Iris and the Aloha Wedding Adventure (2 page)

“Honey, the wedding is six months away. Maybe you should save some excitement for later,” said her mother.

But Iris couldn't wait. She immediately ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

“Where are you going?” her dad called after her.

Iris shouted back, “I have to tell Rosie and Starr that I'm in another wedding. And that Flower Girl World is about to get a new member!”

“Come in the water, Dad! It's not cold at all!”

It was six months later, and Iris was up to her ankles in the Pacific Ocean, waiting for her father to finish putting on his sunscreen. As she waded through the water, the wet sand felt soft and squishy between her toes. Iris smiled.
This place is nothing like Philadelphia,
she thought.

Iris and her family had arrived in Maui early that morning. The plane ride was so long that Iris was able to read a book, watch two movies, play three games of Crazy Eights with her dad, and knit a scarf before
they landed. Even though she was sleepy, Iris was ready to start her vacation right away. As soon as her suitcase was delivered to their hotel room, Iris put on her swimsuit and dragged her father to the beach.

“Dad! Hurry up!” Iris shouted. She looked over at her father and noticed he was talking to a young couple. Iris's heart jumped.

“Jay! Malia!” Iris ran toward her cousin and his bride-to-be.

“Hello, my pretty flower girl!” Jay said, picking her up and twirling her around.

“So when can we start making decorations for your wedding?” Iris blurted out.

Malia laughed, but Jay pretended to groan. “Oh, Iris,” said the groom. “Do we have to talk wedding stuff already?”

“Believe me, it's all she wants to talk about!” teased her father.

“Dad!” Iris blushed. “Talking wedding stuff is fun!”

“I agree!” said Malia. “I'm so happy you're here. I can't wait for you to meet my sisters.”

“Me too! Where are they?” asked Iris.

“Out there.” Malia pointed to the ocean.

Iris spotted two young girls on surfboards riding a cresting wave. The taller girl glided
calmly through the water. But the smaller one shot through the waves, weaving in and out at a lightning pace.

“Whoa!” Iris said. “They're really good.”

Malia caught her sisters' attention and motioned for them to come in. When they made their way back to the beach, Malia introduced Iris to them.

“Aloha!” said the younger girl, Hana. Her white smile glistened against her tan skin.

“Welcome to Maui,” added Leilani.

“Thanks! It's nice to meet you,” Iris replied.

“Malia told me you've been a flower girl before,” Hana said. “This is my first time. I'm so excited.”

“I'm excited too!” said Iris. “I want to give you something.”

Iris bent down to rummage through her beach bag. She pulled out a sparkly, pearl-beaded bracelet. “This is for you. I made it.”

Iris placed the bracelet on Hana's wrist. Hanging from it were two charms: one was shaped like a flower, and the other was oval and had the letters FGW painted on it.

“I love it! Thank you!” said Hana. “What does FGW mean?”

“Flower Girl World. It's a club all about flower girls. Now that you're in a wedding, you're an official member.”

Iris told Hana about Rosie and Starr and how much fun they had had being flower girls together.

“Flower Girl World connects every girl who loves being a flower girl! Even girls who have never been in a wedding!”

“That's so cool!” said Hana.

“I'm sorry to interrupt,” said Malia.
“Hana, we have to clean up before the luau.”

“Luau?” asked Iris.

“We're all coming back here to your hotel for a big party tonight,” said Jay. “There will be Hawaiian food and a hula dancing show.”

“You'll meet my parents, and that's when our families will talk about the plans for setting up the wedding,” said Malia.

“Great,” said Iris.

“And don't forget,” Hana chimed in. “She'll meet Tutu too.”

“Who's Tutu?” Iris asked.

Hana and her sisters exchanged looks and giggled.

“You'll find out tonight,” said Hana as she turned to go.

Rumble, rumble, boom!

Five pretty hula dancers wearing grass skirts shook their hips wildly.

Rumble, rumble, boom!

Men draped in Hawaiian print fabric stomped across the stage. Each carried a large stick, its ends lit on fire.

Iris and Hana looked at each other with wide eyes. They were sitting in the front row at the luau show, excited for what would happen next.

Rumble, rumble, boom!

The men threw their fire sticks in the air like batons.

Iris gasped!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

On stage, a large ring was set aflame. One by one, each man dove through the ring. They tumbled into a forward roll
before standing up again. But that wasn't all. A second ring was set on fire. The last man in line would be diving through both hoops at the same time!

Iris could barely watch. She covered her eyes but left a little space between her fingers for peeking.

A powerful drumroll pounded, and the brave dancer took a running start…one ring…two rings…He did it!

Iris and Hana stood up and cheered. “That was awesome!” Iris shouted.

Hana nodded. “Leilani and I are doing a hula dance at the wedding. It's our gift for Malia and Jay. Do you want to be in it too?”

Iris didn't have to think very long. “No way!”

Hana looked surprised “Are you sure? It'll be fun!”

“I'm not a good dancer,” Iris explained.
“One time, I had to dance in a school show. I twirled the wrong way and landed on a lady's lap in the front row!”

The girls hooted with laughter until a thundering voice made them jump.

“WHAT'S SO FUNNY?”

Iris turned to see a plump woman with tightly curled short hair. She was wearing a sack dress with big orange flowers. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Iris and Hana. Iris gulped.

“Aloha!” Hana cheered. She ran over to the woman and threw her arms around her. “You missed dinner and the show. It was the best luau ever!”

Iris was confused.
Why is Hana talking to this scary lady?
she thought.