Out Here by Emma Barnes

Author:Emma Barnes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Auckland University Press
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Remembering Them

‘The Last Post’ floated over the water, faint notes fading into the steam. Remembering them, at dawn. Remembering them.

Princess was supervising the cream cans. His real name was Pirirakau, but close relations called him Princess. Willowy, sleek, always fashionable, though this morning’s outfit was more – The Working Man. Gumboots, pressed jeans, and a bulky olive swanndri, hair smoothed down beneath its hood. Small gold sleepers twinkled discreetly. He examined the nine bottles of rum. Six Corubas, two Plantations, a classic Capn Morgan. All donations, three for each can. The nephews Eru and Ra heaved the large metal containers out of the concrete steam boxes, and placed them on a low slat table in the kitchen. Their young arms bulged with effort; the liquid sloshed.

The milk was scalding hot from fifteen minutes in the thermal cookers; perfect. Eru had set the valves exactly right. Princess, both hands wrapped in old tea towels, carefully removed the first lid, then peeled the protective cloth off his fingers. Whiteness bubbled and hissed, then settled as he poured in two bottles of Bushells coffee and chicory with swift precision. Eru, a sturdy attentive youth, folded the mix with a long wooden paddle; he breathed in the fierce fumes when his uncle / auntie emptied the rum into the gaping metal mouth, and then took the stirrer from him. Strong sinewy hands blended the rich aromatic liquid. They repeated the process two more times, refastening each lid. The cans were set together in a straight line, ready for the coffee pots and small kettles. Ra had wandered off. Eru stayed and helped and watched and learned. ‘Most days she’s my Auntie Princess, but today he’s my Uncle Pirirakau,’ he whispered to himself, proud. ‘Doing the special coffee to warm the koros up after the ANZAC service.’

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