Ahu and her two little boys (Part 4)

Ahu’s husband Ahuahu fished for a little while on the rocks. It was not the best time to fish and he was restless. He had caught barely enough for himself let alone Ahu his wife as well. Should he go back home? Would they sendfor him when the baby was born?  Ahu was the most beautiful thing that had happened to him. As he dreamt about her wave broke over the rock he was standing on and drenched him. He shook the water off himself and heard a little voice burst with laughter. It was a neighbour’s little girl.

“What are you doing here Moana?”

“Mummy told me to fetch you as Ahu is back home now.”

Relief spread over Ahuahu’s face and he flicked the water from his hair, pulled in his line and packed the two fish in his basket to return home. As he strode off as fast as he could he almost forgot Moana who had to run along after him. Hearing her call out his name he turned at the tiny voice which sounded so soft as she cried out ah-ua-hu with all the vowel sounds making a noise like the wind blowing through the trees. As he stopped for her she placed her tiny hand in his and whispered “She is nursing baby, she is waiting for you. We do not have to hurry.”

When they approached the village, Moana broke free and rushed ahead and shouted “Ahuahu is back.”

Hi’ilei came up to him and punched him on the arm and broke into a broad grin, but did not walk with him. Ahuahu entered his hut and as he did so two village women nodded to him and left him alone. It was dark in the dwelling and as his eyes adjusted to the light he saw Ahu kneeling over the baby and wrapping it up to put it in a back pouch for her to carry it.

“Ahu, did it all go well?”

She looked him straight in the eyes and said to him “Ahuahu my husband, you have a son.”  She then lowered her eyes in the way that he loved and his heart radiated such emotion that he bent down and held her face in his hands and rubbed noses with her and cried tears of joy.

Ahu held him tight in her arms and murmured softly “You are a great man Ahuahu, as you are not immune from showing your feelings. Now I have two little boys to look after but it must be time for you to go and brag to the other men about what a fine fisherman he will be.”

“I was drenched by a wave while fishing” Ahuahu said simply, wiping his eyes.

“Yes, everyone knows, Moana has already let the whole village know.“ She responded with a smile.