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What Child Is This?

by Terri Whitman © 12-23-06

With Christmas only four days away, vast crowds of people populated the streets of Waikiki and Honolulu. Joyful music filled the air mixing discordantly but pleasantly in a way with the loud voices of those trying to gather the last of their purchases. Occasionally someone would bump into each other, most of the time saying their pardons without any harsh words exchanged.

This was Danny Williams’ favorite time of year. He loved to be in amongst this type of crowd, even if he was working a case. The music and happy vibes he got off the others did a lot to lift his spirits. December held three special days for him - one was that his birthday was in the beginning of the month, then Christmas, followed closely by the birthday of his best friend - who he loved to try to spring a surprise birthday party for with the help of as many people as he could get to help him.

He was about to get out of his car in front of an old book store when he heard over his car’s CB about the need for an ambulance and additional officers to help with what sounded like a bad auto accident - a possible hit and run. Since it was only a few blocks away, he decided to go and offer his assistance.

Pulling up to the address given, he noticed his was the first car to arrive. A crowd had already started to form, getting thicker by the minute. Pushing his way through, the detective walked over to the three HPD officers standing a bit to the side.

A woman lay on the ground, hysterical, crying and badly battered. Cradling her right forearm close to her body, she moaned as she rocked back and forth. Both of her legs were broken, the bone from her right thigh stuck out by about two inches and was severely distorted bent backward from the break. An officer was kneeling down next to her doing his best to comfort the distraught woman.

“Hi Paulo, whatya got here?” asked Danny squinting in sympathy at the sight of the woman’s injuries.

“A hit and run victim it looks like. Says her name is Eve. She won’t give her last name. From what I can get from her she stepped off the curb and a large truck struck her,” Officer Paulo Houkonu replied.

“I don’t suppose anyone saw anything?” asked Danny looking at the growing shifting crowd of gawkers.

“Nothing useful yet, you know how they are - blind to what happens two feet away from them. You interested in taking over this case?” the HPD officer asked.

“No. I was just taking some time to get some shopping in when I heard the call for assistance and thought I’d see what’s going on.” Danny looked over at the medical team caring for the woman. They had her secured on a gurney and were getting ready to put her in the back of their unit. Her screams of pain had lessened but tears still ran down her face as she tried to tell them something. The expression on one of the medics indicating he was trying to understand what she was saying.

Walking over to them, Danny listened to their conversation. “Hold up a minute, will you guys? Let me give it a try,” he said leaning over the woman a little closer. He could tell her injuries were taking most of her strength but it seemed important to her so he listened carefully.

“My baby, Malieke, she’s all alone. You’ve got to help her,” implored the woman. Danny could only just make out what she said, her voice strained with pain and almost inaudible.

“Where? Where is your child?” Danny asked her glancing up at the officer. “Was she with you?” Officer Houkonu shook his head indicating no child was with her when he arrived.

“No, she’s home. No…” but she didn’t finish. The burst of pain made her grab at her abdomen. She coughed twice, spitting up blood each time, then gasped before going limp. The medics immediately renewed their ministrations, but it was soon apparent that the woman was no longer with them.

“Sorry Danny, she’s gone,” the older medic said as he covered the dead woman’s head.

Shaking his head, Danny let them go. Her passing had made up his mind. He would take on this case even though it wasn’t the normal type that Five-0 would handle. All he knew was that a child - possibly a baby was out there without a mother now. He wanted that thoughtless driver and he wanted him bad.

*****

At seven years of age, Marie Lau knew how to do more than most kids her age. The shack she and her mother lived in wasn’t much but it was clean and it was ‘home’. Mom had told her that she had to go somewhere and didn’t tell her where or how long she’d be. There were only 6 cans of beans, two cans of SPAM and a half-pound of rice left. Having made her meal that night, she carefully made sure to put away what she hadn’t eaten.

Before her mother left, they decorated for Christmas as best they could. Made with empty toilet and paper towel rolls, cut and bent into Christmas stars and even a paper Christmas tree were placed around their humble home. Marie only had one sock and it had a hole in the toe. This she planned to use as her Christmas stocking.

She carefully wrote out and mailed her letter to Kanaka (Santa) over a week before. On the top of her list of wants was her desire for a pair of socks and new shoes, for while the summers might be warm enough to go barefoot, the winters chilled her young feet. She only had two dresses, each had patches on top of patches, but they were clean. Each day she carefully washed the one she wasn’t wearing. Her mother had taught her how to find the soap plant that grew near the river. This she used to cleanse her body and hair.

She loved it when she could comb through her long shiny black hair without a snarl. Split down the middle of her head, it framed her heart shaped head, emphasizing her large brown eyes and her big smile.

Night was coming. The winds were colder than normal and the ramshackle shack did little to block them. Marie grabbed the blanket off her bed. Wrapping it around her, she squiggled into her mother’s chair, determined to stay awake until her mother’s return.

*****

“How do you think this is a Five-0 matter?” asked McGarrett, while he wasn’t against looking for the child their case load was heavy and he couldn’t justify the expenditure of time and labor on it.

“It’s not. If I have to I’ll work on it on my time off.” The sharp image of the dying woman consumed his mind at the moment and her last words about her child still rung in his ears.

Sitting back in his chair, McGarrett studied his young detective. There was something about his friend’s stance causing him to pause. “What is it Danno? What’s bugging you about this case?”

“I’m not sure.” Danny sat down heavily in the chair in front of his boss’ desk. “I guess it’s because the woman mentioned she had a baby.”

“Did she say where it was?”

Danny shook his head sadly. “No. She died before she could say anything else.”

McGarrett nodded his head, understanding where his friend’s heart and mind were. “Okay, give it a go, but don’t let it consume too much of your time. Thanks to the holiday season, we’ve got a heavy load right now.”

Giving the older man a weak smile, Danny agreed but he didn’t move from the chair. Sensing there was something else, McGarrett now leaned forward, clasping his hands and putting them on the desk. His facial expression showed he was closely scrutinizing his friend. “What is it, Danno?”

Looking down at his feet, Danny half-heartedly smiled. His friend could read him like a book sometimes and while others would disagree, he knew the harden Five-0 chief had a soft spot in his heart too.

“I haven’t got a clue as to where to look for this kid. I was hoping you’d help - use some of your connections.”

Smiling, McGarrett leaned back once more with both of his index fingers touching his lips. “Let’s see what ‘we’ can do,” he said as he reached for the phone.

After making two calls, one to Jimmy Borges a local radio DJ and one to Dave Woods a news reporter for the local area. Given the information, the two men agreed to put out the word to the community about the now motherless child. They didn’t know if a father was involved, but were going on the premise that there wasn’t one.

*****

It had rained during the night. Puddles dotted the floor and Marie was working hard to clean them up. She was cold and with no electricity there was no way to heat up her home. Shuffling along the now dry floor, she went into her mother’s room. Her mom had a pink pair of fluffy but holey house slippers. Twice as big as what she wore, she slipped her chilled feet into them. She had to shuffle as she walked to keep them on. Going into the kitchen, she took down a can of beans. The small propane tank was thankfully almost full, so she knew she could at least heat her food. She hated it when she had to eat cold beans - they were just yucky to her when they had to do that.

School was out for the week, so she didn’t have to get ready for the school bus. But it didn’t stop her from heating up some water so she could bathe and wash her dress she had worn the day before. With her chores done, she opened up the flimsy drapes to let in whatever sun come in, in that way it would help warm up the house.

She was standing in front of the window when she saw an HPD cruiser drive past. She wondered if she should stop him and ask him if he had seen her mother. She was getting worried. Usually her mother was back by now. She was never gone this long. Deciding not to, she went over to her bed and got her worn out doll bringing it with her as she climbed back into her mother’s chair. With the blanket wrapped around her, she pretended to play house and the doll was her child. She made up a story of how it was Christmas Eve and they were rich and had stacks upon stacks of presents of all sizes just waiting for her to open in the morning.

It was almost 2 when Marie realized she was hungry again. Putting on a pan of water, she let it come to a boil before adding the rice. She really wanted to have some SPAM with it, but since there was no way to refrigerate the left overs she opted for just having some plain rice. Her mother had just a little bit of sugar left over and she felt guilty when she sprinkled it over the cooked rice. Her mother used the precious ingredient to sweetened her tea she had every morning, but she was sure her mother would understand why she used some of it.

Tired of playing with her doll, she put it back and got out her etch-a-sketch. “I’ll draw mommy a Christmas tree. She’ll be surprised at it,” she told herself. Her first attempt wasn’t very good, but that was one of the good things about the toy, if you didn’t like it, you could shake it and start all over.

The hours passed by fast and soon it was too dark to see what she was doing. Thankfully the winds had died down and a couple of hundred thousand twinkling stars pierced the clear sky. Going outside, she saw her friends still playing on the dirt road. She would have loved to play with them, but they always shunned her, telling her she was too poor to play with them - besides, she didn’t want to take the chance of tearing one of her dresses.

Another HPD cruiser came down the road with the kids stepping aside to let the vehicle through. Again, Marie wondered if she should approach the officer. When the car stopped at one of the homes down the road, she was trying to think of how to ask the question to the cop. They scared her sometimes because there were frequent altercations between them and her neighbors, sometimes ending with a fight or gunfire. Usually when that happened, one of her neighbors left either in the back of the cruiser or in an ambulance.

She could hear the loud voice of her friend’s mother. The woman didn’t know how to speak in a soft voice like her mother had taught her. “No I don’t know where she is. All I know is that kid of hers is being unsupervised right now. I’m surprised that brat hasn’t burnt down that hovel of a home they live in.”

Marie was positive she was talking about her. Her mom didn’t get along with her friend’s mother. Each time they met it would end up with a shouting match with the other woman threatening to turn them into to child protection. It was one of the reasons why Marie did her best to behave and never make any type of scene.

When the officer looked over at her, that’s when she decided not to approach him and returned home. Being it was dark inside; she decided to get ready for bed. The next day was Sunday and Christmas Eve and even if her mother was there, she was planning on going to Church. She had a part in the Christmas services that day and she didn’t want to miss doing it.

*****

“Danny, I’ve got I’ve got Officer Giada on line one for you,” said Jenny. She was staying late tonight because Danny, Kono and she were going to decorate McGarrett’s office while he was gone. Her boss knew they were going to do it and had agreed to be gone while they did their best at setting out the gala decorations. If the criminals didn’t get too active, they were going to celebrate with a party and gift giving on Christmas Eve.

“Transfer it to my desk, will ya Jen?” Danny told her setting down one of the green crape paper streamer rolls. He had been in charge of pinning up the colorful crinkled paper and had most of it up. Going back into his cubical, he sat down just as the phone rang.

“Hi Jim, what’s up?” he asked the officer.

“I’m over on Old Kahe Road. I think I might have found the dead woman’s child,” Officer Giada said. “At least I think it might be. There’s a young girl over here that a neighbor says she hadn’t seen the mother in a few days.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there,” he told the officer. “Come on Kono. I think we might have found the child of that woman.” Grabbing his coat, he led the way out of the office.

The trip to the beaten down track of homes only took about a half an hour. It was dark by the time they got there, but Danny had no trouble finding the HPD cruiser. After questioning the informant, the three of them walked over to the dilapidated old shack.

*****

Marie had climbed into her mother’s bed that night. The back room was warmer than hers and it was closer to the outside toilet. Her meal of beans had worked like a laxative that day on her and she was constantly running to the outhouse to relieve herself.

That was where she was when the officers knocked on the side of the drape, which acted like a door. Not getting any response, Danny gently moved the drape aside. It was dark inside and he couldn’t really see anything. Reaching in he felt around the doorframe to see if there was a light switch. Finding one, he flipped it, but no lights came one.

“No power,” Danny said turning his head back to the other men.

“Either that or the switch is broken,” suggested Officer Giada.

“Might be. Kono, go get the flashlight,” Danny said staying just outside the doorway. He peaked inside straining his ears and eyes trying to see if he saw any type of movement but there wasn’t any.

“Here ya go Danny,” said Kono. The three of them silently walked inside. Danny flashed the beam of light all around the home. They saw the condition of the home. All of them wondered how someone could live in such a place. The place was empty though.

“Where did she go?” asked Officer Giada. He looked at some of the decorations that Danny’s light had lit up and was amazed at the ingenuity and creativity it had taken to create them.

Kono was the one who noticed the sock. “Look here Danno,” he said pointing to the old holey sock.

Looking at what his friend was pointing to he could only shake his head. “At least there’s the attempt at putting up one. Did you notice how little they have?”

“Yeah. I’ve seen poor, but this makes those people look rich. Where do you think she’s gotten off to?” asked the burly Hawaiian. A sucker for the kids, it almost broke his heart seeing what a child had to live in and with…or lack of.

“We’ve got to find her.” Danny now moved into the one bedroom. He noticed there was a door…an actual door. Carefully, he opened it up. It led to the back yard and it was so dark outside his flashlight didn’t offer much in the way of lighting things up. “Well, I think we should come back in the morning. We’re not going to find her tonight.”

*****

Having heard the noises in her home Marie stayed inside the old wooden outhouse. It wasn’t the first time their home had been broken into - what not having a front door. The outhouse also served as a hiding place for both her mother and her when that happened. The five large Hibiscus bushes easily concealed the wooden outhouse. You had to push your way between them in order to find it.

Two hours later, Marie ventured out of her hiding place and quietly creped up to her home. Cautiously she peaked through a window. Not hearing or seeing anyone, she opened the door and went back to bed.

The next morning, as she was cleaning up she noticed some of their decorations had been moved and that her sock was not hung up anymore. A little disturbed that her belongings had been touched, she went about putting the items back to where they were. With everything in place and as clean as she could make herself, she left to go to Church.

The church was packed that day. Although the pastor had asked where her mother was, he didn’t push the issue with her as her mother seldom attended with her. Dawned in her church robe, Marie stood in the front row. She was going to have a solo today and had practiced a lot for it. She wanted to make sure she got all the words and tones just right. Finally it was her turn.

What Child is this who, laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you.

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

Come peasant, king to own Him;

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby.

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.***

Her lilted voice filled the room. No one moved as she sung each line of the old song. When she was finished, no one had a dry eye…each person filled with the meaning of Christmas.

After the service, Duane Larkin, the youth director and Father Peter Broach came over to her. “You did an excellent job with that song today, Marie. I didn’t know you had such a melodic voice. Your mother must be proud of you. Bye the way, where is she?” he asked. He knew Marie and her mother were two of the poorest of his flock and he did what he could to help out and he tried to keep track of them.

“I don’t know where she is. She didn’t tell me when she left,” Marie told him. She was having problems pulling off her robe, so the pastor helped her. That’s when he saw her dress and how patched it was. He also noticed that she was barefoot. “Marie, where are your shoes?”

Looking down at her toes, she wiggled them. She was remembering what her mother had told her that even if she didn’t have something someone else did that she should be proud of herself if she kept herself clean and covered those areas that should be concealed. “I don’t have any. But that’s okay. They don’t get cold very much. I like to put my feet in my mommy’s house slippers when I get home.”

Both men looked at each other hardly believing that someone in their parish could be so poor. “Well, let’s get you home. I’d like to have a word with your mommy,” Father Broach said but before either man could act on it, Marie had dashed out of the church and had disappeared into the forest behind the building.

“I think HPD needs to know about this,” Father Broach said. “In all the times she came to church, you didn’t notice her lack of shoes?” he asked the other who didn’t say anything but could only shake his head negatively.

*****

“Dispatch to Detective Williams. Dispatch to Detective Williams.”

Danny was just returning to the office when the call came in over his CB. “Go ahead Central.”

“That little girl you are looking for has been ID’d. Her name is Marie Lau and she was just at the Christmas services at St. Francis. Father Broach called it in. He thinks her mother is the one the TV has been broadcasting about.”

“Did he say he has her there?” The excitement over finally finding the young girl was making him drive even faster. Taking a sharp left, he cut through a neighborhood on the way to the church.

“No, she ran off before they could detain her, but he thinks he knows where she might be going.”

Danny saw the church just ahead. He didn’t bother parking his car in a single parking spot, but stopped it right in front of the church steps parallel to the sidewalk. Two men were at the bottom of the steps and he assumed that the older of the two was Father Broach.

“Father Broach?” Danny asked walking over to the two. He showed them his badge after reaching them.

“I’m Father Broach,” said the younger man. “This is Duane Larkin, our youth director. Are you here about Marie Lau?”

“Yes. Dispatch says you might know where she’s at?”

“Ah, yes, maybe. Marie and her mother are one of our poorest members and well…Marie attends church virtually every Sunday, but her mother doesn’t and we haven’t seen her in several weeks. The TV broadcast didn’t show a picture of the woman that died but we’ve got a feeling it was Marie’s mother. They live over on Old Kahe Road. That’s just five blocks from here. We didn’t want to call Child Services, but if it was her then something needs to be done before that little girl gets hurt,” Father Broach told him.

“I’ve got a feeling it is too. When my partner and I went there yesterday night no one was home. Did you know their home doesn’t even have a front door…only a blanket where the door should be?”

Neither man could reply. The help they had given the little family was given here at the church. They admitted shamefully that they had never made a home visit.

Danny understood. There were times when even he didn’t have time to check up on some of those he knew weren’t as financially set as he was. “Okay Father but do you know where she might be now?”

“I remember Marie telling me about an old wooden outhouse that she had to use to go to the bathroom in. She sometimes complains about getting splinters when she has to sit on the toilet seat. She mentioned that the outhouse is hidden in some bushes behind the house…totally concealed.”

Danny smiled. “That would probably explain why we didn’t find her last night. Would you be willing to go with me when I go back to her home? It might help calm her down when she’s told about her mother,” Danny said. “She’s also going to need a place to stay until it can be determined what to do with her. I would hate to put her into juvie on Christmas Eve. No kid deserves that.”

“Yes, we’ll go. And I agree, no kid deserves to spend the holidays in jail, especially if they’ve done nothing wrong.”

*****

It took them about five minutes to pull up in front of the Lau’s home. It wasn’t dark this time and they didn’t have any problem in looking around the home. Again, there was no sign of Marie.

“I think it’s this way,” Danny said having gone to the bedroom back door again. Leading the way, they walked out of the house and through the backyard. Off to the left in the farthest corner were some tall Hibiscus bushes. The strong flower scent easily covered the waste pit. Pushing through the bushes, they found the structure and just as they cleared the plants Danny saw a small demure shape darting out of the clearing.

“Marie!” Taking off after her, Danny was the first to break through the shrubbery. She was just going around a car. Dashing after her, he motioned to the other men to cut her off. “Marie! Stop!”

Scared, Marie tried to sneak away, but just as she reached the other end of the car her way was blocked by Father Broach who scooped her up in his arms. She tried to wiggle her way out of his arms, but by then Danny and Duane where there to help the Father.

“No! Let me go! I didn’t do anything wrong and Mama will be mad. I’ve got to be good while she’s away.” Marie was squirming like crazy by now and it took all three of them to control her motions.

“Marie, you’re not going to be in trouble. I promise that,” Danny told her knelling down to her level. “But I’ve got some sad news for you.” His tone became very soft and gentle. The last thing he wanted to do was to totally scare the wits out of her right now.

“What do you mean?” She looked at all three men, first Danny, then Duane and then Father Broach. She didn’t like the sad looks they all had on their faces.

“Marie, let’s go back into your home. We all need to talk to you,” offered Danny standing back up. He offered his hand and tried to give her a reassuring smile as he nodded his head towards the ramshackled building.

Inside, Danny had Marie take a seat at the small table. He knelt down in front of her while the youth director took the seat with the Father standing behind him. The expression on the young girls face was one of concern. Something, she knew, was wrong, awfully wrong and it had to do with her mother.

Wringing her hands together, Marie looked down and then back up to the detective. “It’s about my mama, isn’t it?”

Danny smiled at her. Slowly he reached forward and took one of her hands in both of his. He gently rubbed the back of the tiny hand with his thumb. “Yes, it is. I’m afraid she’s not coming home. She’s had a bad accident and…”

“She’s dead,” Marie finished for him. Tears started to fill her eyes. As she looked over at Father Broach and Duane, she blinked, starting the flow of tears down her cheek.

Father Broach knelt down next to her too. “Yes, I’m sorry to say that she is dead. But that doesn’t mean you’re all alone now.”

“No, we’re here to help you. We’re going to make sure we find a family who will take you in and care for you, especially for Christmas,” said Danny who was desperately trying to think of who would care for the young girl. His first thoughts were of Chin Ho and his family, but he knew his friend had a full family of his own. He knew he couldn’t take her and he doubted if Kono or McGarrett could. He smirked a smile at the though of the Five-0 chief dealing with a young girl…nah, that would never work out.

“That means I can’t live here anymore though, right?” Marie was looking around at the only world she knew and she was afraid to leave it. “How will Santa know where I am? He won’t know where to leave my new shoes and socks.” She looked down at her bare feet, which she swung a little wiggling her toes as she did.

“I’ll make sure he knows even if I have to stay here myself to direct him to where ever it is you’re at,” Danny assured her. Reaching up with his hand, he cradled her chin for a moment, then slid it back to fluffy up her hair, pushing back a stray lock of hair that had fallen onto her face.

“Father, for right now, how about her coming with me? I think I know where she can at least spend the night. I’ve got a friend who has a lot of kids of his own and I’m almost one hundred percent sure, he’d welcome her for at least tonight,” Danny suggested. He’d try Chin first and worst comes to worst he’d keep her with him. Maybe even Jenny would offer temporary lodging to her. He wasn’t sure, but he sure was going to try.

“I think that would be okay. How about you Duane? Any other suggestions?”

“If this young officer thinks he can help out today, I think it would work. I’ll make some calls too and see if I can’t find more a permanent home for her,” Duane said giving Marie a wink.

With the arrangements made, Marie got off her chair and went into her room. Danny followed her. His heart breaking as he realized how bad it had been for her. He noticed the badly worn out doll placed so tenderly at the head of her bed. Reaching down he picked it up.

“That’s Angela. I’ve had her most of my life. It’s the last thing my daddy gave me before he died,” Marie said. Her bottom lip was quivering a little when she realized she was all alone in the world now. Going over to her freshly washed dress, she carefully folded it. Holding it close to her chest, she went out into the front room. There she took down her stocking. “I guess that’s all I need. I don’t suppose they’d like my decorations.”

“If you want to take them, I’m sure they’d find a place for them,” Danny told her. He watched as a mixture of emotions came across her face. Apparently she had made her decision because she left them where the decorations where they were. Instead she went over to the one picture that graced the tattered walls. It was of her and her mother.

“I guess I’m ready,” said Marie giving the room one last look before walking over to the Five-0 detective and sliding her hand into his.

*****

“Thanks Chin. I knew I could count on you. You’re sure it won’t be an imposition on you or your family?” Danny asked the fatherly Chinese detective.

“Nah, we’ll be glad to keep her. We’ve got plenty of room, right Mia?” Chin said turning to his wife. Tilda was hanging onto his pant leg looking at Marie with wide wondering eyes.

“Is she staying with us?” Tilda asked.

“She is, if she’ll have us,” Chin Ho told his youngest daughter.

“Well?” Danny asked Marie turning to her to give her the option. Marie looked up at him, nodding her head. “Well, that settles that. She’ll need some clothing, at least for the night. I didn’t have time to get her anything.”

“Don’t worry about her. I’ll find things for her. I’m sure we’ll find something for her,” Mia told him taking a hold of Marie’s hand leading her into one of the bedrooms with Tilda right behind her.

*****

Christmas morning in the Kelly home was a noisy one. The Kelly’s had given Marie a pair of pajamas made out of a material similar to silk. The young girl couldn’t get over the feel of the silky smooth material. The house robe she was given was thick, soft and warm and she had matching slippers that fit her feet perfectly. She wasn’t use to sharing a bathroom but stood quietly as she waited for her turn. After her shower, she was instructed to stay in the bedroom with the other kids while the adults got things ready. The four youngest Kellys easily warmed up to her and within the hour they were best of friends. Each of them squealed with delight playing with the toys in their room.

It wasn’t long before they were told to come out for breakfast. As they filed out of the rooms they squealed again in delight at seeing a pile of gifts under the tree. It didn’t take them very long to finish with breakfast. The youngsters were told not to touch anything while the others cleared away the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Once that was done, everyone took a seat in the livingroom with the youngest sitting on the floor nearest the tree, their eyes going over each of the presents ogling as to which they thought were theirs. Even Marie was caught up in it that was until she noticed her tattered sock wasn’t where she had placed it.

Down trodden, the young girl grew quiet and sullen. She wondered what she had done to be denied even this little bit of Christmas. Tears started to well up in her eyes until she was startled to see a large red stock with a furry white top placed onto her lap. Across the white was her name in gold glitter and it was stuffed to over flowing with all sorts of things and the biggest red and white candy cane she had ever seen.

Squealing with delight, she looked up, surprised to see Danny’s smiling face. “Merry Christmas. See I told you I would make sure Santa knew where you were.” He placed a big red cloth bag next to her too. “Santa said to make sure you get this. All of these are just for you.”

Marie couldn’t reply for a moment, then she reached up to give the curly haired man a hug. Danny sat down in front of her with his legs crossed. A knock at the door interrupted the activity only for a bit as the Kelly’s let Kono and Jenny in. A few minutes later Father Broach, Duane and McGarrett arrived. Each of them also had a gift for the young orphan.

With everyone present, Chin Ho gave a nod and the gift paper started to fly as the presents were ripped into. Loud laughter and giggles filled the house as each gift was unwrapped. None of them yelled the loudest as Marie did when she unwrapped a box of new shoes.

“Shoes! I’ve got shoes!” Marie yelled holding up the pair for all to see. Everyone whopped their approval at the gift. “And their pink! How did he know I liked pink?”

Each of her gifts was things she needed. There were even several new dolls for her with all the accoutrements that went with them. Another surprise gift came when Kono asked her to come outside with him. Wide eyed with wonderment, she followed him out with all the rest following behind her. Having been told to stand still and to close her eyes, Kono ducked behind a bush and brought out her last present.

“Okay, now open your eyes,” Kono told her with a big-toothed grin.

Marie couldn’t believe her eyes. There in front of her was a brand new pink bicycle, but her grin disappeared when she realized she didn’t know how to ride one.

“Don’t worry. It’s easy to learn,” said Tilda who ran her hands over the pink seat and played with the pink and white tassels hanging from the handle bars.

Smiling again, Marie looked up at the Hawaiian. “Santa couldn’t fit this inside so he asked me to hide it until the last present was opened,” he told her.

“And we’ve made arrangements for you to stay here until you find a family,” Mia told her. Marie looked up at Chin’s wife and then over to Chin who looked immensely pleased with himself.

The young girls smile once again disappeared though when she thought of her mother.

“You thinking of your mother?” asked Danny kneeling down and turning her around to face him.

Marie nodded and hung her head.

“I’m not going to tell you not to cry. In fact it’s okay to cry because you’re only shedding love. But I am going to tell you that you were the last thing your mother was thinking of when she did die. And you know what else, I know she’s looking down from heaven, watching you and crying with happiness knowing that you are being taken care of.”

Kono also knelt down next to Marie. “And I know she’s wishing you the best Merry Christmas you can have. So how about it? Want to try out your new bike? I’ll be right there next to you was you do.”

Marie looked up at him and smiled. Wiping away the last of her tears, she walked up to the seat. Kono picked her up gently placing her on the seat as he held the bike steady. He walked next to her as she got the hang of it and soon was riding it without any help.

McGarrett walked up to his young friend whose fierce determination had made all of this come into being. “I’ve made some calls and I think I found the perfect family for her.”

“Oh? Who?” asked Danny.

“Someone you know in a way. Duane Larkin had applied for guardianship right after they determined that it was her mother who had died. Duane is her uncle on her father’s side, so she’ll be going home as soon as the paperwork is done.”

“So this will be a Merry Christmas after all for her,” Danny said watching his big friend play with the kids and watching the very open and apparent love Duane had in his eyes.

“Yeah, and it will be a Happy New Year for her too.”

Pau

MELE KALIKIMAKA and HAUOLI MAKAHIKI HOU

***Words to the song by Williams Dix who wrote it in 1865

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