Kai woke from a loud clatter. When he listened closer there was nothing but silence. Or did he hear a voice? He turned his head to ensure himself that his wife was still lying next to him. Her calm breath told him, that she hadn't heard the noise. Then he heard something again, not as loud, but he was sure, that is wasn't just imagination. He wondered whether it came from outside. Maybe some drunken teenagers had crashed a bottle down at the street. He went to the window and peaked behind the curtain.
Okinawa was still covered in darkness, not the deep darkness of the middle of the night, but the darkness just before sunrise. There was not the slightest sign of life on the street, still he heard the noises. Because they seemed to come from the kitchen, he went downstairs to see if anyone was there. While he sneaked down the stairs he wondered whether he had locked the door the evening before. He stopped before entering the kitchen to listen once again. What if someone broke in and brought amours? But then he thought that after the noise any criminal would have fled immediately.
When he entered the kitchen and switched on the light he found nothing but a broken bowl on the floor.
"Is anybody here?"… No reply. When he knelt down to pick up the broken pieces he was startled by the eyes that stared at him from underneath the table.
"Lulu", he exclaimed, "Why are you hiding?" Lulu glanced over to the broken bowl and said guiltily: "Sorry." Kai laughed: "I didn't like it anyway. It was a present and I was just waiting for it to break."
While Lulu crawled out of her hiding place, Kai asked: "What are you doing here in the middle of the night? I know you are bored when everyone is asleep but still you should be quiet."
"I was making breakfast", she replied and went over to the cupboard to get some dishes. She wanted to add something but Kai cut her short: "That is very nice of you, but it is far too early." He pointed onto the cello case and asked: "Why don't you practice a bit. I got it for you to keep you busy. That sound at least doesn't wake up other people."
"I already practiced this night."
"Did Haji teach you?" he yawned, "Can't you go on his nerves? He doesn't need to sleep. Where is he anyway? I haven't seen him for a while."
"He is with Sa-", again she couldn't finish her sentence because the door banged open and Solomon entered.
"Now what are you doing here?" Kai was such irritated and taken by surprise that he had to sit down on one of the chairs.
First there was a silence, until Lulu finally said: "Saya is awake." Kai dropped the piece of the bowl, which he had in his hand, so that it burst into even smaller fragments.
"Where is she? Is she all right?"
"Haji is with her. They will be here soon", Solomon answered to his questions, "So let's celebrate."
"And why did you come?" Kai threw him a distrustful gaze.
"I want to celebrate my queen's awakening."
"I see. And does your queen know, what have tried to do thirty years ago?" Solomon clenched his fist with the missing thumb and replied: "Haji has forgiven me, so why can't you?"
Kai didn't answer, instead he handled him the kettle over and said: "If you want to be helpful than make some tea. I'll go and get changed."
