bin collectors, practically every job was open to them. Tirita had a cousin with his own dental clinic, and another Manina lad was lecturing in a university. Tom quickly marshalled his thoughts in reply to his niece's thrust. “I agree, dear, that this is your world. You have everything to gain, but please remember one thing. You must have an anchor. In my family, my anchor is my church. In my church as you know, we are asked not to smoke or to drink alcohol. This has helped me more than you will ever know. Your dad as a young man was a teetotaller, but when he went into business with his taxi and store combined, he took to the bottle. It promoted his sales according to him, and his associates expected it of him. You know as well as I do, that his drinking led to his undoing. He gradually drifted away from your mother, then finally deserted her altogether. He left you for good; he fell in with another woman, to raise another family. Your elder sisters and one brother immediately left the home where they were nurtured. You have followed this movement, and your young sisters and brothers will do the same when they finish with school. The only answer we, your elders, have to this question is this: You must have an anchor, and the best anchor is a religion that will teach you and lead you to live a clean life. Without this anchor, you are like seaweed floating aimlessly on the sea. Sooner or later that seaweed will be cast upon a beach, high and dry. You are high and dry today, but I am here to take you by the hand. This city, in fact all cities are as cruel as that beach-head upon which the flotsam and the jetsam of the seas are stranded like dry seaweed, cracking and bleaching in the sun.” Clang … clang … a bell was ringing. “That is the time bell, uncle. All visitors will leave now. You make me think hard.” She stretched her hand out to put it in her uncle's hand. “I'll do my best, but this is my problem. I will not burden you and Hine with my troubles. I will find my own way out. I will see it through. You are good, and kind. I will come to you if the need arises. Please kiss me … my heart is crying, and I am lonely.” Tom whispered, “Kia kaha e hine,” 6 Be strong my girl. as he touched his lips upon her creek. Finally, in Maori, he reassured her with the words “Hei konei ra,