[ his big hands are ginger, nimble even, when he takes the buds and hooks each into his noggin. immediately mak smiles, and it's not with memories of the islands but of his grandmother's worn hands and his father's clumsy steps as he does his best to learn for his kids. samoa is aiga, yes, but for mak aiga is forever back in pittsburgh. ]

That's all that matters, and don't let anyone tell you different.

[ after a moment he starts to hum along, and riley probably wishes he wouldn't. no note is correct -- the flats are sharp, the sharps are sharper and his voice seems to have a mind of its own-- but mak doesn't care. not one bit. at least his rhythm is flawless? ]

This come on a CD? I can't really get the hang of the iPhones and all that. Always manage to delete stuff or buy things I don't actually want...