Page 65 of Big Island Neighbors
When she started up the truck, Kiana ran out in a panic.
“Are you leaving?”
Lani rolled down the window. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m just backing the truck up to theohanaso that I can load up some rotten old furniture.
“What do you want to do that for?”
“To take it to the transfer station.”
“People are going to buy the rotten old furniture?”
She bit back a smile. “I don’t think so. Maybe some of it’s still good, but most of it will go to the dump.”
“Oh.” She ran to the truck and climbed up onto the side. “I colored the beach and the fish and the bananas. I made the bananas pink! Have you ever seen pink bananas? I saw pink bananas at Kacie’s house. They weresopink. Pinker than bubblegum. Even pinker than my princess dress! I wanted to eat one, but Kacie says they’re not good to eat. They’re not pink inside and they have seeds. They have really big seeds. Have you ever seen a banana with seeds?”
“I have,” Lani said when she paused for breath. Before she could start up again, she added, “Rory and Luana are back in the star fruit tree.”
“I don’t like star fruit.”
“Kai is moving rocks for the duckpond.”
“I don’t like rocks.” She planted her elbow at the bottom of the open window and rested her face on her hand.
“Kiki, get off this car so I can back it up.”
“Okay!” She started to get down and then popped back up again. “Can I climb in the back?”
“Sure,” Lani sighed.
“Thanks, Auntie!”
She waited until Kiana was settled in the back of the truck. Then she backed it slowly across the front lawn and around the side of the house, scattering chickens as she went. When she parked in front of the ohana and turned off the engine, Kiana groaned loudly.
“I want to keep going!” she shouted through the back window.
“Not right now.”
“Wellnowwhat am I supposed to do?”
“You can go play with your cousins.”
“I don’t wanna play with my cousins.”
“Well, I’m going to start clearing out the house.”
“Can I help?”
“Sure.”
Lani walked into the house and picked up a musty pile of blankets.
Kiana took one step through the door and exclaimed, “It smells disgusting in here! You’re gonna live here?!”
“Yep.” She carried the blankets out the door, turning her face away from the ammonia smell.
“But it smells gross!” Kiana followed her back to the truck.
“When I’m done with it, it’s going to smell fine.”
