The Fences Between Us Read online

  DEAR AMERICA

  The Diary of

  Piper Davis

  The Fences

  Between Us

  KIRBY LARSON

  This book is dedicated to all of the nearly 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent who were incarcerated in the ten War Relocation Camps during World War II, but especially to those in Minidoka.

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Seattle, Washington

  Saturday, November 8, 1941

  Sunday, November 9, 1941

  Monday, November 10, 1941

  Tuesday, November 11, 1941

  Saturday, November 15, 1941

  Sunday, November 16, 1941

  Monday, November 17, 1941

  Tuesday, November 18, 1941

  Wednesday, November 19, 1941

  Thursday, November 20, 1941 — Thanksgiving

  Saturday, November 22, 1941

  Monday, November 24, 1941

  Tuesday, November 25, 1941

  Wednesday, November 26, 1941

  Thursday, November 27, 1941

  Friday, November 28, 1941

  Saturday, November 29, 1941

  Sunday, November 30, 1941

  Monday, December 1, 1941

  Tuesday, December 2, 1941

  Wednesday, December 3, 1941

  Thursday, December 4, 1941

  Later

  Saturday, December 6, 1941

  Sunday, December 7, 1941

  Later

  Monday, December 8, 1941

  Tuesday, December 9, 1941

  Wednesday, December 10, 1941

  Later

  Thursday, December 11, 1941

  Monday, December 15, 1941

  Tuesday, December 16, 1941

  Wednesday, December 17, 1941

  Thursday, December 18, 1941

  Friday, December 19, 1941

  Saturday, December 20, 1941

  Sunday, December 21, 1941

  Monday, December 22, 1941

  Later

  Tuesday, December 23, 1941

  Wednesday, December 24, 1941

  Thursday, December 25, 1941

  Sunday, December 28, 1941

  Tuesday, December 30, 1941

  Wednesday, December 31, 1941

  Thursday, January 1, 1942

  Sunday January 4, 1942

  Monday, January 5, 1942

  Tuesday, January 6, 1942

  Wednesday, January 7, 1942

  Thursday, January 8, 1942

  Friday, January 9, 1942

  Saturday, January 10, 1942

  Tuesday, January 13, 1942

  Later

  Wednesday, January 14, 1942

  Thursday, January 15, 1942

  Sunday January 18, 1942

  Tuesday, January 20, 1942

  Thursday, January 22, 1942

  Sunday, January 25, 1942

  Tuesday, January 27, 1942

  Friday, January 30, 1942

  Sunday, February 1, 1942

  Tuesday, February 3, 1942

  Wednesday, February 4, 1942

  Thursday, February 5, 1942

  Friday, February 6, 1942

  Saturday, February 7, 1942

  Monday, February 9, 1942

  Friday, February 13, 1942

  Saturday, February 14, 1942

  Monday, February 16, 1942

  Wednesday, February 18, 1942

  Thursday, February 19, 1942

  Saturday, February 21, 1942

  Monday, February 23, 1942

  Tuesday, February 24, 1942

  Wednesday, February 25, 1942

  Saturday, February 28, 1942

  Sunday, March 1, 1942

  Monday, March 2, 1942

  Wednesday, March 4, 1942

  Friday, March 6, 1942

  Monday, March 9, 1942

  Thursday, March 12, 1942

  Friday, March 13, 1942

  Saturday, March 14, 1942

  Sunday, March 15, 1942

  Tuesday, March 17, 1942

  Wednesday, March 18, 1942

  Monday, March 23, 1942

  Tuesday, March 24, 1942

  Monday, March 30, 1942

  Wednesday, April 1, 1942

  Sunday, April 5, 1942 — Easter

  Monday April 6, 1942

  Wednesday, April 8, 1942

  Thursday, April 9, 1942

  Friday, April 17, 1942

  Saturday, April 18, 1942

  Tuesday, April 21, 1942

  Saturday, April 25, 1942

  Sunday, April 26, 1942

  Monday, April 27, 1942

  Wednesday, April 29, 1942

  Friday, May 1, 1942

  Tuesday, May 5, 1942

  Friday, May 8, 1942

  Saturday, May 9, 1942

  Sunday, May 10, 1942

  Friday, May 15, 1942

  Saturday, May 16, 1942

  Wednesday, May 20, 1942

  Thursday, May 28, 1942

  Saturday, May 30, 1942

  Saturday, June 6, 1942

  Sunday, June 7, 1942

  Monday, June 8, 1942

  Tuesday, June 9, 1942

  Wednesday, June 10, 1942

  Thursday, June 11, 1942

  Friday, June 12, 1942 — The Last Day of Seventh Grade!

  Saturday, June 13, 1942

  Sunday, June 14, 1942

  Thursday, June 18, 1942

  Monday, June 22, 1942

  Tuesday, June 30, 1942

  Wednesday, July 1, 1942

  Saturday, July 4, 1942

  Sunday, July 5, 1942

  Friday, July 10, 1942

  Sunday, July 12, 1942

  Tuesday, July 14, 1942

  Friday, July 17, 1942

  Sunday, July 19, 1942

  Monday, July 20, 1942

  Thursday, July 23, 1942

  Sunday, July 26, 1942

  Monday, August 10, 1942

  Wednesday, August 12, 1942

  Saturday, August 15, 1942

  Sunday, August 16, 1942

  Monday, August 17, 1942

  Thursday, August 20, 1942

  Friday, August 21, 1942

  Thursday, August 27, 1942

  Saturday, August 29, 1942

  Monday, September 7, 1942

  Tuesday, September 8, 1942

  Wednesday, September 9, 1942

  Thursday, September 10, 1942

  Friday, September 11, 1942

  Saturday, September 12, 1942

  Monday, September 14, 1942

  Tuesday, September 15, 1942

  Thursday, September 17, 1942

  Monday, September 21, 1942

  Wednesday, September 23, 1942

  Thursday, September 24, 1942

  Friday, September 25, 1942

  Saturday, September 26, 1942

  Minidoka War Relocation Center

  Monday, September 28, 1942

  Tuesday, September 29, 1942

  Wednesday, September 30, 1942

  Thursday, October 1, 1942

  Sunday, October 4, 1942

  Monday, October 5, 1942

  Wednesday, October 7, 1942

  Friday, October 9, 1942

  Saturday, October 10, 1942

  Sunday, October 11, 1942

  Monday, October 12, 1942

  Wednesday, October 14, 1942

  Friday, October 16, 1942

  Saturday, October 17, 1942

  Monday, October 19, 1942

  Tuesday, October 20, 1942

  Wednesday, October 21, 1942

  Thursday, October 22, 1942

  Friday, October 23, 1942

  Saturday, October 24, 1942

&n
bsp; Sunday, October 25, 1942

  Monday, October 26, 1942

  Wednesday, October 28, 1942

  Friday, October 30, 1942

  Saturday, October 31, 1942 — Halloween

  Sunday, November 1, 1942

  Monday, November 2, 1942

  Tuesday, November 3, 1942

  Wednesday, November 4, 1942

  Thursday, November 5, 1942

  Friday, November 6, 1942

  Saturday, November 7, 1942

  Sunday, November 8, 1942

  Monday, November 9, 1942

  Tuesday, November 10, 1942

  Wednesday, November 11, 1942 — Armistice Day

  Thursday, November 12, 1942

  Friday, November 13, 1942

  Sunday, November 15, 1942

  Monday, November 16, 1942

  Tuesday, November 17, 1942

  Thursday, November 19, 1942

  Friday, November 20, 1942

  Saturday, November 21, 1942

  Sunday, November 22, 1942

  Monday, November 23, 1942

  Tuesday, November 24, 1942

  Thursday, November 26, 1942

  Friday, November 27, 1942

  Saturday, November 28, 1942

  Monday, November 30, 1942

  Tuesday, December 1, 1942

  Wednesday, December 2, 1942

  Thursday, December 3, 1942

  Friday, December 4, 1942

  Saturday, December 5, 1942

  Sunday, December 6, 1942

  Monday, December 7, 1942

  Thursday, December 10, 1942

  Saturday, December 12, 1942

  Tuesday, December 15, 1942

  Wednesday, December 16, 1942

  Thursday, December 17, 1942

  Friday, December 18, 1942

  Monday, December 21, 1942

  Thursday, December 24, 1942

  Christmas Day, 1942

  Sunday, December 27, 1942

  Friday, January 1, 1943

  Monday, January 4, 1943

  Saturday, January 9, 1943

  Monday, January 11, 1943

  Tuesday, January 12, 1943

  Thursday, January 14, 1943

  Sunday, January 17, 1943

  Wednesday, January 20, 1943

  Friday, January 22, 1943

  Sunday, January 24, 1943

  Tuesday, January 26, 1942

  Thursday, January 28, 1943

  Friday, January 29, 1943

  Sunday, January 31, 1943

  Monday, February 1, 1943

  Tuesday, February 2, 1943

  Friday, February 5, 1943

  Saturday, February 6, 1943

  Sunday, February 7, 1943

  Monday, February 8, 1943

  Friday, February 12, 1943

  Saturday, February 13, 1943

  Sunday, February 14, 1943

  Wednesday, February 17, 1943

  Saturday, February 20, 1943

  Tuesday, February 23, 1943

  Friday, February 26, 1943

  Monday, March 1, 1943

  Wednesday, March 3, 1943

  Friday, March 5, 1943

  Saturday, March 6, 1943

  Monday, March 8, 1943

  Tuesday, March 9, 1943

  Thursday, March 11, 1943

  Friday, March 12, 1943

  Sunday, March 14, 1943

  Thursday, March 18, 1943

  Saturday, March 20, 1943

  Sunday, March 21, 1943

  Monday, March 22, 1943

  Saturday, March 27, 1943

  Monday, March 29, 1943

  Friday, April 2, 1943

  Tuesday, April 6, 1943

  Saturday, April 10, 1943

  Monday, April 12, 1943

  Friday, April 16, 1943

  Saturday, April 17, 1943

  Sunday, April 18, 1943

  Monday, April 19, 1943

  Tuesday, April 20, 1943

  Wednesday, April 21, 1943

  Thursday, April 22, 1943

  Friday, April 23, 1943

  Saturday, April 24, 1943

  Sunday, April 25, 1943 — Easter

  Monday, April 26, 1943

  Tuesday, April 27, 1943

  Thursday, April 29, 1943

  Friday, April 30, 1943

  Saturday, May 1, 1943 — May Day

  Epilogue

  Life in America in 1941

  Historical Note

  WWII Oatmeal Molasses Cookies

  FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT’S Speech to the U.S. Congress on December 8, 1941 (as delivered)

  From the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Other books in the Dear America series

  Copyright

  Seattle,

  Washington

  1941

  Saturday, November 8, 1941

  I’ve never been the diary type, but now I have something to write about.

  I didn’t think this day would come so soon. The minute he graduated from high school in June, my big brother, Hank, enlisted in the Navy — so he can see the world and that sort of thing. Trixie says she’s glad he went Navy because he looks so dreamy in the dark middy and white sailor hat. I think he would’ve looked just as dreamy in a University of Washington letterman’s jacket. That way he could still be home, with us, where he belongs.

  Here’s what happened when he told us that day. Margie had made some new recipe and we were all picking at it, trying to find the edible bits. I was thinking about calling Trixie to see if she wanted to go for a soda after supper, to celebrate the end of sixth grade. Pop was making notes for a church meeting. Margie was probably daydreaming about her new boyfriend, Stan. All of a sudden, Hank put down his fork.

  “So I guess I better tell you guys before I burst.” He was wearing a smile even bigger than the one he wore when Garfield won the state baseball championships. “You’re looking at Seaman Davis.”

  “What are you talking about?” Margie froze in her chair.

  Hank saluted. “I enlisted. You-Nited States Navy. I’ll be on my way to boot camp in a week.”

  Even though I was almost thirteen I bawled like a baby. I didn’t even feel like dessert, and it was lemon meringue pie. Margie got a funny look on her face, but she didn’t let on what she was feeling. She’s like that. She didn’t even cry when she broke her leg skiing that time.

  Pop did what he did best. Talked. It comes naturally for a preacher, I guess. Anyway, first he talked about Hank being so young. Hank said eighteen wasn’t that young. Then Pop asked him about college. Hank said he’d get an education in the Navy and he’d get to see the world. Then Pop brought up the war in Europe.

  “These are troubled times, son. Hitler’s on the march in Europe, and heaven only knows what Japan will do after occupying so much of Indochina.”

  “Those are not our battles, Pop. We’re not at war,” Hank said.

  “But for how long?” Pop shook his head. “For how long?”

  That’s when Hank lost his temper. He pushed himself back from the table.

  “Pop, you’ve got to let me grow up and make my own decisions. Besides, President Roosevelt promised we weren’t going to get involved. It’s the peacetime Navy for me, all the way. You can worry about me falling overboard or getting a tattoo or getting seasick. But one thing you do not have to worry about is me being in that war.”

  Pop didn’t say anything for a minute, just stirred another spoonful of sugar into his coffee. And then he said, “You’re right, son. This is your decision to make. I may wish you’d made a different one, but I would never change one thing about you. You have grown up into a fine young man.”

  Well, that got me weepy all over again. Margie said, “I believe we could all use some pie,” and that was the end of that.

  Pop didn’t say much afterward, but all summer long whenever he read anything about what the Germans were doing in Europe or the Japanese in China, he made sure to clip the article out and send it to Hank at boot camp. M
e, I sent him jokes.

  When he finished boot camp and got his orders, Hank called home. Long distance! No one else was here so I got to take the call. “Tell Pop I got the best assignment ever — Hawaii,” he said. “Nothing to worry about there but getting hit in the head by a falling coconut.” I screamed and jumped up and down when Hank said he’d get to come home for a whole week before he shipped out for Pearl Harbor.

  I’ve never had a week go by so fast. He spent time with his buddies, sure, but he made time for me, too. We went to the show, went fishing by Ray’s Boathouse, and last Sunday morning before church, we had a pancake-eating contest. Hank won, of course.

  The worst day of his visit home was today, the day we had to say good-bye. Mrs. Harada came with us to see Hank off. I was only a baby when she started taking care of us. As we stood there on the dock trying to pick Hank out of all the sailors, Mrs. Harada kept saying, “My little boy, my little boy,” over and over again. Margie didn’t shed a tear, of course, but I cried enough for the both of us put together. I’m not a worrier, like Pop. Besides, Hank can take care of himself. I’m blue because he’s the best big brother in the world and I’m going to miss him like the dickens.

  I couldn’t look at his ship when it pulled out of port. I felt like a little kid—maybe if I didn’t look, he wouldn’t really be gone — but I didn’t care. Mrs. Harada put her arm around my shoulder. Her hugs have helped me feel better after skinned knees or bad scores on spelling tests. But nothing could fill up the Hank-sized hole in my heart.

  Then she told me she had something for me. “Here, Piper,” she said, handing me this diary. It fit into my hand like it belonged there.

  “It’s beautiful.” I ran my fingertips over the red cover embossed with gold cherry blossoms.

  “I bought it a long time ago. I was saving it for the right time.” She hugged me. “Now seems like the right time.”

  “It’s the perfect time,” Pop said. “Every thirteen-year-old girl could benefit from the self-reflection a diary offers.”

  I made a face. Leave it to Pop to turn a cheer-up gift into a sermon.

  “This is Piper’s,” said Mrs. Harada. “No one can tell her what to write in it. Not even you.” She wagged her finger at Pop.

  I liked that idea. Having a place I could write whatever I wanted.

  And I want to write that I already miss my brother.

  Sunday, November 9, 1941

  Boy, oh, boy was Pop’s sermon long today. If Hank had been here, we could’ve written each other notes in our secret code. I don’t know how Margie can sit there through the whole thing. She’s probably used to it, though, having to sit through all those college Chem lectures.

  I wonder how long it will take Hank to get to his base in Pearl Harbor?