MEMORY BOX - HIKING IN HAWAII

“Skeeter and I are planning an extra long hike today,” our son announced at Saturday’s breakfast table. “That’s why I was late doing my homework and getting to bed last night,” he added. My husband always kept the volume low on our newly acquired television when our son was in his room doing his Grade 8 homework. All the room dividers had the top two feet open for movement of air that seemed to keep our home cool with the Hawaiian breezes.

Skeeter was a pleasant teenager who lived with his mother in an apartment a few doors down from ours. The boys shared the same Grade 8 classroom in school. His father was with the military and stationed elsewhere. The boys, with cap and lunch in hand set off early as planned. Skeeter was familiar with all the water channels in the city. This one he heard was a long one and so the return time was uncertain. The steps at the entrance of this particular draw curved around to lead to a main draw with high cement walls that gradually increased in width and height. It was easy to enjoy the blue Hawaiian skies that featured tropical trees laden with citrus, bananas and all manner of delectable foods. Palm trees waved to us as their fronds conveyed a welcome. One of the boys noted the tops of the trees looked shorter. The steep high cement walls began to feel foreboding. Then a powerful surge of water suddenly rushed at them from the rear. Skeeter was smaller and agile and able to claw himself up to dry land. Using a ladder, a nearby man was trimming his fruit tree. “My buddy is drowning,” he shouted over and over again. The Oriental man dropped his pruning shears and hurried over with the ladder and saved the day. Wet bedraggled boys hurried home for a warm shower. “I’ll check with Skeeter’s Mom tonight,” I said. The rest of this story will appear on tomorrow’s blog.