ボーアタルジ 久子 Boa Tarde, Hisako！（Hello, Hisako！）

Part IV (2-2) Return to Japan and Damage Suit Residence was found (continued)

Residence was found (continued)

　As for his wife Tsuneko, she was good natured and liked to look after the others. When she heard from me that my friend needed somewhere to live, she instantly said, "I have an empty room now. Why doesn't she come?" The talk proceeded well, and Hisako thankfully accepted her offer of accommodation. The contract was made as to the period and certain rent. (In fact Hisako received more than she paid.)

　Aunt Tsuneko was an unusual character whose hobby was to study various subjects and obtain qualification. When she started a new challenge, her husband used to say affectionately that it was foolish of her. But anyway, she liked to challenge all the time. She had more than twenty licenses such as car driving, nurse, finger pressure, large sized vehicle, Motorboat's license, radio transmission, home building etc. She took an enthusiastic part in voluntary activity.

　But one day she had lost her eldest son who had been studying to be a doctor in a motor bike accident. She therefore understood Hisako's grief. When she talked about her son after the evening supper they (Tsuneko and me) used to shed tears of fellow feeling. (I had commuting between Urayasu and Adachi Ward when the aunt had lost her son.)

　The aunt and Hisako Chatted well, and Hisako was encouraged by her which she appreciated very much. At weekends uncle Kiyoshi, aunt Tsuneko and Hisako used to sit around the table in the living room and chatted like a real family.

　No other residents were in the dormitory. It was a private house. In the garden roses and marvel-of-Peru were flowering. Entering the entrance there were steps which led to a sunny room with a small kitchen, and toilets.

Green trees could be seen from the two windows. Beyond them there was a road surrounding the city of Tokyo (Route No. 7). Though this was a temporary residence, Hisako felt relieved and happy to have found a place to sleep.

Soon after Hisako has moved in, Tsuneko gave her a beautifully black lacquered memorial plate and a bell for prayer saying, "Here are some presents from me. The bell was of the clearest sound in the shop. Every morning this 'Cheen' connects the other and this living world." Hisako was grateful for the presents and 'cheen-ed ' every day before going out in search of a job. At such moment Hisako felt as if she was looked after by Tsuneko, who was full of volunteering spirits has also given suppers to the ailing neighbors every evening, however, she sometimes became sick herself and was hospitalized.

I (and Hisako too) was owing very much to Dr. and Mrs. Kubota who had passed away a few years ago.

(To be continued to 'Worked as a nurse's aide')