Page 13 - IB Sept-Oct 2020

Whispers

Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, China media blasts Malaitan
Guam and the Commonwealth of the opponents
Northern Mariana Islands are concerned A Chinese media outlet has accused
they are being sidelined. It’s a case some Malaitans of “playing tricks” and
of ‘parachute adventurism’ Saipan “malicious obstruction” in trying to
conservationist Angelo Villagomez has “damage” China-Solomon Islands rela-
told the outlet, saying the Five Deeps tions. The Global Times has dubbed
Expedition has not “engaged in any calls to stop a flight from China, which Front Page Limited
efforts by local people to protect the carried the country’s new ambassador 7 Thurston St
Mariana Trench or asked any locals to to Solomon Islands, other officials, PO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
participate.” plus mining and construction work- Tel: +679 330 3108, 773 1118.
ers, part of an “anti-China political Email: advertising@islandsbusiness.com
conspiracy” driven by the US.
Circulation & Distribution
Villainy subs@islandsbusiness.com
Finance
I am 9 years old. I cannot understand where she is coming finance@islandsbusiness.com
My world is shaped by nickelodeon, car- from.
toon network and conversations I do not I know she is a she, because she gets the Regional and local magazine sales agents
quite understand. job done every time.
I sit transfixed by the light box, I am losing people, like baby teeth Amy Street Pharmacy - Amy Street, Toorak
My ears peaked to the words of my par- Losing parts of myself that I never knew I Kundan Singh Supermarket – Arts Village, Pacific Harbour,
ents, drawing me in like quicksand. needed Fiji
The villains in my story are mean, green
aliens, I am 23 and I realise that I am vastly Kundan Singh Supermarket – Tamavua, Suva, Fiji
With teeth large in size and small in underprepared for life. Lami Pharmacy – Main Street, Lami
number I entered the world scared for dear life of Mad Hatter Hut - Suva, Fiji
They hide under beds and behind cur- the boogieman,
tains. Running from shadows in the dark. Methodist Bookstore – Stewart Street, Suva, Fiji
They are big, outlandish, supernatural In constant terror of storm clouds - MHCC – Suva, Fiji
beings. Of things that I have no control over. Nausori Airport Bookshop – Nausori
As if the people who spend tax dollars
Captain hook, Ursula, hades. on advertising instead of illuminating Samabula Drugstore – Samabula, Suva, Fiji
Strangers in the dark; pedestrian crossings are not villains to be Suva Bookshop – Downtown Boulevard, Suva, Fiji
Pieces of the unknown feared. Tappoo outlets – Fijiwide
Shapes in the distance. As if the people who blame all our prob-
lems on colonialism aren’t ignoring the Textbook Wholesalers – BSP Centre Suva, Fiji
I am 13 now. nepotism, misogyny and corruption that Total Lautoka - Vitogo Parade
The perils of my life are good grammar exists in our societies. USP Bookcentre – USP, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji
and external exams. As if Pacific people were so weak and
It’s cool to say btw and like and totally. feeble that all that we are and will ever Palm Court Bistro – QBE Arcade, City Centre, Suva
And if you don’t love the way I lie, be is a consequence of colonialism.
And can’t pretend that airplanes in the As if ethnic politics and reverse ethnic Boroko Foodworld – Boroko, PNG
night sky are like shooting stars, politics are not the same damn thing;
Then you most certainly cannot sit with As if kindness is some sort of transaction – Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
us. you clock your kindness hours and there is Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
My biggest fears are the solar flares that suddenly a balance that is owed to you in National Stationery Supplies – Honiara, Solomon Islands
will inevitably kill us all cheques payable.
‘It’s out of my hands,’ I say. As if women and children are not more Nouvelle Messageries Caledoniennes de Presse – Noumea,
2012 is eminent. likely to be attacked by someone that New Caledonia
It’s happening. they know and love. Pacific & Occidental Capelle & Partners – Yaren, Nauru
As if I am not guilty of stereotyping.
I’m 15 and it seems that someone misread As if we have no hand in the pain that Pacific Supplies – Rarotonga, Cook Island
the calendar. exists in our world. Robert Reimers Enterprises – Majuro, Marshall Islands
Bloody Mayans. Ursula, the boogie man and hades are South Seas Traders – Alofi, Niue
I am well into my seventeenth year on real,
this earth. But not as real as you or me. Stop Press – Port Vila, Vanuatu
My biggest fear is death. We cannot kill the monster until we are Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM
Not so much the act of dying or what willing to see it dead in the eyes
comes after – just the finality of it all. Its tinted glasses – its long dark hair – its
The idea that one day the people you love crooked smile
most are within your grasp, the next they Until we are willing to see it cloaked in
are gone. our own skin.
I am losing people to a force that I cannot It is far too easy to turn a blind eye when
see. the monster bears a striking resemblance
I cannot talk to death. to us.
-Ernest Gibson

Islands Business, September/October 2020 13