Daughter of the Reef (1992)
“The other women woke, groggily, to begin their morning tasks. They glanced at her but said nothing. Perhaps none of them had overheard Matopahu and the headman. Perhaps they did not know how she had been shamed. But everyone knew that Hard-mallet had not slept in the women’s quarters. When the women glanced at her empty place, they raised eyebrows and smiled at each other. Tepua did her best to keep busy, and away from the men. When she heard a loud commotion—a chorus of sad cries as Matopahu... departed—she was carrying water to the caged dogs at the side of the compound. “Do not be angry with me,” said Hard-mallet later as they went out to work in the yam garden.
“Why should I care?” asked Tepua. “He is not to my taste. The man I want is Pigs-run-out!”
Hard-mallet stared at her for a moment, and then she understood the joke. The two women laughed, and hugged each other. Tepua felt her pain easing. In the days following Matopahu’s visit, she was relieved to hear nothing more from the headman about the incident.MoreLess
“Why should I care?” asked Tepua. “He is not to my taste. The man I want is Pigs-run-out!”
Hard-mallet stared at her for a moment, and then she understood the joke. The two women laughed, and hugged each other. Tepua felt her pain easing. In the days following Matopahu’s visit, she was relieved to hear nothing more from the headman about the incident.MoreLess
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