Far away, never forgotten
Tears dripped down my face as I thought, “why my family?” That feeling you get when you think god is doing this on purpose but really has a reason. My cousins lost everything and were now living with us until we lost the little one over a custody battle. It was our duty to keep him safe and protect him but we let him slip through our hands. As I saw the tears in Tausi’s eyes and tears dripping from my father’s face I had already knew we lost.
After the depressing month of my aunt's death my cousin Talanoa, my little brother Tama, my little cousin Laiti and I were on our way to program, leaving our apartment. We lived in a small community called The bricks, in a two bedroom town house. On our way to the program, we saw Mr. Davis, our grouchy neighbor. He was the neighborhood grouch and always had a terrible attitude.
“Good morning Mr. Davis,” Laiti said with excitement.
Knowing Mr. Davis was a grouch Laiti always said hi knowing he wouldn't say it back. He would even compliment him knowing Mr. Davis wore the same black t-shirt with his black jacket, ripped jeans, and holey shoes every day.
“Looking good today sir,” Laiti continued.
As we continued to walk we soon arrived at the program. Laiti and I sat at the table and ate our breakfast.
“You want your milk," I said.
“No you can have it Ota," Laiti replied.
As we finished our breakfast we began to line up and walk to the park.
We arrived at the park and had to go to the categories where we were assigned. Talanoa, Laiti and I were the fastest runners and were put in the same division. It was the summer of the Olympics and this year my cousins and I would be taking home the metal for our program. As I waited to be called to my group I noticed as two strange people, a man and a woman, walk up to the program director. He looked really familiar as I saw Laiti get called over there I knew it was my aunt’s boyfriend, Laiti's dad. He was tall, and wore a black hat with a feather, was hunched back, and tatted all over his arms. He smelled of alcohol and wore glasses. I had never seen the lady before, but Tausi might have because he had a worried look on his face. Tausi was my older cousin. He was tall, muscular but not that ripped and he worked at my program along with my oldest brother Fe'feu.
“Talanoa, Tama, Tausi, Fe'feu, Ota come here”, the program director shouted.
Talanoa grabbed my hand and we walked over to them, as I turned my head I could see Tausi's eyes fill with water.
“Yes," I muttered as Laiti turned around. I could tell something was wrong because of the look on Laiti face. That look you get when you don’t want to do something, but does you do anyways because you don’t want to hurt anyone else.
“Hey Laiti is coming to Seattle with me and my sister," the strange man confessed.
"No, were family and we stick together no matter what!" Tausi said viciously.
For a moment i stood there and thought about what he said. That we were like one and taking Laiti away from Tausi was like taking fish out of water. The man said nothing. Tausi stormed out, but as Laiti went and grab his hand he had already broken down into tears. He grabbed Laiti and held him for a good minute until we all ran and hugged him too. We all broke into tears, even Fe'feu and he never cried. We walked home together as the strange man and lady followed behind us. We arrived at home and packed his things and put them in the car. Before he left my dad made him sign a contract to say he would go for the summer and come back for the school year.
“Here Laiti it’s the bracelet you wanted. Thought you might want it cause you’re leaving and all," I cried.
“Cousin I’m only going for the summer," he said while hugging me.
I guess he was right but then again he had never been away from us, we did everything together.
Everyone hugged him as he got into the car and tears began to shed as we saw he drive away. It was like he was on his way to heaven. A month past and my heart felt empty as if my glass wasn't full, my puzzle wasn't finished. He being gone made me regret the things I've said and done to him. He being gone was like taking fish out of water.
Ring. Ring. The phone sounded as my dad answered it.
“Hello," my dad answered
My dad and whoever was on the phone must have had a serious conversation because my dad was silent and had a blank face.
“Everybody come into the living room!" my dad shouted.
“What is it uncle?" Tausi questioned.
“Laiti dad died.”
The room became silent, so silent you could hear a pen drop. He wasn't really an uncle to me so I didn't shed any tears, Plus Laiti's dad was a drunk and certainly no role model to me.
“He died because his kidney couldn't take any more of his drinking," my dad continued.
“So... Where is Laiti?” Fe'feu said seriously.
“I don’t know," my dad answered.
When those words came out my dad’s mouth Talanoa's face lit up like a Christmas tree. As we sat on the couch where our butts sunk in, my dad got up and packed his bags.
“Where are you going?” said Trace anxiously.
“To Seattle I’m going to get him."
While my dad packed his bags and put them into the car my uncle got in on the other side. As my dad drove away, Tausi walked away. He always had a thing for storming off. I think he does it to clear his mind as for me I punch things and scream into a pillow. I walked into the house and up to my room. I sat there for a minute then got to my knees to pray. My grandma always said god was there to listen, so I talked.
“Please bring him home," I begged.
I wanted to cry but was all out of tears. A week went by without a call from my dad. We all were worried, but not as much as Tausi. Tausi was way over protective of Laiti and for some reason knew this would happen. It was dinner time ,but my conscience was telling me to leave him alone. So I did.
My dad was coming home tomorrow and he was bringing Laiti with him. I was on my way down stairs when I changed my mind about eating and instead decided to go to bed. I could smell the delicious aroma chicken and mixed vegetables as I lay down, but I wasn't in the mood to eat. I could hear the pounding on the door when I realized it must be my dad. We all rushed down stairs when as mom opened the door.
“Where is Laiti ?" Tama said.
My dad tried to explain but Talanoa ran outside to the car to find no one. My dad told us to sit down as he explained.
“Where is he?” worried Fe'feu as Tama sat down.
“Sit down kids," my dad announced.
“I…. I tried," my dad cried.
“What do you mean?" Tausi whinnied.
“They won, I tried to take him, but Laiti aunt lied about me in court and said I didn't care for Laiti , my dad said with a quiet voice.
Talanoa busted out crying as so did I.
“She can’t do this she hasn't been in his life since he was born!"Tama shouted with anger, and a hint of fear.
“I couldn't do anything they would accept the paper he signed," my dad protested.
We sat in dead silence untiland my mom told us to go back to bed. Tausi stayed stared at the wall with his hand balled up in to a fist, Fe'feu stayed staring at the floor as did my dad. Tama had already gone up and Talanoa and I were on our way up. I know he is thinking about us and we will see him again one day. Family is family and I didn't realized how much I missed him till he was actually gone. I walked up the stairs, went to my bed, and cried myself to sleep.
After the depressing month of my aunt's death my cousin Talanoa, my little brother Tama, my little cousin Laiti and I were on our way to program, leaving our apartment. We lived in a small community called The bricks, in a two bedroom town house. On our way to the program, we saw Mr. Davis, our grouchy neighbor. He was the neighborhood grouch and always had a terrible attitude.
“Good morning Mr. Davis,” Laiti said with excitement.
Knowing Mr. Davis was a grouch Laiti always said hi knowing he wouldn't say it back. He would even compliment him knowing Mr. Davis wore the same black t-shirt with his black jacket, ripped jeans, and holey shoes every day.
“Looking good today sir,” Laiti continued.
As we continued to walk we soon arrived at the program. Laiti and I sat at the table and ate our breakfast.
“You want your milk," I said.
“No you can have it Ota," Laiti replied.
As we finished our breakfast we began to line up and walk to the park.
We arrived at the park and had to go to the categories where we were assigned. Talanoa, Laiti and I were the fastest runners and were put in the same division. It was the summer of the Olympics and this year my cousins and I would be taking home the metal for our program. As I waited to be called to my group I noticed as two strange people, a man and a woman, walk up to the program director. He looked really familiar as I saw Laiti get called over there I knew it was my aunt’s boyfriend, Laiti's dad. He was tall, and wore a black hat with a feather, was hunched back, and tatted all over his arms. He smelled of alcohol and wore glasses. I had never seen the lady before, but Tausi might have because he had a worried look on his face. Tausi was my older cousin. He was tall, muscular but not that ripped and he worked at my program along with my oldest brother Fe'feu.
“Talanoa, Tama, Tausi, Fe'feu, Ota come here”, the program director shouted.
Talanoa grabbed my hand and we walked over to them, as I turned my head I could see Tausi's eyes fill with water.
“Yes," I muttered as Laiti turned around. I could tell something was wrong because of the look on Laiti face. That look you get when you don’t want to do something, but does you do anyways because you don’t want to hurt anyone else.
“Hey Laiti is coming to Seattle with me and my sister," the strange man confessed.
"No, were family and we stick together no matter what!" Tausi said viciously.
For a moment i stood there and thought about what he said. That we were like one and taking Laiti away from Tausi was like taking fish out of water. The man said nothing. Tausi stormed out, but as Laiti went and grab his hand he had already broken down into tears. He grabbed Laiti and held him for a good minute until we all ran and hugged him too. We all broke into tears, even Fe'feu and he never cried. We walked home together as the strange man and lady followed behind us. We arrived at home and packed his things and put them in the car. Before he left my dad made him sign a contract to say he would go for the summer and come back for the school year.
“Here Laiti it’s the bracelet you wanted. Thought you might want it cause you’re leaving and all," I cried.
“Cousin I’m only going for the summer," he said while hugging me.
I guess he was right but then again he had never been away from us, we did everything together.
Everyone hugged him as he got into the car and tears began to shed as we saw he drive away. It was like he was on his way to heaven. A month past and my heart felt empty as if my glass wasn't full, my puzzle wasn't finished. He being gone made me regret the things I've said and done to him. He being gone was like taking fish out of water.
Ring. Ring. The phone sounded as my dad answered it.
“Hello," my dad answered
My dad and whoever was on the phone must have had a serious conversation because my dad was silent and had a blank face.
“Everybody come into the living room!" my dad shouted.
“What is it uncle?" Tausi questioned.
“Laiti dad died.”
The room became silent, so silent you could hear a pen drop. He wasn't really an uncle to me so I didn't shed any tears, Plus Laiti's dad was a drunk and certainly no role model to me.
“He died because his kidney couldn't take any more of his drinking," my dad continued.
“So... Where is Laiti?” Fe'feu said seriously.
“I don’t know," my dad answered.
When those words came out my dad’s mouth Talanoa's face lit up like a Christmas tree. As we sat on the couch where our butts sunk in, my dad got up and packed his bags.
“Where are you going?” said Trace anxiously.
“To Seattle I’m going to get him."
While my dad packed his bags and put them into the car my uncle got in on the other side. As my dad drove away, Tausi walked away. He always had a thing for storming off. I think he does it to clear his mind as for me I punch things and scream into a pillow. I walked into the house and up to my room. I sat there for a minute then got to my knees to pray. My grandma always said god was there to listen, so I talked.
“Please bring him home," I begged.
I wanted to cry but was all out of tears. A week went by without a call from my dad. We all were worried, but not as much as Tausi. Tausi was way over protective of Laiti and for some reason knew this would happen. It was dinner time ,but my conscience was telling me to leave him alone. So I did.
My dad was coming home tomorrow and he was bringing Laiti with him. I was on my way down stairs when I changed my mind about eating and instead decided to go to bed. I could smell the delicious aroma chicken and mixed vegetables as I lay down, but I wasn't in the mood to eat. I could hear the pounding on the door when I realized it must be my dad. We all rushed down stairs when as mom opened the door.
“Where is Laiti ?" Tama said.
My dad tried to explain but Talanoa ran outside to the car to find no one. My dad told us to sit down as he explained.
“Where is he?” worried Fe'feu as Tama sat down.
“Sit down kids," my dad announced.
“I…. I tried," my dad cried.
“What do you mean?" Tausi whinnied.
“They won, I tried to take him, but Laiti aunt lied about me in court and said I didn't care for Laiti , my dad said with a quiet voice.
Talanoa busted out crying as so did I.
“She can’t do this she hasn't been in his life since he was born!"Tama shouted with anger, and a hint of fear.
“I couldn't do anything they would accept the paper he signed," my dad protested.
We sat in dead silence untiland my mom told us to go back to bed. Tausi stayed stared at the wall with his hand balled up in to a fist, Fe'feu stayed staring at the floor as did my dad. Tama had already gone up and Talanoa and I were on our way up. I know he is thinking about us and we will see him again one day. Family is family and I didn't realized how much I missed him till he was actually gone. I walked up the stairs, went to my bed, and cried myself to sleep.