By the fall of 1942, the family’s transfer to Topaz was imminent. My mother had sent Mandena a check and asked her to buy some wool jersey fabric (to go with an enclosed fabric swatch); a blue cardigan sweater for her sister, Kiyo; a suit; some scarves; and needles. Mandena gave a careful accounting of her purchases.
September 2, 1942
To Tomiko
From Mandena
Altogether, I spent $37.39 so you have $2.61 coming to you in change. I do hope that my selections are what you wanted. The store is sending the purchases, probably in two packages. You will, no doubt receive them the latter part of this week…
I do hope the day will not be far off when we will all meet again for a continued life of peace…
In the meantime, let me know when you get settled in Utah, and I am glad, always, to be of help to you…
About the contributor: Ruth Sasaki was born and raised in San Francisco after the War. Her mother’s family, the Takahashis, were incarcerated in Tanforan and Topaz. A graduate of UC Berkeley (BA) and SF State (MA), she has lived in England and Japan. Her short story “The Loom” won the American Japanese National Literary Award, and her collection, The Loom and Other Stories, was published in 1991 by Graywolf Press. She shares her more recent writing via her website: www.rasasaki.com
Copyright 2017, R. A. Sasaki. All rights reserved.