The Christmas berry tree where I hung in the crookof the main branch, every night, always after dark, I waited,you … More
Tag: #ParentsandChildren
Missing
The sides of the mountain are heavily wooded, a palette of greens and browns, but the top is craggy and … More
Circus
As a child he’d attended the circus once, and once only.His parents, he imagined, must have seen it as a … More
To Grow
It was the conversation Mr. and Mrs. Kakesako had dreaded having. Well, the one they’d dreaded having would have been … More
This Old Piano
When I sit down on our piano bench, the piano nearly 60 years old now, I am comfortable enough. I … More
Conduct
We’d sit at stoplights and classical music would playon the public radio station to which she still donated.Again she’d begin … More
Death Certificates
Kahi felt like an idiot. He’d seen this so many times on TV, read about it in stories. If you … More
Reflections
Amazing how so much dust and grimecoat the surface of a wall mirror.Lying on the floor, I could easily see,but … More
And Justice for Some
I stood there, frozen by what I was seeing. The woman, attempting to run out her front door, screamed for … More
No Peace
I see something sullen, a sort of smoldering angerin the face of the father. I understand he has losthis son … More
Hard To Relate
I saw them on the sidewalk up ahead, a tall Haole guy, very fit, maybe six-feet two, in a tank-top … More
Only Ifs
One moment I’m lying on the ground staring at the sky,writhing in pain because I’ve broken my ankle, desperate,air harder … More
Stories of My Grandmother
Sometimes my maternal grandmother visits me,I’ll come awake gradually, know she’s sitting there,silent guardian at the foot of my bed, … More
Family Tree
I’m sleeping, I think; this has the vivid feeling of a dream.Before my house was rebuilt, a huge mango tree … More
No More Nice Things
Crayon and magic markers that never came off the walls;paint on the carpets and doors;knife and screwdriver carved furniture and … More
Land of English Only
I was born in a land of English speakers,where parents believed speaking Englishwas the key to success. My father was … More
Sugar or Salt?
We sat opposite each other, each stirring coffee in thick white cups, trying to cool it off. “Cream,” I said. “Cream … More
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your note letting me know you’d received the notice I sent. It’s been a long time since we … More
Walking That Way
Sadness sets in counting the steps, not looking up, not looking forward. Making your way there watching your feet move, … More
The Hunt
Over the course of the pandemic, Carl had lost both his mother and his father. He’d donated most of their … More