A new leaf turned,
a life changed

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In the early '70s, I was editor of the Leeward Community College student newspaper, and one day a kid showed up and said he wanted to become a journalist. Why? I asked.

He eyed me, sullen and silent. He had a wild and distracted air about him.

Finally, he said, " I want to change my life."

Why? What were you doing before?

He paused again, and spoke in a low voice, "I'm a burglar. I break into houses and steal things. But last week, I broke into some old guy's house and wandered around, looking for something to steal. But the guy had nothing, nothing. He was worse off than me. I became ashamed, and started to cry, and I resolved right there never to do that again. I don't want to be the person I was."

You're pretty honest, for a burglar, I said. Welcome aboard.

And Tremaine Tamayose became one of our most interesting writers, and later a noted Honolulu playwright and actor. He never looked back.

--Burl Burlingame

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