CHAPTER 2

**The Missing Link **

After leaving the Chula Vista Nature Center where he often visited when he was a kid, at Jack's request, Naomi made a second detour to Mission Beach, another one of his favorite spots to hang out at. After getting a light snack consisting of chips and sodas, Jack and Naomi sat on a wall along the board walk near the sand and watched the sun set.

"Boys and their bugs. Why did we have to go to the Chula Vista Nature Center anyway? I don't like that place."

"Because there's a marsh there and I like marshes. The marsh is full of many things living there that no one knows about. You don't think it's interesting?"

"No. And next time I'm not going there with you," Naomi said to him.

"Aaaah. It's Been a long time since I last came here. Everything still look and feels the same."

"Yeah, and everything still smells the same too... Fishy!"

"It's the beach Naomi, it's supposed to smell fishy. How come you hate beaches so much anyway?"

"I don't hate beaches, I just think that too much sun isn't good for my skin, or anyone else's skin for that matter. It's crazy how people can just lie out here for hours and hours and get bombarded with radiation from the sun that could kill them. If they all could actually see what's falling down on them they'd think differently about lying around here. Don't they even care about themselves?"

"There are other things that you can do here beside lying on the beach Naomi. Look around, people are jogging..."

"I hate jogging."

"People are roller skating..."

"I badly twisted my ankle once after I fell down skating remember."

"People are walking..."

"Walking up and down this long board walk makes my feet tired."

"The point I'm trying to make Naomi is that city life is full of stress. So at some point in our lives we should just get away from everything in the city; cars, telephones, telivison, bars, theaters... everything! And just go out into nature relax. It's nice to come here and listen to the sound of the ocean, feel the cool breeze of the wind, and forget about everything for a while and just relax. Besides, there's one thing that you like to do that you can do here... ride a bike."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. But still, even though it's fun to be here if not careful this place could kill you.

"Whatever you say Naomi," Jack said to her shaking his head. Looking at the sunset, he turned his thoughts inward, and then westward across the sea.

"Think she's ok?"

"Who?"

"Mom."

"Mom? Of course she is," she said to him, hesitating a bit. "I guess. But of course, knowing you, you wont be satisfied until you actually hear from her. Once a mommy's boy, always a mommy's boy."

Jack gave his sister a dirty look. "Just because I'm still dad and mom's favorite child, that doesn't mean that you have to be jealous."

"Yeah, you wish stupid. Anyway, it's like dad said. Mom is pretty tough. She can Handle herself there. But still, I have to admit I am a bit worried about her too."

"Yeah? How so?"

"She just seemed like she was a little sad about going there."

"Well, her parent's are sick Naomi. I guess that would make anyone sad."

"Yeah, I know," she said, agreeing with him. "But that's not what I mean. Mom was sad for some other reason I think."

"Did she say anything?"

"No. But I kind of felt that there was something else bugging her. And you know mom, she is not going tell us what's really going on in her head because she doesn't want us to worry."

"How about Dad? Do you think he knows something?"

"Maybe. But sometimes Mom don't tell Dad everything in her heart or mind either."

"Really? How come you seem toknow these things about Mom and I don't?"

"Because you're not a girl. So obviously, it's a girl thing. You wouldn't understand."

"Whatever."

"Anyway, when do you have to go back to New York?"

"In about 4 weeks."

"That's a nice long vacation for you."

"Long enough I guess. But it would have been nice if Mom were here."

"I know," she said to him while looking at her watch. "Speaking of being somewhere, we'd better get going. Dad probably fixed himself a snack to keep his stomach happy before dinner, but he will be mad at us if we come back too late with the grocery."

"Yeah," Jack said to her, jumping off the wall and brushing the sand off of his pants. "Besides, Dad is cooking tonight so I'm looking forward to a home cooked meal."

"I'll also make you something while you are here ok."

"You? No thanks. I want to go back to New York without any stomach problems."

Being offended, Naomi picked up a mound of sand in her hand and threw it at her brother which he easily avoided. Waving the car keys at her and smiling, Jack turned around and quickly started walking away from his sister. Taking the hint that he may leave her stranded at the beach, Naomi brushed the sand off of her hand and hurried after him.

Returning home, Jack and Naomi went into the kitchen where their father was preparing to cook while Mia was setting the table.

"Oh look, she finally showed up."

"What took you two so long?" Mia said, ignoring her older sister comment.

"If we had an extra hand to help us with the groceries we wouldn't have taken so long coming back," Naomi sarcastically said back to her Jack decided to remain silent because it was after all his ideal to go to the nature center and the beach anyway. Changing the subject, Jack asked his Dad a question to divert all attention from them being late.

"Mmmmmm, something smells good dad, what did you cooked so far?"

"Boiled water."

"Ha Ha, very funny. What are we having for dinner?"

"Well son, since you came back home, I thought I'd make your favorite meal tonight... spaghetti."

"Mmmmmmmmm, thanks dad. I can smell it in my brain already. I'm going to enjoy eating it."

"I thought you would," he smilingly said to his son. "Now then, seeing that you two are back... by the way, you two did get everything on the list right?"

"Yeah, we did."

"Well in that case, get out of the kitchen. I've got work to do."

Jack smiled. He knew that next to his family and job, his father also loved cooking, even though his mother never let him cook so often because she doesn't think he's a good cook. Benjamin cooking for the family was a rare treat, and Jack didn't mind his father's cooking at all. And even if it didn't taste as good as his mother's cooking, Jack wouldn't complain about his father's cooking because it made him really happy.

As they finally sat down to eat, Jack praised his father for the meal and tells them about his time in New York and how his school and part time job was going there. The phone rings, and Mia jumps for it.

"Nobody move! I'll get it!"

"One of her strange friends again," Naomi said to them.

"You'll get a nice long vacation while you're here Jack. With New York being a fast pace city, I'm sure it's nice to be back home where life is a bit slower."

"Yeah you're right dad. But sometimes the fast paced lifestyle there is fun. It's not too bad. The traffic is though."

"Jack! Telephone!"

"Whoever it is tell them you're busy eating and you'll call them back later. You know how we don't like to be interrupted with phone calls during family time."

"Only you feel that way dad," Naomi said while taking another bite of dinner."Not the rest of us."

"Yeah, that's right. And since I don't see any of your names on any of the house bills here, like rent, electricity, water, and gas, I get to make the rules. No phone calls during dinner time."

Naomi rolled her eyes and shook her head as Jack left for the living room and took the phone from Mia who went back into the dining room to finish her meal.

"Hello?"

"Jack?"

"Mom!"

"It's good to hear from you Jack, but what are you doing there? I thought that you were in New York."

"I came home to visit for the summer!"

"You should have told us before you came home Jack."

"Oops!" Jack says to his mother while laughing a bit. "Anyway, never mind me mom, how are you? When are you coming back home?"

"Slow down, I've been here for a week now and I'm fine."

"Well that's good to hear. How long will you be there?

"I don't know son," she said while letting out a tired sigh. "My parents are really sick, so I am trying my best to take care of them."

"I see," Jack said, his voice sounding a bit sad. "Well, are they getting better?"

"Well, I hope so. My parents are old Jack, so older people don't heal as fast as young people do. It'll take them a while to regain all of their strength. How long will you be home?"

"Only 4 weeks mom. I was really hoping to see you when I got here."

Coughing a bit and clearing her throat she said, "I'm sure you willwhen I return there."

"Mom are you ok? You don't sound too well."

"Yes I'm fine, I must have just inhaled some dust or something. I'm ok."

"What's that ringing sound I hear?"

"It's a bell that I gave to my parents to ring if they need something."

"Oh, like when you gave us bells to use when we were sick too?"

"Yes, but my parents actually use it for real reasons. However, my children used the bells I gave them for stupid reasons, like bring them a magazine, or chips, or something. And sometimes when you all were sick in bed, you would use your cell phones to call me on the main phone at home when I'm in the next room just to get my attention.

"Why do you remember crazy things like that mom?"

"Because my children did crazy things like that and its not easy to forget," she said back to him laughing a little. "Anyway, I have to go and see what my parents want. Tell you father that I will try to call him later ok."

"Ok mom, I will."

"And son ..."

"Yes mom?"

"It's really good to hear your voice again."

"Thanks mom," Jack warmly responded back to her. "Take care of yourself and your parents while you are there ok."

"I will. Talk with you soon ok. Bye bye Jack."

"See you later mom."

Jack looked at the phone a moment before finally hanging it up, feeling relieved and happy that he had finally heard from his mother. But for some reason, he also felt a little strange after talking with her. Shrugging off the feeling, he went back to the dining room.

"How was you mother?"

"She says that she fine dad, and will call you later. We didn't talk long though because she had to go and help her parents."

"Ok," he said while standing up and stretching his arms out a little. "Well, since Mia volunteered to wash dishes, you can help her."

"I did?" Mia responded, sounding confused. "I didn't hear my brain tell my mouth to say that."

"I know," her father said to her while walking out of the dining room area, his voice trailing off in the distance. "Your brain told my mouth to say it for you."

"Set up the table, clear the table, wash and dry the dishes. Does the back of my shirt have the words slave girl written on it?"

"Should have came shopping with us," Naomi said to her sister while laughing a little. Jack however, didn't really hear Mia's complaints. He appeared to be deep in thought.

"Hey, Jack! Are you there?"

Jack quickly snapped back to reality at the sound of Mia's voice.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Mom."

"Why? She say something strange to you?"

"No. Well, actually, she kind of did."

"What was it?"

"She said bye bye to me."

"What's so strange about that?" Mia said to him. "Everyone says bye to each other before they hang up the phone."

"Yeah I know but... usually when I talk to mom on the phone we never tell each other bye bye. We usually say see you later."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Naomi said laughing a bit. "That's because when you were a little kid going to school and she said to you bye bye you cried like a baby because she left you there. So she had to change the words bye bye to see you later, just to get you to stop crying. See, I told you you're a mommy's boy."

"Shut up. How come you know this anyway?"

"Mom told us long time ago. We had a good laugh about it too."

"Whatever. Anyway, she sounded tired. And was coughing."

"I think your brain is once again over reacting," Naomi said to him. "Mom's ok. So stop worrying."

"And help me clean up this place," Mia added. "I got things to do later."

"I'm not done eating yet."

"Well hurry up. Or you can just wash your own dishes."

Jack quieted his mouth by stuffing more food in his mouth. However, he still found himself thinking about his mother.

A few days passed by, and Jack spent a lot of time visiting some of his old friends. Although most of them had either gone into the military, moved to another part of California, or went to college somewhere, he was happy that there were a few friends left to visit. Coming back home, he saw his father in the living room watching TV and decided to join him.

"Had fun hanging out son?"

"Yeah, it was ok. I went to the beach. It was a little too crowded, but it's summer time, so everyone like going to the beach. What are you watching?"

"Just the news. I was watching a report about some kind of explosion on a ship that happened out at sea somewhere a few weeks ago and the crew putting out the fire there. Also some things about the war in Iraq.

"War in Iraq? See Dad, this is the reason why you should retire. And you watch TV too much I think."

"My home, my tv. Might as well watch it. And watching tv for hours is no different than you playing video games for hours.

"You know Dad, I've been thinking about something."

"If it's about that motorcycle you wanted, the answer is still no," he said to him. "You know your mother doesn't like you riding those things. I don't mind at all, but your mother will never forgive me if I helped you get one."

"No, dad, I wasn't thinking about the motorcycle," he said to him. "But I haven't forgotten about it either. Anyway, I was thinking about mom. And... I was thinking about going to see her."

"Going to see her? You mean going to Japan?"

"Yeah."

Sitting up straight from watching the tv, Benjamin looked at his son with a surprised look on his face, "Are you serious?"

"Well, yeah," he replied back to his dad. "What's the big deal about that?"

Taking in a deep breath, Benjamin began to talk seriously with his son.

"Japan is a very different country from America Jack, and also from most other countries in the world. Life is different there, the rules, their thinking, culture, attitudes, everything. And besides, you just got here a few days ago. I didn't expect to hear you say that you were thinking about leaving so soon. Let alone wanting to leave and go to Japan"

"Well dad, mom is in Japan alone and..."

"She's with her family son."

"Ok, well... yeah, she's with her family, but... she's also away from herfamily too! Besides, being that I'm on vacation it's the perfect time to go and see her. I have plenty of time left, and I'll only be there for about 2 weeks, then come back to San Diego. No problem."

"No problem?"

"Yeah. No problem."

"You know every time you say no problem, some kind of problem always happen Jack."

"Dad, what could possibly go wrong while I'm there?"

Letting out a heavy sigh, Benjamin looked at his son, and gave him a square look.

"Well, you're getting old enough to make your own decisions in life. And arguing with you about doing things once you set your mind to it is sometimes not worth it.

As he said those words, Benjamin thought back on how against his and his mother's wishes, Jack decided to leave for New York to go to college there and study to become a teacher. So far he's doing well there, so Benjamin gave him credit for this. But now his son wants to go to Japan.

"So does this means I can go?"

"Personally, I think you should stay here. But..."

"Don't worry dad, I'll be fine. It's not like I'm going off to war or something."

"I know that, but you've never been to a foreign country before."

"I've been to Tijuana before."

"That doesn't count Jack. Although Tijuana Mexico is another country and we're separated by a border, Tijuana and San Diego are right next to each other, so they're a little bit the same. Going to Japan however, is totally different."

"I'll only be gone for 2 weeks, and then when I come back I have a week left to spend here at home before I go back to New York and for more classes. So hopefully I can see mom before I go back there. It would be a shame if I couldn't see her while I'm on vacation. I'll even bring you back a souvenir."

"For the man who has everything, he really doesn't need anything more. Now for the girl who doesn't have anything, she can use a nice new hand bag."

Turning around, Jack and his father sees Naomi standing in the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there listening to us?"

"Long enough dad. I knew Jack would do something like try to go to Japan... mommy's boy."

"Shut up. Just for saying that, the gift that I was going bring you from Japan has now turned into just a post card."

"Really?" she said back to him, shaking her head. "Well who says you're going to Japan anyway?"

Jack turned and looked at his father who simply told him to think carefully before he decide if he really wanted to go to Japan or not. Jack agreed, but unknown to his father, he had already given it much thought the night before.

The summer weather in southern California was nice as usual, a great day for a drive, Jack thought to himself. Driving north along California's coast was one of his favorite things to do. However, the passenger sitting besides him was not one of his favorite person to be riding up the coast with.

"Are we there yet?"

"No, but I'll be glad when we finally do get there."

After making his decision to go to Japan, Jack stayed in San Diego 3 more days and was now on his way to Los Angeles International Airport. Naomi volunteered to drive him there because she told Jack and her father that she wanted to do it because she is his sister and she loves him, but they didn't believe her at all. Jack knew that her real reason for driving him there was just to go shopping at one of her favorite places, South Coast Plaza Shopping Mall. And for the trip she decided to take along her friend Jasmine with them.

"How long will you be there?" Jasmine asked.

"Two or three weeks."

"Three weeks? You told us only two!"

"Wow, sounds exciting!" Jasmine said to them. "Wish I could go somewhere overseas for vacation. Have you ever been to Japan before?"

"No, never."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"No, I've been to a foreign country before."

"Tijuana doesn't count Jack," Naomi interjected.

"It does count."

"Well I think traveling to foreign countries is cool. And actually being in the military is a good place to start your travels, like your dad did."

"I didn't know that you was interested in military life."

"A little," Jasmine said back to her. "Actually a lot now since my brother recently joined the Navy. But with the war going on over in the middle east and other parts of the world, I'm worried about him. I have no clue about life on those giant military ships. Sometimes I look at them and wonder how those things can even stay afloat on the water."

"Sometimes I wonder that myself," Jack said to her. "Once my dad took me on board as a guess aboard the ship and I got a chance to travel out at sea with him."

"A guest?"

"When a ship finish its tour of duty out at sea, if it is stationed here on the west coast, the last place it stop before it come back to the main land is Hawaii. Once it gets to Hawaii, they offer military families a chance to see what life is like on board a ship and we can ride the ship from Hawaii back to the main land as a guest. It's call it a Tiger Cruise."

"Our mother also has a couple of friends from Japan living in Hawaii, so when my dad's ship pulled into Hawaii we flew from to Hawaii to meet dad there, and also meet her friends," Naomi added. "I'm only glad that I didn't have to ride the ship back to San Diego. Just imagine, a long boring flight to Hawaii, and then an even longer boring boat ride back to San Diego."

"What was the best part of riding on the ship?" Jasmine asked.

Thinking about the question a bit Jack finally said, "Being far away from a country and then seeing it from a distance as we approach it was cool. Also traveling at night. It is pitch dark out there but when the stars and the moon are out it's like traveling through space."

"What was the worse part about riding around on the ship? And also, how long did it take you to get back from Hawaii to San Diego? What was the food like? Can you watch tv on the ship?"

"I'm afraid we don't have time to talk about all of that right now," Naomi said to her."

"Why not?"

"We're coming up on the exit to the airport."

"We'll continue this conversation when I get back Jasmine," Jack said to her. "We have to get gas. Dad told me to make sure that you have enough when you drive back to San Diego. He don't want you to do what you did the last time."

"What did she do?"

"She ran out of gas on the freeway and our father had to come and get her."

"Why didn't you get more gas Naomi?" Jasmine asked laughing.

"I forgot okay!"

"No she didn't. Naomi didn't check the gas gauge to see that the tank was empty."

Jasmine continued laughing hysterically.

"Just stop somewhere and put gas in the car for us ok."

Inside the airport Jack checked in, and after a while of waiting they heard the call from the terminal loud speakers that it was time for all passengers to board the plane. He tells Naomi to be careful while she is driving back to San Diego and that he will also call them when he get there safely. Giving his sister a hug Jack goes to board the plane, but before he does Naomi yells at him.

"What?"

"I almost forgot. Here."

"What's this?"

"It's Mom's. When she left she forgot to take it with her. You know how much she is fond of it, so when you see her give it to her."

Looking at it, Jack recognized the item as his mother's Onamori.

"Mom's favorite tea bag?"

"Just because it's shaped like one it's not a tea bag stupid," she said back to him. "And you better not let mom hear you say that about it either."

Jack examined his mother's Onamori briefly. She received it from her mother, and although according to Japanese tradition she is supposed to replace it once a year during new years eve she never did. Throughout her years of living in America, his mother's Onamori was the one thing that she had brought from Japan that she valued the most.

"I'll be sure she get's it," he said looking at it curiously. "You know, I've always wanted to know what was inside one of these things..."

Getting mad at him, Naomi glared at Jack, and told him not to ever even think about opening it.

"Mom said never do that. And if you did she would know.

"How do you know?"

"Think about it stupid, she's had it for a long time. She would know! And if she didn't know, I'd tell her that you opened it myself. Promise me you won't open it."

The announcement once again comes on for all bound for the flight to Japan to board the plane.

"You'd better not open it Jack! You hear me?"

"Alright, yeah, whatever, I won't open it. I gotta go," he said while putting the Onamori in his sister's backpack that he borrowed again. "I'll call you all when I get there."

"Ok, bye bye then brother."

"Hey!"

"Oh, right, I mean... See you later!"

"That's better."

"What's that all about?" Jasmine asked.

"Jack doesn't like to hear the words bye bye."

"Why?"

"Never mind that Jasmine, you don't need to know."

"Yeah, it's a long story anyway," Naomi said turning to Jasmine and winking at her, which Jasmine understood as meaning that Naomi will tell her about it later. "Be careful over there ok, and have fun."

"I will. See you two later." Jack said to them as he turned away from them and entered the boarding terminal.

"Okay, have a nice time there."

"Cute!"

Quickly turning around, Naomi looked to see who Jasmine was talking about.

"Who? Where?"

"Right there!" she said pointing to the guy who had already passed the ticket agent and was waving see you later to them. "He just went through the gate."

"My brother?"

"Yeahh."

"Are you drunk?"

"No."

"Are you crazy?"

"No. And you should set me up on a date with him when he comes back."

The only thing I'm going set you up with is a nice pair of shoes when we get to South Coast Plaza. I'm sure that will cure you of any... diseased thoughts that you have for my brother."

"Oh yeah, we are going there aren't we?"

"Yeah. Just as soon as pin head gets on the plane."

Jack took one last look at Naomi and Jasmine, and they all wave at each other once more. He then rounded the corner and headed down the boarding terminal towards his flight.