Topic: A Samoan Tale! ~ A short story (Read 2118 times)

Dragon · « **on:** May 17, 2011, 10:43:54 AM »

I have been writing an on-going short story for a friend of mine. I thought I would post it here as well for those of you that enjoy reading short stories.

The story has a lot to do with Samoan life and Samoan culture. Some of you may not get a lot of the references I use throughout the story (or be able to pronounce the names lol), but hopefully you still enjoy it...

Will post chapter 1 soon.

Dragon · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:47:28 AM »

A SAMOAN TALE!

**This entire story is © by Dragon

CHAPTER 1: ATA'S RETURN HOME

My very first memory was in my mother's womb.
"I should of listened to my mum...Men are no good ass holes".
This was felt by me more then it was heard. While my mother sat in a 'last class' section of the soaring 747 and nibbled at a free bag of Air New Zealand trail mix I was in the 'first class' comfort of uterine heaven feeling quite sublime. My mother oblivious to modern health concerns drowned her sorrows with bottle after bottle of miniature bourbon, which slowly but surely transformed a small quantity to my small form and resulted in a sort of umbilical bliss.

It was the monsoon season as the large passenger jet skidded and skipped down the runway to come to a halt on the large chunk of rock that would become my home for many years to come; "Savaii...Home", Ata thought. The young seventeen year old girl waiting her turn to un-board the plane stood up slowly and moved towards the exit door. Her faded old Pulatasi clung to her and she pulled it away from her skin to allow cool air to circulate against her and mostly to hide her "womanly condition" from prying eyes. As Ata scanned the small crowd gathering to meet the passengers. Small candy filled leis were placed around many necks as many happy Samoans greeted returning family, long absent relatives, and other such loved ones. "Ata!"; she turned and saw the elder man and woman standing there. There were no candy filled leis for her but the elder woman's eyes were warm and full of love as she walked towards Ata. She simultaneously kissed her on the cheek and placed her aged but caring hand in a caress on Ata's already swelling belly. Ata could not stop her tears from flowing as she hugged her grandmother and sobbed into her neck; "I'm so sorry grandma". She could barely hear her grandmas soothing voice over the piercing stare of disappointment that greeted her from her grandfather's eyes. No kisses or hugs from him. She felt worse at that moment looking at her grandfather's face then he could ever make her feel in words.

Ata enjoyed the soft breezes and the smell of her homeland as she sat in the back of the twenty year old small red pickup truck. She didn't mind the bumps of the barely paved road on the long ride to her family's village. She drifted off to sleep as thoughts of her young life flashed before her in a kaleidoscope of images.

Here is Ata, the oldest of her parents children. Adopted off to her grandparents village at a young age and raised to be the taupou of their small aiga. Smart as a whip she learned fast; But not only her duties that were hers as a taupou in training, but also her lessons at the small christian school she attended. She recalled the joy of her teacher on the day she told Ata of the scholarship she had qualified for at the college in New Zealand; and she remembered the huge party that was thrown in her honor less then a year ago. Her grandparents were sad to see her go, but they were so proud that she would be the first in her family to attend university! Her mother's face also floated in her dreams; Meeting Ata and her grandparents at the airport her mother smelled of booze and sweat. Her father had never been in her life and her mother nor grandparents talked of him. "Well girl, I came all the way here from Tutuila to see you off. Come give your mother a hug goodbye". She remembered thinking her mother looked twenty years older then what she was and vowed to herself never to become an old drunken Samoan gal living day to day off the whim of whatever guy she was sleeping with at the time. Ata also had several brothers and sisters with different fathers that she had never even met. Her grandparents had sheltered her from the life and wayward path of her birth mother, but they could not say no when she asked to see off her daughter on her way to university.

"Do you have a couple of dollars hon"? Her mom's whiskey laden breath whispered into her ear as she hugged her goodbye. Ata simply shook her head no, and her mother in a huff said; "Remember not to get knocked up over there. Men are no good ass holes"! Those were her mother's final words to her and she gave Ata a quick peck on the cheek and went to grandfather to ask him for money next.

Grandmother's hug was long and warm as she caressed Ata's hair and the smile on her face and the tears on her cheeks spoke volumes of how proud they were of her and how they wished her well in New Zealand. That might as well been a million years ago now. Ata woke suddenly as a particularly large pot hole caught the small trucks attention and lifted her back side a few inches off the truck bed. She gazed around and looked up to the the ocean hugging the coast line. She managed a small smile as she realized again she was home, and drifted off again into a bumpy slumber.

How many months did I stay with my mother? I was not so much aware of time as I was aware of warmth and the feeling of safety that permeated my very soul. Was it normal for infants still safe within their mothers to have thoughts and feelings? I was not sure then and I am still not sure today; all I know is that these early memories of mine are real and I will never forget them.

It was the middle of a summer night when the screams filled my small mind. They seemed so far away but they also encompassed me and surrounded my being. They were my mothers! The small and once cozy walls of my uterine home became a suffocating prison and my mothers abdominal muscles squeezed me from all sides. Images rushed into my mind...Images that were not of my life, but of my mothers. I sensed both happiness and joy, but also sorrow and regret. I saw through my mother's eyes the memories of that university party so many months ago, and heard with her ears the giggling of her friends as the tall blond palagi made his way over to my mother and asked her to dance. They spoke not one word to each other as the song played over the small radio. Only the palagi's blazing blue-grey eyes were burned into my mothers memories. The date rape that followed later that night was a memory of fear and shame.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh he's coming"!

My mother's voice screamed again. This time the sounds were closer then ever and I felt like I would never survive the giant bear hug my mothers organs were giving me at that moment.

"Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"!!!!

Screams again, even louder then the ones before. These were my screams though, as my nakedness and newness invited the fingers of the air to penetrate my small body. Oh it was so cold! I wanted back inside, I wanted to be warm again! The light was blinding and I struggled to open my eyes all the while screaming at the top of my tiny lungs. I managed to open them a bit as I felt the pillow of my mothers bosom and the warmth of her breath as I finally looked into her beautiful face. Tears were flowing down her cheeks and her smile was warm and brighter then the light that surrounded us. I knew then what love was and I loved my mother very much. A pair of hard old hands grabbed me up and started to put warm blankets around me. I started to cry again and looked back at my mother..... it would be the last time I would ever see her.

To be continued.........

(I will post chapter 2 as well in a moment)

Dragon · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:53:50 AM »

CHAPTER 2 ~ A Boy Named "Leaga"

I wasn't aware of my mother's death. The placenta that followed me into the light brought along more of my mother then it should have, and a pool of blood and tears were her deathbed.

"What should we name him"?

My gammy (as I would call her all my life) asked. Her loving face wrinkled but soft in its appearance and love for me looked down on me in the small make shift crib.

"I think we should name him after your father; We will call him Siosi"!

My gampy (yes, you guested it...my great grandfather) looked at me with less favorable eyes. His face was dark and leathered from many years on the waters fishing for the village. His teeth, what were left of them were black and rotted looking; No small thanks to his child hood Micronesian friend that introduced him to the joys/sins of the Areca catechu; Better known as the betel nut. I felt his anger when he looked at me. Anger for taking away his beloved grand daughter whom he loved so much. Gampy spit on the floor and said;

"We should call the little bastard 'Leaga', because evil is all he has brought into our aiga".

I did not understand the shallow hatred he felt for me then, but that "nickname" would follow me for the rest of my life.

My earliest memories of childhood were of running down to the shore to watch my older cousins cast their nets into the ocean. I loved to try and help pull the nets in when they were finally close enough to the shore. Even though only three years old I was starting to be known in the village as very strong for my age. All the older kids seemed to be very attached to me and showed me a lot of affection (as long as I wasn't in their way), and some even stood up for me when the 'older kids' of five or six would pick on me.

"Hey Leaga, you a devil"! Mole would yell at me before he pulled my hair.

I refused to cry though. Even at that young age I knew something of keeping face in front of my peers. You see, even though my skin was just as dark as any of my little cousins; and maybe even darker then most because of the time I spent outside near the beach and under the watchful eye of the tropical sun, my eyes were grey as my fathers.

"Leave him alone you little brat. Get out of here before I smack you in the face"!

One of the older boys yelled to Mole.

I was thankful that he did. Even though tough for a tike, I could not hold back tears much longer as the pain in my scalp was burning where Mole was yanking my hair. I thanked the older boy and he tossed me a small fish and him and the others headed back to the village with their catch.

My sharpened stick was my spear. I danced around and yelled my 'war cry' at the small already dead fish as I poked it again and again. I liked to pretend I was hunting the great fruit bats in the mountains like my uncles, and this scale covered flying fox didn't stand a chance against the pint sized warrior. After I tired of my conquest, I waded into the waters to wash off 'my kill' and clean my hands. I watched as the blood slowly came off my brown small fingers, but I did not see that the blood also attracted a few dark shadowy figures beneath the waves. All of a sudden I felt my feet sliding in the sand and shells beneath the water as the under current pulled me into the sea's beckoning maw. Before I knew it the current had dragged me under the water and it was well above my small frame. Not really knowing how to swim I began to panic, but was alert enough to hold my breath. The current and waves above me tossed me like a small sea turtle headed out on its first journey. I remember my lungs burning as I held my breath and trying to open my eyes in the blurry depths to see which way was the way back to the sweet and life giving air.

The giant shadow that approached me was just my vision becoming more clouded by the salt water; At least that is what I thought. It wasn't until the shark was inches from my face that I knew my young life was over. A calm came over me and for some reason my lungs no longer burned from lack of air. I felt the water rush into my small lungs as I stared into the eyes of death and he in turn looked back into mine. The next thing I knew the shark pushed me with a mighty blow that knocked what little air I had left out of me. I felt the water reach capacity inside my small lungs and I felt once again the warmth of the sun above me and the sand beneath me as blackness took me into its embrace.

"Move back, move back. He's breathing"!

I heard my uncle shout and could see my gammy, tears streaming down her face standing with several others all around me. As I spit more water out of my lungs and began to taste the sweet taste of pure oxygen I heard my gampy bellow.

"Damn little fool. Drowning would of served him right. I tell him never to play down by the water by himself everyday"!

"Malie....malie"; I croaked as my voice came back to me. "Malie save me".

All my uncles and cousins and the villagers surrounding me looked at me in gaped jaw awe. My great grandfather merely laughed and bellowed; "What a fool! There are no sharks around, and if there were that would of ate you for a snack"!

I knew what I saw. Many years passed after that and I tried time and time again when my gampy would listen; that the shark had saved me. Each time he looked at me like I was more crazy and threatened to smack me in the mouth if I ever brought it up again.... so I never did.

I must of been around twelve when I first saw her. Her hair was the color of cocoa, and her skin was a soft bronze. I had never seen a girl like this in my village... and from the dumb look on Mole's face, he hadn't either. She held her mother's hand as her and her family walked into the village fale to meet with the old men. I wondered who she was? I wondered if she would be staying in our village? I had so many questions that would not be answered that day. I did know that she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen... what I didn't know was that the little girl named; 'Amio" would change my life forever...

To be continued...

Brat Jr · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2011, 05:17:47 PM »

Quote from: Dragon on May 17, 2011, 10:53:50 AM

To be continued...

Please hurry! I read fast lol

Dragon · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2011, 06:57:27 PM »

CHAPTER 3 ~ Young Love... Older Rivals

Amio... Amio... Amio...; I kept saying her name over and over in my mind as I walked the long and winding path from our fale to the ocean. I was only twelve, but I was sure my heart was fourteen! If one as young such as I could find love at first site I had surely found it. It had been almost three weeks since Amio, her mother, and her twin little brothers had moved into our village. I was not aware of what the circumstances were that brought her and her family to our little village, but I didn't care. I had been praying for months every night for a nice sharp knife like the older boys carried. I didn't get the knife, but God brought me something even better; Something that I was not even aware I had asked for... but I was sure she was sent from heaven just for me. Gampy was right; God does work in mysterious ways!

"Hurry up Leaga! The fish are not going to wait for you to stop day dreaming".

Ioane was actually being nice with that statement; He usually said, or called me much worse things. Being only twelve I was the only boy in our village that was allowed to help cast the nets with the older boys. Most of them were at least sixteen or older... Heck, they were practically grown men. Ioane was Mole's older brother and for some reason Mole's dislike for me must of ran in their aiga; because, Ioane never missed a chance to scold me or point out why I was too young to be out there with them. Gammy said Ioane was upset because at twelve years old I was still two years younger then Mole, and his older brother probably thought his young sibling should be joining them way before I.

The day went by blissfully for me. I help cast the net and then bring them in again and again. I had no problem holding my own. What I lacked in the older boys girth and height, I made up for in lean muscle. I spent most of the day thinking of Amio and wishing I could speak to her. I cursed myself for not being older... then I would get a 'Soa' to help me woo her. I chuckled to myself as I thought of my best friend Pili and imagined him approaching her to say what "a great catch" I would make. Sadly, most of the boys my age were not thinking of wooing anyone, and had no skills whatsoever to be some one else's soa. Unknown to me, Mole needed no soa. He appeared to have a silver tongue all his own.

I had noticed Mole going to the bathing pond every day for the last two weeks. What is going on with him?, I thought to myself. He usually had to be dragged there by his father to wash, and that was only about once a week. I didn't know it but Mole had his own devious reasons for being so clean and all of a sudden volunteering his services more at church on the weekend. For being such a mature young man of twelve, I was still very very naive in the ways of trying to get a girls attention. It would be almost six months before I realized that Mole had designs on Amio like I. Both of our paths towards her affections would lead us down separate roads... unfortunately, both of our roads would meet at a dead end were only one of us would leave.

More months would follow and I believe I must of been around thirteen when my gampy told me that I, along with three other 'young men' in the village were going to get our Pe'a. My friend Pili was scared and didn't really wish to get his, but I looked at it as apart of becoming a man. "Now Amio would notice me for sure"! Little did I know that at the same time a decision was being made about Amio as well. Here Aiga had decided not to make her toupo. She was born with a bit of what my gammy called; "Pigeon foot". Her left foot turned in a bit too much and the Matai of her family elected to go with a younger girl from another close family. I was glad when I found out. If she had indeed become her families toupo I would never be able to get close enough to talk to her... Well I could try, but some old hag would of been around her twenty four hours a day!

The Pe'a was the worst pain I had ever had. It didn't hurt so much when it was getting done, it hurt more the late hours of the evening as I laid on my back and had nothing to distract my mind but the burning sensation crawling over my skin. I was laying by myself in a small fale where all the pe'a were done... Pili and the other two boys elected to go home and suffer with their family.

"Would you like some water"?

I was shocked into silence! There she stood in the door way, a half coconut in her hand. Her smile lit up the small fale and I stammered out my response. "uhhh yes please".

She bent down next to me and I went to take it from her, but she shook her head and raised my head with her one hand and offered me the coconut shell with the water in the other. I had never tasted water so sweet in all my life. After drinking down the water in two big gulps, I stared into her eyes and fought for the words to come out of my mouth; "Hi, my name is Siosi but everyone calls me Leaga". Her smile was so sweet I thought I would pass out.

"I know who you are Siosi".

She smiled and then she was gone as fast as she came in. My breath caught in my chest and I felt sweat drip down my brow.

"She knows my name"! I said aloud... then I passed out.

To be cont...

Dragon · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2011, 06:58:38 PM »

Chapter 4 ~ The White Hat

Many months passed by and it was obvious to me that Mole had his sights set on Amio as well as I. I would talk to her as often as I could, but not enough as I would of liked. It was not common for girls and boys to mingle at our age and so I looked forward to the times when we could talk if even for a moment.

Mole had chances to speak to her even more often then I. Being in the church choir they would both have to go to pese practice at least twice a week, and on several occasions I asked Gammy to teach me to sing better then what I did so I could join the choir as well.

"You have the look of a prince my dear, but your song voice must have been lost at sea"; She would chuckle and say.

It was true. My singing voice was not a sound that many could endure, and I didn't want to let Amio hear me or she would surely jump into Mole's arms just to avoid me. The competition for Amio's affections was an unspoken one, and a battle I felt I was losing due my decreased time spent with her. Plus, Mole was starting to look like a grown man, and was even needing to shave now... my face, even though puberty had long over took me was as smooth as the day I was born. Then finally a random occurrence gave both Mole and I a chance to prove ourselves to Amio.

The sun was high in the sky as the youth walked home from church services that day. We walked the lesser taken path that wound next to the ocean to avoid the main road walked by the adults. Some of the youth used this opportunity to smoke or show off their skills at cursing in Samoan and English... I used it as an opportunity to walk closer to Amio. She walked only a few paces in front of me. Her white puletasi fitted to perfection and I found myself staring at the sway of her hips that seemed to keep time with the rhythm of the ocean. Her hair was put up into a bun underneath her big white hat she only wore to church. I usually liked it best when her hair was down and softly touching the top of her maturing hips, but today I was happy at the chance to look at the back of her neck. I longed to touch her neck and the soft hair that was there, it looked like the soft hair that angels must surely have.

"Ohhhhhhhhh"!

Several of the girls in front of us yelped in unison as a giant gust of wind swept across the path. Many of the girls put their hands to their heads to hold on their hats, but Amio was not quick enough. Her white hat flew into the air as if caught by a fishing line and flew down to the beach. She dashed down the small dune to the beach to catch up to her hat before it went in the ocean while the other girls all laughed and shouted encouragements. Just as she reached her hat the fingers of an invisible sea nymph must of thought this a funny jest because her hat shot up and landed in a receding wave. "Oh, my hat! My mother is going to beat me if I don't get it", Amio cried. All the girls stopped laughing, mostly because they knew that what Amio was saying was not all in jest. The boys continued to laugh and some yelled at her to "jump in and get it". I was not laughing and neither was Mole. It was like the same light bulb went off in our heads at the same time... We both dashed for the beach and the ever vanishing waves that were carrying off the hat further and further out to sea. Amio turned to see us running and gasped with her hands covering her mouth as the two crazy looking Samoan boys were running at full speed towards the surf. I yanked my tie off my neck and my shirt as well, leaving only my white lava-lava. Mole in mimicking fashion did the same. Now the other kids started to hoot and holler with half of them calling out Mole's name, and the other's calling out mine.

I hit the water at full speed and dove under an incoming wave and held my breath. I swam hard as I could underneath the breaker to maximize my distance, Mole and I were neck and neck. We must of swam for over two minutes when both of us stopped to look for the hat. What had first seemed like a hundred meter swim or less now looked to be over five hundred! The hat was so far out to sea now, that I could barely pick it up in my field of vision.

"I am going back dumbass, there is no way we will be able to swim out that far and make it back"; Mole yelled over the sounds of the surf.

I simply looked back to shore. I could still pick out Amio standing there with the other youth as well. As Mole turned and headed back I took a deep breath and turned towards the open ocean again and began to swim.

How long did it take? It was probably only ten or fifteen minutes but my muscles screamed at me in defiance and yearned for me to stop, but I saw the hat getting closer and closer and at last it was mine! I turned back to the beach and looked for Amio and raised the hat in the air in triumph... I could not even see them anymore. I could barely even see the land. How far had I swam? I immediately started back to the beach letting the waves help me when they could. My body still ached but I couldn't stop now after I had 'won'. The sun was sitting when I finally touched warm sand again under my body. I was so tired I could not even stand but crawled instead to a patch of sand that was dry. I must of laid there thirty minutes or more breathing in huge gulps of air and letting my body recover from the ordeal. Immediately I realized that I was alone. They had all left...even Amio. I crawled to my feet and looked around for my shirt and tie, but it had either been taken by my friends looking out for me, or it was gone forever... I thought I could hear a sea nymph laughing in my head as I started up the path back to the village.

Gampy was the first to meet me as I walked into the firelight near the elders meeting. "I thought you were dead Leaga, we were going to hunt for your body on the shore in the morning, What a fool you are! Mole told us you did this stupid thing for a hat, and he said you wouldn't come back even when he swam out to stop you". I just looked at him defeated. I wasn't going to argue that Mole wanted to do the same thing, but just couldn't swim as well as I. My Gampy then raised his fist as if to strike me... but something about the look on my face must of changed his mind as he yelled for me to go home.

On my way to see Gammy and hopefully a warm meal I passed many of the young men in the village. Many just snickered at me and made snide jokes about me still hanging on to the crumpled white hat in my hand. Ioane was particularly cruel; "Hey stupid, while you were out swimming with fishy's, my little bro has been probably banging your girl"! All the boys burst out in laughter when he said this. I was so tired still I didn't even bother to respond. I knew he was lying...he must be...Amio would never...never...

"Siosi".

A soft whisper came from the shadows next to one of the fales. It was Amio! I looked around and walked towards her until we were both enveloped into the shadow's embrace. We spoke not one word... She looked down at her white hat and I handed it to her as if it were a precious flower. She took it from me and then looked at my face as she placed her free hand on my beating chest. Our eyes were locked on to each other. My breath was as heavy as when I first crawled out of the ocean an hour before. Without ever closing her eyes she brought her face close to my. I could smell the sweet smell of her as our noses first touched and then our lips found each other. Her breath became my breath, and my arms reached around her to pull her closer to me. I ran my fingers through her hair and as I continued to drink deep of her lips I knew I could live for one hundred years and never be happier then I was at that moment. As my body began to feel on fire I kissed her even harder and my hands started to move over the smooth roundness of her hips. She pulled away slowly and looked once again deep into my eyes. With words barely loud enough to be a whisper she said; "Be patient my love, we will have many days together". She walked backwards in the shadow and slowly started to turn. "I have to go, my mother will worry"; She said softly.

I was at a loss for words. I didn't want her to go, but I stopped myself from chasing after her. I could only stammer; "You...you called me, 'my love'"? She smiled as she disappeared fully into the shadows and I heard her say; "Yes silly. Because I love you Siosi".

I must of stood there with my mouth open for several minutes. My heart ached in love for her! When I finally decided to head home to see Gammy I had to wait another few minutes before I could leave the shadows... it seems my 'manhood' was still on fire and I didn't want anyone pointing out the odd shape of my lava-lava. When my amour finally cooled down I stepped back into the light by the small fale. I almost stepped on something... I looked down on the ground. Amio had dropped her white hat....

.....to be continued

Dragon · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2011, 06:59:28 PM »

Theres two more chapters for you Brat

Will post a couple more in the morning...

Dragon · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:23:27 AM »

Chapter 5 ~ The Faalavelave road trip and the pirate's knife

I laid on my back and looked at the clouds and trees as they passed overhead. Grampy drove pretty slow and carefully down the potholed road from our village to the docks where we would catch our first boat on the way to Pago Pago. Pili was already fast asleep even though our journey was only a few minutes long. Relatives of Gammy were having a faalavelave due to this or that and I usually was on the outside of any conversations like that due to my age, but both Gammy and Grampy said I should come to meet some of the other aiga I had never met. I didn't want to leave the village and Amio for even a day if I could help it, but Gammy insisted and I could never say no to her. Besides, they even allowed my best friend Pili to come along as a companion for me... of course after we loaded the truck with all the huge containers full of corned beef, which were so heavy the truck springs groaned out loud like they were going to snap, I had second thoughts on 'exactly why' my great grandparents needed two strong young lads to go at all. Oh well, personal baggage handler or not I was still excited about leaving my home island for the first time.

Amio was a big girl now and she could survive without me for a few days. We were both approaching sixteen now and the last two years of our young life had been the best I could of ever dreamed of. After the first year of us being "an item" Mole stopped trying to get her to "go banana hunting" or some other silly excuse to get her alone with him... He caught the drift as they say. He still did not like it though. I could feel such hatred coming from him that sometimes I thought my hair would catch fire from little laser beams shooting out his eyes! We were still very innocent in our love though. Sneaking off to 'collect taro leaves' was one our favorite excuses to spend a few moments together... nothing more than kissing and a little hand roaming if Amio allowed. I didn't want to force her to do anything she was not ready for, even though my loins burned after every meeting and even a cold dip in the nearby water fall often did not cool my passions. "Her flower of womanhood" is what I called it, and I would not try and "pick" her flower until she was ready... that is how much I loved her.

Hours later Grampy awoke both Pili and I with his loud bark and commands to hurry and get the truck loaded on the boat. I was half awake after succumbing to the melody of the road that I rubbed my eyes and looked around for the 'ship'. All I saw was a boat with two outboard motors that probably wouldn't of fitted more than fifteen people. "Arrgghh"; I said to myself. I was hoping we would get to ride on a bigger boat or even a ship. So much for comfortable cabins and playing shuffleboard with the old people. Pili was slow getting up as well, and in his typical slow fashion he helped to load... only one container at a time of course. Being in a hurry as I always tended to be when doing manual labor I grabbed two of the one-hundred pound containers at a time and loaded them where the old man in the boat directed me to place them.

"Whoa! Malosi"!

The old man (I never did learn his name), seemed to be quite impressed with my strength. At almost six feet tall, my lean but muscled frame was not a big deal around the village, but for someone that had never seen me before I guess I did strike quite an imposing figure. After loading the small boat Grampy and Gammy sat towards the rear of the small boat along with the 'captain', and Pili and I were told to sit in the bow. At first I liked the idea of sitting up front until Pili unloaded his first of three episodes of 'last night's dinner' over the side of the boat. I didn't mind the splashing up and down, but Pili it seemed would never be a sailor. Three days and two 'cruise ships' later we arrived in Pago Pago. The smell was overwhelming at first, but for one who loved the sea as much as I did a little tuna fragrance in the air was not such a bad thing.

We would only be staying with one of my relatives for four days, but I must of met over eighty different family members. Several of the older ladies kept trying to "hook me up" with their nieces or friends daughters. I maintained by politeness to everyone I met, but with Amio in my life I had no interest in any other girls.

"Come here Litia, come see the pretty afatasi with the moon in his eyes";

Some village matron shouted to a younger female after one of our get togethers. Litia was a pretty girl, and was no older then myself. I exchanged hello's then was quick to find 'something to do'. The one thing I didn't need was a bunch of perfumed girls hanging on me... if Amio got a scent of that when I got back to Savaii, I am sure I would have to wait a year for her to even give me a kiss.

I soon found Pili (eating as always), and convinced him to go down to the docks with me and look at all the bigger boats and ships that were in the harbor. After a thirty minute walk I found myself staring out into the evening sky over the bay. How beautiful I thought; It must be wonderful to ride on the giant fishing boats and sail out into the sea to other lands. I walked slowly around the docks and was fascinated at all the commotion and watched the 'sailors and long shore man' at their tasks. Pili complained of being tired and still hungry after we first arrived there, but I ignored him and continued to look out into the water and fantasize what it would be like to be on a ship without a care in the world.

The twinkle of a star in the water caught my eye. I ventured closer to the old wooden landing we were on and peered over the edge. "What had made that twinkle in the water"; I asked out loud. "What are you talkin' bout bro"? Pili replied. I didn't bother to answer him but continued to scan the waters for the shining I had seen before. I huge light from one of the departing ships sweep the water in a lazy motion as it backed out into the bay...

"There"! I saw the sparkle again and took off my shirt and sandals and jumped into the water. It took me several minutes but eventually I came up with a small folding pocket knife. Not quite the 'Pirates knife' I had wanted as a youth, but still pretty sharp and it had a locking catch too. Being quite pleased with my find I pulled myself up onto the dock to find that Pili was with three other people. I grabbed up my tee shirt and I slipped my sandals back on my feet.

"What cha got there mate"? Said the biggest of the three men.

All three were at least as large as Pili, but the one speaking even outweighed the others by one hundred pounds. Their faces were dark and leathered and had the appearance of making a living on the open sea. Once the salt water cleared out of my nostrils and I caught a good whiff of the three of them it was confirmed. These three not only worked out at sea, they must of also took baths in fish guts. "It's just an old knife that was at the bottom. It looks like it has been down there a long time" I said calmly as I opened and closed the blade to test it for signs of too much rust.

"Well that looks like the one me mum gave me for my birthday last year; don't it boys"?

The other two Tongans (which I was able to deduce by their 'Tongan pride' tee shirts), shook their heads in agreement. It appeared this big guy was going to try to claim prize to my 'pirate knife'. I was young but I wasn't afraid, and I knew that these three were just looking to push around two young Samoan pups.

"Well now its mind"; I said while never taking my eyes off the biggest Tongan, and calmly tucked the knife in the waistband of my shorts.

Pili was already running (fast as he could for his size) when the three of them surrounded me and backed me up to the edge of the small wooden pier. I continued to stare into the eyes of the biggest fellow who was close enough to me I could smell the piss warm beer and sardines he had for dinner last night. He looked at me up and down as if sizing me up.. I stood just as tall as him, if not a little taller; but I lacked about 150 pounds of blubber he had from the neck to his toes. Before I knew it, he swung a huge roundhouse straight at my head! I ducked down low and came up balanced on the balls of my feet. In that split second I gauged rather the other two were going to strike or not and decided they were waiting on their 'leader'. Before he could recover his balance from his missed blow I brought my fist up and caught him as he tried to turn to the side against the right side of his head. The sound was like a hammer hitting a coconut and the big Tongan dropped like a sack of taro off a truck! Quick as I could I leaped over his already unconscious frame, turned around to see the other two still in shock from seeing their leader so easily bested and shouted a big "Jewhoo" at the top of my lungs and took off running as fast as I could! I was laughing so hard when I caught up to Pili it took me several minutes to explain to him that I hadn't been "Beat silly", but had actually bested the trio of would be pirates!

Late that night I laid on a mat and looked up into the dark ceiling of the fale we were staying at that night. I felt good about myself! I had a beautiful girlfriend, I just beat up a monster of a Tongan, and I even had a sharp (though slightly rusty) Knife that I had wanted for years. What could ever go wrong with my life? Sadly the answer to that question would find me soon enough...

To be continued.............

Dragon · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:24:38 AM »

CHAPTER 6 ~ End of Innocence

Days later I found myself back in our little village. Pili and I were given the task of unloading my Gampy's little red truck bed. Bolts of cloth for making lava lavas, and other gifts were given to us upon our departure from our relatives village. I enjoyed my time away meeting new people, seeing new places, and even my adventure down at the docks in Pago Pago; but I must admit much like the little girl from Kansas; "There's no place like home". After unloading the truck my Gammy insisted she give Pili a few bolts of cloth and other gifts to take to his family as well. It was late afternoon and I was anxious to say my farewell to my friend so I could climb up the small, back path to Amio's family fale.

I washed up really quick in a small basin and changed my lave lave. My hair was becoming quite long and I planned on asking Amio to redo the twin braids she had did for me a couple of weeks ago. I finished up, brushed my teeth with some awful tasting tooth paste on my finger and I was off in a flash to see my beloved!

The site I saw as I came around the large patch of taro leaves near the trail stopped me in my tracks... Mole and his father were sitting out in front of Amio's families fale. Both were sitting cross legged on the ground about ten paces from the front entrance. Mole's grandfather was in, what appeared to be, a heated discussion with Amio's grandfather. I stood off at a distance with no one yet seeing me and tried to listen to what the commotion was all about. I did not see Amio anywhere... It struck me as strange that even though both elders were in heated conversation about something, both Mole and his father were looking down at the ground as if praying. "What the hell is going on"? I thought to myself.

A crackle of dried leaves or possibly the breaking of a twig sharpened my senses that someone was approaching up the trail which I had taken. Thinking it best not to be noticed yet, I squatted down and hid myself in the tangle of giant taro leaves.

"This is not good"; One of the old men in the passing group grumbled.

Five elders of the village passed just feet away from where I was hiding. One of them was Grampy! My interest was sharpened, and I laid down on my belly underneath a particularly large frond and watched as the drama unfolded. The village elders joined the other two old men up in front on the front porch of the fale. Only moments went by when a couple of the elders joined in the conversation, and even though they were not as visibly upset as Amio's grandfather, they did speak in stern tones and for a moment I could of sworn they pointed out towards Mole's father... Or, were they pointing at Mole? Oh, this was driving me nuts! Where was Amio? What the heck were they talking about? I cursed the fact that the end of the trail was close enough to see what was going on, but not quite close enough to make out the heated conversation.

A few minutes went by and all of the elders went inside the fale. Mole and his father remained seated, and continued to stare at the ground like in a trance. Growing frustrated I stood up briskly and made little effort to conceal my position. As I stood I looked to Mole and his father to see if they turned to look towards me; I had made enough noise getting up from my hiding place... but No. They didn't so much as twitch. This was very frustrating and I came close to walking right up to the door of the fale and demand to know what was going on. But common sense told me not to do anything so brash, and just then a thought occurred to me... If Grampy was up here at Amio's fale, then surely Gammy must know the reason why! I turned and ran as fast as I could towards my own home. Surely Gammy would put an end to this 'mystery' for me.

The sad sounds of someone crying drifted to my ears as I approached my fale.

"Gammy? Gammy?" I spoke softly as I entered.

She was sitting at our small table where Gammy loved to sit and greet other ladies of the village. Her head was buried into an old washing cloth and she blew her nose and wiped away the tears that were flowing freely from her eyes. "Oh Leaga"; She said and immediately began crying again.

"What is going on Gammy"? I questioned her with growing alarm as I knelt on the floor next to her chair.
"What is wrong? Why is Grampy at Amio's house with all the village elders"?

Gammy just cried more but still did not answer me. I was becoming more and more frustrated! I stood up finally and towered over my seated great grandmother; "What the hell is going on Gammy? Tell me now"! I spoke to boldly and too loudly and immediately regretted raising my voice to the only woman (besides Amio) that I loved with all my heart.

"I am sorry Gammy, just please tell me what is going on"; I pleaded.

She wiped away tears and tried to straighten herself up. She looked me in the eye and then turned away and said softly; "It would be best to wait for your great grandfather to come home". And before she could say anything further, she started crying again harder than before.

I couldn't take it anymore. I bolted out of the fale and headed for the main road which led up the hillside to Amio's house. I decided to not take the back path anymore that I normally took and decided if I was going to find out what was going on, the direct approach would be best. Thirty yards from my destination a group of heavily burdened younger men made me stop in my tracks. Directly in front of me were five younger men, all from Mole's aiga. Four of them were engaged in the task of controlling too large pigs they were coaching up the hillside. The last one, which I could now see was Ioane; was carry a large container of corned beef in one hand and one of his families 'fine mats' in his other. Now, I was really confused! What the hell was going on; I thought to myself for about the tenth time in the last hour.

Calm got the best of me and I decided to wait off the side of the path as I got closer. Ioane and the older boys stopped when they reached Mole and his father and still holding tight on to the pigs they joined them sitting in silence. I came to within fifteen yards of them, and decided to sit under one of the large bread fruit trees that lined the small dirt road. Watching carefully for any chance that I might see Amio in the fale, I sat and waited.

I am not sure how much time passed but eventually one of the elders stuck his head out of the fale and called to Mole's dad. Mole's father slowly stood up and said something to a couple of the older boys and Ioane seated with him. The small group then approached the fale. Mole's father spoke for several minutes to someone just inside the doorway and then he barked commands to the younger men. Ioane sat the corned beef on the porch and handed the fine mat to someone inside the fale just outside of my field of vision. The two other boys took the pigs and walked to the side of the fale and guided them into a pen made for the families swine's. The young men then turned and started walking down the road back towards where Mole was seated. To my surprise Mole jumped to his feet and joined them as they headed down the path. They were all silent and I decided to lean back in the shadows of the bread fruit tree as they passed. They were all whispering and I could make out a sly chuckle or two from none other than my old rival Mole. I had no idea what he thought was funny at sitting outside someone's house on his butt for so long, but then again Mole was Mole.

About twenty minutes later my great grandfather and the rest of the elders stepped out of the fale. I could barely make out them saying their farewells, and then they all headed down the same small path I had come up earlier. I turned towards Amio's fale and watched for signs of her. The lights went out inside, and I realized I would not be seeing her this night. I raced down the road to get home to arrive before my Grampy did.

Sitting outside my fale I waited. I no longer heard Gammy crying from inside and looked on this as a good thing. No sooner was I seated than my great grandfather stood before me. I stood up and looked at him with a giant question mark on my face...

"It is over boy, go to bed". Grampy said bluntly and started to walk around me to go inside.

"What is over? What is going on? Why was Gammy crying? Why was Mole and his family at Amio's house? For God sakes Grampy, will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?; I cried out!

He looked at me, and for a moment there was a look in his eye like he was going to tell me... or was it a look of pity? I will never know because he simply walked around me and grunted; "I said its over boy, and its none of your concern now...go to bed"!

I was so frustrated. If it were any other man I would of grabbed him and snatched him off his feet and 'made' him tell me. Such was my respect though for my great grandparents, I could only muster a small whimper as he closed the door.

That night I laid in silence and confusion... what happened, will I ever know? After laying there for almost an hour I picked up the sound of soft whispers from my Gammy and Grampy's side of the fale. I scooted quietly on the ground from my mat and placed my head near the small divider that sectioned off the area of the fale where they slept. I could barely hear them, but I listened to every little scrap of word that I could pick up.

...Then my heart felt like it stopped. I wasn't sure initially, but I heard first Gammy say it, then I heard Grampy repeat it twice in utter disgust! I had heard the word before... but always in jest from the young men I helped to catch fish... What did this mean? Were they talking about Mole???

"Oh my God"! I think I said it aloud. I softly crawled back to my side of the fale and almost passed out on my back. "Oh my God"; I said again in my mind. "No, Please... no please.... no please...." I started crying. The water filled my eyes and streamed down my face as that word pounded into my mind over and over again....

The word was Moetotolo!!...

To be continued........

Dragon · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2011, 10:16:05 AM »

**Warning** This Chapter is very graphic*** Rated R adults only

CHAPTER 7 ~ The Nightmare through Amio's eyes

"He will only be gone a few days"; the young girl said to herself and she sat and brushed her hair. She looked at her own reflection in the small cracked hand held mirror she had affixed to the side of the post in her section of the little fale. What she saw was a 'plain girl' that looked like any other young Samoan girl on the precipice of womanhood. What the mirror saw was a young woman beautiful enough to stop the tide's in the ocean; Long flowing chestnut hair and a complexion that would of made her a wealthy young woman in the 'cosmetics industry' if she had lived in a different world. The mirror also saw what many of the young men in the village saw; and not just boys her own age... Even matais and talking chiefs from visiting parties had looked at her 'a little too long', and wondered what womanly joys lurked under the already sensuous curves betrayed by her old worn puletasis. Even the older boys like Ioane and his 'crew' of thugs he hung out with felt their cheeks flush when she walked by them, or when she sang a solo part in the church choir. These feelings and emotions she felt from all the boys and even some of the men of the village was new to her... the sensation she felt from Mole never changed. She had always felt his gaze on her whenever he was around, and even sometimes when he wasn't. Many a night she tucked a lave lave into the window that looked in upon where she slept. She wasn't trying to keep the mosquitoes out, her grandfather had already provided her with a mosquito net that worked quite well... No, it was to keep away the weird, nagging feeling that she would get many nights that someone was watching her. If she was honest with herself it wasn't just 'someone' she felt was watching her, it was Mole.

She blew out the small flame of her kerosene lamp she kept by her sleeping mat, laid down and pulled the mosquito net over her entire body. Closing her eyes she pictured Siosi. His tall handsome frame was forever etched in her mind and she felt her heart quiver just thinking about him. "Please bring Siosi back to me soon Lord", she said as she started off her bedtime prayers. She finished and went right to sleep. Tomorrow was a big siva that the village had been planning and she was expected to dance even though she felt like staying in bed until her beloved came back.

As she sleep, the moonlight spied down on her and watched her perfect form. Her silken hair was splayed out in a fan on her small pillow, and her firm young bosom raised and lowered with each shallow breath. Unknown to Amio, the Moon was not the only one watching her that night.

The siva was a much needed event for the whole village. All the people, from the youngest to even the oldest grandmother got up to dance and laugh. It went well into the evening, and Amio was exhausted. Even though not the taupo (that 'honor' had fallen on one of her older cousins), Amio danced many dances. She ate to her fill after all the elders were done and most of the cleaning up had taken place. She picked at a small piece of taro and was finishing her palusami when she felt her head bob. Stretching her arms above her head she yawned out loud...she really was tired. She glanced around to see that most of the clean up chores were done and decided to creep back to the fale to lay down. "If they need me, they can come find me"; she chuckled to herself. As Amio made her way past the moonlit shadows of the giant breadfruit trees that lined the path to her family's fale, she never noticed that one of the shadows moved in unison with her.

Amio never knew how long she had been asleep.. ten minutes? One hour? But something in her room made her slowly come back to consciousness. She sensed something as she slowly opened her eyes and looked into the darkness. Looming just over her head the darkness seemed to move... she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise in fear and she realized she wasn't alone. She tried to stay calm but her throat betrayed her and a welling scream rose from her lungs...too late!

A giant sweaty palm covered her mouth like a vise grip and the giant shadow moved like fluid and maneuvered on top of her and smothered her whole body. It wasn't just a shadow though as she felt the weight of Mole crushing against her. "No No"! She screamed into his hand. No sound escaped though from her lips. His grip was so tight she could barely breath through her nose. As she realized whom her tormentor was, she felt his clumsy moist hands gripping underneath her lave lave. Her young breasts which had only once or twice felt the loving caress of Siosi's hands, now were being squeezed unmercifully by Mole's big cruel hands. As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness she saw the full visage of the animal on top of her. Sweat soaked, Mole's face and his mouth formed an almost feral grimace. He appeared to be fully undressed as she could see his "man breasts" wet with perspiration as well as he tried to push apart her legs. The pain in her right breast was tremendous as he dug his hand even deeper into her flesh as she resisted him trying to pry apart her legs with only his knee. She gulped in a huge breath of fresh air all of a sudden as he removed his right hand from her face. Before she could take another breath and prepare to scream for help his right hand came crashing down on her temple as he balled his hand into a fist! Her mind exploded with flashing lights as she briefly lost consciousness.

The pain awoke her instantly... She had pictured this moment and had even longed for it; but that was with Siosi. Now, in ten mere seconds that wonderful fantasy she had played in her mind time and time again was forever stolen from her. She felt more than knew Mole was done. His whole body slumped against her and she only managed to breath because he had removed his hand from her mouth.

"There...there... you got want you wanted bitch"; Mole said breathlessly.

He grabbed a piece of her hair and pushed it into his face. Breathing in her scent, her turned to her as he stood and glared; "You ever tell anyone, I'll kill you"!

And like her young womanhood, he climbed through the window and was gone.

Amio laid there what seemed like an eternity crying into her torn lave lave... She was barely aware when her mother and little brothers came into the fale. They were apparently tired from the siva as well because her mother didn't peep her head around the divider and say good night; but simply went to bed herself. She wondered what to do... Oh what shame swept over her young mind. She felt as if Mole had stolen her very soul. Hours went by and she finally allowed herself to get up and she crept just outside the door and washed herself in the large basin used for such things. She scrubbed the dried blood off her thighs and continued scrubbing until she almost drew blood herself from her soft flesh. The sun started to appear above the horizon and she felt the heat of the sun warm her back. Back in her room she put on a fresh but worn puletasi and sat to gaze into her small mirror. "Oh Siosi, I'm so sorry"; she thought, and tears welled up in her eyes anew. Then she roughly wiped her eyes and set her teeth and stared at herself again. She knew what she must do! Amio went to wake her mother and grandparents...

For almost two straight days Mole and his father had sat outside the front of their fale. "Just punish him already so he can get out of here"; Amio thought to herself as she peeked outside the window. She had told her family everything, and her grandfather had promised her that Mole and his Aiga would "Pay" for the shame he had brought upon both families. Staying out of view she was glad when she heard the gruff old voice of Siosi's great grandfather in front of her house. "Siosi must be home now"; she thought first joyfully, and then with a pang of regret.

Eavesdropping on the elders she listened to their 'negotiations' on the fate of Mole and his family. When the realization came to her that her assailant would be forgiven for a mere two pigs, a hundred pounds of corned beef, and a fine mat she wanted to scream! She also wanted to run outside right that second and take the biggest rock she could find and smash in Mole's fat head!.... She did neither.

She stood by her window looking down the path as the elders left the house. Her mother and grandfather made short work of telling her; "it is over, we must forgive him".

What little tears she had left filled her eyes and she gazed into the night... A shadow appeared down the path but was gone as soon as it came....

"Siosi, where are you my beloved?"; She softly moaned into the night air.

To be continued.......

Dragon · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2011, 10:17:42 AM »

Chapter 8 ~ Through the eyes of an eagle... Blood on the sand!

The eagle soared high above the point in the sky where the ocean met the up slope of the sandy bottom. The small waves generated their power at this point and formed small curls as they headed on their collision course with the sandy beach some 100 yards away. What first appeared to be a small sea turtle floating on top of this point was quickly dismissed by the majestic eagle as his keen eyes saw the object for what it truly was. The rounded, dome shaped object had not just appeared at this point in the breakers of the early morning, but instead had been at that very spot for the last several hours.

If any of the young Samoan males making their way down to the sea to meet the sunrise with their fishing nets spotted this shape; motionless in a churning ocean, they would of thought it also, to possibly be the crest of a turtles back instead of the top of a man's head who stood chin deep in the cool morning waters. The Man's head was almost fully submerged in the ocean as only his nostrils appeared to break free of the water and sample the morning air as the tides allowed it.

The Eagle finding a tall tree to his liking swooped down on it's green perch and after quickly devouring his morning catch decided to watch what was unfolding below. The tree itself was over 100 yards from the beach, but to the vision of the eagle; it was like he had a front row seat to the carnage that was about to take place.

"Come on you fat pigs, get off your ass and lets get this net into the sea"!

Ioane bellowed at the other young men. They were seven in total including Ioane, his younger brother Mole, and five others that were never too far from Ioane's side... He liked to think of them as his 'posse', and himself, as their undisputed leader. As they spread out their net, Mole standing in the center was the first one to spot what appeared to be a 'mer-man' coming from the depths... His eye's bugged out as he wondered "what the hell" was some guy doing out in the middle of the ocean?

The eagle spied down on the humans and saw the 'round one' scream and point to the one striding out of the water. The other humans started to yell too and the eagle even from this distance could sense their emotions. Like a small rodent in his talons as he took to the air, he knew this emotion... it was fear.

The human who came out of the waters now picked up his pace and started to run at the group of humans on the sand. His hair was long and stuck to the sides of his face and chest. He was not dressed as the others with pieces of cloth wrapped around his lower half but was bear of any cloth. His lips and skin of his face had a blueish tint to them that appeared to match the deep color of his eyes. He screamed a feral yell as he charged the big one in the middle. The other humans, all being bigger of girth then the one they feared were still yet a head shorter then he. They seemed to be caught off guard at first but quickly two of them jumped at the naked one and grabbed onto his arms. Even with the weight of the two humans grabbing his arms the naked one still made his way to the yelling one in the middle. His fist flashed forward and met the 'round ones' face.... The crunch of broken bone could be heard clearly by the eagle as he watched the drama unfold.

The 'round one' fell to the earth with blood jetting out of this nose and lay there motionless. The 'predator' then turned on the 'prey' that was restraining him. Dropping low quickly he broke their grip and grabbed one around the neck and waist and hoisted him high in the air. He flung the human into the other one as they both came crashing down onto the sand. Two of the other humans joined in the battle and the tall, naked one struck swiftly as his hands grabbed onto their throats like a vise and slammed their heads together. The sound like a cracking coconut could be heard for distance even greater then the eagle could hear. Only two of the humans remained standing facing the onslaught of the berserker. One broke off and ran up the sandy slope towards the place where all the other humans dwelled... he appeared to be screaming out a call of alarm and warning to the other humans.

The last one left standing was the biggest of them all. He stood and screamed at the berserker and waved a shining object in front of him as if to ward off the attacker. The tall naked one did not hesitate in his gait and strode defiantly to meet his prey. The shining object slashed against the tall ones torso and appeared to leave a trail of blood in its path. The tall one did not slow at this assault but grabbed the bigger one by his hair and with his free hand began to beat on his head. The big one fought back, but it was not long before he too was laying senseless and bloody on the sand as well. The tall, naked human stood among his fallen prey and screamed at the top of his lungs. Many birds in the tree's took to flight as his banshee scream chilled the soul of the many that heard it... be they man or beast.

Siosi stood there naked and bleeding.

He did not notice the great amount of blood that poured down his body from the huge gash that Ioane's knife had opened in his chest. All he knew was that even after waiting in water for hours for Mole and the others to come, he still did not feel his mission was done. He looked over to where Mole was laying unconscious on the sand. His nose was surely shattered and broken in pieces.... Siosi knew that if the others hadn't slowed his swing by dragging on his arms, he surely would of drove Mole's nose up into his brain killing him. Maybe it was better this way; "Let them all live with this memory", he thought. He wanted to make Mole pay for hurting Amio... he wanted Mole and his brother and all that were like them to pay for taking away what was most precious to her.

The voice of the others in the village could be heard as the sky and sands started to swim in Siosi's eyes. The exhaustion of waiting in the current all night, and of the savage beating he had given out was catching up to him. He heard a scream from one of the village woman and he lifted his head to the sky and raised out his arms as if to say; "I am the one guilty, I am the one responsible".

Siosi looked to the tree tops as a large eagle took to wing. He saw the eagle circle over head and felt connected to him somehow.... the eagle screeched loud into the morning air... It was the last thing Siosi saw before darkness over took him.

To be cont.............

yote19 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2011, 03:36:41 PM »

Dragon -- this tale takes me back to years gone by when your "pen" turned tales after tales after songs. Good job my friend.

Dragon · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:56:09 AM »

Chapter 9 ~ From the edge of Darkness

I am swimming...

It is not the warm briny waters of my home though that I tread through tirelessly to my destination. It is a cold, viscous fluid that surrounds me and impedes my progress to the light I see in the eerie distance below me.

Maku-toa watches me from the peripheral of my clouded vision. Maku-toa; "my shark", who saved my life as a youth and who's spirit has guided me most of my life is just outside of my reach. Only meters separate us, but the darkening fluid that engulfs me turns the inches to miles... "Are you giving up hope on me my friend"? You who were born of these depths, and who rules over these shores as a monarch over his followers has no power over me... you cannot effect me any longer.... you cannot save me now, for a babe I am no longer... "I love you Maku-toa"; I think as the darkness of this sea which is my soul threatens to envelope him as well... He swims out of my reach, out of my thoughts, and out of my life in this strange place in which I find myself.

The maw of the abyss longs for me... to comfort me.... to embrace me... I slowly sink deeper and go to my lovers kiss. Darkness is my bride...

"Hold him down you dim witted girl, before he tears his stitches open"!

The "sister" village's old maiden healer screamed at her young assistant. The girl tried her best to hold Siosi in position while the healer applied more ointment to his wounds and tried to bandage it again the best she could. The young girl, No older then Siosi himself was the grand daughter of the old maiden healer. Her name was Moana and her jaw opened in aghast as her grandmother tended to the wound. It was the worst cut she had ever seen anyone have. It started at just below the young man's left shoulder and traveled diagonally down his broad chest and ended just below his smooth, flat stomach. Moana had never seen a boy like this her own age... or any age for that matter. A local healer had tended to the boy's wounds after he had gotten in a fight she was told; but the knife that had cut him was old, rusty, and surely stinking of fish guts. It was not the depth of the cut that had him near death now, it was what her grandma called; "Gone septic". His skin was flushed red and he tossed and turned as if still in a great struggle just to survive.

Even in his distressed state, Moana could not help but admire his beauty. His hair was long, and dark as all other boys she had known, but his locks had streaks of gold randomly placed all among it; It was as if the sun had followed him all his life and tended to his tresses. In the rare moment that his eyes opened she could tell that he was not seeing anything but blackness, but the sight of his eyes would haunt her forever. Never before had she seen such a hue of eyes... blue like the sea, but also Grey like the sky before a storm. "Surely this young man must be the most handsome in all Samoa", she thought to herself, and fought back a girlish giggle despite herself.

"Come girl, let us change his lava lava. The drainage from his wound has soiled it, and he is in no position to be modest". Her grandmother said without a second thought.

Moana in her youthful shyness turned her head away as her grandmother pulled off his lava lava, but could not help but catch a twinkle in the old healers eyes...

"Mmmm, what would it hurt just to sneak a look" Moana thought.

What she saw would stay with her long after the memory of Siosi's eyes had left her as an old woman many many years from now. She had spied nudity in young men before... Her and her friend Namu had sometimes snuck down to the bathing hole near her village just to laugh and snicker at the young and old men as they bathed. She had seen her fill of that "man thing", as her friend had called it... but never had she seen a "man thing" like this. Unlike the ones she had seen in the past, that appeared to look like unripened Fa'i to her; This young "prince's" manhood appeared more like a fully ripened Plantain! She thought and dreaded what pain that a "thing" such as this would cause... but as she let her eyes linger a moment longer, her body felt a deep heat grow inside her loins and she could not help also to think of the great pleasure it would unleash.

"Stop gawking girl, and fetch me a fresh lava lava from the boy's grandmother"!

Moana, her face flushed; was only too happy to leave the small fale and go to the boys grandmothers house. After she had retrieved a new lava lava she simply tossed it to her grandmother and did not dare to even look at the handsome man laying inside. "If I look at him again, I will surely lose my heart to a place no other man will ever find it"; She thought almost sadly to herself... Ninety years later, the oldest living matron of her village and thirty seven grand children later; Moana would finally give up the ghost. On her death bed she would see an angel of light come to greet her... with streaks of gold in his hair, and with strange eyes that spoke to her softly, and guided her into the light.

.....I am failing. No matter how hard I try to swim towards the light something surrounding me prevents it.... Gammy? Grampy?... Amio? Where are all of you? I do not see them, or hear them.... but I sense them all. My body is still surrounded in darkness but a fire rages inside my soul. A cool cloth touches me... a hand as soft as wind caresses my face... Lips sweeter then any of God's given fruits touch my lips briefly and are gone...

"Amio....Amio... are you there"; I hear myself say to no one.

I can sense my beloved. I start swimming hard against the dark current that pulls me towards the light... Her essence was here... was here.... But now it is gone!

Why can I no longer sense her? Why do I feel a sudden sense of urgency to break free from this death shroud that seeks to cover me? I must break free..

..So weak

..So weak

I stop swimming when my soul quits on me... "Why have you forsaken me"?

I cry in my misery, and long for Maku-toa to save my life one last time....

to be continued......................

Dragon · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:57:05 AM »

Chapter 10 ~ The long swim to madness

I finally awoke.

I looked at the roof of the small fale where I laid. It was the same fale where I received my Pe'a, and my first thoughts were of Amio. I sat up a bit too fast and the pain across my chest and abdomen startled me; I looked down and saw the mostly healed twenty inch scar. The laceration was healed now, but still had a pinkish tint to the skin around it where it appears someone sutured it up for me. My memories slowly recalled the fight with Mole, his brother, and their cronies; "Knife cut must of became infected", I thought to myself as I slowly stood up and turned my thoughts again to the girl I loved.

Amio. I must go to her. I have to go explain to her that I still love her no matter what Mole did, and that I understand the shame she must feel, but it matter not to me... I still love her. A wave of dizziness swept over me and I had to lean on the side of one of the poles holding up the small structure... After a couple of deep breaths I stepped out into the afternoon sunshine.

"Where do you think you are going Leaga"?

Gampy's old voice croaked at me as he made his way towards the fale with a small container of water. I thankfully took hold of the water and made short work of it before answering.

"Gampy, I have to go see Amio. Is she OK"?

Gampy looked at me with his old milky eyes. He slowly sat down and crossed his legs in front of me tucking his lava lava between his folded legs. Without saying a word he patted the ground in front of him...reluctantly I joined him. I wanted to sprint to Amio's side, but seeing him so solemn made me think it best to listen to the man who had raised me as a son. When he gave me this look in the past it was his way of saying; 'sit down, shut up, I will do the talking, and you will do the listening'.

"Do you know how long you have been out Leaga? Three weeks! First I want to tell you that you caused our family quite a bit of embarrassment. Attacking Mole and his family that way was no way to settle a matter that had already been settled by myself and the other matais... It is not the Samoan way boy. You should consider yourself lucky that the other boys are still alive; you hurt a couple of them pretty badly... And I am afraid Mole's nose will never be straight, not that it matters with that boys ugly face. As far as Amio; She and her family have left the village. She lives in Upolu now".

I fought back tears and fought the urge to jump up and scream...Amio gone?! I continued to look Gampy in the eyes as I could tell there was more he had to say....

"Now. You are to leave the past in the past. Forgiveness is to be your only weapon now, that is Fa'asamoa. You will forget about the girl, and never ever lay a hand again upon Mole or any of his aiga... Do I make myself clear"?

Before I could answer Gampy grunted in his throat as he started to rise. He could see the heat in my face and I fought back the urge to says things I might regret. As he rose I remained seated and after a moment he placed his hand on my head and said in a soft voice barely above a whisper;

"Never tell anyone this boy. But ... I ... am proud of what you did".

Gampy walked away slowly as he had came. I watched him for a moment and a feeling of dread came over me like a dark cloud covering the sun... I knew then I would never see him again.

Laughter filled the small cabin of the ferry captain. "He just jumped in and swam away"?, the first mate repeated as if in disbelief. The captain affirmed and they all took another shot of whiskey and laughed some more. The ferry captain had learned long ago in his twenty seven years of giving passage to the islanders between Savaii and Upolu. If he would of given one person a free fare it would of been like inviting every damn Samoan on both islands to free rides the rest of their lives. The youth had a good sob story about a 'lost love', blah blah blah... but the now tipsy captain didn't care if the youth was going to Upolu to bang Salamasina; he wasn't gonna ride for free! The captain shook his head again as he remembered the tall youth walking unfazed to the end of the pier; stripping off his lava lava and tie it around his waist with a knot, then jumping bare arsed into the sea! What a crazy ****in' Samoan; He laughed again out loud at his thoughts. He would have to remember to have his deck hands keep an eye out for a floating corpse once they got under way... "There is no way in hell that kid is gonna make that 13 mile swim"; He said aloud to the others at the small slanted table. They all laughed and shook their heads in agreement as they downed another shot.

The ocean's embrace became colder the further I swam away from my home. It numbed my body but my heart and soul was still warm with the thought that I would soon see Amio again. I had stopped by and seen Grammy before I left to the pier. She had insisted I eat something but I could only manage a small piece of taro and some sapasui she had on the table. I kissed her and told her I would be back... I didn't tell her of the 'feeling' I had when I had seen Gampy only moments before. I hoped I was wrong. As the coast of Savaii became smaller in the distance I wished I had eaten a little more. I felt weak after being sick for so long, and my energy level was not its usual youthful self. I decided to flip onto my back for a while... doing a lazy form of a back stroke would make it take longer for me to reach Amio, but it would save precious energy. I had no idea how far it was to Upolu or the village that my great grandmother said Amio had went to; But, I had asked that cranky old ferry captain how long the ferry ride was. "An hour" he had said. Well, if a ferry can make it in an hour, my youthful mind believed that I could make it in at least two... How wrong I was.

It was well dark. My body ached as the waves engulfed me from every side. I had no forethought of how bad the weather or the sea would be this day. My mind reeled as I felt a numbness come over me even while I still paddled on....

A golden haired lady swam up from the depth to swim along side me... "Are you real" I asked her. She smiled at me and spoke in my mind of wasted time and wasted love. I didn't like her very much... beautiful though she was I felt a mirth coming from her that grew with my misery. I wished she would leave me alone and let me swim in peace... she wasn't there anymore. I tried to shake my head as I squeezed my eyes hard and took a deep breath to clear my mind. Gampy pulled up next to me in a long canoe..."What are you doing out here Gampy"?.... He didn't even look at me... The canoe was long and black and I noticed as he passed me he was not rowing the canoe. A lone dark figure sat in the rear of the canoe and seemed to look at me as we passed... Darkness was all that was in the space were his face should be. A giant swell engulfed me and threatened to keep me under. I struggled with what strength I could and fought back up to the top.... Gampy? He...the canoe...both were gone.

Judging by the stars I must have been swimming for at least four hours now... I am swimming to my death I thought with a tear in my heart. Amio... I have to make it to you. I should of waited until Gampy came home... somehow convinced him to give me the money for the ferry toll... Laughter came from the small island just to my left. It was only an arms length away one second, but it was one hundred miles away the next. Mole and his brother stood on the beach laughing at me. As the island came closer again I saw Mole's crooked nose. I laughed back at him in spite of myself.... the island vanished... So did Mole.

Am I swimming in circles? Am I still alive? I swim on into the darkness of the night and further into the sea's embrace.

A lighthouse shines it's beacon for me. I see Amio waving as she mans the giant light....

My love.... I come....

to be continued....

Dragon · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:58:50 AM »

Chapter 11 ~ Captain's Log/The Blue Lady

May 5th: Well the day has finally come, I now own the "Blue Lady"! After almost 30 years of making meager wages with that damn ferry I finally bought my dream vessel. It's a 92ft, dive yacht that can hold up to 30 people. Now I can finally stop going back and forth between these rinky dink islands and offer some high class paying customers a nice long cruise for Lots of Green!!! LOL Hell, I already have 3 families booked to go from Hawaii to Tahiti next month! This boat may be 15 years old, but its brand new to me. I put down half on the yacht with my life savings and the money from selling the ferry.... Hell I may still owe 200K left on the lean, but with charging each person 2 to 5k per cruise, I'll make that up in no time... What a great 57th birthday present to myself! Happy birthday "skip" you old bastard! Life is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June 11th: Big day!!!! Tomorrow we set off from Oahu to Papeete. 14days on the open sea, 14 customers and almost 70,000 in my pocket before we leave the dock!!! The new crew is working fine.

CREW-

Marcus and Pama, a couple of fine engineers I picked up in American Samoa; They sure know their stuff and have lots of experience.

"Cookie" the cook. He may be a fat old SOB, but damn he can sure cook!!! Hell, he's also a good fisherman and I can save a ton on food supplies with the way he brings in the big ones!

Kuina. A fine looking young lass to be my "hostess". If I was 30years younger I might have to invite her to my cabin!!!! **Note to self** Keep on eye on all the blokes... If any of them think they are gonna get fresh with her I will Keelhaul them! I need her happy, not harrassed!

And of course theres Puka and Tiny... my two deck hands from the old ferry. Puka is a lazy old Samoan, and Tiny is the Fattest Samoan alive, but hell. They know their jobs well, and I can get away with only paying them $100 a week

and then there's that new kid, Leaga. That one is a strange duck. I still remember the day I found him. It had to be at least a year after I first met him begging for a free ride. I still can't believe he swam that whole 13 miles of rough ocean just trying to find a piece of tail. I almost didn't recognize him. He was digging through trash near the pier and asking random captains for odd jobs. Seems he needed to save a couple of thousand dollars to get to the states.... I guess his gal wasn't on Upolu when he got there; but had moved with her family to relatives in the states. This kid is pretty quite and keeps to himself and has no experience on a large boat, but I figured anyone who can swim that well has to have a good future working on the sea! He had grown almost 6 more inches since I had seen him... Damn kid at well over six foot is the tallest Samoan I've ever seen!!! Well, he's learning the ropes pretty well before our first trip..and hell, I can get away with paying him even less then Puka and Tiny!!! LOL

June 20th: Well docked here in Papeete. Wonderful place... Love the french food I had ashore the other night with one of the paying families on board. (that is one of the benefits I didn't expect. Seems the families love to have the "Honorable Captain" of the Blue Lady dine with them...and they always want to pay har har!).
*Note to self* Look into replacement winch for our anchor when back in Hawaii.
Damndest thing happened this week. Our shallow water anchor has to weight at least 1,500 pounds. Our winch is able (supposed to be) to lift up to 2 1/2 tons. It malfunctioned just as the boys were trying to get it off the bow after scraping it down and checking the links. Puka and Tiny had a bitch of a time just lowering it back to the deck as it leaned against the bow. After getting Marcus and Pama to "patchwork" the winch they all were able to pull the links up and get them over the side, but not the anchor. So, all four of them huffed and puffed and strugglesd to lift the anchor up enough to toss it over the side. I almost pissed myself laughing... I have never seen four guys strain the way they did and couldn't even budge it!... (I think Puka crapped his britches HA HA HA).
Then Leaga comes up. All four blokes were dog tired sitting on their bums... I almost joined Puka and crapped my pants with what happened next... I'll be damned if that Samoan boy didn't walk right up to the anchor, squat down, and do the best freaking dead lift I've ever seen! The veins might of been popping out on his neck and arms, but I'll be damned if that boys didn't lift that big ass anchor at least a foot and a half off the deck before the others scrabbled up and helped push it off the side! Oh, my God! I've done hired myself a circus strongman hahahaha! Only problem is, our good looking young hostess watched the whole thing... I think she is "twitterpatted" with that boy now... Damn, to be 30yrs younger.

July 2nd: Blue Lady is already almost fully booked for our second big trip. Good news and bad news with this though. Turns out one of the 'big spenders' I took from Hawaii to Tahiti has some friends that want to go from Oahu, to Easter Island, then to Chile, and lastly ending in San Francisco before turning around to head back to Hawaii. Money will be great!! (as I am soaking all these landlubbers for 5k a person). On the down side, it looks like my young up and coming sailor Leaga is gonna jump ship in San Fran. I know what money I have gave him (no more than 300 by my ledger) is not enough to fly there, but since we are going to be there anyway he asked me last night if it would be ok for him to depart my employment at that time. Damn, having that kid and his muscles around have been great, but who am I to stand in the way of young love??

July 27th: Departed Chile last night and spent most of the night listening to Puka and Tiny puke off the starboard rails. Damned drunks! Seems some of our guests invited the two poly boys out for a good time on shore with them and they drank enough for the whole crew. *Note to self*, no more shore leave for the mates! 4 days and we will be ported in the Bay City. (**Note ask Cookie to make a farewell cake for Leaga).

Aug 1st: Curse me for a soft old cuss. Seen my young deck hand Leaga off today while ported here in San Francisco. Felt bad he only had 300 dollars so I gave him an extra 500 to help him travel on (I must be getting soft in my old age). Gonna miss that kid. Hope he finds his sweet heart though, she must be something special.

To be cont........

Dragon · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2011, 10:59:39 AM »

Added 3 more chapters if any of you are still reading

Brat Jr · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2011, 11:11:36 AM »

Quote from: Dragon on May 20, 2011, 10:59:39 AM

Added 3 more chapters if any of you are still reading

I'm addicted to the story D! Great job on this one as well as your last one. Got to go find that one and re-read it too

Dragon · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2011, 12:35:20 PM »

Since you like it Brat, I will post one more chapter just for you

Dragon · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2011, 12:36:20 PM »

Chapter 12 ~ The Walk the Plank Bar & Grill aka "The Dive" aka "Rhino's Bar"

The window smashed as the beggar flew trough it like a carefully trained stunt man. Only the fact that he hit the trash can out front with a clang that resulted in a concussion belayed the obvious...he was no stuntman.

"That makes all four now" Dewey the bartender and unfortunate owner of the Walk the Plank Bar & Grill thought to him self as he kept his eyes on his task of never quite being able to clean the water stained cracked beer mugs in front of him. The 'Bar & Grill' was more like what its customers and the law enforcement officials of the area surrounding the pier district called it; "The Dive".

The Dive had been 'handed down' to Dewey back in '77 when he was still a young man who had great aspirations for his 'bar & grill'. Almost three decades of continuously declining economy of the area, and a tremendous decline in reputable clientele ground all his aspirations and dreams into dirt... which mostly covered the faded old red and white checkered table cloths that covered half of the tables left standing in the place. The four windows that faced the front of the dive were once shining and crystal clear with little red and white curtains in them made by Dewey's third wife... now those were all gone, and finally tonight the last of the four windows with any glass lost that battle as well. By the next night the last window would be covered with heavy plastic like all the rest; Rhino had seen to that...

Pete Macmannis had been a regular 'paying' customer back in the day when he first set foot in the Dive. An Alcohol addiction, layoff's, Irish temper, and even a brief stint on Meth had changed Pete into what he had become for the last six years; "The Rhino". At first people only called him that behind his back. Rhino had a tendency to buy a couple of drinks, mooch a dozen more, and even take drinks right out from customers noses. After about four to five hours of this daily routine, Rhino would tear the place up, or anyone that was unfortunate to get in his way, or get his dander up... Just like a Rhino. Pete Loved the nickname and it stuck.

When Pete started acting up right after his last layoff as a long shore man, Dewey had actually called the police department twice on him... Only problem with that is when Pete got out of the drunk tank he would come back that next night and the two scars on the back of Dewey's head was a testament to what Rhino would do to snitches. Basically, Dewey and all the few regular customers were scared ****-less of 'Big Pete Macmannis aka The Rhino'.

"Somebody buy the Rhino a drink"; Pete bellowed to the half a dozen riff raff that were regular customers in the bar. He was in great spirits after what started out as a rough day for him. He hadn't woken from his hang over until after 3pm that afternoon and he missed the 'Price is Right' which he watched every day on his little black and white T.V. at 2pm. Starting off on a sour note, he went and checked the mail for his unemployment check and after retrieving it, due to typical bay area Friday traffic he didn't make it to the bank in time. The "We Cash All Checks" store gladly cashed it for him for a $25 fee. This always pissed Pete off, and when he was pissed he needed a drink. So like he had done every night for the last few years, he headed for the Dive.

"Good Afternoon Rhino"! Dewey had said when he entered; trying to sound cheerful and hoping to be on Pete's good side this night.

"Whats so ****ing good about it fag"? Was a typical Rhino response.

Dewey being used to this all too common occurrence was quick to try and tip the scales in his favor.

"Hey Rhino. I was just done putting the tap into a new keg of MGD and I said to myself; 'the next fella that walks in here is gonna get his first two drinks for free'!"

Rhino seeming genuinely surprised like it was the first time Dewey had used this ploy to try and calm him down, smiled like he had just won the lottery and squatted down on a bar stool saying; "Wow, maybe my luck today is changing for the best"!

Pete downed the first like a drowning man gasping for water and held out his mug to Dewey. Being used to this routine Dewey already had the second one poured and was scraping off the foam with an old tongue depressor that probably had enough bacteria on it to kill a small country. After downing half in one gulp Pete looked straight at Dewey;

"Did you say the 'first 2' beers or was it the first '3' ones"? Rhino asked only half in jest.

The scrawny owner and bartender wringing his hands thought for the right response;

"Oh come on Rhino... I have to charge for the rest. If I don't make a little bit of a profit I'll have to close the Dive down... Then where would you come every night"?

Rhino thought on this for a moment, and still being clear headed enough to understand reasoning smiled and dismissed Dewey with a wave of his meaty hand. Pete looked around and spotted the only other early bird in the joint. 'Stinky Alfred'. Alfred J. Nieman had been named that because one night after getting on Rhino's bad side, Rhino had smacked him around until Alfred was a quivering mass hiding in the corner under the pool table. Rhino had snatched him out after grabbing his leg and lifted him clean off the floor with one hand. Alfred pleaded with him to stop the beating but Pete had something else in mind... Ripping down Alfred's jeans over his buttocks he grabbed the cue ball off the table and told him his was gonna cram it so far up his ass he would be able to lick the chalk marks off it. Alfred had been so terrified at that moment that he started to piss and defecate. Rhino was quick to throw him down and laughed so hard he almost puked. In front of a dozen other customers in the Dive that night, Rhino had made Alfred pull back up his pants without cleaning up and made him sit in the corner the rest of the night. Alfred had been so scared of Rhino that he sat there an hour after Pete had passed out at his table. The name 'stinky Alfred' had been his ever since.

Walking to the end of the bar Pete stood and looked down at Alfred who was pretending to be overly interested in the ****tail napkin.

"Well Stinky, hows it hanging? How about buying your old friend Rhino a drink"?

"Sure Rhino. I have a couple extra bucks... I guess I could spring for just one"; Stinky Alfred said sheepishly without even looking Pete in the face. Dewey was quick to bring over Rhino's third drink (courtesy of Stinky) and mentally braced himself for what he was sure was going to be a 'hell of a night'.

The sun had long set over the bay, and as always the 'smell of the bay' made its way slowly onto the shore and permeated all the small business' in the pier district. Rhino was deep into his cups... As always, around 8pm he was glad to see Jasper walk in the door. Jasper P. Walther III to be exact. Jasper was a forty something stock trader who made quite a good living by day, but by night he loved to "feel alive", as he called it. Jasper's way to feel alive was to hang around some of the seediest joints and people of the pier district. He was also known to take home a few 'bar flies' that would straggle into the dive as well. His Armani suits didn't impress the young girls strung out on meth that came into bars like the dive, but they also knew how to recognize a few bucks to get their next fix when they saw it.

This night Jasper and Rhino sat together along with about eleven other people in the small bar. Dewey was happy because Rhino seemed happy. "I might make it through a night without having anything in here broken" He said to himself.

Jasper loved Rhino. He felt they were kindred spirits (even though that couldn't have been further from the truth). As new people would wander into the Dive, either by mistake, or for some strange reason on purpose. Pete would bellow out; "Welcome to 'Rhino's' Bar"! By 10pm, Jasper was also shouting it out as well..... And woe to any man or woman who didn't return their greeting. That was like begging for a class-A beating from the Rhino himself.

A small breeze carried in the stale smell of the water front as an unfamiliar face walked into the dive. It was a young man almost as tall as Rhino, though not quite as big in girth. Rhino and Jasper, along with mostly all the rest of the patrons looked up to follow the young man as he walked to the bar. What caught Dewey's attention was not so much the young man's height, but his overall appearance was out of place. His skin was a golden brown, like someone who made their living out under the sun's watchful eye... his hair was long, almost to the middle of his back and was jet black in places, and yellow as spun gold in others... but what really caught everyone's attention was his eyes... they were blue as ice one moment, and as he walked through the shadows of the small bar they appeared as grey as a wolfs... Rhino took a big swallow of whatever he was drinking at the moment and almost simultaneously he and Jasper yelled; "Welcome to Rhino's bar"!

The young man walked straight past their table and made his way towards Dewey. The dive became as quiet as a church mouse... everyone, including Dewey looked at Rhino... They all knew what it meant to 'snub' the Rhino, and Dewey cursed to himself that his peaceful night was going to change for the worse. He actually felt bad for the stranger... he had a pleasant face... at least until Rhino got done with him.

Jasper had a drunken smirk and a look of admiration on his face as he watched Rhino's face turn red with rage! Rhino slowly pushed back his chair and walked towards the bar and the stranger. The stranger's back was turned facing the bartender Dewey. Rhino stood towering a good six inches taller then the young man and he looked down at the back of his head;

"Hey you ****, are you deaf? I said; Welcome to Rhino's bar"! Pete almost bellowed.

The young stranger turned slowly saying nothing, and looked Rhino in the eye. Every one in the whole place tensed... You could tell that this stranger was not going to back down...

Dewey silently said a small prayer for his bar... and for the stranger with the weird eyes... he knew the stranger would need it.

To be cont.....

Oneblindmouse · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2011, 12:58:08 PM »

Great story Dragon, you've got me addicted!!

Dragon · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2011, 02:26:35 PM »

Glad some of you enjoy reading it

If you like short stories, I will be posting a couple of other's I have done in the past...

Stay tuned, will post them in a few moments

yote19 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 20, 2011, 05:17:13 PM »

WELLL?

Lets forget about the mushy mushy stuff and get to the bar fight -- my ole Green lil friend.

Dragon · « **Reply #22 on:** May 20, 2011, 08:51:11 PM »

Chapter 13 ~ The night of the Stranger

The stranger did not have the experience, the sheer brute strength, or girth of Rhino. What he lacked though he made up for with stamina, speed, and spirit.

The young stranger ducked low as Rhino swung his massive fist directly towards the side of his head. A normal man would not have been able to move fast enough to dodge Rhino's patented 'hay maker', but the stranger was anything but normal.

"I came in here just to ask for directions or if anyone could help me find a family....remember that when this is over"; the stranger voiced in an eerily calm voice for one in such a position.

He came up like a panther, and using the power of his leg muscles and speed to fuel his blow, he connected an upper cut directly beneath Rhino's chin! The gathered crowd gasped as they slowly watched the man they all had feared for years stumble backwards and then fall on his backside like a discarded bag of potatoes.

Dewey stood at the bar in shock. He had seen many a young buck try their luck with the Rhino, but none had ever been successful in knocking him off his feet. The stranger turned around from the dropped foe and looked at the bartender. Unfortunately the fight was far from over.

Rhino might have been dazed, but 'no young pup is gonna best me'; he thought as a shroud of red rage slowly clouded his vision.

"Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"!!!!!!!!!!

Rhino screamed and kicked his leg out at the stranger. Too late the stranger realized that the battle was far from won. Rhino's steel toed work boot caught him right behind the knee and dropped him down as his leg buckled. The wounded pride of the big Irish man spurred his adrenaline and he jumped to his feet faster then most would of guessed he could have. The stranger, only down on one knee grabbed at a bar stool and turned as he pulled himself up. Instead of seeing his rival still sitting on his bottom, he was shocked to see another hay maker aimed at his head. Too late to duck, the stranger took the blow to the back of his head and sprawled head first into the bar counter.

Dazed, but not out, the stranger shook his head to clear the cob webs and get ready for the next attack. Rhino grabbed him from behind and with a mighty bear hug pinned his arms to his side and lifted him clean off the peanut covered dirty floor. The stranger struggled to break free and used all his strength to break what appeared to be an iron grasp. The patrons looked on in astonishment as Rhino strained to hold the stranger in his massive arms. The stranger was actually breaking the grip! Rhino's hands started to pull apart and looked to betray his former 'unbreakable' hold.

Just as the big man's hands were in jeopardy of slipping apart, he twisted his body, lifted up on his toes and slammed the stranger into the nearest bar table. Glass shattered, and a half pitcher of 'Golden gate ale' splashed the gawkers as the crash resounded in the small tavern. The sound of the breaking table echoed in Dewey's ears and he wondered if the table fared better then the stranger... there was no way anyone could survive that hard of an impact without several broken bones or a crushed skull... Dewey's hands started to sweat as he thought about trying to explain this young strangers death to the police......

Rhino stood triumphant over the stranger and snatched a pitcher of beer from an adjacent table and started to guzzle it down in thirsty gulps. He closed his eyes and panted heavily and thought to himself; "I must be getting old if this young pup gave me so much trouble". He tilted his head back and took another huge swallow. He should of checked the stranger before he started quenching his thirst. The stranger laid on the floor, a huge gash across his forehead where it had hit the edge of a dirty beer mug, or the table, or both. Blood was flowing freely and running down into his eyes and on his face. If Rhino had looked closely though, those eyes were still open...and the red that colored them were born of rage.

With a primal scream that none in the bar that night would ever forget, the stranger jumped to his feet. Before Rhino could understand that the person in front of him hadn't died from the blow, the stranger grabbed the beer pitcher still in the Irish man's hand and slammed it against his head. A shattering of glass accompanied the howl of pain that bellowed out of Rhino's throat. His own head spinning now and trickles of blood covering his own vision, he swung wildly again at the younger man. His fist only met air as he felt a vice grip close upon his throat.

The stranger had easily dodged his wild blow, and had shot out his hand so fast it would of made a striking cobra appear slow. His left hand gripped around the neck of the giant bully as his right hand grabbed for his belt. To everyone's amazement, and to Rhino's pure horror he felt himself actually being lifted off the ground!

In his youth Rhino probably weighed in at a firm 250 lbs of solid muscle. With all the years of drinking excessively under his belt he still had the muscle, but must of had a good 50-75 lbs of blubber around his mid-drift as well. The stranger lifted him as a father would lift a child over his head. With another wild scream the stranger strode two large steps towards the pool table and slammed Rhino on his back. Billiard balls bounced from the pockets and the floor of the tavern shook as if a small earthquake had rocked its foundations. Rhino gasped for air and wiped his clouded vision as he looked up... A orange colored '3 ball' was the last thing he saw.

The stranger, using his hand and the pool ball as a mace bludgeoned the once mighty Rhino smashing his cheek bone and orbital socket, and mangling his nose to the point that Rhino's own mother would not be able to recognize him for a month. When it appeared the stranger was not going to stop until his nemesis was dead, he dropped the ball to his side and let it slip from his blood soaked hand. It fell to the floor and made the only noise in the now silent bar.

The few that dared to stay around to witness the spectacle gave the stranger a wide berth as his made his way back to the bar. Jasper, who had stayed well out of reach of the two brawlers, crawled out from behind the old broken juke box and watched the stranger with a look of awe and a hint of admiration.

Dewey cleared his throat as the stranger approached him; "I... I'm gonna buy you a drink stranger... You just did what a lot of us wished we could of done for years". Dewey placed a beer mug near the tap of the Miller high life.

"I don't drink...but I will pay for a drink of water"; The stranger said flatly as he reached into his blood spattered pants pocket and pulled out a wad of money; "I just want to find someone. Do you know where the Vagai family lives"?

Dewey had never even heard of such a name, but thought hard before answering; "Do they live in San Francisco lad"?

The stranger looked puzzled and simply looked at the glass of water the bartender placed before him. He drank deep and then put the glass back down on the bar along side of a twenty dollar bill. He looked at the old owner of the tavern and simply said; "I don't know..... all I know is they live in America now".

Dewey swallowed as he thought how best to tell the young titan what he had to say; "Son,....America is a big place with millions and millions of people. If all the information you have is a families name, you could go searching for years and never ever find them".

The stranger looked at Dewey like he had just punched him as Rhino had did minutes before. He opened his mouth as if to speak and then slowly closed it... He turned and walked towards the door.

"Wait"! Dewey called after him; "I didn't get your name son".

Halting at the door the young warrior looked on the carnage that he and the bigger man had caused the tavern. He reached in his pocket again and threw four more bills on the floor. He looked at the barely lit Budweiser lamp that still swayed over the pool table where Rhino laid unconscious. A strange sadness crept into his heart at what he had done.

"My name is not important... my name means evil". Leaga walked out the door.

Rhino laid unconscious the whole forty minutes it took the paramedics to arrive at the small, torn up bar. One of the medics looked towards Dewey as his counterpart placed a neck brace around the big man's neck and attempted in vain to wake him with smelling salts. "Do you know this fellow's name"?

Dewey looked at the defeated bully, then replied. "His name is Rhi.....Pete...Pete Macmannis. I don't know who the guy was he fought".

As the last customer left that night and Dewey attempted to clean up the mess that was still left he stopped and poured himself a drink. Looking at the mirror behind the bar with a foam mustache still on his lip, he smiled; "This is no longer Rhino's bar...It's Dewey's bar". He laughed out loud and started singing an old love ballad to no one in particular.

To be cont..........

yote19 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 21, 2011, 04:31:39 PM »

Now that was more like it... good chapter Dragon.

Dragon · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:44:34 PM »

Chapter 14 ~ Cee Cee the bag lady

The sun was slow to shed its warmth on the narrow ally.

As the shadows were slowly devoured by the rising sun a small bit of warmth crept into
the ally and slowly warmed the inside of the old refrigerator box in which Cee Cee was watching the small drama play out. Cee Cee had been awakened this morning by the soft whispers of both "Stew the Buzzard" and "Flattop John", he she both new well. She listened as they hatched their plans to secure themselves enough money to ensure their daily consumption of Boone's farm or some other 'rot gut' wine.

Peering out through a make shift hole she had formed for just such occasions she watched with interest as the two local bums crept slowly up to the sleeping man. Cee Cee wasn't for sure if he was sleeping or dead; for even without her spectacles she could see that he
had dried blood all over the side of his face, and his shirt and pants were darkened as well; More than likely from dried blood as well.....either his or someone else's.

Flattop John put his hand in front of the man's nose and mouth, presumably to check for breathing; Cee Cee told herself. With a quick nod he conveyed something to Stew the Buzzard and the other bum now crouched in front the man as well, but his soiled hands dug greedily into the man's pockets. He pulled his hand out quickly and raised it up in front of Flattop's face. A toothless smile lit up his face and his hand reached for what appeared to be a wad of money. The Buzzard yanked his hand back quickly and gave his partner a stern finger... they both stood up and slowly backed away from the dead or unconscious man. After a few steps away from the body they turned and bolted like young men out of the ally. "Won't be seeing those two good-for-nothings the rest of the day"; Cee Cee said to herself with a chuckle as she stepped out from the protection of her card board home and stretched as much as her old arms and legs would allow.

Cee Cee figured she might as well go see if the young fellow was dead or alive... and possibly to see if 'Flattop and Buzzard' might have missed any 'scraps' that she could scoop up.

As the old bag lady crept closer, she was clear minded enough to see the shallow rise and fall of the young, bloody man's chest. "My, what a strange looking feller"; Cee Cee said out loud. She bent to try her luck at possibly finding a dollar or two left in his pockets, but as she neared the man his eyes opened and he sat bolt upright!

"Where am I"? He questioned as he looked at the old ragged form of the lady standing in front of him.

"Y'all in my alley young man. Lordy lordy, what happen to ya? You look like you done got run over by a dump truck and spit out it's backside". Cee Cee replied as her mouth revealed a toothless grin.

"A fight...I was in a fight. I must of passed out in the alley...lost a lot of blood maybe"; Leaga replied as he slowly stood.

He was still light headed and had to put his hand on Cee Cee's shoulder to steady himself. Being so close to her and almost fully awake now, her pungent smell of countless nights in a card board box with no shower facilities wafted up and assaulted his nose.

Trying not to be rude, he backed away and placed his hand on the over stuffed grocery cart that was near her.

"Hold on boy! You best be gettin' you hands off fa my belongin's"; Cee Cee snapped.

She could see right away he was just dizzy and regretted snapping at the boy. He may be a lot of things, but a thief trying to steal all her worldly belongings she doubted.

"Sorry boy, ol' Cee Cee not used to seeing strangers in her home.... But where are my manners? My name is Cee Cee boy,......That's short for Cee Cee"; She cackled. Cee Cee, after laughing at her own joke and spitting up a golf ball sized piece of blackened mucus and spitting it on the ground at her feet, wiped her mouth and continued; "Like I said, my name is Cee Cee. You got a name boy"?

"My name is Leaga"; Siosi said to the old lady as he started to get his balance back.

Cee Cee's eyes bugged out as she tried in vain to pronounce the young man's name; "Leoogo..... Layanna..What??... Heck boy, if it's all the same to you boy I just gonna call ya Larry! That's the name o'my second husband by the way". She started to cackle again, and Leaga had to watch as two more chunks of 'her lungs' were spit out on the side walk. Leaga was glad he had not eaten yet, for surely he would of lost it all at that moment.

"Where ya headed Larry?"; The old lady questioned.

Leaga kept himself from gagging at the name and said to her; "I am looking for a family called the 'Vagai' family... they are Samoan".

The old ladies face was a blank slate, but all at once it lit up and Leaga could see a sparkle in her eyes that told of a once young beauty that was far from her youth. "I don't be knowin' no 'Vang-eyee' family, but Cee Cee has done seen herself some 'So-mo-in's'....I know of a family of 'em that live right yonder down the road by that big ol' Cow Palace".

At this news, it was Leaga's turn to have a sparkle in his eyes! "Samoans! Yes"; he thought to himself with joy.

"Can you take me to them? Please! I will pay you for your time"; Leaga said as he reached into his front pockets.

Leaga was shocked to find that all of the money the boat captain had given him was missing. "Surely I didn't give away all my money to the bar owner"; He questioned himself.

Cee Cee could see he was a little shocked at finding his pockets empty. She wasn't about to tell her 'new friend' she had seen the whole affair with ol' buzzard and flattop' stealing his loot. She quickly replied to him;

"Listen here Larry. It won't be no trouble...no trouble at all. Ol' Cee Cee was headed up to da Cow Palace taday anyway. Lot's-O-cans in the trash bins after them concerts ya know"; She said with another toothless grin.

Leaga had no idea what she was talking about, but did understand she was willing to escort him to the Samoan family.

For the first time in months, Leaga's heart sang with hope!

To be cont.......

Dragon · « **Reply #25 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:46:07 PM »

Chapter 15 ~ The trip to the Cow Palace and "Hello Tu'usopo family"

As Leaga and Cee Cee made their way slowly down alleys and crossed block after block, Cee Cee kept him entertained with tales of her youth and her endless mirth, and he in turn had told her of his quest to find his beloved 'Amio'.

"I'z tell ya Larry, if'in I was younger I might have to steal ya from this 'Ameeoh' gal. After you cleaned up some at da Chevron gas station I can see you a good looking young man... and boy oh boy, your eyes are to die for"; Cee Cee began her raspy laugh again while she slapped her hand on the old grocery cart that she apparently took with her every where.

Leaga just smiled as the old lady kept telling tale after tale of days 'in the big city' when she was something called a 'Burlesque Queen', and a 'lady of the night' after that. Some of the stories where funny, but most of them he secretly wished she had kept to herself. After about two hours of their slow journey Cee Cee stopped and pointed;

"That there's dat Ol' Cow Palace".

Leaga saw what appeared to be a giant dome... he had never seen something like this in his life. Well, after the events of the past few months on board the charter boat, and then the fight at the bar he guessed there was a lot of things he was not aware of. He turned towards Cee Cee and offered to push her cart up the sidewalk path that led to the Cow Palace. Roads in this city were very hilly, and this one was no different.

"Don't mind if ya do Larry. Those So-mo-anns are right up yonder in that apartment building across the street. Seen those big ol' fellows sittin' out on their stoop at night singing together and playing a tiny tiny guitar of some sorts"; Cee Cee said as Leaga took over her pushing duties.

Leaga barely heard her last words as his heart filled again with hope that maybe this was part of Amio's family; or at least knew where she was.

When they reached the broken down old apartment complex Leaga noticed bars on all the windows, and a big black metal gate blocking the front entrance. This was not the first apartment or house Leaga had seen decorated that way in this city. "I wonder what they are trying to keep out... or keep in?"; He thought to himself.

Cee Cee grabbed the reigns of her 'chariot' from Leaga; "Well, this is where we part company my friend Larry. Cee Cee's got some scrounging to do. Wait right here on these steps or ring those door bells if you wish.. I am sure those big ol' boyz you looking for will turn up". Cee Cee then stood up on the first step and stretched out her neck to give Leaga a peck on the cheek. Leaga could smell once again the ripeness of the old lady, but did not pull back out of kindness for the old lady and what she had done for him. Leaga waved to her after she had crossed the street and headed for the giant green dumpsters there by the Cow Palace; If she had seen him wave good bye he couldn't tell.

It took a few minutes, but Leaga finally figured out he should push the small buttons, (what Cee Cee had called door bells) mounted on the wall next to the entrance. There were at least two dozen little white 'door bells' on the wall. The first one had a name scratched in pencil next to it on a little piece of paper. It said; "Lopez", but the rest of them were blank. Leaga was not sure which one to push... so he pushed them all.

For some reason he was not surprised with no one came down to open the black gate guarding the front door, Nor did anyone look out there windows. Leaga guessed no body was home, or they didn't wish to answer. Well being this close to the possible end of his quest, he simply sat down on the stairs and waited. As he ignored the rumbling of his empty stomach he reassured himself that sooner or later someone would have to come out or go in.

He didn't know how long he had waited when he finally spotted the big black SUV parking in front of the stairs where he sat. He had seen SUV's before in Savaii, but never ones this big or shiny. "Cadillac Escalade"; he read on the side of the big black vehicle. It was then he felt hope, because through the darkened windows he could hear the bass and rhythm of Samoan music being played!

The SUV's engine turned off and Leaga sat and watched as the biggest Samoan he ever saw got out of the drivers side door. "He's twice as big as Mole"; He thought to himself. The large Samoa man walked around to the passenger door without a second glance at Leaga and helped an older man out of the vehicle. The older man was not as big as the first, but he would of still been the biggest man in Leaga's village. As the two men departed the vehicle the back doors opened too. Two more Samoans left the SUV except these were females. Their girth though gave it away that they were all apart of the same family.

"What you doing bro, what do you want?"; the first Samoan who left the SUV addressed him.

Leaga stood up and introduce himself. He told them his name, what village he came from, and a short reason why he was there; "So, if you know where Amio is, or where her family is I will be very grateful".

The older man shook his head 'no'; "I am sorry. I have never heard of the Vagai family around here, and I have lived in this area for over twelve years".

Leaga felt his heart sink.

"Hey, don't worry bro. My sis here is a computer wiz and I am sure she can look up this family for you. Come on in, are you hungry?"; the younger driver said.

"Oh thank you. Ioe...Yes, I am hungry. Thank you very much"; Leaga said as his growling stomach betrayed his lack of food over the last two days.

As they waited for the elevator, introductions were made; "This is my father, Pamu...And these are my sisters, Tala and Eseta. I'm Pili, but you can call me Junior"; the Younger man said.

Leaga smiled and shook all their hands. He noticed the two sisters wrinkling their noses and looking him up and down. He had forgotten what bad shape his cloths were in and how he must look to others with all the dried blood still on his cloths. He had washed his face and hands at the gas station Cee Cee had taken him to; but that was little help for the appearance of his cloth. He felt his face flush again for the second time that day and was happy when the door of the elevator chimed to usher in it's arrival.

Leaga was a little nervous on the ride up to the third floor. The elevator smelled of urine and mold, but it was the little sign by the door that grabbed his attention; "Weight limit 2,000 pounds" it said. He was afraid that just Pili and his dad exceeded that capacity, not to mention himself and the two sisters. He was relieved when the elevator finally stopped and opened to a long hallway with two door on each side. He followed Pili and his family into their home.

More introductions where made. It turns out Pamu's wife, another son, and three or four small children were inside the apartment all this time. "Maybe I didn't push the door bell right"; Leaga thought.

Leaga sat on the floor next to the father, Pamu; and next to the oldest son, Pili. The woman and the younger son made themselves busy in the small kitchen, for which Leaga was grateful. The smells coming out of the pots reminded him of home, and he wondered and hoped that both Gammy and Grampy were doing fine. The eldest daughter; Eseta came up next to Leaga and held out some cloths and a towell;

"Here, these were Pili's before he was so fat"; She laughed. Pili said something in retort but she ignored him. "Come with me Leaga, I will show you where the bathroom and shower are. I am sure you want to clean up right?", she continued.

Leaga excused himself from Pili and his father and followed Eseta down the hallway. He saw three small room and a door at the end of the hallway. As he passed one of the rooms he saw the other sister, Tala, busy at a computer. She looked his way and smiled saying; "I will locate that family for you by the time dinner is over". Leaga thanked her then turned to Eseta who was holding the bathroom door open for him.

As he approached her he excused himself so he could get by her and into the bathroom but she didn't move. In a soft voice barely above a whisper she said; "Would you like some help in there Leaga? I am quite skilled at washing backs?"

For the third time that day he felt his face flush; "Thank you but no. I.... I....Uh...have to use the toilet as well"; He lied.

"Oh well, maybe I will wash something else later then"; She winked, then turned to walk back down the hallway.

Leaga let out a deep breath and he closed and locked the small latch on the door. The water felt warm and clean as he washed the remaining blood out of his hair and from his muscular frame. He looked at him self in the mirror...naked he stood there with the towel in his hand. He was much bigger and his hair much longer then last he remembered when he had looked at himself. He decided it was not a surprise that woman wanted him; Just like Cee Cee said he thought; "You a good lookin' fella Larry". Leaga could not help but laugh at his own thoughts as he dried off his body and put on the still too big cloth that belong to Pili.

As he left the bathroom he could smell the wonderful smell of Taro, Pisupo, and was that Poni Po Po? All thoughts of Amio left him for the moment as his stomach took control of his thoughts. Another smile crossed his lips as he headed for what would surely be a feast to his lonely stomach.

To be cont.............

Dragon · « **Reply #26 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:47:37 PM »

Chapter 16 ~ Leaga's small Fa'alavelave

Three days had gone by while Leaga stayed with the Tu'usopo family. It
was three days of relaxing, good food, and good conversation. He enjoyed
the time he had spent with the Mother and Father and their children.
Eseta had lightened up with her 'affections' after hearing about his story and his
search for Amio... she even stopped 'eye balling' him every second.
He had become fast friends with Pili.
In the evenings he sat out on the front stoop of the apartment building with
him and listened to him and his friends play and sing all
types of music. Pili and his friends sang everything from modern hip
hop, to old sixties Motown classics. Leaga's favorites though were the
old Samoan songs they would play and sing. It made him home sick for
Gammy and Grampy and for the land that was his home. He knew he could
not go back yet though... He must find the Vagai family... He must find
Amio.

That evening's "curb side concert" was interrupted by Tala screaming out
of her and her sister's window;

"I found them, I found them! Leaga, get up here quick!"

Pili put down his ukulele and turned with a smile to look at his new
friend but Leaga was already bolting up the stairway taking three to
four steps at a time.

When Leaga reached the small apartment both Tala and sister were sitting
on the couch with both the parents sitting in chairs near them. Pili's
younger brother was bringing everyone some water as they all gathered to
hear what information she had found out about the family Leaga had been
searching for. Leaga sat on the floor in the middle of the room and
stared at her with baited breath, waiting on 'the good news'. Tala
flipped open her lap top and began;

"OK, I am not 100% positive it is them, but it is the only Vagai family
that I could find. I found it by doing umbrella searches on city and
state Utility companies; I figured no matter where your girl friend and
her family lives, they must need water, electricity, etc. I could not
find anything under the name 'Amio Vagai', but I did find one electric
bill under the name; 'Emo Vagai'."

Leaga sat bolt up straight; "That's Amio's grandfather! I was sure Amio
only left Savaii with her mother and the twins, but maybe her
grandparents moved over here too. Where is she?... I have to go there
now!"

Tala smiled at Leaga's excitement, but a look of concern crossed her
face; "The only problem is they live in San Antonio... That's in Texas".

Everyone's face present looked downcast at that announcement, but
Leaga's face was still beaming brightly.

"I will leave right now... I will be with Amio before the stars are
settled in the sky"; Leaga said with enthusiasm.

Pamu spoke up finally; "Son, you cannot walk to San Antonio".

Leaga straightened up and looked at them all innocently; "How far is it to
walk there? I do not mind walking".

The whole combined Tu'usopo family laughed in unison at the thought of
someone walking from San Francisco, California to San Antonio, Texas.

Leaga felt his face flush. He wondered if he had once again
underestimated this large country that he found himself in looking for
his love.

Eseta responded first; "You cannot walk all that way silly. It would
take you months! You have to fly, or at the very least; Drive or take
a bus".

Leaga stood up and looked at them all; "I thank you all very much for
your hospitality, but I must be going to Amio. I will fly, walk, run,
or swim... but I must leave now!"

Tala clicking away at her lap top was the first to speak; "I looked at
'cheap tickets' online, and the cheapest flight I could find leaves
tomorrow at 1000am and it costs $490 dollars".

Leaga immediately touched the outside of his pockets. The light in his
eyes slowly dimmed as he remembered that he was broke. He had either
lost all his money in the fight, or someone had managed to steal it from
him while he was passed out in that alley where he met Cee Cee. Pamu
knew the look in the young heartbroken man's face; "Son, I would give
you the money now if we had it to give; Sadly though, we just helped out
my brother's family in Ocean Side with a Fa'alavelave of their own, and
we do not have that kind of money to give right now". Pamu looked at
the young man's eyes and could see all hope slowly fade from them. He
thought a moment more then added; "Don't give up hope boy. I will speak
to members of our small church and see what we can do. In the meantime;
Tala... Look up how much it is for a bus trip down there. There must be
a cheaper way to travel then by airplane".

Leaga felt so close to Amio his heart ached. He wished he had never
gotten in the fight and lost his money. He knew the Tu'usopo family
would do all they could to help him, but he just wished there was some
way for him to go see her now. Feeling dejected and depressed he
excused himself after thanking Pamu and his family, and went into Pili's
room and laid on the floor next to his bed like he had the last two
nights..."Oh Amio my beloved. I will be with you soon even if I have to
crawl"; Leaga said to himself. He closed his eyes and after an hour of
fitful thoughts, he finally drifted off to sleep.

Two of the longest days in Leaga's life were finally over. He stood
outside the Greyhound bus station hugging and saying his goodbyes to the
wonderful family that had taken him in. In his hand he had a bus ticket
and a small grocery store bag full of fruit and leftover's from the
night before. In his pocket he also had $20 dollars that Pili had given
him personally. Pamu had indeed talked to the other church members, and
the elders were able to gather only a couple of hundred dollars on such
short notice...but that was more than enough to pay for a bus ticket
that would take him most of the way to his beloved. Pamu and his family
explained the ticket would not get him all the way to San Antonio, but
would get him to Oklahoma which was right before Texas. Pili and Eseta
jokingly even showed Leaga the 'fine art' of hitchhiking... They said he
could use that to get 'free rides' possibly the rest of the way to San
Antonio.

"Free rides?"; Leaga had thought. Heck, if there is a way to ride for
free I should just leave and do that now. But Pili had explained that
it was not as easy as he thought; and that sometimes it could even be
dangerous.

Hugs were given out in a rush as a Public Address system announced that
"Bus 849 from San Francisco to Lawton, Oklahoma was now boarding".

Pili was one of the last ones to hug Leaga. A tear formed in the corner
of his eye as he turned quickly from Leaga; "Good luck bro, come back
and see us when you find your girl". Leaga was sad also to leave this
nice family, but he was more excited to finally be on his way to see
Amio. One last tap on his shoulder caught him off guard and he turned
to find a pair of wet lips locked on his own.... Eseta had timed it
just right, and got in a farewell kiss before the muscular Samoan man
could leave; "If you don't find her, or if... for some reason you ever
change your mind... I will be here waiting for you". For the first time
since Leaga had met her, he saw Eseta actually blush. She turned
quickly and darted off into the back seat of their families SUV.

After handing his ticket to the driver and explaining he had no bags to
put under the bus, Leaga sat in the middle of the bus by the window. He
only sat there a few minutes until the half full bus pulled away from
the station. He waved at the SUV and at Pili who was still standing
outside.

As the bus pulled onto the freeway Leaga looked back at his ticket. In
less than two days it explained he would arrive in Lawton... Then it
would only be a short walk to see his beautiful Amio again... His
daydreams of seeing her again was all he could think about. As the
golden gate bridge drifted in the distance Leaga fell to sleep.

To be cont........

Dragon · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:47:59 PM »

There ya go... two more chapters

Dragon · « **Reply #28 on:** May 23, 2011, 12:51:20 PM »

Chapter 17 ~ Casey and Junebugs 'big adventure'

The date on the news paper declared it was August 29Th. Leaga stared at
newspaper that was left on the seat next to him by the kind old lady
that had been on the bus along with him since San Francisco. She had
picked it up at the last bus stop where the large silver greyhound bus
had stopped for fuel and for the passengers to get off and stretch
their legs or go inside the small store there to buy food or drink.
Leaga had ran out of his money so he spent his time during the fifteen
minute stop to stretch his own legs and eat the last piece of taro that
was left in his small plastic bag. "August 29Th?"; He thought to
himself. "That means my birthday has went by already...how old am I
now? 19?...20?"; Leaga couldn't help but laugh out loud a little at
himself at his total forgetfulness when it came to his age. He whole
world since he was twelve had revolved around Amio. Things such as
birthdays and holidays were a personal pleasure that other people
enjoyed; Not people who were in love like he.

The bus drivers had switched and the elder white male that had brought
him from the city by the bay to Oklahoma City was replaced by a just as
old black man. The black driver picked up the small microphone by the
steering column and announced to the passengers that they would reach
the city of Lawton within an hour. Leaga wondered how far it would be
to Texas from there, his final stop. How far to Texas, and how far to
the city of San Antonio? That is when he would be reunited with Amio
again. Since he left Savaii and traveled on the "Blue Lady" with the
captain it must have been at least one year... to him though, it felt
like one hundred years without Amio by his side. He drifted off to
sleep again as the headlines from the newspaper brought up old
nightmares of a movie he had seen as a youth; "Four tornado's devastate
town of Cache, Oklahoma. Govenor to authorize aid". He saw a small pretty white girl in a blue checkered dress with red
ruby shoes in his dreams..her dog barked and barked as their home flew into the air...

"Wake up young man, we're in Lawton".

Leaga opened his eyes to see the old black bus driver standing over him. The old man's eyes were kindly but stern, and it was obvious that it was the end of the line for Leaga's bus ticket.

Leaga stood up and stretched and looked down at the old man and smiled; "Sir, which way is Texas from here? I am headed to San Antonio".

The bus driver stared for a moment at the giant, long haired youth with the mesmerizing eyes before he spoke; "Well young man, if you are driving you would start off going down highway 44 towards Wichita Falls, then I would cut east towards Dallas and finally go south again towards San Antonio".

Leaga gulped and swallowed his pride; "I... I am not driving... I don't know how. I'm walking".

The old man; 'Sam' proclaimed his name tag, choked back a laugh and said; "Walking? San Antonio is 300 to 400 miles from here! It will take you two to three weeks to walk there... and in this heat? It's so hot out side your sandals will melt off your feet".

Looking down at his old sandals Leaga choked back a laugh himself; "Thank you sir, but I'll be fine... Can you point me to this highway 44?"

Sam was speechless. He simply walked to the front of the bus and pointed to the highway. Leaga smiled as he walked past him and looked at the doors. Sam nodded his head and smiled, as if to say; "good luck" and he opened the doors.

Leaga stepped out into the bright afternoon heat of an Oklahoma summer. As he walked towards the highway he began to think the old bus driver might be right. He could feel the heat of the pavement through his worn out sandals, and the intrepid heat of the sun made it the hottest day he had ever felt in his life. He removed his old t-shirt that proudly proclaimed; "Disco Sucks" that Pili had given him and he reminded himself to stop by the gas station near the highway up ahead and drink as much water as he could... he knew he would need it.

Casey had worked at the Shell station for four years now. She dreamed to get out of this 'crappy town' and see the world. Her dad's departure when she turned 16, and her mother's 'disease' called; 'drinking to darn much' had prevented her from fulfilling her dream. There was nothing to do in this darn town she thought to herself as she restocked the cigarettes on the shelves over the cash register. Sweat rolled down from underneath her halter top and crawled on her flat stomach towards the fringed tops of her cutoff blue jeans.

"Yeah, stretch out there baby! I love looking at your belly ring sexy mama"!

Casey grunted a reply aimed at the speakers manhood; "You would not know what to do with it if I laid it on a dinner plate for you Junebug".

Junebug was Casey's 'on again - off again' boyfriend. She broke up with him at least once a week, but he was the only one in this town interesting enough (and dumb enough) to take her out every weekend to at least catch a movie at the multi plex down on Sheridan street. She didn't really like him, but he and his disability checks from the military was all she had. "Junebug", the former private first class John Bugess had 'flipped out' after his second trip to Iraq a couple of years ago. He got put out of the military after nearly strangling his commander to death in front of a whole formation. The department of Veteran affairs had called it; "PTSD with Anger Conflicts", and had started sending him checks for $1,900 a month. He was originally from Vicksburg Mississippi, but had decided to stay in Lawton to be close to the hospital on Fort Sill, and the VA offices there in town... and of course, to be closer to Casey.

Casey cursed silently at the thought of Leon Gibson, the owner of the gas station, for being such a cheap skate and sitting the air conditioning temperature so high. Besides beads of sweat dripping down her belly as she worked, her hair must also look a mess. Still, she made sure to turn her back to Junebug as she bent to open another large box full of cigarette cartons... She knew Junebug would be watching her backside.

Junebug looked at Casey up and down like he was sizing her up and licked his lips as he thought of a good smart ass comment to say back to her. Just then the door chime jingled and a blast of hot air came in as the tall young man walked in.

Casey shaded her eyes from the glare... she could not believe what..who had just walked in to her store. The tape measure that was stuck to the side of the doorway (to help get a better description of would be shop lifters) measured him to be almost six and a half feet tall. His bare chest was glistening from the sweat of the afternoon sun. His skin was golden brown like a black cup of coffee that was half filled with cream. Hair, almost as long as hers was tussled and hung down in auburn and blond streaks to his rock hard mid-drift.... and his eyes.... his eyes were to die for!

"Excuse me ma'am, but could I please get a cup of water?"; Leaga asked politely.

Junebug grabbed a Heineken out of the cooler and slapped it on the counter; "Give me the bottle opener sweetheart"!

Casey was so taken with the stranger that had just walked in, she placed a pack of Camel 100's in front of the beer bottle instead; "Yes, we have water... Would you like some?"; She stammered as she never took her eyes off Leaga.

Junebug looked down at the pack of smokes and then looked at Casey and followed her eyes to Leaga. He picked up the cigarettes and tossed them at her chest. Hitting her right between her bosoms he screamed; "Hey you dumb bitch! I asked for the ****ing bottle opener... Get yer mind right or I will give you a good smack in the kisser"!

Casey turned sharply towards her sometimes boyfriend; "**** off you retard! Can't you see I'm trying to help a customer?"

Junebug's eyes bulged from his skull and his face lit up red like a stop sign as he raised his hand to smack her in the face for spouting off to him... his open hand swung towards the girls face only to be stopped in mid-flight by an arm corded with muscles and steel.

"I would not do that if I were you. It is never OK to hit woman"; Leaga stated flatly.

Junebug had a look of shock come over his face. He was a good foot shorter then this fellow, but his chest was barreled and he had won many a barroom brawls in his day. He glared at the stranger and was ready to swing the beer bottle at him when he looked in his eyes.... something about his eyes told Junebug that this would not be a fight he would be able to walk away from. He swallowed and looked down at the floor; "Sor....sorry...mister...sometimes I say things I shouldn't.... I... I'm on medication".

Leaga let go of his arm and reached for the beer bottle. He placed his hand around the neck of the bottle and with his thumb he simply 'popped' off the top. Junebug stared in disbelief. He slowly took the bottle from him and mouthed the words 'thank you', but no sound came out. He moved slowly toward the potato chip rack to drink his German beer and kept his mouth shut after that.

Leaga turned towards the awe struck girl behind the counter and explained his situation. He told her where he was going and explained he had no money but would truly appreciate a glass of water.... moments later Leaga left the small store with not one, but two large containers of ice water. The sign on the bank across the street randomly flashed the time and the temperature; "104 degrees" it proclaimed. Leaga took a large drink of water and poured some on his head. The highway sign said; "U.S. 44" south. Leaga stuck out his thumb and began to walk.

To be cont..............

Brat Jr · « **Reply #29 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:31:15 AM »

<taps foot while waiting impatiently>
Can we have more please?

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Author Topic: A Samoan Tale! ~ A short story (Read 2118 times)