Paper Wishes

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

The weather grows very hot. School is paused while several new school buildings are constructed. Miss Rosalie, who is getting ready to leave for a vacation, asks to see Manami. Manami brings three drawings to give Miss Rosalie. Miss Rosalie looks at each drawing carefully. Looking at a picture of herself reading a poem to the class, she asks Manami whether she really twirls her hair around her finger that way, and Manami nods yes. Miss Rosalie tells Manami that she will treasure the drawing of Manami, Ron, and Grandfather in Mother’s garden most of all, because she can look at it and think of Manami every day. 

Manami is sad, knowing she will miss Miss Rosalie. Miss Rosalie gives Manami a stack of fresh paper and four new pencils. On her way home, Manami sees Kimmi’s dog sleeping outside, and then she sees a large white dog she has not seen before. She believes that her letters to Yujiin brought these dogs to the camp by mistake, and she runs home. Grandfather sees that she is crying and asks what is wrong.