Pray and prey

The batter was thick by the time The Old Man, Sophie Lei and the two red-heads climbed from the baby blue Toyota truck. More buttermilk was stirred into the plump oat-rich mixture to loosen things up. Jacob, it turned out had places to be this morning, but assured Lei'ohu and Kikepa "I love pancakes, and promise to share some with you." He paused in his commitment and added with a sly and devilish grin," before you are old women."

These girls had been pleased with a first visit. They recognized their personal god, Mo'o. Jacob watched them, the two girls with ehu-hair. He wondered whether time would turn their hair from red to golden, and if in that time, Haumea would give these girls the sight for yellow? It takes time to grow into the name that would fit them as women.

By the clock it was noon when the small family sat to eat stacks of buttermilk oatmeal pancakes topped with the apple-pear sauce Sophie had cooked and frozen from last fall. There were birthday candles stuck into the platter of warm pancakes, a blessing for the births and a jolly time of funny songs were sung.

"Tutu," it was Kikepa. "Where is the bird who was following us?"

"Good question. I'm surprised she's not looking at us through the window." Sophie had nearly forgotten about the Anna. Reminded of the tiny guardian spirit, Sophie finished the bite of pancake dripping with maple syrup and walked to the window beside the humming red refrigerator. Pressing her forehead to the glass she looked up at the clear glass tube of the hummingbird feeder. Sophie's eyes scanned the airspace beyond the feeder. Nothing. From the corner of her eye, she spied the black coat of her neighbor's cat. The small sleek cat sat on the arm of one of the old wooden deck chairs cleaning her paws, and smacked her lips. "No way," she said instinctively. "Hummingbirds are quicker than cats, aren't they?"

"Not always," The Old Man heard the catch in Sophie Lei's voice. "Are the Anna's back?"

"They never left." Sophie's voice was now an octave lower. Tears leaked steadily from both her old eyes. "But now, there is one less."

And now?