Book Excerpt: The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw

Title: The Last Cherry Blossom

Author: Kathleen Burkinshaw

Publisher: Sky Pony Press, 2016

Sumiyo placed her chopsticks on her hashioki and said, “I do, too, Yuriko-chan. I believe it is time for us to return home to Hiroshima.”

I turned from looking out the window and exclaimed, “We can go home to Papa? Really?”

“Hooray!” Even Genji had finally lost interest in day after day of cows in the pasture.

“I can’t wait to see Machiko, too! I have to hear all about her work at the plane factory,” I said. I got up and began to bring the empty dishes to the sink.

“Well, it definitely is too quiet around here,” Aunt Kimiko agreed.

Sumiyo stood up from the table and said, “Good. Then the decision has been made, and we will leave tomorrow morn­ing. We will arrive in time to surprise your papa when he gets home from the office.”