by Ryan Tan
Gisei’s dreamship listed. His eighty-pound Labrador had climbed onto his bed in Nara, Japan. 0756 hours. Violet, his sister, would arrive at noon. Care for Cherry while he captained a freighter.
Last shower on land. He sprayed himself in the face and crashed into a phantom sea. Cold water colonised his neck. The shower arm seemed as heavy as a lifeboat oar.
Cherry sat in front of the apartment door, blocking him. He patted her. She stared. He carried her to the umbrella stand. She scurried back.
Gisei laughed. She must have recognised his uniform. Or the straightness of his spine, steeled for danger and doglessness. He squatted and stroked her chest. “I’ll come home.”
She licked his forehead.
He brought her to the sofa and squeezed a toy parrot that glowed and squawked. She yawned. The second he rose, she cannonballed.
Cherry won’t let me leave, he texted Violet.
what do u mean?
She keeps blocking the door. He sighed. As soon as I stand, she runs and sits in front of it.
omg so cute
I’m going to be late.
ur crew will forgive u
I won’t even see them. The ship has to leave by 0930 hours.
can’t u take the next one?
Violet.
She sent an emoji of a tongue. reporting soon, captain!
Under Cherry’s surveillance, Gisei entered the kitchen. Oak cabinets displayed her photos. In one, she lay on a bed of cherry blossom petals, transfixed by a puddle that reflected Mount Yoshino.
Taking a bag of cornflakes, he strode to the living room balcony. Bluebell flowers fronted the balustrade. He ripped the bag open. Cereal geysered and flooded the floor. Cherry bumped into his fist as he snatched the last piece. Her large eyes spoke. He filled a heart-shaped dog bowl and retreated. Past the threshold, he ran. Seven steps summoned her. He swerved and slammed into the wall.
Violet sent a text. did u make it out?
Yes, he replied.
of course u did
If I can conquer the ocean, I can conquer my dog.
have u tried changing ur clothes?
I said I made it out!
let me know how it goes : )
Gisei smiled. Violet knew about Cherry’s keen nose. He undressed in the bathroom and shed the smell of chrysanthemum tea, brewed in his cabin and delivered to the crew on watch duty. He slipped into jeans that preserved the scent of a dog who had lain on him for eight years.
Cherry hugged the welcome mat. He beamed. “Shall we go to the park?”
She moved.
Gisei staggered towards the door and threw it open. Three metres from the elevator, he turned around and grinned. She had vanished. 0908 on the clock; forty minutes from the dock.
Cherry sprang to the door with a leash in her mouth, spilling down her face like tears of joy.
© 2023 Ryan Tan All rights reserved.
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