This book is dedicated to my Mom. I love my Mom.

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/afbyeqkc8pmx

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright,

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight,

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

And the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And watch where the chalk white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

By Shel Silversteen

It was a spring day in Kirmini, Pyongyang, in North Korea, which was taken over by the Japanese military, which was ruthless as Hitler. Sookan lived with her family, and her mother is forced to watch over a sock factory in their yard. Her father had gone to fight with the resistance movement, and her brothers are sent to labor camps for a time period which seemed like billions of years. Her grandfather, known by the townspeople as the scholar, had not meditated outside in 36 years, and he was tired of the Japanese soldiers keeping him inside. Mother gives Sookan a hair pin to use once the war was over beacuse the Japanese would take anything made of metal to use for weapons in the war.

One muggy afternoon in June, Mother and Aunt Tiger told Sookan and her little brother Inchun they had a plan. They were going to celebrate Haiwon's birthday, and even go to Sookan's sister Theresa's covenant and get her a special book that nuns decorated. Mother left for her on-foot journey early enough to make it back before dark. Grandfather had also made Haiwon a painting on rice paper. When Haiwon received her gift, tears came to her eyes, but the moment didn't last forever. Captain Narita arrived and took Haiwon's presents and Sookan's family's dishes. He even cut down Grandfathers beloved pine tree, and Grandfather got deeply upset.

Once Grandfather felt better, he insisted that the kids come to see him. He told them not to be angry about anything. He told Mother to tell them stories about their family and show them pictures. Sookan learned a lot about her families past and what they had been through. When Sookan and Inchun held Grandfather's hand, she saw a little Buddha. She also found out that grandfather was dying. Sookan rubbed oil on Grandfather, and encountered Grandfathers bare feet for the first time, and saw he had no toenails.¨His poor toes,"she thought. She was overwhelmed with sadness; Mother dried his feet and told Sookan that Grandfather needed to rest. Soon after they left him, he died.

Pictures

Captain Narita came twice this morning and he left the second time looking satisfied. He came back the next morning, but he did not check socks. Instead he told Aunt Tiger to get Mother. He threatened to put the sock girls on the battlefield if the production did not increase; Sookan did not know what Captain meant. The girls had to increase producion, for they were determined. They worked hard from sun up to sun down. After a long day of work, the girls were leaving and the gates burst open fast as lightning; it was Captain Narita. The girls cried out, but Captain Narita's soldiers and would not budge. Just like that, all of the sock girls were taken and were never to be seen again. NOOOOO!!

NOOOOO!!! :(

One morning, Mother got a note from one Captain's lieutenants saying that Sookan had to be enrolled in school. When she got to school, she made a friend named Unhi, had to sing the Kimigayo, say the pledge, and Sookan got a new name "Akoi Shizue." They had to lead a recitation, and four girls wet their pants. The girls had to clean the floors with wax and rags. Sookan tried to share her lunch, and got it taken away along with Grandfather's box. As they were making weapons to fight the Americans with,a boy yelled out, disrespecting the Japanese. Sookan clapped and got expelled. The Japanese were starving the Koreans and ripped them off for their most pretty, prized possessions.

A day the Koreans would never ever forget, August 15, 1945; the war was over. Mother had been very sick, but Kisa got her medicine from the covenant. The family had to stay inside while the Japanese retreated because it was very dangerous. Sookan and her family played music, planted flowers, the Korean flag was displayed, and wore their bright Korean clothing. The flowers were calling to Sookan. Sookan and Aunt Tiger went to the Narita's old home and were surprised to see that Unhi lived there. Many Koreans who had to serve were brought back very hurt. Not very long after the war ended, the Russians came. They came to Sookan's house when no adults were there and stole many of their items.