"Maeko was fine," said Kimiko. Then gathering up her courage, she continued, "I believe I did well, too. All afternoon and evening, I've been thinking about the final interview, and I can only come up with one answer. I think the problem was you.""Me?" If Yusuke appeared to be confused before, now he was completely bewildered. "I wasn't even there."
"That's just the point," Kimiko explained. "I've been blaming myself all day, thinking it was something I had done wrong. Maeko should have been selected. But a little while ago, just before you came home, the answer came to me. I only know one child who passed: Hiroshi, our neighbor Noriko's son. His father was there for the interview. In fact, quite a few fathers were there, and I think that was the determining factor. I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the selected children had their fathers in attendance."
Yusuke became defensive. "There were no instructions for fathers to attend. The exam was held on a Friday. I had to work. The school knows that fathers have to work. How can you blame me?"
"Mothers have to work, too," Kimiko went on. "I saw one woman there nursing a baby while she waited to be interviewed. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that part of the examination process was whether or not both parents attended. They wanted to gauge our interest in Maeko's education. Some fathers were willing to take a day off to see that their children got in."
Yusuke hung his head, perhaps too depressed to be angry. "That's unfair," he said. "If they had told me to come, I would have. I want Maeko to start at Uemura as much as you do. She belongs there. What can be done now? Should I go see the headmaster? Is there any way to improve her chances of being selected now that she's the second alternate?"
"I spoke to the headmaster myself," Kimiko replied, "Right after I saw the listing. He said all we can do is wait. It's six months until the school term begins in April. Many things can happen. Families move. Some parents decide to hold their children back a year and re-apply for the two-year program, or even to send them to other schools. In years past, the second alternate, even the third, has often been called up. But the headmaster said we should not plan on others dropping out. He suggested that we tutor Maeko at home and apply for the two-year yochien next year. There may be more applicants, but there will also be more places availableÉtwenty-five all together."
Yusuke looked up and sighed with relief, "Well that settles it. We'll just wait for two to drop out and if they don't, we'll re-apply next year. I will make sure to go to the interviews with you. If Maeko placed second out this time, she is sure to be among the top twenty-five next year. Either way, her entry is certain."
Yusuke's assurance made Kimiko fume. It was his over-confidence that had caused this dilemma. How could he be so sure that Maeko would pass next time? He had completely missed the school's point: both parents need to take part in their children's education. What if in the next interview they asked Maeko what her father had taught her? What if that became the new determining factor?
