Chapter 36 Matariki Stars
matariki stars
Honouring the past, looking to the future.
Two weeks later, I’m laugh-crying as Trent drags me out of his bed.
“No,” I whimper, trying to crawl back under the covers. “Too early.”
He hauls me over his shoulder and firemans me into the truck. A thick coat lands atop me. Grandpa is in the back seat, head tipped up against the side window, snoring.
“You’re dead meat,” I grumble.
Trent leans in to my ear. “You can eat me later.”
I slap a hand over his filthy mouth. Grandpa’s just there! His eyes sparkle, and my lips twist into a laugh.
From the back, Grandpa snortles. “No one wants to hear about your sea cucumber.”
We drive through the dark starry morning on fits of hysterical laughter.
With torches, we climb up the steep path to a bench overlooking the sea. Above, the sky glitters. We huddle tight on the bench and remember the loved ones we’ve lost. “Love doesn’t end at death,” Grandpa murmurs. And then, “I’ll make sure to turn into a naughty star like that—winking.”
“This time next year?” Trent asks, deadpan.
I shove him, but a laugh jumps out of me.
Grandpa lifts his cane and I pull Trent off the bench, and we dance around Grandpa as he tries to smack the smiles out of us.
Below, the sea breathes in and out, carrying our laughter into the dawn.