Onefamily,whichhademigratedfromJapanandsettledattheturnofthecenturynearSanFrancisco,hadestablishedabusinessinwhichtheygrewrosesandtruckedthemintoSanFranciscothreemorningsaweek.TheotherfamilywasanaturalizedfamilyfromSwitzerlandwhoalsomarketedroses,andbothfamiliesbecamemodestlysuccessful,astheirroseswereknowninthemarketsofSanFranciscofortheirlongvase-life.Foralmostfourdecadesthetwofamilieswereneighbors,andthesonstookoverthefarms,butthenonDecember7,1941,JapanattackedPearlHarbor.
AlthoughtherestofthefamilymemberswereAmericans,thefatheroftheJapanesefamilyhadneverbeennaturalized.Astheyplannedtoleavethecountry,hisneighbormadeitclearthat,ifnecessary,hewouldlookafterhisfriend'snursery.Itwassomethingeachfamilyhadlearnedinchurch:Lovethyneighborasthyself.“Youwoulddothesameforus,”hetoldhisJapanesefriend.ItwasnotlongbeforetheJapanesefamilywastransportedtoabarrenlandscapeinCanada.Afullyearwentby.Thentwo.Thenthree.WhiletheJapaneseneighborswereinCanada,theirfriendsworkedinthegreenhouses,thechildrenworkedbeforeschoolandonSaturdays,andthefather'sworkoftenstretchedto16and17hoursaday.
Andthenoneday,whenthewarinEuropehadended,theJapanesefamilypackedupandboardedatrain.Theyweregoinghome.Whatwouldtheyfind?Thefamilywasmetatthetrainstationbytheirneighbors,andwhentheygottotheirhome,thewholeJapanesefamilystared.Therewasthenursery,intact,scrubbedandshininginthesunlight—neat,prosperousandhealthy.Andthehousewasjustascleanandwelcomingasthenursery.Andthereonthediningroomwasoneperfectredrosebud,justwaitingtounfold—thegiftofoneneighbortoanother.
