Chokku kokuban

Chokku kokuban
Originally uploaded by thegreatplotnik.

"Chokku, kokuban," says Mrs. Matsumura. Chalk, blackboard. The Great Plotnik stands up with his six Level One Kanji classmates.

Plotnik has studied this time. But Mrs. Matsumura stays on the other side of the room today and has the tall, beautiful T.A. stand behind Plotnik.

The tall, beautiful T.A. stands out in a Japanese classroom like a double rainbow over a Walmart. She is a foot taller than her three other co-T.A.s, and she isn't constructed on the petite, slight Japanese T.A. chassis model either. With the tall, beautiful T.A. lurking behind him, Plotnik realizes his palms are beginning to sweat.

"Kingyoo," says Mrs. Matsumura. "Kingyoo." Kingyoo means goldfish.

Plotnik remembers the kanji for 'kin' -gold. It's one of the first he learned. Top hat. Horizontal line, vertical line, cross, then bottom. He stares admiringly at his 'kin.'

"Purotniku-san," says the tall, beautiful T.A., walks to the board and adds two dots to the bottom of Plotnik's 'kin.'

"Ah, yes, the two dots," Plotnik says.

"So," says the tall, beautiful T.A., serious look on her face.

"So," says Plotnik, grinning.

He still needs 'gyoo.' 'Gyoo' is the Chinese reading for 'fish.' Plotnik remembers that to draw 'fish' he needs to picture a hook on top, a net in the middle, and four feet on the bottom. Right. He draws the hook.

"Purotniku-san," says the tall, beautiful T.A. Plotnik erases the hook with his fist. He draws it the other way round. "So," she says.

"So," he leers.

Under the hook he draws a box with a plus in it. That's the net. He draws four little feet under the box. Hook. Net. Feet. 'Gyoo.' 'Gyoo' plus 'Kin': 'Kingyoo.' Goldfish. He smiles, and stands back.

"Purotniku-san," says the tall, beautiful, T.A., and comes to the board. She draws her 'kingyoo' next to Plotnik's 'kingyoo.' Her 'kingyoo' makes Plotnik's goldfish look like a cracker. He stares at both kanji, the luscious and the profane, then, out of the corner of his eye, at the tall, beautiful T.A. She smiles, primly, like a sensei. Plotnik smiles too, but sly, like a goldfish.