Bernard in Tokyo

March 12,2011.11:23am Tokyo,Japan

An American named Bernard Jones had left Metro City to Tokyo for a new career in US Embassy office 10months ago. At first,he experienced being lost in translation and culture shock. He worked as an office secretary for the consulate. At the same time, he studied the language and writings in Kana, hirigana and kanji. He spent a long time for it to understand the Japanese people. Until he mingled and conversed fluently with them. Finally, Bernard had gone with the Japanese way of life.

But something had changed his life, it was the earthquake and tsunami struck him.

Yesterday afternoon, he went to an office errand to purchase some supplies at the department store in Ginza district. He bought all the things needed, as he left There was a sea of crowd surrounded him. He was chasing time as his supervisor told him to arrive earlier in 20 minutes. He quickly headed to the Shinkansen station to Roponggi Dori.

Suddenly the ground started to shake tremendously. All the train passengers left hurriedly to save their lives.

"Nan desu ka?", Bernard asked the middle aged man.

"JISHIN DESU!!", he cried. "IKIMASHO!!"

Bernard ignored him and straightly went to the corridor. The ceilings,walls and floors blocked him. They smashed and crashed him. He was bleeding and severely injured.

"This is my end.", he thought. "It's no use to rise up."

He was so hopeless, that no one could save him. Until the earthquake had ceased. The white gloved hands stretched and placed him carefully.Bernard was unconscious and carried him somewhere.

There were voices lingered all over the station. The rescuers searched also for another casualties. News reporters policemen and other authorities came to the tragic scene.

A day later, he opened his eyes slowly. He was surprised that he ended up at the hospital lobby. Bernard observed everyone in the corridor. They were rushing like horses in the race. It was a race to preserve lives from death. There were several people confined in every ward. The emergency room was obviously crowded.

He carefully read the Mainichi newspaper major headline; "9.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES THE NATION." He was shocked to see what happened. The same time, he was being trapped.

"Ohayo Gozaimasu!", the spouses greeted and approached him.

Bernard seemed speechless as Megamind and Roxanne started with a warm greeting.

" We've brought you something to eat and drink.", Megamind said and tapped the injured person's left shoulder.

" Hai,tabemono to nomimono desu.'', Roxanne added. She gave the furoshiki wrapped bento box to his right hand.

The brain bot too gave the bottled water to him. He never realized that some familiar faces from Metro City came to him.

"How did I get here?", Bernard asked curiously at them.

"It was Megamind who took you to this hospital.", Roxanne replied. "He found you unconscious and injured at the Ginza station.'

At the first time,Bernard began to smile at the one who shot him back at the Metro Man museum. The villain turned hero nodded at the former maintenance man.

" I was returning to the office when the terrible earthquake happened.", he said remorsely. "I supposed to die there."

"Don't loose hope, You have a second chance to redeem yourself.",Megamind replied. "You deserve to live a new life in Tokyo."

"I know.", the injured office staff said depressingly. "But I wanted to go home in Metro City. It's tragic to see a lot of people dying. Tokyo is my new home. I don't leave this place."

Megamind thought of something that could motivate a desperate person. In fact last night, he had talked to the US embassy office supervisor about his condition.

"Don't worry, Your boss told me about your errand. It's alright to get yourself recovered. You can go back to work,if you're ready." , he assured. "You can stay here in Tokyo as long as you want to."

"He's right. Don't give up. There's always a better hope after this tragedy. I hope you'll get to enjoy and cherish this place.", Megamind's wife added.

Bernard smiled again to the spouses. "Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!", he said.

" Dou itashi mashite! Ganbatte Kudasai!", the spouses greeted nicely.

It was a new day for Bernard Jones about his new life in Tokyo. Perhaps, Megamind and Roxanne inspired him not to loose hope.





Another Japan tribute installment

Thanks to Megamind (Dreamworks)