Weak in Body, Strong in Mind and Spirit

“It feels good to be home!” said Kimberly, looking around the Five Brothers.

“Home is where the Sasquatch is,” said Pamela with a laugh.

“Where are the palm trees?” asked Alachua as he too looked around at these surroundings unfamiliar to him.

“We don’t have those,” I answered.

“It’s chilly,” he replied.

“Wait until winter when it snows!” I said.

“Snow?”

“You’ll see,” I said with a laugh. “You’ll like winter. We were built for it by our Earth Mother.”

The Elders seated themselves and motioned for Pamela and Kimberly to join them.

When all were seated, Windago spoke.

“My Brothers and Sisters of the Panther and Lower Wolfjaw Tribes, please welcome our Brothers and Sisters of the Falling Water Tribe from the lands of the south. They need a new home, and shall be welcomed to ours. As long as you Falling Water are here, you shall be members of not only your Tribe, but ours as well.”

Okie approached.

“I am not an Elder, but I will speak for our remaining Falling Water Tribe to thank your Tribes’ Warriors for not only saving us from the Skunk Apes, but also for welcoming us here to your home.”

This pleased the Elders greatly, who nodded their approval.

“And I must also thank Pamela and Kimberly and their Beasts for fighting with us, at great peril to themselves, and we Falling Water shall be forever in their debt...” he said. “But Ouragan?”

Okie gestured to the massive Warrior... “Ouragan, you did well against the largest, meanest Skunk Ape I’ve ever seen. And you held your own! Your reputation preceeds you. You are indeed the Forest People’s mightiest Warrior.”

Ouragan smiled a bit and looked slightly embarrased.

“We are all grateful that you have welcomed us here, and we will do our best to be an asset to your Tribes,” Okie continued.

Okie felt a tug at his leg. He looked down to see Caesar and Zena looking up at him. He reached down and scooped them both up, much to their delight.

“It is a shame that we all can’t coexist like these two do,” he said.

“They haven’t learned to hate, nor will they,” projected Megan from the audience.

“No, there’s too much hate in the world as it is,” added Bishr.

Alachua looked at Megan and Bishr with interest.

“Why are you different colors?” asked Alachua.

“Dude, does it matter?” asked Bishr from the crowd, somewhat annoyed at this frequently asked question.

“Bishr Mohammed!” scolded Megan.

Puyallup and I began giggling like Little Ones.

“There is his middle name!” laughed Puyallup. “Here it comes.”

“He’s asking a fair question! We can answer politely, can’t we?” Megan demanded.

Bishr walked up to Alachua and projected, “I’m sorry if I was abrupt. It was my fault. I over reacted and I apologize. Megan is a white woman, and I am a black man. Our ancestors came from different parts of the world. Our people are different colors. And that is all there is to it.”

“Is one color better than the other?” asked Alachua.

“No. Many think so, and we have a name for them. We call them racists, and bigots.”

“Why do they think so if that isn’t true?”

“Do you see my son, Caesar, and Zena?” asked Bishr pointing. “Caesar is black, and Zena is white. Caesar is male, and Zena is female. Caesar is a homo sapien, and Zena is a Forest Person. They don’t hate each other. Do you know why?”

“Why?” channeled Alachua.

“Because we haven’t taught them that hate,” said Bishr. “Racists have been taught to hate.”

“Nor shall we teach hate,” said Megan as she approached.

“Maybe one day your Megan will be a mighty Wizard too,” said Windago with a smile as he nodded towards Pamela, who was beaming.

“Thank you,” said Pamela proudly. “Being a parent isn’t easy. Our children don’t come to us with an owner’s guide.”

Everyone looked confused.

“Our Little Ones don’t come with instructions on how to raise them,” she smiled. “It is important to instill values in our Little Ones. Hate is a learned trait, not a natural one as is love.”

“Your words are very wise,” said Windago. “Our Earth Mother indeed gives us the gift of love. We learn hate from each other.”

Caesar turned and looked at Windago. He tottered through the Circle of Elders and sat on Windago’s lap.

“Caesar Mohammed!” said Megan loudly, as Puyallup and I suppressed giggles. “That’s rude!”

Windago looked at Caesar and smiled. We watched as Zena followed Caesar’s example and also walked through the Circle and took a place next to Caesar. The Elders seemed shocked at first, but then looked to Windago who raised his hand.

“Caesar and Zena shall be a fine example to us all,” he said softly as Caesar stuck his fingers in Windago’s mouth. “They know only love and are learning to understand each other and to disregard their differences.”

Ady walked behind the Circle to Windago and whispered “Should I take them?”

Windago smiled at Ady. “No, leave them both.”

Eyes turned to the audience. Megan, Bishr, Kimberly, Pamela, and David were grinning. As were Kamela and I.

“You have taught us much,” said Windago to the Little People gathered. “I don’t know how we will ever thank you.”

“I think you have,” said Pamela.

“The sun will set soon,” said Aurora. “You must be exhausted.”

“Yes, please excuse us. It has been a tiring day,” said Pamela rising.

Kimberly also stood, and as she looked at Ady asked “Marshmallows?”

“Yes!” squealed Ady.

“Go, Little Ones,” said Windago to Caesar and Zena, standing them up.

Each walked to Pamela and Kamela. Caesar only fell once, and Zena helped him get up. When they arrived at their long house, they found a group of Little Ones standing next to a circle of rocks, and in the circle were leaves and sticks. Kimberly laughed as she made it on fire. Pamela had entered the long house and returned with a container bag of marshmallows. Ady passed a marshmallow to each, including Zena and Caesar.

“I think they’re too little to toast marshmallows, kiddo,” said Kimberly.

“OK! I’ll do it for them!” Ady chortled.

Ady sat in front of the fire, and Zena and Caesar sat on each side of her.

“This is how you do it when you’re big like me,” said Ady. “You slide a marshmallow on the end of your stick and put it in the fire. Don’t worry if it falls off, because that happens to all of us. And make sure you blow on it when you take it out of the fire, especially if it has flames on it.”

Ady pulled a marshmallow from the fire, which was promptly snatched away by Zena who swallowed it. Zena’s eyes got big and her mouth dropped open as she waved her hands at her mouth.

“See?” chided Ady. “It’s hot!”

Ady removed another from the fire and Zena grabbed at it, but Ady held it away.

“We have to share. This is for Caesar,” she said sternly as Zena scowled.

Ady blew on it and said “Like this Caesar.”

When she felt it was cool, she held the stick to Caesar. Caesar frowned, pulled it off the stick, and licked it. He then placed the whole thing in his mouth and grinned.

“See? They’re good!” said Ady.

Pamela, Kimberly, and Kamela were sitting by the fire enjoying its hypnotic effect and warmth.

“It’s good to be home,” said Pamela.

Kimberly smiled and said “It sure is, buddy.”

“How about going for a ride tomorrow?” asked Pamela.

“Sure, where?” asked Kimberly.

“Anywhere. It doesn’t matter,” said Pamela. “Would you like to ride, Kamela? Kimberly brought an extra horse.”

“Me? Ride a Beast? I don’t know how,” she answered.

“We’ll teach you,” said Kimberly. “It isn’t hard.”

“Well, I don’t know...”

“It’s settled then. You’re riding,” grinned Pamela. “Now it’s time to turn in. I’m bushed.”

“Me too,” yawned Kimberly.

“I’m just getting going,” said Bishr. “I’ll watch the fire and the little Sasquatches.”

“Bishr?” chided Megan.

“Sorry. Little forest kids,” he said.

“Bishr!”

“What? Sorry... little forest ones?”

“It is alright,” Kamela laughed. “You’re still new here.”

“Thank you,” projected Bishr. “You’re an awesome... Sas... uh... dudette.”