Back In the islands (slowly editing)

Chapter 4 - Sunday In tonga

Little note:

If they speak fresh then they say their b's like p's and their p's like b's. Their k's come out like g's and g's come out like k's. Hopefully you guys will understand. In Tonga they will call her Meretiana instead of Ledea. Hope that ain't too confusing for ya'll hehe lol.

MERETIANA'S POV (LEDEA)

I wake up at 8:32. I'm still getting used to the Tongan times but I did good for the first time. Lucky I already changed my clock times. Aunty comes into the room with a purple puletaha. 

"Put this on for church after breakfast" she smiles. I get up and wash my face.

After I walk downstairs and eat some bread. Bread is probably the only thing you can eat here for breakfast. I see Sosaia come out wearing a white buttoned up shirt and what looks like a skirt. Uncle comes out wearing the same thing. I softly laugh.

Saia walks up to me. 

"Don't laugh before you get a hidding" he whispers. 

I straight away stop then make my way to get ready. How the heck am I supposed to put this on? 

"Aunty!" I call out. 

 "Yes Mere" she says. 

"Can you help me put this on?" I ask.

"Ok I'll show you how to but it on" she laughs. She walks over and pickes up my puletaha. 

"Feet abart" she says. 

"How come?" I ask. 

"Because if your feet aren't abart you kan't sit" she tells me. I spread my feet.

She wraps the bottom part around my waist then tie's it. After I put on the top part and she zips it up. 

"Wow, you lug prettyful" she compliments then leaves my room.

I look in the Mirror. This thing is hugging my curves man. But yeah I look prettyfull, whatever that means. I look smart and like I don't cause trouble. I look just like any other Tongan girl.

I fish-braid my hair then put on some black flats with a little heel. After that I walk out and every one is waiting. 

"Finally" Saia says. 

"Wow Mere you lug very koot (good)" Uncle compliments. We all make our way to the van and get in.

I see that Tonga doesn't have concrete roads or Kmart or anything. 

"All the stores are closed on Sunday's except the bread shop" Saia tells me. Town honestly looked abandoned with how empty it looked.

"This is going to take some getting used to" I sigh. We arrive at church.

You see all the men/boys/guys are wearing the same thing Saia is wearing. Other girls are wearing skirts or dresses or what I'm wearing. Church starts and I'm quiet the whole time because I have no idea what's happening. All church I can feel everyone staring at me, even the little kids who constantly look to where I am.

You kids ever seen a maori before? Why couldn't Mum & Dad send me to New Zealand? At least I know the language. I hear a guitar playing and look to see where all the men are at. They start singing and man do they have good voices. Some are unbelievably high and I'm just sitting there like 😮.

After they finish we go on with the service. Every time it was time to sing a Hym Aunty would hold the Hym book up to me but I would have trouble pronouncing the words. This is so embarrassing not knowing the Tongan language, tradition or customs.

After church I just stuck with Aunty because I clearly have no idea what to do or what they are even saying. Saia is talking with who I'm guessing are friends and uncle is talking with the older men. I decide to wait in the van.

I get out my iPhone and earphone and listen to some music.

The door opens. 

Saia. 

"Hey come meet some family" he says. I stop my music and leave my phone in the van. I walk with him to a bunch of people with Aunty & Uncle. 

"Mere, this is Bessi and her daughter Akosita (Sita) " Saia introduces. 

"Aunty Bessi, Sita this is Uncle Pate's daughter Meretiana" Saia says gesturing towards me. They come over and give me a hug.

"Wow, Your a very beautiful child" Bessi compliments. I thank her. Bessi, Aunty & Uncle begin talking with other people while Saia went back to his friends, Leaving me and Sita.

"So you speak tongan?" She asks. 

"Nah but I speak maori" I answer. 

"The boys here love girls from New Zealand" she laughs. 

"Nah I ain't here for the guys" I laugh back. 

"Then why are you?" She questions.

"I got into a fight and here I am" I explain. 

"Well, your heaps pretty so you don't need worrying about gettin a man" she nudges me. 

"So you go Liahona with Saia?" She says. 

"Yeah, but I fucking don't like the uniform" I sigh.

"Don't say that out loud, if Mele hear you, you can get in trouble" she says. 

"Man Tonga is different" I let out. 

Bessi calls out for Sita. 

"Bye, see you tomorrow" she hugs me then goes to her mum. I walk back to the car and soon after Saia, Aunty and Uncle follow.

"You ligink your first Sunday?" Uncle asks. 

"Yeah it was good" I say. The ride home is quiet, well for me it is. I was too busy listening to music in my own world to care.

After we get home I change into some rugby shorts and a loose Chicago Bulls singlet. I go and sit to eat some dinner. 

"I'm guessing you ain't a fan of dresses" Saia asks. 

"True" I reply diggin into this delicious food.

Is Aunty tryna make me fat? I remember when mum said when I ate, it went straight to my ass. The hurtful yet funny things she would say to me. 

"You better ket used to it, you wearing dat dress every Dai" uncle says.

After we finish me and Aunty clear out the table and wash the dishes. 

"Have you kalled dem yet?" Aunty asks. 

"Oh, I don't have a SIM card yet" I remember. 

"Ok tomorrow Saia will take you to get what you need" she dismisses me and I go to bed.

School tomorrow.

Night Mere

Day done and dusted.