Tuesday, April 28
I’m feeling just awful and not because I missed Guides. Tad left for Ontario tonight. He’s headed somewhere called Schreiber. But because he volunteered, he was free to get to the train station on his own. That’s a blessing, given what we saw! The men who came from Hastings Park directly to the train station arrived in old buses guarded by Mounties with their guns out! I recognized the Nakagawas’ two youngest sons but the oldest wasn’t with them.
Everyone hugged Tad goodbye, even Papa, but when it was my turn I stared at the ground. Tad asked me not to worry, and even though I tried not to, I began to cry. Tad squeezed me and whispered to be brave for the rest of the family and to look after Harry. I promised I’d do my best!
The old train the Nisei boarded wasn’t much better than the old buses. Everyone on the platform was madly waving and calling goodbye or sayonara. The train finally pulled away and Harry and I kept waving until it was a speck in the distance. Then Emma said we’d better hurry home because of curfew. The sight of those Mounties with guns made me rush back to the streetcar stop!
At home, I felt so rotten I went to my room and got out this diary to see if writing things down would help. It hasn’t.
Wednesday, April 29
A letter from Mike arrived today! He sent it April 3rd, from somewhere inland, near Alberta, but the name of the place was blacked out! We have to write him care of the post office in Revelstoke, the closest town.
Mike says he’s fine but camp conditions are crude. At first the men lived in tents, but now they’re building cabins to keep out the cold. Those who arrived before Mike had to deal with tons of snow, lousy food, no water and no latrines. It’s better now but “no picnic,” as Mike writes. Many of the men are older and miss their families terribly. One of them is Mr. Nakagawa, who’s really worried about his family and farm. Mike misses us all too. I bet he isn’t using the gramophone much.
I hope Geechan is better off, wherever he is. We still haven’t heard from him, and he left two weeks before Mike. I hope and pray everyone, including Tad and the Nakagawa boys, is okay.
Thursday, April 30
Mama phoned Gladys to say we saw Ben and Joseph leaving. That’s when she learned that Gladys and her mother must leave their farm. They couldn’t do the picking anyway without their workers, who have no way of getting there or are being sent away to road camps or the ghost towns. There are no trucks to deliver the berries either. The fruit is going to rot in the fields.
Gladys and her mother must be at Hastings Park on Monday. And Mas was arrested for refusing to go to road camp with his brothers! He argued with the Mountie ordering them to leave. Now he’s in a prisoner-of-war camp called Angler in northern Ontario. His brothers went to Hastings Park without resisting because their mother was so upset about Mas. Gladys was relieved that we saw them at the train station.
It was Harry’s birthday today and the Tillicum Club published his name in the Province this morning. We had a quiet celebration. Mama made a small cake and we sang “Happy Birthday” but things just don’t feel right. I guess that’s because they aren’t.
Monday, May 4
Papa said the drugstore has a new stock boy. And Mr. Cowan finally found someone to drive the car for deliveries. Tad would be amused to know that the pharmacy needs two people to replace just one of him! I hope he’s safe in Ontario by now.
Diary, I hope Papa won’t be the next one in our family to leave us!
Tuesday, May 5
Sachi’s father is being sent away! The family doesn’t know where yet, but he must leave Friday. I feel terrible for her because I know how awful it is — Geechan and Mike had to leave and Tad’s gone too, even though he left because he wanted to. Until now, Sachi’s always kept a positive outlook through all the bad things that have happened since Pearl Harbor. But on the way to Guides tonight, she looked really dejected. Maggie and Ellen were sorry for Sachi, but neither of them can really understand what she’s going through. And I’m so afraid for Papa now!
Wednesday, May 6
Mama went to visit Gladys and Mrs. Nakagawa at Hastings Park today. She said they are fortunate to have a corner stall with a little more privacy, but I’m so upset that these good people are being treated like this.
Friday, May 8
Sachi’s father left for road camp today. For the first time I can remember, Sachi missed school. No wonder! I’m going to drop by her house tomorrow to try and cheer her up, though I don’t have any idea how.
Saturday, May 9
Visited Sachi today and the whole Yamada family is so sad. Sachi and I went to her bedroom. She had a good cry and I did too. Sachi’s father is the nicest man. I can’t understand why anyone believes that he or Geechan or Mike is a threat to Canada’s security. I tried everything I could think of to make Sachi feel better, and finally brought her my book of fairy tales. It might help to get her mind off her troubles, even for a little while. In the meantime, I wish I could find something to distract me from my worries.
Monday, May 11
Sachi was back at school today, but she wasn’t herself and who can blame her.
We finally had a short letter from Geechan today! Papa had to tell us what he wrote. Geechan says it’s been very cold and snowy where he is. He’s very glad for the long johns Mama packed. He and the other men are living in tents and have to melt snow for fresh water. He says not to worry about him and he’ll write again soon. The letter is six weeks old!
Geechan sounds okay, but I’m so upset that he’s living in a tent. He doesn’t deserve to be taken away from us and treated this way!
Tuesday, May 12
Sachi stayed home from Guides tonight. We missed her. At least she said she’s enjoying the fairy tales.
Friday, May 15
I can hardly write this. Mr. Cowan told Papa he couldn’t work in the drugstore anymore. He said he was very sorry, but it just wasn’t possible to keep him on. He’d be happy to give Papa a good reference, and thought that maybe Papa could find a job helping at one of the pharmacies on Powell Street. Doesn’t Mr. Cowan know most Powell Street businesses are closing down?
Papa gave us the news at suppertime and tried to joke about it by saying we won’t be getting any more chocolate-bar treats. Harry said, “Aw, that stinks,” but Emma gave him the look and he stopped talking. I think even Harry finally noticed how worried everyone is.
What will we do without Papa working? Kay thinks that Mr. Cowan probably believes Papa will be sent away like so many other Japanese in Vancouver, and has to be prepared for the worst. This certainly is the worst for us! Geechan’s living in a tent in the mountains, Mike’s money hasn’t reached us yet and we don’t even know what Tad is doing. And Mama’s sewing earnings are slowly disappearing because most hakujin have stopped coming and her Japanese customers are being sent away! I’m so worried Papa will be sent away too, now that he doesn’t have a job.
Tuesday, May 19
It was raining but Mama went back to Hastings Park today. She found out that Mrs. Harada and her children leave next week for a place called Kaslo in the interior. Aunt Eiko discovered that Mr. Harada had been sent to Lemprière road camp in the Rockies. She told Mama that the men there and in some other camps have begun protesting by refusing to work until they see their families. The Security Commission can’t send them all to prisoner-of-war camps in Ontario, so they might get their wish. I hope so!
Mama saw Gladys and her mother again. Mrs. Nakagawa is very worried about her husband and her sons, especially Mas in Angler. Gladys said the men there have to wear uniforms with big red circles on the back to make better TARGETS for the guards.
I can barely believe it. How can this really be happening?
Friday, May 22
Empire Day today and also Sports Day at Templeton. There was no assembly but we sang “God Save the King” and “O Canada” before the action got underway outdoors.
It’s funny, but I forgot our troubles, if only for a while. An
d I won a medal! The rain let up long enough for all the events to take place. I competed in the fifty-yard dash, high jump, broad jump and softball throw. I was also on a relay team with Maggie, Sachi and Ellen. Our team placed first, and because I scored highest in all my events, I won my division. Kay teased me but she admired my medal along with everyone else.
Sunday, May 24
I’m thirteen today. The gang treated me to a Double Decker at the Crystal Dairy. Maggie’s brother still works there and still calls me Button Beak. It was so nice of Sachi to come because I know she’s really missing her father.
Later I helped Papa in the garden. It reminded me of Geechan and I started feeling blue again. But I mustn’t cry on my birthday. Kay says it means I’ll cry every day for the rest of the year. I certainly don’t want that!
Tuesday, May 26
Aunt Eiko told Mama there’s now a kindergarten at Hastings Park and classes are being organized for the older children. The government still won’t organize a proper school, so the teachers are mostly volunteer Nisei high-school students. It’s too late for the Haradas, though. They left today for Kaslo. And Gladys and Mrs. Nakagawa have gone to Greenwood, another internment camp in the interior near the town of Castlegar.
Thursday, June 4
Our first letter from Tad came today! He and his friends are clearing bush for a highway. Camp conditions at Schreiber are basic, but the local people are friendly. They were amazed that Tad and the others could speak such good English!! He thinks he won’t stay in Schreiber very long though. The Nisei are being offered better work on farms in southern Ontario. Tad figures he’ll make more money if he leaves. He’ll let us know where he’s going if he does.
He misses us and hopes Mr. Cowan is managing without him. He doesn’t know yet that Papa isn’t working at the drugstore anymore. Kay’s written him but her letter must not have reached him.
No letters from Mike or Geechan. It’s so hard not hearing anything from them.
Friday, June 5
Good news — Kay found a job! But the bad news is that she’s moving out. Her friend Eileen was working as a companion to a rich lady who used to be an actress. But Eileen’s family is leaving next week for one of the ghost towns. Eileen promised Mrs. Mitchell that she’d find someone to replace her, and she asked Kay. She starts Monday!
Kay’s excited because Mrs. Mitchell lives in a big house on Wall Street, not that far from us. She’s married to an army colonel who’s away a great deal, so she’s often alone. Kay’s supposed to do light housekeeping and prepare meals. It’s not the kind of glamorous job I’m sure Kay would prefer, but at least it’s work. Her earnings will help us a lot now that Papa’s lost his job.
Monday, June 8
Kay left early to start her new job. Mrs. Mitchell sent over a taxi for her! Kay took a suitcase of clothes and kissed us all goodbye. I gave her an origami crane I’d folded last night for good luck.
Rags must wonder why everyone is disappearing. He followed me around the house after I got back from school. I really miss Kay already. She likes teasing me but she’s a good egg and would do anything for me. She’ll still be able to come home and visit because she has a day off every two weeks. It seemed very lonely at supper tonight with only five of us.
Tuesday, June 9
No time to write in my diary. I have a Latin exam tomorrow, so the gang went to Guides without me tonight. I’ve got to review all the verb conjugations. Ugh!
Saturday, June 13
I wrote my last exams yesterday, thank goodness. This morning Maggie and I rode over to the Powell Street Grounds. The place felt so empty because the Asahi have been disbanded. Nearly all the players have been sent away. We sat on the bleachers and I felt sad remembering those wonderful games that I watched with my entire family here last year.
Tuesday, June 16
Guide night again. Sachi was more like her old self tonight. I’ve been so worried about Papa that when I got home I asked Mama why he hasn’t been ordered to leave yet like Sachi’s father. Mama thought that perhaps because three men in our family have already left, the authorities haven’t sent Papa away too.
Sunday, June 21
Today is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It’s such a relief to be out later without worrying about curfew! The gang and I played extra sets of tennis, and then took Rags for a long walk around the neighbourhood. The sky was so beautiful, it’s hard to believe our country is at war.
Monday, June 22
Everyone at Templeton was talking about the Japanese submarine attack on the Point Estevan lighthouse late Saturday night! Now Harry’s interested in submarines, but I’m worried about how the hakujin here will react after a real Japanese attack on Canada. I hope it won’t mean more bad news for us.
Friday, June 26
Last day of school! I made Templeton’s honour roll again too. And no more Billy!
But this summer will be a long one. I can’t go berry picking or to Guide Camp either. Now that Papa isn’t working and Tad and Mike are gone, we must be careful about spending money. Mama’s grateful that Kay gives her most of her earnings from Mrs. Mitchell’s. Emma’s going back to the fruit-packing factory this summer and will give Mama her wages too. Mike and Tad have also sent us some money, but no more letters!
Wednesday, July 1
Dominion Day. Record high temperatures in Vancouver yesterday — it was 105°! It’s still very hot today. The dairies had a run on ice cream and some places were emptied out.
This morning Maggie and I got up early and rode our bikes to the harbour off Commissioner Street and went for a swim. Ellen’s away and Sachi didn’t want to come. The water felt great! But we were hot and sticky when we got back and had to wash the salt off our skin.
I don’t feel very patriotic today. I kept thinking of the poor people stuck in Hastings Park in this heat. I bet they don’t feel patriotic either.
Thursday, July 2
Another letter from Tad! It took almost a month to reach us. He left Schreiber and is now in St. Thomas, Ontario, on a sugar-beet farm. He says you need the back of an elephant and the brains of a mouse to do the work! He was sorry that Papa lost his job but will send us as much money as he can.
Monday, July 6
Aunt Eiko says that married men in road camps will be reunited with their families, but only in the relocation centres in the B.C. interior. They can’t go back home. At least Mr. Nakagawa can be with his wife and daughter, and the Haradas can be together! But Geechan and Mike have no other family here except us, and we’re still in Vancouver. I want us to be together again but I don’t want to leave here!
Friday, July 10
Rationing starts in a few weeks, so people have been saving up what they can. We’re lucky to have the extra sugar Kay gets from Mrs. Mitchell.
Tuesday, July 14
The school at Hastings Park had to close. It’s too hot to hold classes.
Wednesday, July 15
Awful news. Papa received a letter written in Japanese today from someone at Geechan’s road camp. No wonder we haven’t heard from Geechan — he’s ill! He’s been taken to a hospital but the man didn’t know where. The letter is dated May 27th! Papa’s been on the phone ever since he read it, trying to find out where Geechan is and what’s wrong with him. Mama’s called Aunt Eiko to see if she can help. I’m so worried and there’s nothing I can do!
Saturday, July 18
No news about Geechan. I’m sick with worry but Papa looks terrible. I hate not knowing what’s happening.
Tuesday, July 21
We’re all so anxious. Papa’s worn out. He’s spent all week trying to track down Geechan. Aunt Eiko is trying to find out which hospital Geechan might have been taken to. Prince George is a large town in the interior but it’s difficult to reach from the camp. She’s going to phone there tomorrow.
Thursday, July 23
When Aunt Eiko called the Prince George hospital, they said there’s no patient named Kobayashi
. Now she thinks that Geechan may have been taken to the Kamloops hospital instead. She’s going to try calling there next.
Friday, July 24
More bad news! Sachi’s family has to leave Vancouver next week. Mrs. Yamada is in a tizzy trying to pack because of all the rules and regulations about what can be taken and how much. Adults are only allowed one hundred and fifty pounds of luggage apiece and each child seventy-five. How can the Yamadas possibly cut down their whole life’s possessions to that small amount? When I visited Sachi’s house this afternoon, Mrs. Yamada was sorting through a trunk full of old kimonos, trying to decide which ones to bring. The family is leaving their good things in the attic until they return.
Sachi doesn’t know where they’re going yet, so I won’t be able to write her! She says once she gets there, she’ll write me so I’ll know.
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