Final Offering

1981

The morning sun slowly entered through the thin white curtains of Julians’s bedroom, painting soft golden lines across the tatami mats that covered the floor. Dust particles floated in the air whenever a breeze slipped through the slightly opened door.

The sound of a small radio playing quietly from the kitchen filled the house. The announcer’s voice mixed with the sound of boiling water and the distant noise of bicycles passing through the quiet neighborhood streets. Julian took a big breath, and the soft grassy aroma filled the room, reaching his nose. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, still half asleep. The alarm clock beside his bed showed 7:00 AM.“Another day...” he muttered.

He sat up slowly and looked around his room. There was a wooden desk beside his bed, covered with school books and notebooks. A Sony Walkman cassette player sat near his favorite music tapes, and a poster of Shalamar band was pasted on the wall. He smiled at it, a bright, easy smile.Outside, Sasebo City was already beginning its daily rhythm.Children walked to school wearing their uniforms, bicycles moved along narrow streets, and shop owners lifted their shutters to open for the day. The neighborhood was peaceful, almost too peaceful.

Julian stood up and opened his closet. His school uniform was hanging neatly inside. He dressed himself, fixed his hair in front of the mirror, and grabbed his school bag. Before leaving his room, he looked at a small photograph on his desk. It was an old family photograph. His mother, dressed in a light kimono, stood beside his tall American father, both smiling warmly as they held young Julian Reynolds.His mother’s voice drifted up the stairs, “Julian kun! Breakfast is ready!” his mother called him.

“I’m coming, Mom!“He walked down the wooden stairs and entered the kitchen. His mother had prepared steamed rice and grilled salmon with a bowl of miso soup. She placed breakfast on the table while he took his seat and quietly enjoyed his meal. The radio played in the background, announcing the day’s weather and local news.

After eating, Julian picked up his school bag and put on his shoes near the entrance. His mother carefully wrapped another meal in a cloth lunch bag.She handed it to him. “Julian kun, this is your father’s lunch. Deliver it to the base entrance on your way to school.”

“Mom... why is this so heavy?” Julian groaned, lifting the bag.“Seriously ? What did you put in here, rocks?“.His mother laughed. “Your father always gets hungry easily.”

“He still owes me for eating my snacks last time,” Julian muttered, slinging the bag over his shoulder.His mother smiled at his complaining. “I miss having the two of you here together. I hope he comes home soon.” Julian looked at her and smiled softly. “He’ll be home soon. And when he is, we’ll go hiking together, like we always do.“His mother smiled gently at that.

“I have to go now, see you later.” He stepped outside, waved to his mother, and walked out onto the streets. The cool morning air touched his face as he walked through the neighborhood. The streets were filled with students heading toward school, some riding bicycles, others walking in small groups.The city felt alive.The road to the navy base wasn’t far from Julian’s house. After a short walk, the quiet streets gave way to the busy waterfront, where large grey navy ships rested along the harbor. Sailors and military trucks moved in and out through the main gate as the morning shift began.

Julian approached the entrance with the lunch bag in his hand. The guard on duty looked up and smiled the moment he saw him, already guessing it was another delivery for his father. His eyes shifted to the bag, and he leaned in, saying it smelled really good, wondering out loud what was inside. Julian told him it was his father’s lunch, made by his mother. The guard let out a short laugh, joking that she remembered to feed her husband but seemed to forget she had a brother working this very gate.“That’s because this one who actually works hard ,” Julian said. “Unlike some guards I know.“The guard pressed a hand over his chest. “That one hurt.”

The guard was Kenji Sato, Julian’s uncle, his mother’s older brother. He had been stationed at the base entrance for as long as Julian could remember, and Julian saw him every time he delivered something to his father, who was still out there on a long assignment at the base, one that had kept him away from home for weeks now.Kenji reached for the bag and told Julian to leave it with him. He’d make sure it got to his father, since Julian still didn’t have clearance past the gate. Julian handed it over, narrowing his eyes and warning him not to eat it. Kenji raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence, and swore he never would. Julian didn’t believe him for a second.Kenji laughed as Julian waved and continued on toward school.

As he walked along the road, the cries of seagulls echoed across the harbor. He paused for a moment and looked out at the ocean. The morning sun reflected gently on the water, and a cool sea breeze brushed against his face.“Not a bad morning,” he murmured, then adjusted his bag and kept walking.“Rey! Wait up!“He turned to see Ethan jogging toward him, one hand raised. Julian told him he was going to be late one of these days, watching him catch up, slightly out of breath. Ethan adjusted his glasses and said it was worth it if it meant he didn’t have to walk alone. Julian said “You should try waking up earlier” .Ethan groaned “It’s way too early for that kind of advice.“The two of them grinned at each other and kept walking toward school together.