31
Red Flags
Ku‘e akena
To taunt or defy.
On the steps below, ‘Ilima licked my toes, and I shivered. Uncle Kahana gestured to the carving in my hands.
“Let me see,” he said.
I handed the shark to him, and he held it up in the red and gold light of the Christmas tree coming through the front window. The sun finally dipped below the horizon and twilight ended, calling in the night.
“Shark,” he said.
I nodded.
The yard lights flicked on, harsh, but not as harsh as the big overhead lanai lights would be. The yard lights were good. Enough light to see, but not enough to attract bugs.
“What shark?” Jay asked, stepping through the doorway.
“This one,” Uncle Kahana said.
“Zader’s? For Lili?” Jay asked.
I nodded. Jay stood there awkwardly, ‘ukulele hanging by his side.
“Come. Sit,” sa
