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Birthday
I am Nuohe. (New-o-he) My name means graceful lotus. I was born in the year of the rabbit. I live with my Mother and my Father in China. We grow rice for a living. We also have four hens and a mule. Our mule helps us to plow our rice fields. We are happy here. -
Father Gone
Father wants to go to the land of the White Demons. He says the land of the White Demons is a golden mountain. He says it is filled with good work and good pay. But Mother says the Demons land is dangerous. She says that people vanish without a trace there. She does not want Father to go but Father leaves anyway. -
To the Deamon Land
Father has sent us a letter saying that he wants us to join him in the Demon land. He says that he has a house and a place to work. Mother still does not want to go but she finally relents. We are going to go meet Father. -
On the Boat
We have now sold all of our possessions. It is exciting to be going to the land of the golden mountain. Mother is still nervous but I don’t see why. We are now boarding a boat to take us to the land of the golden mountain. It is very crowded and smelly. It will be a long journey. -
I am still on this boat
I am extremely bored. There is nothing to do on this boat. It is so crowded that I can barely move. Mother is sea sick most of the time and won’t tell me any stories. -
Calafornia Cost
At last we can see land. It has been forever since we have seen land. I am giddy with happiness. Father is waiting for us on shore. First we must go through Angel Island. -
Angel Island
Angel Island is very crowded. We are shunted into rooms and examined by doctors who flip our eyelids inside out. Then they ask us questions. I know a little English because a sailor on the ship was teaching me. Still some of the questions they ask I don’t understand. We must have answered the questions right because they send us to a waiting area to look for Father. -
Where is Father?
He is not there. We wait and wait. Finally a Chinese man taps me on the back: "Are you Nuohe?" "Yes I am" He is a friend of Father and he takes us to Father’s apartment. Father is working at the moment. Mother looks nervous but I still don’t know why. We are at Father’s house. We are safe. Are we not? -
Father is gone for good
We have been living at Father's for 5 days and still he has not returned. Mother says he is not coming back. When I ask why, she says the White Demons got him. -
I am Alone
Mother had found work a week ago. Now it is past time she came home. Where is she? Fathers friend Hengzhong (Hen-Zong) came in and said "Nuohe your mother has been hanged. The White Demons got her. We are going east where it is safer." I now see why Mother did not want to come here. We should have stayed in China. Now I am an orphan.
Hengzhong’s name means Constant Loyal.
