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now." "Is that so? So that's Suichi's view." Ichiro seemed unimpressed by the stone lantern, for we could see him tugging violently at his aunt's arm. Beside me, Setsuko gave an embarrassed laugh. "He's so arrogant. Pulling people back and forth. Such bad manners." "Incidentally," I said, "Ichiro and I decided we"d go to the cinema tomorrow." "Really?" I could see at once the uncertainty in Setsuko's manner. "Yes," I said, "he seems very keen on this prehistoric monster. Don't worry, I looked it up in the newspaper. The movie's perfectly suitable for a boy of his age." "Yes, I"m sure." "In fact, I thought we should all go. A family outing, so to speak." Setsuko cleared her throat nervously. "That would be most enjoyable. Except perhaps Noriko may also have some plans for tomorrow." "Oh? What plans are those?" "I believe she was wanting us all to go to the deer park. But I"m sure that can be done another time." "I had no idea Noriko had any plans. She certainly never asked me about them. Besides, I"ve already told Ichiro we"d go to the movie tomorrow. His heart will be set on it now." "Indeed," said Setsuko. "I"m sure he"d like to go to the cinema." Noriko was coming up the garden path towards us, Ichiro leading her by the hand. No doubt I might have taken up with her straightaway the matter of the following day, but she and Ichiro did not stay on the veranda, going inside to wash their hands. As it was, I was not able to raise the matter until after supper that evening.
    Although during the day the dining room is a rather gloomy place on account of the sun rarely reaching it, after dark, with the lightshade low over the table, it has a cosy atmosphere. We had been sitting around the table for several minutes, reading newspapers and magazines, when I said to my grandson: "Well, Ichiro, have you told your aunt about tomorrow?" Ichiro looked up from his book with a puzzled expression. "Shall we take the women with us or not?" I said. "Remember what we said. They might find it too scary." This time my grandson understood me and grinned. "It might be too scary for Aunt Noriko," he said. "Do you want to come, Aunt Noriko?" "Come to what, Ichiro-san?" Noriko asked. "Monster film." "I thought we would all go tomorrow to the cinema," I explained. "A family outing, so to speak." "Tomorrow?" Noriko looked at me, then turned to my grandson. "Well, we can't go tomorrow, can we, Ichiro? We"re going to the deer park, remember?" "The deer park can wait," I said. "The boy's looking forward to his film now." "Nonsense," Noriko said. "Everything's arranged. We"re going to call in on Mrs Watanabe on the way back. She's been wanting to meet Ichiro. Anyway, we decided a long time ago. Didn't we, Ichiro?" "It's very kind of Father," Setsuko put in. "But I understand Mrs Watanabe is expecting us. Perhaps we should leave the cinema until the day after." "But Ichiro's been looking forward to it," I protested. "Isn't that so, Ichiro? What a nuisance these women are." Ichiro did not look at me, apparently absorbed again in his book. "You tell these women, Ichiro," I said. My grandson continued to stare at his book. "Ichiro." Suddenly, dropping his book on the table, he got to his feet and went running out of the room, through into the piano room. I gave a small laugh. "There," I said to Noriko. "You"ve disappointed him now. You should have left things as they were." "Don't be ridiculous, Father. We"d arranged Mrs Watanabe's long ago. Besides, it's ridiculous to take Ichiro to see a film like that. He won't enjoy a film like that, will he, Setsuko?" My elder daughter smiled uncomfortably. "It's very kind of Father," she said, quietly. "Perhaps the day after..." I gave a sigh, shaking my head, and returned to my newspaper. But when after a few minutes it became clear that neither of my daughters was going to bring Ichiro back, I got up myself and went into the piano room. Ichiro, unable to reach the cord on the lightshade, had switched on the lamp on top