Lines We Draw Read online

  Lines We Draw: A Story of Imprisoned Japanese Americans © 2019 by North Star Editions, Mendota Heights, MN 55120. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Book design by Jake Slavik

  Illustrations by Eric Freeberg

  Photographs ©: National Archives Catalog, 150 (top), 150 (bottom), 151 (top), 151 (bottom); North Star Editions, 153

  Published in the United States by Jolly Fish Press, an imprint of North Star Editions, Inc.

  First Edition

  First Printing, 2018

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Lee, Camellia (Children’s author), author. | Freeberg, Eric,

  illustrator.

  Title: Lines we draw : a story of imprisoned Japanese Americans / by Camellia

  Lee ; illustrated by Eric Freeberg.

  Description: Mendota Heights, MN : Jolly Fish Press, [2019] | Series: I am

  America | Summary: “Sumiko Adachi’s life is uprooted when an arbitrary

  dividing line through Phoenix forces her family into a confinement camp”—

  Provided by publisher.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018038113 (print) | LCCN 2018041144 (ebook) | ISBN

  9781631632815 (e-book) | ISBN 9781631632808 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781631632792

  (hardcover)

  Subjects: LCSH: Japanese Americans—Evacuation and relocation,

  1942-1945—Juvenile fiction. | CYAC: Japanese Americans—Evacuation and

  relocation, 1942-1945—Fiction. | Poston Relocation Center

  (Ariz.) —Fiction. | World War, 1939-1945—United States—Fiction. | Family

  life—Arizona—Fiction. | Arizona—History—1912-1950—Fiction. | LCGFT:

  Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.L394867 (ebook) | LCC PZ7.L394867 Li 2019 (print)

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018038113

  Jolly Fish Press

  North Star Editions, Inc.

  2297 Waters Drive

  Mendota Heights, MN 55120

  www.jollyfishpress.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  Terms

  Issei – first-generation Japanese immigrants living in America. These people were ineligible for citizenship until the law changed in 1952.

  Nisei – second-generation Japanese Americans, born in the United States and US citizens. The bulk of those forced into prison camps were of this generation.

  Obaasan – Grandma in Japanese

  Ojiisan – Grandpa in Japanese

  Relocation center – the official government term for the ten prison camps to which Japanese Americans living in western states were forcibly relocated; the centers were run by the War Relocation Authority.

  Prologue: The Dream

  In my dream, I stood barefoot in a mossy forest. The clouds covered the moon, and all at once I knew I wasn’t alone. There was something just behind me. I heard it snarl. It was a wolf. I tried to run—no, float—away, but I wasn’t moving. I didn’t know where Mama or Papa were; they were there, but then they weren’t. It was like Little Red Riding Hood come to life.

  Where was I? The forest loomed around me, and there was a mass of dark shapes (were they people?) that watched me. Then suddenly there were more wolves around me. Their faces were peaceful, but they joined the chase. I wanted to stop but couldn’t. I had to keep running.

  I ran down paths. I jumped over rocks and stumps. I could feel the wolves’ teeth nipping at my heels, just out of reach. I kept thinking that any minute one would catch me, but they never seemed able to keep up. Still, there were always more wolves lurking ahead of me. I could feel their breath.

  The wolves seemed to be both losing and gaining on me.

  I yelled, “Go ahead of me! I’m not here!”

  They laughed like humans and kept running, the forest moving them along.

  Suddenly, a cliff loomed in front of me; its craggy, sharp rocks broke the ocean far below. My body bent, and I jumped.

  I landed in the desert. I was looking at the farmers working our fields. The wolves and dark, misty greenery had vanished.

  Part I: At Home in Phoenix

  Chapter One

  Sumiko Adachi’s legs kicked violently, twisting the sheets until they became tightly bound around her ankles.

  She woke.

  Her heart was pounding. Her damp fists were clenched tight. Her face was wet with tears.

  For several minutes she couldn’t believe it was only a nightmare. It had all seemed so real. She could almost taste the air as it hit her face while she ran from the wolves.

  Sumiko shuddered and blinked hard, trying to see where she was. She gathered herself into a small ball and hugged her knees. Gradually, her heart rate slowed, and she could see that she was safe in her room in Phoenix. She took a deep breath and wiped her face with her hand. Shaking too much to get out of bed, she stared into the darkness. Traces of early-morning light were just beginning to emerge. Finally, she could make out familiar things in her room: the big carved-oak chest of drawers that her father had built, the small velvet armchair that was her favorite place to be in the whole house, and the large framed watercolor with scenes of a day at the beach.

  Yes, everything was there. It was all right. She was safe and didn’t need to escape a pack of hungry wolves.

  In fact, she remembered, it’s the first day of school.

  She took a deep breath and got out of bed. Her stomach turned as she got dressed for the new day. Walking toward the kitchen, she tried to put the dream behind her.

  The kitchen smelled faintly of the chicken and noodles from last night’s dinner. If only I hadn’t eaten the last piece for supper so that I could have some for lunch. She stared into the cold, organized-to-perfection refrigerator and contemplated her bagged lunch. She had first-day-of-school jitters, and food was always her comfort.

  Sumiko’s mother came into the kitchen, her bathrobe trailing behind her like a cape. As Sumiko buttered some bread, her mama poured her a glass of milk. Sitting down for breakfast with her mother, the despair of the nightmare slowly melted away. Unfortunately, Sumiko’s attention turned to another fear: Today was her first day in a new school.

  Sumiko smoothed her shoulder-length, dark hair and looked around her classroom at Phoenix Elementary. She already felt like an outsider. It seemed like everyone knew everyone else. The other students already had friends. Sumiko’s light-brown eyes studied the school’s students, so different from the segregated school she attended last year.

  She hoped that the other students would be friendly. Sumiko knew that some people in America didn’t like her and her family because of their Japanese heritage. And it wasn’t just because there was a war going on and—although the United States remained neutral—tensions with Japan were rising. The anti-Japanese sentiment had been simmering for as long as she could remember. Once, a car dealer refused to let her father buy a car. When Sumiko was out with her family, she sometimes felt the eyes of strangers boring into her. Sumiko’s stomach turned whenever she thought about the treatment her family received.

  Sitting in front of Sumiko was the only o
ther Japanese American student in the class. The girl looked familiar. She had soft, dark hair cut short behind her ears, pale skin, and bright hazel-green eyes. Her hands were folded as she listened attentively to Mrs. Fields, their teacher, give directions for the morning. The girl looked like the model student, but her bright-pink dress and yellow Mary Janes demanded attention. Sumiko had never seen yellow Mary Janes before and wondered if the girl had painted them herself.

  Mrs. Fields wrote “My Summer Memories” on the chalkboard and then walked to her desk to get worksheets for the class. As soon as Mrs. Fields turned her back, the girl turned around and whispered to Sumiko, “Hi, I’m Emi.”

  Sumiko smiled back. “Hi, I’m Suzie. Your family owns Kuno’s Market in town, right?” She glanced over at Mrs. Fields.

  “Yeah,” Emi said, not even lowering her voice. “I remember seeing you come by with your family. Do you still shop—?”

  “Quiet down, please,” said Mrs. Fields as she passed out the worksheets.

  Sumiko ducked her head and looked down at her worksheet. She began writing about her summer memories.

  Another classmate, pudgy-cheeked Jimmy, reached over and stole the eraser from Sumiko’s desk when he thought no one was looking. He snickered. Mrs. Fields looked up from her desk and squinted at the class through her thick, round glasses.

  “Be respectful, friends,” Mrs. Fields said to no one in particular.

  Jimmy made faces at Mrs. Fields when she looked back down at whatever she was reading. Emi glared at Jimmy and snatched the eraser back. She handed it back to Sumiko.

  “Thanks,” Sumiko whispered to Emi. Sumiko had a hard time containing her smile. She had a friend.

  August 18, 1941

  Dear Diary,

  I met a new girl in class today. Her name is Emi Kuno. Well, actually, I’ve met her before. Her family owns the grocery store Kuno’s Market. When I was younger, we used to shop there. It was before another grocery store opened closer to our farm. We would sell our lettuce and cantaloupe to Kuno’s and then buy other things we needed. Kuno’s is always busy. People go there to buy Japanese foods that they can’t get anywhere else. The Kuno family also lives there, I think, in a basement home under the store.

  Kuno’s Market used to be my favorite place to go with Papa. Mr. Kuno always gave me candy out of a large jar on the counter after he selected the fruits and vegetables that he wanted to sell. That’s when I first met Emi.

  Emi would practice her dance steps on the counter where we paid! She was really good too. I asked her how she knew how to dance like that and she said, “Just practice.” It’s so neat to be going to school with her now. I hope we’ll be friends.

  Sumiko

  Chapter Two

  “Would you like to come over to my house this weekend, Suzie?” Emi asked. It was the end of the first week of school and all around them kids were hurrying to leave. Today Emi’s dress was a bright blue, and she had matching barrettes pulling her hair back just behind her ears.

  “That would be fun,” Sumiko said. She’d always wanted to see Emi’s home. When she visited Kuno’s Market, she had always tried to imagine what the living area looked like downstairs.

  “Great, it’ll be just you and me. What about Saturday at six o’clock?” Emi asked. When Sumiko agreed, Emi practically danced. Then she squeezed Sumiko’s arms and got in line for the crowded farm truck taking her to Mesa. “See you then!” she trilled.

  August 22, 1941

  Dear Diary,

  The first week of school was tough and I’m really tired. There’s a lot of history and math that I need to study. My spelling is really bad, especially for the longer words. I’ve been making up songs to help myself remember all the letters in each word.

  Luckily, tomorrow is Saturday and I can sleep in—or so Mama says. She’s been distracted lately, so I guess she’s not going to make me do my usual Saturday chores! HOORAY! Of course, I can’t sleep too late. Emi Kuno invited me to come to her house. When school started at the beginning of the week, I thought I was going to spend the whole year with no friends. I’m so glad that Emi wants to be friends.

  Emi isn’t anything like me. She likes to stand out with her colorful outfits and upbeat personality. She seems to know what’s going on with every kid in our school. While I’d be content to hide in the corner, she likes to be the center of attention.

  Even though we’re very different, I think she will make a great friend.

  Sumiko

  Chapter Three

  September 4, 1941

  Dear Diary,

  Studying, studying, studying! I have been studying so much lately that I don’t have much time for anything else, including seeing Emi. We had fun at her house on Saturday. Her dad even remembered how much I liked the candy jar, and he offered me candy when I arrived. I’m a lot older than I was when my family used to visit the store, but I still like candy!

  Emi invited me to her house after school again yesterday, but I said I couldn’t go. We had a history test today, and I knew Mama would be unhappy if I didn’t study all afternoon and evening for it. I think I did pretty well on it. I hope so after all that studying!

  Mama’s always telling me how important my education is. My parents came to Arizona in search of a better life for our family and for my future. The way Mama tells the story, Papa came home one day with a look of determination on his face.

  “We’re leaving California, Haruko,” he said to my mama.

  “I guess he saw one too many ‘Japs Keep Moving’ signs,” Mama always says.

  But the land in Glendale was plentiful and cheap, and my parents were able to get a twenty-acre parcel. It’s a nice piece of land, with a low creek running through the middle. We lease the land from the Millers.

  “It was hard work to get the land flowing with fruit and vegetables,” Papa likes to remind me.

  I see the hard work they put in. The land is hot and the days are long for farmers like us. And that’s why I keep up with my schoolwork. My parents work hard for me to get an education, so I will work hard too. It’s the least I can do.

  Sumiko

  September 12, 1941

  Dear Diary,

  We’re on our way to Los Angeles to visit my grandparents for the weekend. I can’t wait to see them—and California! Emi is jealous because she thinks I’m going to see movie stars in Hollywood like Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. But I’m just excited to see my grandparents!

  My family moved to Arizona from California when I was three years old. I haven’t seen Obaasan and Ojiisan since I was four years old, and I don’t remember living in California. I don’t even remember what it is like.

  Maybe I should color my hair to look like a movie star. On second thought, I don’t think I’d like that. Everyone would stare at me. But it’s definitely something that Emi would try!

  Sumiko

  September 15, 1941

  Dear Diary,

  Los Angeles was so much fun. I like my grandparents’ house with its orange trees.

  On Saturday, we drove to the mountains and had a picnic. Obaasan brought along some great food: apple pie, watermelon, karaage, and korokke. It was delicious. It was so good that a clever little squirrel came up to get the crumbs off our blanket. Obaasan laughed at that.

  In the mountains, the air felt like autumn. It was so much cooler than Arizona! And the trees were lovely: yellow, red, and gold. I don’t ever stop to notice the beauty of nature in Arizona. Maybe it’s because I am always so busy! We have a very long summer in Arizona—almost an eternal heat. That’s a word that Mrs. Fields would like.

  When I got to school today, Emi wanted to know what movie stars I had seen. Unfortunately, I had to disappoint her because I didn’t see any. Maybe next time!

  Sumiko

  “That film was swell,” Emi said. Her eyes had a far-off, dreamy look to th
em.

  “It really was neat,” Sumiko agreed.

  The girls met after school to see a movie and then went to a nearby a restaurant. Sumiko took a deep breath. The smells of spicy enchilada sauce, tortillas, and carne asada filled her nose. She looked around. The restaurant was an old pueblo with wooden beams on the ceiling and lots of chili peppers hanging on the walls.

  It’s so nice to be here with Emi, Sumiko thought. Neither girl had any siblings, and Sumiko felt like it was destiny that the two of them would become the best of friends.

  Emi’s voice shook Sumiko out of her daydreams. “I want to be a famous actress, I think. And then I could dance, just like Eleanor Powell.”

  “You’d be the first Japanese American movie star!” Sumiko said, taking a sip of her soda.

  “You should be an actress too, Suzie. We could be a team,” said Emi, her eyes glittering at the thought.

  “Oh, thank you!” Sumiko blushed. “But I’m not sure about that. I’m not much of a dancer.”

  The girls were quiet for a moment.

  “Did you always want to do that?” Sumiko asked. “Be an actress, I mean.”

  “Yes,” Emi said. “Ever since I saw the first Broadway Melody film, I knew I was meant for the stage.”

  “Oh, that’s nice.” Sumiko wasn’t sure what else to say. She spent so much time studying that she never really allowed herself to dream like Emi did.

  Emi nodded her head in agreement. “It will be glamorous and exciting.”

  “Won’t you be scared?” Sumiko asked.

  Emi looked confused. “Scared of what?”

  Sumiko shrugged. “Being in front of those people. Forgetting your lines or your dance steps.”

  Emi shook her head from side to side. “No. I wouldn’t be scared. Not of that,” she said.

  Sumiko raised her eyebrows. “But you are scared of something, right?” Emi always seemed so fearless that Sumiko was almost afraid to hear the answer to her question.