Free Snowed in Together by Ann Herrick Page B

went and got some help. After he and the others cleared the opening, they searched the mine. But it was empty."
    "Yeah," Tony said. "Everyone thought the owner had imagined the whole thing, that there'd never been anyone in the cave at all."
    "Do you mind?" Tiffany glared at Tony.
    "Please …." Tony bowed his head. "Be my guest."
    "Thank you," Tiffany said. "Anyway, the next night the owner wakes up. He hears moaning and groaning coming from the mine. He grabs a flashlight, runs and takes a look. No. One. There. Next night, same thing. So he asks a couple guys to spend the night to see if they hear anything. They figure he's nuts, but they agree to come. In the middle of the night, they hear moaning and groaning."
    "Yeah," Tony said. "Some people said it must be the wind or something. But anyone who actually heard it said it sounded exactly like two guys moaning and groaning."
    "Eventually, the mine was sealed up. But it still moans and groans!" Tiffany exclaimed.
    "A ghost story," Ellyce said. "How comforting."
    The lights flickered. Cari let out a small scream, then laughed nervously when the lights came back on. "Jeff, you would have to bring up a ghost story!"
    "The ghost story is just a small part of it," Jeff said. "My secret about the ranch is something else."
    "Well!" Tiffany said. "What is it?"
    "My great-grandparents--my mother's grandparents--once owned the Sheldon Ranch."
    "They did?" Tony said. "I never knew that."
    "Of course you didn't," Jeff said patiently. "If you'd known, it wouldn't have been a secret."
    "Oh, yeah. Duh!" Tony laughed. "So what happened? Why didn't your mother inherit the ranch? Why aren't you rich?"
    "Well … I've never told anyone this before. I don't know why, exactly …. " Jeff hesitated, then went on. "I guess I always felt … I don't know … ashamed. Even though I know it's nothing I should be ashamed of."
    We waited in silence for Jeff to go on. Finally, he said, "The government confiscated the land from my great-grandparents and then sold it. You see, my great-grandparents were forced to go into an internment camp in World War Two."
    "That's awful," I said. "I mean, what the government did was awful. Your great-grandparents didn't do anything wrong."
    "I'll say," Ellyce said.
    "Yeah," Tony said. "The government blew it, big time!"
    "Talk about unfair!" Tiffany slammed her hand down on the mat.
    For a moment, Cari said nothing. Then, "Jeff, I didn't know, that is, are you Japanese? You don't really look, um, uh … " Cari looked down at the floor.
    Jeff tilted an eyebrow. "Yeah, I'm part Japanese--on my Mom’s side. I was born in Oregon , so were my Mom and her parents. Her grandparents moved to the US in the early twenties." His jaw clenched. His eyes narrowed slightly. He hesitated, then asked, "Why? Does it matter?"
    "No. Of course, not. Well. Um. Not to me," Cari said. "I was just surprised. I mean, now that you mention it, I guess you do sort of look … that is … I should've realized …. I guess I just never thought of you as Japanese."
    "You sure this isn't some kind of problem for you?" Jeff's mouth formed a thin line of concern.
    "Oh, no. No," Cari said. "I--"
    " Something's bothering you," Tiffany said. "Whatever it is, I think you should tell him, Cari."
    I got a weird spasm in my stomach. My toes curled tighter than ever. I had a feeling that being trapped by the snowstorm, that worrying about dying, however remote the possibility, was doing something to us, something that would cause all of us to reveal our secrets. I gritted my teeth, determined that I was not going to reveal the deepest, darkest secrets about my life.
    "Tell me what?" Jeff demanded.
    Cari chewed her lip. "Jeff … it's not you. It's not me. It's … my great grandpa."
    "Your great-grandfather? What's he got to do with anything?"
    "He … he's very bitter toward the Japanese. But please understand!" Cari begged. "He was in World War Two, a prisoner of war in the Bataan Death March. He said over