May 10, 2016

I was picking up two large boxes that were on the street. Knowing that these were my birthday presents, I tried to wrap them without looking as to not ruin the surprise later. They were from my mother and aunt. After I had finished sticking on the last strip of packing tape, I asked if I still needed an invitation to my own birthday party and it turned out that I did.

My father, brother and I were sitting around the kotatsu while I was picking at the hard boiled egg in front of me. My father explained how it was a cultural norm to give gifts when you think you have wronged somebody to account for the fact that I got a present from my aunt. My brother said how he never knew what she looked liked because my aunt was “always walking away” and therefore never showed her face. My mother overheard us in the kitchen and repeated my brother’s remarks loud enough for our aunt to hear. “Eh? why did you repeat that?” my brother said.

Soviet anthems continued to play in the background.