My+HF+Story-+LOCKED+UP

I cannot explain why Wiki can't let me indent...

**__LOCKED UP__**, by JC
The sun’s ray beat brightly against my pale face, but the winter breeze still found its way to freeze me up. The cold is annoying; you never know what the breeze can do before it comes. New York City is especially cold during December and January. Walking in front of me is a short little newsie carrying an armful of white newspapers. His hairless head can be seen through the shred hat. He shouted out loud today’s headline in a way which would annoy people instead of attracting them. “Pearl Harbor in Hawaii bombed by Japanese soldiers!” He repeated it over and over. At first, I was dubious about the loud sentence that came out of his small mouth. I ran up to him and asked him if I could take a look at it. “Excuse me! Hello? Can I just take a look at your paper?” “No! You must pay for it!” The kid screamed at me. I didn’t have any money with me but I could give something else instead. “How about I give you three of my new pencils for a newspaper?” “Deal! Here you go,” he said and then went back to his business of shouting to the street again. He must be really poor, I could see his lips lifting up as I handed him my pencils, and his blue eyes flashed with thrill. Poor boy! I read as I walked. I was considered a fast reader in my class; my teacher said I comprehend quicker than others. Below today’s date was the title, “Japanese Planes Bombed Pearl Harbor.” I read it over again and again, I thought I was hallucinating but it really says “Japanese”. I am Japanese. My thoughts were at war inside my head. Why would the Japanese soldiers do that? The article said it was a terrorist attack. Somehow, fear started to pile up in my chest and my head started to spin. This paper must be a joke! - - - My legs sore and numbed when I got home. I sprinted home holding the newspaper under my armpit. I caught my breath before I opened the door. “Mother! Father!” I shouted as I threw my backpack down to the couch. “I have to show you guys something!” “Yes, son?” My father’s voice sounded sore and tense. He came out of the kitchen holding what seems to be the same newspaper I’m holding. “I guess you read, right? What happened?” “Yes, I read,” he replied, “and I thought it was a joke, but then I heard it actually happened in the radio.” We had a very cheap radio, father spent few weeks of salary on it. The radio doesn’t get good reception and it sounded cranked up the last time we listened to it. But we could still make out what it says. Mother came out too looking melancholy, with the tips of her lips hanging down. I have seen that face many times, like whenever I get in trouble in school. “I am worried about my sister in Hawaii,” mother finally said something. “Hawaii isn’t that big” “I thought your sister lives in Hilo, it is not even close to where Pearl Harbor is.” Father is quite good with geography, which is what he does for a living, working in a map making company. “Right, but still, this is a very unfortunate event.” Mother stood up and walked upstairs to her bedroom. “Don’t worry, Ken. I am sure nothing will happen. Go and do your homework.” Father walked outside without saying anything else. I sat on the couch, took out my workbook and let my head get swamped with some math problems. - - - “Where the hell were you this few days? Ken” John asked. “Oh, I had too much homework lately.” “Yeah, sure, nerdy lad.” “John, where is Mary?” Mary always hangs out with us, she’s technically one of us, and we do almost everything together. “I have no idea, she seemed to be avoiding us lately.” John kicked a rock down the street. We walked down the quiet street of Brooklyn. New York City is full of activities but not here in this part of Brooklyn. The only thing we do in a lazy Saturday afternoon is playing basketball. “Hey John, did you hear about what happened in Hawaii last week?” I asked. “Oh yes. Those Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor. I wonder why they do that? Since you are Japanese, do you know?” “Hey, you prejudiced bastard! Just because I am Japanese doesn’t mean that I am a culprit. I was immigrated here when I was nine.” “Just kidding, Ken Kenmura, you don’t have to be so serious about it.” “It’s //Ki//mura! “//Keeeeee//” He always call me that, and I think he does it on purpose. “Oh my god! I forgot that my parents told me to go back home in the afternoon. They said we are going to buy things together to get ready for Chinese New Year.” “Okay, see you in school on Monday, John.” The next day in school, I passed by Mary in school. She was wearing the beautiful dress that I found quite eye-catching. In my opinion, she is the most attractive girl in my school, and the good thing was that we were both friends already. “Mary, Mary!” I yelled after her. She turned her head with her blond hair swinging back. “Oh hi, Ken.” “Where were you lately? John and I both thought you don’t want to be friends with us anymore” “I need to talk to you; can you wait in the school yard for me after school?” Something happened; I could see the anxiety in her bright green eyes. I felt that she’s uncomfortable to be around me. “Sure, alright.”

I exited the school door and walked out to the yard. Quickly, the cold wind tour into my body through my sleeves, and gave me a greeting of chill. I started shaking and it became uncomfortable. I realized I had my jacket on my arm. Why am I so brainless! I hurriedly slipped on my jacket and let my body heat skirmish the cold. In front of me stood Mary. She doesn’t seem to be harassed by the cold, she has a pink scarf on. “Hello, Mary.” “Um, Ken, I don’t know how I should say this.” Now she’s starting to shake. “Go ahead, bring the words out.” I said. “Ok… I am afraid I can’t be with you anymore.” Now I thought I had a problem with my ears. I let silence take over for a few seconds and then I opened my dry lips, “Why?” “My mom said I shouldn’t be hanging out with you anymore… She is paranoid about what happened in Hawaii.” I couldn’t believe a single word of what she just said to me! “What! That bombing is ruining our friendship? That is distraught and racist, I mean you should understand that! I am sure that was nothing” Suddenly, tears started to flow down her red cheek. “That wasn’t nothing, that was an attack! I really hope my mother didn’t give me that talk. I am sorry, Ken.” Then Mary turned and ran away. Mary is very obedient to her parents. I was left alone and I didn’t know what to do. I was caught in a quandary. I suddenly felt so abandoned and the only company was the wind. I felt like I was hated for something that I didn’t do! This was so unfair, it’s like you are getting blamed for bullying just because you look like one! Not all Japanese are culpable. I walked home slowly with lots of things going on in my head; my mind was flooded with questions and uncertainty. What Mary said to me gave me a premonition that maybe everyone will hate me soon. Damn! - - - It’s been months since I’ve talked to Mary. She even tried to avoid John. I mean, John is Chinese! Sigh, I wonder why the mothers are always so worried. My mother used to forbidden me from using scissors or any sharp things when I was little. Walking down to the living room, my parents were listening to the radio. Father seemed frozen with the newspaper opened in his hands. Mother was also frozen holding the broom. Slowly, I could make out what the radio was saying. //President// //Franklin// //Roosevelt// //has issued the “////US// //Executive Order 9066”, ordering all Japanese residents currently living inland of this country to be relocated to internment camps in the west. His purpose is to avoid any existing spies to cease activity in this country, that he has declared war against the Japanese…// Father suddenly sighed loudly and shut his eyes. In a split second, he forcefully ripped his newspaper! That sudden action made me jumped. I have never seen him explode like that. “This is such a catastrophe! What do they think they are doing?” He ran outside, probably to his friend’s place, which is usually where he goes whenever he has problems. Mother also left the house. Now I’m alone all by myself, thinking about the things that just went into my ear. - - - The following months were busy with news about the Japanese on the radio and in the newspaper. Father finally learned how to deal with his anger management; he would just sigh, letting all the frustration escape. We were eating lunch and suddenly, //knock knock,// someone was knocking on our door. “Open up, open up!” There seemed to be more than one person. Father walked to the door and opened the door, letting the fresh air roam in. There stood three blond American men in black with shades, and golden tags on their chest that spelled, “//FBI”.// “What the hell is this?” Father asked cluelessly, “Is there a crime occurring here?” “We are the FBI, and we are here to inform you that all Japanese Americans are subjected to be relocated.” “Sigh, I knew this was going to happen” Father did his routine again and sigh a louder one. “I know there is nothing I can do.” “Good, we will give you two hours for you to pack everything you will need.” “I will show the Americans that not all Japanese are rebellious, some do follow the law.” “We will come back later and you must be ready.” Then they left and walked across the street. Father shut the door and faced us, “You heard them, we must go, or else things won’t go peacefully.” “This whole world seems to be in chaos,” Mother whispered to herself, “Alright, I will go get our suitcases ready. Ken, go get your clothes suitable for all seasons.” I walked slowly upstairs and get some clothes. Somehow, I had another premonition… of death. Is where we are going a safe place? Packing took the whole two hours. I asked mother if I can go say bye to John, but she didn’t let me, saying if I go, they might think I am trying to escape. I felt very awful inside. It’s as if my heart was a ton and it’s dragging down. This perplexity of why Japanese soldiers did what they did really haunted me. We dragged our suitcases out the door. Father shut the door and started starring at our house for quite a while. I did the same, thinking that starring at our house will let us stay. To be honest, I felt like a criminal for all this business. The FBI greeted us and took us to the train station. They brought us to a group of Asians, Japanese rather, and some of them only had plastic bags with their clothes in it. More men in black came and gave us each number tags, like criminal. Not everyone is going to the same location, some people were boarding the train going to Manzanar Relocation Center, and some were going to Topaz. We were ordered to board the train to a clueless place called “Gila River”. The train wasn’t like anything I have experience. It was fast, but it was unbearably uncomfortable. The smell of old metal and stinky benches oppressed me with disdain. I vomited once, letting the lunch I ate to rocket up my throat and out of my mouth. Mother padded my back and gave me water. I couldn’t believe we had to sleep in this rotten train! - - - “Here we are,” Father said softly, “come on, grab you stuff.” We got out of the train, and finally met fresh air. I breathed in the gentle breeze, letting them touch my warm skin and wash away the sickness inside my body. I took a look at other people, a Japanese boy about my age and my height gazed at me, and I smiled at him. An American man with the cowboy hat came to greet us. “Hello, you can call me Mr. Smith, I will be your coordinator in this camp until this chaotic war ends.” I heard someone cursed in Japanese. “This internment camp you are going to is called ‘Gila River War Relocation Center’.” “Where are we?” I asked anyone that might answer. Father turned to me and replied, “We are in Arizona.” Arizona? We traveled that far! Arizona is near the west coast of the United States, and New York is all the way in the northeast. I felt very far from home and I have never experience homesickness like this before. Then, we arrived at what they called the relocation center. I wonder what might happen to John, they might mistake him as Japanese. Mr. Smith showed us to our room. This was insane; we had to share a room with two other families! The room smelled like raw paint and old with a bit sourness in the mattresses. How can I survive this? The beds were all bunk beds and I sat on the bottom one. I heard a quick squeaky noise from the bed, they must be really old! My parents unpack their suitcases and took out our radio. They brought the radio too? It seemed like the radio didn’t work as well here. I laid down thinking about why I might be here, and how I can escape. - - - Guess what, I liked it here. I slowly got used to this place. It wasn’t that bad, we could play basketball here everyday. They were having a school in this camp to keep the kids educated. My parents forced me to go to this school. Sigh, everyday I tried to kill time in class daydreaming or sneak outside. I hated it, because the things they are teaching were incredibly boring. What are you? Trying to make my head explode? But, I managed to get through by drawing in class, the teacher didn’t even call on me much. I never get bullied here like I sometimes would back home. I think it’s because we were all the same race of people. They were so nice to me, even the girls would greet me, and that somehow made me forget about John and Mary. I saw the boy who gazed at me back in the train station, he was with a bunch of kids known as //The Troublemakers// in the camp talking in the hallway. And they were playing with matches! I walked up to them and was able to hear what they were saying. “I hate this camp so much.” That kid said. “Yeah, the food is bad and the rooms are so damn small!” said another kid. “Let’s burn this building down.” I butted into their conversation, “You can’t do that!” “Who the hell are you, man?” Said the boy, “Why do you care what I do?” “You will get in trouble for playing with fire.” I eyed him with disdain. “So what?” and then he threw that fired match into a room and a blanket got on fire. I quickly ran out the door to look for Mr. Smith. Before I even got to his office (I know the camp pretty well now), I saw what happened. The whole first floor was on fire! I watched as people run outside with their mouth covered by their mouth. The black smoke slowly strayed up and disappeared among the blue sky. Now it was a burning hell down here! The fire alarmed went off and people in the camp ran to get water to put out this growing and aggressive fire! Suddenly I heard a cry of a little kid. She must be trapped inside. I ran to the door, but it was covered in smoke. The sound of coughing overwhelmed us. My guts somehow made me running into the building. I heard the crying from the right, so I ran that way down the hall. The further I went, the hotter it felt. My head was aching and my eyes were drying, I couldn’t see where I was going. The rotten gas smell climbed its way into my nostrils. But I found the room where the crying was, and there stood a little girl about eight or nine. I went in, I picked her up to my arms and jumped out the door. Now it was hotter than ever, I had a hard time opening my eyes because the smoke gave me this intense drowsiness. My eyes were probably red. In front of me, something exploded and there was a huge powerful fire mocking me. How am I going to get through this ball of fire? The window next to me suddenly blasted open, a man smashed it with a hammer. Now the fire and smoke started to crawl to the window. “Come on, hurry, boy!” He yelled. I dashed to the window with the girl in my arm, and handed her to that man, and then I tried to crawl out the window. Time was limited, if I don’t crawl out, the fire would burn me alive! I jumped up with all my energy and had my knees on the window, that man grabbed my arm and I pushed with my other leg to get on the window. The fire almost caught up, but I jump right out the window and landed on the ground with my chest. I was safe. The man managed to crawl down the ladder he was on, and soon the firefighters came do their part. The second I got myself to stand up, the clapping sound now replaced the coughing, everyone around me started to clap at me. “He saved that little girl, this boy is a hero!” Someone shouted. The clapping got even louder when the firefighters started to join them. Mr. Smith, father, and mother ran up to me. “Are you alright, Ken” asked mother. “Yes, I am okay, no need to worry.” Now I could stand up fully and with the muscle strength I had left, I raised my right arm into the air. Now there were cheering from the crowd. “Ken Kimura! Ken Kimura!” They shouted. Mr. Smith raised my other arm, “Ken Kimura is a hero!” “Ken Kimura! Ken Kimura! Ken Kimura!” Days later, they found the group of boys who did this, I wasn’t the only witness, a woman saw them also. They were taken away to the police and nobody knew what happened next. - - - It was the time everyone was dreaming of, the war was finally over. Mr. Smith announced that after the final day, we would be allowed to leave and go home. I just couldn’t believe it when that sentence came out of his mouth, “The war is over”. Mother and father were really excited, father started hopping around, and I had never seen him like that before. The next week, we packed our things again and were ready to say goodbye to this internment camp. It was a disaster again in the train, I vomited three times. My stomach must be messed up. All that sour smell gave me a really terrible and oppressive headache. But I couldn’t describe how joyful I was when we got out of the train. It was like the contentment just came back and refreshed my whole mind. We were very lucky, I mean it, very lucky. Our house didn’t get trashed by the other people. We saw other houses of Japanese families were trashed with racist paintings all over the wall and their windows were shattered. We got home safely and it was like the memory of the time when we lived here came back to me, and I missed the friends I made in the camp. Father came outside with the lively flag of America, and stick it on the mailbox indicating we are Americans. He turned to me, “Americans shouldn’t be treated like they aren’t Americans.” I nodded with proud and thought about all these years of chaos in the outside the boarders. I suddenly had a temptation to talk to my old friends; I hope Mary will still be friends with us. I met up with John in the park, the weird thing was, Mary came also. My heart was filled with thrill. I swear I saw Mary smiling at me, and then I forgot the things she said years ago in the school yard. “Long time no see, Ken,” Mary said to me. “Yeah, we missed you,” and John tapped my shoulder, “We all read on the newspaper that you saved a little girl in a fire!” “What, I was on the paper? Whoa!” I did felt self-righteous that I saved that girl. “Yes, I guess I was wrong, my mother was wrong also. You were right, not all the same type of people are the same. I believe that your heart is pure.” Mary smiled. I started to blush. “Um… that’s ok, I forgive you.” “You are a hero.” And she kissed me.