Read Lulu in Honolulu for Free Online Page A

NIGHT
    Lulu’s room has the same blond-wood floor and bright, creamy whiteness as the rest of the house. There’s bleached-white furniture and white down bedding. The differences between her room and the rest of the house: every surface of furniture is cluttered with a collection of orangey-sunrise shells, Kelly-green sea glass, and milky-colored coral Lulu’s found on beach walks.

    Lulu pulls an iPhone out of her I USED TO BE A PLASTIC BOTTLE tote bag. She turns the phone on and flops onto her bed next to Watson. It takes her a while, but she pulls up the list of four numbers under “Favorites” and taps NOELANI NUI. While it rings, Lulu pushes Watson’s mouth out of an empty plastic container of Spam sushi.
    NOELANI
    Lulu? Hey.
    LULU
    Noelani, can you talk? We’ve gotta discuss something kinda, ahhhh, important.
    Lulu reaches for a butterfly-shaped li hing mui (salty plum) lollipop from under her bed. She unwraps it and lets Watson take the first lick.
    NOELANI
    (concerned)
    Sure. I just have to speak quietly. Tutu is sleeping. That’s what it’s like living with a grandma.
    Lulu and Watson share the butterfly lick for lick until he crunches off a wing.
    LULU
    Well, I could yell this whole conversation if I wanted to. My mom and dad aren’t coming home for hours. After dinner with Lex and me, they headed to a party. That’s what it’s like living with my parents.
    NOELANI
    (super-quiet voice)
    Lu, don’t complain. At least you know they’re coming home.
    LULU
    (quiet voice back)
    I know. Sorry, Noe. I think you’re…GROSS!! Geez peas!
    Watson retches up tiny chunks of lollipop and flecks of Spam. He sniffs the hot, sour-smelling mound that slowly absorbs into Lulu’s white, fluffy, puffy comforter.
    NOELANI
    (sounding confused)
    Really? That’s not too nice, Lu.
    LULU
    Sorry. I mean Watson. A tutti-frutti-flavored li hing mui lollipop on top of six pieces of Spam sushi didn’t agree with his tummy. He just threw up on my bed.
    NOELANI
    (giggling)
    Lulu, you’re brave to let that pug on your bed.
    LULU
    Hey, that’s what I’m calling about. YOU really are brave.
    NOELANI
    Not true.
    LULU
    And you’re the best hula dancer at Ohana Camp and probably on the whole island of O’ahu.
    SILENCE.
    LULU
    (rubbing Watson’s belly)
    And if you dance in front of all of the rest of us tomorrow, we’ll be able to follow you.
    Noelani still doesn’t respond.
    LULU
    (continues)
    We’d be, like, your backup dancers. Most people wouldn’t even notice our mistakes because they’d be amazed at how flow-y and perfectly you hula.
    NOELANI
    (softly, almost a whisper)
    I wish I could. It’s just…something in me gets scared. I freeze up at the thought.
    LULU
    But you won’t be up there alone! We’d all be there with you.
    NOELANI
    That doesn’t really help. I’d be facing the audience. Front and center. Oh gosh! I can’t imagine it.
    LULU
    Here’s what you do: imagine something that makes you feel…what’s the brave word in Hawaiian?
    NOELANI
    Koa.
    LULU
    Yea. Think about something that makes you feel super-double-looper koa . Even close your eyes and let the brave thought inside you take over.
    SILENCE.
    Watson nibbles the sick-smelling barf.
    LULU
    Mega-hyper-enormous GROSS!
    NOELANI
    I’ll think about dancing in front.
    Lulu shoves Watson with her feet.
    LULU
    (excited)
    Noe! You can totally do it. And it’s the ONLY way we won’t be totally pathetic tomorrow.
    NOELANI
    (whispering)
    I know.
SCENE 11: SHAKE IT, DON’T FAKE IT
    EXT. ’IOLANI PALACE, ON LARGE PALACE LAWN—SATURDAY MORNING
    WIDE SHOT of hundreds of brightly dressed children standing around in clusters. There are so many kids it seems like every hula class, school, club, or camp sent a team to this year’s hula-off.
    ZOOM IN ON Ohana Camp kids sitting together on the ground in the shadows of the