Kimiko's frustration turned to anger: "How dare you say 'certain?' How dare you sound so confident? What do you think the parents of the other children who failed are going to do for a year? Just wait around and apply again? No, they are going to help their children learn. Three-year olds may not be expected to know much, but four-year olds have to know a lot more. The next examination will be more competitive. There are no guarantees.""Well, what do you expect me do?" Yusuke retorted. "Quit my job to stay home and teach her all day long? That's what schools are for."
"I just want you to help," Kimiko answered forcefully. " I expect you to come home evenings before she's fast asleep. I expect you to help her learn numbers and counting. Help her learn English, too. You're the Todai graduate. You can't leave Maeko's education entirely up to me. It's our joint responsibility and I expect you to share it with me."
"You're upset," he said. "You're not thinking clearly. You know I often have to work late. It's my job. And you know how important my job is."
"You know how important Maeko's future is," Kimiko argued. "I may be upset, but I'm thinking very clearly now. I want you to help with her education at home. I want you to promise that you will."
"All right, then," Yusuke gave in. "I promise I'll help out if she is not called up this time."
"You will teach her about numbers?"
"Yes."
"And how to pronounce the English alphabet?"
"Yes, yes."
"You'll really come home early? You promise?"
"Yes, I promise. I'll try. I'll really try. But only if the school doesn't call her up as second alternate this time. It's a long time until April. If there are two drop-outs and she gets called, we'll let the school take care of her education. Agreed?"
Yusuke held forward the little finger of his right hand as a gesture of trust. But Kimiko hesitated to accept it. Was he gambling on two drop-outs to escape his responsibility? If Maeko were accepted, would Kimiko have to bear the burden of her education alone like so many other mothers? Yusuke had to be involved, no matter what.
Suddenly, she knew exactly what she had to do. She hooked his finger with her own to seal the promise.
"Agreed," she said. "You'll help tutor her if I don't hear from the school. One way or another, Maeko will get the right start."
Then she smiled for the first time all day, as she thought of the third alternate. How lucky the parents might feel if only they knew.
