Page 108 - Mistified Update June 2020_Neat

When all the formal greetings were complete, Aroha
whispered to me, “The karanga and whaikorero have
now called us forth. The space between us and the
people at the whare, the house, is now sacred. Once the
ceremony is over, the sacred is lifted and the space can
again be used for other purposes.”

We entered the building and after some personal
greetings, Aroha led me to some seats to one side. The

sounds of the conversations inside the marae seemed
more of a hum compared to the deep resonating
vibration in the air during the formal greetings.
I felt that my body was still tingling from that sound
and was glad that I had decided not to think so much
and just experience each moment. I could not make out
any of the inside conversation. Some seemed English,
some another language and others seemed to use a mix
of words. However, I somehow felt that I was the main
center of attention as some kept looking and even
pointing at me.

Sometimes a group would begin to sing … and
some wailed. They wail a lot, I thought.
My mind started to drift back to the revelations that
Miss Grace had disclosed at the cemetery. Her words
were haunting me and I was praying her words would
somehow dissolve and disappear as if never spoken.

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