Mail Order Bride

Sonoko was almost three years old now.  Kanna, the manager at the store had been with me when I gave birth.  She was like a grandmother to me and was a great support system, I loved her.  Kanna adored Sonoko and spoiled her rotten because she didn’t have children or grandchildren of her own.  I was surprised when she told me that I needed to take over the store as manager because she was getting too old.  I asked her to let me think about it. 

I was indebted to Kanna for taking me in, giving me a job, and treating Sonoko and I as family.  However, I didn’t know if I wanted to manage a grocery store the rest of my life.  Though my life took a detour, I had goals and aspirations for me and Sonoko.  I wanted to travel the world, do new things, and meet new people.  I was young and even had hopes of getting married one day.  I decided to give Kanna another year, then I was off to new adventures.

Kanna was pleased that I decided to stay another year, even though she tried to convince me to stay longer.  She accepted the fact that I was a young woman with plenty of life to live and that I  didn’t want to be tied down to managing a store.  Kanna said that she hoped I would find a nice boy to settle down with and get married.  I had my hands full with managing the store and raising Sonoko. I didn’t have time for anything else, much less dating.   But the idea crossed my mind that I would like to have someone in my life.

Kanna would stop in from time to time and we would grab lunch and she would ask again if I changed my mind about staying.  I hugged her and told her that she could sell the place and come with me for some adventures.  She would just smile and say that her adventurous days were over, and she couldn’t keep up with me and Sonoko.  She would live vicariously through my eyes. 

One day after work, I picked up Sonoko from daycare and we headed to the thrift store.  I wanted to get a book.   Reading used to be one of my favorite pastimes and I wanted to start doing it again.  The thrift store was down the street from the apartment, so we walked.   Sonoko enjoyed reading too.  At 4 years old she could comprehend and read at a first-grade level.  I was so proud of her.  Time was flying by, and I wanted to savor every moment of her milestones walking, talking, reading, going to the prom, and getting married.  We walked in the door, and I told her she could get a book.  I kept my eye on her but walked over to the travel section and started skimming the books and magazines.  A mail order bride magazine caught my attention.  I picked it up and started reading through it.  I thought that the women were pretty, but I looked just as good as they did. I was curious on how these women became mail order brides.  Was it like a glorified hooker situation?  I kept reading the women’s stories on how they married rich men and most of them were Asian women who moved to America.  My mom had taught me and my sister Emi that white men loved Asian women especially.  I went and got Sonoko who was sitting quietly reading her book.  I took her book and my mail order bride book up to the counter and paid for it.  The cashier glanced up at me and just smiled. 

I couldn’t put the magazine down.  I wanted an adventure.  I would look up on the internet how to become a mail order bride and compare it with the magazine. I know that you can’t believe everything you read, but I would check out the reviews and read people’s stories about how  the process worked for them and if they were still married.   I looked at the women, their makeup, hair, and dress.  I practiced mirroring them.  Not trying to sound narcissistic, but I looked as good or better than them. 

I had lived in Japan all my life and wondered what it would be like living in the United States. I needed a change; my life had become stagnant.  I heard that America was the “land of opportunity” that was why a lot of immigrants migrated there.  The United States was always helping some foreign country with housing, money or setting up a business.  They were a very giving nation.  I don’t know if it is true or not, but I heard that some citizens in the United States complained that they took care of other countries, but not their own. 

Japan was ahead of the curve in technology and education as far as a benchmark for other countries.  I just hope that Sonoko will still be challenged in the schools there. 

I called the phone number on the inside of the magazine cover and held my breath.  The voice on the other end was pleasant, friendly, and professional.  She explained the procedure, their process from my end and the person paying the “bride price.”  By the time we had finished talking 45 minutes had passed.  She gave me the address and set an appointment.  Lucy said to be prepared to stay for a minimum of 1 hour and to bring the listed documentation.

I was so excited that I went to tell Kanna.  Kanna said she was happy for me and sad for her.  She said that she had heard about some successful marriages through the mail order bride process.  She wished me the best.  I asked her if she would keep Sonoko for me when I went to my appointment.  She said no problem, she would be happy to spend time with her. 

I got dressed for my appointment at the mail order bride company.  I made sure I had the documents Lucy requested.  I dropped Sonoko off at Kanna’s and kissed her goodbye.  I arrived at my destination with plenty of time to spare.  Lucy was waiting for me with a cup of tea and some biscuits. She could sense I was a little nervous, she thought the tea and biscuits would calm my nerves.  They did.

Lucy got right down to business.  She reviewed my documents and made copies.  I paid the application fee, and she asked if I had taken a professional photo. She said if not, there was a professional photographer and make up artist on hand for an additional fee.  We filled out a profile.   I paid the additional fee for the photographer after the make-up artist got me ready. My face was flawless.  The photographer took head shots and full body shots.  Included in the price was a wardrobe person.   She dressed me in a canary yellow dress that plunged in the front to tease with a little cleavage.  The color popped and accentuated my long, dark shiny hair.  Her name was Candy.  She applied an apple red lipstick with such precision along with the lip liner.  Next came eyelashes that looked as if they were going to flutter off my eyes.  I guess the idea was to make me look older than 21. I stared at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t believe it was me.  After the session was over, I changed into my regular clothes, wiped the make-up off and thanked everyone for their service.   Lucy said now we wait to see who is going to respond to your profile and pay the bride price.  We will do a background check on any person who shows interest.  In the meantime, your last expense is to get a passport for you and your daughter.   A passport may take up to 3 months or more unless you expedite it for an additional fee.  The other expenses from the airline tickets and incidentals are the responsibility of the “buyer”.  I left the office excited and anxious.  I went to pick up Sonoko from Kanna’s.  She wanted me to tell her all about it.  We talked for so long that she made dinner for me and Sonoko. 

I didn’t know how long it would take for someone to respond to my profile and photo.  Lucy said that it could take longer than usual because I did have a small child.  She said you never know about these things.  But to her advantage she was younger than most of her clients. 

I decided to start the process for getting a passport since Lucy said it could take up to 3 months. It was business as usual as I worked at the grocery store.  I tried not to think about if someone liked my profile and picture.    Sonoko and the store kept me busy.  She was growing so fast, she looked like a mini me. I loved being a mother, though the circumstances surrounding it were not the best, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in this world.  We were a package deal.  If someone liked me but couldn’t except my daughter, it wasn’t going to work.