OLWG #138- Yakitori

This week’s prompts are at the bottom. The words below are just practice. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s how to play along, if you are unsure.

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Dennis was a runner and everyone in the company knew that. So when he went to the corporate offices he shouldn’t have been surprised when Uchida-san met him at the station in Shimosuwa. The hotel, where he was to stay, was close to the station so the two old friends walked there to get Dennis checked in.

“You should get some rest,” Uchida told Dennis. “I’ll come back at six and we can go have dinner. I know a Yakitori place nearby and I have some things to discuss with you. We can do that over a nice meal.”

Dennis agreed and retired to his room where he showered and napped. A little before six o’clock he was downstairs in the lobby waiting for his friend. When Uchida arrived they decided to walk to the restaurant as it truly was close by. As they walked Uchida-san talked.

“You’ll like this restaurant,” he said, “I come here a lot for Rotary Club meetings and I’ve told Akio about you. Akio is the proprietor of the restaurant. He’s a runner too and is anxious to meet you.

“Today is Saturday and tomorrow is Sunday. Tomorrow they will hold the Lake Suwa Marathon. Runners come from all over Japan to run the course around the lake.” At this point Uchida reached into a plastic carry bag that he had with him a pulled out a bright green, maybe even chartreuse, running singlet that read Dennis in dark blue letters across the chest. “We took the liberty of entering you in the race. Hope you don’t mind.” He grabbed Dennis by the elbow and steered him beneath a blue and white noren into a small restaurant with four or five tables, three of them occupied, and a long bar. An inscrutable gentleman with a pencil-thin moustache stood smoking behind the bar. He lit up when he saw Uchida and Dennis come in and he indicated a couple of seats at the centre of the bar that had been held for them.

They sat and after a brief conversation in Japanese Uchida made introductions.

“Dennis, this is my friend and the owner of this establishment, Akio Satō. Satō, kore wa watashi no yūjin, Denisudesu.” Akiro Satō bowed at the waist, smiled and held out his hand. The two shook hands and Akiro recited a memorized line of English to Dennis.

“Nice to meet you Dennis-san.” He again waved Dennis and Uchida to their seats. More conversation in Japanese as the two took their proffered spots at the bar and Akiro moved down a couple of steps and drew three glasses of Asahi. He sat two of them on the bar in front of his two guests. He held on to the third.

Dennis still held the new tank top in his left hand but lifted the beer with his right, “Campai!” he said. The glasses clinked and the golden liquid was imbibed by all.  A friendly and congenial atmosphere swallowed the three and conversation flew back and forth even though only Uchida could speak both English and Japanese. Skewers of grilled meat on delicate porcelain plates soon appeared as if by magic on the bar and all three began to eat and drink. The night grew long and dinner was winding down when Akiro lifted an index finger and rattled off a line of rapid-fire Japanese. Uchida nodded his head and agreed with whatever had been said. Akiro turned and stumbled back to the kitchen. He returned with a single plate on which lay maybe five pieces of marbled red meat.

He looked at Dennis and began to speak in Japanese. Uchida-san began translating even as Akiro was speaking. “Tomorrow, Dennis-san, you will run the marathon. With that in mind, I would like to present to you a dish that will make you strong and fast.” He paused, “Please accept this gift for luck in the race tomorrow.” He indicated the plate of red meat that had been placed on the bar.

Using his chopsticks, Dennis picked up a single piece of the sliced meat. Almost ceremonially he raised it to Akiro and placed it gently into his mouth. He chewed.

“It’s delicious,” he said, “melts in my mouth.” He offered some to both Uchida-san and his host. Both declined so he finished the rest.

Akiro would take no money from his two guests and so with great formality and gratitude Uchida and Dennis took their leave.

“What was that that I ate?” Dennis asked Uchida on the pavement outside the restaurant.

“Horse,” Uchida answered, “Horse prepared sashimi-style. It’s good, isn’t it?”

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This week’s prompts are:

1. when the revolution comes
2. desperate and blue
3. like old lovers

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1. Go ahead and dive in, set your imagination free!

2. Write something big, Write something small,
   Write something
   Ready, Set, Go – you have 25 minutes, but if that is not possible, take as long as you need and, have fun!