ONCE AN ENEMY, Chapter10

ONCE ON ENEMY, CHAPTER 10

Nobou is home from the war transitioning from aviator to businessman. His dark dreams have intensified and are now more frequent. He has opened a small local hardware store, teaching Martial Arts in a space cleared in his warehouse for the purpose. 

Oppenheimer is conducting a rare interview with members of the fledgling mass market media. 

Back at the Brookings Harbor Cafe it is now 1962 and an entire new crew now sits in the back of the cafe. A brass plate memorializes the life of Navy Captain David S. Rombeck, 1897 - 1959.  The crew gets a visit from a neighbor who is leading a new civic organization called the Junior Chamber of Commerce. After a quick intro, he enlists them and offers an immediate opportunity on an upcoming city event. This is a key point in the story, as the boys, and Beth, have been challenged. Tommy Guthrie is now the de-facto “chairman” and continues his gambling enterprise with the National Pastime. As the boys select their players for the game, one of the new guys, Earl, uses a racial slur in selecting rookie Jim Fregosi, asking for him as the wop shortstop.

He is immediately chastised by Beth, but in a moment of anger and confusion, Howard Gardner objects when the example of calling Japanese japs is used. Angered, he storms out of the cafe with Beth in hot pursuit. On the sidewalk in front of the cafe Beth and Howard have a serious confrontation on the subject, one that has lingered in the public consciousness for twenty years. Unable to find a graceful exit from the dialogue, he asks Beth not to hate him, but this is something he cannot face. He turns from her and runs. 

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