Bluebonnets Of Texas part 8

Searching Owl was watching his little girls actions it certainly wasn't what he thought when Little Feather was showing him those moccasins Spirit Crow made for her. He then went to prepare the fire to heat the stones for cooking those fish because he was getting hungry. Standing Feather came to help him place the big fish on top of the rocks when they were hot enough. Little Feather went to get Open Hand and his wife Red Wing to come eat with her family. Spirit Crow ran down to his tepee to get his father Tall Trees, his mother Thunder Cloud to join them. Grandmother was busy making some pemmincan a food that was made by pounding berries into dried deer meat. There were small corn cakes made that were placed on hot rocks to cook.

Everyone thought someone should go to get Grandfather to come eat with them so it was Little Feather who went running to his lodge. In a little while they both came up someone had gotten a huge chunk of wood for Grandfather to sit on. Little Feather went to prepare him a dish of food to bring back so he could bless what they were to eat. They all were talking about the Great Buffalo wondering when they would return hoping it would be soon. Grandfather saw that Little Feather was wearing new moccasins, he asked, "where did you get those good made moccasins?" Spirit Crow spoke up, " I made them for her Grandfather." Chief Standing Bear glanced at his grandson Searching Owl they exchanged knowing looks and grunts only the two of them would understand. The meal was over so the women gathered the wooden bowls that were made by hands of Grandfather, took them to the waters then put sand on all bowls to clean them.

After the bowls were put in the sun to dry the Calumet long stemmed pipe was brought out to smoke, ask the Creator for His blessing that Great Buffalo would once more roam these lands. Warm Robin carried the treat she had made with the berries and deer meat there was plenty to go around for everybody. Talking went on for a long time Spirit Crow was getting restless as was Little Feather. He went running to his tepee to get the stick and ball that Grandfather made for the children to have something to do while the elders were talking. Little Feather, Spirit Crow a couple other children went to play the game to get away from the all to familiar grunts made by the elders.

This was the night that after everyone returned to their own tepees or lodges, that Grandmother was to give Little Feather her doll she had made for from all those scraps of leather. When she was sure everyone was sleeping she placed the doll right beside her granddughters head so she would see it when her eyes first opened that morning. Then Warm Robin saw the fire was very low so added more wood to keep it going.

We all remember what happened that tragedy that left all people on that reservation wailing for the loss of Warm Robin, Standing Feather, Searching Owl walked on that day. Now it is two years later Little Feather is 10 Spirit Crow is 12 they are best friends.

Little Feather is now begining to remember the night of that tragic fire. It is very painful for her still but she works through it by sharing her thoughts with Spirit Crow, he gives her much comfort by telling her it was not her fault that fire happened. Because this has been her dreams each night for such a long time. Little Feather kept thinking it was her fault, if Grandmother had not gotten up to place that doll by her head, then put more wood on the fire nothing would have happened her Mother, Father and Grandmother would still be here for her when she really needed them most.

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