The Storm We Made: A Novel

Abel wakes up again in the chicken coop and is given water by Freddie, another boy at the camp whose skin is even fairer than Abel’s. Freddie gives Abel a bottle of toddy, which Abel has formed an addiction to be more compliant and cope with his sexual trauma at the work camp.

Freddie’s strong Eurasian features turn the soldiers’ attention away from Abel. The narrative recalls how Abel had discovered that Freddie stays up at night to draw sketches of his work camp experiences using his own blood. He tells Abel that he’s doing it “for when [they] get out of here. So [they] can show people. To explain” (92). Through one of the sketches, Abel learns that Brother Luke recruited Freddie to the camp as well. Abel asks Freddie to draw his little sister, Jasmin, describing her as best as he can remember her.

While Abel spends another night in the chicken coop, he overhears the arrival of Brother Luke at the camp. Abel’s old teacher is thrown into the chicken coop with him.

Jujube discovers Jasmin’s nightgown from when she snuck out with Yuki and sees that it is stained with blood. When Jujube assumes that Jasmin has started menstruating, Jasmin confesses that she left the house with a friend. Jujube becomes upset with Jasmin and forces her into the basement as punishment. She informs Gordon and Cecily that Jasmin has been sneaking out. Jasmin is locked downstairs, and she decides to suffer in silence out of resentment for her family.

Cecily releases Jasmin from the basement after Jujube leaves, reassuring Jasmin that their disagreement was nonsense. While Cecily prepares a cup of Horlicks for her, Jasmin runs out with the soiled nightie and goes into town. She finds herself in the company of Peik Lum, a girl who works for the town chemist. Peik Lum applies some ointment on Jasmin’s blistered foot. Just then, General Fujiwara enters the chemist’s shop. He notices Jasmin and asks her who her parents are. When Jasmin tells him that she is the daughter of Gordon and Cecily Alcantara, he becomes friendly and offers her lunch at his house. They ride in his car and reach a large house that previously belonged to the British resident. After Jasmin eats lunch, Fujiwara explains that he knows Cecily because she “changed [him], and the world” (111).

While Jujube is feeling remorseful for her treatment of Jasmin, Mr. Takahashi comes to the teahouse to tell her that his daughter is alive in Osaka. Jujube is quietly angered by this news. Cecily then comes to the shop to tell her that Jasmin has run away. They leave the teahouse immediately.

At home, Cecily gets upset and throws her kitchenware around, blaming herself for Jasmin’s disappearance. After Jujube offers to get Gordon from his work at the factory, Cecily mutters, “He owes me; he will know” (117). Jujube is unsure who Cecily is referring to, but it causes her to remember a man who used to visit Cecily at the house. Cecily was often joyful around the man, and Jujube used to call him Uncle Toothpaste for his minty scent. In public, Cecily would pretend not to know Uncle Toothpaste. Nevertheless, Jujube would also tell Jasmin that Uncle Toothpaste was capable of solving all their problems.

In 1936, Cecily settles into her two roles as housewife and informer. Her desire for Fujiwara grows to a point where she kisses him and then relieves her sexual frustrations with Gordon. Her collaboration enables Fujiwara to sabotage the port and the RAF repair hangar. Cecily is thrilled by the impact of her work.

The British forces try to uncover the identity of the informant in Bintang. Cecily learns the details of these efforts from Gordon, but Gordon reassures her that they are likely to be spared. Cecily waits for Fujiwara to contact her, but he remains silent for several weeks after the port fire. The British turn their attention to the Chinese community in Bintang, arresting gang leader Kapitan Yap. Cecily joins the neighborhood housewives in consoling Mrs. Yap. Mrs. Yap asks Cecily for help in escaping Bintang, but Cecily is apathetic to her.