by Jay Heavner
“Now, you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.”
“Now, there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other.”
“Now, you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you.”
“Soon, you will go to your resting place, to enter into the days of your togetherness.”
“May your days be good and long upon the earth.”
Then the priest spoke,
“Above you are the stars, and below you are the stones.”
“As time does pass, remember;”
“Like a star, should your love be constant.”
“Like a stone should your love be firm.”
“Be close, yet not too close.”
“Possess one another, yet be understanding.”
“Have patience with the other; for storms will come, but they will go quickly.”
“Be free in giving of affection and warmth.”
“Make love often, and be sensuous to one another.”
“Have no fear, and let not the ways of words of the unenlightened give you unease.”
“For the Great Spirit, our Lord, is with you, now and always.”
The Navajo pastor asked the people there, “Who would like to give these couples advice and wisdom they’ll need for their lives together?”
Over the next ten minutes, mainly men, but a few women spoke to the couples. Some spoke in Navajo, some in English, and some freely went from one language to the other. Most of the advice was meaningful, but some were funny. One elderly woman with skin like leather and spoke only in Navajo, had everyone laughing except the priest who blushed. Tom asked Sarah, “What did she say that got that reaction?”
Sarah smiled awkwardly and whispered, “She was telling us what she thought was the best position for us to make a boy baby.”
“Oh.” He grinned, as did Sarah.
Several more people spoke, but none created the commotion like the old woman had. When it was apparent all who wanted to talk had, the Navajo pastor and the priest instructed the two couples to come forward. They extended their hands, and he poured water from a vase with two openings at the top and black and brown patterns on the side. The priest spoke to the crowd, “This symbolizes purity and cleansing.” Several heads nodded. Next, the Navajo elder and the priest took a bowl each and poured white and yellow corn pollen into them, added a little water to make mush. He said, “The male white pollen and the female yellow pollen are mixed, and the two are now one.” He then ran his finger from left to right through the middle of the mush pie and next from top to bottom. “This is for the four sacred mountains that make up the corners of Dine’tah. Now, eat from all four parts and then the center.”
The men went first, starting in the east where the morning began, and the women followed their example. They went clockwise to all four parts and the center lastly. The priest spoke, “This also represents the four stages in life: birth, youth, maturity, and death. May you live long and remain in love forever.” The priest and pastor took the bowl of corn pollen to the people who took a pinch with their fingers and passed it on.
In unison, the priest and pastor instructed the couple in front of them, “Repeat after me, ‘I, (say your name) take you (say your spouse’s name) as my (wife or husband).” The priest paused as they began reciting after him. “I do solemnly avow my love for you. I will comfort you, keep you, love you, and defend you in sickness or in health, in riches or poverty, in sorrow or joy, seeking only to be with you until death parts us. All these things I pledge upon my honor.’
“Now, we bless the rings. Place them on your new spouse’s finger as we speak, ‘Circles have no beginning and have no end, and so in the long and sacred tradition of marriage, rings have come to symbolize eternal love and the endless union of body, of mind, and of the spirit Aho! This ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, and pledge to you my love and life.’ Amen.
“Now, as you have consented together in matrimony and have pledged your faith to each other by the giving and the receiving of these rings before your family and community, according to the powers invested in me by the State of Arizona and the Navajo Nation, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The couples kissed, and the audience cheered. When the din had quieted, an old and honored man, Hosteen Chi, rose to his feet. All eyes were on him. He cleared his throat and began to speak, “You have lit a fire, and that fire should not go out. The two of you now have a fire that represents love, understanding and a philosophy of life. It will give you heat, food, warmth, and happiness. This new fire represents a new beginning - a new life and a new family. The fire should keep burning. You should stay together. You have lit the fire for life until old age separates you. Wake in beauty always.”
The couples smiled and hugged. The priest and the pastor congratulated the couples and walked away, signaling the end of the ceremony. The crowd rushed forward and engulfed the newlyweds. The room filled with happy sounds. After about ten minutes of merrimaking, the couples went to the head of the food line and got a traditional lamb soup, fry bread, chocolate kisses, and a drink. Tom got some coffee. The crowd followed and did the same. Twenty minutes later, the couples opened their gifts. Some envelopes contained money. The boxes mainly contained household goods and clothing, some of it handmade. Tom opened one box and quietly put it to the side, closing it back up. Curious, Sarah asked, “What was it?”
“A box of prophylactics.”
“We won’t need them.”
“There’s always a joker in every deck.” Sarah nodded and said no more about the incident.
After all the gifts were opened, and the crowd thinned, Dark Cloud approached Tom and Sarah. He said, “The ladies’ auxiliary is taking care of all cleaning and tidying up, so the four of us are free to leave and…I have a surprise for you.”
“I thought you didn’t like surprises.”
“I lied, but I think you’ll like this one.”
“What is it?”
“It will have to wait until we get to my house.”
Chapter 28
Tom and Sarah changed clothes in her bedroom at the house she and her father, Dark Cloud, called home, but for Sarah, it would be the last time it would be home. She’d have a new one soon. “Sure going to miss this place. As I’ve said before, it ain’t much, but it’s home.”
Tom hugged his new wife. “I think I can understand. When I left home for the Army, it felt like I’d never return. I had a big knot in my stomach.”
“I have that knot too, but I have a honeymoon and a new husband to comfort the blow. You had boot camp and a growling drill instructor frothing at the mouth.”
“Never thought of it that way. Still, it has to be hard to say goodbye to the only home you’ve ever known.”
“I’ll adjust with you,” she said. “What do you think Dad’s surprise is? It was as much a bolt out of the blue for me as it was for you.”
“Guess we will know soon. I hear them coming out of your father’s room now.”
Tom and Sarah went into the living room. He said, “We put all the rented clothes in the plastic covers or boxes they came in. I’m dying with curiosity. What’s the surprise?”
Dark Cloud said, “Thanks for taking care of the clothes. We did the same with ours. You’ll find the receipts and papers and need them when you return them tomorrow. They have to be in by noon.”
Tom was puzzled, and he looked at Sarah. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
Dark Cloud spoke again, “I knew you were planning on spending your first night in the microbus. Well, I’m going to Mai’s house for the night so you can be alone here in this house. I thought it would be better. Charlie told me yesterday his snowplow broke down when he was clearing the way up to our favorite spot through Buffalo Pass on the mountain overlooking Shiprock. He got it fixed and is clearing the road now, but he isn’t done yet. He’ll have it done by tomorrow
morn and seeing how you are going to be here then, and I thought you could return the clothes to the general store. Sound like a plan?”
“Sounds good to me,” said Tom.
“I like it. Thank you, Dad. You’re the best.”
“Good. Then, it’s settled. After you return the clothes, just head for the mountain. We’ll see you before you leave for good. Come on down after a couple of days, and we’ll be here,” said Dark Cloud. “We’ll be leaving now. See you in a few days.” With that, they grabbed their coats and left.
Tom put his arms around Sarah and said, “Mrs. Kenney. It has a nice sound to it.”
Sarah put her fingers to his lips to shut them, and then she kissed them.
After a long kiss, their lips parted. Tom said, “I think I like this.”
“Well, my husband, are you ready for the main course?”
Tom smiled and kissed her passionately. In a few short moments, they slipped into the bedroom and clothes went flying in all directions.
By now, Dark Cloud and Mai were nearly to her house. She looked at Dark Cloud, smiled, and asked, “Do you think they’re naked by now?”
“Yup,” he said.
“Well, what’s keeping us?”
Dark Cloud raised his eyebrows and said, “Woman, I’m not a horny teenager anymore. Back seat won’t do. Can you wait till we get to your house?”
“I can wait that long, but not a minute longer. Promise and hope to die?’
“I promise, but none of this dying stuff, okay?”
“If you do die, it’ll be from exhaustion,” she said with a big grin. And she was right.
Chapter 29
September 5, 1997, Afternoon on top of Knobley Mountain
Tom woke with a start. He looked toward the commotion that had awakened him. A small deer, a yearling, ran swiftly across the old mountain field. Wonder what spooked him? The answer came quickly as a coyote bounded out of the woods after the fleeing deer. Tom reached for the gun he’d brought with him, but before he got off a shot, the coyote and deer were gone. Just as well. Still half asleep and don’t think I had much chance of hitting him anyway.
He rubbed his eyes. The intruders that interrupted the afternoon peace and his dream were gone like nothing had ever happened. Darn coyotes. Getting to be so many of them. Wished I’d got that one. He’s gone and won’t be back.
Peace returned to the old field. The sun was warm, and a slight breeze moved the pines nearby. I must have been dreaming, but what was I dreaming about? I know the answer is there somewhere…Sarah. It seemed so real like it was yesterday. I loved her so.
Tom let out a long sigh and lie back down on the pile of leaves. He pulled his hat down over his face and closed his eyes. Oh, Sarah, how I loved you. Why did you have to go so soon?
In a few short minutes, Tom’s breath became shallow and slow, and he began to snore - back to dreamland.
October 22, 1966, Morgantown, WV
“I don’t wanna go,” Tom said. “I planned on staying right here in our apartment, having some lunch, and then walking over to the stadium for the game.”
“But Tom, I told them I’d be there, and I’d like you to come, please,” said Sarah. “They’re such nice and friendly people, and we haven’t made many friends while here. You’ve been so busy with classes and me working, seems we haven’t done much together lately. You know I don’t understand football, but I said I’d go with you to the game against Penn State. Will you do this for me?”
He knew he was in a losing battle, and she was right. They’d been busy and doing much together as a couple. She’d started going to a weekly Bible study at the assistant football coach’s house, and Tom had heard all about how much she liked the people and what they were learning. Tom hadn’t been able to figure out what a burly football coach would have to do with the Bible, and he was curious about this. “Okay,” he said.
“Did I just hear you say you’d go?”
“Yeah, but under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Tomorrow, I get to watch my team play, and there’ll be no interruptions.”
“Deal,” she said. “You can watch the Steamers play and no interruptions.”
“Steelers,” corrected Tom. “My team’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. Blue and gold on Saturday and black and gold on Sunday. Go Steelers!”
“Okay, Mountaineers on Saturday and Steelers on Sunday. I won’t forget. I’ll remember. The hunchback’s name is Nelsen, Bill Nelsen, right?”
Tom cringed and said, “You got the name right, but he’s called a quarterback, not a hunchback.”
“ Hey, I’m trying.”
“Yeah, I know you are. Guess girls didn’t have much contact with football on the reservation.”
“No,” she said. “We didn’t. I saw the boys play, but it didn’t make much sense to me. Things here are so much different. It’s going to take a while to get used to the trees and the seasons, green in the summer, then the many colors in the fall, and now all brown after the leaves have fallen.”
“Things are different here, but people wherever you go, seem about the same.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve noticed that. You knew what surprised me during the Bible study? I noticed how people who lived a thousand or more years ago had the same hopes, dreams, wants, and failures as people today.”
“That’s interesting,” said Tom. “When’s the pre-game get-together again?”
“We need to leave about now.”
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll be ready.”
Tom grabbed his heavy sweatshirt, the one with WVU Mountaineers printed on the front and a windbreaker. There’d been some frost a week before, but this week, it was Indian summer. Sarah had been puzzled about this, but Tom’s explanation satisfied her. He told her the expression went back to colonial days. It described a time in the fall when the air was unusually warm and dry.
Sarah went into the small bathroom of the third-floor attic apartment and closed the door. He could hear her scurrying around. Women. Don’t know if I’ll ever understand them. They say let’s go, and then you wait ten minutes for them to get everything ready to go. When a man says, let’s go, he’s ready to go.
Ten minutes later, she came out. “Now, let’s go. I look much better, don’t I?”
To Tom, she looked pretty much the same, but only a dummy would say that, so, he said, “You look great, honey. I love you.” Sometimes truth could get a man in the doghouse, and Tom, like most men, knew if he sidestepped the question and complimented her, he could stay out of trouble. “Let’s get to the show.”
Tom locked the door behind him and hurried down two flights of stairs. They went through the outer door, walked a few feet to the old concrete steps, and descended to the sidewalk along Grant Street. As usual, there wasn’t a parking spot to be found on either side of the narrow street. “Oh, I forgot to tell you,” she said. “There’s not going to be the usual Bible study today. The assistant coach is speaking, giving his testimony on why he’s a Christian.”
That should be entertaining.
“We’re having special music by a couple of Brits and refreshments before the game,” said Sarah. “And I’ll introduce you to the pastor of the local Calvary Chapel church. He arranged it all today.”
Tom nodded his head, but he was only half-listening like men sometimes do. His mind was on the game. Maybe this would be the year they beat Penn State. The hostile crowd in the small bowl stadium gave a big hometown advantage. The streets were already bristling with people, and when they got to University Avenue, it became a steady throng. They crossed the old pedestrian bridge with its worn wooden planks next to the stadium. Tom looked down over the side at the Old Mountainlair in the Falling Run hollow. The old building had seen better days. They rounded a corner, walked the length of a football field and crossed the street with a mass of other people heading for the student union, the Mountainlair. They entered, went left down a hallway, and entered a room filled with people
. Everyone was talking cheerfully and seemed to be enjoying themselves.
A man not much older than them came up to Sarah. “Sarah,” he said. “So good you could come. And this must be Tom. She’s said so many great things about you.”
They shook hands, and Sarah said, “Tom, this is Pastor Shawn Frazee, and yes, this is my super husband.”
Tom sized up the pastor. He was a friendly guy who seemed honestly interested in Tom’s well-being. Pastor Shawn spoke, “I’m so glad you made it today. We’ve got special music, a guest speaker, and refreshments before the game. Drop-in on us tomorrow. Services are at nine and eleven. Sarah knows where the church is on High Street. Hope to see you there. Sorry, I can’t talk longer. You know how it is when you’re the leader and have to run the show. I’ll see you later. And remember the services tomorrow. Bye.”
“He’s a great guy, Tom,” said Sarah. “You’ll really like him.”
“He left a good first impression.”
“Tom, will you get us each a Coke? Things will start soon, and I’ll get us some good seats.”
“Okay,” he said and headed for the refreshment table. He asked the young girl behind the table, “Could I have two Cokes, please?”
“Sure,” she said. “Is this your first time here? Can’t say I ever saw you at church or one of the studies.”
“Yeah, it’s my first time, and I’m a little surprised. I was expecting a bunch of goody-two-shoes types, but this seems like any crowd I’d see on campus.”
“Bingo. I thought the same thing when I first came, but people here are the same. You got long hairs, no hairs, hippies and straights, married couples and singles, some who wanted to come and some who only came to please someone, and some who just came for the free food.” She handed Tom two Cokes. “Here’re your drinks. Enjoy.”
“Thanks. I’m one who came to please my spouse. Sarah’s my wife.”
“Sarah?” she asked. “She’s a great gal. You’re a lucky guy.”
“I know. Thanks, again, for the drinks. Bye.”