Slim Novel 17 - http://adventuresofkimi.blogspot.com - See Homepage
3. Why a Rather Young Woman Might Chose a Very Old Man?
Professor Edwardes had lived a chaste bachelor life as chairman of the Sociology Department at Hunter College in the Bronx between 1940 and 1975 when he retired and became expatriate in Tokyo.
It is now year 2001 and Edwardes is 101 with a shock of white hair parted to right, a deeply lined face, a usual salt & pepper brown sports jacket over white shirt and conservative color necktie and with matching pants and black oxford shoes. And he has got himself a young wife, Yuko; the unmarried daughter of Eddie's older wife Ryo.
Here is how it happened back in 1976. They knew each other only a month when Edwardes proposed. She served as his girl guide shortly after he arrived in Tokyo. Already Yuko spoke good English thanks to Eddie's putting her into 6 months of intense Berlitz Language School. Professor Edwardes, a bachelor and following Physician's Notebooks Keeping Young program, was still potent and, physically 30 years younger than his actual age.
Edwardes is thinking in the words of a song he liked, Why shouldn't I, take a chance for romance, lest it pass by? Why shouldn't I, try for love?
Yuko at first meeting thinks He is a spry old man! Very good mannered too. And a professor! Maybe he can educate high-school-graduate me?
After the first dates, which Yuko did not consider date in a romantic sense - She thought of herself as just a friendly girl guide - sitting in street cafe on Saturday afternoon, Edwardes turns the subject to his life. To show himself a modern old man, he uses Ms, pronounced Miz instead of the more old fashioned Miss that in 1976 was still being used for a single woman in Japan.
"Ms Yuko, you probably know a little bit about me from Eddie san?" She nods her head Yes. "Well, after years of simple unmarried life, as a Professor and carefully watching my money, I have what we call nest egg. And I put it in a bank in Switzerland to be safe and secure." He takes out a paper he recently received from the bank. He puts it down on the table and points the number: 1.6-million US dollars, which she quickly computes to 160-million Japanese Yen. "I have no close relatives so when I die some distant nephews or nieces will probably get into a legal fight over this egg. And I do not plan to use-it-up on luxury cruises to nowhere or flights to Timbuktoo or other mysterious places."
Yuko says nothing, realizing it is a moment not to speak.
"I am 76 but I function like a younger man, and I have the desires of a younger man." He sits back purposely not touching her and not looking into her eyes but saying in a low voice. "I am proposing to you, Ms Yuko, to become my wife. I know it may seem strange to you given our age difference." She sits silent. He stands. "OK, allow me to take you home."
Yuko is Thinking it over.
A man's proposal of marriage to a Japanese woman in 1976 had a much stronger affect than in USA because Japanese women were more strongly primed for marriage. To marry an American in Japan during the Occupation period was a ticket to fly to affluent America that many women bought. But by 1976 with the US struggling just after the devaluation of the U.S. dollar and the oil shock, and Japan flying high at peak growth with the Datsun car selling for less than $3000 in USA like hotcake in a House of Pancakes, foreign men were not favored as spouses.
But Yuko had to consider her future. In her age 30's then, she was already over the hill for a Japanese man. Especially lacking a father, and her mother a war widow with dubious reputation still not that far back, which spiteful gossipy neighbors might recall! So she had to face a future of Old Miss or a less than best marriage to an older or not attractive Japanese man. And Edwardes could not be expected to live more than 10 years before making Yuko a wealthy widow. Then too, the adventure and opportunity of marrying a foreigner she had already seen from her mother's experience with Eddie. And she had a vision of herself educated up to Edwardes's level thanks to his connections.
So, a week later, in typical Japanese way, she said to her mother one morning. "I am willing to accept the proposal." And Ryo told Eddie. And Eddie told Edwardes.
The marriage was a simple US Embassy officiated moment and then a walk to the nearby Japanese government office and court to register it. For honeymoon they moved into a Homat apartment.
The Education of Yuko
As mentioned, Yuko was a high school graduate. Now, Edwardes, pulling all the strings he could as retired professor at Hunter College got her accepted as freshman for what would normally be a 4-year course leading to Bachelor of Arts. Using his own home tutoring before she entered the class of 1981 in September 1977, he then accompanied her back to New York in August. First, he arranged for what he considered an ideal living: on campus in dorm.
Hunter College since the days of Miss Ali in the 1940's had transferred from the beautiful Bronx campus into a building occupying all East 66th and 67th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues in Manhattan. Within that building were several 2-student dorm rooms - a limited number - and again Edwardes used his pull. Without obviously interfering he selected Yuko's room mate - a Chinese exchange student (one of the first from mainland China) Miss Pei. He did not wish Yuko to be infected by young American bad habits. Miss Pei did not smoke nor have other habits. But before the final selection Yuko met her several times and saw she was a quiet, quite oriental young woman who spoke good English. Edwardes could have paid for a living apartment for Yuko next to the campus but he preferred the 2-student dorm rooms to help Yuko's socialization and also to prevent her getting a feeling of elitism. Her wife status was well hidden and he had instructed her not to say it around. He wanted her to be, as much as possible, a usual exchange student and a student like all the others of her class - nothing special.
Living on campus would be a key to a best study environment because no using up time and energy and very little expense especially because no commuting to and from school each day; also safer and an ideal study environment with presence of library and other student help. Once the term began, Edwardes returned to Tokyo.
Here are his departing words. "Yuko-chan (He used the familiar dimunitive Chan after her name; rather unusual for a husband to a wife but acknowledging his really being a father) "It would be easy for me to stay in New York City to guide you but it would not be good. I want you to become an independent woman - making some of your own mistakes, discovering your way."
"Thank you, John."
" And, Yuko chan?"
"Yes, John."
"Even though you are my wife, I recognize you are a young woman; and I am old. I want you to feel free in your social relationships. Of course, I want family loyalty. Do you get me?"
She nods in mute approval, thinking I love him more than ever for his kindness and caring.
More on the Education
An undergraduate college curriculum for a Bachelor of Science degree required a major in the liberal arts and one in the Sciences. Since Yuko was not experienced, she left this to Edwardes. He wanted her to get a college education, not for the purpose of earning money or prestige but to make her an educated woman to give her access to coming up to his level. He wanted a wife who would speak and write well in English so he chose English Literature as her liberal arts major. But he also wanted someone versed in science - a two cultures person - as CP Snow might say. So he had her do strong minors in mathematics, leading up to a good knowledge of statistics and a full three years in the three basic science courses - Biology, Chemistry and Physics in that order one each year. For a foreign language he chose French, the language of high culture. And as elective - fine arts appreciation. Then he arranged it so that she could do courses in summer to satisfy her degree requirements in 3 years instead of the usual 4. It worked out that in June 1980, he and Eddie and Ryo happily attended Yuko's graduation degree in New York City.
End of Section - for next, click: 17.4 - A Car Tour of Bronx
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