8
The Desk
February 1945 — LelandLate in the month of February 1945, someone knocked on the door of Leland’s shop. He opened it and a whoosh of air blew the curls back from his brow. A man dressed in a worn suit and tie stood in the doorway with a little girl. He held out his hand.
“I’ve heard about your work,” he said. “My name is Shunsaku Tanaka. I would like you to build a desk for me.”
He spoke with a clipped accent, and Leland could see the man was of Japanese descent. Leland shook his hand. “Come in, Mr. Tanaka, and let’s see what I can do for you.”
He moved aside and allowed Mr. Tanaka and his young daughter inside the shop. Leland chewed on his bottom lip and gave a subtle shake of his head. Was this man another survivor of the Japanese internment camps? Leland had heard that
