"My school festival will be on June 14. Please come Mommies" Haru says.

"I'd love to but I'm meeting with an important client that day" Elma says with a frown.

"Oh" Haru says, looking down spirited.

"Please come Mommy Nai"

"I already had a lot of day offs in the past year. I don't know if I'm going to get one."

Haru looks so sad. "I'm sure there is next year" I tell him.

"Hm" he sighs.

When Haru's asleep:

"Elma I'm sure there is something you can do like reschedule the meeting."

"I don't know. I can try it. What about you, Nai?"

"You know how Ms Sakurai is. She already gave me lots of time off. And all of my annual leave days are used up."

"Can't you just explain to her?" Elma asks.

"You mean beg her? I'm not a suck up. She's a woman she will squeeze you dry when she knows she's granted you a favour."

...

At work:

The phone rings at my extension. I pick up "Hey Nai, I asked the guy if he could reschedule but he told me he's flying in specially for our meeting that day."

"Thanks for trying. It's ok. Haru will just need to understand."

"Yeah we'll talk to him. My break is up. Bye."

She hangs up.

Haru spent 1 year of his life away from Elma and I. He faced some things I wouldn't want for my enemy's child. I heave a sigh.

Damn it.

I pick up the phone again and dial Elma.

"Hey, I'll ask my boss for some time off. Even if it's one hour. I don't mind if I have to suck up and get her coffee for the next two weeks."

"Hm. Make sure it's peppermint tea Nai. Elma says with a chuckle."

"You got that right. You should be her personal assistant" I tell her.

"I'm glad. You're doing this for our son."

"I can't stand the sight of his sad face" I say.

"I know, babe. Me too. Another call's coming in. We'll talk later."

"Yeah bye"

"...and so Ms Sakurai, this is why i want some time off, even if it's an hour."

She looks at me. "Well you did a pretty good job when I was out of town last week. Take the day. I will approve it."

"Thank you so much!"

After work:

I meet Elma in the lobby.

"She approved it."

"That's wonderful. I also have good news too."

"What?"

"The client who is flying in called me back. He said he needs to tie up some urgent matters at his Tokyo branch so he will reschedule for the 15th instead."

"Awesome!"

She continued. "Yes. I asked the Chief to move my day off from Sunday to the 14th instead."

"Yay! So we can both go" Haru will be so happy.