Chapter 2
Eri stared up at the ceiling as the day slowly past by with her uncle waiting for the rice finish cooking, she never noticed how Hawaii was warm and the perfect day was just going by recovering from the long plane ride. Eri walked over to the desk where it had the view of the ocean and all the pieces of paper scattered on top. She found one to be amusing,
Dear George,
I can't believe she has become a teen already, remember our sister being herself at that age, she was quite calm until she got her period and kicked ass in the judo tournament. Those were good times, she could throw us everywhere along the mat and because we towered over her, she took us down quick. Anyways, how have you been keeping up? Seems your business have been booming because of the tourists, eh. While I am stuck in Japan with my wife and daughter trying to keep my job afloat, I was guaranteed a promotion but they past over me, I may quit at the end of the year if I get past up again. So, I hope you find a wife soon and get your kids, well shoots then.
Your brother,
Michael
“Your father cared about you a lot, it took him a long time to decide on what to do with you, but going with instinct and the community, I gave him advice. It seemed it was successful for a while and then you got arrested again. He was left with a choice of rehab or here and since he had very little money, I chipped in to get you here.” Eri looked back at the letter.
“This is a lie, he scolded me constantly for being late and drinking and smoking, he would never say that to my face.” Eri thought as she put down the letter and laid back down on the bed.
“Anyways, I got food for you on the table, you can go eat and have fun outside.” He smiled and walked back to front of the house.
Eri instantly got up and walked over to the table with rice steaming from the pot and a bowl of mysterious meat. She looked toward the door, seeing her uncle's face gleefully looking at the table filled with what he had.
“In case you was wondering, that is Portuguese sausage, it is smoked and made from pig parts.” Eri touched it with the chopstick and tried to cut it but it was too tough to break apart. Eri took the piece and placed it in her mouth as the spice got to her instantly. She ran over to find a glass and filled it up with water, she swallowed the piece of meat and tanked the glass.
“Eri, you are way too funny, it isn't raw fish, just bite into it and place it back down.” Her uncle walked out to the driveway seeing the neighbor walked by with her dogs. Eri scooped her rice and slowly ate as she watched her uncle conversing with his neighbor. Seconds later, they walked over to the front door and saw the elderly woman wave at her.
“Eri say hi to aunty Meg.” Eri waved as she continued eating her food.
She began to notice after a while the quiet time was becoming noisier with the people invading the house causing her to feel uncomfortable. Then, coming from the back was the girl she saw on the drive and found herself embarrassed by her appearance that she tripped on her way to washing her bowl. The crowd started to laugh as she sped away from the scene.
“You guys are lolo, making her run away, get out of here.” The girl chased them away as she interrupted the uncle's conversation with the neighbor.
“Uncle, can I go talk to her?” She asked.
“I guess you can but she doesn't have great English so be patient.” She nodded and walked in to find her hugging her pillow.
“Hello....” Eri looked up seeing her by the door and she turned over to find herself falling off the bed.
The girl lifted Eri to her feet and sat on the bed couple of feet away from her. She scooted closer, seeing Eri was getting close to running out of space as she pulled back and walked away.
“Wait!” Eri said in a soft voice.
“Whazzup?”
“I'm sorry but I am not a talker.” Eri bowed toward her as she held her up.
“I don't blame you, because I was like that when my mother brought me out here, I never spoke until your uncle came up and gave me some dessert for my family.” Eri sat back down on the bed as she held her head down.
“Anyways, my name is Risa Niigki, everyone calls me Risa or Lisa because Lisa is more common here.” Eri smiled as she lent out her hand.
“My... name... Kamei Eri. Nice... to... meet you.” Eri said slowly.
“Ah Kamei, hmm if it serves me right, your name means turtle, right?” Eri nodded.
“Well, I call you Kamei and if you don't mind?” Eri smiled as Risa walked out of the room
Eri laid back again as she felt the weight off her shoulder, it was the first time that someone actually greeted her without fear in a while. Before she was sent to a juvenile detention, she had a girlfriend who she always stick by. She swore to never be away from her despite the father's warnings, she always stayed out and be with her. Blindly, she held onto the loot from their robberies and was always caught red-handed, however she would bail her out and praise her for being a team player.
“Eri has made a new friend.” Her uncle laughed.
“She is quite outgoing and always hanged out with the guys a lot, unfortunately she dropped out and caused her parents grief for not completing school. So, she was left here alone with the people as she stayed in the house, luckily for us for letting her stay here as she helped around the neighbors, maybe you can be like her.” Eri turned her attention toward her uncle.
“I just want to rest.” She said bluntly.
“Tomorrow, you get to help her out running the tourist stand, many tourists come out here, and Risa had lost her Japanese hanging around us, so if you don't mind, we can spend today either staying here or tour the town.” Eri gave out a sigh and followed her uncle out into the street.