Breasts and Eggs

Makiko stays out late, worrying Natsu and Midoriko. At midnight, she finally shows up, disheveled and heavily intoxicated. She lashes out at Midoriko, demanding to know how long she plans to keep up her silence and grabbing her by the elbow. Midoriko slaps her mother across the face, then walks into the kitchen, opens one of the egg cartons, and begins cracking eggs over her head. Sobbing, she breaks her silence by asking, “Why was I born?” (139). Makiko cracks several eggs over her own head, then takes Midoriko into her arms. She tells her that not everything in life has an answer.

The following day, Natsu takes Makiko and Midoriko to the train station. She asks Midoriko if she wants to stay in Osaka, but Midoriko chooses to leave with her mother. They agree to meet again soon.

Returning home, Natsu falls asleep. She dreams that she is back on the train, sitting across from a woman who is “[not] old, but not that young either” (145). She recognizes the woman as herself from several days ago, on the way to pick up Makiko and Midoriko. Natsu thinks that this version of her looks like Komi.