The Better Me

Chapter 19 | Gang and The Beach

Slipping in and out of consciousness, I struggled to keep my eyes from closing for the third time this morning, even the delicious aroma emitting from the appetizing dishes on the table couldn't help me stay fully awake.
If only I had known waking up this early was a daily routine, I wouldn't have gone to bed so late last night.

"So how did the festival go?" Amy asked. She had just come out of the kitchen with Liliana in tow, and placing on the table other bowls of hot soup and some meaty looking dish I have never tasted before, they both settled down in their respective seats beside their husbands. Amy next to Khole and Liliana with Nakoa.

Fortunately for me, Sofia was the one who answered her question. "Oh it was nothing like I had expected Amy" she beamed, "I don't even know where to start, the food was obviously delicious, the people I met were so kind and friendly, there was even a girl that thought me how to do their traditional dance. And don't let me talk about the music, it was fabulous, amazing, extraordinary, fantastic...I could have danced the whole night away without getting tired for a second"

"Well you did dance the whole night away" Keaka reminded.

Amy laughed, "Oh really? And how are you so energized this morning?"

I gave a thankful groan at that question. "Seriously how?" I asked, "I went to bed before you but yet I feel like an old woman who walked a thousand miles"

Sofia rolled her eyes, "That's because I'm used to it Reggie" then turning to the others she explained how in her home it was obligatory for everyone to rise early and do house chores unless you wanted to be on the receiving end of a slipper or worse...a broom stick.

"That's good discipline" Nakoa commented after taking a sip of his water, "How else will you help your children become better adults in life?"

I laughed...in my mind. He doesn't know Sofia I guess.

"By using a slipper or a broom stick? Isn't that some kind of abuse?"

Sofia and I were the only ones who turned to Aiko with amused looks on our faces. It was funny how some things you've known as part of your childhood upbringing were viewed negatively by others.

"For us that's not abuse" I replied, "You only call it that if the punishment goes to an extreme length"

"What she said" Sofia agreed.

Swallowing the food he had just chewed, Aiko leaned closer and asked with slight concern and curiosity, "So you were also punished with broom sticks and slippers?"

"No"

He nodded.

And with a small smirk, I added. "They also used an electric cord, wooden spoon and belt"

Sofia exclaimed in excitement "me too!" just as Aiko's eyes widened in shock. The others chuckled in amusement as they continued eating their meal.

"Is there any way we can stop talking about Sofia's and Reggie's close relationship with the back of a slipper and talk about something normal?"

Keaka who looked traumatized by our story, sighed in deep relief and muttered, "Thank you Kina, please let's do that"

"So what have you youngsters planned for today? I'm sure no one here is planning to stay home" Amy asked, she seemed like the only one who easily made conversations at the table, Nakoa at least made some short comments but Liliana and Khole were pretty much reserved.

I totally understood them. I was a reserved person myself and most of the time I found it difficult to interact with people, not because I didn't know how to but because I couldn't really care less, unless maybe you were someone I could easily talk to.