Kilo

Kilo. Stargazer, reader of omens, seer, astrologer; kind of looking glass; to watch closely, spy, examine.

Time passes differently when a child is in charge. Lei'ohu was an early bird, perhaps the five minute head start gave her that edge on wanting to be part of the new day? Twins who shared the warm and salty womb left at separate intervals. This tiny girl, the first born, with hair equally ehu (red) as her sister's was blessed with precision; this girl was a born kilo practitioner.

Jacob as Mo'o watched from the muddy waters of the Muliwai, his eyes becoming clearer in this milieu. The lizard man kept a distance far enough to see that rather than run from one thing to another, the ehu haired girl stretched her small body across the old wharf and watched.

"Honey Man," she would said "the water is thirsty."

"How do you know that Lei'ohu?" The Old Man was curious, no skepticism present.

"Look ..." Lei'ohu touched the top of the seemingly still waters. "See how the lips of water are sipping." She imitated what she saw turning herself into a fish-girl. "The water is gulping water and air together. Must be the Muliwai likes this air."

Jacob inhaled the explanation and took the words deeply into himself, dove deeply to find the stinking mud, deposited Lei'ohu's words. "ahhh ..." the Mo'o exhaled, his breath bubbles that rose to the surface of the Muliwai.

This time it was the Old Man's eyes that spotted evidence of place and being. "'Ohu look out there. Bubbles."

The girl squinted. "Where Tutu?" She needed a different angle, The Old Man gathered her under her armpits and lifted her onto his shoulders. Glad he was still able. In time, 'Ohu watched the surface of the estuary churning. "Wow. Tutu do you know whose doing that?"

"I believe we are seeing Mo'o at his morning business."

The Old Man could not see his mo'opuna's eyes, but if he did he would have seen eyes the size of pancakes. And, weren't pancakes the very wish these two had made much earlier on this very morning? Rumbling began as the two stood on the old wooden dock. "Tutu," Lei'ohu's imagination was adding sound effects to the kilo she had observed as bubbles churning in muddy water. "What is that sound?"

"My stomach baby girl. It's your Tutu Man's stomach telling him it's time for pancakes!" That gave them both a good chuckle. Slowly and carefully, The Old Man used his legs to leverage Lei'ohu down and off his shoulders. The familiar sound of a Toyota engine meant the rest of their crew was finally awake and here. The Rescue Party.

Sophie pulled the truck into the slightly rutted lot, backing in to make it easier to load the bike. She had done this before, and goddesses willing she would keep doing it. Pointing in this direction Sophie spotted her husband and mo'opuna waving from the wooden wharf. A third person in a dark tee shirt and muddy feet crossed the road heading in her direction. She recognized the Gatekeeper, Jacob, and waved to all three of them.


And next.