Post by Fidel Mantangra on Sept 29, 2010 18:28:02 GMT -4
Packing await the last little bit of clothing he had into his duffel bag Fidel slung it over his good shoulder and shut the door to the motel. The Hawaiian air was thick, humid, and weighed down Fidel, making him wish for air conditioning again. He took a breath and turned, taking notice of a tallish and wrinkled Hawaiian man with a large belly standing to his left. He smiled a sincere smile, “Thanks for everything Mr. Kamaka. Mahalo nui loa. Efharistó.”
Mr Kamaka’s face crinkled up in a jolly white-toothed smile. “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Mantagra. Are you sure your friends are alright?”
The boy adjusted his hat and shook his head, “You know what? I hope so.” Fidel really owed Mr. Kamaka. The old motel owner was kind enough to take in the three distressed looking boys for the meager amount of money that they had. When they asked. They stayed about two days, Fidel volunteering at a banana grove with Tony in order to get some money to pay for the room, in addition to the less-than-legal ways that they got other things. Even with them coming up short on all accounts, Mr. Kanaka was gracious and kind. Fidel found he had taken a liking to the man, especially after Tony and Leo left and went back to the island. Fidel opted to stay, not too keen on returning to the island.
Over that time, he began helping out Mr. Kanaka with house keeping and other odd jobs. The old man told him that he had had a son once that might have been a few years older than Fidel had he not gotten into the car accident that also caused his wife severe spinal damages and put her into the coma. Fidel felt sorry for the old man, only having a daughter that came by twice a week, as she was in collage. He felt partially responsible for his well-being, just as the man felt for him. It was a very new kind of feeling to Fidel.
It was almost how he felt about Jayden. The feeling of actually caring and loving someone in the sincerest way, despite how the other felt.
Until the previous night on the Shifter Academy c-box Fidel had every intention of staying with Mr. Kanaka, working for him until he found an opportunity to pursue a culinary degree on the islands. But mostly just stay with the old Hawaiian man. But over all of the excitement he realized that in his haste he had forgotten to get Jayden’s input. And from the sounds of it, Jayden was pissed. It’s not like the raccoon shift had forgotten his him, not at all, it was just that he hadn’t seen him around at all, let alone tell him about the accident or that he was on the other island. He understood why the boy might be upset at him. He was just afraid of what he might do.
Mr. Kanaka shuffled his feet and produced an object from behind his back. Fidel’s head tilted, gawking at the colorful necklace. “Lei’s are tradition here when you have to say goodbye to a good friend.” The man said simply. The lei was lovely, It didn’t have so many flowers on it, there were what seemed leaves and shells on it, along with a few fragrant and fresh flowers. “My daughter made it and brought it over early this morning”
The teen dipped his head as it slipped around his neck. “Wow! Thanks! Mahalo!” Fidel was trying out his sparse knowledge of Hawaiian. “I’ll be around to visit every so often okay?” He offered his hand for the man to shake. “Is that okay?”
His head bobbed, “Yes, I’d like that. Stay safe.”
The boy nodded and trotted down the stairs to the parking lot, waving back at the man as he reached the edge of the property. Within fifteen minutes he was showing his student ID to the ferry manager and on him way back to the academy. Throughout the ride, he sat near a window, absently staring out at the gray waves, still somewhat agitated from the hurricane. It wasn’t raining for once, which was good. Fidel was preoccupied with thoughts about Jay, Mr. Kanaka, and everyone else. He didn’t know what kind of mess he had gotten himself into this time, but he figured he find out soon. And sooner still as he finally mounted the stairs towards his dorm room.
It took him a moment to steady himself, his hand hovering over the doorknob. Finally he cracked open the door and said, “I’m home.” In a smaller-than-intended voice. Half hoping that everyone was out for the day.
