At the sandy beach on this island, there stood a simple hut with only a dirt floor and tin roof. There was also a drum-can with rainwater. Supper time has already passed. The three sat on the floor of the hut and ate the rice balls and sandwiches with few words. Miyoko ate rice balls with one hand while still holding a towel with Banana hidden in it. Miyoko gave Banana a little water.  He took it, but did not want to eat anything.

     After eating, Daniel went to secure the boat and canoe firmly so that they would not drift away in the rising tide. Michael turned on his flashlight and began to set up the tent. Miyoko also turned on a flashlight, searched around in her package for a sturdy rope. She thought about leashing Banana to a tree during the night.  Miyoko hold Banana on her lap and tied a rope on the cat's body. Banana sat quietly and stayed still. The body of a young cat was thin and soft, and he easily slipped out of the rope. After trying many times, Miyoko managed to get the string around Banana’s body tight but not too tight.

     Initially, Daniel intended to return to Koror the same day.  Michael lent Daniel a blanket. Daniel wrapped himself up in the blanket and slept in the hut.

     Using the rope, Miyoko secured Banana to a tree near the tent. Banana sat still on the sand. Before closing the tent, Miyoko put her head out and looked at Banana. She couldn't see the black cat as he blended into the darkness, but his two big golden eyes stared back at her.

     The next morning, Miyoko immediately pulled her head out of the tent looking for Banana. However, Banana was nowhere to be seen; only the rope still tied to the tree lying on the sand. Miyoko gasped for dismay.  Miyoko crawled out of the tent; she walked around looking for the cat. Banana must be somewhere nearby, but Banana didn't come out. If Banana stays still in the shadow of the grass, Miyoko would not find him. Miyoko told Michael that the cat had escaped. Knowing that Banana is utmost important for Miyoko,  Michael and Daniel both walked around looking for Banana.  However,no one even saw the shadow of Banana.  He had completely disappeared.

     The wind was calm today, and it was a sunny, bright, and hot day; typical of Palau. The three sat on the floor of the hut and ate the rest of the rice balls. Miyoko was shocked to lose Banana and had few words.  Michael and Daniel would have planned to go to Leo's island as soon as they woke up, but Miyoko wasn't willing to leave this island without Banana. Both of them sensed Miyoko's feelings and walked around the surrounding shrub again and again to look for Banana. Behind the bay of the crescent-shaped sandy beach, there was a forest of rugged and thin brush. But further down the bush, the land rises sharply and becomes a steep mountain. If Banana knew Miyoko was searching for him, he might be thinking that this was a game of some sort and be more interested to hide without showing himself.  Miyoko was irritated. After searching for Banana until near noon, Miyoko had to admit that it was almost impossible for humans to find a black cat in the woods unless the cat was willing to be seen.

     Daniel had appointments in Koror and must return to Koror as soon as possible. When Michael quietly said, "Miyoko, it's time to go to Leo's island," Miyoko could not say “No”.  She nodded to Michael without words.  Miyoko determined in her mind to come back to look for Banana the next day.  She reluctantly headed to the boat, looking back at the forest many times.

     She was sure Banana was looking at Miyoko's departure from under the brush.  Miyoko left the apartment every morning, went somewhere, and always came back in the evening to feed him. “If I take a nap and wait, Mom will come back and give me dinner” Banana may be thinking.  Miyoko intended to release Banana free when she arrived at Leo's island. Miyoko thought that it would be okay because Banana would return to Miyoko when it's time to eat. But it would be an unforeseen bad event to lose Banana on another island where she would not be there to look out for him.

     Seen from this beach, Leo's island was across a wide waterway. From here you can only see the steep, wooded cliffs of Leo’s island. Michael already packed their belongings and loaded them on the boat.  Miyoko sat in the red boat as she did yesterday.  However, Banana, who she was holding so tight yesterday, was no longer in her arms. Near noon, Daniel's little red boat sailed out into the sea pulling again the canoe by the rope. There were no waves that day and it was just a hot, flat sea. The sea water was a shining emerald green. The boat soon crossed the strait, circled Leo's island, and reached the sandy beach on the other side.

     From this sandy beach, you cannot see the island where Banana was.  Daniel pulled the canoe to the beach.  As soon as Daniel unloaded all the belongings, he started the engine again to go back to Koror.   "Come to pick us up after a month. Don't forget," said Michael. Daniel shook his hand with a laugh, saying, "Only if I remember." The little red boat with Daniel was getting farther away. Eventually, both the tiny boat and Daniel went around the cape and disappeared. Miyoko and Michael were left with a pile of belongings on a sizzling white beach. From now on, a month for only two of them will begin.