Two sisters married two brothers; then there was the war. B-29s flying overhead, and the Japanese soldiers took a man away for laughing too loudly. There was a house on a hill; a firecracker tied to a chicken; and nine diamonds and a jade droplet sold to bribe a friend out of jail.

My grandmother was telling stories today. We were eating sweet, crunchy persimmons after lunch. It was hot, and the birds were calling to each other in the garden.

Tonight I leave again.