neelwites/fiction/shortstory/whatpegmansaw/20/02/2017

WHITE DOT/ BLACK SPOT
By Neel Anil Panicker   ( word count: 162)

Haruki Nakaoka inserted the ATM card, punched in a few keys, and pocketed the crispy yens that ejected out of its mouth.

The twenty-one-year old was out on a double celebration: to mark his law school graduation; also his first date since leaving high school

“What’s this,” asked Indira peering into a small white dot embedded into the top left of a glistening rectangular grey tile floor.
“It”, replied, Haruki, “is the exact spot where ‘David’ was stabbed to death.”

“David who? ”, asked his Indian girlfriend, as her eyes surveyed a black plaque on the wall alongside.

“ This is a commemorative wall in his honour.  ‘David’ Hara Takashi was the first ‘commoner’ Prime Minister of Japan who served from 1918 to November 4, 1921, the evening he was assassinated by an ultra right activist.”

“A Japanese Christian? ”

“He was baptized at 17”, replied Haruki before steering her away from the station.

He forgot to mention that David’s killer was his grandfather.

(c)neelanilpanicker2017 # fiction # short story #whatpegmansaw

Hara Takashi (原 敬^?, 9 February 1856 – 4 November 1921) was a Japanesepolitician and the 10th Prime Minister of Japan from 29 September 1918 until his assassination on 4 November 1921. He was also called Hara Kei informally. He was the first commoner appointed to the office of prime minister of Japan, giving him the informal title of “commoner prime minister” (平民宰相heimin saishō^?). He was also the first Japanese Christian Prime Minister.

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Written for whatpegmansaw at https://whatpegmansaw.com/2017/02/18/tokyo/