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A Resounding Yeehaw

On the way to soccer club this morning Kenzo spotted something in the car ahead of us.


A cat. Riding in the back seat. Kenzo loves cats. Osamu is more of a dog boy but he was still very interested in what was happening. Since I was driving and all, even though I was stopped at a light, this was the best I could do as far as photography. Somehow the boys made eye contact with the cat and that thing raced to the back of his car and stared down Kenzo and Osamu and we all laughed hysterically because that cat was funny. Mostly because you don't usually see a cat riding in an automobile, and the cat apparently knew it. The boys commented that dogs love riding in cars and then asked about cats. I said look at the cat in that car... does he look happy? The boys agreed that cats in cars is not the best idea.


Osamu was on fire at soccer club. He scored a goal and did his usual victory dance.



Then the day took a curious turn. I had been checking the weather reports and decided today was gonna be a perfect day for a winter barbecue. The high temperature was supposed to be 8° C, though I don't think it got that high, plus a passing rain cloud give us an icy shower. Basically a little light snow slash hail. Eri was of course in the house warm and cozy and once in a while she poked her head out the living room sliding door to see how things were going and I announced magnificently that things were magnificent and she rolled her eyes and went back in and shut the drapes.

The boys were so excited as always to cook meat in the driveway with me, and Kenzo asked if he could invite his friends, and of course I said yes because I am very highly in favor of his friends being welcome at our house. I want to know who he hangs out with and ideally I'd like to be in touch with their parents.


So since Kenzo is 8 and doesn't have any other means, he headed off on foot, first to his friend Taiki's house, which is two blocks away. I was busy starting charcoal so I reminded Kenzo to walk and not run and look both ways. He probably rang Taiki's doorbell and I'm sure a mom or dad answered and then Kenzo explained that we're having a barbecue and can Taiki come and play and eat hot dogs. Well that seemed to be met with a resounding yeehaw so those two then headed to their other friend's house, and then another.


I ended up presiding over a chilly but delicious January driveway barbecue with the boys and 4 of their elementary school friends. I'm glad I got that big pack of hot dogs. 


I asked the boys about their siblings. This one kid Ruan goes "I am one of four sibling and we are all boys." I replied wow your mom must be pretty busy and that kid's older brother who's 10 gave me a look and goes yeah mom yells sometimes. This other kid Ruki, who I feel so bad for because he has pretty bad eczema, answered and says, "I have 4 siblings... oh wait no 5... hmmm maybe 6." I've been to his house and I also wouldn't be able to figure that out. 



Word got around of course and since it's Japan the boys' moms started dropping by bringing gifts. One mom brought me a six-pack of Yebisu beer. I certainly didn't expect anything like that, but I'm grateful. I got to get to know the kids that Kenzo hangs out with and a few of their moms, and to me that's well worth the price of feeding them all hot dogs. I like hearing what they talk about and I really value the kids knowing me. Obviously I don't want the neighborhood kids coming over all the time like a stray cat you fed who won't leave you alone, but I do want Kenzo to know that our home is a place where he can bring his friends and have fun and form strong bonds. He doesn't need to escape the house to have fun with his friends.

Except that one kid who kept asking me for the beef tongue and I was like that's mine. I'm not giving an 8-year-old premium beef tongue. That's expensive and it's mine. 

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