Pounamu Pounamu by Witi Ihimaera

Author:Witi Ihimaera [Ihimaera, Witi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781761047268
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

In Search of the Emerald City

We’re leaving today!

‘Kia tere, Matiu,’ Dad shouts. ‘We’re going soon.’

Boy! This is exciting! E noho rā farm. E noho rā house. Goodbye. Hey! I forgot to say goodbye to Emere!

I jump down from the window and run out the door.

‘Matiu,’ Mum calls. ‘Where you off to?’

‘Just going to say goodbye to Emere, Mum!’

‘E tama,’ Mum sighs. ‘Don’t be long. And don’t you dirty your clothes or I’ll really give it to you.’

‘All right, Mum!’

I climb over the gate and step carefully through the mud.

‘Emere! Emere! Come to me, Emere!’

There she is. Down at the end of the paddock.

‘Mōrena, Emere! No, don’t come too close, you’ll make me dirty. I’m going to miss you, Emere. You can’t come with us. Cows don’t live in the city. Guess what, Emere? We’re going to make a lot of money! Dad, he says so. Emere, are you listening Emere? You just listen to me.’

I swear at her, a bad word. And she moos and makes me feel sorry.

‘I’m sorry, Emere, but you really are a dumb cow you know! E noho rā, friend.’

I give her a kiss.

‘Eee, Emere! You need a wash!’

Then back to the house I run. First though, spit on my hands, wash my face, and smooth my neat clothes so Mum won’t growl.

She gets crabby sometimes!

‘Matiu,’ Dad yells. ‘Come and help me load the car.’

‘I’m coming, Dad!’

‘Auē,’ he moans. ‘That’s a heavy box. What you got in it?’

‘All my writing books, Dad. Miss Wright, she says I have to take them to my new school, that’s what she says.’

‘Can’t we leave some behind?’ Dad asks.

‘No, Dad! I have to take all my books. Miss Wright, she says …’

‘All right, all right. But what about this book?’

‘You can’t chuck that one away, Dad! That’s my best. Neat story! About the straw man and the tin man and the cowardly lion and the emerald city and …’

‘Boy, you can talk, Matiu,’ Dad laughs. He hands me another box. ‘Here, put this in the back too. Your Mum’s stuff. What does she want to take all this stuff for?’

‘Too much moan,’ Mum yells. ‘Turi turi tō waho.’

She comes onto the verandah.

‘Matiu, where’s that sister of yours? Where’s that Roha gone?’

‘Down the road, Mum. To see that Hone.’

My sister and Hone, they go around together. I know. I seen them kissing each other.

Hey! Look at our car! It’s neat, eh? Dad, he buys it from Mr Wallace. See? No dents. And honk honk goes the horn. And I can drive it, Dad said so. I’m a good driver.

Hey! Look at all those people coming! Coming to say haere rā. Tēnā koe Mr Parata, Mrs Parata. Tēnā koe Mrs Mohi. Tēnā koe, Nani Tama. Yes, Mum’s in the house. No, you’re not late, we’re still here.

‘Hey! Matiu!’ someone calls. It’s Hemi, my best mate! He waves to me to come and we run away from the house into the trees, and fall down laughing.

‘Want a smoke?’ Hemi asks. He lights one and puff puff puffs away.

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