Having just moved into a new apartment building, I was enjoying my new home office area and cleaning up a few graphic designs for clients. Having had enough of the eye strain, I leaned back and spun around in my leather chair hoping to gaze out the window and take a bit of a break. At that time, I had a newer Persian kitten named “Fatso” because he had such thick fluffy white fur. He was gorgeous and had finally been able to come to an understanding with the two others, Princess and Tommy.
Persian cats are known to be territorial and Fatso had just grown large enough to command their respect which he did by a famous choke hold during a rather loud cat fight which might have been the equivalent of a feline initiation -depending on which term you prefer.
As I gazed out the window, I saw some rather peculiar entities in what appeared to be a procession down the embankment across the narrow side street called Magazine Street. What was so bizarre is that these images were dressed in garb which resembled an ancient hula show complete with some black markings across the face between the eyes and cheek bone area. Each carried a flaming stick which varied in length from one to another. However, I tend to think they could be grouped as both long and short tiki torches. I immediately leaped from my seat to move closer to the window to peer at the curious display, knocking Fatso to the floor in my haste.
A brazen group, they were staring blankly at me as I looked upon them with both fear and curiosity. Several of the figures kneeled on one knee - those with the longer torches remained standing. Incredibly frightened I opted to run out of the office environment down a rather long corridor to the bedroom wing for a better look. Obviously, this was one time in life when I could not believe my own eyes. Even odder than the office view provided, these Hawaiians from ancient days were looking at me still and I don't think their heads ever moved an inch. What was most curious is the images appeared to me as any other person would if I were looking thru the flames of a campfire to the other side of the marshmallow circle. Not the standard human stereotype, “in-the-flesh” but then again, didn't seem to be the “boys next door”.
Fearing the worse, not to mention scared to death, I jumped into my bed and pulled the covers over my head. After what seemed like an hour, although only a few minutes, I peeked out from the covers and they were still staring at me but now they were joined by females in similar dress. After that, I never had the nerve to come out from hiding beneath the comforter. In what is even sadder, exactly ten days following this event, my precious “Fatso” dropped dead either exactly where I landed when I leaped from my office chair or within just inches. Fearing poison or some other harm had caused this kitten to die -realizing he was not sick a single moment or day- I had an autopsy performed on his body. Much to my surprise, there was no finding of any cause of death.
Obviously, I had forgotten about the images I had seen and was particularly sad about losing my baby so I opted to lose myself in a book. What I read was amazing. The following day, I consulted with an older Hawaiian gentleman and he confirmed my suspicions linked to the story in the book of the “Night Marchers”. While I will not go into lengthy detail, I advise anyone curious about my experience to read about “Hawaiian Legends and the Night Marchers .
Here is what he told me:
Being of Cherokee descent likely was the only saving grace I had that evening and he suggested if not for this I would be dead because I am “Haole” which translated Hawaiian to English means “white”. Legend has it anyone who dares look upon Hawaiian Royalty and not being of Royal Blood would die shortly thereafter.
I had not put together the death of Fatso until some time later so I never confirmed with the Hawaiian gentleman due to his own passing but I really believe either this kitten offered his life for mine, or he died because he too was considered “Haole” being that he was a white cat.
I am a native of Tennessee and born of Cherokee descent. Although I did not know this at the time of my experience, the Hawaiian Monarchy and Cherokee Nation leaders were great friends. In fact, the Queen of Hawaii welcomed the Cherokee leaders with open arms when they accepted an invitation to visit. It seems the plight of each group shared a common thread of oppression by the United States government. It is an interesting footnote in history that historians recognize only the Hawaiians and Cherokee Nation as true American Royalty in the United States of America. Perhaps this explains why I was spared and the reason the kitten dropped dead?
Sometimes fact is really stranger than fiction, I am not by any stretch of the imagination a creative fiction writer and this one folks is 100% true.
