Hard to Find by Traci Tyne Hilton

Author:Traci Tyne Hilton [Hilton, Traci Tyne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Proverbs 31 House
Published: 2014-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Isaac Daniels

I’ve not made a habit of flying in private planes. But I have done it a couple of times before, and I couldn’t help but notice that Stina’s plane was kind of small. I took one of four leather seats and stretched my legs out. I pitied Dani stuck in the car with Stina, but I tried to comfort myself that at least they’d get home safely.

I put Dani’s police situation out of my mind. Stina would take care of everything. She could make mincemeat of a Segway-riding French airport policeman.

“So, Karl, this your plane?” Si leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

When I said Karl looked like a Viking, I didn’t mean he had a horn helmet or anything, but he was a bruiser, and very redheaded. I hadn’t met many redheaded Swedes, but this was definitely one of them. Also, he had crazy bushy muttonchops, which pushed him well over the edge on the looks-like-a-Viking scale.

“It’s the family plane.” Karl was just leaning back, arms behind his head, surveying the airport. He didn’t look like he was in any kind of hurry.

“Your folks?”

“Farfar’s plane.”

“How come he lets you fly it?”

“A man’s got to work, ja?” He smiled. “I like to fly. I get to fly the family plane. Perfect job.”

Si’s eyes lit up. “I couldn’t agree more. Smart of you to be born into this family instead of a family of pastors and missionaries.”

“Or judges,” I couldn’t help adding. It probably wouldn’t matter if I was tenured at an Ivy League school someday. If I wasn’t a judge, I wasn’t going to measure up to Dad and Grandpa.

“Law in the blood, Ike?” Si asked.

I shuddered. I hadn’t been called Ike in a long time. “You could say that.”

“Then why did you go into religion? Seems like a dumb idea, if you ask me.”

“My dad would agree.”

“He’s one to judge.” Si laughed hard at his joke and slapped his knee.

“Exactly. He is a judge.”

“I had a feeling. That’s why I said it. But, why religion? It seems weird to be all obsessed about religion and not have a real job, like a pastor.”

“Teaching is a real job.”

“But at a place like Tillgiven? Did you just get bit by the travel bug or something?”

“Something like.”

“I wouldn’t ever do what you do.” Si leaned back, his smile plastered across his face but not reflected in his eyes.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to go pro. I want to surf all the big competitions.”

“Surf a lot back home?”

“Yup. Tonga is amazing for surfing.”

“How’d you end up with a name like Sioeli?”

“Born and raised on Tonga. Sioeli was the first native preacher on the Island. My parents liked that.”

“Do you consider yourself a third culture kid? Or a Canadian?”

“Who needs labels?”

“Everyone needs labels. It’s just a thing people do to each other. To themselves. What do you say? Third culture kid?”

“Sure. But mostly I’m Tonganese. I went to the local school from kindergarten to graduation. I’m fluent in the language. And I surf.

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