SEE SHOW

Lulu and I had finished dinner at the Imperial Hotel's Prunier restaurant. In a cab heading back to the Okura, Lulu said she'd like to see a show. What she meant was the Takarazuka, Review, but the driver misunderstood. I kept my mouth shut.

In an incredulous voice, he asked, "Mama-san really wants to see show?" I nodded, and Lulu said she did.

We drove to Tokyo's Asakusa district, went down a side street and stopped in front of a two-story house in a rather shabby neighborhood.

"Here we are. Now Mama-san can see show." the driver said. He was still shaking his head in disbelief.

We entered the house where a woman led us upstairs. Before leaving the cab, I whispered to the driver to stay. We'd be needing him very soon.

Upstairs, we went into a room lit only by a single naked light-globe hanging over a large bed on a raised platform. Our hostess asked, "What kind of show you want to see? Boy and girl, boy and boy, or girl and girl?"

Lulu, belatedly realizing this was not what she'd planned on seeing, said, "Oh, my God. I want to get out of here."