Kionasina My Heart

In the corner of my memory dwells my early childhood fascination with the story of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.  It was dubbed "KIONASINA" in our samoan language. The name Kionasina itself sounded magical and special. A name for a Princess!

I guesstimate my age between 3 and 5 years at the time.  Before seeing the fairytale performed live, I first saw the movie at my great aunt's house, who was also my next door neighbor, on a television I beleive was 19 inches big.  It was disturbed by blurry, snowy reception. I can still hear the buzzing sound in my ears when I recall the memory. Regardless, this problem was of little consequence. My little self was proud that I was part of the lucky few who had access to a tv in our village!  Television was a wonderful novelty then and to be privy to one was a huge privilege. Disney programs aired every Sunday night.  The word spread like wildfire and my aunt's living room became a free-for-all theatre for the curious children of our hood.

Being so young, I was impressed with the themes of good and evil, the beauty of love and romance, the sadness of death and the joy of a happy ending. I recall hating the queen for her cruelty and black heart and rejoiced at her demise.  And who didn't want to be a Princess?  Who didn't want her own Prince Charming?  Who didn't want a magical, talking mirror? Minus the menacing man in it.  Who didn't want a red, delicious apple? Without the poison, of course.  I wasn't sure of the 7 dwarfs, but their kindness to Snow White was wonderful and noble. So I think that was enough to recommend them to me. In all, the movie left me unsatisfied. I wanted and wished for more!  I had many questions. 

A declaration came one summer proclaiming the story of Kionasina was coming to town. Imagine how thrilled I was when I was told it was Snow White's story! I was excited and could hardly wait to see it!  After weeks of anciticipation, the day finally arrived.  It was twilight when my relatives and I walked eagerly to the village square where our Fesoasoani resided.  He was our church community's curate, assistant to the Catholic priest. We sat on the dusty, cracked, cemented driveway of the Fesoasoani's residence and fought our way to sit front and center.  Those prepared enough brought pandan mats or cardboards to sit on.  I didn't mind those things.  I only wanted to watch the show. The crowd was large. People were talking and debating, laughing, joking, anxious for the show to begin.  Then blared the trumpet!

They announced their procession with trumpets, horns and drums, marching in unison, like a cavalry of soldiers, waving colorful flags and banners. I was fascinated with the dramatic parade of actors, ordinary people, moving, singing, talking their parts in Shakespearean fashion.  One act became two then three all too soon. Loud cheers and laughter filled the air that night and I was very sad when it ended.  I wished it would never stop.  The play became so real to me and brought to life the characters from the movie itself.  I was amazed! I laughed, I cried, I hated.  Above all, I wanted to be Kionasina! I wanted my own prince charming!  And from that day on, began my fascination with romance and love and happy endings and red, delicious apples.  I think I promised to fight for good against evil!

In retrospect, the story of Snow White, fueled my imagination and bombarded my young thoughts with the idea of true love and happy endings. The notion "AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER" was a hope inspired by true love, but misleading nevertheless. But I believe, when one finds true love, THAT love can create a happy ending.  My introduction to good and evil was so profound I hated the very thought of it.  Without much introspection, I lived a young life always trying to be good. I didn't always succeed, but at least I tried.  The very thing, I do remember, my mind was set upon, was how in the world was I going to get a red apple!