2022
Te Boki ae Onoti
Nobembwa 2022


Te Boki ae Onoti

Border art from the Book of Mormon Stories surrounds  Bernice (about age 5) who is holding the book. Her head pops out of the cover. Her parents are in the background.

“Am tai ni wareware, Papa,” e taku Bernice. E kauki booki aika tabu. A tekateka Maman ao Papa irarikina iaon te couch.

E wareka te moan kibu Papa. “I ataia ae e tangiriia natina”

“I ataia ae e tangiriia natina,” e kaokia riki Bernice.

“Ma,” e taku Papa, “I aki atai nanon bwaai ni kabane.”*

Ma bon te taeka ae matoatoa. E tuai kona ni wareware raoi Bernice, ao e aki ataia bwa tera nanon taian taeka ni kabane. Ma e tangiria ni kaokioki taian taeka ngkana a bane ni wareware ana utu ni booki aika tabu.

Te bong are imwiina n tain warekan booki aika tabu, iai ana kakubanako Papa. “Iai au bwai ae onoti ibukimi,” e taku. Eangan Bernice te boki. Iai tamneia aomata ao te booti mai moa.

“Aio ibukiu?” E titiraki Bernice. E rabwata te boki ae bubura inanoaan baina.

“Bon ibukim,” e taku Papa. “Kaukia nooria.”

E kauka te boki Bernice. A tokatoka kanoan matana. A mwaiti tamnei aika a kirimatamata inanona.

“Terana arana?” E titiraki Bernice.

E kotei taian taeka Papa ake iaon kunin te boki. Karaki man Ana Boki Moomon,” e taku.

E rimwiin taian taeka ake a mwakoro iaon kunin te boki Bernice. Karaki man Ana Boki Moomon,” e taku.

“Bon aekakin naba te karaki are ti wareka rongorongona ni booki aika tabu,” e taku Maman.

Bernice e kotea teuana mai buakon taian tamnei. “Antai anne?”e titiraki.

“Hmm. Ko noora te kainikatebe ao taian kanoa?” E titiraki Maman.

E katoua atuuna Bernice.

“Ko uringnga warekan rongorongon temanna are e uruaki ana kainikatebeke?” E titiraki Papa.

“Nibwaai?” E taku Bernice.

“Eng, bon Nibwaai,” e taku Papa.

E moangare Bernice. “Ko rabwa, Papa. Ko rabwa, Maman. I tangira te boki aio.”

Ni katoa tairiki, e wareka ana boki ae tabu Bernice ma Maman ao Papa. E kotei taian tamnei. E reireinna n atong taeka aika a matoatoa. Ao e reiakinaki bwa e na wareki tabeua taeka aika a bebete i bon irouna!

E namakina te kukurei ni wawarekan booki aika tabu. E kukurei bwa e kona ni wareki ma Maman ao Papa!

Page from the November 2022 The Friend Magazine.

Kamataata n te tamnei iroun Adam Koford