Boxcar Children 64 - Black Pearl Mystery Read Free Page A

down.
    Hi, Luke,” Benny said. “I like eating from a plate that’s made out of a leaf. I took lots of good things, but no pineapple. I had enough pineapple already!”
    Now have one of our famous fruit drinks,” Luke said. “It’s made out of crushed fruit, coconut milk, and ice.”
    Yum,” Soo Lee said when she took a sip of a colorful drink Luke had poured from a glass pitcher.
    The Aldens felt relaxed and happy. They were hungry and thirsty after a long day’s work.
    I hope you’ve all left room for my special coconut cake,” Cousin Mary said when she came around to the Aldens’ table later. “But first we have to have some dancing and songs and stories. You can’t have a luau without those.”
    Or without coconut cake!” Benny added.
    Everyone helped clear a space in the middle of the porch. First, a storyteller told tales about Hawaiian gods and goddesses and monsters who were said to live inside volcanoes. After the storyteller came several musicians. They played their steel guitars and ukuleles ,which were like small guitars with just four strings.
    Several dancers in real grass skirts came out and began to dance the Hawaiian dance called the hula. Though the Aldens didn’t understand the Hawaiian words to the songs, they clapped and swayed when the music began.
    I know we don’t have grass skirts, but can we dance, too?” Soo Lee asked Jessie.
    Jessie turned to Luke when he got up to dance with Hani. “Do you think we should dance?” Jessie asked. “We don’t know how to do the hula.”
    Luke smiled. “Just follow what Hani and I do. The movements in the hula dance tell a story or describe beautiful places on our islands. We’ll get in front of you to show you the movements.”
    The Aldens were soon on their feet, waving their arms like Luke and Hani.
    That was fun,” Violet said after the music ended. “What was the dance that we just did about?”
    Luke leaned back and smiled. “It’s about a secret waterfall where a god and goddess met and fell in love. We have many stories and legends in Hawaii. If I lived to be a hundred, I couldn’t tell them all.”
    Hani pulled her father’s ear. “Tell about the black pearl, Daddy, and all the bad luck. I want to hear that story.”
    Suddenly the Aldens noticed everyone at the table was quiet. People poked at their desserts with their forks or stared into their coffee cups. A few people looked at Luke.
    Please, Daddy,” Hani begged. “Tell the story about the black pearl.”
    But Luke had no story to tell. “It’s too late for that, much too late. Only Joseph Kahuna knows the real story of the black pearl, and I don’t see him here tonight. It’s time to go home, anyway.”
    Cousin Mary’s luau was over. Everyone helped to clear the tables. No one spoke much.
    What was that all about?” Jessie asked Henry when the children went into the kitchen.
    Henry shook his head. “I don’t know, but everything stopped when Hani asked about the black pearl.”
    Cousin Mary turned around from the sink when she overheard this. “The black pearl?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Did Joseph tell you about it? I didn’t even see him tonight, did you?”
    The Aldens looked at each other. Why was Cousin Mary so upset?
    No, we saved some cake for Joseph, but we never saw him,” Henry explained.
    Soo Lee looked up at Cousin Mary. “Hani asked her daddy to tell the story about the black pearl. But he didn’t want to. Can you tell us?”
    Cousin Mary turned away. “The black pearl? I . . . really don’t remember it. Maybe another time. Not tonight.” With that, Cousin Mary put down her sponge, leaving the pots and pans in the sink.
    We’ll finish up,” Henry said. “Thanks for the good dinner.”
    One by one the children thanked Cousin Mary for the luau, too. But she stayed quiet. Soon she walked down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

CHAPTER 3
A Mysterious Message
    W aking up in Hawaii was like waking up in a jungle. Just