For several days there have been whispers that a few of our fellow members have escaped over the wall. This was quite possible, as at the present time the guard system was a colossal joke because of the few Japanese guards patrolling these extensive walls.
Escape over the wall was simple. The difficulty arose outside. A white face in a sea of dark ones wouldn’t get very far without a pass.
Tonight we went to the east patio after roll call and sat beside a group of Hawaiians and Chamorians. They sang their plaintively beautiful melodies to the accompaniment of uke and guitar. Their music brought back nostalgic memories of Waikiki Beach to both Catesy and me.
Catesy voiced my thoughts when he said, “I wish you had been in Hawaii with me!”
When we compared notes, we discovered that we had been there in the same year. “I wish I had known you then!” I remarked.
Because our entertainment committee had prepared a program of music and dancing in the west patio, we left our musical friends a short time later.
was a gifted professional dancer, comedian, mimic, singer, and entertainer. He was the perfect emcee for our camp. He made us laugh and forget our surroundings, and he lifted our morale tremendously. He was over six feet tall, with wispy and mousy-colored hair worn in a Skeezix bang which nearly hid a pair of the friendliest and kindest baby-blue eyes I had ever seen. With his unusual height, his bean-pole skinniness was accentuated. When he danced, his loose-jointed body seemed to move without effort, giving one the impression that he was made of rubber and completely devoid of any bones.
We were fortunate to have him as well as the other professional dancers, singers, actors, and musicians who were from the States, Shanghai, Australia, and India.
The Commandant and his henchmen apparently thought them good, for throughout the entertainment they bared their teeth as they laughed in appreciation of the excellent performance.
People were more relaxed after the good show. Rumors and the war were pushed back in our minds, and for a short while the future seemed less dark.