A PACIFIC
DREAM
Elisabeth Puruto
T
he dark green fronds of the
slender palm trees were
rustling gently in the slight
breeze. Beyond the clear green
lagoon, the reef stood as a barrier
against which the waves of the
South Pacific played catch with
each other; rushing against it and
splashing white foam in the air
as they ran along the dark reef
before gliding back into the ocean.
A picture of exuberant peace.
“Oh, what did I let myself in
for!” wailed the slender blond
woman as she buried her tear-
stained face in her hands, leaning
against the strong shoulder of
her dark-haired friend, whose
strong brown arms drew her
closer. Hanna and Natia were at
the airport, waiting for Hannah’s
plane to board. They had become
friends over the last few months.
When Hanna moved to this idyllic
island, she hardly knew anybody,
DOZ Magazine | November 2019
and most locals were too shy to
befriend her.
“We were thinking of warning
you, but we thought this time
things would work out alright. We
didn’t know you and were too shy
to talk with you.”
Hannah lifted her head and
gazed across the landing strip
to the lagoon on the far horizon.
She remembered the first time
she came to this island, just on a
stopover for two days. There was
not much to do, and she felt lonely
in her hotel room. Then a slip of
paper appeared under the door.
It was an invitation to a BBQ at a
hotel nearby. ‘Yes, that would be
nice,’ she thought picking up the
phone, making a booking. She
was not disappointed, the BBQ
was held at the lagoon’s edge
under swaying palms, the salad
and sausages were quite tasty,
and a group of handsome young
6
islanders sang to the soft tunes of
their guitars. People were seated
at a long table, and next to her
was a local man, maybe in his
forties.
“I am Tane,’ he introduced
himself.
“My name is Hannah,’ she
responded. Tane displayed great
knowledge of the island culture
and invited her to a tour next day.
“I have to fly out in the evening,
but in the morning, I could spare
a couple of hours.” She accepted
the invitation and the next
day, she was pleased by Tane’s
respectful manners. He told her
about the history of the island,
drove her along the brilliant
blue lagoon, and also took her
inland towards the high volcanic
peak. What a contrast! Here no
sound of the waves could be
heard; it was very still, only a
white horse in meadow nearby