The Stare

 

I had been visiting the café in IKEA for a couple of months as it was a convenient spot to have a light dinner before I went off to capoeira practice. On this particular day, I had my head in my book and was nonchalantly eating a cinnamon bun when I felt it, The Stare. I had felt many stares in the nine years I have been living in Japan: curious stares, shy stares, friendly stares, confused stares, even angry stares. However, I had never felt a stare quite as earnest as this one before. I looked up, wondering who the owner of the stare could be. There, after some careful searching, a few tables further down on my left, sat an older lady dressed in a cute outfit holding a medium sized brown bear. She held her bear gently whilst continuing to stare at me with a great deal of intensity.

After some time, I decided I needed a coffee refill so I grabbed my cup and went up to the coffee machine. As I did so, she suddenly appeared next to me holding her cup. While I filled my cup, she moved closer inch by inch, so by the time I had finished filling my cup she was stood right next to me, still holding her bear. I looked at her, gave a polite nod and shuffled back to my seat. She proceeded to fill up her coffee cup, sit back down, and continue to stare at me.

After finishing my second cup of coffee, I decided that The Stare was getting a bit overwhelming, and as it was almost time for me to leave anyway, I gathered my things, tidied my table, and walked over to the lift. Throughout this time, she never lowered her gaze. I do wonder what she and her bear found so fascinating; and wish them both the best.