Epilog till The Family Supper av Katzuo Ishiguro

The Story

The short-story "A Family Supper" written by Katzuo Ishiguro is told both from the narrative perspective and in the form of a dialogue amongst the members of the family. The son of the family just returned to Tokyo from California, where he has been living for the past couple of years. His father, a stern and solemn veteran and widower, has been forced to retire because the firm in which he was employed as an executive collapsed. His college committed a heinous crime because of pride; killing himself as well as his whole family. This is a story with hints that the author has some problems with Japanese customs and traditions since the mother was killed because she had to be polite, the Japanese way so to say.

The dinner is being held to reunite the family for the first time since the mother's death, and this is what happened after the dinner on the following morning.

The Family Supper Epilogue

Half an hour earlier Kikukos boyfriend Suichi had decided to make a surprise visit to see her and when he rang the doorbell he heard a noise from inside and glanced through the window on the left side of the path leading up to the entrance. And what he saw was a sight he would never forget. Lying in there on the couch was his beloved Kikuko wrenching in agony, screaming like nothing he'd ever heard before. It was a chilling, blood freezing shriek, like the one from a dying animal, and that was exactly what it was...the sound of a dying young woman. His first instinct was to break a window and get in to her, but since he had experience from police work he had to contain himself from following his initial thought, afraid he might ruin some evidence in case this was a crime scene, and as far as he was concerned he couldn't see any other explanation so he dialed 911.

Soon he could hear the wheels of an ambulance shrieking against the asphalt and the sirens giving an almost deafening sound and were heard from miles away. Paramedics rushed out from the ambulance with great urgency and made their way in to the house. A police car also parked at the front yard and a tall, serious looking policeman stepped out and came towards Suichi and asked him if he knew what had happened. Suichi shook his head. Then he was told not to go in to the house because it was now a crime scene and that the CSI's had to do their job first.

•-        Is she going to live? Suichi asked one of the paramedics that came out from the house.

•-        If you just move out of the way, we will do everything in our power to help her, she answered.

•-        Wait! Have you found her father and brother yet? I have to know, Suichi asked eagerly.

•-        Yes, they're inside and for them it is unfortunately already too late, the paramedic said with a gloomy sigh. Now, we must hurry, this is a matter of minutes!

Suichi nodded gravely and then saw Kikuko coming out from the house; pale, but still alive lying on a stretcher. Suichi ran to her and touched her face and spoke to her softly:

•-        Darling, just hang in there. Everything's going to be alright, he said to enthuse some hope even though he didn't really believe that himself.

Kikuko looked up on him with visible difficulties:

•-        Suichi, is it you? What are you doing here? she asked with a weak voice.

•-        Don't speak, Kikuko. Save your strength, you're going to need it; he said and gently ran his fingers through her hair.

•-        But I must tell you...I, I think Father planned this all along. He is as proud as Mr.  Watanabe and I think he was inspired by him... she whispered with eyes filled with fear.

•-        What do you mean? Suichi asked confused.

•-        He couldn't go on living with the shame of losing his business, and without Mother I think he just gave up and then when he saw this window of opportunity having us all at home for once...she silenced.

•-        What, Kikuko, what?

•-        He served us fish, it was fugu....she silenced once more and suddenly stopped breathing. Calmness was now seen in her face.

Suichi shook her, even if he could tell she was already gone, and screamed from the top of his lungs;

•-        No. NO! Kikuko! Please don't you leave me!

In his voice was an echo of limitless sadness.

Later on the autopsy revealed large quantities of tetrodo...