Red Room Where the Writers Are

The first scene.  The other day, I rode on a bus heading toward Yokohama Bay to renew my ten-year-term passport.  I dreaded to take a photo of myself, but I couldn't avoid it this time.  A passport photo costs 1800 yen next to the passport office.  I thought photo booths at stations usually cost 700 yen or so.  So, I went outside the building and went into a photo shop right next to it.  I entered and sat down on a steel chair.  A young male photographer clicked his camera three times and said,

"You shut your eyes three times."

Ah, I did? 

Deep down, I think I was trying to avoid it.  I sat down again and opened my eyes wide opened.  He shot again three times. 

I didn't blink even once, I said.

"It's good this time," he said.

I smiled and paid 1050 yen.  Less than a minute, he handed me a small white envelope.  I opened it.   

"Ahhhhhh.  No!"  I said looking at my photo.  "Oh, it isn't your fault.  I looked like a criminal." 

He didn't say anything.

I change the subject. 

The second scene.  About a year ago, I asked a man in English,

Why do you like Japan?

"Because Japanese women are slim," he said.

I said nothing. 

I try not to judge anyone on any opinion.  I have to think about context, situation, background, and so on.  I try to be fair.  No opinion should surprise me.  I respect honesty from all people no matter what.  I'm sure of it. 

Meantime, my metabolism rate went down for some reason.  I gained weight.  I also picked up my old habit of eating chocolate.  Growing up, I was chocoholic.  It's been more than a year, and I still like chocolate.  And for some reason, I haven't seen that man.

The third scene.  A month ago, I met a truly impressive man.  The kind of man, men or women will love.  I was heading to San Dimas library.  A man carrying a few grocery bags in both his hands was walking toward me.  The scene looked ordinary, but I was impressed with his big grocery bags.  In passing, I was about to say hi.  He blurted out to the sky.

"I'm FAT and OLD and UGLY!"

I blinked.  My body shook a little. 

Ha ha ha ha ha.  No, you're not!  I said.

How's that?  Don't you appreciate his humor?  What a therapeutic message, I thought!  When I connect with people, I feel alive.  He made my day, and when I think about it, I want to do that to someone if I were a man.  How about you?