STORM FRONT

Taeko wanted me to download some music from YouTube for her, maybe burn a CD.

She sent me links to 5 or 6 videos by a group called Arashi.

Which is, um, a Japanese boy band of some sort. One of Johnny's group, she told me.

Apparently, “Johnny” is a Japanese boy-band impresario without peer. Grows them like fungi, does Johnny.

-OK, are you crushing on one of these guys?

She pointed to the one in the pink sweater.

I mocked her half-heartedly, to appease the small sampling of jealousy I felt.

But more than anything, I was excited. It was so out of character that I was just damn excited...