Authors: Tomie dePaola
I'm Still Scared (10 page)
The main song was “We're the Couple in the Castle.” That was the song that Billy Burns and I would sing to our partners, Patty Clark and Carol Morrissey.
Gosh,
I thought,
will we boys be GRASSHOPPERS and the girls BEES?
Gosh,
I thought,
will we boys be GRASSHOPPERS and the girls BEES?
Even though it wasn't by Mr. Walt Disney, it was a really good movie, too. The movies were a Double Feature, so we settled down to wait for the second movie, then the newsreel started. It was filled with scenes of burning buildings in London, England, explosions everywhere, and air raid sirens blasting out. Mom and Mrs. Morrissey quickly took Carol and me out to the lobby.
Mom put her arm around me and whispered, “I'm sorry. I didn't want you to see that!”
Carol's mother was talking quietly to her, too. Carol and I looked at each other. I was afraid I would not be able to sleep at night. I was afraid I'd have nightmares about all those destroyed buildings and all the hurt people.
It was the first time I actually saw WAR, even though it was only in the movies.
The End
Franklin D. Roosevelt's
Pearl Harbor Speech,
December 8, 1941
Pearl Harbor Speech,
December 8, 1941
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941âa date which will live in infamyâthe United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philip-pine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumphâso help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since
the
unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan
on
Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
the
unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan
on
Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
A Note from the Author
Over the years, letters from my young readers have increasingly asked, “When are you going to write a chapter book?” But the idea seemed daunting. Then one day, my longtime assistant, Bob Hechtel, made a suggestion. “Why don't you write about all the things that you talk about from your childhood, but can't put in a single picture book?” DINGâthe bell went offâthe lightbulb lit. And here I am, six books and seven years later.
From the beginning, it wasn't hard for me to conjure up all the clear memories I have (and have had for years) of my immediate family and all the friends that surrounded me during my growing-up years. And I was fortunate to have those memories reinforced by hours of home movies that my father and mother took from the time I was one year old.
Once I had written
26 Fairmount Avenue,
I knew there was no turning back. But it was particularly interesting for me to find myself back on Sunday, December 7, at the end of
Things Will NEVER Be the Same.
Hearing Roosevelt's voice, seeing the expression on my mother's face, and feeling the uncertainty as if it all happened yesterday: I was in the beginning of “The War Years.”
26 Fairmount Avenue,
I knew there was no turning back. But it was particularly interesting for me to find myself back on Sunday, December 7, at the end of
Things Will NEVER Be the Same.
Hearing Roosevelt's voice, seeing the expression on my mother's face, and feeling the uncertainty as if it all happened yesterday: I was in the beginning of “The War Years.”
When I began the series back in 1999, I never imagined how timely these later books would become as families today experience the same turmoil and concerns of war that I remember as a little boy. I hope you will find my memories of “The War Years” as moving and vivid as they have been for me.
New Hampshire, 2006
Come home to 26 Fairmount Avenue!
26 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE
A Newbery Honor Book
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“A wonderful introduction to the art of the memoir.”
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The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
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“Effervescent ... dePaola seems as at home in this format as he did when he first crossed the threshold of 26 Fairmount Avenue, an address readers will eagerly revisit in the series' subsequent tales.”Other books
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