A Fish Out of Water: Chapter 8

Chapter 8: A Playdate with Destiny

One day, after Keoni had finished his usual morning routine, he decided to go outside and splash in the ocean. However, while he was enjoying the water, Kapena picked him up and carried him along the beach. Keoni fussed a bit at having his splashy time interrupted, but Kapena paid no heed. He brought his son to a house down the street. "This is the home of our neighbors, the Kealoha family," he explained. "They invited us over for a playdate. In spite of Makoa Kealoha's questionable opinions on the state of the islands, it will be good for you to make a friend your own age."

Keoni went inside, explored a bit, and found some building blocks in what looked like a toddler's bedroom with a few pieces of pink, baby blue and light purple furniture. However, the siren sound of kids' tunes on a music player soon convinced him to abandon the tower he'd been building and head back out to the Kealohas' living room. A few other people were already gathered there, including Makoa Kealoha, who Keoni had already met, and another toddler, who was sitting on a small round ottoman, eating a hotdog.

Makoa sat down on the sofa next to his little girl. "Nani, let me teach you how to dance!"

"NO!!!" Nani exclaimed emphatically.

"Now now," Makoa chided his daughter gently, "please don't be defiant to your parents, okay?"

Meanwhile, Keoni had decided that the Kealohas' living room carpet could use a few more bright colors. He didn't even notice that, for some reason, Kapena didn't seem to mind that his small son was making a mess on the neighbors' rug.

Once Keoni decided he was done enhancing the tropical artistry of the carpet, he went back over to the music player and started to boogie down again! However, eventually Keoni's rumbling tummy led him to follow the smell of hotdogs to the Kealohas' dining table. He grabbed a hotdog, and so did Kapena. Meanwhile, a lady who Keoni assumed was also part of the Kealoha family sat down on the sofa and started reading out loud from a book for toddlers. "Once upon a time, little Antonio went searching for the long-lost Princess Plumbob..." Keoni brought his hotdog over to the ottoman, climbed up onto the seat, and started noshing away as he listened to the story. Kapena also grabbed a hotdog for himself, and he sat down at the dining room table to eat it.

Makoa had finally succeeded in convincing his daughter to let him teach her to dance, and it seemed like she was paying attention to the story as she moved to the music too. As Makoa danced, he struck up a conversation with Kapena, making small talk about boring grown-up things like property values, fitness techniques, and conservation. That last one, "conservation," was an awfully big word to Keoni, and he didn't even know what it meant. The story about Antonio's attempts to save Princess Plumbob even though he never could seem to find the right castle was far more interesting anyway.

Eventually, Keoni finished his hotdog, and the lady finished the story. Keoni figured he should probably try socializing with his playdate host. "Awoha," he greeted the other toddler. "I'm Keoni."

"Awoha," she replied. "I'm Nani!"

Keoni assumed that introductions would be enough chit-chat for now -- after all, he didn't really know these people all that well even though they were his family's neighbors. He climbed down off the ottoman in order to dance some more. However, apparently Nani had other plans. She stopped dancing, spread her arms wide and tried to wrap them around Keoni. "Wet's be bestest fwiends! Big hug!"

Keoni felt like going straight from strangers to bestest friends was way faster than he was comfortable moving his relationship with the other toddler along, and he pushed her away.

Nani seemed upset, but before she could really respond, her mother came and swooped her up. "Come on, Nani, it's time for potty training." With that, Nani's mom took her into another room.

Keoni was tired of dealing with these strangers. While Makoa continued his conversation with Kapena, Keoni snuck out the front door, climbed down the stairs, and started toddling down the beach towards his own home. He went past a big black mossy rock that looked like a whale, and some flags and big balloons. Then he saw his mother walking up the beach -- and she saw him. "What are you doing here, Keoni? You're supposed to be at a playdate with Nani Kealoha."

Keoni shook his head. "No. Too many stwangews."

"The Kealohas aren't strangers," Malie explained. "They're our friends and neighbors. It wasn't very polite to just leave when they had invited you to their home. Besides, your father must be worried sick about you." With that, Malie picked Keoni up and carried him back towards the Kealoha house.

Malie took Keoni up the Kealoha's stairs and through their front door, and she put him down on the living room floor in front of the music player. "Come on, Keoni, let's dance!"

Keoni just couldn't seem to say no to a good bop.

Before long, Nani came to the living room to dance too, although she still seemed upset that Keoni had pushed her away earlier.

However, a few minutes of bobbing to the music together kind of warmed her up to him again, at least a little bit.

Soon, it was time for the playdate to end. Kapena and Malie brought Keoni back to their own home. Keoni was still far from ready to be instant best friends with Nani, but overall, he had to admit he'd had fun playing with her.