by J. M. LeDuc
“Eh em.” White Eagle cleared his throat in an exaggerated manner. “If you two don’t sit down, the food will be cold and my bringing Nuna down from Canada would have been for nothing.”
Nuna waved her hand as if to shoo him away. “You’ve always been a bit of a blowhard, Chief. Calm down and let’s celebrate.”
Pamoon watched the chief’s laugh lines grow so big, his eyes almost disappeared. Only the chief’s sister could get away with calling him a blowhard.
* * *
Pamoon was so full, she thought she’d burst by the time the dishes were cleared and dessert was brought out. The party was perfect, except for Bobby’s absence. She leaned to her left and asked Tsomah if she knew where Bobby was. Tihk, overhearing the question, piped in. “No one has seen Bobby or the others since they left for the campsite last night. When the party’s over, I’ll go look for them.”
Tihk’s words made Pamoon feel slightly better. He was the tribe’s best tracker. He’ll find them, she thought, then I’m going to rip Bobby a new one for scaring me like this. Her thoughts were broken by the sound of White Eagle’s voice. “Before we eat dessert and Pamoon opens her gifts, I’d like to say a few words.” The chief raised his glass and everyone followed. “Sixteen years ago, Pamoon came to us and started her life as Cree. She was not born Indian, but she is as much Indian as the rest of us. Join me in wishing Pamoon a very happy birthday.”
Pamoon bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to cry. The chief had never publicly said that before. Tsomah must have noticed that she was fighting back emotion, because she leaned over and whispered in her ear, “This is the most I’ve ever seen Chief White Eagle smile. If he’s not careful, his face is going to crack.”
Pamoon laughed so loud, she spilled her drink on herself and Tsomah. The joy was contagious and the entire table was soon laughing.
As soon as the cake was served, Nuna brought out Pamoon’s gifts. Wide-eyed with excitement, she surveyed all her presents. Over the next twenty minutes she opened most of her gifts, thanking each person. She saved two presents for last. Both were small. Each box could fit in the palm of her hand.
The first one she picked up was wrapped in homemade paper painted with a colorful Indian design. She would know that artwork anywhere. Her hand shook as she traced the paint with her fingers. “Is this from Kamenna?” she said, already knowing the answer.
“Eha,” White Eagle answered. “My sister asked that you be given this on your birthday.”
Pamoon wiped a tear from her cheek and choked down a sob. “Do you know what’s in it?
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “No one does.”
Nuna had moved so that she now stood behind Pamoon. “Open it, Sweetie.”
Pamoon delicately peeled the paper from the gift, not wanting to tear it. Inside there was a small box. She opened it to find another piece of paper. Lifting the paper, her jaw dropped as she audibly inhaled. Under the paper was Kamenna’s favorite ring. A ring of turquoise and silver. “I don’t understand,” Pamoon mouthed. “She always said she wanted to be buried wearing this ring. She said if she was going to meet the Creator, she was going to wear her finest.”
“Her last words to me,” Nuna said, “were that she wanted you to have this on your birthday. Kamenna said no one deserved it more.” Pamoon just stared at the ring the entire time Nuna spoke. “Here,” Nuna took the box from her, “let me help you.” Pamoon watched, her heart pounding, as her aunt lifted the ring from the box and placed it on the ring finger of her right hand. “See, a perfect fit. It was meant to be yours.”
Pamoon could hear sighs, oohs, and clapping through the haze of her emotion. She recovered from her funk when she looked at the folded paper that had been stuffed in the box with the ring. Silently, she unfolded the paper, saw Kamenna’s handwriting, and realized it was a letter. Her hands shook as she held it
“You don’t have to read it here,” Nuna said.
Pamoon looked around the table at all the people she loved. “I think this is the perfect place to read it.”
Taking a sip of water, she began, “You would only be reading this letter if I was not there to personally tell you how I feel. When I had become sick, my last wish was that I could make it till your sixteenth birthday, but I guess the Creator needed to call me back home prior. I’m sorry for leaving you so soon.” Tears ran down Pamoon’s face and she sniffed. About to wipe her nose with her sleeve, Nuna handed her a napkin. A little more composed, she continued to read. “I’ve always called you my angel, and I know you thought it was just a term of endearment, or a way of me embarrassing you in front of your friends,” Pamoon could hear Celia and MaryLynn giggle, “but it was much more than that. You see, sixteen years ago the angels brought one of their own into my life, changed my path, and gave me my life’s purpose. A life and purpose I wouldn’t change for all the riches in this world or for another twenty years of living. You saved me and brought me more happiness than I could have ever imagined. Now it’s your turn to do the same. It’s time for you to discover your purpose, and to follow your own path.
“I love you, Angel, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
“Mom.”
The table was silent except for the sniffling.
Finally, Tihk cleared his throat. “Dang, this is supposed to be a happy celebration. Open our gift before we’re all just one big puddle.”
Pamoon nodded, smiling through her tears as she opened the box Tihk slid in front of her. Inside, there was a key. The key to a Jeep. Eyes wide, she squealed, “No way!”
“Yes, way,” Tihk said. “I haven’t busted my butt for the past six months for nothing. It’s out back. Go look.”
Pamoon jumped from the table, her friends in tow, ran from the room, and out the back door of the building. Sitting in the parking lot was a refurbished, white 1974 CJ5 with a canopy soft top. She squealed as she ran her hands over the paint and looked inside.
Turning back toward the building, she saw the beaming faces of everyone gathered by the door. Pamoon ran and hugged Tihk as hard as she could.
“Hey, what about me,” Tsomah said. “Do you know the crap I put up with for the past six months? Not to mention, the secret I had to keep.”
Pamoon laughed and hugged Tsomah. “I know that must have practically killed you.”
Turning back to Tihk, she asked if she could take it for a short drive.
“You only have your learner’s permit,” White Eagle interjected. “I can’t let you go—”
“Don’t be a party pooper,” Tsomah exclaimed. “I’ll go with her.”
The chief rolled his eyes. “That’s not exactly comforting.”
Nuna punched him in the arm. “Let them go. Everything else can wait until they get back.”
White Eagle looked at Tihk and nodded.
Tihk opened the driver’s door and Pamoon jumped in. Showing her the controls, he helped her set the seat and mirrors and then glanced at Tsomah. “You and the girls better get in or she might leave without you.”
Pamoon’s friends and Scout piled in the back and Tsomah slid into the passenger seat. Pamoon started the Jeep and looked back at the chief. He eyed his watch and said, “It’s one-thirty. Be home by three and we’ll continue the celebration at home.”
* * *
The next thing everyone saw was a cloud of dust, as Pamoon popped the clutch, spun the tires, and raced out of the parking lot.
“You had to put in the V6, didn’t you,” White Eagle said, shaking his head.
Tihk slapped the chief on the back. “You helped me install it, big guy.”
10
White Eagle’s
March 2, 2:30 p.m.
* * *
The chief sat at his kitchen table with Tihk and Nuna. He told them about the jacket and of his conversation with Jim, the tribe’s historian.
They were astounded.
“Our sister knew of this?” Nuna said.
“Eha.” The chief answered. “She and I kn
ew this day would come, but neither of us knew how to tell Pamoon.”
Tihk put his coffee cup down. “Do you think her mother, her birth mother, knew?”
The chief nodded. “She left a letter with the jacket when she dropped off Pamoon at the medical center. She knew enough.”
“What does that mean?” Nuna said.
“She was in a bad place and was going to put Pamoon up for adoption. The day she was going to the orphanage, she said she was visited by a spirit. A spirit that told her to bring the child here.”
“And this spirit, supposedly wrote what is written on the lining of the jacket?” Tihk questioned.
“Not supposedly.” The chief answered. “Jim has had the lining examined. He went so far as to carbon date the writing.”
“And?”
“And, it didn’t work. He said that the writing cannot be dated.”
“Why? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It depends on how you look at it,” White Eagle said.
“What do you mean?” Tihk said.
“It makes sense if it wasn’t written by human hand. If its origin is supernatural.”
Just then, he heard the Jeep pull in and the excited voices of the girls. “Not one word of what we talked about until I have a chance to talk to Pamoon.”
* * *
Moments later the door flew open and the girls flew in, followed by the non-stop talking and laughter. They were a sight: their hair wind-blown, their faces red from the sun. The only thing larger than their hair were their grins as they floated into the kitchen, speaking as fast as their tongues would allow. Excited about her new car, Pamoon didn’t acknowledge anyone as she headed for the fridge. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nuna frown.
“Did you forget your manners?” Nuna asked.
Blushing, Pamoon apologized. “Sorry, we’re so thirsty I wasn’t thinking.”
“Go sit and I’ll get everyone a drink.”
Tsomah hugged Tihk. “You’ve made her a very happy girl.”
The girls were busy on their smartphones posting pictures of the Jeep and their ride when Pamoon suddenly remembered Bobby.
“Bobby hasn’t posted anything since last night at ten. That’s not like him. Has he come home?”
“Not yet,” Tihk answered. “In fact, I think I’ll go talk to his friends’ parents. Maybe they know something.”
Tihk’s words seemed to be everyone’s signal to say their goodbyes. Tsomah agreed to drop off Celia and MaryLynn at their prospective homes.
“You’re still taking me to get my license on Monday, right?” Pamoon said.
“Definitely.”
11
Discovery
March 2, 6:00 p.m.
* * *
Showered and in her sweats, Pamoon plopped down on the couch, mindlessly turning on the TV with Scout curled up next to her. A few minutes later, the chief and Nuna walked in. White Eagle shut off the television and sat across from her.
“Feel like talking?”
“Sure,” she said, bringing her legs up and crossing them beneath her. She glanced at Nuna and slid over, motioning her aunt to sit next to her. Scout groaned when he had to move to make room for another body on the couch.
White Eagle placed a backpack on the table.
“What’s that?”
“The end of our conversation.”
Anyone else would have considered his answer weird, but Pamoon was used to him speaking in riddles. “Okay,” she said, holding the last syllable longer than necessary. “So, what’s the beginning?”
He slid the backpack closer to her. “It starts in the middle.”
Pamoon scrunched her nose and twisted her lips. “Huh?” Confused and hesitant, she picked up the backpack. She could tell by its shape that it wasn’t empty. “What’s in here?”
“That backpack was left with you when you were dropped off at the reservation medical center. It was left by your birth mother.”
“Why is this the first time I’ve seen it? Did Kamenna know?’
“Eha.”
“Then—”
“Sit and listen.”
Pamoon watched as White Eagle’s expression hardened. Nervous, she reached for Nuna’s hand and held on tight.
“When Kamenna arrived at the center that morning, she found you wrapped in a carrier and this backpack lay next to you. After she made sure you were okay and fed, she opened the backpack.” He nodded for her to open it.
Pamoon looked at her aunt for some sort of explanation. She just nodded and looked at the pack and then back at her. “Open it,” she mouthed.
Pamoon felt the tension in the room as she picked up the backpack and looked inside. She saw what looked like a leather jacket and a letter. “Is this letter from her, my real mom, I mean my birth mother?”
“Eha.”
“Have you read it?” she asked, looking at Nuna and White Eagle.
“I have. Nuna knew nothing of it until earlier today.”
“What about Kamenna?”
“She was the first to read it.”
“What does it say?”
“Read it.”
Pamoon reached in for the letter but stopped. “I don’t want to. Anything she had to say, doesn’t matter.”
“It matters a great deal,” White Eagle said. “Read it. Please.”
With a sweaty hand, Pamoon pulled the letter out with her right hand. Her voice cracked as she began to read.
“My dearest baby girl, it is with great sadness that I must leave you. It’s not that I don’t love you, it’s just that I’m not capable of raising you.”
“I don’t understand,” Pamoon said.
“Keep reading,” White Eagle said.
“I’m a drug addict,” Pamoon read, “and I can’t even take care of myself. When I found out I was pregnant, I was going to have an abortion, but for some reason, I couldn’t do it. I decided that as soon as you were born, I would give you up for adoption, so you could have a real family. When you were born and the nurse placed you on my chest, I fell instantly in love. I thought about keeping you, but as soon as I was released from the hospital, the first thing I did was go and get high. When I came to my senses, I knew I had to give you up and give you a chance at a normal life. The night before I planned on bringing you to the orphanage, I was visited by an angel.”
“An angel? What is she talking about?”
White Eagle just pointed at the letter.
Shaking, Pamoon dropped the letter. Nuna picked it up and placed it back in her hands. Pamoon looked at her for an explanation and saw love in her eyes. She squeezed her eyes tight and took a deep breath. Opening them, she continued to read.
“A beam of bright light came into my room. It was so bright, it woke me up. I was scared to death as the light danced around the room and came to rest on you. Somehow, the light gave me a sense of peace. Before I could react, the light became so thin it almost disappeared. Then I saw it land on top of my jacket. Before I could move, I smelled smoke and reached for a glass of water. I was about to throw the water on my jacket, but then the smoke was gone. The light once again filled the room, and I know this sounds strange, but it spoke to me.
“I don’t know if it was the drugs, but I swear I heard the voice of an angel. It told me that you were meant for greatness, and I was to leave you at the reservation.
“I know you probably hate me, and I wouldn’t blame you if you did, but you need to know that I love you. I’ve never done much of anything in my life that was good, but somehow, I knew that leaving you with the injuns was good.
“I love you, baby girl.”
Pamoon turned the paper over, expecting further explanation, but that was everything. “So that’s why, Kamenna called me her angel?”
Questions could be heard in her voice.
“She called you her angel, because you saved her,” Nuna said.
“What?”
“Kamenna was barren. She couldn’t have children. When her hus
band found out, he left her. You were the answer to all her prayers.”
“Husband? Kamenna was married? Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t she tell me?”
“No one outside of this room knew,” Nuna said. “She married young, and it was her wish that we tell no one.”
Pamoon slouched on the couch and dropped her head back. “I don’t even know what to say.” She stared at the ceiling and thought about everything that just happened. “Wait,” she lifted her head, looking at White Eagle. “You said this was the middle of the story, what’s the beginning?”
White Eagle chin-pointed toward the backpack. “The jacket.”
“This can’t get much weirder,” Pamoon mumbled pulling the jacket out of the pack. As soon as she grabbed it with her left hand, she screamed, an electric shock coursing through her.
“What happened?” Nuna yelled.
“I’m not sure.” Pamoon’s body shook. “When I touched the jacket, I felt a sharp pain in my hand.” Looking at her palm, her birthmark was fiery red. Nuna bent over and kissed her palm, and the pain dissipated. “What did you just do?”
“When you were a baby, the mark on your neck would burn and make you cry. I found that when I kissed it, it took your pain away.”
“This is all so bizarre.” Pamoon moved to wipe the sweat from her neck, and screamed. In the blink of an eye, her nightmares returned, then they were gone. A cold sweat poured down her spine causing her to shiver.
Nuna jumped off the couch, and Scout growled. “What just happened?” she screamed.
“When my palm touched my neck, I saw the same thing I see in my nightmares.” Pamoon shook in fear.
* * *
Nuna was dumbfounded. Her head snapped in her brother’s direction. “Nightmares? The same nightmares Kamenna used to have?”