Hang Ten for Dear Life!

by Nicholas O. Time

  “Here?” I ask.

  “Perfect!” Akemi cheers.

  We place the glove underneath one of the largest leaves, then walk away. It’s impossible to see it from a distance. Tim is going to be playing this game of hide-and-seek for a long, long time. But we know his gloves probably contain some kind of magic, so he’ll search until he finds it.

  The sun is beginning to set, and I know we’re going to have to head back home soon. Leilani and Tua have to leave too.

  “You should all come over to our house on Saturday,” Tua says to us.

  “For the aha’aina,” Leilani says. “It’s a special family gathering.”

  I look over at Maria, who is glaring at me. “Three hours,” she hisses.

  “I know. I know,” I say to her.

  “It does sounds like fun . . . ,” Akemi says tentatively.

  “It does,” Maria agrees. “But Kai and I have something to do on Saturday.”

  “Oh, too bad.” Akemi sighs. “Then I probably won’t be around either. I’m thinking of going home as soon as I can find a way back.”

  “Really?” Leilani says. “That’s too bad. I was hoping we could check back on the turtle eggs together. You know, make sure they stay safe and protected from predators like Tim.”

  “You were?” Akemi says, surprised. “I think I’d like that.”

  “I could show you some of my other favorite spots on the island,” Leilani says. “Since I grew up here, I know them all.”

  “Do you know where I could see a red-footed booby?” Akemi asks hopefully.

  “A sula sula?” Tua says. “I know where you can find them!”

  “I’ve been dying to see one up close!” Akemi says. Her face is shining with excitement.

  “We’ll stop by to see if you decide to stay, then,” Tua says.

  “I hope you do,” Leilani adds.

  “And if your plans change, come to our house on Saturday,” Tua tells us. “Just keep following the path away from the beach until you get to the village. You’ll hear us!”

  We all wave good-bye to the brother and sister. I think about how lucky we were to meet them.

  “I really like them,” Akemi admits.

  “I do too,” I say. “They seem like they would be good friends.”

  “Since you mentioned friends, I was wondering if you have time to stop by before you leave,” Akemi asks.

  I look at Maria again. She isn’t glaring.

  “As long as it’s quick. We really need to leave soon, unfortunately,” Maria says.

  “Of course. Let’s go,” Akemi says.

  As we walk, Maria remembers something.

  “Akemi,” she says. “I know someone like you, someone who loves wildlife and the ocean.”

  “Oh, does he live on the island too?” Akemi asks.

  “No, he does not,” Maria replies. “He’s French, and his nickname is Jeek. But I once read something he wrote that I think you might find interesting.”

  “Really?” Akemi says. “What is it?”

  Maria closes her eyes and thinks for a moment.

  “Sometimes we are lucky enough to know that our lives have been changed,” she says. “To discard the old, embrace the new, and run headlong down an immutable course.”

  Akemi closes her eyes and sighs deeply.

  “That’s beautiful. Can you say that again?” she asks.

  Maria does.

  When we get back to Akemi’s, she dives into her trunk and digs through her things.

  “For you,” she says, holding out a seashell necklace to Maria.

  “It’s beautiful!” Maria says. “I love it.”

  “I’m glad,” Akemi says. “I made it myself.”

  “And for you, Kai, ocean boy,” Akemi says.

  Akemi gives me a sketch she made of her secret pool. She’s not as good an artist as Maria, but the picture is filled with love and she’s spent time on every detail.

  “I can’t take it,” I say. “It’s your special place.”

  “It’s our special place now,” Akemi says. “And you’re Japanese! You know it is rude to refuse a gift. What are you thinking?”

  What am I thinking? I bow deeply and thank Akemi for the sketch.

  Maria holds out her empty hands.

  “I wish I had something for you,” she says. “For your birthday.”

  “Me too,” I add.

  “You’ve already given me something,” Akemi tells us.

  “We did?” I wonder. “Was it the oyster joke?”

  “It was not.” Akemi laughs.

  “How about this one, then?” I say. “What is the best day to go to the beach?”

  “I don’t know,” Akemi says.

  “Sunday!” I reply.

  Maria and Akemi groan.

  “It is definitely not your jokes,” Akemi says. “You and Maria have given me something much more special. You have helped me see things in a different light.”

  “I hope you’ll think about staying on the island,” I say. “I think they need you here.”

  “I don’t know,” Akemi says. “There are already lots of people here, and more coming every week.”

  “That’s why you’re so important,” Maria says. “Because you’re one of the few who cares about the creatures who live on the island who aren’t people.”

  I can tell Akemi’s still not totally convinced, but she’s also not packing her things.

  “Maybe I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” Akemi says hopefully.

  “Probably not,” I say. “I . . . I heard they might be moving us to another island for some big job. Pineapples, I think.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad.” Akemi sighs. “Good luck, then. I hope we meet again someday.”

  “I do too,” Maria says. “And don’t forget: Sometimes we are lucky enough to know that our lives have been changed, to discard the old, embrace the new, and run headlong down an immutable course.”

  “I won’t!” Akemi assures her.

  Maria is starting to glare at me again, so we say our last good-byes and head outside to find a spot to place The Book of Memories and time travel back home.

  “Let’s go to the secret pool,” I suggest. “There’s probably no one there.”

  We race down the path, knowing that time is running short. But we have to stop for a second because the view of the ocean is incredible. Tim Raveltere is out in the distance, riding a wave on the surfboard, flailing his arms wildly but still “hanging ten.”

  “Pretty impressive.” I laugh. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”

  “Yeah, we may have to travel back and get some surfing lessons from him.” Maria chuckles.

  When we get to the pool, we climb on the rocks and find the perfect spot. I take the book out of my pocket and peel the scarf off it.

  I open the book, take out the card, and write our home coordinates and time information. I place the card back in and close the book cover. The book trembles and grows right before us. Then Maria opens it again and we see the library at good old Sands Middle School waiting for us. We wave good-bye to the secret pool, then hold hands and step back home.

  “Timely greetings,” Ms. Tremt says, looking at her watch. “You two like to live on the edge, I see.”

  “I told you we were cutting it too close,” Maria complains.

  “So how was your journey?” Ms. Tremt asks. “Was it everything you expected?”

  “More!” I say. “I’ve been to Hawaii a lot of times to visit my family, but it looked so different in 1900. There weren’t any huge hotels or roads with traffic flying by. It’s just nature, beautiful and all around you.”

  “And your great-great-aunt Akemi?” Ms. Tremt says. “She’s doing well?”

  “She wasn’t,” I admit. “But I think we helped cheer her up.”

  “I’m sure you did,” Ms. Tremt says seriously. “In fact, I know that you did.”

  Maria starts to fill Ms. Tremt in on the whole Tim Raveltere craziness, and Ms. Tremt
doesn’t seem surprised at all.

  “He’s a nuisance,” Ms. Tremt says. “And I’m glad he’ll be out of the time-travel picture for a while. You are a master scheme-maker, Maria.”

  “You should see her wrestling moves!” I laugh.

  “Oh, I did,” Ms. Tremt says.

  Maria and I look at Ms. Tremt, confused.

  “I mean, I’m sure,” Ms. Tremt says quickly. “How would I have seen them?”

  Ms. Tremt offers to stay late in the library so we can work more on our Be the Change project, but we’re both exhausted.

  “I think I need to go home to a long shower,” I say. “I’m not used to plowing the fields and stuff.”

  “Same here,” Maria says. “But we’ll be back at the library tomorrow.”

  • • •

  I feel like collapsing the second I get home, but I will remind you that I was doing hard labor all day, so that long bath, it’s definitely needed.

  “Phewie,” Mom says, waving the air around me. “That must have been some tough workout.”

  “MOM!” I complain.

  “If your mother can’t tell you that you stink, who can?” Mom laughs.

  “True.” I laugh too. “I’m so smelly, the judge said, “Odor in the court.”

  “Good one,” Mom says. “Don’t forget to write it down.”

  After I’m all cleaned up, I plop down on my bed. I should just fall asleep, but I see Akemi’s journals calling to me. I pick them up and start to reread them. It all seems a lot different now that I actually know her.

  Wait a minute That’s when it hits me—I’m here, and Akemi’s journals are here too! That must mean that she decided to stay in Hawaii. Which is a huge relief!

  Mom taps on my door.

  “I know you must be tired, but I just wanted to check to see if you wanted to go over your stand-up routine before you go to sleep,” she says. “Seeing as the contest is this Saturday night.”

  “Saturday!” I say. “Right! I must have lost track of time or something.

  I’m really excited for the contest, but I can’t help thinking about how much fun it would have been to join the family celebration with Tua and Leilani.

  “Do you have something else to do?” Mom asks me.

  “Kind of, but it’s not going to happen anyway,” I tell her.

  “That’s good,” Mom says. “Because I’m not going to let you miss this contest. I know you’re going to win!”

  “That’s what your mom is supposed to say.” I laugh. “I’m sure all the other comedians’ moms are saying the same thing.”

  “True,” Mom says. “But their moms aren’t your mom. Remember, you have the funniest mom around.”

  Mom contorts her eyes and mouth into a silly monster face. It always cracks me up.

  “You’re right,” I say. “There’s no one like you.”

  I take out my notes and run through some “Did you ever wonder?” lines with Mom. She helps me reword some of them and cross out a few that aren’t working.

  The thing is, the only “Did you ever wonder?” I want to think about right now is “Did you ever wonder what it’s like to live in Hawaii?”

  I tell my mom that.

  “Are you missing Baba?” she asks.

  “I am,” I say.

  “Me too,” Mom admits.

  “Can you tell me some of your stories about growing up in Hawaii?” I ask.

  “It’s been a long time since you asked for a bedtime story, Kai-chan,” Mom says.

  “I know,” I say. “But I’m really in the mood for Hee-Haw the Donkey Man.”

  “Oh, that’s a good one.” Mom laughs. “So when I was little, there was a neighbor whose laugh sounded like a donkey braying. All the kids called him Hee-Haw. One day, your uncle Kenji and I were playing baseball outside when . . .”

  That night I dreamed I went back to Hawaii. I was riding on a surfboard, but it wasn’t really a surfboard. It was more like a hoverboard/magic carpet. It floated over the waves and then rose up into the air. Whales and dolphins and rays jumped out of the water to greet me. They followed me like I was the leader of an ocean parade, and as we circled the island, the crowd of creatures grew and grew.

  Once I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, I couldn’t wait to see Maria, so as soon as I got to school, I ran to her locker.

  “I’ve got it!” I tell her, pounding on her locker for emphasis.

  “You’ve got what?” Maria asks. “The plague?”

  “Hey, I’m the comedian,” I remind her. “And no, not the plague. Our project. I know what our project should be. Or at least, I have the idea of a project.”

  “What is it?” Maria asks.

  “I’ll tell you in the library,” I say. “Come on.”

  I take her hand and pull her to the library. I can see some kids’ eyebrows raise. Gossip flies fast around the halls of Sands Middle School, but we have much more important things to worry about.

  We get to the library and it’s open, but Ms. Tremt is nowhere to be seen. We do hear some crashing sounds coming from the secret room.

  “Ms. Tremt?” I call.

  “I hope Tim hasn’t found his glove!” Maria gasps.

  We head to the room to investigate. Ms. Tremt is crawling around on the floor.

  “Hey, Ms. Tremt! Is this a new form of librarian exercise?” I ask, laughing.

  Ms. Tremt jumps. Well, as much as you can jump when you’re on the floor on all fours.

  “Kai! You startled me,” Ms. Tremt says.

  “I noticed,” I reply. “What’s going on?”

  “That is going on!” Ms. Tremt says.

  She points to the floor, where there is a small spotted bird frozen against the floor tile.

  “Oh no!” Maria gasps. “Did it come back with us?”

  “Apparently,” Ms. Tremt replies.

  Ms. Tremt crawls slowly toward it, and just as she’s about to get her hands on it, it scurries away. Maria and I try to make a barrier for her, but every time Ms. Tremt gets close, it’s a game of Catch that Pigeon. Except not a pigeon, exactly.

  Maria and I get on our hands and knees and start crawling around too. The bird is a lot quicker than it looks and keeps rushing between all of our hands and feet. I finally think I’m close enough to get it when it races past us and into the library.

  We should have trapped the bird in the small space, because now the task seems nearly impossible. Crawl, snatch, hop. Tiptoe, grab, run. We’re rushing all around the room, grasping at the air, and I hope no one opens the door, because if it gets out of here, we’re doomed! We can’t have a bird from 1900 Hawaii flying around Sands Middle School. It will bring up too many unexplainable questions.

  It turns out, we’re doomed anyway, because just when Maria is about to get her fingers around the bird, it squeezes into an air vent.

  “Maybe it will just find its way outside?” Maria asks hopefully.

  “That would be a problem,” Ms. Tremt says. “Considering it shouldn’t be here at all.”

  “Why not?” I wonder.

  “This elusive bird, this Hawaiian rail, could be a danger to the whole time continuum,” Ms. Tremt informs us. “We have to get it back to 1900. You see, this bird is an extinct species. From Hawaii. If it anyone sees it here, in this place, at this time, the results could be disastrous.”

  That is the best news I’ve heard all morning!

  “Sounds like a job for Team Time Travel Hawaii,” I say. “We could bring it back for you!”

  “We?” Maria snickers.

  “Well, I . . . I . . . uh . . . figured you’d want to . . . ,” I stammer.

  “You figured, huh?” Maria laughs. “It doesn’t matter, because we’re not going anywhere if we don’t get that bird.”

  “Let me worry about that,” Ms. Tremt says. “Just plan to be ready when I need you.”

  “Of course!” I say.

  “As long as it’s not Saturday,” Maria adds.

  “Why not?” I wonde
r. “If it’s Saturday, we can check in on Akemi and make sure that she goes to Leilani and Tua’s family celebration.”

  “And you’ll miss your comedy contest,” Maria says pointedly.

  “Oh yeah, that thing,” I say, trying to downplay it. “Well, it’s not really that big of a deal. I can enter another contest anytime.”

  “Not that big of a deal?” Maria gasps. “Who are you kidding?”

  Ms. Tremt starts tapping her desk to interrupt us.

  “May I remind you two that I am a master of time travel?” she says. “I don’t know when I’ll be able to retrieve that bird, but even if it’s not until Saturday, there is no reason Kai can’t go to Hawaii and make the contest.” She holds up The Book of Memories. “And anyway, why are you worrying about time when this book can bring you to whatever time you want?”

  Maria and I both look at each other and laugh and feel a little foolish.

  “She’s right,” I say. “Why are we worrying about time? We have a time machine, duh!”

  Suddenly, Maria looks like a lightbulb has gone off over her head. She tells us she’ll be right back and rushes out of the library.

  Alone with Ms. Tremt, I grab my knapsack and pull out a book. It’s called Our Ocean, Our World. Have you heard about it? It’s a family favorite. My grandmother wrote it, and it’s all about her experiences as a marine biologist and what she learned about the ways human activity affected the ocean and the creatures in it.

  “So you finally read the book I’ve been hoping you’d read.” Ms. Tremt smiles.

  “I’m not finished yet,” I tell her. “But it’s really good. I can’t wait to go to Hawaii and talk to Baba about it.” I add, “Present-day Hawaii.”

  “Of course,” Ms. Tremt says. “And I share your admiration for this tome. I’ve read it six times!”

  Maria races back into the library, holding a small wire cage in her hands.

  “I had to bargain with Ms. Guarino, our science teacher,” she tells Ms. Tremt. “She didn’t want to give up the cage, so I told her you’d lend her a stack of bio-related books for her class. Just in case you do wrangle up the bird, you’re going to need a place to put it.”

  “I would have given her those books anyway,” Ms. Tremt says. “That’s what libraries are for!”

  “I know,” Maria says. “But it helped seal the deal.”