Iris and the Aloha Wedding Adventure (4 page)

“Are you okay?” Mrs. Lee asked while helping her stand.

Hana nodded.

Then her mother's tone changed. “No more playing around! Do you want to get hurt before the wedding?”

Iris realized it was the second time someone had asked Hana that question that day.

Hana looked down. “I'm sorry.”

“We don't have time for games,” her mom scolded. “Go to your room so the rest of us can get our work done!”

Iris finished another lei before going upstairs to Hana's bedroom to check on her friend. She found Hana lying on her bed, her head hidden underneath a big, sparkly pillow. Iris immediately recognized the picture on the pillow. It was Gaby Snow, the world's biggest pop star. Iris was a huge fan.

She sat on the bed. “Hana, I have good news.”

Hana didn't stir.

“Our moms said I could sleep over tonight.”

“Really?” Hana popped her head out from the pillow.

“On one condition…” Iris grabbed the pillow from Hana. “I get to sleep with the Gaby Snow pillow!”

Laughing, the girls started a playful pillow fight. Iris was glad to see Hana smiling again. But as soon as their game wound down, Hana's happiness faded.

“I didn't mean to cause trouble,” said Hana as she wiped away a tear.

Iris nodded.

“I want to help with the wedding, but when will we have time to play?”

“After we finish all the work,” said Iris.

“Wait a minute,” Hana said. She had a glint in her eye. “We need the
Menehune
to help us. Once everything is done, our parents will be happy and we can have fun!”

“How are we going to do that? You said the
Menehune
only come out at night when no one is around.”

“We'll capture one!” exclaimed Hana.

“Huh?” Iris was confused.

“It'll be easy!” claimed Hana. “We can set a trap this afternoon.”

This plan was moving too quickly for Iris. “Why don't we try working faster on our
own?” she suggested. “I can help you make your leis.”

“No, my idea will work. What can we use to lure the
Menehune
to our trap? I know – a cookie! Everyone loves cookies!”

Iris couldn't deny that last part.

Hana exclaimed, “Let's get started!”

Iris didn't know what to do. She liked making leis, but she didn't want to disappoint her new friend.

Iris took a deep breath. “Okay, let's do it.”

The girls crept into the kitchen. Tutu was too busy stuffing a chicken to notice them. Hana quietly opened the door to the large pantry, and they sneaked inside. It was dark and smelled like cereal, but Hana knew her way around. She easily found all the materials they needed to build their trap: string, a square cardboard box, and an open container of vanilla wafers.

“Vanilla wafers are perfect!” Hana whispered. Iris nodded silently.

To avoid Leilani on the back patio, the girls went outside through the front door and ran past their parents to the far end of the property. This area was full of lush trees and plants. Iris spotted a large tree with roots hanging down from its branches like long pieces of spaghetti.

“What's that?” she asked.

“It's a banyan tree,” Hana told her. “I bet a bunch of
Menehune
live in it!”

The girls decided that the base of this tree would be the best place to set their trap.

Iris found a sturdy stick. Hana tied string to one end of it and used the other end to prop up the cardboard box. Then they placed two vanilla wafers under the trap.

“Now what do we do?” asked Iris.

“We come back at midnight.”

“What?!!” Iris's stomach suddenly hurt.

“We have to catch the
Menehune
tonight, so everything will be done tomorrow. It's not dangerous,” she added. “Leilani and I camp out here all the time.”

Iris arched her brow.

“Don't you want to be one of the first people in the world to see a
Menehune?”
asked Hana.

Iris thought for a second. Catching a
Menehune
would surely make her famous. She'd probably be in the newspaper and on TV. And maybe she'd even get to meet the mayor of Maui!

“But what if we get caught sneaking out?” Iris asked. The thought of an angry Tutu gave her the shivers.

“We won't! We'll sneak out quietly and be back in a flash.”

Iris bit her lip. “Alright,” she said slowly.

Hana took a cookie out of the box and popped it in her mouth. “Want one?” she asked as she chewed.

Iris shook her head. There wasn't enough room in her belly with all the butterflies.

It was midnight. Hana and Iris popped their heads out of Hana's bedroom door. All was silent…except for loud snoring coming from Tutu's room.

The girls tiptoed along the hall, down the back stairwell, and quietly opened the back patio door.

The night was warm but windy. Air whistled through the palm trees as it blew leaves from side to side. Passing dark clouds dimmed the light of the thin crescent moon.

Iris trembled. “Maybe we should go back inside,” she told Hana. “It's spooky out here.”

But Hana was already heading toward the banyan tree. “Don't worry. There's nothing to be afraid of.” She shined the flashlight and moved quickly ahead.

Iris didn't want to be left alone. “Wait for me!”

By the time she caught up, Hana was by the trap. The look on her face told Iris that something was going on.

“What's wrong?” Iris asked. She was out of breath.

“I think we caught one.” Hana shined the light directly on the trap.

The box had fallen forward and it was moving slightly from side to side. The girls were inspecting it, when a sudden squeal came from inside. Both girls gasped.

“Now what do we do?” asked Iris.

“I don't know!” Hana exclaimed. “I guess we should take a peek.”

She slowly reached down to lift up the box and -

Boom!

At that very moment, there was a loud thunderclap and a flash of lightning. Both girls screamed, and Hana dropped the flashlight on top of the trap. The light went out, leaving the girls in total darkness.

Boom! Crackle! Boom!

Another burst of thunder and lightning tore through the sky. And that's when heavy drops of rain began to fall.

“Let's get out of here!” cried Hana. She picked up the flashlight, but the light wouldn't turn on.

“What about the trap?” asked Iris.

“We'll come back tomorrow in the daylight,” replied Hana, who was already running toward the house. Iris did her best to keep up.

The girls were drenched by the time they reached the kitchen. They used dish towels to dry themselves off.

“That was scary!” Iris said.

“Can you believe we caught a
Menehune?”
Hana asked.

Iris shook her head. At that moment, all she cared about was being safe inside the house.

“I'm so excited!” Hana declared. “Tomorrow, our
Menehune
will finish all the work, and we'll get to have some fun!”