A true kiwi story

A True Kiwi Story - Chapter Four

Chapter Four 

I was sitting in my sound proof music room at dads place. School had finished for the year, thankfully. While everyone else was out shopping or planning holiday parties, I sat in my sound proof music room in the basement jamming on my new electric guitar.

I had the amp volume up so loud that I didn’t hear my message alert go off on my phone.

From: Quinn x

Heard you playing from my place

Do you wanna jam?

Quinn loved playing music with me whether we were just mucking about or actually playing songs recording.

I thought about saying 'yes' to Quinn’s offer to jam. I decided that I would and flicked him back a text…

To: Quinn x

SURE BRO

TEXT BECCA TO C IF SHE WANNA COME 2

BTW BRING MEH FOOD!!!!

Shortly after sending that text he replied saying him and Rebecca on their way bringing food.

Company was good but food is better.

 +++

Ten minutes later Quinn and I were sitting on bean bags in the basement eating chips ‘n’ dip.

Yum.

There was a knock on the door to the basement from inside the house.

“Yo come in,” I shouted at whoever was knocking.

Rebecca walked in and stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips. “You started eating without me!?!” she was shocked.

“Food waits for no one. And well you took too long getting here,” I said getting up off my beanbag heading to the mini bar to get a drink. “Were you rounding up the Pakeha Group?” I teased her.

“Well…” she stuttered biting her nails.

“You didn’t did you?” I asked raising my voice.

“Hey, hey babe chill down okay,” Quinn came up behind me and wrapped me in a hug.

“Who did you bring with you?” I demanded crossly resting my head on Quinn’s chest.

“J-J-Jethro” she stuttered not making eye contact with me.

“Hello? Is it safe to enter?” asked a masculine voice from the doorway.

“Hoatu” I yelled at him.

“Oi Aroha! It’s bad to do that” shrieked Quinn covering my mouth with his hand. Yes I did know that it is bad for Māori’s to use our traditional language to insult people.

“Fine he can come in. But why are you here?” I asked with an edge in my voice.

“Well my parents did the evil deed and then…” he started to say walking over to a couch.

“NOT THAT YOU MORON. I MEANT HERE AT MY HOUSE!” I yelled at him wishing her would just disappear.

“Oh that, right. I have a few things that I need to ask you. They are important. Do you mind?” he gestured for us to sit.

“Okay. What do you want to ask?” I want this to be over fast.

“First where is your mother,” he asked making eye contact with me.

“She left when I was born,” I replied. Quinn and Rebecca knew that I didn’t like this subject.

“Okay. What month are you born in?” he continued to question me.

“January...” I looked over at Quinn. What was I to do?

“What was your mother’s name?” it looked like this was his last question.

“Nikki Smith. She was Māori full blood.” This was getting out of hand.

“Shit!” exclaimed Jethro balling his hands into fists causing his knuckles to turn white.

“Why do you need to know this information?” I asked stocked at his outburst.

“My mother” he said calming down. “She had this, this daughter to another full blood Māori before I was born. She said that this daughter live in this city. I wanted to find her, I have so much to ask her. Originally all I knew was that she was born the same year as me.”

“I still don’t get what this has to do with Aroha,” said Quinn now pacing.

Jethro starred at his hands. “My mother’s name is Nikki Smith.” He looked up now starring at my face.

I was shocked that I was never told that I had a half-brother, let alone it being Jethro.

“What month were you born?" It shot out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

“December.” Jethro replied not at all fazed by what I had said.

 +++

I asked Quinn to go up and get my Papa for me.

Jethro told him everything that he has asked me about. Dad didn’t seem shocked at all. He must have known that once mother left us she has hooked up with another man.

This didn’t explain to me why he has been hitting on me for the past few days and asking me out.

Got guts, Quinn had said himself when I had punched Jethro in the jaw.

“Jethro. If you knew that I was your half-sister, why did you ask me out twice?” I had to ask that otherwise I would have died inside.

Quinn was only half surprised that I has asked. I could see that the question was on his mind too.

“Well…um...” started Jethro unable to think clearly. “I didn’t know that it was you, who was my half-sister at the time. Mother never told me her name as her father had named her she said. So I had no idea to expect you. Then on a few occasions you did a few things that were really similar to what she does also she had a picture of her and your father at home.”

“Shit…okay,” Rebecca was really unsure of what to say and or do. She still told me her secrets though we were seventeen and one of them was that she really liked Jethro.

I was thinking so hard that I didn’t notice it had become silent in the room we were in.

Quinn broke the silence. “Jethro if you are half Māori why do you hang out in the popular Pakeha group?” he asked.

“I never associated myself with my Māori culture as all my friends are what you keep calling Pakeha, also mother has never made it have a big influence on my life as I have grown up.” His answer was honest I could tell because of stories father has told me about my mother trying so hard to be accepted into the Pakeha society.

“I better get going,” said Jethro standing up walking towards the door.

“Say hi to your mother for me would you young boy?” asked my father to my surprise.

“Sure sir,” with that he left and dad went upstairs.

+++

It was seven o’clock at night and no one wanted to go home. So we had a sleep over in the basement. Videos games, music and lots and lots of food. This helped me get my mind off the fact that Jethro is my half-brother.