I LOVE horses.
I want to ride on the wind like Eagles; I want to ride on the horses in the real races, the American races.
Mama is calling. I think I am late for school.
I must leave now.
Kanika
Dear Mother Moon,
My first day of school at Hawkson Elementary was not as well as I thought it might be. Some kids made fun of my clothes and call me names. Some make fun of my English.
At midday dinner, or, as they call it, 'lunch,' in the 'kafiterea,' when I sat at a table with some girls, they got up and left, before I could say a word. All I got out was, "H-". I didn't even get to finish saying "hi," and they were gone. Maybe I am just 'exaggerating' mama says. But I know I'm not. Later, after school, I helped mama cook a big dinner, one of my favorite things to do. The meal was made up of roast beef, Sioux, my tribe, cornbread, succotash, and berry cake.
I live at a reservation camp in Canada. I wonder what it would be like to live like modern people of America.
I still always think about Rain, my Palomino Quarter Horse. She died a year ago. I used to ride her everywhere. She made me feel safe, like she would always protect me. I can still feel the wind whipping my hair into my face. It always stung, but it never mattered. I would feel like an Eagle taking flight to some far off, distant, magical place. I really miss her. A lot.
Kanika
Dear Mother Moon,
Homework has just entered my fourth grade life, and on the second day of school. I have loads of homework. It always seems to pile up so quickly. Today seemed to go by quickly, though. I actually only have a couple of things; I got most of it done in class. I still wish we had study halls or something. Mr. Woods spends so much time talking, that when the bell rings, he always says, "Time to leave already? Here's your homework!" and passes it out as we leave the room. That's why my math homework is never finished, and I always have math homework.
I got lost exactly thirteen times today. Once when I wanted to go to the Science B room, I accidentally ended up in Mr. Hollis' room, the Science C classroom.
Most of my other mapping mishaps were like that, except for one. I accidentally ended up in the bathroom! Well, at least it was the girls' bathroom. And when I walked in, I saw a bunch of girls standing by the sink, fixing their hair and faces, talking, too. I couldn't help overhearing my name. And since they didn't hear me come in, I slipped quietly into a stall and decided to eavesdrop.
Mama's always told me that eavesdropping was wrong. But this time was different. Besides, she used to eavesdrop on me when I would talk or whisper into Rain's ear, telling her about all my problems.
I listened closely, recognizing the voice of a girl in my English D class. She was saying, "That Indian girl needs to lighten up. She should try to make friends, and not be so defensive. What do you say about letting her in the group, Paige?" Paige, obviously the other girl, flatly asked, "Why, Kate?" Kate, the girl from my class, said, "You know, if you think about it, she could be really pretty." "Yeah!" Paige said. "She wouldn't be so lonely if she were a wee bit more popular. Maybe some kids would be interested in her background and heritage." Then they left, and after they did, so did I.
I've been thinking about this all day. I have been thinking that if I still had Rain, I wouldn't be so lonely.
Kanika
Dear Mother Moon,
The days have been getting better, and so has my spelling and English. (I do not speak good English because for the past four years of my life, I have been home schooled in the language of my tribe, the Sioux.)
I think Hawkson School will not be so bad. Kate and Paige talked to me today about being friends. They told me to loosen up and try to make friends. They also asked me why I was so shy and lonely. I didn't answer. I just walked away to class.
Just my luck, my favorite subject, art, was next. We were supposed to draw our favorite pet or animal. I drew Rain, and me riding her in an American Horse race. I know I am too young to ride in a real race, but it's my dream even so.
Just as I finished I noticed someone peering over my shoulder. It was the art teacher seeing how everyone was doing. She quietly said to me, "May I show your picture to the class? You have great drawing skills, and you capture every detail. You also use many beautiful shades and patterns." I just nodded. I knew I wouldn't be embarrassed; I like to share my sketches and drawings with people. That's one of my strengths, mama says. Not fearing to share things.
When Mrs. Spurn showed my drawing, people gasped and said things like, "Wow," and "Amazing!" and some of the boys even said, "Awesome, dude," and "Rad."
Was I that good? I guess I was, mama says to me when I tell her. But I don't want to keep the picture, yet I sort of also do. It reminds me of Rain. Sometimes I wonder, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Kanika
Short story by Catherine Stout
Read 721 times
Written on 2006-05-09 at 01:21
Tags Horses
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Native Dream: Dear Mother Moon
Dear Mother Moon,I want to ride on the wind like Eagles; I want to ride on the horses in the real races, the American races.
Mama is calling. I think I am late for school.
I must leave now.
Kanika
Dear Mother Moon,
My first day of school at Hawkson Elementary was not as well as I thought it might be. Some kids made fun of my clothes and call me names. Some make fun of my English.
At midday dinner, or, as they call it, 'lunch,' in the 'kafiterea,' when I sat at a table with some girls, they got up and left, before I could say a word. All I got out was, "H-". I didn't even get to finish saying "hi," and they were gone. Maybe I am just 'exaggerating' mama says. But I know I'm not. Later, after school, I helped mama cook a big dinner, one of my favorite things to do. The meal was made up of roast beef, Sioux, my tribe, cornbread, succotash, and berry cake.
I live at a reservation camp in Canada. I wonder what it would be like to live like modern people of America.
I still always think about Rain, my Palomino Quarter Horse. She died a year ago. I used to ride her everywhere. She made me feel safe, like she would always protect me. I can still feel the wind whipping my hair into my face. It always stung, but it never mattered. I would feel like an Eagle taking flight to some far off, distant, magical place. I really miss her. A lot.
Kanika
Dear Mother Moon,
Homework has just entered my fourth grade life, and on the second day of school. I have loads of homework. It always seems to pile up so quickly. Today seemed to go by quickly, though. I actually only have a couple of things; I got most of it done in class. I still wish we had study halls or something. Mr. Woods spends so much time talking, that when the bell rings, he always says, "Time to leave already? Here's your homework!" and passes it out as we leave the room. That's why my math homework is never finished, and I always have math homework.
I got lost exactly thirteen times today. Once when I wanted to go to the Science B room, I accidentally ended up in Mr. Hollis' room, the Science C classroom.
Most of my other mapping mishaps were like that, except for one. I accidentally ended up in the bathroom! Well, at least it was the girls' bathroom. And when I walked in, I saw a bunch of girls standing by the sink, fixing their hair and faces, talking, too. I couldn't help overhearing my name. And since they didn't hear me come in, I slipped quietly into a stall and decided to eavesdrop.
Mama's always told me that eavesdropping was wrong. But this time was different. Besides, she used to eavesdrop on me when I would talk or whisper into Rain's ear, telling her about all my problems.
I listened closely, recognizing the voice of a girl in my English D class. She was saying, "That Indian girl needs to lighten up. She should try to make friends, and not be so defensive. What do you say about letting her in the group, Paige?" Paige, obviously the other girl, flatly asked, "Why, Kate?" Kate, the girl from my class, said, "You know, if you think about it, she could be really pretty." "Yeah!" Paige said. "She wouldn't be so lonely if she were a wee bit more popular. Maybe some kids would be interested in her background and heritage." Then they left, and after they did, so did I.
I've been thinking about this all day. I have been thinking that if I still had Rain, I wouldn't be so lonely.
Kanika
Dear Mother Moon,
The days have been getting better, and so has my spelling and English. (I do not speak good English because for the past four years of my life, I have been home schooled in the language of my tribe, the Sioux.)
I think Hawkson School will not be so bad. Kate and Paige talked to me today about being friends. They told me to loosen up and try to make friends. They also asked me why I was so shy and lonely. I didn't answer. I just walked away to class.
Just my luck, my favorite subject, art, was next. We were supposed to draw our favorite pet or animal. I drew Rain, and me riding her in an American Horse race. I know I am too young to ride in a real race, but it's my dream even so.
Just as I finished I noticed someone peering over my shoulder. It was the art teacher seeing how everyone was doing. She quietly said to me, "May I show your picture to the class? You have great drawing skills, and you capture every detail. You also use many beautiful shades and patterns." I just nodded. I knew I wouldn't be embarrassed; I like to share my sketches and drawings with people. That's one of my strengths, mama says. Not fearing to share things.
When Mrs. Spurn showed my drawing, people gasped and said things like, "Wow," and "Amazing!" and some of the boys even said, "Awesome, dude," and "Rad."
Was I that good? I guess I was, mama says to me when I tell her. But I don't want to keep the picture, yet I sort of also do. It reminds me of Rain. Sometimes I wonder, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Kanika
Short story by Catherine Stout
Read 721 times
Written on 2006-05-09 at 01:21
Tags Horses
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
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