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1999 First Place Winner
Story by Cody Lindsey
Interviewee: Robert Fergustrom (uncle)
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April 1, 1946, began as any other school day. My cousin Marlene and I went to school early with Aunty Alexandrina because she worked in the cafeteria. Howerver, this morning was different. As we were driving down the old road to Laupahoehoe Point, I could see that the ocean was outside it's bounderies. I told my aunt, "look, the tide is so high" but by that time we couldn′t see the water any more. She told me "Don′t go near the ocean." When we got to school, I put my books and a bunch of gardenias on the floor in front of my classroom. Janet DeCaires asked me for a flower. I said "No, this is for the teacher."
I went down to the area where the monument is today. I couldn′t figure it out. How come it was so high when I was on top of the pali coming down, and now when I was by the ocean, it was so low?
Lots of other kids were there, most of them older than me. At this time, I was three weeks short of my ninth birthday. As we all stood there and watched the ocean, the tide started going out again. It would go way out and then come back in, cutting all the bushes along the shore. We all thought it was fun seeing the ocean
do such strange things. But I was beginning to get scared. Then one wave took the boat house, and went way out, beyond the rocks.
I got really scared, and I turned and ran. I had never seen anything so powerful in my life. I do not remember seeing the other kids run. I ran as fast as I could, from fear and because I had disobeyed my aunt ′s warning. I ran past the grandstand, through center field, and up the steps to the school. I never looked
back until I heard a crashing sound, and turned to see the wave taking the teacher′s cottages. I kept running. I saw Janet heading toward the fish ponds.
At my classroom I picked up the books and flowers, and ran to Aunty Alexandrina′s car. Soon she and Marlene came, and we drove home. It was now around 9:00 a.m.
When we explained to my mother what was happening, she said "you can't fool me, I know that it is an April fool joke." But I knew, it was no joke!
Later, we returned to the top of the Laupahohoe Point road to watch the rescuers. This was when I found out that those I had been with had died. I felt so sad. I also found out that Janet was killed, and I remembered that she had asked me for a flower, and I had said no. I felt really bad then, and told my mother. We went to Janet′s wake together, and I put a bouquet of carnations on her coffin. To this day, when I think about it, tears come to my eyes.
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All materials © Copyright 1996-2007 Pacific Tsunami Museum Inc.
130 Kamehameha Ave Hilo, HI 96720 tel: 808-935-0926 FAX: 808-935-0842
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Last Revised November 2007
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