The Graveyard Apartment Read Online Free PDF Page B

to.
    After the two little girls had wandered off to play, Eiko continued to dominate the conversation, which suited Misao fine. “We used to live in Omori,” Eiko said. “I made quite a few friends there, mostly through the kids, and some of my friends from college used to drop by often, as well. But now, ever since we moved here? Nothing. Zippo. Zilch. I’m not sure, but I think it might be because this area seems okay during the day, and then when night falls, it starts to feel kind of creepy. My husband isn’t normally frightened of anything, but even he was saying that as soon as he steps into this alley in front of the temple, he gets a bad feeling. I mean, you’d think someone could install one measly streetlamp, at least, to light the way. Anyway, I’m almost certain that’s why nobody feels comfortable coming to visit me here after dark. Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking this way to someone who’s only just moved in…”
    Eiko’s comments were clearly candid rather than spiteful, so Misao just laughed and said, “That’s okay—no need to apologize. We were aware of all those things from the beginning, before we decided to move here.”
    Eiko looked relieved. “Well, on the bright side,” she said, flashing Misao a grateful smile, “living next to a graveyard does have some advantages. It’s quiet, and there’s oodles of greenery around us. If it weren’t for the cemetery, this area would probably be completely built up by now, with wall-to-wall high rises and unaffordable prices. Oh, by the way, have you been finding everything you need? Since I’ve already been here awhile I know this area pretty well now, and I’d be glad to share my discoveries, such as they are.”
    â€œThank you. That would be great!” Misao said.
    Eiko then proceeded to divulge the inside scoop about the neighborhood. One bakery had special sales on bread every Monday; another bakery specialized in reduced-calorie cakes; a certain dentist was supposed to have an excellent reputation; and so on. At one point in the litany of recommendations Eiko stopped for a moment to scold her daughter, who had been about to touch her mouth with hands that were covered in chalk dust.
    Misao thanked Eiko for the useful information, then added, “I hope you’ll drop by our place for a nice, leisurely cup of tea sometime soon,” and Eiko issued a reciprocal invitation. Misao thought she and Eiko were probably around the same age, and having an amicable acquaintance in the building could only be a good thing—not least because of the obvious benefits for the children.
    As the women approached the building’s front entrance, herding their small daughters ahead of them, Eiko turned to Misao and said in a mock whisper, “You know, people are saying that the units in this building haven’t been selling too well. When we moved in there were only seven occupied units, including the resident managers’ quarters, but your family finally brings the number up to eight. Though now that I think about it, one of the apartments is only being used as a company office, so we’re really still stuck at seven. It gives the building kind of a desolate feeling, having so many empty apartments, and I’m hoping lots of people will start moving in from now on.”
    Thanks to the loquacious real estate agent who had handled their purchase, Misao already knew that only about half of the fourteen units were occupied, and she didn’t find the low sales figures surprising. Living in an apartment building that looked out on a graveyard was never going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Some people simply wouldn’t be able to convince themselves that the quiet, the space, the greenery, and the appealing price point were adequate compensation for living next door to a crumbling old cemetery.
    â€œI guess any building would feel a