‘Too many of us, that’s what I think,’ Ishy said. ‘No place to put us and they couldn’t feed us all, so they’re just grabbing the important ones – leaders and lawyers and politicians. Anyway, Hawai‘i would fall into ruin without our Japanese skills and our little businesses. We make up more than a third of the population you know.’ Well I didn’t know, only knew that in his business Ishy had contacts all round the Pacific, which included the United States West Coast.

Now the letter from Harry. Harry Krauss wrote frequently to his wife and daughter, and whenever I called in to the bakery Dulcie was always keen to show the letters to me. There was nothing Harry couldn’t do when it came to cake decoration. He was known as the best in the district, the North Island – the whole country, some said. Any mother of a bride who didn’t want to be outdone in matters concerning her daughter’s wedding would know that Harry Krauss was the one to go to for the cake. At any wedding, a cake done by Harry was a talking point. He was aware of his reputation and proud of it, spending many hours perfecting icing roses. [Also bunches of forget-me-nots, lilies, cascades of mock orange blossom, leaves, lattice, scalloping, loops, knots and bows, bride and groom. O.S.] Now he turned his artistry to his letters, and it was his little drawings that Dulcie was always so pleased to share with me.

Bordering each page and meandering into each paragraph were intricate and detailed drawings of flowers, foliage, birds, fish and small creatures, as well as sketches Harry had made round the beaches and bush of the island.

I came from my watch one evening with time off until seven in the morning. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get home from the railway station once I arrived as there was no taxi available now. Also petrol and tyres were in short supply. I thought I would go over to Oriwia’s and borrow her horse.

However, as I came off the station platform, I saw Oriwia’s horse tied up at the bakery. I went in to find Mrs Krauss, Dulcie and Oriwia bunched over a letter from Harry. Daphne and Binnie were there in their pyjamas, eating raspberry buns. They jumped off their stools, excited to see me.