Guiding the car I had rented at the Pago Pago Airport in American Samoa around the bay. Moving into a parking lot near the shore at Afono. Driving down by the beach, I just needed to be somewhere quiet. Finding a safe place to park close to the water. Jumping out and giving myself exactly what I needed that day. Some peace and quiet in a lovely place.
Having started in Malaloa and moving east, spending a few days in each of the villages. They got a bit smaller as I traveled. Still, none of it was what I wanted. One of the bartenders told me about a small village on the shores of Pago Pago Bay located on the east side called Afono. The bartender told me the village was more rural and had a very nice local flair.
"Afono is part of the village communities near the Pago Pago Bay Area that together are known as Ma'upΕ«tasi ("the only house of chiefs"). There are large beaches, both rocky and sandy, in the area. Also very quiet and with few tourists. The locals are not always that friendly, but they are never too bad. Rich Americans can upset them so just don't show it," he said as he put down Gabriel's drink.
So there I was, walking on a quiet, peaceful beach wondering if this was just a waste of time and money. I was looking for a special someone to take back home with me to share my life, not a barfly that would leave with anyone.
Stopping and sitting on a downed tree with the roots sticking out of the water, I thought back to just over nine years ago. My life had been wonderful, a great family, a really good job as a chef, playing music in a local band, and loving every minute of it.
Then one day she was gone, no explanation, or excuse, just a little over a half-page letter saying, "I may be making the biggest mistake of my life but I need to go." That was it, nothing to explain it, nothing to ease the pain, just gone. My life was down to less than two-thirds of a page with no explanation nor even a goodbye. That was when I lost what little grip I had on reality and spent a few months in the VA Psych ward, not a fun place. I was there for about 3 months before I moved back to town.
For 9 years, I helped my ex-wife whenever she needed it. I never lost hope that she loved me and that we would be together again. That all changed in June of that ninth year when she publicly posted online that she had never loved me and that it had all been a huge mistake. That was when I lost whatever love was still inside and realized I was gonna always be alone.
Sitting there inside my memories, I didn't see her approach, she was almost standing next to me when she spoke. "Hey. Hello Sir, are you ok? Are you lost?"
Turning toward her I was speechless. She was so adorable. She was a tiny young lady, with nut-brown skin, dark eyes, black hair and so very lovely. I finally realized that I was just staring at her with my mouth open and still hadn't spoken.
"Yes, I mean, yes it's ok, thank you. Just enjoying the beach."
"Oh, I get it, you are one of them?" she snarled.
I chuckled and said, "One of them?"
"Tourist buttheads, are you here to save us too?" she snorted back.
"Not at all, actually I'm here today to get away from the damn tourists myself. Drive me crazy, but then again the barflies aren't much better."
I continued. "I came to the islands looking for someone very special but didn't like the atmosphere in the cities. I wanted a simple island girl that needed someone to take care of her and she'd return the love, not a barfly that just wanted money or to leave the area with someone, anyone that would take them. So not much luck, I just wanted to enjoy my last few days before I go home."
"Wanna walk the beach, Sir? I get bored..." She smiled as she asked.
We walked on the beach for what felt like no time at all but then I noticed that the sun was almost on the horizon. We had been here for several hours enjoying the beach. We had found a spot close to the water and were making a very large detailed sandcastle. I truly loved watching her but also got caught at it often. I just couldn't take my eyes off her for very long.
As we were playing on the beach, she smiled often, letting me see she enjoyed just being with me.
She said, "No one special has ever been there for me. I like being with you. I feel very lucky to have a handsome, tall stranger spending time with me."
I was also thrilled and honored for the chance I got to share some of her time. I saw how she enjoyed the sandcastle and knew then that she was fond of simple things, nothing fancy or flashy. I liked that about her, simple and genuine.
I brushed her hair from her face as she looked up at me.
"It is nice to see you smile at me. I do not see that in the village. Your smile is very disarming and makes me relax with you. Your smile, when you look at me, when you touch me, all that is warm and exciting for me. Last year, just before IΒ turned 18, all my friends decided they were grown up and wanted to go to the big city, but I stayed here. Their stories of how they spent and enjoyed their nights are disappointing to me. To be all painted and have to lie to men just to get them to buy me drinks, and then, you know, all that other stuff," as she shifted her gaze down to the sand.
"I went one weekend with my friend Suki. I hated it! The food was no good, the music was too loud, I had no money to spend and those men treated us like we were less than people. They wanted to do things too, but not me. They told me how I would love it but I did not believe them and I didn't love any of it. I told them that I never had done anything and did not want to, they each suggested things I could do and still be a virgin. When I did what they wanted me to do it made me feel dirty and was not what I wanted. I came home and have not gone back, I do not want to."
Smiling as I watched her tell her story, happy that she had a more mature outlook and didn't just run to take the easy way. She was very smart and I knew she would have no trouble learning about and loving life. She would be homeschooled because of her age and I had no doubt she would excel at schooling. I also liked that she cared about herself too much for that life in the cities to be hers. Not wanting to overwhelm her I patted the beach next to me and asked, "Wanna help me?"
She answered with a squeal of laughter and obvious consent bubbling in her voice, she eagerly responded, "Oh, Yesss please, Sir!"
She knelt on the sand waiting to hear what she needed to do to help.
Before I explained to her I said, "By the way, we have spent almost all day together and I just realized how rude I've been to you. I'm Mr. Sweet. You can call me Gabriel if you wish." I brushed off some sand from her shoulder and back, "and you?"
"I am rude as well I guess, haha. I am Shallucia. I only have one name. I like Gabriel. Biblical I think is it not, an angel or something? I do not know too much about it, my mother is very religious but my father was not. He has been gone for a few years now."
"Yes," I said, "Gabriel was an Archangel, he was the messenger of God. He guided the three wise men to the Star and told Mary of her son to be. He also helped Joshua, the guy with the horn at Jericho."
"You can call me Shallu or even Sha if you wish, that is what most people call me. My mom spends little time with me. She does not talk to me much since Dad left. She is always upset about something and tells me I never get things right. I try not to be home too much."
"I like Shallu or Sha. I will probably call you princess or baby girl. Maybe your Mom is just lonely. I'm sorry about you losing your father. I think you are very special. From what I have seen just today, you do everything fine. She is hurt and upset that your father has gone and she is now alone. That does hurt. My ex-wife left me alone."
"I am sorry about your wife, that is sad. Yes mom is happier when she is alone, I think," said Sha. "I do not seem to fit in anymore. I like the beach cuz it is warm and quiet usually. I am kind of used to being alone also, but it is more fun now that you are here."
"You're so sweet. I have a serious question, do you want to keep living here," I asked, "With your Mom? Are you happy?"
Sha responded with a tear in her eye, "I guess I am supposed to but I really do not want to. That is bad, right? I probably should not say stuff like that but I am not very happy here."
I told her, "You're free to tell me anything you ever feel Sha. I'll never fault you for your feelings. If you're not happy it's not bad to say so. What makes you happy?"
"So far?" she giggled, "You, hehe. I like this, being with you, just doing fun things and not getting scolded, haha."
"Me?" I laughed at the idea. I had not felt that way for some time, "That's so lovely of you to say. I truly love doing things with you as well. I wouldn't scold you for no reason, you are a good girl, I can see that."
