JON RIKI KARAMATSU

I took the bus into Waikiki and got off a couple of blocks away from my destination, the Moana Surfrider Hotel. The only thing I had with me was a little black tote bag. Upon arriving at the hotel, I went through the main entrance and out onto the lanai in the back where I paused to absorb the red and orange sun setting into the ocean. I don’t know what was causing me to sweat more, the humidity or my anticipation. I proceeded to the outdoor restaurant covered by a huge tree. I sat at a table to side of the stage that had a large umbrella top covering. A blonde waitress with wavy hear tied in the back came to take my order.

“Hi, is Kanae performing tonight?” I inquired.

Her smile subsided. “Oh I’m sorry. Not tonight. Kainani is dancing.”

“Hmm, I guess I made a mistake. I’ll take a guava juice.”

In a few minutes the waitress returned with my beverage. I drank it down quickly and closed my bill. A part of me was relieved. I strolled out of the dining area and to the beach. I sat on the warm sand. The rhythmic waves of the ocean was soothing to listen to. The clouds hovering had turned pink, one of my favorite things to see.

“Ken,” said a female voice. I turned behind and saw Kanae standing just a few feet away with a grin. She was wearing a white dress with a black sash tied around her waist and white and beige sandals. She was definitely not performing hula tonight.

“Hey,” was the only sound that I could blurt back in response.

“Is it okay if I join you?”

“Sure.”

Kanae sat by me. We both faced the ocean. “It’s been awhile,” she said.

“Yes, about a year. How did you know I was here on the beach?” I asked.

“I had a meeting in the hotel lobby. I saw you walk by. Did you have something here?”

“No. I mean yes. Uh. Actually, I came here to see you dance.”

“Really?” She was now gleaming. “I’m off tonight.”

“I know. The waitress told me.” I reached into my tote bag and pulled out a cardboard item that had numbers on it and the colors red, green, yellow, and white. “Here’s the game piece that you forgot at my party a year ago.”

She laughed. “You came all the way out here to give me a game piece.”

I chuckled. “Well partly. Also, I want you to know that I think about you, and you still have a friend.”

Her eyes swelled up with tears. She moved in and hugged me tightly with her head on my shoulders.

“I’m so happy,” she whispered.

I felt a tear trickle down my cheek.

Two pink clouds descended and floated in front of us and above the blue ripples of the ocean.

#fiction #creativewriting #writing #friends #friendship