Sylvia And Aki

Two years have passed since Sylvia’s family began leasing the Munemitsus’ farm. For the first time, Sylvia is allowed to accompany Gonzalo to deliver the rent money—he drives 250 miles to Poston each time to hand deliver it rather than mail the money and risk it being stolen by military censors. On the way, Gonzalo attempts to explain the incarceration camps; although he doesn’t call them prisons, Sylvia thinks Poston looks like one. She wonders if the incarceration is justified.

Upon meeting Aki for the first time, Sylvia recognizes her from the class photo. Sylvia learns Keiko originally had a different name (Miyoshi), but Aki likes the new one. Sylvia promises to take care of her and empathizes with Aki’s situation. On the way home, Sylvia notices how some of the incarcerated Japanese Americans converted the desert to farmland and considers the nurturing similarities between the two ethnicities and families—“the people [who] knew how to make things grow” (84).

Time passes at Poston. In February, Aki overhears Seiko and his friend late one night as they debate two significant questions on the Leave Clearance Application, a form given to every Poston internee over the age of 17, which is required in order to leave the camp permanently.