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Chelsea Handler Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (epub
Brit Brinson [Dia of the Dead Dia of the Dead (epub)
Cody Goodfellow [Radiant Dawn Radiant Dawn (epub)
Cate Tiernan [Immortal Belove Immortal Beloved (epub)
C J Busby [Deep Amber 01] Deep Amber (retail) (epub)
Carl Ashmore [Time Hunters 01 The Time Hunters (epub)
Drew Hayes [Super Powereds 02 Super Powereds Year 2 (epub) i
Beth Harbison [Shoe Addict 02 Secrets of a Shoe Addict (epub)
Cara Lynn Shultz [Dark World The Dark World (retail) (epub)
Boom, Dirk van den Rettungskr Die Feuertaufe

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.Today is not one of those days.Defeated, I resume my usual activity of picking up after my two darling but messy children.With eyes cast down, I work while trying to avoid the hippopotamus at the end of the hallway.Even still, I nearly trip over an open photo album lying in the doorway to the kids’ room.Fi loves to look through the albums.This one contains pictures from university through to Fi’s birth.University.Back when I was only a few pounds overweight.Back when Tiresa and I were inseparable.The album page is open to a shot of the three of us on the day Mika won the Student Body President election.We stood with arms around each other’s shoulders, wide grins on our faces, a banner behind us emblazoned with “Mika for Prez”.That was only three weeks after we first met Mika”Ko-mo my tang guh,” I repeat after Tiresa, who explodes in a fit of silent giggles.We are in the library.I’m supposed to be helping her write a persuasive essay for English Comp, but she’s having too much fun teaching me Samoan insults.Insults I never learned while growing up with a white father of Scottish descent while Tiresa grew up with our maternal Samoan grandmother and extended island family.“What did I just say?” I whisper, trying hard not to giggle because Tiresa is giggling.“You said, ‘dumb bi-’,” she wheezes but can’t finish the sentence.Tears squeeze out her eyes.I gasp.“And you said that to your teacher’s face?” Tiresa grew up with much more boldness than I did.The worst thing I ever did in class was chew gum.Once.Tiresa nods.“It’s not like she knew what I was saying - until she called Mama Rose and repeated it to her.Mama Rose was on her side until Mrs Hammond blamed my ‘island upbringing’ for my attitude.” She spoke so loudly, you could hear her through the phone.You should have seen Mama Rose turn red.Aunt Flo ran out of the room, she was so scared.”“What happened after that?” Her Samoan heritage was Mama Rose’s pride.You did not joke about it, let alone insult it.Tiresa’s eyes sparkle.“Mama Rose called her a muli lapo’a and hung up on her.”“Moo-lee lah-poh-uh,” I repeat.“Which means?”“Fat ass!” Tiresa whispers and we collapse in another fit of giggles.When I recover, I gasp, “And I thought Dad was bad!”Tiresa looks at me, puzzled.“I don’t remember Frank ever saying anything bad or swearing.He was always so sweet.”“He has quite the temper when provoked.” I nod.“Once, he got so mad at someone that he threatened to shove bagpipes up the man’s backside so that you’d hear Scotland the Brave play whenever he had flatulence.”Tiresa politely chuckles but I can tell she isn’t amused.I feel sheepish for mentioning Dad.Dad was the only father Tiresa had ever known.After our separation, Tiresa only saw him on the few visits I made to Mama Rose during summers and on holidays.She usually seems angry when I mention Dad, like he abandoned her, not that she was taken from him against his will.“Tiresa.” I place my hand over hers.“Dad would have adopted you, but after Mum died, he didn’t have any parental rights to you.The family wanted to take me away, too, but Dad wouldn’t let them.”“So he fought for you but not for me.I understand.I’m not really his daughter, so it doesn’t matter.Maybe it’s a cultural thing.Samoans appreciate family more than the Scottish do.” She brushes the subject aside.We were brought up in two different cultures.Dad tried his best to instill the traditions and values of my dual ancestral cultures, both Polynesian and Scottish.However, he knew more about the Scottish heritage than he did about our mother’s side.I was brought up practically white and a proud Scot to boot - much to Mama Rose’s dismay.When we both showed up at orientation at The University of Canterbury, we decided to become roommates and reconnect.All the fun and affection we shared as girls came back in a flood.We might as well have been Siamese twins, going everywhere and doing everything together.“What do the Scottish do?” a voice asks.We look up to see Mika Fomai, one of the most gorgeous guys on campus - gorgeous and popular and rich and drives a nice sports car.And he’s standing there talking to us.Tiresa flashes him her biggest smile and bats her eyes.“They wear kilts commando, for starters.” She winks as she says it.How she manages to be a sultry siren on cue is beyond my comprehension.The frumpy artist is my forte.“And you came by this knowledge how?” he asks, just as teasing as she is.Tiresa tosses her long hair and laughs.“I know a thing or two.”Mika nods.“Great, because I need the opinion of someone who knows a thing or two about speeches.I’m running for Student Body President and I wrote a speech for the election rally next week, but I’m not convinced that it’s as persuasive as it can be.”“Let’s hear it.” Tiresa flashes her winning smile again.“I was just helping Tiresa write her persuasive essay for English Comp, so we’re in the zone for persuasion,” I add.Mika, who hadn’t noticed me before, brightens.“Are you a tutor?”I laughed.“Oh, no, we’re sisters.I’m just helping her, that’s all.”“Oh, okay.Well here it goes.” Mika pulls out the speech from a folder and reads it.Tiresa rests her chin on folded hands, watching him intently and smiling all the while.He glances up from the paper, always at Tiresa.When he finishes, she applauds softly.“So, what do you think?” Mika asks, focused on Tiresa.She nods eagerly.“I think it’s fantastic.”Mika grins.“Thanks.” Then he turns to me and waits for my opinion.I squirm.It’s not every day that Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome walks up and starts chatting and wants to know what I think about something.Heck, that sort of thing never happens on any day.“Well,” I drawl, unsure how to be diplomatic.“It can use some work.”Mika’s eyes had drifted to Tiresa, but snap back to me, stunned.I shrug in apology.“I think you should add a humorous opening statement, followed by three key points about what you will accomplish in office instead of only talking about past offices and awards you’ve held, and then end with a promise of how the campus will benefit from your leadership and continue after you’ve graduated.”Mika’s brow furrows.“So I shouldn’t talk about my qualifications?”I shake my head [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]