Cherry Blossom Baseball by Jennifer Maruno Page A

him a hot drink and stay to help. But Michiko wasn’t allowed. If she accidently knocked a bulb to the ground, it couldn’t be sold.
    Michiko walked along the dark laneway until she came to the mailbox that sat on a post of the wooden fence and pulled down the little metal door. Picking up the mail at the end of the lane was much better than visiting the musty old general store with its creaky wooden floors. Evening sounds were different as well. Living close to a main road, she now heard the screech of tires and once in a while the wail of a siren. Michiko missed the sounds of her previous home, the soothing gurgles of water rushing across the stones in the creek bed to the lake and the short sharp caws of the crows. It was hard to believe that at one time she had been afraid of the beautiful, haunting call of the loon. The howling wolves used to send chills down her spine as well, but she missed them, too.
    Michiko pulled out the mail. There was nothing from Clarence. She decided to give up on the idea of him ever writing her a letter. There was nothing from Mrs. Morrison either. But Aunt Sadie’s letter excited her. She couldn’t wait to hear it. She rushed back to the house to hand it to her mother.
Dear Family,
    I hope my letter finds you all well. I am sure the children are growing fast and it will be no time before little Hannah is walking. Michiko must write me about her new school.
    Winter has settled in the mountains once again. Edna and Ralph have brought out their sleigh for moving about in the snow. She looks so royal sitting up front in her new fur hat.
    I found out that the Sakamoto family is now living in Toronto. Ed, who used to work in a bank, was only able to get a job at Eaton’s stocking shelves. Apparently there is a terrific shortage of workers for non-essential industries. I believe there are so many places that Kaz could fit into, if he would rid himself of the idea of donning a uniform. But he hasn’t, in fact ...
    Eiko paused in her reading. Michiko watched her mother’s eyes move back and forth across the tightly-written lines before she said, “Sam, listen.”
    â€¦ he found out the Canadian Army Japanese Language School is seeking candidates. The RCMP gave a man in Slocan clearance and a permit to leave.
    Michiko’s father put down the work boot that he was cleaning.
    N o sooner does Edna’s husband come home than mine packs to leave. That’s right. Kaz got his wish and will soon be in uniform.
    â€œWhat team is he on?” Michiko asked as she wiped little Hannah’s mouth.
    Sam and Eiko looked at their daughter in surprise.
    â€œTeam,” Eiko repeated. “What do you mean team?”
    â€œWhat baseball team signed him up?” Michiko asked. “What’s his uniform?”
    Eiko looked at Sam. He shrugged as if to give her permission to explain.
    â€œKaz joined the army,” Eiko said quietly, then went back to the letter.
    H e sees it an act of faith, as if donning a uniform was a pledge to be a loyal Canadian.
    Michiko thought about the boys who came to school to show off their cadet jackets with the word CANADA on the shoulder. Then her face took on a puzzled look. “Is Uncle Kaz going to fight in the war?”
    â€œYes,” Sam replied.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause he is Japanese.”
    â€œHe is Japanese-Canadian,” Sam said. “It’s no different from being Italian-Canadian, like the Palumbos.”
    Michiko thought about Mrs. Morrison’s husband. His ship was attacked, and he was lost at sea before she learned he was safe. “It could be dangerous for him,” she said, looking down at her feet, “like the other soldiers.”
    Sam lifted his other boot from the newspaper covering the kitchen table and gave it a quick brush. “Your Uncle Ted tried to sign up with the Canadian navy,” he said.
    â€œHe did?”
    â€œThey wouldn’t take