When You Were Absent

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to their work and the "faithful" ones thought that they should have a share in the "loot" because they had gone on with the necessary jobs. Altogether there was a great deal of heart burning and bad temper displayed. I do not undertake to judge, I only state the facts. There was another cause of friction which drove some of the best tempered to unbelievable fury. Several times the Japanese issued cigarettes at 30 cents a packet. Each adult in camp was allowed to purchase 4 packets. The non-smokers bought their packets, laid them away until the smokers had consumed their quota and then profiteered by selling the packages at up to $2.00 a packet. I'm afraid I was guilty of this "racket." There was no telling how long my supply of money would last and there was very little chance of making money in camp. I bartered my share of cigarettes for some peanut oil with which to mix the rice and cook rice cakes for the children. Oil was also good for putting on bread when we had bread. However, my friends were so indignant at my making capital of their vices that I let them purchase my share the next time rather than jeopardize their friendship. They held that non-smokers should pool their cigarettes and allow smokers to buy them at cost price because they needed them "to soothe their shattered nerves." I claimed that if I could turn cigarettes into extra food for the children, it was my right to do so. What do you say? However it wasn't worth a quarrel and quarrels arose very easily. If a smoke would calm the troubled

waters more than oil, let them have it. I wasn't generous-only too tired to bother about it.

There was a children's clinic run by some of the doctors and nurses and there was a great deal of trouble there also. I never did find out what the trouble was. I know that the very clever doctor who was first in charge fought for every

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