One Boy, No Water

By Lehua Parker

When you're allergic to water, growing up in Hawaii isn't always paradise.

Everybody loves Jay.

I love my brother, too. Sometimes I wish I could be him--a surfing star instead of the weird kid allergic to water, the Blalahs' favorite punching bag.

But that's not the worst of it.

In the middle of the night, I dream. There's a mysterious girl who lives in a magical place and acts like she knows me better than I know myself. We hide from the Man with Too Many Teeth. Some nights I wake up with my heart pounding and the urge to eat raw meat.

It's just a dream, right?

But then I saw him, the Man with Too Many Teeth, walking along the reef at Piko Point.

Not even Jay can protect me now.

__________________

One Boy, No Water is Book 1 in the Niuhi Shark Saga trilogy. Told from an indigenous perspective and set in a contemporary Hawaiian world where all the Hawaiian myths and legends are real, the series explores belonging, adoption, being different, bullying, defining family, and learning to turn weaknesses into strengths.

Through the series, Zader discovers he's not really a boy allergic to water; he's something much more special, dangerous, and powerful. His adoptive brother Jay discovers what happens when the golden surfing star falls from his pedestal and has to choose to make the long climb back from serious injury. It's the ties that bind and support the brothers that allow them to create their own destinies.

As typical local islanders, characters use common Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases. The meaning is usually clear from the context, but there is also a Hawaiian & Pidgin Glossary for additional support. Each chapter begins with a related island word or phrase and its definitions. A Discussion Guide for book club or classroom use is included. Free additional classroom support materials are available on www.NiuhiSharkSaga.com.

One Boy, No Water, Book 1 in the Niuhi Shark Saga, was a 2017 Nene Award Nominee. The Nene Award is Hawaii's Children's Choice Book Award recognizing outstanding literary works.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Makena Press
• Release date: Jun 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949429022

Book preview

1

The End of Summer Fun

Like beef?

An invitation to a fight, not dinner.

Sitting under the monkeypod tree by the soccer field, I was drawing random lines in the red dirt with an old popsicle stick. Near the swings, the Blalahs were huddled in an evil cabal at a picnic table. ‘Alika Kanahele was using his broken utility knife to carve something witty like his initials into the tabletop. All summer long he’d hid the blade from Mr. Tony, our twenty-something camp leader. Whenever Mr. Tony and my brother Jay were busy, ‘Alika liked to wave his knife at me and pretend to slit his throat.

Well, my throat, technically.

Four more hours. If I’m quiet, they’ll forget about me, I thought.

It was the last day of my last year of Camp Lauele Summer Fun. Not that I was counting or anything. The new school year and eighth grade at Lauele Intermediate was starting soon. One more year of dealing with the Blalahs, and I’d be free. With any luck, the Blalahs and I would be in different high schools: me at private Ridgemont Academy and the Blalahs at public Lauele High.

The Blalahs was my name for a couple of mouth-breathers: Chad Watanabe and ‘Alika Kanahele. Like hyenas, the Blalahs hunted as a pack. Chad was slighter and sneakier and smart enough to leave most of the heavy lifting to ‘Alika. They’d given me small-kine heat for years, but over the summer they’d amped up the hassles.

When he was around, my almost-twin brother Jay had my back—nobody messed with Jay—but this summer he was busy surfing and hanging with friends in the ocean off Nalupuki beach. I can’t go anywhere near water. I can’t even chance ‘em on the sand. When Jay surfs, I’m stuck alone at the pavilion above Keikikai beach.

Alone was fine. I liked alone.

But with the Blalahs always around, I wasn’t really alone.

I didn’t bother looking up when Jay walked over to me, bouncing a red playground ball. Zader, like play? he asked.

Of course. A red rubber smack to the face is my all-time favorite game.

Zader? Jay said.

What? I pushed the popsicle stick deeper into the red earth, pushing until a weak spot started to bend.

Do you wanna play? Frankie and me and you against Jerry, Carson, and Benji. Shambattle. Down by the tetherball pole. Jay flipped the ball between his hands as he jerked his head toward the courts. It’s safe. No sprinklers over there.

I pushed harder. The stick snapped.

No more drawing.

I flicked my eyes to the sky, considering. I wasn’t wearing my rain jacket and playing shambattle meant my umbrella would be on the ground out of reach, but with clear skies, I should be okay.

Beats scratching like a chicken in the dirt.

I shrugged my shoulders and flicked away the small piece of stick still in my hand.

Okay, I said, but when we start, I’m holding a ball.

Jay dropped the ball into my lap. Shoots, he said as I stood up.

Waste time, Jay, called Chad Watanabe from the picnic table. You guys gonna lose with Zader on your team.

Jay didn’t even turn around. Shut your face, Chad.

Chad laughed.

Eh, Jay, you know Zader no can handle shambattle with the boys. He’s a runner, not a fighter. Chasemaster’s more his style, ‘Alika Kanahele said.

Being a tilly girl is more his style, Chad sneered. He even runs like a girl.

A girl? Tunazilla lurched up from her lair under the slide like a giant gecko. Her name was Petunia Kanahele, but everyone called her Tuna to her face and Tunazilla to her back. Tuna blinked and turned her big head toward Chad, cupping her right hand into a loose fist as she spoke. What you said, stupid-head?

It’s alive.

N-n-nothing, Chad said, backpedaling. Making fun of me was one thing; getting on Tunazilla’s girl-power radar just cranked Chad’s taunting game into the majors and Chad was strictly little league.

Sensing blood in the water, Jay smirked. Chad said girls are lame. They no can handle shambattle like boys. Sic ‘em, Tuna.

So, girls are no good at shambattle, hah? You wanna see what a girl can handle? You like beef? Tunazilla roared.

N-n-no, Chad stuttered. I wasn’t talking about you, Tunazil—uh, I mean, Petunia. Girls can handle anykine.

She nodded. So, you no like beef?

Chad looked at her hands, the size of baseball mitts, and blanched. No way! I was talking about Zader.

Yeah, Zader’s not a tough titah like you, Tunazilla! laughed ‘Alika. You could beat all of us at shambattle with one hand tied behind your back.

‘Alika was Tuna’s cousin and the only person in the world who would dare call her Tunazilla to her face. Held back in third grade, he towered over everybody except Tuna and liked to stand too close.

From his pocket, ‘Alika flashed his knife at me for the third time that week. Thoughts chased like schools of fish through my head.

Tell Jay.

Tell Mr. Tony.

Maybe one of these times he’ll actually do it.

No, ignore it. Better to blend into the background and leave this fear unnamed.

I glanced back to our classroom where Mr. Tony was counting the juice money with bossy Lisa Ling and my calabash cousin, Char Siu Apo. Since the beginning of camp Lisa had campaigned hard for the title of teacher’s pet, always wiping the whiteboards with the special cleaner, making sure everybody stayed in line on the way to the cafeteria, and deciding who got a bathroom pass. I don’t know why Char Siu tagged along; she didn’t need to stand in Lisa’s shadow.

I figured ‘Alika and Chad had maybe five more minutes before Mr. Tony and the girls came walking out to take the juice money to the office.

Not enough time to make serious trouble, but I’m keeping an eye on him.

What’re you looking at? ‘Alika sneered, tucking his knife away.

Stay chilly. It’s all words.

Come on, Zader, Jay said, turning toward the shambattle court. We go.

Walking towards me, but hiding the knife from Jay, ‘Alika called, "Eh, Tuna! Chad’s wrong to call Zader a girl. He’s not like girls. The reason Zader can’t handle shambattle with the boys is because he’s a panty. Girls get panty. That’s the difference."

Good one, ‘Alika! Chad snorted. Whop yo’ jaws, Zader!

So funny I forgot to laugh. Just five more minutes and Mr. Tony will be outside. They’ll find someone else to torture. I can do anything for five minutes.

But my hanai brother Jay would never take crap for a second, let alone five minutes.

Shut up, ‘Alika, Jay snapped, whirling toward the picnic table. No one was talking to you.

No one was talking to Darth Zader either, ‘Alika retorted. Loser.

Chad laughed and started sucking air in and out like a scuba diver, his best attempt at a Darth Vader impersonation.

Like I haven’t heard that one before.

Wow, when you make that sound it’s so natural, Chad, Jay said. Sounds like you’re stupid fo’real.

Chad stood up. What?

Ha! Deaf, too? Jay taunted.

Jay, called Frankie, bouncing another ball. We playing or what?

Yeah, Jay answered, never taking his eyes off Chad or ‘Alika. We’re playing. You coming, Z?

I checked the clouds again, white and fluffy and clinging to the pali cliffs far away. I nodded and picked up my umbrella.

Anything to get out of here.

I was walking toward the courts when it happened.

‘Alika threw a water balloon at me.

Zader! Jay shrieked as it exploded against my left shoulder.

The water sent hot lava fingers oozing down my skin, scalding, sizzling, burning everything in their path like acid. Like snake venom. Like death. On fire, I dropped to the ground and rolled.

Awesome, ‘Alika! Chad crowed. Check out Darth Zader! It’s just like holy water on a devil!

Wide-eyed, ‘Alika crossed himself. He’s possessed! he shouted. Everybody, Zader’s possessed!

Through the pain, I felt Jay kneel next to me, his hands ripping at the bottom of my t-shirt. Zader, off! Get it off! Lift your arms so I can get it off. As he threw the sopping shirt over my head, I felt a final sting as a wet sleeve brushed against my face, raising another angry line of welts along my cheekbone.

Shadows ringed me.

Don’t barf. Don’t barf. Not in front of everyone! Don’t!

I swallowed hard as Jerry Santos and Benji Chang looked down, mouths open and catching flies. When I was sure breakfast was staying put, I pushed Jay away and stood, covering the weeping sores and broken blisters along my body with my hands.

Exposed!

‘Alika jumped up on the picnic table and thrust out his arms, making the sign of the cross with his index fingers. You stay away from me, Zader, you freak, he yelled.

Jay didn’t yell back, but launched himself at ‘Alika, knocking the fat bully off the table. He sat on ‘Alika’s stomach, cranked his fist back, and POW!

‘Alika’s nose crumpled like a bag of potato chips.

Owweeeeeee! ‘Alika squealed.

Confunit! Mr. Tony charged out of the classroom too late as always, the girls flowing behind and around him like bees from a hive.

Jay punched ‘Alika! Chad tattled, already scrambling to cover his ‘okole.

Mr. Tony reached down and pulled Jay away. He grabbed my wet shirt, snapped it once to get the dirt off, and used it to mop up the blood from ‘Alika’s gushing nose.

I’m never wearing that t-shirt again.

Jay stood snorting like bull and clenching his fist.

You’re not supposed to say confunit, Lisa Ling said, tucking the juice money box under her arm. It’s Pidgin. We’re supposed to speak English at school.

Oh, give it a rest, Lisa, Char Siu said. We may be on school grounds, but it’s camp, not school!

Sorry, Mr. Tony said. But confunit, what’s going on?

On the ground ‘Alika wailed like a tsunami siren.

Jay punched ‘Alika! Chad shouted again.

I can see that, Captain Obvious. Why? Mr. Tony asked.

Because he’s mental, Chad said, just like his freaky brother. ‘Alika never did anything.

‘Alika threw water on Zader, Frankie chimed in.

Zader’s got blisters, Benji said. Look.

Blisters? From what?

Jay hissed, Zader’s allergic to water! Everybody knows he gets blisters when he gets wet. He can’t get wet. It would kill him.

Jay, my champion as surely as if he’d been riding a white horse, was deeply, thoroughly ticked. He ran his bloody knuckles through his hair, trying to keep it together, but I could tell he was about to snap. Words were nothing compared to water, and ‘Alika had crossed a line.

What? I never knew Zader was allergic to water! Mr. Tony said. Oh, enough already, ‘Alika. He sat him up.

‘Alika hiccuped and gasped for air.

Who’s the panty now?

Mr. Tony pulled my bloody t-shirt away from ‘Alika’s nose. Huh. Maybe you better go to the office. He leaned closer. I think it’s broken.

Owweeeeeee! ‘Alika ramped up again.

As bad as it was, ‘Alika was lucky. If Jay hadn’t needed to take care of me first, along with his broken nose, ‘Alika would be spitting out teeth. He’d be breathing through his ear. I smiled.

Shhhhhh. Mr. Tony clamped my t-shirt back on ‘Alika’s face. Quiet. You’re going to make it bleed more.

Check out Zader’s blisters, whispered Lisa.

I looked at my shoulder, and through my fingers I could see the blisters shrinking, forming pox marks of gray, scaly skin. Like a sunburn on hyper drive, these patches hid smooth healthy skin underneath. I brushed my fingers and thin gray flakes fell like confetti.

Ewww! Lisa gagged. That’s skin!

No way I’m walking by the monkey pod tree ever again, Amanda Leong shuddered.

No act, Amanda! Char Siu said. Where’re your manners?

What’s that thing on Zader’s back? Becky Waters asked.

It looks like a giant triangle tattoo, Amanda said.

Ink doesn’t look like that, Lisa said.

Ewwww! Becky said. Is it contagious?

Oh, no. My birthmark! I’m not wearing a shirt!

Shut up, Becky! said Char Siu. What’s that on your face?

My freckles aren’t like that! No wonder Zader always wears a shirt.

You’re being rude! Char Siu snapped. It’s a birthmark, that’s all!

I turned away, hiding my birthmark where they couldn’t see.

Just let me disappear.

But then ‘Alika spotted my birthmark in all its blue-black glory.

Mmmnevvvilll! he shouted through my blood-soaked t-shirt, his arm stretched out toward me, finger pointing like the judgment of God.

What? Lisa asked.

He called my cousin a devil, Char Siu said as she drew back her foot. And that’s really rude!

POW!

She soccer-kicked him in the shin.

Charlene Suzette Apo! cried Mr. Tony.

Owweeeeeee! ‘Alika scrambled, trying to protect both his bleeding nose and bruising shin with his hands.

Chad, take ‘Alika to the office, Mr. Tony said.

Chad hooked ‘Alika’s arm around his neck, helped him to his feet, and turned him toward the office.

Ha-la, ‘Alika! Tunazilla rumbled. You gonna get plenny lickings tonight! Just wait until Tutu sees your face!

Mr. Tony said, Zader, I need you to—

If I’m a devil, I can just leave. What’s Mr. Tony going to do? Throw more water on me? Make me stay another day in Summer Fun? I don’t care if I’m busted. Jay can play shambattle with his friends. I’m outta here.

Still rubbing my shoulder, I turned away from their stares and ignored Mr. Tony’s calls. I headed home, the sun warm and bright on my bare back, my umbrella abandoned under the monkey pod tree.

2

Talking Story

Howzit

Hello; good to see you.

E h, Z-boy, howzit? Uncle Kahana said. He and ‘Ilima, his yellow poi dog, were coming back from the ocean, walking around the naupaka kahakai bushes that separated the beach from the road. Long before I saw them, I smelled the fresh fish in his net bag as it dripped saltwater and blood into the dust by the roadside. I shuddered and tried not to watch each drop as it grew fat and fell.

Howzit, Uncle Kahana, I said, looking everywhere but the bag.

Uncle Kahana paused, giving me a sharp once over. Why aren’t you wearing a shirt? Where’s your umbrella, hah? Your mom’s going to flip if she finds out you’re running around without it. Wait. Summer Fun’s not over yet. Where’s Jay?

I shrugged. It was easier than trying to explain.

He narrowed his eyes at me. Don’t give me that, he said. What happened?

Jay punched ‘Alika Kanahele and gave him a bloody nose. Mr. Tony, our Summer Fun leader, took my shirt to stop the bleeding.

Uncle Kahana’s eyes narrowed even more.

‘Ilima chuffed.

I know, girl. He’s not telling the whole story, and the parts that’re missing are the most important parts. He tilted his head to the side. Tell me, Z-boy. I can’t help if I don’t know.

You also can’t hurt if you stay out of it.

I sighed.

My house, Uncle Kahana said. We’ll talk story there.

Uncle Kahana and ‘Ilima lived in an apartment above Hari’s, a store bigger than an ordinary neighborhood convenience store, but not as big as a supermarket. Hari’s carried a little bit of everything, from octopus lures and crack seed to ‘ukulele strings, motor oil, and macadamia nut candies for tourists. It didn’t make sense that Uncle Kahana lived there and got everything at Hari’s for free. When I asked, Mom said Hari and Uncle Kahana had been in the war together and to stop being so niele.

Grown-ups. Everything’s a mystery.

We walked around Hari’s store to the lanai, a covered porch area with a sink, hose bib, table, and folding chairs. He tossed me a clean shirt from the clothesline. Put this on.

Thanks. It was big, but much better than nothing. As much as I hated wearing jackets and carrying an umbrella, I hated people staring at my birthmark even more.

At least Uncle Kahana cares.

Uncle Kahana placed his net bag with the fish in the sink and motioned to the stairs attached to the side of the building. Go on up. It’s not locked. ‘Ilima and I gotta clean up a little first.

He waited until I was halfway up the stairs before turning on the hose.

‘Ilima whined.

Come on, ‘Ilima, don’t be a baby, Uncle Kahana said.

She whined louder.

No, the water’s not that cold. Look, I’ll go first.

‘Ilima barked.

What’re you talking about? Of course you need to rinse off! I don’t want hairy salt all over the place.

Bark, bark, bark!

So stay outside in the sun for a while. Dry off.

Whine. Chuff.

Codeesh, ‘Ilima! Stop acting like a diva-lani! I’m not going to heat the water for you! Come on! Zader’s waiting!

At the top of the stairs, I kicked off my slippahs and entered the apartment. The main area was a large room split into a living room and kitchen-dining space. Uncle Kahana’s furniture was old, but comfortable.

To the left of the entry was the living room with a brown, fake leather couch piled high with Hawaiian print pillows and a sliding glass door leading to an ocean view lanai balcony. Standing there, I realized the lanai formed the