When the Kehua Calls: Part 6

By KINGI McKINNON

"Jeez, someone's had a darned good tutu around in there," Dad grumbled when we were back outside again. "Taps, doorknobs -- even the blimmin' bathtub's missing. Still ... s'pose we can't moan too much." He shrugged. "At least the foundation's still there, and it's damned solid."

"You can expect it to be the same as when we left," Mum reasoned. "Anyway, regardless of what's missing, there's still the thirty acres."

She settled onto what remained of the porch and sighed happily. "Oh, I can't wait till it's all finished. We can get a house cow -- a few chickens -- maybe even a couple of horses as well." Her eyes were distant and dreamy and she didn't seem in any hurry to be going anywhere. "We're going to manage just fine." she vowed.

For a short time everything was quiet, save for the monotonous drone of cicadas from the distant bush.

"We grew up here, you know," she finally said, breaking the silence. She dragged me down beside her, forcing me to listen. "Your father only lived about a mile up the road," She thought hard for a moment. "Now let me see. I think I was only four when Mum died and my Aunty Mihi took me in and raised me right here.

Publisher: Scholastic

Price: $13.95

Age group: 10-14 yrs

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