A Boy at War

When Adam arrives home, his parents are in the garden, and Adam’s father immediately notes that Adam is late getting home. Adam apologizes, explaining what happened and how Davi’s father repaired the bike for him. Adam’s father begins interrogating his son, asking who Davi is. When he finds out that Davi and his family are Japanese, his father insultingly refers to Davi’s father as “Mr. Tojo” and instructs Adam to pay Davi’s father for his work the following day and then find someone else to befriend. He asserts that everything Adam does reflects not only on his father and their family but on the United States Navy as a whole. His father attests that the United States could be close to war with Japan and that Davi and his family are not American in the way the Pelko family is, saying that they are Japanese first and their loyalties lie with Japan. Adam questions his father, reminding him that they are close with Koniko and Hideko, Bea’s babysitter and their groundskeeper. Emory replies that employing the Japanese is different from befriending and socializing with them.

Koniko stays with Bea while Adam accompanies his parents to the movies. Walking with them, he matches his father’s stride, swelling with pride as he watches sailors salute his father.