Summertime of the Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

to admit I felt boosted that he knew my name. We’d never spoken at school, not once.
    Riko sat down next to Miko. ‘A kendo swords-man – how quaint.’ Then she stared at me with her good eye. ‘He’s very good-looking.’
    Louise almost sat in my lap. ‘He is, isn’t he?’ she said, her breath stinking of sake.
    â€˜Would you like some?’ she asked, putting the glass near my face.
    â€˜No, thanks.’
    She smiled at me and I felt her hand on my knee. Then I felt a sting, and looking down I saw the steel-tipped silver claw on her little finger.
    Riko tapped her fingers, and claws, on the table in an agitated way. Then she turned to Miko. ‘What a great bag.’
    â€˜I want it!’ said Louise.
    â€˜You want everything!’ snarled Riko.
    Miko looked a little nervous. ‘It was a birthday present from Yukio.’
    Riko looked sick. ‘Pretty girls get everything.’ Then she glared at me like I’d done something wrong.
    Louise whispered in my ear. ‘I’ll do for you what she did. If you buy me a bag like that.’
    â€˜Are you talking about me, Louise?’ screamed Riko.
    â€˜Relax, bitch! I was only asking the boy to dance! You wanna dance, boy?’
    â€˜I don’t mind,’ I said. But I did mind. I wished they’d go away.
    â€˜Hey, if you’re dancing with my girlfriend,’ said Kako with a sickly smile. ‘I’m dancing with yours.’
    â€˜And I’ll dance with Riko!’ said Hiroshi.
    â€˜He’s like a little wind-up toy!’ said Riko. But then she smiled. ‘Come on then, toy, let’s dance.’
    So we all got up and moved on to the dance floor.
    â€˜I didn’t know you knew yakuza!’ said Hiroshi.
    I’d never seen him so impressed. ‘Some,’ I said. And then I felt proud that I did.
    We got on the dance floor and danced to the screaming techno music. Riko danced in a frenzy, like she hated life itself. But Louise tried to dance sexy. She came close to me and rubbed her hands all over. She was trying to turn me on, but I was too busy watching Kako. He kept pulling Miko towards him and shouting in her ear. She kept trying to step back, but he kept hold of her. And he kept touching her! My heart was pounding with the drumbeat. I swear, I was ready to go over there! But then one of the Tanakas’ bodyguards came on the dance floor and said something to Riko. She didn’t look happy. She shouted something to Louise and left. Louise shouted something to Kako and walked away, but he didn’t follow. So she came back and snarled in his face. He looked sick at having to leave Miko, but he followed her like a dog and their whole crew left the club. Just like that they were gone.
    Me and Miko took a seat but Hiroshi danced on. I don’t think he realized they’d left.
    â€˜They’re so strange!’ said Miko.
    I was still angry over Kako. ‘I don’t think they come any stranger!’
    But she took my hand and smiled. ‘They’re gone now.’
    As soon as she said it I felt soothed. I put my arm around her and we snuggled up. It was nice then. Sometimes even nasty things like the Tanakas coming along can make things nicer. And I felt like things were starting to happen between me and Miko. And that was the nicest thing of all.
    We watched Hiroshi dance with different girls and as the night went on his dancing got better. We even saw some of the girls trying to copy his moves. And he was having such a good time we could have watched him all night. But when it neared midnight we had to make a move. ‘Hiroshi, we have to go.’ I said.
    â€˜Just five more minutes!’ he pleaded.
    When ten minutes had passed he asked for one last dance, which we gave him. But then he danced on and so me and Miko took him by the arms and pulled him away. And he was still dancing as he came. But just as we reached the top of the stairs