Hawaiian Dance Party

Date: 11/25/2023

It is so hot, all the kids in the neighbourhood are sleeping outside in cars on the street. I don't want to sleep in a car. G and I take the chesterfields in the living room with the French doors wide open, hoping it will be safe. 30-40 Hawaiian students show up for a dance party. G and I are stretching out a green fence enclosure in the living room for a dance floor as each of the students takes turns handing out gift bags and performing their dance. I think they are D's friends. She should come back in the house to see this. D hands me a gift bag that is for Cheri. It was left over from last year. "Are you sure you want to throw this out?" D asks. "Who's Cheri?" I ask. We have a new present for her, too, some VHS cassette tapes, used movies A small student, almost childlike, stands up infront of my chesterfield and says, "I'm Cheri," in a cheerful manner. I hand her last year's present. It is two boxes wrapped together. She opens the left side. It is a shiny, red, kitchen blender. She is very happy with it. She is opening the right side next. Someone is showing a Super 8 film on a tripod screen. There is a parade of Hawaiian dancers on sleds being pulled by dogs (a Canadian touch). They are moving so fast! I say: "I have never seen parade floats move so quickly before in my whole life!" I am handed a present that says, "Catherine and Lillian." I try to see who gave it to me. Is it for C&L or from them? Do they know they have passed? There is an odd shaped, loosely wrapped present on a thin shelf up high on the wall by the door. It is for me from George R. It says, "Not to be opened until you've been away from campus life for quite some time." I am curious.