The daughter, as others, is still implying that she is on a vacation with her family. She is probably lying as a way of hiding how she actually feels and probably the shame of being on “that side of the fence”. She also thinks a lot about what the other people from the outside are doing; it could also be a way of coping as if she is having a “good time” in the internment camp.

“Sometimes he worried he was there because he’d done something horribly, terribly wrong.” 

He then proceeds to think of “bad” actions he has done in the past as he reflects on why he is being punished. In his innocence he is feeling guilty and lost. It’s even harder for him since the one that used to calm him through nightmares was his father.

We can infer that the housekeeper has a lot of respect and loyalty towards the mother. She shows appreciation towards her, as if she had been a good boss. The mother responds humbly to her actions as she recognizes that at the internment camp there’s no hierarchy. As a whole we can tell they had a good relationship.

Although they have radios, it’s hard for them to trust the American government as they see them as the enemy. The uncertainty of what’s going to happen next makes them create fake news. Those rumors could also be rooted from their fear of their future, since at that moment they don’t know how much the war will last or escalate.

“Fool…I was a fool” (p.110).

Birdsong grew faster, and shriller, and the chill slowly lifted from the air. Our mother rose early every morning and made us breakfast, then tied a white scarf over her head and hurried off to catch the next bus. She wore a shapeless black dress, sensible shoes, no lipstick. In a large brown shopping bag she carried an assortment of brushes and rags….she moved briskly and did not complain. “Be good,” she called out to us on her way out the door” (p.136).

He wore the same thing every day and became paranoid and did not trust anyone (p.134).

Small things would send him into a rage. He creates a scene at the bank (p.134).

He never went back to work and became withdrawn. “Maybe he was remembering the promise he’d made to her years before right after they’d first married--- You’ll never have to work” (p.136).

He refused to go on walks and went to bed at 7 (p.137).

The brother tells the mother that she probably should have gotten three, not two eye cream and when she asks him if there are bags under her eyes, he says, “There’s bags”. But then also tells his mother that he’d remind the father of how she looked (p.63).
He tries to feed her…tell me what you want. DO you want rice? (p.94).