Aloha's End Chapter 14 "A Donut Wrapped in a Napkin"

Entry for January 10, 2007 A Donut Wrapped In a Napkin
Aloha’s End by Michael F. Zangari

A Time of Tiki

Chapter 14 A Donut Wrapped In a Napkin

TrueWest walks out of The Big Bean café followed by the Duck.

The boogie board fins on the Duck’s feet slap the linoleum in the entryway with a series of wet ka-thwacks. It has a mucky primal sound. TrueWest suppresses and urge to look back over his shoulder, where his cream colored sport coat is draped like a bull fighter’s cape.

The Duck is shorter, and walks like Groucho Marx behind him.

“Why a duck” Duck mutters.

“What?” asks TrueWest.

“Why a duck” says Duck. “That’s what I thought you’d ask. I had a whole routine worked up around it.”

“That’s what I thought” says TrueWest.

They reflect on their missed opportunity.

They pause at the wooden Tiki in front of the café.

Duck places a donut wrapped in a napkin at his feet.

TrueWest looks on skeptically.

“A Ti leaf and a volcanic stone would be more appropriate” says the Duck. “But I’m leaning to make do with what I have. I use everything,’ he says.

TrueWest thinks about it before he says it. “I’m part Hawaiian” he says. “I come from a long line of temple keepers.”

“I thought you said that you’d never been to Hawaii before” says the Duck.

“I haven’t” TrueWest says. “This is my first time. In fact I don’t know much at all about the islands, or the temples my ancestors kept. My dad was a union organizer. He fled Hawaii in the 1950’s to save his life. Most of his family is dead.”

“Most of your family is dead” Duck says.

“I think of my nuclear family as my family” says TrueWest. “I have a hard time connecting to notions of extended family. We were always isolated in Texas. People thought we were Mexicans. The Mexicans thought we were Africans. It goes on and on.”

Duck doesn’t say anything.

“The family name is “Ku” as you know.”

“Not “Coo” like a dove?” asks Duck.

‘No, the war god Ku” TrueWest says, embarrassed, he knows Duck knows Ku.

“You should come out to see us. Near our house is a temple that was originally dedicated to Ku. It’s been restored. Maybe it is one of your family’s temples.”

TrueWest eyes widen. He agrees quickly.

He feels the blood rush his veins.

“I’ll introduce you to Patita tonight at the club.”

“Patita?” TrueWest asks. “That’s Spanish.”

“Yes” says Duck. “She’s Latina.”

“Ah. Buenos. Home.” He says.

“And Hawaii?” asks Duck.

TrueWest looks at the Tiki. It’s foreign and fierce looking. The mouth is open wide in a scream, the teeth, the clenched eyes howl. It almost drools into its coffee cup as it screams.

“I don’t know” says TrueWest.

Duck goes silent again for a second.

“Good enough” he says.