Chapter 1
I looked out the car window and sighed. We were passing through the center of Astoria, Oregon on the way to our first day of public school. My family and I had moved here a little over a year ago, from our hometown of Kyoto, Japan. Until now, we had been homeschooled by my mother, to catch up with the schools' curriculum and practice English. How different everything was, here in America. I remembered first learning that we would be moving half way around the world…
"I have an announcement to make" my father, had said during dinner one night in our native language.
"What is it, Baba?" my older sister, Nori, had asked.
"Yes, Nao, do tell us" agreed my mother, always the perfect wife.
"I have been offered a promotion and a new job by my boss, Ming-sama" he announced.
"Oh, how wonderful!" my mother and sister had exclaimed together.
"Congratulations, Baba" I'd said. "When do you begin?"
"As soon as we are ready to leave" my father had replied, proudly.
"Leave?" My brothers, Keiji and Kenji, and I had repeated, disbelieving.
"But Baba," I'd said," what do you mean "leave"? Where are we going? And for how long? You know that we…."
"Amaya" my mother cut me off, "You know that it is impolite to ask so many questions. Let your Baba finish speaking."
"Yes Mama." I said, meekly, knowing it was useless to argue.
"Good. Now, stand and apologise to your father for interrupting him"
I stood and turned to my father.
"My sincerest apologies, Baba. Please excuse my thoughtlessness" I said as bowed to him. He nodded. "You may sit Amaya." I sat.
"Now, as I was saying…" he looked at me. I lowered my eyes. "I have been offered a new position as head of a new branch of Ming-sama's industry (my father works for a shipping company). "This new facility is located in America" my father continued.
"America!" I shouted, jumping up (not the easiest thing to do in a kimono, let me tell you.)
"Amaya!" my mother reprimanded me.
"But, Mama! America is so far away!" I complained.
"Amaya!" my father glared at me. "You will apologise and retake your seat this instant."
"But…" I started again.
"Very well" my father said, "Amaya, you will remove yourself to your rooms immediately and we will discuss this later." One look at him and I knew I'd gone too far. I nodded meekly.
"Yes Baba. Goodnight everyone." I said as I bowed and retreated to my rooms
The car jolted and I snapped back to the present. "OW!" I exclaimed as my head hit the window.
"My apologies, Miss" our driver said from the front seat.
"That's alright, Sun." I assured her. "No harm done."
I looked at my watch; It was only 8:05am and school didn't even start until 9. i was going to be so early it was ridiculous.
"Why did we have to leave so early? I'm going to be the only one there." I complained to no one in particular.
"Because…" started my brother Keiji.
"You have to…" continued my other brother, Kenji.
"Drop US off…"said Keiji.
"First." finished Kenji.
Ugh! Twins!
"Are you doing this just to annoy me?" I asked. They pretended to think about it.
"Yeah, pretty much" they replied in unison. My sister, Maiko, laughed. I sighed inwardly. Why did I get stuck with the task of taking them to school? Why not my parents? I didn't really need an answer, I already knew why; because my father had told me to look after them and, as his daughter, I was obliged to obey.
By now we had reached Keiji, Kenji and Meilina's school, Astoria Middle School. Sun and I walked them in and went with them to the office to get their schedules. We left them talking to a group of other kids. I warned them to behave themselves, especially the Twins, before returning to the car and continuing on to my school.
Now would be a good time to tell you a little about myself, my family and my story. My name Amaya Kazuhiko. I am 16 years old, Japanese born and raised, with our traditions, culture, etiquette and language instilled in me from the time I was born. Every move my family makes reflects our heritage. "Proud and strong" my father calls it; I call it ridiculous. My parents tend to act as if this was still the 16th century, very traditional: my mother Masako married my father, Nao, very young, as part of an arranged ceremony. Less than a year later, my eldest brother was born, Hiro.
Now 22, Hiro is the only one of us children who has yet been married; 3 years ago Hiro married Amelia Styx, Mia as we call her. 2 years ago, they had their first children, Aimee and Bay, a girl and a boy.
After Hiro, my mother had 5 more children, including myself: 3 girls and 2 boys. Nori is the second eldest after Hiro; she's 19 and (surprisingly) not yet married, so she lives at home with us. After Nori is me, Amaya, age 16. Next come the twins, Keiji and Kenji, 14, and finally Maiko, at age 12.
Nori takes more after our mother, quiet, reserved. The Twins are mischievous little devils, constantly getting into trouble and wreaking havoc. Maiko can be quiet and studious, but gets into her fair share of trouble with the Twins.
And me, I am like nobody in our family. My parents call me rebellious, but I just don't want to live as if we were still in feudal Japan, especially now that we have moved to America, the land of opportunities and freedom.
As for my parents, my mother is a timid, traditional woman, the perfect wife: she stays home, cleans and cooks, cares for the children and does not speak out of turn. During almost a year that we've lived here, I think she's only left the house twice, both times accompanied by my father. You'd think she'd have to leave the house more often, but no. if something needs doing outside the home, if my father or Hiro can't do it, she either sends me or the servants to do it (yes we have servants. Sometimes I really hate being rich).
That's enough family history for now I suppose. So, back to the story: