Blue Collar Blues by Rosalyn McMillan Page A

young man. Possibly someone from the Sugimoto family.”
    “The Sugimoto boys don’t like me. They tease me because of my dark skin.”
    “Oh, but that will pass. They will soon see how beautiful you are. And all else will be forgotten.”
    “But Mother, why can’t I marry someone of my father’s race? A black man.”
    “Now you hush. Don’t you let your stepfather hear you talk that way. You are Japanese. Not black.”
    “Then why do we speak English, Mother?”
    “Because we make our living with horses and must deal with the Americans.” Her voice was insistent:
“Shumatsu ni nani o shimasu ka.”
    “Nichi-yobi ni tomodachi to kabuki o mimasu,”
Tomiko answered.
    “Ii desu ne.”
Her mother smiled. “See? You haven’t forgotten our language.”
    “No, Mother.” She lowered her eyes before speaking. “But I’d still love to go to America one day.”
    Her mother’s voice was bitter. “Listen to me, Tomiko. I regret marrying your father. Never will I agree to let you sell your soul to those black devils.”
    “Is that why the kids at school ask to see my tail? Because they think that black people are devils?”
    “Tomiko! Why do you tell such tall tales!”
    “I speak the truth, Mother. They tease me about how long my tail is. Especially the Sugimoto boys.”
    “They’re just jealous. You listen to your mother. You are beautiful and someday you will be successful because of it. Then these children will beg for your friendship.”
    But Tomiko had defied her mother. She kept her relationship secret until one day her mother confronted her.
    “Tomiko, Mrs. Hashimoto has told me that she has seen you with Mr. Richardson. Is this so?”
    With her eyes to the floor, Tomiko said, “Yes, Mother, it is true. We love each other and we are going to marry.”
    “How can you do such a thing!”
    “Mother, I am not a young child anymore, I am a grown woman. I love him and he loves me.”
    “You will be unhappy, my child. You will go to your beloved America and you will see that you will feel just as different there as here.”
    Thinking back, Tomiko grew wistful at her mother’s words. Was her mother right? Was it possible that marriage to R.C. and life in America still would not fulfill her dreams?
    R.C. ended his phone call and put his arm around Tomiko. “We’ll do just fine. You’ll see.” But Tomiko knew he was talking about money again.
    “I don’t like it here, R.C. This isn’t the way I planned on us spending our honeymoon. When are we going to see your home in Michigan?”
    “Be patient, baby.” He kissed her softly on the mouth. “Today’s important. A lot depends on how much I win today.”
    “Why?” Tomiko asked suspiciously.
    “Don’t worry. Leave it up to me.”
    “As your wife, don’t you feel I should know what’s going on?”
    R.C. quickly eased her back in her seat and patted her on the knee. “We’ll talk about this later at home. Right now I’ve got business to take care of.”
    “But how soon can we leave?”
    “Don’t push it, Tomiko.”
    “But R.C., when are we going to Michigan so I can start my modeling career? You told me they were waiting for me.”
    “Who was waiting for you?”
    “The modeling agency!” Tomiko said in frustration.
    They had discussed this issue before they left Japan, and R.C. had promised he could pull some strings. Was R.C. reneging?
    “I told you I’d get you an agent,” he said. “Now leave me alone. I’ve got money on these horses. As soon as we get back to Michigan, you’ll be working with a top agent. You have nothing to worry about. You’re going to be the biggest thing since Naomi Campbell.”
    “But I look too Japanese!”
    “Listen, Tomiko, I can’t tend to your insecurities right now.”
    They were interrupted by a second call from R.C.’s bookie.
    “R.C. here.” R.C. stroked Tomiko’s face.
    At five foot ten, Tomiko knew she had the figure to make it as a runway model. But she worried that her looks were too