2.Onefamily,whichhademigratedfromJapan
3.andsettledattheturnofthecenturynearSanFrancisco,
4.hadestablishedabusinessinwhichtheygrewroses
5.andtruckedthemintoSanFranciscothreemorningsaweek.
6.TheotherfamilywasanaturalizedfamilyfromSwitzerlandwhoalsomarketedroses,
7.andbothfamiliesbecamemodestlysuccessful,
8.astheirroseswereknowninthemarketsofSanFranciscofortheirlongvase-life.
9.Foralmostfourdecadesthetwofamilieswereneighbors,
10.andthesonstookoverthefarms,
11.butthenonDecember7,1941,
12.JapanattackedPearlHarbor.
13.AlthoughtherestofthefamilymemberswereAmericans,
14.thefatheroftheJapanesefamilyhadneverbeennaturalized.
15.Astheyplannedtoleavethecountry,hisneighbormadeitclearthat,
16.ifnecessary,hewouldlookafterhisfriend'snursery.
17.Itwassomethingeachfamilyhadlearnedinchurch:
18.Lovethyneighborasthyself.
19.“Youwoulddothesameforus,”
20.hetoldhisJapanesefriend.
21.ItwasnotlongbeforetheJapanesefamily
22.wastransportedtoabarrenlandscapeinCanada.
23.Afullyearwentby.Thentwo.Thenthree.
24.WhiletheJapaneseneighborswereinCanada,
25.theirfriendsworkedinthegreenhouses,
26.thechildrenworkedbeforeschoolandonSaturdays,
27.andthefather'sworkoftenstretchedto16and17hoursaday.
28.Andthenoneday,whenthewarinEuropehadended,
29.theJapanesefamilypackedupandboardedatrain.
32.Thefamilywasmetatthetrainstationbytheirneighbors,
33.andwhentheygottotheirhome,thewholeJapanesefamilystared.
34.Therewasthenursery,intact,scrubbedandshininginthesunlight—
35.neat,prosperousandhealthy.
36.Andthehousewasjustascleanandwelcomingasthenursery.
37.Andthereonthediningroomwasoneperfectredrosebud,
38.justwaitingtounfold—thegiftofoneneighbortoanother.
U633687664
U582121265
