by Taryn Eason
The notebook was a simple five-subject green notebook with strong signs of wear around the edges. It seemed to be only a few years old, but some of the pages inside seemed a lot older. Yellowed pages were glued sporadically to the newer ones. I began reading the first page, which seemed to be a diary excerpt from 1975.
I had to leave class again today to change clothes. They pushed me into the dirt because they said it would make me look more like them. Why do they hate me? Why can’t I look more like them? I hope Annabelle isn’t having these problems yet. She’s so sweet and innocent. But they’ll corrupt her too. I know they will. Mom said that raising us on the rez would be better for us, but it’s not. Everyone just wants us gone. We’re disgusting half-breeds and that’s all they see us as. I just want us to leave.
The entry continued on for three more pages. I never knew the reason we never went to the reservation. I mean, I knew the Lakinobe had gained the hatred of every other nation for their elitism, but I didn’t realize it was so bad. Winona was bullied so terribly, it was no wonder she was such an introvert. It probably explains how my mother was so quiet also. Just the thought of anyone being mean to my mother for such an awful reason infuriated me.
Winona talked a lot about her garden in her diary entries. Shocker. I skimmed past those parts until I saw a name. Fredrick Adair. He had Lye’s last name. I wondered if they were related.
Fredrick Adair is the most worthy holder of the Reeki that we have had in ages. He got his powers during the drought in 1934. He came just in time to bring the rain that saved us. He can make rain fall out of anything. Isn’t that cool! I met him today, up close! He was walking by and he noticed my favorite lily was starting to wilt because it hasn’t rained. He told me to cheer up and he made a tiny little raincloud above my garden to water my plants!!! He even sat with me and talked to me for a while in the garden! He didn’t treat me any differently because I was pale. He was so nice. I told him all about my favorite trees and flowers and he just listened. I’ll never forget what he said to me as he left. “I know they’re mean to you, the other kids. You’ll be okay though, I promise. Just keep your head high.”
I remembered that Lye had that last line tattooed on his chest. I was definitely going to have to ask him about it. I picked up my phone and then realized I didn’t have his number. How had I not gotten it yet? There had to be some way to contact him. I didn’t want to go to his house uninvited. People in my generation didn’t just show up at each other’s houses without at least texting first. Nonetheless, I decided to pay a visit to York’s Ink after school the next day.
I looked up at the building. It was a repurposed house that had neon signs and posters in the windows. Lye’s car was parked on the edge of the lot. I had never been to a tattoo shop, even though I had plans of getting a few one day. The door jingled as I opened it, revealing rows of glass cases showcasing every piercing available.
I felt awkward. What if he couldn’t see me? What if he was annoyed at my coming? I approached the main counter and stared at the man behind it. He had bright orange hair with an equally bright handlebar mustache. His pale skin was covered in tattoos and surface piercings. He had at least six on his face.
“Can I help you?” He asked, seeming a bit annoyed.
“Yeah, um, I’m here to see Lye.”
“Uh huh,” He said looking me up and down, “Do you have an appointment?”
“No,” I hesitated, “We’re friends.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Whatever.” He shook his head after looking me up and down. “ I’ll never understand that guy. He’s in that room over there.”
I ignored his comment and approached the door and knocked. I heard Lye’s voice shout “Come in!”
I opened the door to see Lye with a tattoo gun making a gorgeous portrait of a lion on a guy’s arm. It was so colorful and lifelike. I had never seen a tattoo so well done before.
Lye and the other man looked up at me. “Maybelle? What are you doing here?”
I crossed my arms. “Well, I was going to text you, but somebody forgot to give me their number.”
The man looked at Lye. “Uh-oh, buddy, you’re in trouble now.”
Lye laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am. You know, Maybelle, you have to be eighteen to be in here.”
I scoffed. “Lye, please.”
“I know, I know.” There was a buzz as the gun turned back on. “I honestly thought she was lying to me. Does she look eighteen to you?”
The guy looked at me and laughed. There was an awkward silence thereafter as Lye was concentrating on his portrait. I stood uncomfortably in the corner for a while, questioning why I thought it would even be a good idea to come here.
“Uh… Would it be better if I came back later?” I asked, floating closer to the doorway.
“Nah, stay right there. I’m just finishing this up now, then I’ll see you.” He stopped the gun and began analyzing the product. He squinted and smudged before finally saying with pride, “It’s done! How do you like it?”
The man stood up and flexed his arm into a mirror while exclaiming over how much he loved it. The lion looked so lifelike with its colors perfectly blended into each other. The mane flowed flawlessly in the perfect subtle shape of a heart. Lye was an amazing artist. He shook the guy’s hand before sending him out of the room and shutting the door.
“So what’s up?” Lye asked as he removed his gloves and put all of his inks back in their original positions.
“I read Winona’s diary.”
He looked at me with interest. “Oh really?”
“Yeah. Are you related to Fredrick Adair?”
“I am. He was my grandfather.” He said pridefully.
“Is that why you’re so interested in the Reeki?”
“Yeah. I really wish I could have known him before he died. He single handedly saved our tribe from the Great Depression. I’m pretty proud to share his blood. I just wish I were more like him.” He admitted.
“I didn’t know him, but I think you’re a pretty good person as you are.”
He looked down and half-smiled. “Thanks. Was that the only reason you came?”
“No. It says I have to go to the tribe and let them know who I am and what my powers are.”
He sighed. “Do you want to go see them?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, the Lakinobe are elitists. They hated Winona for getting the Reeki and she was only half white. You’re three-fourths white. They’re going to hate you for that and then they’re going to hate you for your powers.”
Insecurities washed over me at his bluntness. I looked at Lye’s dark skin and imagined how the tribe would see me. Lye seemed so prideful of his family, so there had to be something special about them. But at the same time, he was as blunt as always about how they would treat me, their newest holder of the Reeki. Their hatred for outsiders must be severe. My mother had never taken me to visit, most likely due to her bad memories.
Lye waited patiently as I weighed my options. “I’m going.”
He folded his arms and raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure?”
I imagined them strapping me to a chair and holding a knife to my throat to give the Reeki to someone better, then tried to shake that image away. “Yeah. If I don’t, the Reeki will belong to the world instead of the tribe, and I’m not so sure I trust the world.”
Lye smiled. “Now I really don’t believe you’re eighteen. You sound like you’re thirty-five.”
I laughed. “Well, you know, I’ve had to mature pretty fast in the past few weeks.”
“Very true. You’ve handled it a lot better than I would have.” He looked at a calendar on the wall. “What are you doing this weekend? Want to make a trip to Illinois?”
I thought for a second as I stared at a drawing on the wall of the Mjolnir design that Lye had on his chest. I didn’t have anything better to do. “Sounds good. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”
I turned back around t
o see Lye had put a new pair of gloves on. The corner of his mouth was raised in a sheepish grin. “Want to get a tattoo?”
I hadn’t expected that. “What?”
“I mean, if you want one, I’m your guy. Not to brag, but I’m kind of the best around.”
I folded my arms. “You’re so humble, Lye.”
“I’m allowed to be cocky when I’m booked for the next six months by people from all over the country.”
“Wait, really?” I knew he was good, but I hadn’t seen many of his works.
“Yeah. I specialize in realism and a lot of people like my work.” He picked up the tattoo gun and buzzed it to taunt me. “So, you in?”
I still wasn’t fully convinced. A tattoo seemed like a terrible idea to do on an impulse. “I don’t even know if it will be a good idea, since my skin is affected by my powers.”
Lye ran his hand through his hair, putting a strand of it behind his ear. “I was actually wondering that myself. Want to do a test spot to find out?”
I took a seat in the tattoo chair. “Why not?”
I held out my wrist as Lye prepared the needle. My heart was pounding with nervousness. If it worked, I had no idea what I even wanted as a tattoo. I couldn’t just have a lone dot on my wrist.
Lye gently wiped an alcohol pad across my wrist and turned the needle on. “You ready?” He asked, looking up at me from his chair.
“Yeah” I said, my voice cracking with anxiety. Lye noticed and looked at me, snickering. I blushed, feeling embarrassed about being so nervous.
I heard the buzz of the gun and winced in anticipation of pain, but I only felt a minor prick.
“All done.” Lye said when the gun had stopped.
I stared at the tiny black dot on my wrist. “That was it?”
“Yep. Now let’s see how well it fares against your powers.”
I heated up my left arm and an odd sizzling bubbled up and quickly evaporated from my wrist. I cooled down to find the dot had completely disappeared. I pursed my lips, staring at the spot where it once was. “Damn it, all of that for nothing?”
Lye laughed. “’All of that’? It took, like, two seconds. At least I didn’t do a full portrait before that happened.”
“I know, but it still felt like a lot. Are all tattoos this emotionally draining?” I joked.
Lye looked down at his arms that were both almost completely covered in ink and then shrugged. “Only the first few.”
I laughed lightly, then the door opened. The ginger with the piercings leaned in. “Lye, your 4:30 is here.”
His tone turned more serious as he nodded. “Okay, Brian, send them back.”
“I guess I’d better get going.” I said, not wanting to overstay my welcome.
“Hang on just a second.” Lye replied. “Can I see your phone?”
I pulled it out of my pocket and handed it to him.
After a few seconds, he handed it back. “There. Now you won’t have to make the awkward trip up here when you want to talk to me. When you leave, I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to come up with a good alibi to Brian about why you came.”
I opened the door. “Sure, just don’t tell him I’m a prostitute.” I joked.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He smiled. “See you Friday.”
“See you Friday” I repeated as I left.
Chapter 10
After school, I hurried home to finish packing for the weekend. I elected not to tell my parents I was going on a weekend trip with a guy. I’ll just let them figure out where I am on their own time. I threw my bag in the passenger seat of my car and wondered whose vehicle we would be driving. The reservation was in Illinois, so it would be at least a three hour drive. Lye’s mid-90s Camaro was quite a few years older than my Cobalt, but it still seemed reliable.
I imagined how the trip would go. We would be riding on the interstate and listening to music. A song would come on that we both adored, then we would argue about who had been a fan of the artist the longest. It would end with him letting me win. Night would fall while we were on the road and in the dark his hand would find mine…
I blushed. My mind was getting way too out of hand. Lye had to be at least 25 or 26. He was way too old for me. Besides, he even told me I’m like a “little sister” to him. I shut the door to my car and rolled my eyes at my hopeless schoolgirl crush.
I pulled onto the side of the road in front of Lye’s house and stepped out. I pulled my tote bag farther up on my shoulder and knocked on the door.
There was no answer.
Lye’s car was outside, so he should be inside somewhere. “Lye?”, I shouted, awaiting a response.
Silence.
My mind immediately travelled to Colt’s friends promising that they would come back for us. What if Lye was in danger and it was all my fault? In the few seconds of his silence, I assumed the worst. I turned the doorknob cautiously until it opened. I slinked inside, sucking up the overwhelming feeling that I was invading Lye’s privacy by being there. I shut the door behind me and sat my tote bag onto the ground.
“Hello?” I said again, slowly walking farther into the house.
The bathroom doorknob turned, sending a jolt of fire to my hands.
Lye began to walk out, but then looked up and hid behind the door. “Shit!” He shouted, “I didn’t expect anyone to be here right now” He said, embarrassed.
I blushed, seeing the steam escaping from the bathroom and realizing I had almost seen him naked. “Sorry! You didn’t answer and your door was open, so I was worried something was wrong.” I sputtered.
“It’s okay,” He said, fidgeting behind the door that his head was still stuck out of. I could see a faint hint of pink in his dark cheeks. “I’m glad you came to check on me. Who knows, I might need it someday.” He joked.
The door opened and he stepped out with only a towel wrapped around his waist. “I… Um… I have to go get some clothes from my room.” He said, still flustered.
I watched how the tattoos on his back warped around his muscles as he walked. I was so pathetic. I decided to sit on his couch and wait for him to finish getting dressed before I embarrassed myself any further.
He entered the room with his own tote bag. I looked up. “Sorry again for coming into your house without permission.”
He scoffed. “Don’t worry about it. I should have been ready sooner so something like that didn’t happen.”
I needed a topic to break the intense feeling of awkwardness that was emanating from both of us. “So, whose car are we taking?”
“We could take mine if that’s okay.” He replied.
“Do you at least want me to help with gas or anything? Also, where are we staying? I could help pay for the hotel.” I offered the customary gesture.
He threw our bags into the trunk and we both entered the car. “Nah, I got it. And my parents want us to stay there. They’re excited to meet the new holder of the Reeki.”
I was still nervous about meeting the tribe. I had to think of a way to showcase my powers so they wouldn’t hate me, and I didn’t have very long to figure it out.
“I bet they’ll just love me.” I finally said, angry with myself for not thinking of anything decent to do. For a while afterwards, I fiddled with my nearly empty water bottle as I sat in silence. Lye looked over at me periodically to see that I was still in a bad mood. He knew it was best to let me fester for a while.
I stared at the image of green trees with snow-capped mountains in the background printed on the bottle as I thought. I could feel an anxiety attack brewing and I needed to take my mind off of it. I watched as the paper trees sizzled away into ash and the plastic turned into a putty in my hands. I began to mold it, visualizing the finished product.
I carefully molded each part, adding accent lines and details with my glowing fingernails. I was doing well about taking my mind off the fact that I was a failed holder of the Reeki.
In the end, the clear plastic looked almost like crystal, opaque at
the thickest parts of the tree, then clear towards the ends of each branch.
“That’s it!” Lye shouted, breaking me free from my trance.
I twisted my tiny barren tree and threw him a confused expression.
"I know how to show them your powers,” He elaborated.
I dramatically looked from Lye to the sculpture and back again. It was a gorgeous piece, but I had no idea how it could help my case.
“You’re an artist. You can tell them you’re a sculptor and your power is for your art!”
He was so proud of his revelation, but I was still skeptical. As if art was a good enough reason to give someone the power to heat themselves to ridiculous temperatures. I desperately wanted to reply with sarcasm, but he looked so happy that I couldn’t stand to take him down more than a few notches. “I’m not so sure that will work” is what I settled on saying.
“Is this your first time using your powers to do this?” He asked, apparently ignoring my objection.
“No”, I replied, remembering the time I shaped a soda can into a solid flame.
“Do you have any other ideas?”
“Nope.”
“Then it’s our best shot.”
I nodded. I couldn’t argue with his logic. I smiled, hopeful that I might actually be able to pull this off.
Around an hour later, we arrived at the reservation and were greeted by a giant wooden sign that read “Lakinobe Nation Reservation”. I felt guilty for expecting to see teepees and bonfires instead of a normal town. However, most of the houses and buildings showed signs of wear over the years. It was nothing like the pretty suburbs I lived in. Lye pulled up to a tan house with a dented front porch. A few dated vehicles were parked on the side of the street.
“This is the house I grew up in.” Lye said, throwing the car into Park. “Oh, and I apologize in advance for my parents. They’re really excited to meet the new holder of the Reeki.”
“No worries. I’ll just be happy if they don’t hate me.” I joked, giving a nervous laugh.