Lavo Standard (1) (5-24-09)

Juno, a 4th grader in a local elementary school, was having a bus ride on her way home. The day was Sunday, the date when she enjoyed an English class, or more; she belonged to a branch of a major English conversation school located near Ichikawa rail station in Chiba prefecture, Japan. In the 15-minute-or-so jolting, through the window pane Juno with her shoulder-length straight hair and maid-esque outfit was quietly witnessing the shifts of views: they were not high-rises, but a concentration of modern-looking buildings had gone into the silence of fields and greenery. Within a walking distance from her most familiar bus stop, a 2-story detached house occupied a subdivision of the residential community and was welcoming the return of Juno by accompanying two dogs--Cavaliers, male and female each--in the front yard.

“I’m back, Akichalo, Takeko!” wearing a beaming smile Juno stroked their heads.

“I’m back!” Juno called out again in the entrance, featuring her particular high-pitch voice. And doing routines like washing hands and gargling, she moved into the living room wherein there were her family members.

Suzan, Juno’s mother, and Lois, Juno’s maternal grandfather were unwinding by a large circular table and watching the TV news. It was showing how an infectious disease, swine flu, was spreading throughout the world and Japan. The map of Japan was on the screen, showing an increase in the population of confirmed carriers. In the Kansai region they were approaching 400 while Tokyo and Kanagawa prefecture already confirmed carriers.

“We may better begin putting on a mask when going out,” blurted Suzan.

Suzan was a busy mother doing the housework, but her somewhat tight life-style didn’t let go of enthusiasm in the material search for writings; she was also a freelance writer. Every time she was allowed a spare time, her usual actions were such as watching the TV news, surfing the net, reading books or anything else for gathering information.

“It’s scary,” Lois’s hoarse voice jumped on the news of the flu.

Lois was tall, skinny and bald but the side of his head. He loved painting; He was yet a retiree and taking refuge in painting was customary. During the hobby a hunting cap helped elevate his concentration and motivation. However, when facing a canvas he by no means mirrored the appearance of a hunter. Conversely, his paintings of animals described his fondness for them.

Indeed, his diet was of lacto-ovo-vegetarians to bear on the culinary custom of the family.

“I’m back!” Katz, Juno’s older brother, came back home after his favorite baseball practice. He went to the same elementary school as Juno’s, as a 6th grader. Without showing his crop of hair to other family members, he noisily scrambled up the staircase to reach his room.

Both Mel, Lois’ wife, and Daryl, Juno’s younger brother, a kindergartener, were sharing a Nintendo DS to play a brain-training game.

“First there were three people in this house, two others came and one left. I think four of them are remaining,” said Mel looking at the gadget’s screen.

“I think so too, grandma,” agreed Daryl.

“Hey Daryl, you may better study math on books that offer a contextual chart. And I am afraid using the gadget will end up in you just playing entertaining games,” entering the living room said Mathew, the husband of Suzan. His torso was rotund and just a little flabby; The tone of his voice was as warm as usual, but his mood of the time made him assertive.

“I wish that Katz and Juno had ever had interest in math. But Katz just loves baseball and Juno just loves English, not knowing how a high calculation skill will help science and physics too... Juno, you should understand what I mean as well. It’s not late for you to put more emphasis on math.”

“Please don’t make that argument, Mathew. You sound imposing,” Suzan slightly provoked her wavy shoulder-length hair.

“I admit that Katz and Juno don’t do math exams so well. But why don’t you appreciate Katz’s good build and high leadership attributed to baseball practices and Juno’s excellence in speaking English? They are not robots! And both Katz and Juno identify their own interests and consume what I want them. I’ll never be discontented if Daryl gloms on what he is vested in, even if that doesn’t regard math.”

Suzan wrote a memo and handed it and banknotes to Daryl.

“Go buy the stuff on the memo. I’ll get dinner.”

As did Katz and Juno, this errand was what Suzan enforced in a hope Daryl would meet his own responsibilities. Although that convenience store was located just by the bus stop in the vicinity, the job would be an important and memorable step in not only a superficial aspect of meeting quotas but nurturing the sense of independence and participating in the economy.

More than two hours passed after Daryl left the home, but he didn’t come back. Though Suzan’s pair of jeans was supposed to be yet looking busy in the kitchen, thus preparation was being delayed. Tick-tocks of the clock were audible throughout the living room.

“I’ll go to the store,” Suzan said and went out.

The sky was orange. While she repeatedly called out his name, her cell-phone was in use to keep in touch with the rest of the family. She went everywhere the legs of the small boy likely could take him since: starting off at the convenience store, the coverage reached the Ichikawa station. Following Lois and Mel, she visited families in the same residential community, yet no fragments of evidence surfaced.

With her heart dishevelled, Suzan compromised on having a rest at home; It seemed better to bounce next actions off other family members.

This family was kind of optimistic and easygoing, though, in the living room that was certainly the air laced with fondness for the missing boy, the feel of a joint responsibility and unease.

“I’ll take a day-off,” suggested Mathew, but Suzan dissuaded him.

“Where is Juno?”

What can make matters worse, she was not at the family meeting. “I came back with her after calling on families in the community,” Mel’s remark sounded like an excuse to her daughter, though Suzan saw Juno after she came back home with Mel.

After looking into her and other rooms Suzan again went out. Juno was there, in the front yard. She was looking as if conversing with two Cavaliers, and something spherical.

It was already night. In some light from around and inside the house, Suzan identified intoxicating light-green fluorescence radiated from a creature that resembled a slime in Role Playing Games.

“What’s this?” Suzan was appeased by confirming Juno’s safety, though.