Empathic response on the Whale Rider
You are Kahu at the end of the concert when Koro didn’t show up. Write your thoughts. Paka didn’t show up to the concert today. That speech that I gave at the end was for him. I wrote it because I wanted him to know how much I love and admire him, but the seat that was reserved for him was empty throughout the whole concert. If only I was a boy, Koro would have loved me more than he does. At the beginning of the concert I thought that Koro was just late, but after some time I started to think that Koro might not come at all, and after the culture group was finished I was convinced that he wasn’t going to come to the concert at all. It made me feel so sad, and I didn’t have the heart to look up and see the open seat where Koro was supposed to be if he came. I couldn’t do anything but to stare at the floor. Uncle Rawiri, Nani and the other people of my family who came to the concert clapped really loudly for me, and it helped a bit. I managed a smile, but my heart was still aching for Koro. I really wanted his support, especially because my speech for Koro was coming up, and I still can`t stop feeling how easier it would have been to give that speech if I knew that Koro was there for me. I can`t stop thinking how much more love and respect I could have gained from him if only I was a boy. Sometimes, Koro hates me so much that I cannot stop feeling a bit annoyed. The other day I saw Koro, I wanted to talk to him, so I ran up to him crying “Paka! Oh! Paka!” He turned to me and said. “Go away. You are no use to me.” I was really surprised. Even though I know he hates me, I didn’t think that he would say something so cruel to me. After all, I am his granddaughter. This made me really frustrated, and the feeling of myself wanting to be a boy came back again. But, I cannot become a boy, no matter how hard I wish to become one. All I can do, is to prove to Koro that I can be what he is