1940s: Johnny builds an air-raid shelter
While the US is scrambling its defences, Japan is on a winning streek. In just a few months of early 1942 they capture several key territories including Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, and the Dutch East Indies. Anna and Johnny are both following the news closely, especially the developments in the Philippines where U.S. forces lose their foothold and is forced to retreat, and as the US navy lose the battle of the Java sea it would be easy to lose hope.
For Johnny this is a difficult time, reminding him of the worst time of his life and the trenches of France. But when the government call on all men between the ages of 45-64 to report for Civil Defence Duty, Johnny reports without hesitation or doubt. As a farmer and rancher, the call doesn't affect him much, as agriculture is seen as a vital business. Johnny is told to increase production and grow crops that are useful for the army rather than private use, but it means little less than an increased work load. He offers to help as an air raid warden, but as Red Roan Ranch is at the very edge of town, he's turned down. "Chances are you are the last people to even arrive, if you have time to get to a shelter at all," the official says.
The next morning, Anna finds Johnny digging in the yard. He's never thought about how far off the ranch is from everything else, but now he's acutely aware of just how far it is. The only logical solution is to have a shelter of their own. Anna is easily convinced, thinking this is actually a really good idea, but she also takes the chance to convince him to add a laundry room while he's at it.
"What good is that going to do in an attack?"
"Nothing, but it will help when there isn't one and you are digging anyway, so why not just add a little extra space?"
She gets her way, and when the shelter is done and ready, there is a utility and laundry room off the back of it, making Anna and Abigail the first in town to get a washing machine for home use.
"Why don't you sign up for WAAC?" Anna asks her as they have her over for a weekend, giving her some well needed time off. The news of the creation of the WAAC still has her excited, even if she is annoyed that she's too old to do sign up herself (Johnny and Abigail, however, are very happy that's the case).
"Sign up for the army?"
"Well, yes, sort of, it's non-combat roles and mostly at home. I mean you have no children, and you're the right age, why not?"
"It's bad enough that I have to work in the first place, I'm not interested in the army!" Anna is not impressed, but pleased that many women think differently. 150 000 women sign up already in the first year alone.
The next morning, the family wakes up to the news of the Dolittle attack on Japan. News are sparce, giving out few details about the raid, stating only American forces successfully carried out a raid on military targets in Japan. Anna is conflicted, at the same time proud of her country for the attack, and absolutely convinced that these measures are necessary, but in her heart, she cannot help but to think of her time in Mt Komorebi, of the people she met and got to know, and hope that they are safe and sound and the little town she spent a year in intact safe from the bombs and as beautiful as when she left it.*
For Johnny this is a difficult time, reminding him of the worst time of his life and the trenches of France. But when the government call on all men between the ages of 45-64 to report for Civil Defence Duty, Johnny reports without hesitation or doubt. As a farmer and rancher, the call doesn't affect him much, as agriculture is seen as a vital business. Johnny is told to increase production and grow crops that are useful for the army rather than private use, but it means little less than an increased work load. He offers to help as an air raid warden, but as Red Roan Ranch is at the very edge of town, he's turned down. "Chances are you are the last people to even arrive, if you have time to get to a shelter at all," the official says.
The next morning, Anna finds Johnny digging in the yard. He's never thought about how far off the ranch is from everything else, but now he's acutely aware of just how far it is. The only logical solution is to have a shelter of their own. Anna is easily convinced, thinking this is actually a really good idea, but she also takes the chance to convince him to add a laundry room while he's at it.
"What good is that going to do in an attack?"
"Nothing, but it will help when there isn't one and you are digging anyway, so why not just add a little extra space?"
She gets her way, and when the shelter is done and ready, there is a utility and laundry room off the back of it, making Anna and Abigail the first in town to get a washing machine for home use.
Johnny couldn't care less about laundry, but he feels calmer with the shelter in place. There are four beds, one of each of them, and lots of Abigails home mede preserves to keep them going for a long while should they the entrance be blocked by debris. Anna has added her knowledge of camping and roughing it in the jungle to the supplies they have, and at night, Johnny makes sure everyone in the house follows the black out rules. He will not see his family or ranch attacked if he can help it!
For William, life has changed dramatically. He had hoped, that being stationed in the same town as his wife he'd be able to see her from time to time, but he's had no such luck. Between training, briefings and lessons on strategy there is little time for anything, and besides, none of the men are getting leave at the moment.
Life is repetitive, a bit boring, and filled with snoring men in barracks, the stink of sweat in the gym and more information about Asian geography and Japanese uniforms than William ever think he'll be able to remember. Here, in San Sequoia, there is no doubt of which direction they'll be sent.
For William, life has changed dramatically. He had hoped, that being stationed in the same town as his wife he'd be able to see her from time to time, but he's had no such luck. Between training, briefings and lessons on strategy there is little time for anything, and besides, none of the men are getting leave at the moment.
Life is repetitive, a bit boring, and filled with snoring men in barracks, the stink of sweat in the gym and more information about Asian geography and Japanese uniforms than William ever think he'll be able to remember. Here, in San Sequoia, there is no doubt of which direction they'll be sent.
Before long, and long before he's ready for it, and most importantly before he's had time to say goodbye to Amanda properly, he's on a ship heading east. In comparison to the cramped bunks at the ship, the barracks were pure luxury.
For Amanda. being alone without William is hard. Worse, however, is that she, like millions of other women at the time, is expected to work. And not just any work, but in industry. It certainly was not what she had in mind when she married and moved into a fancy big house in Willow Creek all those years ago. She was supposed to have children, be a stay at home mother who took care of her children and her husband and her home. Now she works long hours while her husband is off somewhere else, with nothing to show for her effort but ever more calloused hands.
For Amanda. being alone without William is hard. Worse, however, is that she, like millions of other women at the time, is expected to work. And not just any work, but in industry. It certainly was not what she had in mind when she married and moved into a fancy big house in Willow Creek all those years ago. She was supposed to have children, be a stay at home mother who took care of her children and her husband and her home. Now she works long hours while her husband is off somewhere else, with nothing to show for her effort but ever more calloused hands.
"Why don't you sign up for WAAC?" Anna asks her as they have her over for a weekend, giving her some well needed time off. The news of the creation of the WAAC still has her excited, even if she is annoyed that she's too old to do sign up herself (Johnny and Abigail, however, are very happy that's the case).
"Sign up for the army?"
"Well, yes, sort of, it's non-combat roles and mostly at home. I mean you have no children, and you're the right age, why not?"
"It's bad enough that I have to work in the first place, I'm not interested in the army!" Anna is not impressed, but pleased that many women think differently. 150 000 women sign up already in the first year alone.
The next morning, the family wakes up to the news of the Dolittle attack on Japan. News are sparce, giving out few details about the raid, stating only American forces successfully carried out a raid on military targets in Japan. Anna is conflicted, at the same time proud of her country for the attack, and absolutely convinced that these measures are necessary, but in her heart, she cannot help but to think of her time in Mt Komorebi, of the people she met and got to know, and hope that they are safe and sound and the little town she spent a year in intact safe from the bombs and as beautiful as when she left it.*
* In the real world WAAC was formed a few weeks after the Dolittle attack, but for story purposes I took some liberty with the timeline.
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