Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban Read Free Book Online

garden will not die.
    Ron finds me in the garden, my hands thick with mud.
    â€œThere you are,” he says. “Come on. You need to eat dinner. Then I’ll help you with this.”
    *   *   *
    Later that week, we are all surprised when Father joins us for dinner.
    Mother and Ron and I are sitting down when Father enters the mess hall. Ron apologizes for our having already started to eat. I scoot down the bench to make room. Mother pours steaming water into her cup and sets it in front of Father.
    Father does not have a plate.
    â€œWould you like me to get you some food?” Mother asks.
    â€œI’ll eat in a minute,” he says. Father rests his hand on his chest. Then he pulls an envelope from the inside of his shirt.
    â€œA letter from Keiko,” he says, handing it to Mother.
    Mother reads quickly. “No,” she says, and passes it to Ron.
    Ron reads slowly.
    â€œFather,” he says. “I cannot.”
    â€œThis will prove that you are American,” Father says.
    â€œWhy must I prove it?” Ron asks. “I know what is in my head and in my heart.”
    Father and Ron stare at each other.
    Many others at our table stare, too. When they see that I notice their stares, they look away.
    Father leaves the mess hall.
    He does not eat rice and chicken with us. He does not drink his hot water.
    â€œMother,” Ron says.
    â€œI understand,” she says. “I do not wish it either.”
    I am curious, but I can be patient.
    After we eat, Mother returns to the kitchen to finish her work shift.
    â€œKeiko suggests I join the army,” Ron whispers. “There are rumors that soon the army will welcome those of us who are living here. Keiko says that if I join the army, I will be free to leave this place. But what kind of freedom is that? Should I fight for the army that imprisons my family?”
    It is like old times. Ron tells me what Mother and Father do not want me to hear.
    Ron hands me a slip of paper.
    â€œThis is for you,” he says.
    â€œDear Sister,” it reads. “I know you are a comfort to Mother. Study and learn so that one day you can live with me and go to college. Keiko.”
    Once, I wanted to live with Keiko and go to college.
    Now I just want to go back to the island.

 
    JULY
    For many days, Miss Rosalie and the other teachers have been preparing us for the Independence Day celebration. Some students learn poems. Some students learn songs. I make a banner. The older students will recite part of the Declaration of Independence.
    On Independence Day, everyone gathers in the open space on the other side of the classrooms in Block 7. Ron says there are plans to build an auditorium in that open space.
    Mr. Warden is there.
    My island neighbors from Block 3 are there.
    People from all of the blocks are there: students, parents, grandparents.
    I think I have never seen so many people in one place before.
    Miss Rosalie told us that there are now almost ten thousand people living in this prison-village.
    Ten thousand people with hair and skin like mine.
    Ten thousand people with Japanese names like mine.
    Students line up in front, facing the parents and grandparents.
    I stand next to Kimmi.
    Mr. Warden motions to one of the teachers to begin.
    The teacher nods and a high school student steps forward. “Salute!” he shouts above the crowd.
    All of the students salute.
    But I feel nervous when I see that some adults in the crowd do not salute.
    â€œPledge!” the high school boy shouts.
    Students recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
    But I feel nervous when I see that many adults in the crowd do not pledge.
    Maybe they do not know the Pledge of Allegiance.
    Or maybe they do.
    Mr. Warden must not see them, though, because he doesn’t leave his spot. After the pledge, he reads a speech from a paper. But the wind starts to blow and dust fills my ears, so I cannot hear his words.
    *   *   *
    After