Page 60 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
‘Before you tell me that this is the worst picnic in the world, I have a plan,’ Grace said as they headed out for the morning.
They’d originally planned on sleeping late if they could and then going out around lunchtime, but the sun was still blistering in the afternoons, and they’d decided to leave earlier. She plucked a little package from her pocket and held it out, waving it toward April.
‘Somehow we missed out on getting our official guidebooks when we disembarked,’ Grace said, passing it to April. ‘It clearly states in there that bargaining is more than acceptable, and it just so happens that I have some cigarettes in my pocket to trade with.’
‘Grace, it clearly says that bargaining is acceptable, but in the context of not paying the asking price from a street vendor,’ April said. ‘You’re talking aboutbartering.’
April laughed, and Grace watched as Eva moved closer, reading over April’s shoulder.
‘It also says that you should never offer the locals alcoholic drinks,’ Eva said. ‘Do you think cigarettes are permitted?’
‘I’m not offering them a bottle of whiskey, for goodness’ sake; I’m offering cigarettes and some US dollars. I’ve heard they have amazing food, and I’m sick of our camp chow and cans of mush.’
Eva let out an audible sigh. ‘Me too.’
‘So what do you say? Shall we find us some locals to barter with?’
‘Ohhh, it’s full of interesting notes. Listen to this,’ April said. ‘“Men walking together holding hands are not to be regarded as deviants, and no one should ever touch a local man, as they do not like being touched by strangers.” And you’re right about not eating with your left hand; it’s consideredveryunclean because they eat with their fingers here.’
‘I think maybe the guidelines were more for the soldiers than us. It also makes it very clear that United States men should never go near a veiled woman.’
‘Why?’ Eva asked.
‘They’re the respectable women; theprostitutesare the ones without their heads covered.’
April made a snorting sound that made them all laugh. ‘Not exactly a concern for us, is it, ladies? Unless of course we get mistaken for one.’
‘It must be awfully hot, don’t you think, for all those women wearing the veils and long, ankle-length dresses,’ Eva said.
‘Maybe it helps to keep them cool—I don’t know,’ Grace replied. ‘I’d love to understand more about their culture. Everything about them is so different; there’s nothing similar to what I’ve ever seen at home.’
Suddenly there was a chorus of calls and shouts from farther down toward the town, and a crowd of children ran at them, waving and grinning from ear to ear.
‘Incoming,’ April muttered. ‘I think we’re about to be mobbed!’
They’d seen children crowded around the American trucks before, flapping their little hands and hoping for a treat of some sort to be dropped into their palms, but they’d walked about the other day without being disturbed.
‘Chocolad!’ the first little boy yelled. ‘Chocolad!Please!’
‘Hello!’ a pretty girl said, coming closer and stroking Grace’s arm. ‘Smoke?’
Grace smiled down at her, staring into beautiful dark eyes that were blinking back up at her.
‘Aren’t you sweet. And you speak English! Maybe I have something for you.’
‘No,’ Eva said sternly, her hand closing over Grace’s pocket.
When she looked down, she saw the child’s hand was caught, and she realized what she’d been about to do. The girl was a thief!
‘Well, aren’t you full of surprises. You don’t need to steal,’ Grace told her, waving her finger at her and shaking her head. ‘No stealing. I would have given you something.’
‘Chewn gum! Chewn gum!’ the other children shouted, holding out grubby little hands for treats.
‘Here you go,’ Grace said, giving some gum from her pocket to the girl.
She was expecting a smile, maybe even a thank-you, but the second she gave her the gum, the girl snatched it, poked her tongue out, and started yelling something that Grace couldn’t understand. Was she cursing at her? After she’d been so generous?
Most of the others ran off when they realized there was little being offered, but the boy who’d originally approached couldn’t take his eyes off Eva.
