Alex Maki is in church when his world shatters.
It’s a typical Sunday. The pews are filled with people in their Sunday best, the men in suits and hats but still smelling of wet soil, the women with faces powdered and hands gloved to hide wrinkles and calluses on dark, leathery skin. And though the teens skulk and shift restlessly, they too have groomed themselves for church: the boys with front licks curled and dangling, sides gelled back, the girls with hair fashioned into finger waves and pinned curls and updos. Sunday is the one day of the week when both the Issei (first-generation) and Nisei (second-generation, American-born) members get to dress up.
A typical Sunday. Nothing unusual at all, nothing to suggest that Alex’s life-all their lives, in fact-are about to fracture.
If anything, things are looking brighter than usual. Certainly more crowded. Quite a few white families have joined the Japanese service.
This happens sometimes. The Bainbridge Methodist Church building is actually shared by two congregations: the Japanese congregation that meets on Sunday mornings, and the “regular” white congregation who have their service later in the day. Sometimes a community or school event-like this afternoon’s high-school football practice-will conflict with the later service. On those Sundays, many from the white congregation will instead attend the earlier Japanese service. When that happens, Pastor Ken Momose makes sure to conduct the service in English.
A few more families arrive. Including the Tanner family. They slide into the pew in front of Alex.
His back straightens. The Tanner family is well-to-do and highly respected. Their daughter, Jessica Tanner, is popular at school, and now sits down directly in front of Alex. Although they’ve known each other for years, and share the same homeroom at school, they’ve rarely spoken.
The congregation is called to worship, and rise. As they begin to sing, the scent of mint and a vanilla extract floats into Alex’s nostrils. From Jessica Tanner. He’s sure his own breath is foul and egg-soured and wafting down her back. He lifts the hymnal to block his breath.
Comprehension Questions
1. When do the first and second generations of Japanese people both get dressed up?
A. On Sundays, for church.
B. Every day, to go to work and school.
C. The first-generation dresses up every day, the second-generation only dresses up for special occasions.
A. Community or school events take place during the white service time.
B. They share a service time.
C. To show their superiority.
Your Thoughts
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.