The Meaning of O'hana
Chapter 1: That's Us Before
Lilo and Nani were orphaned when their parents were killed in a car accident. What really happened that night, and how did it impact the Pelekai family? Nani found herself thrust into parenthood as she struggled to hang onto the last thing in her world that was familiar to her; her six-year-old sister. This story follows the events leading up to, and following that tragic night.
"Nani!" Lilo burst through the door of her house. "Guess what! Mom and Dad got me into hula lessons!"
"That's great, Lilo," said Nani as she sat at the desk in the living room, scribbling something on a piece of paper. "Could you please go play, or something? I have to fill out this college application."
Lilo slumped. "Nani, I thought you'd be excited. I always wanted to dance. You know that. I always wanted to dance."
The eighteen-year-old gave a frustrated sigh. "Lilo, I'll be excited later," she snapped. "Now could you please just go somewhere else and leave me alone? I'm busy!"
Lilo pouted for a moment, then stuck her tongue out at her sister's turned back. The little girl then stomped away.
Mrs. Pelekai walked into the living room carrying a laundry basket full of folded, clean clothes. "What was that all about?" she asked her first born.
"My little sister refuses to let me complete this application," Nani whined. "It's supposed to be in the mail tomorrow."
"Oh, she just wanted to tell you her good news," said the experienced mother. "I know how you feel. I had three younger siblings. They were constantly driving me crazy as a teenager."
"I have enough trouble living with just one," said Nani.
Mrs. Pelekai sighed. "Nani, even though you're leaving in six months, you still need to learn how to get along with your sister. I want the time you have left in this house to be memorable."
"Oh it'll be memorable, all right, if Lilo has anything to do with it," muttered Nani.
Just then the phone rang. Lilo could be heard answering it in the kitchen. "Hello, this is our house. Can I ask who's calling? Oh. You want to talk to Nani?"
Nani jumped to her feet. "That must be David," she said. She started walking toward the kitchen.
"No, she can't come to the phone right now. She's busy with 'appreciations.'"
Nani broke into a run. "No, Lilo, don't hang..."
Lilo set the phone back on its cradle.
"Up."
Lilo cautiously looked over her shoulder at her big sister.
"Who-who was it?" Nani asked.
"Oh, just some boy named David," said Lilo.
Nani put her head in her hands and gave a frustrated groan. "Lilo, that call was important. Why didn't you let me get it?"
"You said you were busy," said Lilo, trying to defend her actions.
"I wasn't to busy to take a phone call," Nani shot back.
Lilo looked hurt. "You were too busy to listen when I told you I was gonna be in hula, but you're not too busy to talk to your stupid boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend and he's not stupid," Nani retorted. Both girls were yelling now, which had attracted the attention of both their parents.
"You're always on the phone or filling out 'appreciations,' but you never have time to play with me!" Lilo yelled.
"Well, it's not easy being a senior, especially when your annoying little sister won't let you get any work done," Nani replied. "And it's 'applications,' not 'appreciations!'"
"Whoa, hey, girls, settle down," said Mr. Pelekai, stepping between the screaming siblings. When both girls stood silently trying to catch their breath, their father continued. "Now, do we have a truce?"
"Fine," said Nani.
"Fine," repeated Lilo.
"Now, Lilo," said Mr. Pelekai, bending down to talk to his younger daughter, "Nani does have work to do, so you do need to be a little more patient. And don't worry about answering the phone while Mom and I are home, OK?"
"OK," Lilo sighed. "It's Thursday. Do you mind if I take a peanut butter sandwich and go down to the beach?"
"I think that's a good idea," said Mr. Pelekai.
As Lilo scampered up to her room to get her swimsuit, Mr. Pelekai turned to talk to Nani.
"I think that if you can take a few moments to talk to a friend, Nani, you can take a few moments to listen to Lilo's exciting news. Hula is a big deal for her, just like it was for you when you were her age."
Nani scoffed. "I was busy. Besides, Lilo's my sister. I can talk to her anytime. It's not every day you get a phone call from the hottest guy in school. Lilo should make her own friends."
"Lilo doesn't make friends easily, Nani. You know that," said Mrs. Pelekai. "And the fact that Lilo's your sister should make your relationship with her that much more of a priority over your relationship with your friends."
"But...I...she...You always take her side!"
"That's not true," said Mrs. Pelekai.
"Nani," Mr. Pelekai cut in, "what does o'hana mean?"
Nani groaned. "O'hana means family."
"And family means..."
"Nobody gets left behind," Nani mumbled.
"Or?" her dad prompted.
"Or forgotten. I know, I know."
Mr. Pelekai put a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I know life's been tough, with school, work, and trying to save for college, but try not to take your frustration out on your sister, OK? School will be out in about a month, and you'll have more time to yourself."
Lilo ran down the stairs wearing her swimsuit. She quickly threw together a peanut butter sandwich and tossed the snack into a duffel bag. "Bye, Mom, bye, Dad, bye, Nani," she called, picking up the duffel bag and heading out the door.
As the door closed, Nani glanced at her father. "Did you know she uses that sandwich to feed fish?"
"She'd better not be," said Mr. Pelekai.
Thanks to my reviewers who called my attention to the last name I failed to see on Stitch's adoption form. If I get time after the AP Gvt test I'll sit down and write chapter three. I need to catch my plot bunny. He got away from me. Aloha!