Imp on The Boston Duck Tour

George, the conDucktor, rolled the Duck down the street to the river. They drove down the ramp, and splashed right into the river. Jeremy busily took pictures of the entrance into the water, as the truck became a boat. "We'll let you get a good look at the Boston and Cambridge skylines," said George with a broad sweep of his arm.

"Wow! This is really neat!" yelled Kimo.

Lilia's grandpa, Apelehama, emphatically said, "This is very interesting."

"Yeah Dad, it's pretty cool," agreed his son, Jacob.

Fifteen-year-old Lilia ran her hand through the water and splashed it up at seventeen-year-old Jim, her bodyguard boyfriend. She cried, "Splashdown!" Jim, dripping wet, grabbed Lilia's hand and shook it all over her face. Lilia giggled and scooped up another handful of water. She sprayed it all over the security team, Bill, Kimo, Wilson, and Jim, "Splashdown!"

"Lilia, knock it off!" yelled Jim, who didn't appreciate how cold the water felt in the late fall.

Lilia giggled again and ran her hand down into the water, and sprayed it up all over the four men, "Splashdown!"

"Lilia, that's enough, it's not that warm out here!" Jim seized both her hands and held them tight in his to prevent her from doing it again.

Wilson smirked, "You really are a little imp, aren't you?"

Lilia giggled and replied, "'Not I,' said the falcon to the fly!"

"Right," Wilson laughed, "You are an imp!" Jim released Lilia's hands, and then she splashed Wilson.

Wilson yipped at Jim,  as he shivered, "Seriously, do you think you could get her to stop that?" Jim grabbed Lilia, lifted her up, and changed places with her.

"Now, it's my turn," Jim said with a chuckle, and then splashed Lilia in the face. She started laughing uncontrollably. She hiccupped and snorted until Wilson couldn't stand it and burst out laughing with her. Her nose wheezed and soda spewed out. Bill and Kimo crowed with the hilarity of it.

"Men, don't encourage her!" ordered Jim.

Lilia cried, "Imp!" and rolled out of her seat with laughter. Jim picked her up and flipped her across his knee. Whack! He landed the first blow on her butt. "Imp!" Lilia cried and laughed with convulsions. Whack! Jim landed the second blow. "Imp!" Lilia cried and choked with laughter. Whack! Jim landed the third blow. "Imp!" Lilia cried as she cackled and sputtered.

"How much can she take?" the whooping Wilson inquired.

"This could go on all day!" spewed Bill.

Whack! Jim hit her again. "Imp!" hee-hawed Lilia. She swallowed her own spit and choked. She coughed and coughed until Jim let her up. "Imp!" she cried right up into Jim's face.

Jim started to smile and squalled at her, "You are an imp!"

"Imp!" Lilia cried and tears ran down her face. Jeremy and Dennis crowed along with the rest of the security team. Apelehama's laughter started as a low growl and burst forth into a cacophony. Lilia's mom and Apelehama's new wife tittered while Lilia's dad simply shook his head from side to side with a smile. Lilia could be very entertaining.

George drove the family and friends around the Charles River for twenty minutes. He chuckled at the antics of the young Ms. Christian. He had heard that she was a dichotomy of intelligence and foolishness. She gave him a first-hand show today. He drove the Duck up the ramp and out of the water, and then headed back for the hotel with water sleuthing off the wheels.

Lilia continued her outburst as she took deep breaths. She pointed at Wilson, wiggled her finger at him, and squealed with laughter, "Imp!"

Wilson couldn't contain himself and roared with laughter too. "You sure are a goofy girl!"

"Imp!" Lilia cried out of breath. The Duck stopped in front of the hotel. Jim jumped out easily and grabbed Lilia out of the back of the Duck. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" she laughed with satisfaction, "Imp!" Jim tossed her up over his shoulder and lugged her inside the hotel. Bill, Kimo, and Wilson sputtered with laughter. Jim smiled. She can really be funny at times, thought Jim.

A Young Girl with Lockjaw

This is an excerpt from the book Innocence: Simplicity of Spirit. Mele is twelve years old, and Lilia is eleven years old:

The wound on Mele's upper thigh had grown to about ten inches across with a hole in the center, which oozed pus.

"Mom, am I going to lose my leg?" asked Mele. Ioka, her mom, couldn't look at Mele and answer truthfully. A lump formed in her throat and choked her up.

***

Lilia now knew that Mele might die. The doctor had said that the mortality rate was highest in children who hadn't been vaccinated. That was Mele.

"Pray with me Mom," said Lilia through a shield of tears. The mother and daughter clasped each other's hands while Lilia prayed. "Dear Lord, please help Mele to get better. She's the only friend I have who brings out the best in me. I need her, Lord." Francine, Lilia's mom, started to cry too. Lilia continued, "Please Father, give Mele enough strength to bear this." Francine had told Lilia that the illness often took three to four weeks to subside, and sometimes longer.

***

Ioka and Francine let Lilia go into Mele's room by herself. The two moms hung outside the doorway. Mele lifted the compress and showed Lilia her leg.

Lilia observed it, and said, "It looks like you were shot with a bow and arrow. There's a great big hole in the center."

"I'm very sick Lilia. I don't know if I'm going to get better," whispered Mele slowly.

"I know Mele. You know I want you to get better," said Lilia softly, "but if God wants children to keep him company, then we know that you'll be in the hands of the only One who loves you more than all of us." Francine had to turn away because Lilia's words touched her so deeply. She would have to remember to tell Jacob about this.

"Thank you for being my best friend Lilia. If you and I are still friends in years, I know that you will always be dear to me, even though you can be a snot sometimes," said Mele barely audible.

"I know Mele. I'll try to be better. I've always loved you so much," said Lilia with tears in her eyes.

Ioka approached and said, "Mele, let's change the compress and see if you can get some rest." All their emotions could use some calming.