Free Saying Goodbye, Part Two (Passports and Promises Book 1) by Abigail Drake Page B

brothers. I don’t understand a lot of girly things.”
    I nibbled on my lip. “Well, I kind of have an idea. It isn’t ikebana or art or anything like that. It might be a little tricky. We’ll have to make sure Dr. Brown will let us do it.”
    “Now I’m intrigued. What is this fascinating subject?”
    “The water trade. Mizu shobai. I want to learn about all of it, from regular bars and nightclubs to those that cater for people with…unusual tastes.”
    “So basically our research will be drinking? I can get behind that idea.”
    I nudged him with my elbow. “I thought so. But there’s more.”
    He studied my face. “You want to write about the other stuff, too, like the place were Kylie works.”
    “And soapland.”
    “ Soapland? Eee, Sam. I can’t let you go to soapland.”
    I leaned close. “You’ll have to, because I don’t think I can get in without you.”
    He covered his face with his hands. “You want me to go in as a customer?”
    “Yes. In the interest of research. I have to see how they do their job. Don’t worry. It won’t be bad. And I’ll be there with you—taking notes.”
    I tried to remain serious, enjoying the look of horror on Thomas’ face, but ended up laughing. He let out a long, relieved breath when he realized I’d been teasing him, making me laugh even harder.
    “Not nice, Sam. Not nice at all.”
    We spoke with Dr. Brown after class, explaining the topic we’d chosen. He looked at us over his glasses. “The water trade. Interesting. As long as you take this seriously, as a research project, and as long as you stick together, I don’t see a problem with it. The term ‘mizu shobai’ actually comes from the time of the Tokugawa shogunate, something I’m sure you’ll uncover in your research.”
    We stepped out into the cold February sunshine together. “When do we start?” I asked.
    “No time like the present. I say we go tonight.”
    I had a break in the afternoon, so I went to find Mr. Ando at Ryoanji. He sat on a stone bench in the outer garden, bundled up against the weather, his bald head covered with a colorful woolen cap that reminded me of one my sister had back home. He grinned when he saw me.
    “Sami-san. How are you? You look genki.”
    Genki , a single word in Japanese that encompassed so many in English. Healthy. Happy. Energetic. Lively. Well.
    “I’m very genki today, thank you.”
    “Did you figure out my puzzle?”
    “Yes. I had a little help, though.” I explained about Thomas and how he’d been the one to figure it out. “ I learn only to be contented. Do you really think that’s true? It seems like the more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually know, and it makes me the opposite of contented.”
    “You are correct, but this isn’t the only way to interpret it. You must find the message that works for you. It can also mean, if you learn to be content, you are rich in spirit.”
    “Oh.” I thought about it, perplexed. “How do I learn contentment?”
    He covered his mouth as he giggled. Adorable. “That is the tricky part. If you knew it, you would be a Zen master. The important thing is to try to find joy and pleasure in simple things. You can be materially wealthy, but poor in spirit.”
    The cold from the stone bench seeped into my bones. I stood up, shivering. “Thank you, Ando-san. I’d better let you get back to work.”
    He stood, too, although he didn’t seem bothered by the cold in the heavy robe he had on. “This is my work. I breathe in. I breathe out. I exist. At my age, an accomplishment.”
    “I’ll come back and visit you soon.”
    “Good,” he said. “And you have another homework assignment. Pay attention to the times you feel true contentment. Remember them. Hold onto them. Bring them back and share them with me.”
    “Sure,” I said, giving him a puzzled frown. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you are definitely the strangest janitor I’ve ever met.”
    He tossed back his head