A Thanksgiving Dinner
One World English Course 3 (Heisei 17) pg. 110-113
| A Thanksgiving Dinner | |
|---|---|
| ? | |
| Details | |
| Word count | 435 |
| Book | One World |
| Grade | 3 |
| Year | 2005 |
Ken's leg was badly broken, and he walked on crutches. It wasn't only his leg. He was different somehow. He didn't say much. He was home, but Yuki knew he was far away. She was disappointed. She waited for him such a long time. Now Ken was back, but she still felt empty.
Later, Yuki found the reason. Ken's best friend Jim Hirai died in the war. He lost his life to save Ken and some other soldiers. Ken couldn't forgive himself.
Now it was Thanksgiving. The Olssens invited the Sakanes, Uncle Oka, and Grandma Kurihara for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone but Ken brought something for the Olssens. "I'm sorry. I didn't bring anything for you," Ken said when he greeted Mrs. Olssen. "But you brought yourself, Ken," she answered.
"That's the most important thing for me." There were tears in her eyes, and Yuki wondered why.
Ken walked over to a picture of a young man on the wall. "That's our Johnny," Mr. Olssen said. "Just about your age, I think."
"Oh? Where is he now? Still in the army?" Ken asked.
Mr. Olssen looked at his wife. "Our son died in Iwo Jima," he said.
Mama gasped. "Oh, Mrs. Olssen. I am so sorry."
Everyone tried to say something nice to her, but Ken and Uncle Oka said nothing. They couldn't find the right words.
After dinner Uncle Oka talked about his life in America, and about his terrible loneliness and anger over the years. Mr. Olssen said, "I understand your anger. But now try to forgive us. Don't destroy yourself with any more bitterness."
The old man was surprised. "Forgive you?" he asked.
"Yes, all of us... if you can."
"A Japanese soldier killed your son. Can you forgive him?"
"I already did."
Uncle Oka shook his head. "Forgive..." Then he said slowly, "Maybe there are ways to fight back without any bitterness." He looked at Ken. "I think we need to forgive ourselves, just as much as other people." However, Ken said nothing.
Ken sat quietly. He was thinking. Suddenly, he said, "I'm going to go back to college. Maybe I can even try for medical school someday."
"You mean you're going to leave again?" Yuki said, but Ken didn't answer. He was just looking at Papa.
Papa knew that Ken was at last ready to listen. "Ken, you're a survivor, just as we all are. Don't hate yourself for that. I think you owe your life to Jim Hirai and Johnny Olssen. You have to treasure your life."
That night, Yuki couldn't sleep. She felt that Ken was finally back home.
