Strong Like the Sea, стр. 30
She tosses a rock off the cliff onto the grass below and stares after it as she twines her fingers through one of her dark curls.
“Isn’t that what you want? That’s the goal, right?”
“Yeah, but, it’s everything I do. I run as hard as I can—but it’s a race that never ends. Every day, always the same thing. And then there’s your mom, who spends weeks just to set up something special . . . something out of the ordinary that’s only for you. You really gonna throw that away?”
“I’d finish a hundred challenges if it would get her home safe,” I mumble.
She stands and holds out her hand. “I know, but you don’t have to solve a hundred challenges. Just this one.”
“Fine.” I take her hand, and we wind through Castle Tree and down to the lawn.
“Hurry up.” Malia tugs my hand. “You’re gonna be late for your appointment with Tanakas and I’m gonna be late for hula practice.”
I gasp. “Oh my gosh! I totally forgot about Uncle.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Uncle will wait for you if you’re late. So you better run. I’m running too—except the other way.”
“Okay.” I turn to go, but stop to give her a hug. “Thanks for finding me.”
She bear hugs me back and lifts me off my feet. “Always. Now go! Uncle might leave early just to get rid of you.”
“See you!” With my hair flying free as I sprint across Laie, I make sure to wave at the aunties on the way past so they know all is well. I still worry, and I’m definitely not perfect, but at least I know I’m not alone.
Malia wasn’t kidding when she said that Uncle waits for no one. By the time I fly through the Tanakas’ gate and into the backyard, Uncle is already pulling a double-seater kayak out of the yard and down to the beach, the keel leaving a deep groove in the sand.
Auntie stands with a canvas bag over her shoulder as she watches Uncle from the edge of the lawn, her hands on her hips. Her yellow skirt ripples in the wind, though her hair is twisted up tight with a carved white bone pick.
Hip-deep in the surf, Sarge wags his tail, his whole attention focused on something dark brown bobbing up and down with the waves. With the next roll, its head clears the water and disappears with a splash, shooting away into the deep. Apparently, Uncle’s turtle, Saisei, isn’t thrilled to see me.
“Wait! I’m coming!” I leap over the sitting log by Uncle’s bigger boat, a fresh coat of paint on the “Sarge’s Barge” letters. We’re taking a kayak? Seriously? Why not just wrap us in seaweed and ring a dinner bell?
“See now, Matthew!” Auntie chides. “I told you Alex would come. But do you listen?”
“Huff, huff!” Sarge heads right for me, his enormous paws splashing water everywhere as he bounds out of the surf with long slobbers whipping back and forth like shoestrings dangling from his drooping jowls.
I run faster, trying to avoid the drool monster, but he swerves and skids to a stop sideways in front of me before shaking his whole body like a washer on spin cycle.
“Hey!” I curl away from the wet whirlwind as water, sand, and things I’d rather not think of splatter me. Wiping my glasses on my shirt, I try to slip by behind him, but he backs up, tail wagging as he blocks my way.
More woolly mammoth than Newfoundland dog, his bright, intelligent eyes follow my every move. He pants with a big doggy grin, his tongue lolling to the side.
At the shoreline ahead, Uncle reaches the water and pushes the kayak in.
Waves lift the small craft up and drop it against the sand again, the boat teetering side to side as Uncle soldiers on, pushing the kayak into the ocean’s embrace.
On the beach between us, waves break and stretch into thin sheets of water that fill the hollows of Uncle’s footprints.
He’s not waiting for me.
“Wait! Uncle, I’m here. I’m coming!”
Another minute and I’ll miss my chance to go with him. I take a fake step to the right then dodge left to get around Sarge, but he dashes in front of me before I can reach Auntie. “Aw, come on, Sarge!”
Auntie tsks at the canine troublemaker. “What? You think she gon’ steal your braddah? Let her go.”
Sarge licks his lips and whines, his paws shifting nervously.
“Don’t you give me that look. No arguing. Sit.”
Whump! A hundred and fifty pounds of gigantor dog sits right on my foot, pinning it to the ground. He leans against me, soaking whatever dry spots I had left. Solid as a black and white furry mountain dropped on my toes, he cements me to the grass with his butt.
“Oof!” My arms flail as I try not to fall over.
“Move, you big lump.” Auntie wags a finger at Sarge. “So jealous of a tiny girl? Shame. Shame on you!”
With a heave, I yank my leg out from under Sarge, who falls over onto the grass with a dramatic grumbly-groan.
Under Auntie’s stern gaze, the grumpy horse-sized puppy lies still while I tiptoe around and look up to meet the gaze of an even grumpier Uncle Tanaka standing almost waist-deep in the waves.
“Um, sorry I’m late.”
“Bah.” Uncle holds the kayak steady with the bowline, his glower dark as thunderclouds.
“Your father left a bag for you.” Auntie slips the canvas bag off her shoulder and passes it to me. Inside are all the things I should have thought to bring: towel, canteen, granola bars, lip balm, sunscreen, a waterproof case for my phone—and my fishing hat.
Auntie leans in close. “If you’re going to make a