A Place to Call Home | 1
After not only surviving but playing an active role in defeating the mysterious infection of even more mysterious plant-based origins plaguing Strangerville, freelance thrillseeker Gaby Martínez-Jang and formerly full-time conspiracy theorist Alvin Bixby are thrilled to finally get to know one another without the threat of all-out destruction looming over their shoulders. They soon find out they have a lot in common - and great chemistry, to boot. It takes just a few weeks for them to feel as comfortable as if they've already spent an entire lifetime together. In a way, with all they've been through, they have.
The problem now is that Strangerville has returned to the sleepy one-horse town it was before everything turned upside down, with only a rundown bar and outdated library for entertainment. It isn't long before Gaby and Alvin are both a little stir-crazy, but neither of them has any idea where they should go next. Alvin wants to see all the places that have made Gaby who she is now, experience anywhere that's contributed even the tiniest molecule to her current self. Although he's still cagey about his own past, she agrees to take him on a whirlwind tour of her personal history. Maybe it's just what he needs to feel comfortable enough to open up.
Their first stop is the closest: Oasis Springs, to introduce Alvin to her parents and show him her former bedroom, which feels like stepping into a time capsule even though her awkward adolescence isn't so far behind her. In a way, she supposes it's still her bedroom, even though she can't imagine occupying it again beyond their short stay. She'll always love this house, but it no longer feels like home to her. Suddenly, she realizes what this journey really is: a quest to find a new home that feels right for both of them.
In Granite Falls, she tells Alvin of the trips she used to take there with her dad, shares his secret knowledge about the best bait to use for nabbing the biggest catches the forest's rivers and streams have to offer. Even though her skills are rusty, she still manages to hook a massive salmon. Alvin, meanwhile, is no natural fisherman, but he earns points for trying.
By the time they reach San Myshuno, it's winter, and the entire city is blanketed in the first snow Gaby has seen since she was a kid (when she barely survived a particularly ill-fated nature trek with her father). The city's dizzying array of billboards, skyscrapers, and food stands is a new experience for both of them, but, for Gaby, the frigid air is strewn with seeds of her lineage. Her grandmother, Aisha, met her grandfather, Shawn, here, and though she never got the chance to know them, she's grateful fate brought them together. After all, she wouldn't exist without them.
Without their brave forays into the Selvadoradian jungle, where they outwitted constant danger in search of long-buried treasures, her mother and father would have never even crossed paths. She realizes for the first time that her grandparents are probably responsible for the adventurous streak coursing through her veins. Once, they brought their son to the jungle for one last hurrah, where he met the young woman who would soon become the love of his life working this very stall. She was a single mom working to support her daughter, Ana, and had no idea what her future would hold.
In Brindleton Bay, her father's birthplace, she receives word from her siblings of both of her parents' deaths; they passed painlessly, in their sleep, within days of one another. It's not wholly unexpected news, but it hits her like a ton of bricks anyway. She's never been happier to have someone so special, a man she's grown to love deeply over the course of their travels, by her side. Alvin knows exactly what to say to ease her pain, even if it's impossible to erase completely.
Later, while they're contemplatively walking the docks, he surprises her in two ways: first, by asking her to marry him, a proposal she happily accepts. Although some may say it's too soon, she can't imagine ever feeling as close to anyone as she does to Alvin after their months of globe-trotting together. The second way he surprises her is by finally starting to reveal the closely-guarded secrets of his past, apparently driven to remember his own family by supporting her through the loss of part of hers.
It turns out his origins aren't particularly nefarious or troubling. He grew up in Willow Creek, the adopted son of a wealthy white couple. They were good parents and gave him the most comfortable upbringing he could have asked for, but he always felt out of place there, his dark skin and strong features standing out in a sea of a homogeneous pale faces. His adoptive parents never told him anything about where or to whom he was born, either because they didn't know or because they thought he was better off without that knowledge. Gazing too deeply into his past was like staring into the eye of a black hole: he had no idea where diving inside might take him. He supposes the missing pieces in his own story are what drove him to develop such an intense passion for conspiracy theories.
But shortly before being distracted by the goings-on in Strangerville, he started doing some research. After countless phone calls and layers of red tape, he discovered his parents were from an island chain known collectively as Sulani, that they gave him up because they were still just kids themselves when he was born, that they died tragically in a volcano eruption several years later but that they'd had another child, a daughter, who still lived on the islands today.
At this point in his story, Gaby interrupts him. "Wait, you have a sister? Have you tried to get in touch with her?"
"Not yet. Apparently, the phone reception is pretty spotty over there. But I managed to track down an address..."
"You know what we have to do, right?" she asks, her eyes growing wide with excitement. "We've been searching for a place to call home all this time, but none of them have felt right. Maybe that's because home isn't meant to be where you've already been. Maybe it's the place you were supposed to be all along..."
Alvin seems nervous about the prospect of meeting his long lost sibling, but a series of exhausting international flights later, they find themselves surrounded by lush tropical plant life, the salty scent of the ocean carried toward them on the languorous breeze. Not even Selvadorada can rival the sheer beauty of this place - and the atmosphere of peace and tranquility that envelops them as soon as they arrive is like nothing they've ever felt before.
They've been dropped directly into the heart of Ohan'ali Town, which their cheap airport guidebook tells them is a former fishing camp that has been transformed into the island's bustling center, a thriving community of natives who still maintain a strong connection to their ancestors' beliefs and traditions even as their lifestyle has become slightly more modernized. The appeal of the place is immediate, from the scenic falls spewing crystal-clear water...
...to the rustic wooden structures and quaint thatch-roofed homes half-obscured by overgrown bushes and countless palm trees.
However, this isn't an entirely remote paradise, completely untouched by the influences of the outside world. There are small signs of the increasing tourist presence if one looks closely enough, for example, in the abandoned blow-up loungers left floating aimlessly in the calm waters near the shore.
Even so, the culture of Sulani is still abundantly present. The people here clearly have an enduring respect for their ancestors, apparent in the work they have done to preserve ancient structures such as this one, which towers impressively over the landscape from every angle. Gaby is sure to snap plenty of photos as they take in one impossible beauty after the next.
She even sneaks a shot of Alvin as he quietly contemplates his connection to this unspeakably vibrant place. He hasn't muttered a single word about his pet conspiracy theories since their arrival, just taken everything in with near-silent awe. Gaby thinks she can already see the heavy weight of the unknown lifting from his shoulders.
"What do you say?" she ventures after they've been wandering the dazzling sands for most of the afternoon. "Are you ready to meet your sister yet? What did you say her name is again?"
"Kaimana," Alvin mutters, his former anxiousness returning with a vengeance. "You know, I'm not so sure about this anymore. Isn't it kind of crazy to just waltz up and knock on her door unannounced? She might not even know I exist!"
To ease his worries, Gaby drags him inside the nearest bar, hoping a few sips of the local specialty will help loosen him up. Sure enough, the drink quickly works its magic. As the sun slowly begins to set behind them, Alvin finally works up the courage to begin searching for his sister's house.
As there are only a handful of residences scattered across the island, it doesn't take long for them to find the right one. The house itself is quite modest, but the ocean view is to die for. Gaby instructs Alvin to take deep breaths in and out while repeating in his head what he'll say to Kaimana when she comes to the door. After all, the better prepared he is, the more smoothly the interaction will go.
But, still, he hesitates in front of the slatted door. "What if this is a huge mistake?" he exclaims, gesturing wildly with his hands. "What if she doesn't even like me?"
Before Gaby can respond, the door opens and a beautiful young woman steps out from inside. She has the same bronze-toned skin and luxurious mane of unruly black hair as Alvin does. There's no mistaking her identity: this must be Kaimana.
"Hello?" she calls out uncertainly. "Can I help you with something?"
Alvin begins to stutter an inarticulate reply, but Kaimana raises a hand to silence him. "It's you."
His mouth drops open in surprise. "Wh-what? You-you know who I am? You knew I was coming?"
"Yes and no," she answers. "I knew I had a brother. Our parents always regretted giving you up. At least, that's what my grandparents told me. You know what happened to them right... our parents?"
"I do," Alvin says solemnly.
"I was so young when it happened... I barely remember them. My grandparents raised me. This used to be their house." She gestures toward the gauzy curtains fluttering in the breeze behind her. "Anyway, I grew up hoping I would meet you. I was always sure I would feel you if you came close enough. All day today, I've felt this strange... pull, like an invisible thread jerking at my wrist. I couldn't place the cause of it, but now I know why."
Kaimana pauses, seeming to notice Gaby's presence for the first time. "And you are?"
"Um, I'm Gaby," she responds, clearing her throat awkwardly, "Alvin's girlfriend... or, er, fiancée, I guess."
Kaimana's eyes light up. "You two are going to be married? Oh, I'm so happy for you! Come in, please. Let's sit down and have a real conversation. There's so much I'd like to know."
Once inside, Kaimana guides them to the kitchen table, where they all take a seat together. Alvin proceeds to tell her about his quest to discover his origins, but he's so nervous that he skimps on the details, which Gaby attempts to fill in to the best of her abilities. Kaimana listens with rapt attention, cutting in with a question every now and then.
When she asks how Gaby and Alvin met, he rushes into an incomprehensible account of what happened in Strangerville. "I'm sorry, did you just say something about a giant sentient plant?" Kaimana asks slowly.
"It's a long story," Gaby tells her, "and a pretty unbelievable one if you weren't there to see it yourself."
"Oh, no, it's not that I don't believe you. In fact, we hold to the belief here in Sulani that every palm leaf and blade of grass is a living being with thoughts and feelings of its own. That's why our land is so sacred to us and we endeavor to always treat it with respect. I just have trouble believing anyone would choose to harness the beauty of the natural world for evil."
Gaby can sense the conversation turning in a dark direction, and she doesn't want to spoil the siblings' first meeting with a debate over the innate depravity of humanity and the deep-seated desire for control.
"Speaking of the beauty of the natural world," she says, rising from her seat to peer out the ocean-facing windows, "I can't believe you get to wake up to this view every morning. I can't imagine it ever gets old."
Kaimana laughs. "What am I thinking keeping you inside like this? When I was a kid, I only ever stayed in the house more than five minutes to sleep... though more often than not, I dozed off right on the deck. Let's enjoy the sunset. We can talk more in the morning."
The three of them strip down to their bathing suits and head out to the water. The temperature has already cooled significantly, the air pleasantly brisk against their bare skin, a refreshing reprieve from the balminess of the day.
Gaby follows Alvin to the edge of the deck. "Are you going to come in?" she asks Kaimana over her shoulder.
"Oh, no," Kaimana replies, settling onto a lounge chair. "I can take a swim whenever I want. I'd rather just sit here and watch you enjoying yourselves."
It's been years since Gaby's been in the water, having been surrounded by desert for much of her life, but the swimming lessons she had as a child kick in almost immediately. In the open water, she feels so energized and free, as if she could swim for the rest of her life and never tire or want for more.
There are few sights more beautiful than the one Gaby views from the water as the final rays of the sun disappear and the moon and stars take up occupancy in the sky. It's been a good day. She has to admit that even she was a little worried about how Kaimana would respond to Alvin's sudden appearance. But so far she's been more than welcoming of both of them. Gaby is excited to see what the rest of their trip will hold. There's so much more breathtaking beauty left to uncover, but, more importantly, there's a newfound bond between brother and sister that will hopefully continue to grow over the coming days.
The problem now is that Strangerville has returned to the sleepy one-horse town it was before everything turned upside down, with only a rundown bar and outdated library for entertainment. It isn't long before Gaby and Alvin are both a little stir-crazy, but neither of them has any idea where they should go next. Alvin wants to see all the places that have made Gaby who she is now, experience anywhere that's contributed even the tiniest molecule to her current self. Although he's still cagey about his own past, she agrees to take him on a whirlwind tour of her personal history. Maybe it's just what he needs to feel comfortable enough to open up.
Their first stop is the closest: Oasis Springs, to introduce Alvin to her parents and show him her former bedroom, which feels like stepping into a time capsule even though her awkward adolescence isn't so far behind her. In a way, she supposes it's still her bedroom, even though she can't imagine occupying it again beyond their short stay. She'll always love this house, but it no longer feels like home to her. Suddenly, she realizes what this journey really is: a quest to find a new home that feels right for both of them.
In Granite Falls, she tells Alvin of the trips she used to take there with her dad, shares his secret knowledge about the best bait to use for nabbing the biggest catches the forest's rivers and streams have to offer. Even though her skills are rusty, she still manages to hook a massive salmon. Alvin, meanwhile, is no natural fisherman, but he earns points for trying.
By the time they reach San Myshuno, it's winter, and the entire city is blanketed in the first snow Gaby has seen since she was a kid (when she barely survived a particularly ill-fated nature trek with her father). The city's dizzying array of billboards, skyscrapers, and food stands is a new experience for both of them, but, for Gaby, the frigid air is strewn with seeds of her lineage. Her grandmother, Aisha, met her grandfather, Shawn, here, and though she never got the chance to know them, she's grateful fate brought them together. After all, she wouldn't exist without them.
Without their brave forays into the Selvadoradian jungle, where they outwitted constant danger in search of long-buried treasures, her mother and father would have never even crossed paths. She realizes for the first time that her grandparents are probably responsible for the adventurous streak coursing through her veins. Once, they brought their son to the jungle for one last hurrah, where he met the young woman who would soon become the love of his life working this very stall. She was a single mom working to support her daughter, Ana, and had no idea what her future would hold.
In Brindleton Bay, her father's birthplace, she receives word from her siblings of both of her parents' deaths; they passed painlessly, in their sleep, within days of one another. It's not wholly unexpected news, but it hits her like a ton of bricks anyway. She's never been happier to have someone so special, a man she's grown to love deeply over the course of their travels, by her side. Alvin knows exactly what to say to ease her pain, even if it's impossible to erase completely.
Later, while they're contemplatively walking the docks, he surprises her in two ways: first, by asking her to marry him, a proposal she happily accepts. Although some may say it's too soon, she can't imagine ever feeling as close to anyone as she does to Alvin after their months of globe-trotting together. The second way he surprises her is by finally starting to reveal the closely-guarded secrets of his past, apparently driven to remember his own family by supporting her through the loss of part of hers.
It turns out his origins aren't particularly nefarious or troubling. He grew up in Willow Creek, the adopted son of a wealthy white couple. They were good parents and gave him the most comfortable upbringing he could have asked for, but he always felt out of place there, his dark skin and strong features standing out in a sea of a homogeneous pale faces. His adoptive parents never told him anything about where or to whom he was born, either because they didn't know or because they thought he was better off without that knowledge. Gazing too deeply into his past was like staring into the eye of a black hole: he had no idea where diving inside might take him. He supposes the missing pieces in his own story are what drove him to develop such an intense passion for conspiracy theories.
But shortly before being distracted by the goings-on in Strangerville, he started doing some research. After countless phone calls and layers of red tape, he discovered his parents were from an island chain known collectively as Sulani, that they gave him up because they were still just kids themselves when he was born, that they died tragically in a volcano eruption several years later but that they'd had another child, a daughter, who still lived on the islands today.
At this point in his story, Gaby interrupts him. "Wait, you have a sister? Have you tried to get in touch with her?"
"Not yet. Apparently, the phone reception is pretty spotty over there. But I managed to track down an address..."
"You know what we have to do, right?" she asks, her eyes growing wide with excitement. "We've been searching for a place to call home all this time, but none of them have felt right. Maybe that's because home isn't meant to be where you've already been. Maybe it's the place you were supposed to be all along..."
Alvin seems nervous about the prospect of meeting his long lost sibling, but a series of exhausting international flights later, they find themselves surrounded by lush tropical plant life, the salty scent of the ocean carried toward them on the languorous breeze. Not even Selvadorada can rival the sheer beauty of this place - and the atmosphere of peace and tranquility that envelops them as soon as they arrive is like nothing they've ever felt before.
They've been dropped directly into the heart of Ohan'ali Town, which their cheap airport guidebook tells them is a former fishing camp that has been transformed into the island's bustling center, a thriving community of natives who still maintain a strong connection to their ancestors' beliefs and traditions even as their lifestyle has become slightly more modernized. The appeal of the place is immediate, from the scenic falls spewing crystal-clear water...
...to the rustic wooden structures and quaint thatch-roofed homes half-obscured by overgrown bushes and countless palm trees.
However, this isn't an entirely remote paradise, completely untouched by the influences of the outside world. There are small signs of the increasing tourist presence if one looks closely enough, for example, in the abandoned blow-up loungers left floating aimlessly in the calm waters near the shore.
Even so, the culture of Sulani is still abundantly present. The people here clearly have an enduring respect for their ancestors, apparent in the work they have done to preserve ancient structures such as this one, which towers impressively over the landscape from every angle. Gaby is sure to snap plenty of photos as they take in one impossible beauty after the next.
She even sneaks a shot of Alvin as he quietly contemplates his connection to this unspeakably vibrant place. He hasn't muttered a single word about his pet conspiracy theories since their arrival, just taken everything in with near-silent awe. Gaby thinks she can already see the heavy weight of the unknown lifting from his shoulders.
"What do you say?" she ventures after they've been wandering the dazzling sands for most of the afternoon. "Are you ready to meet your sister yet? What did you say her name is again?"
"Kaimana," Alvin mutters, his former anxiousness returning with a vengeance. "You know, I'm not so sure about this anymore. Isn't it kind of crazy to just waltz up and knock on her door unannounced? She might not even know I exist!"
To ease his worries, Gaby drags him inside the nearest bar, hoping a few sips of the local specialty will help loosen him up. Sure enough, the drink quickly works its magic. As the sun slowly begins to set behind them, Alvin finally works up the courage to begin searching for his sister's house.
As there are only a handful of residences scattered across the island, it doesn't take long for them to find the right one. The house itself is quite modest, but the ocean view is to die for. Gaby instructs Alvin to take deep breaths in and out while repeating in his head what he'll say to Kaimana when she comes to the door. After all, the better prepared he is, the more smoothly the interaction will go.
But, still, he hesitates in front of the slatted door. "What if this is a huge mistake?" he exclaims, gesturing wildly with his hands. "What if she doesn't even like me?"
Before Gaby can respond, the door opens and a beautiful young woman steps out from inside. She has the same bronze-toned skin and luxurious mane of unruly black hair as Alvin does. There's no mistaking her identity: this must be Kaimana.
"Hello?" she calls out uncertainly. "Can I help you with something?"
Alvin begins to stutter an inarticulate reply, but Kaimana raises a hand to silence him. "It's you."
His mouth drops open in surprise. "Wh-what? You-you know who I am? You knew I was coming?"
"Yes and no," she answers. "I knew I had a brother. Our parents always regretted giving you up. At least, that's what my grandparents told me. You know what happened to them right... our parents?"
"I do," Alvin says solemnly.
"I was so young when it happened... I barely remember them. My grandparents raised me. This used to be their house." She gestures toward the gauzy curtains fluttering in the breeze behind her. "Anyway, I grew up hoping I would meet you. I was always sure I would feel you if you came close enough. All day today, I've felt this strange... pull, like an invisible thread jerking at my wrist. I couldn't place the cause of it, but now I know why."
Kaimana pauses, seeming to notice Gaby's presence for the first time. "And you are?"
"Um, I'm Gaby," she responds, clearing her throat awkwardly, "Alvin's girlfriend... or, er, fiancée, I guess."
Kaimana's eyes light up. "You two are going to be married? Oh, I'm so happy for you! Come in, please. Let's sit down and have a real conversation. There's so much I'd like to know."
Once inside, Kaimana guides them to the kitchen table, where they all take a seat together. Alvin proceeds to tell her about his quest to discover his origins, but he's so nervous that he skimps on the details, which Gaby attempts to fill in to the best of her abilities. Kaimana listens with rapt attention, cutting in with a question every now and then.
When she asks how Gaby and Alvin met, he rushes into an incomprehensible account of what happened in Strangerville. "I'm sorry, did you just say something about a giant sentient plant?" Kaimana asks slowly.
"It's a long story," Gaby tells her, "and a pretty unbelievable one if you weren't there to see it yourself."
"Oh, no, it's not that I don't believe you. In fact, we hold to the belief here in Sulani that every palm leaf and blade of grass is a living being with thoughts and feelings of its own. That's why our land is so sacred to us and we endeavor to always treat it with respect. I just have trouble believing anyone would choose to harness the beauty of the natural world for evil."
Gaby can sense the conversation turning in a dark direction, and she doesn't want to spoil the siblings' first meeting with a debate over the innate depravity of humanity and the deep-seated desire for control.
"Speaking of the beauty of the natural world," she says, rising from her seat to peer out the ocean-facing windows, "I can't believe you get to wake up to this view every morning. I can't imagine it ever gets old."
Kaimana laughs. "What am I thinking keeping you inside like this? When I was a kid, I only ever stayed in the house more than five minutes to sleep... though more often than not, I dozed off right on the deck. Let's enjoy the sunset. We can talk more in the morning."
The three of them strip down to their bathing suits and head out to the water. The temperature has already cooled significantly, the air pleasantly brisk against their bare skin, a refreshing reprieve from the balminess of the day.
Gaby follows Alvin to the edge of the deck. "Are you going to come in?" she asks Kaimana over her shoulder.
"Oh, no," Kaimana replies, settling onto a lounge chair. "I can take a swim whenever I want. I'd rather just sit here and watch you enjoying yourselves."
It's been years since Gaby's been in the water, having been surrounded by desert for much of her life, but the swimming lessons she had as a child kick in almost immediately. In the open water, she feels so energized and free, as if she could swim for the rest of her life and never tire or want for more.
There are few sights more beautiful than the one Gaby views from the water as the final rays of the sun disappear and the moon and stars take up occupancy in the sky. It's been a good day. She has to admit that even she was a little worried about how Kaimana would respond to Alvin's sudden appearance. But so far she's been more than welcoming of both of them. Gaby is excited to see what the rest of their trip will hold. There's so much more breathtaking beauty left to uncover, but, more importantly, there's a newfound bond between brother and sister that will hopefully continue to grow over the coming days.