It must be raining outside when my Moms’ trial class starts. The kids come in with their parents, their adorable umbrellas shaped like frogs and ducks, and their giant ponchos. It takes a while for everyone to strip all the wet gear off and usher themselves into the classroom.

“Hello, ladies,” I greet them. “How’s it going?” Everyone freezes and exchanges deer-in-the-headlight glances. I wait for a few seconds before I repeat my question with a bigger smile. “How’s it going, Fumiko?”

Fumiko smiles back but tilts her head. She doesn’t understand. “How are you?” I ask instead.

“Ah! Naru hodo! I’m fine, thank you.”

“Good!” I turn to the young, ginger-haired woman next to me. “How’s it going with you, Mami?”

“Eh … I’m, so-so?”

“Aw, why ‘so-so’?” I ask.

Mami takes her time, smiling all the while. “Because … last week … Taiga … had a fever.” Everyone goes “aw” in sympathy. “Yes. Taiga had a fever, and … he had no school … so, I take care of him. He is very … spoiled?” Everyone laughs. “‘Mommy, I want this! I want this! I don’t like medicine! I don’t like doctor!’ Every day. Such a pain.”

“That’s too bad. How is he feeling now?”

“Better, but still … spoiled.”

Again, we all laugh a little. I turn to the woman next to me. “How about you, Miyoko? How’s it going?”

“It’s going … not bad. I went to Kyoto this past weekend.”

“Cool! Can you describe to us what it was like?”

“Hmmm …” She thinks for a bit. “No.”

“It’s okay! Try your best! Um … how is Kyoto?”

“Ah! Wakatta! Ja … Kyoto is very beautiful. There are many people and many festivals. And I went with my husband. We enjoy. Eh … tanoshikatta.”

The other moms all nod, adding, “Ah, sou desu ne,” and so on. Then they begin conversing in Japanese about how they never have time to travel, what with their kids and all. Then they start talking about how travel is getting more expensive, and how the things in general are getting more expensive, and how eikaiwa schools like Zozo are expensive. I feel like a fly on the wall. If I want to call this trial lesson successful, I need to bring the conversation back to what they’re going to pay for.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Let’s open our textbooks, shall we?”

The moms fall silent. They look down at their books. No one makes any move to pick them up. I’m not sure what I’ve said or done wrong. I reach for my textbook but Miyoko has a question. “What about Cybelle-sensei? How’s it going … you?”

“Me? Oh, thank you for asking! Things are okay. I haven’t been doing anything special these days.” As usual.

“Eh?” Head tilt. “I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, I mean, um, it’s going … so-so?”