I will be flying back to the States this week after spending a lovely holiday here on Guam (despite being sick at home for most of it!) and I am already thinking about when we will be able to come back. At this point in our lives, it always feels like we are leaving family behind to be with family somewhere else. But whether we are with family in the Marianas or in the States, it always feels like a homecoming. So in that spirit, here is a heart-warming story by Påle’ Eric Forbes from his book “Estoriåye Yo'” about a whaler returning home to Guam. The narration for this story is done by Jay Che’le, hope you enjoy it!

Ha Bira Gue’ i Bayineru

Tinige’ as Påle’ Eric Forbes

Åntes na tiempo, meggai na hobensitu giya Guåhån ma dingu i isla para u fanbayineru. I memeggai-ña mañåga ha’ gi otro siha na tåno’ nai ma hanaogue ya ti manmali’e’ ta’lu gi isla. Un bi’uda guaha uniku na låhi-ña ni metgot yan bunmuchåchu. Kada ogga’an annai umamómotsa singko na chåda’ kinannóno’-ña. Todu i tiempu singko, tåya’ na kuåttro, tåya’ na sais.

Un diha, må’pos bumayineru i heben lao ha sangåni si nanå-ña, “Nåna, siempre tinaka’ tiempo lao gigon mama’tinas yu’ meggai na salåppe’, bai bira yu’ ya bai atende hao gi inamko’-mu.”

Ilek-ña i nana entre guiya ha’, “Ohala mohon ya u taiguennao, lao meggai-ña manhånao ya tåya’ mås ta’lu na manmali’e’.”

Kinse åños manmaloffan ya humåhnánao i heben ti ha bira gue’. Esta i nana ha po’lo na ni ngai’an para u li’e’ i lahi-ña ta’lu. 

Lao un ogga’an, guaha taotao mandåkkot gi petta. Annai ha baba i petta i bi’uda, ilek-ña i taotao, “Dispensa yu’ señora lao på’gu måtto yu’ Guåhån ya ñålang yu’ atdet. Kao siña un na’amotsa yu’?”

Manoppe’ i bi’uda, “Popble yu’ na palao’an ya tåya’ mås siña hu na’chocho hao na chåda’.”

Ilek-ña i taotao, “I chada’ i na’-hu amotsa kada ogga’an.” Pues humålom ya matå’chong i taotao. 

“Kuåntu na chåda’ malago’-mu?” mámaisen i bi’uda. 

Manoppe’ i taotao, “Todu i tiempu singko na chåda’ kinannóno’-hu para i amotsa. Tåya’ na kuåttru, tåya’ na sais.”

Ilek-ña i bi’uda, “Ginen hu tungo’ un taotao ni parehu yan hågu. Singko na chåda’ nána’-ña kada ogga’an.”

“Håyi ayu na taotao?” mámaisen i taotao.

Ilek-ña i bi’uda, “I lahi-hu. Lao esta åpmam ha dingu Guåhan ya achokka’ hu li’e’ gue’ på’go na ha’åne, seguru na ti bai hu rekoknisa.”

Ilek-ña i taotao, “Sen magåhet fino’-mu nåna sa’ estague’ yu’.”

The Whaler Returned

Written by Father Eric Forbes

In the past, many young men from Guam left the island to become whalers. The majority stayed in the places they went to and were never seen again. One widow had an only son who was strong and hard-working. Each morning he ate five eggs for breakfast. It was always five, never four, never six. 

One day the young man left to become a whaler but he told his mother, “Mother, it will take time but as soon as I make a lot of money, I will return and take care of you in your old age.”

The mother said to herself, “If only it shall be, but they mostly leave and are never seen again.”

Fifteen years passed and the young man didn’t return. The mother was resigned to never seeing her son again. 

But one morning, a man knocked on the door. When the widow opened the door, the man said, “Excuse me, ma’am, but I just arrived on Guam and I am very hungry. Can you give me breakfast?”

The widow replied, “I am a poor woman and all I can feed you are eggs.”

The man said, “Eggs are what I eat for breakfast every morning.” So he came in and sat down.

“How many eggs do you want?” the widow asked.

The man replied, “It’s always five eggs I have for breakfast. Never four, never six.”

The widow said, “I once knew a man like you.”

“Who would that be?” the man inquired.

“My son. But it’s already been a long time since he left Guam and even if I should see him this day, I certainly would not recognize him.”

The man said, “What you say is true, mother, because here I am.”