Papa Bear

Chapter Sixteen

The flight was draining. The one to Athens, the airline squashed her and her mom like sardines in the back of the plane. Dimmi sat next to a guy that smelled of cheese grillers. She couldn't describe the smoky smell that he carried on him, but it wasn't as nice as anyone would imagine.

When the plane landed on the tarmac, it was three hours of rushing from going through customs in Athens to getting to the gate to catch the flight that would leave to JFK.

They had quite a few hours to kill, just like Theo had told them.

On the flight to JFK, it felt that it was taking forever. Dimmi tried to kill the time with watching movies, while her mother got invested in a book. Sleep refused to come, and it was weird how long it took for the sun to set as they travel back in time.

It was customs again at JFK and Dimmi and her mother had felt lost as they had to get their bags and took a tram to where they should go that was like on the other side of the gate they had exited.

They made their check in to Honolulu just in time, and right now the pilot announced they were busy to land. It was a sunny day in Honolulu, as the captain announced the degrees and the time. He welcomed the passengers who were home and welcomed the passengers who were here for vacation, and hoped that they would enjoy their stay in Hawaii.

Dimmi's heart thumbed inside her chest as the plane stopped and they took their carry-on bags out of the compartment that was above their heads.

Theo had booked a room for them tonight at a nearby hotel, and tomorrow they were going to board The Twilight. It was a  mother of a cruise line that would be their home for the next twelve nights.

Dimmi couldn't wait for the leisure vacation to start.

When they got off the plane, she took her mother's hand and together they follow the board pointed to the baggage area. There wasn't customs this side as they already went through customs in JFK.

The airport was huge and as they claimed their luggage and walked out; Hula dancers dressed in purple met them. They performed the hula dance on life music. It was so beautiful. Dimmi applauded them. The dancers' smiles were bright, but not as bright as her mother's cheeks. Dimmi laughed as her mother lowered her head in shame at how Dimmi showed her appreciation to the Hulu dancers with sitting on her knees, praising them with arms stretched out, touching the ground.

Everyone laughed as Dimmi got up, and one of the lady dancers took off her lei, the flower necklace around her neck.

She motioned for Dimmi to come forward and her mother laughed, thoroughly enjoying the cross language greeting.

"Aloha Kakahiaka," the lady said.

Dimmi bowed, taking the flower arrangement. "Aloha," she replied. She wasn't even going to try and say the next part.

The guy stepped forward. "She told you 'Good morning'."

"Mahalo," Dimmi replied, and then the lady grabbed Dimmi's shoulders and kissed her once on each cheek.

Her mother had thought it was hilarious.

They even stood with Dimmi for a photo.

Theo's scream came from the distance and Dimmi told them a quick good bye before she elicited her joy, shrieking and running to her sister.

Their two bodies collided as they wrapped their arms around each other. She was so happy to have her sister this close to her.

Then Dimmi peppered her sister with kisses all over her face.

"Dimmi," Theo yelled and burst into laughter as their mother had reached them, pulling both suitcases as Dimmi basically dropped hers when to show the dancers how stunning their performance was.