The Red Kimono by Jan Morrill

Author:Jan Morrill [Morrill, Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC054000
ISBN: 9781610755184
Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
Published: 2013-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 41

Nobu

October 15, 1942

Drab. The word kept returning to Nobu’s mind. Everywhere he looked. Drab. Black tar paper on the outside of the barracks. Scant brown leaves, shriveled and clinging to tall, bare trees. Gray sky. Brown mud everywhere.

He hopped over puddles and walked around gloppy patches of sludge, an oozy mix of clay and fallen leaves. Funny the things he missed about home, like leaves skipping and clicking along the sidewalk. Now he cringed at the squishing sound from puddles too big to avoid. And when he missed, the way the mud felt and sounded was like the ground would swallow him up. Though he tugged his pant legs up, mud splashed, freckling the blue denim.

He arrived at the mess hall and scanned the room for Kazu. He studied the plates on the table, trying to figure out what was for lunch. It didn’t matter. At this point, he’d eat anything.

Kazu waved over the mass of people sitting in rows of tables. Nobu waved back from the food line. A worker plopped a spoonful of meat and gravy onto his plate that didn’t look too different from the stuff he’d tried to avoid walking through earlier. Plop. Runny mashed potatoes. What he wouldn’t give for some steamed rice.

“Over here,” Kazu called. “I saved a place for you.”

He took a seat across from his friend. “How is it?”

Kazu chewed and swallowed hard. “Not bad. Not good either. But I’ve got something that might make it better.”

Nobu tore at a piece of meat with his spoon. “When in the hell are they going to get us some forks to eat with?” He picked up the meat with his fingers and took a bite. “So what will make this better?”

Kazu pushed his plate away. “Look behind you. In the corner to your left.”

Nobu turned to look. “What. I don’t see anything.”

“Over there. See the third girl at the end table?”

Nobu’s eyes widened with surprise. “Yuki? When did she get here?”

“Don’t know. I saw her just before you came in. You walked right past her. She smiled at you.”

Nobu lost his appetite and dropped his spoon. “I have to talk to her.”

Kazu hissed and shook his head. “Too late, man,” he said, nodding again toward Yuki.

“Why’s that?” Nobu turned to look at her again. His stomach sank when he watched her walk out of the mess hall, escorted by a couple of guys who looked like roosters strutting for attention. He slumped in his chair.

Kazu slapped the table. “Hey, I heard they’re looking for some guys to help clear an area of shrubs and trees—outside the camp.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So you want to help? We’re supposed to meet at the front gate at one. I’m going.”

“Why would I want to help them?”

“Come on. It’ll give you a chance to get out of here for an afternoon. Forget about Yuki. Maybe we can see a little of the town.”

Nobu stared across the table. The last thing he wanted was to do anything that would help the same people who put him in that camp.

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