Blk. 14 Bldg. 12 Apt. 4
Manzanar Reloc. Ctr.
Manzanar, California

February 21, 1944

Dear Brothers,

Tonight I started to write because I just happened to remember that this week is "national brotherhood" week. As I think of you I hope you are thinking of me and the folks.

You know what! On Saturday night around 8:30, it started to snow. Then it didn't stop till around 8:30 on Sunday night. Then it snowed again in the middle of the night, on Sunday. When we awoke on Sunday morning, we looked out the windows and the whole camp was just simply beautiful. It was just like a drawing on a beautiful Christmas card. Trees and everywhere had been piled with snow.

On the ground it was 5-6 inches thick. On the branches, telephone wires and clothes

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line, the snow was 2 inches thick. This morning when I went to school, the snow was way past my ankles. At lunch time we got a 60 mile an hour wind which blew all of the snow off of the barracks.

Its still blowing and its cold as heck. All of the Alabama Hills are completely white. The Inyo's aren't quite completely covered but below the Sierras, its all filled with snow and it's a beautiful sight. All of the kids played snow ball fights including me. Boy, it sure makes your muscles ache. But its fun.

This afternoon we had no school because of the strong wind. Boy, I was glad. Did you have any snow?

This is the thickest we've every had here in Manzanar but I wish it would get thicker.

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This morning at 6:30 the first group of Tulelakers left this camp. I think it was from Blk 1-12. Towru, your school chum, Kim, left so I guess she'll meet Haruko H. there. Tomorrow our block is leaving at 6:30 and breakfast is from 5:30-6:30. Pretty early. Many people had said goodby to us and it reminds us of the time we were going away from back home.

About the draft, Jim & Mac told me all about it & we were glad to hear that they postponed the exam for a month. If your taken, we will expect seeing you back here in April if I'm right. Moma has been worrying a lot and wants hear from you more often. Please

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write just for her if you want to write to her and not to me, its okay. But just to please her please write.

Say, don't get mad at me, but this is the latest gossip I've heard. Maybe you know it already. I think Jimmy has a crush on Hiro T. Am I right?

They aren't mushy so don't think it that way but they go to places together and so forth (not going to gossip any more about that stuff).

Something funny happened last night or should I say yesterday. Well, this is what happened. A bachelor from 14-12-1 brought some of the made beer over to Mac's house. Then in the afternoon from around three or something they invited a

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lot of other men to drink. Some of them were Shiraki and Yoshiwara. Well, they drank and drank and pretty soon they were in that jolly mood and they started to sing. They yelled & sang a yoi yoi, yoi a santo and had a samisen playing (The thing that Yokata lady plays). Also they were clapping their hands & were making a bunch of racket. Mean while mom was gazing out the window & she saw them coming out. They all had red faces. Then mom said oh, ra, ah ra, shiko shi do shi ta & sure enough the guys were taking a leak right out there in the open in front of Mac's barrack. Mac told me he couldn't go in because of that reason.

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Then mom and I were just laughing like the devil & I had a belly ache for laughing so hard. I guess they all loose their senses when they drink a lot of beer.

Gee, Towru, the candy is still here but mom & I have been giving most of it away for the people who are leaving. I don't care but it's a wonderful gift. It's a good appetizer and I'm telling you, nothing could be more better. Its certainly delicious. Also the gum. I can't eat a lot of it because mom gets sore & says to eat it by pieces. So nightly for dessert, we cut a bar into thirds and then have tea with it.

Well, that's all.

Masako