• Chapter One: Arrival

    It has been about two months since the Imperial Army invasion. Everyone seems to still be stirred up on it. Never in my 17 years of living have i ever seen anything like the events now. All the kids in my class talk about going to war, and how they can't wait to get there hands around a Jap's neck. It never really intrigued me. I've never really been too fanatic about war. My Pa tells me that I am crazy, and that I should care about what is going on. All I wanted to do however was ride my horse, Skip. Horse racing has always been my passion, and Skip was my ticket to pursuing it. Every year, there is a big even called the "Thunder Track."
    The 1st place winner receives $200,000.
    This would be enough to buy the ranch from Mr. Hardman. I have always wanted to start my own ranch and open my own restaurant next to it, though my Pa wants me to join the Army like he did. Pa was extremely patriotic. His friends call him Captain Peg because he lost his leg during World War 1. He always tells me stories about the horrors of war, and each time it made me cringe at the thought of losing limbs. I don't know what I would do if I was never able to horse race again.
    Ma always embraced my passion for horse racing. She has been racing since she was the age of 14. In 1934, she hung up her spurs for retirement after winning 1st place in the "Thunder Track" 3 years in a row. With all the money that we had, I never really understood why pa still worked in the mill. Our house wasn't luxurious, but it was definitely big. Ma always believed that saving money was better since Pa always added on to the house. Though Pa was missing a leg, he never let it slow him down. He worked as hard as any steed I ever rode.
    Today I decided to take Skip for a ride. Skip has been around the family since I was 12. Ma gave him to me when she decided I was ready to Ride on my own. We called him Skip because he liked pouncing around the barn, and because his stride was longer than the average horse. It even feels like we are gliding across the grass fields when we ride. I once asked Ma if i could name him Pegasus because of it, but she said no due to Skip being brown and not white.
    I always take the dirt road leading to the river. There is an empty house near the river that I always pass. Sometimes, I sit on the porch and pretend it is my own. It was an all brick house, one of the only 5 in town. Usually the folks with as much money as a King lives in those types of house. Ma can buy it, but she told me she never liked the looks of a brick house.
    As me and Skip gallop past the house, I notice the the sign in front of the house read "sold."
    My heart sank. I enjoyed having the house to myself. I went closer to see if the newcomers were present. As I get closer, I begin to see the decor within the house. It was things I have never seen before. the windows were lined with pale dolls with long black hair, that wore what looked to be a very odd type of dress. The rose garden that use to be in the front were completely replaced by odd shaped trees that were as small as the hens in the barn. I was very curious to see who the owners could be. I wanted to ask them where they have gotten these strange items. I dismounted Skip and calmly walked towards the door to greet the new neighbors down the dirt road.
    I lifted my hand and began to knock.
    "Yes?" said a soft female voice from behind.
    I quickly turned around in fright. I didn't even hear anybody behind me!
    "Oh, Hell-" I stopped my speech abruptly.
    It was a girl of pale skin and long black hair. Her nose was flat and her lips were rosy. I was captivated by the beauty that was before me, even though I have never the likes of this girl.
    "You-.... your Japanese!" i said in shock.
    I stirred myself up with feelings of confusion.
    "I should be hating this woman!" I thought to myself, but how could I hate something as beautiful as this?
    "Yes, I am. Does this bother you?" She said as she lowered her head in shame.
    "No not at all! I didn't mean it that way. My name is Johnny." I said.
    "My name is Mio. Mio Hasigawa." She said with said with a smile.
    It was a strange name, and it took me a bit to pronounce it correctly. We sat in on the porch and began to talk all afternoon. I was fascinated by everything about her. I asked non stop questions about her and the decorations within her home. She told me that most were family heirlooms, and that they have been passed down from generations of the family. One item that caught my attention in particular was the two sticks laid out beside the plates on the table.
    "What are these for?" I asked, heavily confuse on what I was seeing.
    "Chopsticks! Just as you use forks for eating, the Japanese use these. My father only uses them for decorations, however."
    How do you use them? Do you just stab it in the meat?"
    "Haha, no!" She giggled.
    She gave me a tutorial on how to use these "sticks."
    I never saw myself using them in the future, so I gave up trying. As we continued to talk down by the river, the sun began to set. The sky turning crimson only meant one thing, supper. Ma usually got worried if I was never home in time for supper.
    "Looks like it is time for me to head back. Ma will have a fit if I'm not home in time for supper." I said.
    She smiled and nodded her head.
    "Will you come back to visit? You're the first person I have spoken to in this town..." She said as her expression faded.
    "Of course miss! As long as I am welcome, I will always come back." I said.
    I smiled at her and tilted my hat. I unleashed Skip from the post, and began to speed away.
    "You must be hungry by now, Skip!" I shouted as i sped my way back home.
    I've never felt this excited since the day I rode my first horse!
    I sat at the table and said grace with Ma and Pa. As we ate the steaming hot ham and potatoes, Pa asked,"Where you been Johnny? Its unlike you to ride this late in the hour."
    I became flushed with fever. I didn't know how Pa and Ma would react if I told them that i met a Japanese girl today. I would imagine that it wouldn't have been a good reaction.
    "Oh! I decided to take Skip for a longer route today. I wanted to do extra to prep him for the big race." I lied.
    "That is good! I like the way you think!" Said Ma Happily.
    "I have you ever thought about the Army?!" Interrupted Pa. "It will do you some good you know?"
    "Richard!" Shouted Ma.
    "He needs to go on with the tradition! My father and the fathers before him all joined the Army! It is tradition!"
    "Its alright Ma, I did think about going in. Right after I win that trophy!" I said to ease the situation.
    "That's my boy! you hurry now, you here?" He said with a happy expression.
    I know it means a lot to my father, and I might end up being drafted. It was something to consider. I've always feared disappointing my old folks, so I always did things to give them something to be proud of.
    As supper ended, I helped Ma clean, then went straight for my room. It was my favorite type of night, the weekend. The day in which I can sleep longer that usual, but I couldn't sleep. I was too eager to see Mio again. I couldn't wait to see her beautiful face again.