The Stranger

I wake up at 6:00 AM. I prepare breakfast and lunch. When I am at school I realize I have forgotten the lunch. During my break I decide to go get it. Only I have forgotten the way home. “Sumimasen!” The school kids stop their bikes to help me. Only I never learned to ask “How do I get…?” And even if I did know I have forgotten the name of my street and I have also forgotten that my street doesn’t actually have a name. I show them a map. They cannot read it. They cannot help. They stop a car. A man steps out. He introduces himself in broken English. He asks if I’m a teacher. He says he teaches Japanese. He points to his car: “My car.” I get in.