Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

Author:Naomi Hirahara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Soho Press
Published: 2021-06-22T18:29:22+00:00

I moved to get out of the way of the next shift streaming into the factory. I debated whether I should force myself in and demand a meeting with this Mr. Schultz. But what would I say? Did you make my sister cry that winter day? I knew a simple reprimand from a supervisor wouldn’t have caused such a breakdown. This time I needed real answers from Roy.

Hearing sharp words being exchanged, I turned my attention to the loading docks, where three Nisei women were having an intense conversation. I recognized two of them as the women I had briefly met at the Greek-owned restaurant where I ate pancakes with Roy. The third woman was bone thin; I feared that her loose skirt would fall down to her ankles.

“Somebody needs to go to the police. We can’t let this man get away with it.” The speaker was Marge, the short woman with the distinctive voice, scratchy like she had been yelling at someone for a while.

“Imagine if it happened to your sister, Marge. It’s not an easy thing.” The thin woman spoke in a quiet voice, but it still commanded the other women’s attention. “She has to be not only Betty’s big sister but her mother. And she doesn’t want their parents to worry in camp. There’s nothing they can do from there.”

The tall bespectacled woman from the restaurant nodded.

“It’s not right; that’s all I’m saying,” Marge said.

“Who’s that?” The thin woman pointed at me.

Marge narrowed her eyes. She had a good memory because she recognized me. “Oh, she’s Rose Ito’s little sister.” Her tall friend in the glasses confirmed my identity. They all stared at me as if I were a black cat, a bringer of bad luck.

Before I could respond, Roy came out of the factory in a gray uniform, his name embroidered over his chest pocket. He was still wearing a pair of work gloves, so I wondered if his shift was truly over. I strode over and greeted him. His lip had returned to almost normal. Ike was a wonder with a surgical needle.

“What’s happened? Your dad?” he asked.

“No, no. I was in the neighborhood delivering a package for work. I saw the factory and thought I’d stop. I’ve never come here before.”

“Impressed?” Roy said with an edge of sarcasm.

Actually, I was. I had never seen such a big manufacturing plant. Apparently the same company had other offices and even a farm in the country where a number of Japanese American families worked.

We swapped trivial stories until I finally got around to what I wanted to talk to him about. “I heard that a girl from the South Side was attacked.”

Roy studied my face for a moment. He seemed both stunned and impressed that I had assimilated a bit of gossip without him. He shot a glance at the Nisei women by the loading dock. “Yeah, it’s terrible.” He took off his right glove and pressed down on his head by his ear.

“Did you ever think that’s what happened to Rose?”

“I don’t understand.

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