Pish-posh, Pele



	Stories from Children's Author Lisa Wilkinson

	PISH-POSH, PELE by Lisa B. Wilkinson
	Copyright ©2000,2006 by Lisa B. Wilkinson "This is going to be a great vacation," Jilly said. She rode in the backseat of the rental car. Mama drove. Papa sat beside Mama pointing out the window saying things like, "Look at that!" and "Have you ever seen such a beautiful beach?" Grandma sat beside Jilly. When they had changed clothes at the hotel, Grandma said she wanted to blend in with the locals. She wore a loud, flowered-print muumuu, a straw hat, and a camera draped on a strap around her neck. Jilly thought Grandma definitely did not look like a local. She looked like a tourist on the Big Island of Hawaii which is exactly what she was. "We're here," Mama said. She pulled into a parking lot filled with cars. Letters on the building in front of them read, HAWAII HISTORICAL CENTER, ALOHA. Inside the center, Jilly and her family met Mr. Pukui, the curator. "The Hawaiian islands were formed by magma, or molten rock, that escaped from far below the Earth's crust," Mr. Pukui said. He spoke of the history of Hawai'i. He told them of the Hawaiian legend that the islands were formed by the goddess Pele who lives in Kilauea, on the southern slope of Mauna Loa which is why Kilauea is the most active volcano in Hawai'i. "Pish-posh," said Mama. "That's just silly superstition." "Maybe," Mr. Pukui said. But some believe that Pele is very protective of her islands. Visitors who come to Hawai'i and take away rocks or shells or other natural pieces of the islands are stricken with bad luck." "Pish-posh," said Mama. "Pish-posh," said Papa. "Pish-posh," said Grandma. "That's just silly superstition." Mr. Pukui looked toward the Kilauea volcano. "Did you hear that?" Jilly listened. She thought she heard a rumble. "That is Pele," Mr. Pukui said, pointing to the volcano. "She's angry. Someone must have taken a piece of Hawaii." "Pish-posh," said Mama. "It's just thunder off in the distance." Jilly looked up. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. She listened again. The rumbling had stopped. Maybe Mama was right. It might have been thunder. They said good-bye to Mr. Pukui and drove to Kealakekua Bay. Mama and Grandma started up the trail to the Captain Cook Monument. Jilly and Papa changed into swimsuits and grabbed their snorkels and masks. They swam together looking at the sea life. Fish of brilliant colors swam beside them. Sea grass swayed to and fro on the



	ocean floor. Jilly saw coral shaped like a deer's antlers. "Look, Papa," she said. "Isn't that pretty?" "It sure is," Papa said picking it up. "That would look nice on your shelf back home." "But what about Pele?" she asked. "Won't she be angry?" "Pish-posh," said Papa. "That's just silly superstition." Papa carried the coral to shore and put it in his beach bag. Jilly thought she heard a rumble, but it was getting close to lunch time. It might have been her stomach growling. The next day they hiked in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. At the base of Mauna Loa, Jilly picked up a rock. "That is a lava rock." Mama said. "It would look nice on your shelf back home." "But what about Pele? She'll be angry." Jilly asked. "Pish-posh. That's just silly superstition." Mama took the rock from Jilly. She put it in her backpack. Jilly looked toward Kilauea. She thought she heard a rumble, but it might have been a car's engine at the campsite nearby. The next day they went to Honokaa. Grandma splashed in the water with Jilly. They floated on rafts and swam in the waves. While they walked along the beach, Jilly found a beautiful sea shell. She picked it up. "Oh, look Grandma. Isn't it pretty." "That would look nice on your shelf back home," Grandma said. "But what about Pele? She'll be angry." Jilly said. "Pish-posh. That's just silly superstition." Grandma held out her hand. "Give it to me." Jilly handed the seashell to Grandma who wrapped it in her beach towel. Jilly thought she heard a rumble, but it might have been waves crashing on the shore. The day came for Jilly and her family to fly home. When they arrived, Jilly unpacked her suitcase, Papa put the coral on her shelf, Mama put the lava rock on her shelf, and Grandma put the seashell on her shelf. They stood back and said, "That looks nice." Jilly thought she heard a rumble, but it might have been the mail truck outside. Later, Papa drove to the grocery store to buy some milk and bread. On the way home, the car got a flat tire. Papa opened the trunk to get the spare tire. It was flat, too. Papa tried to call Mama on the cell phone, but the battery was dead. He had to walk all the way home. "Pele's angry," Jilly said. "Pish-posh," Papa said. The next day Mama went to the beauty shop. She wanted a different look. She wanted to look beautiful. The hair stylist cut and colored her hair. When Mama looked in the mirror, she cried. Her hair was green. And it was cut like Papa's. She wanted to look beautiful, but she looked like Papa with green hair! When Mama got home, Jilly said, "Pele's angry."



	"Pish-posh," Mama said. Grandma was in the kitchen frying fish. The grease popped out of the pan, landed on the burner and burst into flame. Grandma put a lid on the burner but the fire didn't go out. She grabbed the fire extinguisher, but it didn't work. Grandma, Mama, Papa and Jilly ran next door and called the fire department from the neighbor's house. Luckily, the fire-fighters arrived in time. The kitchen was a mess, but the house was saved. Jilly looked at the burned stove and said, "Pele's angry." "Pish-posh," Grandma said. Papa looked at Mama's green hair. Mama looked at the burned stove. Grandma thought of the flat tires on Papa's car. Papa went to the garage and returned with a box. Mama went to the closet and returned with newspapers. Grandma went to Jilly's room and returned with the coral, lava rock, and shell. Several days later, the postman delivered a box to Mr. Pukui. Inside the box, wrapped in newspaper, was a piece of coral, a lava rock, and a sea shell. At the bottom of the box was this letter. Dear Mr. Pukui, Please return the coral to Kealakekua Bay, the lava rock to the base of Mauna Loa, and the shell to Honokaa. Please tell the goddess, Pele, we are sorry. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Jilly, Papa, Mama, and Grandma When Mr. Pukui had returned the last item to its rightful place on the island, he turned toward Mauna Loa and read Jilly's letter out loud. Then he listened. He heard a rumble. It might have been thunder. It might have been waves crashing on the shore. It might have been a car engine somewhere nearby. But it sounded to Mr. Pukui as if it were coming from the center of the big volcano. And it sounded like... laughter.

	Write to Lisa Wilkinson at Alligator Tree Press P. O. Box 4988 Victoria, TX 77903-4988 Return to Lisa Wilkinson, children's author home page. Return to www.alligatortree.com .