♬ gimme one of them pally memories, fam
♬ - a friend/best friend memory
“Just a lil further,” they’d been telling each other that for almost an hour, echoing it back between them. Ten, exploring ten carat in a wild summer, Kukui and Guzma encouraged each other through falters. When Kukui’s hand had scraped on a rock, Guzma had slapped a bandaid on the dirty-looking bruise, and when Guzma had almost dropped Bedbug - a loud squeal of terror, and shout of panic - Kukui had caught the Wimpod against his chest.
There was a rhythm to it. A push and pull, like a tide against a shore. Tired, Guzma huffed - hands on his knees, and Kukui slapped his elbow. Ran ahead with a tease, “just a lil further!”
Guzma had pulled Kukui up a ledge, digging his feet into the ground and pulling his friend up after him. Through gritted teeth, he snarled an enthusiastic, “just a lil further!”
They reached Le’ahi’s hollow a little late in the day, but stood there, dusty and bruised and grinning. Staring up into the blue-bright sky. A wimpod cradled against Guzma’s chest. The way back was an aching thought, faraway when they sat down on the rough ground, and soft grass, laughing about their journey.
They swapped half a sandwich, drank cool tea from a shared thermos ( ”Dad won’t even notice I took it.” ) and took in turns to feed Bedbug from a packet of beans.
