Be that time a year. Be no escape.
See her mak'n her way up the hillside to my hovel. Tell she be scared. Her eyes be big as saucers. Her legs, wobbly-like. She was carry'n a bonnet.
Ain't no kid wants to spend three days and nights with a village elder. Be village way since long ago times.
Young'uns suffer be'n a'fear'd of old, wrinkly people. Natural as a bee buzz. Just young'uns awake'n to human mortality. Mainly their own, I a'reckon.
Kind'a scare that lingers a'bit and gets confus'n.
Three mousey knocks visit'd the door.
"Well, you be knock'n, so what you be want'n?" I said while open'n the door.
Peek'n into her eyes, I knew it be a bit a'fore she found courage to speak. She wore typical young people garb. Jeans and such. Her jeans so tight it look'd like they was spray painted on the skin.
Went through my nogg'n them jeans was strangl'n her butt.
What do I know about young women? I ain't been young for I can't remember how long. Be more'n a tad, I a'reckon. Well, a tad more'n a tad.
Finally her mouth gone work'n and Calina said, kinda sing-songy, "Mom said I was to come stay with you. To learn things. Get a perspective."
"I ain't gots a clue to that 'perspective' thing, but come on in and I'll give you the centavo tour. Ain't much, but comfy," I said.
After show'n her where her pallet be for sleep'n, she was a bit confus'd. Had to explain that a pallet of pelts be where she would sleep. Told her to drop her possibles by her pallet. Then we sat at the table.
"Ain't you s'pose to be ask'n questions?" Young'uns tuck inside themselves to avoid appear'n foolish, I be a'reckon'n.
Calina gurgled sounds a'fore get'n the frog out, then squeek'd, "My mom said I was suppose to bring this hat. I don't know why, but said it was the one she wore when staying with you."
"Tis a bonnet," I replied. Desert woman's best friend. You be a'wear'n it come dawn. Tak'n you to the gypsum sea. You'll be a'need'n it. Gots a walk'n stick?"
She nodd'd no, so I point'd to the corner and told her to pick one out. I gots lots of 'em over the years. She picked ol' Mose. Good choice. I told her it was now hers.
As I was dish'n out beans, sausage and fry bread for supper, Kiva jump'd up onto the table, await'n the partak'n of gruel.
"Oh! You have a cat!" chirp'd Calina.
"Ain't my cat," I said. "She just thinks she owns the joint. Wander'd in one day. She be so small I made a bed for her in a soup bowl. Grow'd a mite since then. Nobody owns a cat. They just slink into your good graces. All down hill from there."
"What's her name," asked Calina.
"Kiva. She be warm as a Kiva oven when balled up ag'in my butt at night," I replied.
"We don't let our cat eat at the table, though," she said.
"Don't know why not," I said. "Cats don't eat much. Always wash after eat'n, they do. Hell, girl, cats share their kill. Good manners to share yours, don't ya think?"
"Mom always makes Poofy, that's our cat, eat on the floor," replied Calina.
"Ain't no way to treat a friend," I said. "No self-respect'n cat would invite you into their den, then make ya go eat away from them. Tad rude I be think'n."
Per village custom, I began to tell Calina 'bout my life. Told her I wasn't always a desert woman. That I grow'd up in a small hamlet along the mighty Mississippi. Twain country. Told her, as a child, I ran the trails Chief Blackhawk's people made long ago.
I still remember those days. Yep. Those times be burn'd in my soul.
Get'n ready for bed, I asked Calina if'n her mom be bring'n a horse for her come false dawn. "No," she said, "I have to go and get it ready myself. Mom say's she isn't getting out of bed for something I should do myself."
"I'll get you up in time," I said. Gus said he would have ol' Pisser at the hovel come false dawn. He be a man o'his word and always supplies me a horse when need'n.
Surprised me a tad when I awoke and saw Calina already awake and get'n dress'd. I told her to hold off with dress'n and hand'd her a set of buckskins. Be more comfor'able I explained.
"Never wore buckskin," she said.
"Always a first time for ever'thing," I told her, as I tied the bonnet around her neck and sent her off to get her horse. Gus was com'n up the hill lead'n ol' Pisser. Good as his word.
Just be finish'n pack'n the possibles and sling'n it onto the back of ol' Pisser when Calina rode up on her horse. I threw her ol' Mose while remind'n her that a walk'n stick was necessary when tromp'n in the desert.
"Aren't you going to ride the horse?" Calina asked.
"Why?," I said. "You be hanker'n to have somebody rid'n on your back? Asides, ol' Pisser's job be haul'n our possibles and bedrolls. Not cart'n my fat butt. I gots feet and that'll do just fine, I a'reckon."
Kiva pop'd her head outta one of the haversacks with the look of, "Well, ain't we go'n?" Her whiskers a twitch'n with anticipation and her eyes reflect'n the stars try'n to hold back the dawn.
Calina, perch'd on her horse and me lead'n ol' Pisser, walk'd toward the dawn.
Somethin' happen'd to the girl just after Father Sol made his morn'ns to us. Sudden-like, Calina began yap'n questions, one after t'other.
Answer'n them, the day pass'd. Finally, I said, "Girl, did I ever tell you about one young'un who ask'd me so many questions, she turned into a question mark?"
Found a cleft close by. Good for spend'n the night. After see'n to the horses, we bed'd down for the even'n. Sky was blush'n g'night and on the fire was a stew pot of beans and bison.
Cornbread for slop'n up the drip'ns be warm'n on the flat stone. Kiva cuddled next to me.
"What is your real name, She of Two Spirits?" Asked Calina.
"Be think'n Peter Pan, girl. You be know'n it then," I answered.
See'n a smile cross a young'uns face be a right moment a joy, I a'reckon. "Wendy!" She yelled.
"Quiet-like, girl. No sense spook'n the night critters. It be their time now, ya know," I caution'd. "That name be from long ago time I reckon."
Peek'n at me, Calina said, "Do you think it is OK if I get a tattoo? All my friends have one."
"You grown e'nuff to decide yourself. Be think'n a bit on this, as you be peek'n at me. Wrinkles are my honor badges from the elements. Be need'n no cheap ink for a one-time fashion statement. Nope."
Could see her brains whirl'n around like a drunk desert chicken. Girl be smart as a whip, but still hung up on what others be do'n.
"You gots a squeeze?" I asked.
"A what? I don't understand," she said.
"Boy friend," I laughed.
"Oh, yes. His name is Manuel. He wants to be a scientist. He's really nice. But, sometimes he thinks he owns me or something. Why do boys do that?" She asked.
"Men act like they do 'cause they be scared a women's power," I replied.
"Women don't have power," she answered rather beligerently.
"Little one, you be wrong as can be," I said. "You be a tad young to understand now, but it'll come to you. Just wait a bit longer. Men try to rule what they can't have."
We talk'd long into the night and bunk'd down when Leo was wain'n. At dawn we broke camp and continued on our journey southward with Kiva peek'n out her haversack.
Approach'n the green glass lake I pulled ol' Pisser's reins and stopped. Motion'n Calina to remain quiet.
"What is this place?" Asked Calina
"Place of man's greatest sin since Eve chomp'd the apple. Here be where ol' Oppy became Death," I answered quietly. "Now, shush!"
Kiva been rid'n on ol' Pisser's back and her tail poof'd up big. She duck'd into the haversack. Only her whiskers betray'd her be'n there.
Two military jeep things came roar'n down the slope toward us. They skid'd to a stop and four big men climb'd out point'n guns at us.
"If'n you gonna shoot, shoot. If'n ya ain't, get over here. I gots fry bread!" I yelled.
"Jebus H. Christ on a crutch! Is that you, She of Two Spirits?" Yelled Captain Cruz. "Damn, woman, how many times I have to tell you that you are not allowed to come through this part of the missle range. It's government property. It's dangerous!"
"Hush, Tommy," I said. "Told ya a'fore I don't know no government. Land b'longs to all critters to use. Gift of the Great Spirit."
"You don't understand or won't understand," he said.
"Only nitwits believe they own what they draw'd a line around on paper. Now, help yourself to the fry bread. Be in the tan haversack. Careful you don't be grab'n Kiva," I cautioned.
Tell'n one'a his drones to radio in that it be me a'gin, he reach'd in and got a slab a fry bread. His mouth full, Tommy point'd to Calina.
"Calina be her name. She journies with me. Life lessons," I said.
"Just do us all a favor, She of Two Spirits," he begged. "Washington don't like civilians wandering the missle range."
"That may be," I replied. "I don't like them gov'ment people wander'n round screw'n ever'thing up, either. But, we endure. Don't we Tommy?"
"I could have been a Major by now, if it wasn't for you, woman!" He bellowed.
"Figger that be true," I replied.
"OK, She of Two Spirits. Please stay on your normal trail. I'll have observers watching you," he said while brushing crumbs from his uniform.
After Tommy an me hug'd, Calina and I start'd break'n trail a'gin. Green glass crunch'n under our load. Be the saddest part of the trail and haunt'd.
"I still don't understand what this place is," said Calina.
"Nothin' child," I said softly. "Place where men play'd God and lost."
Come noon, white broke as far as our eyes could see. A black dot head'n toward us. Reckon'd it be a Park Ranger. T'was. Ranger Jeff. Saw by his bounc'n butt on the saddle, it be him. Still ain't learn'd to sit a saddle!
"Learn to sit a horse, Jeff! Ya look like cactus jelly jitter'n around on it," I said with a smile as he approach'd.
"I just can't satisfy a crusty old desert bitch," he laughed as he dismounted. "Woman, you have to stop trailing through the back way. It's dangerous. Fry bread in the tan bag like always?"
"Go fetch ya some," I said. "Kiva can climb out t'other if'n she wants. She be want'n a scritch from ya, Jeff."
"Kiva came? Hot damn!" He exclaimed. "By the way, I figured you would be coming, like always, so I have your secret spot supplied with water and firewood. Whose the bonnet on the other horse?"
"That be mighty sweet a you, Jeff. As for her, she be jail bait, as far you be'n concern'd," I said.
"Aw, woman secrets time," he said with a big wink. "Quintanna will ride outside the fire ring to check on you a few times during the night. Be nice and don't go blasting him with your shotgun!"
"I'll know when he be watch'n," I replied with a grin.
"OK, then," he said while mounting his horse. "Mucho thanko for the fry bread. It was good seeing you again, She of Two Spirits. Peace!"
After he left, Calina and I took Kiva and head'd to my kinda secret spot. After supper, under the Milky Way, I told Calina of the Ancients and their ways. Things only for her spirit to hear and know.
When sleep came knock'n, Calina look'd at me with eyes fill'd with starlight and said, "You remember telling me about the other girl that asked so many questions, that she turned into a question mark?"
"I do," I said sleepily as Kiva snuggled around my butt.
"How did she keep the little dot under her?"