History Lessons – Toshiya Kamei

“Yasumi-chan? Is that you?” Grandpa’s voice reaches from the living room.

“Yes, Grandpa!” I dash along the hallway like a puppy chasing a rolling ball.

Grandpa did his best to cut down his smoking when he learned I was asthmatic. Now he rarely reaches for a cigarette. Instead, he incessantly chews his nicotine gum, baring a few golden teeth. I drop my backpack, hug him, and slip into the kotatsu. Grandpa grabs a mandarin from a basket on the kotatsu and tosses it across the table. I know it’s as sweet as his smile.

“So how’s my favorite granddaughter?”

“Swell, Grandpa.”

“How are your grades, baby girl?” He looks serious for a moment. “Show me your report card.” Even though he retired from teaching years ago, he still carries a teacherly air.

I reach into my backpack and hand my report card to him.

“That’s my girl!” Grandpa slaps himself on the back of the neck. “Another excellent report card! You’ve got an A in history!” His eyes narrow into a smile.

“Grandpa, read me a story!” I say.

“Well, let’s see.” He reaches for his reading glasses and puts them on. He looks at me as if to gauge my mood. I’m pretty much an open book. He grabs a book from the shelf and opens it to a page with an illustration depicting soldiers carrying an elongated bomb. The caption reads “Patriotism. Sacrifice. War Heroes.”

“Let me tell you about the three brave bombers,” he begins.

* * *


“Should we interfere with history?” Dressed in a grey pants-suit, Dr. Nakai looks around the classroom with a motherly gaze. She wears her salt-and-pepper hair in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. “Would you go back in time and stop a young Hitler from becoming who he was? Is it ethical?” As she walks up and down the aisle, a fragrance of incense lingers.

“I think it’s justifiable.” Emily says, her pale cheeks flushing. “But I don’t think I would personally. I support the idea, though.”

“Thank you, Emily. What are the consequences of such an action?” Dr. Nakai pushes back her glasses. “The risks?” We’re trained to never interfere with the past. We go back in time only for research. That’s been the golden rule of time travel. We’re mere observers. Nothing more, nothing less.

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