his eyes suddenly lit up when he saw the small group of boys playing soccer. He pointed at it.

"We play that all the time in England. I'm a goalkeeper" he stated. Yotsuba nodded, but had no idea what a pole keeper was. She skipped through the game as James watched in awe as a boy run through the defence and scored a goal.

Within a few minutes they had reached the small gathering. Naoko and Kameko sat, while Yasuo was now replaced as the newest member of the small group. The small group said hello to James as he sat down and quickly introduced himself to them. He finally sat down, glancing across at Yotsuba. She'd been the one who had invited him, she was the only one he was certain didn't mind him being there. However he slowly began to realize none of the group minded. Kameko seemed too crazy to not like having someone else present, while Naoko seemed deeply interested in England. Soon the small group were joined by the remainder of the first year group- Isamu and Masumi arriving and sitting down beside them.

"This is James" said Yotsuba introducing the boy to the two new arrivals. He surprised the two girls, shaking their hands.

"Lets eat!" called out Kameko eagerly. Yotsuba nodded furiously in agreement.

Quickly people began retrieving their food and chomping it down at an amazing rate. James was surprised- he'd never seen anyone eat so quickly- food was vanishing from Yotsuba's hands at an amazing rate. James reached into his bag and pulled out a small plastic box. He pulled out the first piece of food and rose it to his mouth. He paused when he saw Yotsuba staring at him.

"Hmm?"

"What's that?" asked Yotsuba, pointing to the food James held in his hand.

"This?" he asked looking down at the food. She nodded. "This is a sandwich" he said, holding it out for her to see.

"Sand witch? What's a sand witch?" asked Yotsuba. "Is it some sort of magic?"

"Huh…no. It's just two pieces of bread with something in-between. I have ham in mine" he explained.

Yotsuba nodded as he spoke and looked towards the sandwich in amazement.

---

Later that day…

"Dad, do you know what a sandwich is?" asked Yotsuba.

Koiwai nodded. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" he asked. "Why do you ask?" he continued.

Yotsuba paused, deep in thought. "Someone had a sandwich at school. I'd never seen one before."

"Really?" asked Koiwai. "How did you ever manage to live without that knowledge?"

"I don't know" replied Yotsuba seriously. "Do you know how to make one Dad!" she suddenly exclaimed. Surely her Dad would know. And if not she could ask Jumbo…or even ask the new boy James.

Koiwai nodded. "Of course I know how to."

"How then?"

Koiwai paused. It was difficult to properly explain- it was so simple to do there wasn't really a method. "Well basically you get two pieces of bread like so" he said pulling out bread from the new loaf he'd brought. "If you want you can put butter on the bread. Then you can put meat, vegetables, spreads, most types of food in between the two pieces of bread, put them together and eat like so" said Koiwai chomping down on his newly formed sandwich.

"Wow, you're so smart Dad!"

"I know."

Koiwai turned to Yotsuba. "I'm going to watch a bit of TV. I've got some new work coming in tomorrow so I could do with some relaxation."

"Ok Dad! I'll make myself a sandwich!"

Koiwai handed the girl two slices of bread. "Do me proud young Yotsuba" he said before walking into another room. He sat down and flicked on the TV, listening to the various sounds being produced from the kitchen. He dreaded to think what was happening.

He sat back in the couch, enjoying a cop show, when suddenly the door creaked open. Yotsuba appeared with a look of glee on her face and what appeared to be a sandwich in her hands. He nodded.

"Good job Yotsuba. What is it?"

"An ice cream sandwich!" exclaimed Yotsuba.

A look of part shock, part disgust crossed Koiwai's face. He grimaced as she bit down into the sandwich, vanilla ice cream oozing out from between the bread. She chewed slowly, as though savouring the taste before swallowing.

"How was it?" asked a slightly repulsed Koiwai.

Yotsuba held the sandwich carefully, ice cream now pouring out onto her hands. "Nice!" She held it up. "Want some?"

"No thanks."

There was a loud knock and Koiwai disappeared. He soon returned with Jumbo.

"What's that Yotsuba?" asked Jumbo, crouching down to the girl.

"A sandwich! I made it myself."

"Who's a clever girl huh?"

"Want to try some?"

"Sure."

An evil grin crossed Koiwai's face as Jumbo took hold of the sandwich. He chomped down on it and gagged slightly. He looked down at Yotsuba, staring up at him intently.

"Bleargh…I-It's great Yotsuba" said Jumbo forcing down the bread.

"Yaay!" said Yotsuba dancing around the room.