Aloha's End by Michael F. Zangari, Chapter 19: Fish Don't Moo

Aloha’s End by Michael F. Zangari
© 2007 with all rights reserved.

The thumping of the bass pumps on TrueWest’s stomach like the kind of sex that Momi says she likes, up there on top of old Smokey humping her chosen like a small wave on a long board,. With all get-out de-light. Not that there are a lot of small waves. She says she like paddling out, too.
TrueWest is sweating like a gin tonic in a frosted glass.
He’s beading and sweating thinking about it.
People on the dance floor are undulating in groups of twos and threes all around him. Heck, everyone dances in Waikiki, even alone. They ride the humping bass like a buckaroo on a Brahma bull as it dives down and syncopates and comes up again.
The waitress bumps through the crowd holding on to her tray.
The sun prisms on the clouds and sifts through colors and shades as it goes down.
At sunset everything stops. The crowd moves towards the beach and sits on the sand. It’s a great orange ball on the horizon, sinking into a flame colored sea.
“When the sun drops completely into the ocean there’s a green flash of light before it disappears. It’s only there for a half a second or so, but if you see it, the kahuna buzzer is that you are granted a wish.” Says Duck
“Damn” says TrueWest.
It’s a mighty flash, and mighty wishes are made on it, all across the darkening beach.
“What causes the flash?” asks TrueWest.
“Probably pollution” says Duck.
Patita nods.
The flash is in her eyes. Her forehead is strained and sincere.
The last light dissolves into an orange and peach fizz against the clouds. The sky slowly blackens and one by one the stars wink on.
There is an unmistakable chill coming in from the ocean on the wind as the waves break gently on the beach.
“I’m hungry” says Duck. “Let’s eat.”
They head back up the beach, tearing themselves away from the stars.
Duck has his arm around Patita.
Their bare feet leave intertwined foot prints in the sand.
TrueWest stays with the stars for a few seconds then heads back to the table.
They settle in.
The palm trees over head rustle as the trade winds take them and shake them gently like pom poms.
The waiter brings several files to the table.
They are Duck’s and Patita’s.
He hands their medical records to TrueWest and then to the couple.
“Told you so” said Duck. “They’re going all out to discredit me.”
Patita looks up from the record she is reading. She looks around. She goes into her purse for her dictionary. She looks up the word she is stuck on.
Her forehead furrows.
She looks at Duck from the corner of her eyes.
They get menus. Duck orders the seared ahi, a bow fin tuna with mango salsa.
“It’s a red fish” says Duck. “It’s a lot like steak, only better.”
TrueWest looks skeptical. “Don’t talk to Texas about meat” he says.
Patita goes after some poki, cubed raw fish marinated in Soya, garlic and onions with a little sea weed chopped into it. She also has a plate of sashimi from the bar. She brings it with a small bowl of hot mustard,
“I like it raw, more better” she says, setting it on the table.
TrueWest pokes at it. “If it moos, shoot it.”
“Fish don’t moo” says Duck.
TrueWest thinks about it. “Right.”
They eat the fish and chips with a hot Hawaiian salsa.
It’s good.
“You don’t know the half of it” Duck says. “You should taste it right out of the net, cut up on deck and washed down with iced beer.”
TrueWest imagines the scene.
He fishes around the salsa and comes up with a tiny pepper.
“What’s this little pecker?” he TrueWest.
He holds up a little chili pepper about the size of the tip of his little finger.
“Pathetic” he says.
“That’s Hawaiian” says Patita.
“Go easy” says Duck.
TrueWest laughs. “I’m from Texas he says.”
He pops it into his mouth.
His face goes red and purple immediately.
The paper umbrella in his drink almost goes up his nose as he grabs his drink to put out the fire.
“Hot, eh?” asks Patita.
“Yes.” He barks out.
After awhile dinner comes. More fish dishes go around the table.
The Mahi Mahi is fresh and stuffed with crab meat.
TrueWest got the nod of approval from the waitress on his order.
Most tourists like that. The Mahi Mahi.
Patita orders the bakala. The shark.
Everyone is polite for a few seconds then they dig in.
It’s a long couple of minutes before they surface again to the company.
“Iye” says Patita.
TrueWest and Duck smile.
“Yes.”
They eat quietly, making pleasant conversation.
As the meal is ending, TrueWest says “I suppose I should ask a few questions.” He looks into Duck’s eyes. “So I can write the meal off.”
Duck and Patita smile.
He gets out his tape recorder and sets it on the table.
“What do you want to know?” asks Duck.
“I want to know if I can have the rest of your ahi” says TrueWest.