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96 pages

English

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Renae Lucas-Hall leads the reader into an enchanting, life-affirming and inspiring world in Tokyo Tales: A Collection of Japanese Short Stories. These fifteen magical stories include a hellish homestay, ghosts, school bullying, a marriage arrangement and the kawaii culture. Read more about Renae Lucas-Hall at www.renaelucashall.com.

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Short story

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Publié par	eBookPartnership.com
Date de parution	16 juin 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781783014118
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0100€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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TOKYO TALES: A COLLECTION OF JAPANESE SHORT STORIES
BY
RENAE LUCAS-HALL
Illustrations by Yoshimi OHTANI
Published in 2014 by eBook Partnership
ISBN: 978-1-78301-411-8
All rights reserved.
All works by Renae Lucas-Hall
Illustrations by Yoshimi OHTANI of ARTas1
Copyright Renae Lucas-Hall, 2014
The book cover picture is copyright to Renae Lucas-Hall and Yoshimi OHTANI
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior or written permission by the author or the publisher.
To contact the author Renae Lucas-Hall, please visit http://www.renaelucashall.com
To contact the Illustrator Yoshimi OHTANI, please visit http://ARTas1.com/yoshimi_ohtani
To contact the publisher eBook Partnership, please visit http://www.ebookpartnership.com/
This book is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
..................
Cover designed by Cathy Helms www.avalongraphics.org
Cover image by Yoshimi OHTANI of ARTas1
..................
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names in this book may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
..................
TOKYO TALES: A COLLECTION OF JAPANESE SHORT STORIES
BY
RENAE LUCAS-HALL
Illustrations by Yoshimi OHTANI
Renae Lucas-Hall leads the reader into an enchanting, life-affirming and inspiring world of Japanese short stories. You ll love the way each story embraces the charm and allure of Japan and you ll enjoy these tales even if you have a limited knowledge of this fascinating country. These fifteen magical stories include a hellish homestay, ghosts, school bullying, a marriage arrangement and the kawaii culture. Renae Lucas-Hall s captivating way of storytelling will deepen your appreciation of the Japanese culture and provide you with a glimpse into the Japanese mind-set which will stay with you long after you ve read the final page. Prepare to be enthralled by the illuminating images throughout Tokyo Tales by the renowned Japanese Illustrator Yoshimi OHTANI. These wonderful illustrations and the delightful narrative will harness your imagination and leave you spellbound.
CONTENTS
MY CUTE KAWAII BOUTIQUE
THE LUCKY BAR IN NIHONBASHI
MOTOKO S SECRET
HOMESTAY HELL
KARIN S STORY
HOMELESS IN SHINJUKU
RETAIL REALITY
PERFECTION
BULLY BOYS IN YOKOHAMA
A STARTLING ENGLISH LESSON
TIME HAS WINGS
GINZA GIRL
A WIFE FOR KUROU
VALENTINE S DAY HUMILIATION
MY COMING OF AGE DISASTER
MY CUTE KAWAII BOUTIQUE
I m twenty-one years old and I ve been working part-time for a fashion shop in Yokohama for two years but now I d really like to work for My Cute Kawaii Boutique , I told Junko, the manager of this delightful shop, during my interview in Harajuku. I was full of hope she d approve of me as I thought about how wonderful it would be to work in such a pretty place.
Junko, the manager of My Cute Kawaii Boutique , looked me over slowly from head to toe. A shiver ran down the back of my neck and I rubbed my clammy palms over the top of my skirt. This was only the second time I d ever been interviewed.
Are you happy to work here full-time? Junko asked.
Full-time work would be perfect for me, I replied.
I need to employ someone who doesn t need to be constantly supervised. Do you think you could work in this store by yourself sometimes without any help, Kimiko-san? Junko asked me, raising one eyebrow.
I think I ll be able to manage just fine after a little bit of training, I said to Junko. I licked my dry lips and hoped Junko couldn t see that my hands had started to shake.
That s a good answer, said Junko as she ran her eyes over my resume.
Junko asked a few more questions about my previous retail experience in Yokohama at a shop where I d sold predictable and appropriate clothing for staid shoppers who d always wanted to dress exactly the same as everyone else. I thought my answers were good but maybe a bit brief. The shop in Yokohama was nothing like this one. The clothes in My Cute Kawaii Boutique allowed for individualism and creativity. A girl could really make a statement here and channel her inner princess. I d never feel transparent or invisible wearing the adorable outfits surrounding me. They were calling out for me to try them on as I sat answering Junko s interview questions.
Junko finally said the words I d been waiting to hear all morning. I m looking for someone reliable and honest who I can depend upon and I think you ll be perfect for the job. You can start tomorrow.
Wonderful! I replied. Thank you so much Junko-san. I really appreciate this opportunity.
Just one more thing, said Junko as she stood up. You can t wear what you re wearing today if you want to work here. She shook her head from side to side as her eyes worked their way down to my black conservative pumps. I d never been measured up like this before and I felt my cheeks flare up and my bottom lip begin to quiver. I started to feel myself perspire under my grey pinstriped suit and white silk blouse but I knew Junko was right - my look would be completely out of place in a gorgeous shop like this, which was filled with ruffles and lace. Junko s style epitomised the Gothic Lolita look. I guessed she was in her mid to late thirties but she had such an enthusiastic and energetic personality. I could see why she could relate to the much younger girls who liked to shop in Harajuku. Her black, tailored blouse with its pin tucking and embroidered details on the cuffs and her grey, ruffled bell-shaped skirt accentuated Junko s curvaceous figure and very tiny waist and I admired the way her smoky eye makeup made her look so sophisticated.
You re just too plain. No one will walk into this shop if they see you dressed like this and your hairstyle is so conservative, said my new manager, wrinkling her perfectly made up forehead and throwing her hands up in despair.
I was thinking of dyeing my hair lighter and buying some long hair extensions with lots of ringlets, I interjected. I d really like to change my style and completely transform myself into the cutest kawaii girl in Harajuku. Once I start earning some money I ll be able to buy clothes from your shop but I m broke at the moment . . .
Come with me Kimiko-san, said Junko. Don t worry about being broke. I ll pay you one month s salary in advance when you start work tomorrow. Right now, let s find something for you to wear. Do you have a kawaii style that you prefer?
I really like the Sweet Lolita style, I replied.
Junko nodded and led me to the front of the store to a rack of clothes on the left. She pulled out a sweet vintage-inspired cardigan with lots of frills on the neckline and the sleeves and a corseted cream lace dress with a fluffy layered skirt covered in small pink polka dots, similar to the display on the wire mannequin bust at the back of the shop. Next she reached down under the rack for a pair of white 18th century-style leather boots with pretty soft pink ribbon laces before we headed over to the accessories on the other side of the boutique. Junko picked up a wide peach coloured Alice in Wonderland type bow that she clipped onto the side of my ponytail.
Take these clothes and go and try them on in the dressing room over there, Junko said to me, pointing to the rear of the store. You can keep the bow but you must return the dress and the boots and I d like you to wear a different outfit every time you work here. I d also like you to buy a pair of opaque white tights tomorrow morning. You can buy them at cost price. Do you see those pretty packets of tights on the shelf with the blue and pink garters - the type that go just over the knee? They would be perfect for your outfits if you want to get the look right.
Thank you so much, I replied as Junko piled the dress and the boots into my willing hands. The idea of playing dress up every day filled me with excitement.
As I pulled back a heavy ruby red velvet curtain and entered the dressing room I could see Junko greeting a confident and very glamorous, young girl at the front of the shop. I instantly recognised her ganguro style. She d perfected the look with her sexy pleated tartan miniskirt, as well as her long, fluttering fake eyelashes, her lavishly curled hair, her black gel nail art accented with rhinestones, her vamped up blue contact lenses and her deep, dark fake tan.
I peeked out from behind the dressing room curtain and watched the ganguro girl select a hooded fleecy jacket with little bear ears attached to the peak of the hood. She shrieked with delight as she tried it on in front of Junko who very carefully pulled the hood over her tanned face to show her the full effect, while at the same time trying not to dent the piles of fake curls attached to the crown of her head. The sweet ears that stood to attention certainly increased her cuteness factor. Well and truly delighted, the ganguro girl admired herself in the mirror for a couple of minutes. After taking off the jacket, she was very quick to pull out her purse. Junko accepted 5,000 from the ganguro girl, placed the money in the till and passed back 500 as change, before she swiftly wrapped up her jacket in tissue and put it into a My Cute Kawaii Boutique shopping bag. Before the customer left the shop, she promised Junko she d return on the weekend with some friends to try on a few dresses and boots, which had caught her eye. In the space of five minutes this effervescent customer had arrived, made a quick purchase and left, leaving Junko looking very content, knowing she d just increased her till by 4,500. I smiled as I closed the curtain and did up the lace dress, hoping all my sales were going to be as easy as that.
After silently c