Free 'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books by Mimi Barbour Page A

have been very difficult.”
    “I’ll wait for you here, but if you need me just call.” He pulled a straw hat out from under the seat and put it over his face to signal a nap coming on.
    “Thanks, Pi, but are you sure? I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
    He winked, leaned his seat back and crossed his arms. “I’m sure.”
    Leilani approached the front steps and noticed a small child who sat huddled on a swing chair that had seen better days. The girl stared at her, and her scared look was quickly replaced with a frown and then a sneer. Ignoring Leilani’s tentative approach, she continued to play with what looked like a small knife held next to a piece of wood.
    From the looks of the sturdy body, Leilani figured this golden-tanned cherub to be maybe four or five years of age. Her black hair had a natural curl, which stuck out all over her head, and hung in messy ringlets to her shoulders. The grubby t-shirt and shorts had the appearance of being slept in, and the dirty flip-flops were so worn that no color remained on the straps.
    Smiling gently, Leilani stepped closer, but not too close to scare the little one into bolting. Then she knelt down eye level and said, “Hello. My name is Leilani. I’m here to see Mele Palea. Is she inside?”
    The girl stared at her with piercing black eyes that didn’t give an inch. She said nothing.
    Leilani tried again. “Mele is my aunt. She wrote and said it was urgent that I come as soon as possible. Can you help me, little girl?” Her words registered this time, and Leilani believed the youngster reacted mostly when she said the woman was her aunt.
    Disgust evident in her words and manner, the girl shot to her feet and placed both her hands on her hips. “I’m not a girl. I’m a boy!” His sniff of disdain could have won him an academy award.
    So, that’s what he had reacted to. How silly of her to have made such an assumption. In her defense, the large fringed eyes and incredible dimples had screamed lucky girl. In retrospect, she could see that he had the stance and attitude of a prickly male.
    “I’m sorry.” Not knowing what else to say and worrying she’d just dig herself into a deeper hole, Leilani said nothing further. Deciding not to crowd the child, she sat back on the step and waited. Within a short time, he made up his mind and moved to the door. “Grandmother said I was to show any visitors inside but she’s sick and tired. She doesn’t need company.”
    Grandmother! This boy is Aunt Mele’s grandson? Shocked but not wanting to upset him, she agreed. “Of course I won’t tire her, honey. I just want to have a little chat since I’ve come such a long way. Will you take me to her?”
    “No. She’s in the first room, you’ll see.” Without another word, the scamp took off down the stairs and disappeared around the back of the house.
    Feeling very uncomfortable, Leilani approached the entrance and knocked on the glass, only for the door to swing inward. Long plastic strands hung from above the doorframe and she pushed her way through them. On a daybed across the room lay an older woman who looked to be very sick, and as the boy had described, very tired. An oxygen tank sat near her on the floor, and the line was hooked around her ears and fed into her nose.
    Leilani stepped forward; and the groaning of the wood floor gave notice of her being there. The woman’s eyes opened, glassy and feverish but filled with a glow of happiness.
    “You came, Lani. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
    Heart full, she rushed to kneel on the floor beside the sick woman and clasped her groping hand gently. “Aunt Mele, didn’t you get my letter? I’m Lani’s daughter, Leilani. I came in mother’s place.”
    “Lani didn’t come with you?” Eyes darting back and forth, the old lady’s grip tightened and confirmed her rising agitation.
    “Oh Auntie, she wanted to, very much but she couldn’t. You see, she passed away a week ago. I found your letter and