True Destiny

By Keiko Palmer

A man and a girl with a unique intelligence fell in love, but they lose each other for 35 years. A miraculous encounter may happen in Santorini, Greece.

Keiko Palmer grew up on the island of Okinawa as Japanese and completed her college education during the U.S. Military Occupation of the island. Widowed with g

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Apr 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781648958342

Keiko Palmer

Keiko Palmer grew up on the island of Okinawa as Japanese and completed her college education during the U.S. Military Occupation of the island. Widowed with grown children and retired as a public-school teacher in Georgia. She now writes and travels.

Book preview

Acknowledgement

My dear friends who eagerly await my novel each time and often encourage me to write more:

Beverley Hescock, Liliane Arens, Kay Dalton, Amy Brock,

Etsuko Crissey (journalist), Jane Theodore, Michiko Lewis,

Etsuko Norman, my family, and friends in Japan

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1: A Desperate Deal

Chapter 2: A Night Job

Chapter 3: Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Chapter 4: Samuel Hearst

Chapter 5: Change Of Venue

Chapter 6: First Date

Chapter 7: Fate

Chapter 8: William James Cox

Chapter 9: A Made-Up Love Story

Chapter 10: Infatuation

Chapter 11: A Desperate Attempt

Chapter 12: America’s Dark Secret

Chapter 13: Volunteer Work

Chapter 14: Jeff’s Impulse

Chapter 15: The Passion Of Sex

Chapter 16: Marriage

Chapter 17: Children And Career

Chapter 18: Divorce

Chapter 19: Arnold Knots

Chapter 20: Retirement

Chapter 21: Traveling With Sam

Chapter 22: Touring Greece

Chapter 23: Miraculous Encounter

Chapter 24: Sunset At Santorini

Chapter 25: End Of The Miracle

Chapter 26: Reality

Chapter 27: Reminiscence

Chapter 28: Sam’s Fame

Chapter 29: Painful Confessions

Chapter 30: Eloping

Epilogue

Prologue

Mikii was talking on the phone, trying to convince her old college friend to take a trip to Greece and the Greek Isles with her this coming summer.

Sam, I guarantee that you will enjoy Greece and the Greek Isles, especially the island of Santorini. You may not know it, but I have wanted to revisit Santorini for years.

Mikii, how long ago was it when you were there?

I was there . . . over three decades ago, when I was working for an airline. You were already living in San Francisco. Did I write you about my job?

Yes, an airline job instead of teaching, but you never mentioned your trip to Santorini. Go ahead – tell me all about the place and try to convince me.

It’s been too long, but I still think that Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands on earth. When our ferry approached the island, I thought that I was looking at a snowcapped island. It was awesomely beautiful – picturesque!

Sam seemed to be listening attentively. She was talking like a telemarketer, describing the merchandise – a trip – she wanted to sell it to her best friend who was again wishing to see some interesting places in Europe this summer.

The thought of revisiting the island of Santorini has been on her mind for some time, so she decided to make her dream come true this summer one way or another, but she really wanted Sam to come along with her.

They have been dear friends, or more like siblings since they were in the same university in Okinawa over three decades ago. Even though Sam moved to California for good, they stayed in touch and knew what was going on with each other’s lives, but never attempted to see each other until they made a trip to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco a year earlier.

Sam, let me describe how the town of Santorini looks like. The town is on top of the steep boulder mountain. The height is about 1,200 feet. The buses and cars drive through the zigzagged road to reach the top from the ferry terminal. It is a steep climb and treacherous. The ancient Greeks probably climbed to discover the rich soil on the top and were able to grow agriculture products to settle. Now, Santorini is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Sam seemed to be attentive, so Mikii continued.

According to the islanders, all the houses must be painted white with the native limestone paint that has the natural insecticide to repel roaches, ants, and other pests that carried the diseases in the past to kill some islanders. So traditionally, the town government only allows white paint on the houses and buildings. That was why I thought that I saw a snowcapped island. The town allows the bright blue color for the domes of the Greek Orthodox. Sam, are you there?

Yes, Mikii, I am here. I was just listening and imagining the scene of the island. Go on.

Sam, another thing – the sunset. You can’t picture the sunset at Oia, Santorini. You must see it to believe it. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I would go there just to see the sunset. In the summer, you could see the moon appears at the eastside and the sunset at the westside at the same time! What a phenomenon! You could also witness the bluest blue ocean there.

Okay, I am convinced. Mikii, let’s take the trip this summer. I would like to see the snowcapped island and witness the sunset and the moon in the sky at the same time.

Sam was excited. By the way, Mikii, when I was young, I was very much interested in the Greek mythology and studied a lot. I might study again. Mikii, you are my best friend, best travel companion, and . . . my best babysitter. Sam chuckled aloud. Mikii ignored the last comment – best babysitter.

Sam, you may not believe it, but I’ve had the same dream of the sunset for years. In my dream, as the sun goes down with the magnificent orange glow . . . there I am . . . standing tall on the highest cliff admiring the sun’s final performance for the day. It is just a dream, but when I wake up, I feel happy and lucky. I think my sunset dream is a lucky dream because my attitude toward my life becomes positive.

Again, Sam was chuckling, but Mikii ignored and continued.

Sam, if you see that sunset in Santorini, your lifestyle might be changed miraculously. Sorry . . . I did not mean that. I was just joking. Please forgive me.

Sam was quiet for a few seconds and said,

You are forgiven, but let’s not talk about that anymore.

Sorry. I won’t.

Mikii, let’s go and see your favorite island, Santorini. Put me in. Are we using the same tour company? They certainly provided a professional tour guide last time. I learned a lot from her about Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Yes, we are. That tour company is the best and affordable.

The trip was sold. The thought of revisiting Santorini gave Mikii a big happy smile.

The tour on July 1 is still open. Do you want me to book us on that date?

Did you say July 1?

Yes.

Let me check my calendar.

Sam paused on the phone for a minute.

I will be attending a seminar in June, but nothing in July. Mikii, go ahead – book me. I would like to take the single supplement just as before.

Okay. Me too. I will make sure that our rooms will be next to each other. This is my own vacation without my group. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. You will see the beauty of Greece and the Greek Isles, especially the spectacular sunset in Oia, Santorini. We will be staying in Santorini for three nights. I can hardly wait. Sam, I need to check something.

Mikii took out her notebook from her briefcase and wrote down Sam’s full name, the tour number, and the departure date.

Sam, I have your passport information and your address from last year. Is there any change that I need to correct?

No. Everything is the same. Do you have the itinerary of this tour?

Yes. I will send you the brochure as soon as possible, but I can tell you the general tour route now. Do you want that?

Yes. Thank you.

On the first week, our bus tour starts from Athens to Kalambaka, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Tolon, and back to Athens. On the second week, we will be taking a ferry to Santorini and stay there for three nights, Paros for two nights, Mykonos for two nights, and back to Athens.

Mikii exhaled and continued.

Is it all right to meet you at JFK just as we did last year? I will find an early flight from San Francisco to JFK for you. Just meet me at the departure gate. We will be overnighting on the airplane again. Athens’ time is 7 hours ahead of New York and the flying time is almost 10 hours, we leave at 8pm – their time is at 3am. By adding 10 hours of flying time, we will be there at 1 or 2pm – their time – the next day.

Wow, you gave me all the information I wanted. Let me jot it down. 7 hours ahead of New York and the flying time is 10 hours. Right?

Right.

Thank you. By the way, what should I take?

Bring the tour booklet which you would receive two weeks prior and your passport. That tour booklet has everything – airline’s e-ticket, the transfer voucher to hotel, optional tours, name, address, and phone number of each hotel, daily itinerary, and map. You must always carry it. Do not put in the suitcase.

What I meant was – what should I pack?

Sorry. You are talking about clothes and shoes, right?

Yes. Is it hot in Greece like Spain?

Yes. Make sure to pack your swimming trunks, shorts, and sunscreen lotion. Bring some casual trousers and tops for some shows or dinners. Did you say that you took too many clothes and shoes last year?

Yes. It won’t happen again. I will take only three pairs of shoes this time, not five. How much money should I take?

You can exchange two or three hundred dollars to euros at the airport. Greece started using euros. The daily breakfast and many dinners are included in this tour. Oh, I forgot . . . they no longer take cash for the optional tours because of the theft issues – make sure to bring one or two credit cards. Use your cash money for your lunches and snacks. If you need more euros, you can use your ATM card.

Thank you. You are such a knowledgeable travel agent. I can hardly wait to travel with you again.

Now, I need your credit card number.

Wait. Let me get it.

Sam came right back. Mikii took his credit card number and told him that the tour confirmation and airline schedule should be sent to him through email in several days.

By the way, Sam, I lost twenty pounds since last year. My hair color is lighter. This time, I should not look like your babysitter.

Sam’s chuckle was so loud that she put the phone away from her ear.

A year ago, in the summer, Sam decided to join Mikii’s tour group for the first time. A group of eight – seven girls and Sam – joined a bus tour of 40. The tour started from Spain – to Portugal and Morocco for 14 days.

Sam flew from San Francisco to JFK and joined her group before flying to Madrid. For over three decades, they had not seen each other, so Mikii was wondering if they could recognize each other or not.

Sam was looking for Mikii at the departure gate. She recognized Sam immediately – he still looked handsome just as before. She stood up and waived at him.

As soon as Sam came to her, he hugged her in front of the girls. They were probably drooling because Mikii’s college friend turned out to be a handsome man, not a female friend.

*   *   *

When Mikii was growing up in Okinawa, she had a peculiar brain in her head – yes, she was born with it. When she became a teenager, she started babysitting for American neighbors. While talking with the American children and the families, she was able to speak English just like them. While watching American movies on TV or in the theater, she was able to speak just like those movie stars.

Her brain made her imitate or repeat the conversations in English without much effort. She rehearsed the dialogues from the movies loudly when no one was around in the house.

Additionally, she was able to remember the tunes of American hit songs, theme songs, including Japanese hit songs, later, she was able to whistle or hum those tunes flawlessly.

Her mother sternly told her that no girls should whistle, so she did not whistle much before her, but those music tunes stayed in her brain for the longest time. Because of her crazy brain, she was insanely imaginative and regretfully naughty when she was young.

When she was in the first year in college at the age of eighteen, she accidently read an erotic novel in English called Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence. Her crazy brain was erotically tainted and could plagiarize the pornographic scenes in the book any time after that.

When she landed an airline job after college, she met a young American military doctor in the library and agreed to have a language exchange class. Mikii spoke English and a young doctor spoke Japanese during each session. Their designated language practice was a success. The session lasted over a year until his discharge from the military duty.

Before he was discharged, they exchanged their own love stories in writing. Since Mikii never had dated or fell in love with anyone, she made up a love story by plagiarizing some of the pornographic scenes from Lady Chatterley’s Lover and gave it to him as her assignment.

They never mentioned of love, never touched, and never kissed, but they were fond of each other. Mikii did not know, but the young doctor was deeply in love with her. However, her made up love story was detrimental to him. He believed that she was sexually active with her high school sweetheart as she described. He was hurt and acted awkwardly toward her. She realized that her made up love story was the culprit of his estrangement. Again, she blamed her crazy brain. She too was in love with him without realizing it at the time. When he did not show up to the last session, she knew that she lost her precious love or dearest friend forever.

However, he came to her apartment to say Goodbye before he was flying back home. He hugged her at the door and made her promise to write him by giving her a sealed envelope that he said his home address enclosed. He was determined to win her back through writing.

After he left, she felt as though the most precious love in her life was gone – he could be her Prince Charming, her future, and her destiny, but he was gone.

For several weeks, her sadness made her unwell and left the envelope unopened. When she finally decided to write, she discovered his beautiful love letter from the envelope. She immediately wrote him back to say how much she loved him as well and apologized for her made-up love story by explaining that she never had a love relationship in her life, so she plagiarized the erotic description from a book she read. After the mail was sent, she counted days to hear from him, but her letter was returned as Address Unknown.

She felt as though the almighty power punished her for her plagiarism. Now, her precious love was gone forever. She was heartbroken for a long time. A chance to see him again could be one in a million chances, but a flicker of hope remained in her heart for years.

From time to time, she has tried to understand what destiny means to a life. Does the superpower plan destiny for each life? Could destiny be changed by a freakish accident or a stubborn action of an individual? Does the superpower dictate who should die young or live long and should live happily or unhappily? Should a happy marriage be called true destiny? Does true destiny always bring happiness? What is true destiny?

Chapter 1

A Desperate Deal

Mikii was born on the island of Palau as a Japanese citizen at the end of WWII. Palau is an island on the southeast of the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean. Before the World War II, the Japanese empire had occupied Palau and the neighboring islands for many years (1920 – 1945).

Palau became an independent island country in 1990, under the supervision of the United Nations and the USA. Currently, people in Palau use US currency and speak English and Palauan.

Many years before the war, Mikii’s father had built a successful construction company in Palau by hiring his relatives and friends from Okinawa as well as the natives on the island. He also built the apartment complex for his employees to live.

The Japanese government gave an exclusive building contract to her father to build the airfield and military barracks on the nearby islands during the war.

While he was transporting the building materials to New Guinea to build an airfield for the Japanese military, the enemy’s massive air attack killed her father and his entire employees who were on a Japanese navy ship. There were no known survivors.

Immediately after the news of the bombardment of the Japanese ships and her father’s death including the deaths of entire employees, the natives started looting his fortune such as the construction equipment, building materials, concrete mixer, vehicles, and all the heavy tools from the company property.

The surrender of Imperial Japan was announced by Japanese Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945, and formally signed on September 2, 1945. It was the end of the long-lasted WWII.

After the surrender announcement, the native officials vehemently arranged the transportation with the US navy and ordered the immediate evacuation of all the Japanese citizens from the island of Palau.

Therefore, all Japanese citizens had to abandon or forfeit everything including the bank accounts and property rights. Mikii’s mother had tears when she saw the big empty house. Most of the furniture were already taken or removed. When she saw her husband’s grand piano in the middle of the empty house, she could not stop sobbing. Her husband was an accomplished pianist and treasured the piano for all his life.

For the evacuation, only the minimum necessities were allowed to take. She carried four-month-old Mikii on her back and held her six-year-old daughter’s hand with one hand and carried one suitcase with another hand when she embarked an American navy ship. The destination was Okinawa where she and her deceased husband came from.

Mikii was too young to remember about her birthplace, but her sister, Sachiko often told her about their childhood in Palau – how affluent they were with two nannies.

Sachiko always had a faraway look in her eyes when she talked about her native nanny.

My nanny always dressed me nicely and held my hand tightly when we walked around the neighborhood. We often played balls and jump-roped in the backyard. She had a young and pretty face with the brownish complexion. I often wished that my pretty nanny was our mother.

Why?

Because our mother was too busy working for our father in the office.

According to Sachiko, Mikii also had a native nanny who was fat and ugly. She always carried a palm-leaf fan. When the baby started crying in the crib or carriage, she fanned her vigorously until the baby stopped crying.

Her eyes were always filled with tears when she reminisced about the scene at the seaport as they were leaving Palau. She said that her nanny ran after the ship all the way to the end of the ship dock and kept waving her white handkerchief. Sachiko waved back until the nanny’s figure became a black dot, and then she started sobbing uncontrollably.

*   *   *

After the war, the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) and Okinawans were given to the United States by the Japanese government under the peace treaty. In 1945, Okinawa became an occupational territory of the USA.

The Okinawans felt as though their parents abandoned them, disowned them, or sold them to pay for their war debt or crime. Their resentment toward the Japanese government lasted for a long time until the USA reverted Okinawa to Japan in 1972.

At the end of 1945, the US military forces started governing Okinawa. The B-yen currency was adopted first and in 1958, the US dollar currency became the official money in Okinawa. The long-awaited modernization had started. Many jobs became available in the military bases. The traffic system became in the American way. Eventually, 20% of the island population became Americans – mostly soldiers and their dependent families.

Most of the farming lands were used by the US military forces under the 99-year lease. The US military airport was built in Kadena and the commercial airport was built in Naha.

The wired fence was built miles and miles along the main highway to separate the US military functions from the people of Okinawa. Many off-limits signs were posted along the wired fences. The roads were paved throughout the island. The public buses became available even to the remote countryside. Every household was connected to the electricity and the clean water system.

However, the school system was mandated to use the Japanese curriculum and their citizenship remained as Japanese just as before. Because of the Japanese education system during the occupation era, the people of Okinawa were able to dignify themselves as Japanese citizens despite of their profound resentment against the Japanese government.

Growing up during the US military occupation period, there were many advantages for Mikii, especially in language – English. She was able to converse with American neighbors and was able to read books in English without much effort. Her brain had something to do with her ability, but she kept it to herself.

Many movie theaters on the island provided the original Hollywood movies in English. After seeing American movies, she was able to imitate or repeat the dialogues which the movie stars conversed. Eventually, she was speaking just like them.

When Mikii was learning English in high school, she was able to speak English much better than her teacher or classmates, but she pretended that she was a slow learner. Nobody knew about her ability to read, write, and speak English without much effort.

Shortly before her graduation from high school, she passed the entrance exam to the university known as a bilingual university; many classes were offered in English by American professors. Because of its bilingual curriculum, some English-speaking foreign students came as visiting scholars to enroll.

After she received the acceptance notice to the university, she thought that her mother would be happy and proud, but she fiercely discouraged her daughter from attending the four-year college.

As her mother earned the meager wage from her brother’s construction company, Mikii knew that her main objection was the financial burden.

Okaasan, please let me go to college. I will get a babysitting job from the professors or some families around the university and try to get several tutoring jobs in the city. The dormitory is not that expensive. For my tuition, I think that I can get some student loans, if necessary.

You can’t depend on those babysitting jobs. They may not need you every week. You know that. We are not talking about your spending money. We are talking about the tuition and dorm fee for four years. I don’t think that I can afford to spare that kind of expense from my wage. I wish I could afford to send you there.

Her mother looked sad for not sending her smart daughter to the university, but it was apparent that she could not afford it. So, her mother went to see her friend for her advice. Her friend who happened to be a matchmaker as her profession convinced her that her daughter should have a good husband instead.

In Okinawa, during the sixties, many mothers believed that a daughter’s higher education would hinder her marriage opportunities. A man preferred to marry a young innocent girl as his wife and mold or educate her himself.

Mikii strongly resented the men’s chauvinistic attitude over the women. Whenever she met a chauvinistic man, she did not hesitate to give a piece of her mind.

Several weeks after the college admission notification, she received an enrollment form and a dorm application. They requested that the applicant should come in person to pay and register for the classes, but without the money, she could not do anything.

She shut her bedroom door tightly and put the applications on the desk and sat down. She glanced at a Japanese magazine and saw an article about the world schooling:

. . . In Japan, their schools – elementary school, middle school, high school, and college begin in April after the spring recess. In the United States, their schools begin in August or September after the summer recess. The schools in the southern hemisphere, such as Australia and New Zealand begin in January or February after the summer recess that starts late December. All schools in the world seem to begin after the seasonal recesses . . .

Mikii realized that she was in the spring recess after her high school graduation in March. She kept reading the article:

. . . During the month of March in Japan, the newly graduated young adults from high schools or colleges are employed massively by the businesses and the government. Those hired young ones start working in April. All schools including colleges in Japan start the new school year in April. It seems that the flowers, trees, and other greeneries start showing their new leaves and new buds in April as well. Therefore, the spring, especially the month of April seems to be the beginning of everything in Japan . . .

Mikii’s college education should start newly in April too, but she did not know what to do without the money. She closed the magazine and stared at the college application for the longest time.

She heard the front door. It seemed that her mother and somebody were coming in. They both came to the living room that was next to her room. Her mother assumed Mikii was out of house because her bedroom door was shut.

She once told her mother, If my bedroom door is shut, it means that I am not in the house – I am out. Please do not disturb my bedroom while I am out. I leave the door open when I am home.

I was hoping that Mikiko was home. Anyway, did you bring the pictures that you want to show her?

Yes. I brought five men’s pictures. They are all handsome. Each man’s background is listed on the back of the picture. Take a look.

Now, Mikii recognized the matchmaker’s voice. They are talking loudly and freely.

The matchmaker is her mother’s best friend. She is a pretty woman and always wears an expensive kimono with her upped hair. Most of the time, she is aloof, but when it comes to her business, she becomes very friendly and speaks very well. She thinks that she is prettier than her mother, but to Mikii, her mother is prettier, thinner, and more elegant than the matchmaker.

Mikiko is a very smart and nice girl, but she behaves like a stubborn mule or a wild horse. Please find her a man who is patient, older, and understanding.

Mikii was eavesdropping against the wall.

Look at those men. They are much older than your daughter. I assure you that they are old enough to tame a wild horse. Do you want me to leave all these pictures?

Oh, no. My daughter would not listen to me. You can do a much better job. Please match Mikiko with a nice man. I will make sure that my daughter will be home tomorrow, so you can convince her to meet a man whom you can recommend.

Mikii disliked the way they talked about her – a wild horse or a stubborn mule. She had never acted like a wild house, probably acted stubborn from time to time.

Trust me. I will find the nicest man for your daughter. Remember years back, I found the nicest husband for your older daughter and now you have two grandchildren. I know you are happy. Well, I must go. Do you have time to eat lunch with me at my nephew’s new restaurant?

Yes. I would like to join you. I have not seen your nephew’s new restaurant.

Mikii heard the door closed. Again, she sighed and looked at the application for a while, but gradually dozed off at the desk.

*   *   *

If a family has a son who can’t find a wife on his own in Okinawa, the parents usually hire a matchmaker to find a wife for their son. After matching a couple and both families agree to meet, the matchmaker becomes a liaison.

The initial meeting is especially important because the meeting is not just for the young ones; it is for both families as well. If the families do not like each other, they have the right to take their