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2. Sachi
- University of Arkansas Press
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CHAPTER 2 Sachi DECEMBER 8, 1941 Sachi stood in front of the mirror and watched her reflection as she slowly buttoned her sweater. Moving close, she opened her eyes wide. What would they look like if they weren’t slanted? Would the world look different through big, round eyes? And what if they were blue? Would she see colors differently? Mama called from the kitchen. “Sachi-chan, hurry up. You will be late for school.” I don’t want to go to school today. I have a stomachache. Excuses never worked with her mother. She huffed and picked up her books from her desk. “I’m coming. I’m coming.” She stomped downstairs to the kitchen, where she found Mama and Papa sitting at the table. The radio in the living room was turned up. “Morning,” she said, pulling a chair from the table. “Where’s Nobu?” Papa turned to the next page in his newspaper. “He already left for school.” “Why is the radio so loud?” Sachi asked. Folding his paper neatly, Papa placed it next to his tea. “President Roosevelt is going to speak this morning.” Mama’s slippers swished as she walked to the stove. “What is he going to talk about?” Sachi asked, twirling her chopsticks through her fingers. “We will have to wait and see,” Papa said. “Are you ready for school?” “Yes.” She placed her chopsticks beside the bowl Mama placed in front of her. “Papa, can we go to the park after school today?” She cringed, waiting. Like always, Mama would probably answer for Papa. No park today. Sachi must practice her dance and o-koto lessons. 8 JAN MORRILL But her father answered first. “The park? Perhaps. We will see.” “Seems like forever since we’ve been,” she said between bites of rice. Mama clucked her tongue. “Sachiko, do not speak with your mouth full. And no park today. You must practice your o-koto lessons after school.” There they were. The words she had dreaded. “But Papa said we could.” Her retort drew a stern look from her father. Mama leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “How do you expect to master the o-koto if you do not practice?” “I know,” she grumbled. Who cares if I don’t master the o-koto? Maybe I’d rather master the swing set. Mama checked the clock above the stove. “Time to go, Sachiko. Get your coat.” Papa stood. “I have a meeting at the bank this morning, Sumiko. I will take her to school. Hurry and get your coat, Sachi.” She huffed as she put on her coat and stomped to the car. Though happy Papa was taking her instead of Mama, she couldn’t help pouting about the way the morning had gone. Why was Mama so grouchy? They pulled out of the driveway. Maybe Papa would drive slowly past the pretty Christmas trees in the front windows of the houses on Peralta Street. That would cheer her up. One by one, she judged the tree in the window of each house they passed. Some had ornaments of different colors. Some had all green. Some had all red. She had to admit, none were as pretty as the tree in her window. But even Christmas decorations couldn’t make her forget how angry Mama made her sometimes, making her practice, practice, practice. They stopped at the intersection. Gilman Street was always busy and speeding cars zipped back and forth, replacing the parade of pretty lights and Christmas trees on Peralta. Papa glanced back and forth, waiting to turn left. “Why does Mama make me practice all the time?” Sachi asked. “All of my friends get to play whenever they want to.” He stopped watching cars and raised an eyebrow at her. “All of your friends?” “Well . . . maybe not all,” she whispered. The Red Kimono 9 [54.81.157.133] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 17:05 GMT) Not even Papa is on my side. Papa didn’t say a word as he turned onto Gilman. It wasn’t unusual for him to be quiet, but this kind of quiet made her stomach feel as tangled up as her hair when Mama combed it. When at last he smiled and patted her knee, all the tangles went away. “Sachi-chan, practicing your music and dance is your mother’s way of making sure you do not forget your Japanese heritage. Remember gaman, Sachi-chan. Patience. You will understand when you are...