A sudden bang of the wall awoke Shin with a jolt. A feminine groan and boyish giggling distanced the sound an angered alarm clock.

　　"Don't jump on the bed, C.J." her groggy voice seeped through the wall.

　　A muffled thumping answered her.

　　"And stop hitting me with the pillow!"

　　"But, Aunt Dori, you said we had to get up early today." he reasoned.

　　"What the hell? Did you reset my alarm?" she questioned, silencing the buzzing.

　　"No." he answered, unconvincingly.

　　"Then who? Because I doubt goblins would reset it to go off at four-thirty in the morning!"

　　"I don't know.'

　　"So someone broke in, reset my alarm and then left, huh?"

　　"That's exactly what happened!"

　　Shin listened to the commotion in silence.

　　"Go back to bed, C.J." she yawned.

　　The wall shook with the rattle of her headboard, "Get up already!"

　　"Stop jumping on my back and go back to sleep."

　　"Then wake up!"

　　"Nope. I'm dead."

　　"If you were dead you wouldn't be talking."

　　A false snore taunted the boy in his efforts.

　　The springs in the mattress squeaked as if she were rolling over.

　　"Ah! Aunt Dori, let me go!"

　　"No, cuddle with your old Aunt Dori!"

　　Shin snickered, imagining the struggle beyond the wall.

　　Toying with the eggs, a deep yawn passed my lips. Jumping, a pounding knock startled. Switching the eggs to a separate burner, I made my way for the door.

　　Answering it, I puffed, "Oh, it's just you."

　　"Is that anyway to answer the door?"

　　"What do you want, Ooshiro?"

　　"You were my ride home yesterday."

　　"And you need a ride back. Alright, come in. I was just making breakfast."

　　Inviting him in, I warned, "But you better act your age."

　　"I reflected upon my actions."

　　"You better have. I don't need to be raising two kids at eighteen." I grumbled, closing the door behind him.

　　'So she's of legal age already.' Shin thought, looking around the cramped apartment.

　　Shelves lined with books crammed every wall. A a small television was cradled between two of the shelves. The small sofa centered the room. And a table just large enough for four sat behind.

　　"Where is the bra-C.J?"

　　"Taking a shower. How do you like your eggs?"

　　"Sunny. Have you read all of these?"

　　"All of them except the three on the table."

　　"Half of these are in English. Are you fluent?"

　　"I was born in Japan but raised in America until I was ten." I answered switching to English.

　　"I see."

　　Pulling a book from the shelf, Shin began to thumb through it.

　　Drawing a breath he began to read aloud, "When Klipspringer had played The Love Nest he turned around on the bench and searched unhappily for Gatsby in the gloom."

　　Cutting him off, I continued for him;

　　" 'I'm all out of practice, you see. I told you I couldn't play.

　　I'm all out of prac----'

　　'Don't talk so much, old sport,' commanded Gatsby.

　　'Play!'

　　'In the morning,

　　In the evening,

　　Ain't we got fun-----'

　　Outside the wind was loud and there was a faint flow of thunder along the Sound. All lights were going on in West Egg now; the electric trains, men-carrying, were plunging home through the rain from New York. It was the hour of a profound human change, and excitement was generating on the air

　　'One thing's sure and nothing's surer

　　The rich get richer and the poor get - children.

　　In the meantime,

　　In between time-----'

　　As I went over to say good-by I saw that the expression of bewilderment had come back into Gatsby's face, as though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present happiness. Almost five years! There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams---not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.

　　It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart." I finished, laying his plate on the table.

　　Shin watched me, stunned, as I removed the fresh biscuits from the oven.

　　"The Great Gatsby, page ninety-five." I grinned serving my nephew.

　　"How did you see it?"

　　"I didn't. It's just my memory. Anything I read, I remember. Even things from my childhood. Even if it's just once."

　　Shin's heart bound to his throat with the thought, "I see."

　　"Anyway, go ahead and eat. C.J should be out in a minute."

　　Cautiously, Shin took his place at the table. Examining his plate, the items that lay before him seemed surreal.

　　"It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about." I teased, taking a bite of my own.

　　Taking a bite of his pancake, a familiarity overwhelmed his senses.

　　'These are better than I remember!'

　　"Do you like them? My neighbor taught me how to make them when I was a kid. Chocolate chip pancakes with a hint of nutmeg. Accompanied by bacon, biscuits and eggs. It's C.J's favorite breakfast."

　　"I can tell why. You're a good cook."

　　Coughing, I began to choke on my coffee, "Whoa! Was that a compliment? Call for an ambulance, I think I'm having a heart attack!"

　　"Sort of."

　　"Well stop that! Or you really will give me one!"

　　"Alright."

　　"Somehow, your compliance annoys me."

　　"I see." he said continuing to eat his meal.

　　"So, couldn't find anyone to pick you up? Not even a lover?" I asked taking a bite of bacon.

　　The question startled Shin, "What? Why do you ask?"

　　"Just curious. You aren't exactly the easiest person to get along with."

　　"Oh really?"

　　"You know, I think this is the first civil conversation we've had since meeting."

　　"Well, I can't deny that." he confessed sipping his coffee.

　　A booming crash sounded from the bathroom, shaking our bones.

　　Leaping from my seat, I charged for the door, "C.J!"

　　My heart skipped a beat as I opened the door, finding C.J sprawled across the slick floor.

　　Falling to my knees I examined his body, "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

　　"I'm fine, Aunt Dori. I just slipped." he brushed me aside.

　　Shin guarded the room, "Anything hurt, Kid?"

　　"Just my pride."

　　"Just what were you doing?" I asked, noticing the assortment of fallen items.

　　"I needed shampoo."

　　"Oh really? You mean that brand new bottle of shampoo sitting on the side of the tub? The bottle that, it seems, you have already used?"

　　C.J remained silent, refusing to meet my gaze.

　　"Why is half the linin closet on the floor, C.J?"

　　"I just wanted to shave." he grumbled, his eyes glued to the floor.

　　"It's not in there. I don't keep it in the house anymore. Besides you aren't old enough."

　　"That isn't for you to decide!"

　　"Yes, it is."

　　"No, it's not! You aren't my mother and you definitely aren't my father!" he lashed out, rising above me.

　　My chest contracted, twisting with his words, "You're right. I'm not. But I'm doing my best."

　　"Well don't!" a blaze of resentment burned in C.J's gaze as he turned to his door.

　　Stepping from the side, Shin blocked C.J's path. The rumble of clashing atmospheres pierced the air as the two glared to one another.

　　"Let him go, Ooshiro."

　　Shin's eyes left his young adversary's to meet mine. Sliding aside, Shin allowed the child to pass to the sanctity of his bedroom.

　　With the sound of the slamming door, I began to clear the destruction, "I am so sorry about my nephew's actions."

　　"He's an angry child?" he asked, aiding in the clean up.

　　"I suppose he is."

　　Shin observed her as a ragged sigh passed her lips.

　　"Hayashi, what's going on?"

　　"Don't worry about it. Why don't you go finish your breakfast?"

　　"Why did you let him get away with it, Hayashi?"

　　"He's going through a hard time right now. Let's just leave it at that."

　　Reaching out his hand, Shin caressed her cheek, "Tell me."

　　Looking to his eyes, Midori began to feel a sense of security, "His mother is dying. And theres nothing anyone can do."

　　Shin's spine quivered with the thought.

　　"Poppy, C.J's mother, thinks it would be best if he spent as much time as possible with me since I'll be raising him when she's gone."

　　"Do you believe that?"

　　"Not for a second! But she is so stubborn that she won't listen to a word I say!"

　　"How much time does she have?"

　　"The end of the year if we're lucky."

　　"Are you prepared?"

　　"I'd be lying if I said yes. But I have to be, for C.J."

　　Parting his lips to speak a knot formed within Shin's throat, choking him.

　　A deep sigh escaped from Midori as she lifted herself to her feet and, standing before Shin, said, "Lets just go to work. I'll make C.J clean this up later."

　　Stepping around her co-star, Midori left him with the mess her nephew had created.

　　Shin's eyes followed her, watching her movements. The glint of a tear glittered down her cheek as she turned away from the door.

　　A low whisper passed Shin's lips as the information struck him, "Poppy is dying?"