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| "Laura's Dream" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1986. |
| CHAPTER 20 |
| Laura's plane touched down with a bump and rumble of tyres, while the jet engines whistled louder. Laura watched the runway and buildings speed past her window. After what seemed like ages, the jumbo was turning towards the passenger gates. |
| Laura and Gran stepped out of the exit and onto Hawaii. With only hand luggage, the customs search cleared them quickly. Papers, cosmetics, spare dress and underwear, camera and a novel was all Laura had in her bag. She and Gran carried their jackets, because the airport was not air conditioned and the weather was warm. A short walk took them out to the bus and taxi area, which was still uncrowded. Most arriving passengers were struggling with luggage, so Gran had no trouble hailing a cab. |
| Laura was amazed by the complexity of the traffic system in the airport, with roads above roads, and traffic lights under cover. She found it disconcerting at first, to see everyone driving on the right side of the road, but by the time they reached their hotel, everything seemed normal. It was not all that different to driving around parts of Sydney. |
| While Gran paid the driver, a doorman in white trousers and floral shirt came to help. "Any bags, miss?" "Uh, no. Just this." She indicated the hand luggage. "Allow me." He took Laura's and Gran's flight bags, and led the way to reception. Gran registered them, saying that they would need an extra key later. They rode an elevator to the eight floor, found suite eight twenty three, and were able to relax. "Oh, wow." Laura lay back on one of the beds. "Thank goodness we're here." Gran suggested Laura would feel better after a shower. Laura stepped into the bathroom, took one look at the single faucet and called "Oh, Gran!" "What's the matter?" "How do you work this tap? And what's this lever for?" Gran showed Laura how the controls produced a comfortable stream, then went back to the living room. Laura soon rejoined her, dressed in the crush-proof frock from her bag. |
| "What are you doing, Gran?" Laura asked when she saw the woman writing. "Grab some paper, my girl, and start a shopping list. There's only ten hours of shopping left today!" Gran declared. "Things like dresses for day and evening wear, lingerie, shoes. The lot." They had arrived in Hawaii with only a single change of clothing, on Gran's advice. Whatever was needed would be bought. Laura started jotting on the hotel stationery: swimsuit, stockings, hat. Laura made a long list, then put a cross next to the things she needed right away. Once both ladies were ready, Laura picked up the phone, dialed the doorman and ordered a taxi. |
| "It should be here in a five minutes, Gran... Gosh! We're actually here! It's actually starting to sink in, and I'm getting nervous. Isn't that silly?" "Silly? To be excited? Never! Let's do some heavy duty shopping." Half an hour later, their taxi dropped them off at an entrance to the gigantic Ala Moana shopping centre. In their light summer dresses, Laura and Gran blended into the crowds. Gran led the way, having been there many times before. "Your feet support the rest of your body, Laura, so we take care of them first. The best shops for shoes are on the next level." |
| They did not take ten hours to shop, as their arms were full after four hours. Laura had insisted on taking most of an hour to go through everything in the Disney store, where all her favourite characters were waiting for her to buy them. Apart from clothes, Laura bought souvenirs for her family, and postcards for her friends. Another taxi returned them to their hotel. "How about a swim off Wakiki Beach?" Gran suggested. "Or would you prefer the hotel's pool?" Laura's new swimsuit was a backless one-piece in lime green, and more eye catching than the too-small bikini she had left at home. For the walk to the beach, she teamed the swimsuit with a cheesecloth skirt and a white, wide brimmed hat. Dressed as she was, Laura drew many admiring stares on the short walk to Wakaki Beach. |
| She and Gran were stopped by the sight of a street photographer who had two large, colourful parrots. "Oh, Gran! Let's have our photos taken with them." Several photos were taken, including one of Laura posed on a bench, a bird on her arm, and the beach in the background. The photographer gave Gran a card, with an assurance that his office would have the pictures ready in three days, with a set each of prints and postcards. |
| Wakiki Beach was white sand, just beyond the roads and footpaths. Vendors sold grass mats, food, sun cream and hats to a multitude of people, most of whom were Japanese tourists. |
| Laura felt at home on Waikiki Beach, despite the enormous buildings behind her. The look and feel of the beach was a lot like Terrigal Beach at home, right down to the multicoloured bodies lying around on towels and beach mats. |
| After their swim, Laura and Gran went sightseeing. They stopped at one of dozens of cafes, and ordered coffee for Gran and a chocolate milkshake for Laura. Laura could not understand the change, until Gran explained that the small dime was ten cents, while the five cent nickel was larger, and the quarter dollar was larger again. |
| The two of them strolled around the block and found the beautiful St. Stephens church. Inside, the magnificent stained glass walls entranced Laura. Her peaceful thoughts in the cool, varicoloured church, were interrupted by Gran tapping Laura's shoulder. "Time to go, Laura. I'll need a ten minute nap before I start making my calls." |
| Laura nodded, though she checked the notice board for service times, as she was determined to attend one of them on Sunday. |
| Inside the hotel, Gran sent Laura to get the extra key from reception, while she went ahead. "Is it okay if I stop at the pool first, Gran. I'll give you half an hour and won't interrupt your nap." "Of course. Consider yourself a free agent." |
| Laura got out of the elevator at the pool level, and went to the bar first. She discovered that in America, lemonade is a drink made of lemon juice, sugar and water; after a confusing few seconds, she and the barman came to the conclusion that she wanted a lemon soda. |
| "Try the 7-Up." He suggested. "We get that at home, too. Sorry about the mix-up." She smiled, and carried her drink out into the sunshine, where she sat on one of the sun lounges and watched people swimming. |
| Several old people and two Japanese girls occupied the pool. One of the girls sitting on the edge of the pool beckoned for Laura to join her. |
| "You not American girl?" The smiling teenager asked. "I see you have trouble order drink." "I'm Australian. My name's Laura, and I'm pleased to meet you." They shook hands. "Hello. My name Toriko, and this sister, Kazamuki. We went Sydney for Olympics. Saw koala and frilly dragon who runs like fat man." Laura assumed Toriko meant she saw a frill-necked lizard, or bearded dragon. "You must travel a lot. Are you with your parents?" "In Sydney, yes. This time, no. We come to Hawaii with friends from university." "What are you studying?" "I study Industrial Physics. Ka'muki studying Astronomy." "Is it hard at your university?" "Very hard. Three friends commit suicide because could not pass tests. We must work very hard." Toriko nodded, and Kazamuki added: "Now is time to relax very hard." Laura was astonished at the matter-of-fact way in which the girls spoke of their friends killing themselves over test results. "It is difficult for me to understand the pressure that is on you. Are all Japanese students treated this way?" "Hai. Most students, yes. What do you do?" "I still go to high school. I'm studying to join the U.S. space programme as an astronaut." "You must be very rich Australian. Very expensive to work in American space programme." The older girl said. "I'll find a way. How long are you staying in Hawaii?" "We go in four days, to Disneyland!" There was no mistaking the eagerness in Kazamuki's voice. "That's great! I want to get there some day. Maybe when I visit the space centres." "We have friend who maybe help you. Kichin Togawa is friend of Major Besser. Major is astronaut." "Really?" Laura was stunned. "I'd love to write to him, or even telephone." They exchanged room numbers and home addresses, then parted after a few more minutes of conversation. Laura left them and went to join her grandmother. |
| Gran was dressed in a bath robe, and sitting at the phone, her black diary open beside her. She was listening and making notes. Gran waved absently at Laura with her pen. Idly, Laura turned on the TV, then went to the bathroom to change into a big T-shirt, and rinse her swimsuit. Back in the bedroom, she took up the remote control and lay on her bed on her stomach. As she flipped from channel to channel, Laura decided that the ads were more interesting than the screaming game shows. Many of the ads featured tours and luaus; one was about helicopter tours on the island of Kauai, which looked interesting. |
| When Gran put the phone down, Laura asked if she could go to a luau. "Well, tonight I've already booked us in to a dinner show at eight. The rest of the week I'm pretty well booked up. There's no reason you can't go on your own, you know. The luau tours are well organised, and take you to and from the hotel" Laura was disappointed, and tried not to show it. Gran had forgotten that Laura's birthday was two days away. "I suppose I could ask a couple of friends if they'd like to go." She explained to Gran about the two Japanese girls. "I could call them... Hey! We haven't called Mum and Dad yet!" "Well, here's the phone." "Um, how do you call Australia from here?" "Open the phone book and read the instructions. Just like anywhere else." |
| "Daddy, hi! It's me, Daddy, Laura!" She told him. "I bought you lots of presents... No, we're fine... Yes, perfect. Waikiki is just like Terrigal Beach... Yeah!.. Is Mummy there?" Laura told Carla about the shopping and the handsome Hawaiian boys, then Joey had a turn. Five minutes later, Laura put the phone down. Her eyes were shining with happiness. Less than twenty four hours had passed since seeing her family, and she already missed them. |
| After several more minutes of silence, Gran suggested Laura call her friends about a luau. Laura smiled and picked up the phone. "Hello, Toriko? This is Laura Shell... Yes, that's right. I wondered if you and your sister had been to a luau yet?" Laura listened as Toriko explained that she and the other Japanese students had booked into a luau for the following night. Toriko was sure there were still some vacancies, if Laura wanted to book through the travel desk. "I'll do that, and call you back. Bye." Laura pressed the switch hooks on the phone, then dialed the travel desk. "Hi. Do you have room for one more on the luau tomorrow night? The one the Japanese students are going on. Great! My name is Laura Shell in suite 823... I'm fifteen this week... No problem. I'll pay in a few minutes." After she hung up, Laura brushed her hair. "Do you think it matters if I popped downstairs for a minute like this?" "Relax, Laura. You're on holidays in a resort area. Haven't you noticed how half the people are dressed?" "I shan't be long." Laura grabbed her wallet and key, then made her way downstairs, where she found the travel desk and paid for her ticket to the luau. She picked up several brochures on tours and attractions that might be worth seeing. |
| As she searched the lobby with more experienced eyes, she saw a sign proclaiming that hotel guests could have all their shopping needs met around the corner from the lobby. Curious, Laura followed the directions to a store that was part of the hotel at street level. It carried everything from clothes to medicines, souvenirs to groceries. Laura did not stay long, because she still felt self conscious about the way she was dressed. She would not have thought twice about it at home, yet Laura was in Hawaii, and the islands held a special magic. |
| Back in her room, Laura saw that a cart of food was between the beds. "I ordered lunch," Gran said. "Just a selection of sandwiches and a carton of milk." "I'm not really hungry, Gran." Laura protested. "Laura, believe me, you'll regret it if you don't eat now. You had a long flight, changing time zones. Now you have to tell your body to start adjusting as soon as possible. Get all your biological clocks ticking right, so you wake up tomorrow morning in tune with this part of the world, otherwise you'll feel miserable, because your head, heart and tummy will be arguing about the time until we get back home." The verbal assault was too much for Laura. She poured a glass of milk and picked up a turkey sandwich. With her first bite, Laura's taste buds cried out for more. Surprisingly, she was hungrier than she thought. With most of the food and all the milk gone, Laura sighed. "I think I'll have a quick nap." "I don't think that's a good idea, either," Gran advised. "And don't look at me like that. I'm not telling you this to annoy you. Laura, trust me. Go for a walk along the water. Force yourself to stay alert until it's really time for bed. The first day is a nuisance, but it makes sure the rest of your time is..." |
| "All right, Gran. No more lectures, please. I surrender." Laura threw her hands in the air, then changed back into her damp swimmers and a beach wrap. "I'll walk up the other way from where we went. It's two thirty now, so let's say I'll be back by five." |
| "Sounds good. If you get the chance, buy a packet of mixed fudge and surprise your taste buds." |
| Laura wandered aimlessly, drawn only by curiosity. Once she saw a group of kids standing around a tape player and dancing the hula. The oldest would have been twelve and wore a grass skirt over a bikini, while the youngest was a boy of four or five in dirty shorts. Laura watched them go through their repertoire twice, declined to join them when the twelve year old invited her, and left a five dollar bill in the woven basket a ten year old boy carried around for donations. |
| Further out from the tourist areas, she came across a wide park. Scattered through the park were gigantic multi-trunked fig trees, so wide a large house could be hidden inside. An individual tree might have dropped enough aerial roots to form an impenetrable base twenty five or thirty metres in diameter. Attached to the park was a small zoo, with monkeys, alligators and flamingos. Deer were everywhere, their tails twitching suspiciously at every movement or sound. |
| Laura bought a packet of dried bread to feed the deer. It expended most of her patience to sit on the grass, legs folded under her, and wait holding a piece of food. |
| The animals were very cautious, first circling her, then coming in from the side to sniff at her, and finally snatch their prize. It took each deer five to ten minutes of wary approach, before it came close enough to Laura's hand, though sometimes, the deer might run away because of someone nearby. |
| Several people, mostly Japanese, videoed or photographed Laura, as she sat for more than an hour. She was fascinated by the dainty creatures. When the food was gone, Laura stretched her cramped muscles, brushed the grass off her swimsuit, and returned the way she came, ignoring one man who stared more than the rest of her audience.
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| The group of young dancers were still performing, though some of the younger ones had been replaced by others, and a sixteen year old girl had joined in. She wore the most exquisite dress Laura had ever seen; it was a simple piece of material, light grey with pale yellow and blue flowers, wrapped and folded around the girl in a complex design, covering her from shoulder to knee on one side, and armpit to hip on the other. Her movements as she danced were those of waves and wind, birds and clouds. |
| Seeing Laura's absorbing interest in the dancer, the twelve year old girl moved to Laura's side. "That's my cousin, Misau. Isn't she beautiful to watch?" |
| "Very beautiful. I love what she's wearing. Is it a special design?" |
| "Would you like to learn how to do that? We are leaving soon, and you can come with us. Misau will show you how it's worn." |
| "Do you live far from here?" |
| "Oh, we're not living here, we live closer to the mountains. We're practicing for the shows we do at night. My uncles have a shop where we leave our things during the day, and it's just a few doors from here." |
| "What's your name? I'm Laura." |
| "Leanii." She pronounced it twice until Laura could say it in the correct, musical way, which was "Lay-Ah-Nee-Ee" |
| Half an hour later, Laura walked into the storeroom that the dancers used. All the girls helped her put on the outfit Misau had worn. It took a while, practicing the folds and tucks, but Laura learned to do it. |
| "It looks much more beautiful on you than on me," Misau declared. "So I would like you to keep it." |
| "I couldn't do that!" Laura protested. "It's yours for your act." |
| "I have other costumes, and Leanii told me you gave them five dollars." |
| "That's because I thought they deserved it." |
| "Laura, I want you to have this gift, because you deserve it." |
| Laura could say nothing, though a moment later she hugged the older girl. "I will remember this. Thank you, Misau." |
| "My goodness!" Gran exclaimed. "A Hawaiian princess! I must avert my eyes or the royal guards will behead me." |
| "Gran! That's silly," Laura giggled. "I met the most beautiful girl this afternoon! She gave this to me as a present." |
| Laura went over all she had done, while Gran listened attentively. |
| "How long have you been here? A day, almost? You've made friends with half the population, by the sounds of it. If only you were a few years older, I'd have you as a partner in a flash. You are going to have a very interesting life Laura. Now I want you to have your shower, and dress for dinner." |
| "What kind of a show is it?" Laura asked, carefully removing Leanii's dress. |
| "A Polynesian show. Dancing, fire eating, singing. I'll lay some clothes out for you, while you make yourself as pretty as you can." |
| When Laura returned from the bathroom, she saw her new white slacks, white camisole and a pale blue shirt waiting for her. As she dressed, Gran told her to tuck the shirt into the slacks, but to leave it unbuttoned. "Very chic. Where did you hide the white strap shoes?" |
| Gran wore a navy dress with white piping, and a silver sunburst broach on the left breast. |
| They were seated at a table close to the stage, where they would have an unobstructed view of everything. Their meal was a baked fish called Mahimahi, and Laura pronounced it the best fish she had ever eaten. There were salads and vegetables, while desert was a sculpture of ice cream and tropical fruits. |
| "I feel so full I could burst," Laura sighed, and patted her stomach. "Are all the meals going to be like this?" |
| "Some will be bigger," Gran warned her. "Americans like to eat well." |
| "I'd better get into some serious exercise tomorrow," Laura promised herself. "Look at that pretty little girl in the grass skirt." |
| "She's part of the show." Gran explained. "Her family are probably just behind her." |
| "But she's one of... And there's Leanii and Misau!" Laura shook Gran's arm. "They're the girls I told you about!" |
| "Laura, sssh. People are starting to wonder about you." Gran smiled at her, while patting the hand on her own arm. |
| Accompanying the first three girls were two boys and another girl, as well as three men and two women. The men wore white trousers and blue floral shirts, while the boys only wore trousers. The women had long dresses in the shirt material. The girls were dressed in grass skirts and in bras made from coconut halves. |
| Laura watched the show with delight, clapping louder than anyone, and unaware of the smiles she brought to the faces of people around her. The entertainers made sure Laura knew that they appreciated her, when one of the men directed his love song to her, and the boy, when he did his fire-eating act, offered Laura a taste of his flaming torch. She almost jumped out of her seat, then joined in the laughter. |
| Laura was not the only member of the audience forced to join in. The younger girls left the stage and took the hands of some men, almost dragging them on stage, where they had to follow Misau's impossibly sinuous dance. |
| After the show, Laura hurried backstage to the dressing room, where the Hawaiian family was changing into street clothes. She hugged and kissed all the girls, and even the boy, who reddened. |
| "That's for embarrassing me!" Laura declared, while the adults and girls laughed. |
| Before she left, Laura went to one of the women and passed her a twenty dollar note. "Please don't tell the girls. It is all I know to give them for what they've given me." |
| "It is good, child, but do not let this friendship end here. Leanii has our business cards. Go write your name and address, so they can send you letters." |
| Laura kissed her, pleased to do as she was told. |
| Laura felt like skipping back to the hotel. The main reason she did not, was that Gran expected her to walk like a dignified young lady. For her grandmother's sake, Laura kept her joy to herself |
| Gran did give her grandchild an extra big hug, when she tucked Laura into bed, as if she were still eight years old. |
| "I know you've had a really busy day, Laura. Now sleep tight, because you will probably have a bigger day tomorrow." |
| "Oh, Gran! Hawaii is like being in Heaven! I feel that nothing could ever spoil it." |
| "Hush, child! Don't you know you should never say that about a dream? Let's hope the dream-stealers are already asleep." |
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| Laura IndexCh 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6 Ch 7 Ch 8 Ch 9 Ch 10 Ch 11 Ch 12 Ch 13 Ch 14 Ch 15 Ch 16 Ch 17 Ch 18 Ch 19 Ch 21 Ch 22 Ch 23 Ch 24 Ch 25 |
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