"Just remember - when you think all is lost, the future remains!"

- Dr. Robert H. Goddard

I remember now, the day momma told us we had to leave and anything we wanted to take had to fit into one tiny box. To me that day, is to remember that our neighbors, so called friends weren't actually that. They had masks hiding their true faces, and this change told us so. The people I had known for most of my life suddenly changed. Looking upon me differently, because of what the nation of our ancestry did to our America. I began to hate America that day, hate the people that claimed to protect me from harm, though in their own way I suppose they were!

It was an ugly day which grows dark within my mind as the older I get. I believe in my heart that what was the most shocking was that my best friend, whom I have and still love to this day hardened a little toward me. I watched her turn her back on me because she listened to the views of others. An all those years, Melinda and I spent together going to school, junior prom, and even her brother was gone in one instance.

The sky turned dark that day as my mother closed the front door to the only home I had ever known never too see it again. Every one of our neighbors on the block, the ones I had grown up with, stood outside their doors watching us leave over home. I sighed as my mother held tightly on to me not realizing that Melinda and her mother were standing two feet away from me shaking her head, "I cannot believe I ever let you play with that Jap!" her mother barked toward me as we left our house for the last time, "Such a disgrace to the world!"

Melinda removing herself from her mother's side taking a deep breath looking at her mother uncrossing her arms, "Mother they have lived in this house for years and I hate to break it to you but she is still human-," she gulped feeling her heart break ripping away from her mother shaking her head, "Lillianna has been there for me since I was six years old Momma," taking a deep breath trying to hold back her tears, "Six and the best damn friend I could ever have!" she yelled running toward me pulling me into a warm loving hug, "I know you had nothing to do with this Lilly and I promise you Teddy will do everything within his power to fix it!"

"My son would have no such dealing!" She barked turning her head from us continuing to mumble on about her wonderful son. Millie and I snickered wondering if her mother realized that regardless of this Japan situation I was still becoming her daughter-in-law through our families forced engaged upon her wondrous son and my sister Janalyn.

Though, that day I wish Millie would have been right. That Captain Theodore Xavier Jackson could fix everything including this. Sadly there is only so much Teddy can do and this, I truly believe this was too much for him, "Me too Millie-," I spoke closing me eyes embracing her one last time, "Me too!"

Now Melinda Millie Anne Jackson and I were your typical American seventeen year old girls. We had messy rooms, made great grades, and were in love with each others brothers. Well, I just did not want to admit that I, Lillianna Arielle Aomori Schmidt could possibly love my sister's twenty –two year old fiancé. I had known Theodore since I was six when we first moved into the neighborhood when Papa suddenly left because he quote "Could not live this life with three mixed children!" I, my sister Jannie and my brother Drew never thought about it that way. Being mixed children before until father said that all because he was white and our mother was Japanese, then suddenly things changed.

Three days after he left Momma, Drew-Jannie and I moved into our cute little home on LakeForest drive next to the Jackson's. It always brings a smile to my face when I think about the day I met Theodore and Millie. I was playing in the yard with Drew and a group of Chinese boys that lived a block down started to yell at Millie, taunting her.

A wild giggle came from a across the yard before calling out, "Lilly-," again in continued coming closer before I rose noticing the pack Chinese jerks behind her, "Lillianna!" I sighed seeing my sister run toward me full force now.

Squeezing my eyes together showing how I detested those boys! I crossed my arms seeing the cruel boys grabbing my sister before turning their attention to another tiny little thing. This tiny little thing looked just liked me almost just my eyes weren't green. Her eyes widened almost as if she had seen ghost by her feet as the largest boy pushed her to the ground with her nice cloths now covered in mud, "Hey!" I yelled looking at the rude little boys grabbing three rocks from the front garden, "You leave her alone y hear!" throwing one of my rocks hitting the short fat one with my sister hiding behind me.

"Jap bitch what was that for?" The fat Chinese boy called holding his bleeding forearm, "This is no concern of yours!"

I laughed shaking my head throwing another rock at the tall thin one breaking the skin across his forehead, "Call me a Jap bitch again and I will personally tell my uncle Lansky to push all y'all off!"

"Man you bluffin," Called the fat one dropping the little blonde girls arm, "Your uncle ain't no Meyer Lansky the man's in zing zing!" he laughed as I turned yelling into the house for Uncle Lanksy who happened to be visiting mother for one of their many holidays together. Made them boys piss their pants when he exited the house smiling at me and taking one look at the boys placing fear in them.

Taking a deep breath crossing his arms still looking at the boys, "What's going on here Lucky?" he questioned me taking a smoke of his cigar waiting for me to answer, "These Orientals bothering you?" the boys gulped shaking their heads running away from the little girl who was completely dirty now.

"Thank you!" I smiled looking at him then running over to the girl, "You all right miss?" I asked helping her up as she nodded, "I thought they were gonna bet you up!"

She smiled nodding, "I did too," the girl giggled as we both tried to get the mud out of her blonde hair rising to our feet after, "I'm Melinda-," speaking with a giggle holding out her hand, "Melinda Anne Jackson but you can call me Millie!"

"Nice to meet you Millie," I smiled shaking her hand, "I'm Lillianna Arielle Aomori Schmidt!" I thought of that day as I hugged my best friend for what seemed to be the last time. Her hair smelled of the best flavors-lavender and vanilla! Following within the long blonde locks of hers like mine. Many called me the strange Jap for I had long blonde hair with eyes as blue as the ocean though the only thing that seemed to be a problem was the way my eyes were.

Millie begged me not to worry and that Teddy would do everything and anything to save me and my siblings from this. I wish I could have believed her then, "Please do not worry Lucky," Millie tried to smile through her tears resting her hands upon my shoulders, "For my sake!" taking a deep breath shaking her head, "I cannot believe this is goodbye!" gulping ready to start crying again, "After everything-,"

I smiled kissing both her cheeks giggling, "Oh Millie this is not goodbye-," trying not to lie to her stroking her long hair, "It is just a vacation away there not locking me up forever!"

"You are probably right darling-," Millie nodded whipping her tears from her green eyes, "Nothing to be worried about!" she finished as a car road up with Teddy's head sticking out of it making us laughed, "What are you doing here?"

I laughed crossing my arms looking at him; "I could ask you the same thing?" giggling lowering my arms shaking my head, "Thought they shipped you out yesterday with Jannie?"

"They did-," Theodore smiled removing his head from the window opening the door and stepping out of the car, "But I thought a certain lady could use an escort!" smiling again point to the car as I started laughing when Millie grabbed my arm.

I could feel Millie smile as her lips touched my ear, "You deserve someone like him-," she giggled at me shaking my head, "He loves you!" Millie spoke letting me go as Teddy entered the car first then I closing the door looking at Millie, "Never forget that!"

"I won't Millie-," I spoke turning over to teddy smiling taking his hand, "I won't!"

Theodore smiled looking at his sweet sister, "There is a surprise-," he spoke pointing to the car behind us. I watched Millie as the expression upon her face became shocked then a smile appeared walking toward the car somewhat afraid. She gulped shaking a bit as the car door opened to her surprise a tall dark haired man excited the car. Out of all of us Drew looked the most American with those ocean eyes. He stood before her wearing a United States Military uniform removing his hat.

"Hello-," The man spoke holding his hat to his side as Millie held out her hand which he kissed, "Miss Millie Anne!"

Millie giggled as the tears began to fall her face again, "Drew!" she cried jumping into his arms stroking his soft short hair holding him within her arms not even hearing her father, Jonathon Jackson yelling obscenities from behind. Personally, I don't think she cared for they were too lost within each other as they fell into a sweet kiss, "I missed you so much!" squeezing him tightly closing her eyes.

"You have no idea how much I've longed to hear you say that!" Drew spoke beginning taken out of their little world by her father's obscenities. Shaking his head looking back to Millie, "Would you have the honor of escorting me to the-,"

Millie smiled nodding firstly then kissing him again, "Of course I would-," she spoke biting her bottom lip again entering the black car with Drew, "My love!" Millie felt safe with Drew-always did even before they were together she felt safe as he put his arm around her letting her rest her head upon his shoulder. She smiled closing her eyes taking a deep breath imaging what it would be like to be Lady Melinda Anne Aomori Schmidt, that idea was simply Safe n' Sound!