| After tying the laces on his
Banana Republic "boots," he stands up from the sidewalk and loads the packages for his route. He closes the tailgate to his truck, and squints up at the sun. He gets into the front seat of his "horse," and starts the engine for his rounds. His "stray cows" are payments, his "cattle deliveries" are packages, he no longer lives on the ranch and has to pay for his house through his wages. His wife's not home since now she has a job, too, and gets back later than him so now he cooks the food. His kids grew up on the farm, went to school then to college, they wanted money more than family so they moved to the mainland. He just sighed as they left, decided he wouldn't stop them, though he knew that they'd forget the way things were in the old days. After making dinner for himself and his wife, he goes outside to get the mail, "Well paniolo, what do ya have to say today?" "The same thing I have to say everyday, I'm glad the haoles aren't kicking us off our land anymore, but I wish they'd never brought these tall buildings." |