ANOTHER SHORT STORY FOR THE SUMMER

This short story was written by Marie. She didn't give it a title.

A young and tall girl, with a dark skin, walking on a road. She is alone. She is alone, but she is happy. The hot wind in her face, she thinks about her discussion with Russel. For the first time, the old man talks to her as a woman. It’s his gift for Maya’s 17^th birthday.  He wants to tell her who she is.

This is an old man with a strange look. On his face, we see the passing of time, but he is still a beautiful man. His dark eyes are cheerful like a young boy, and when he smiles we can see some wrinkles around his mouth. Sometimes, he sings in a strange language, a pretty sound for Maya but also incomprehensible.

She arrives in the entrance of the village, a long road separating the village into two parts. On the right, there is the police station, the church, and some houses, on the left, a pub and many houses. Russel lives behind the church in a little hut, made of wood and metal sheet. It’s not very pretty, but he is happy. Inside, there is the minimum: a sofa which is also a bed, a little table with some chairs, a radio and a kitchenette.

You know, darling, when I was young, life was not so easy. In the reservation, we weren’t free like now, the government was hard with us, Native Americans says Russel when I was in his little house. I agree with him with a head movement, and he continues to tell his story. At 10, they sent me to a school and to a boarding school. My friend of the tribe and I, we were educated to be like white Americans! They cut my hair, and obliged me to wear shoes… After looking at me, he added: For you, little girl, it’s nothing but at the time and for me, it’s was incomprehensible!

Daddy Russ’, I just don’t understand… Why have they done that? It’s insane… Our family is proud of his origin and all the history of the Indians! So why did Americans want to destroy us?

Oh, little girl, you have no idea… After this strange sentence, Russel moved under the hut. The young lady followed him, silently.

 *

The little city is calm, it’s the end of the day and the sun goes down. We can only hear the sound of a dog, seeing a cat. The old man walk, follow by Maya, asking many questions but he still stay impassible.

When they arrive at the end of the village, he stop and just say: It’s for that, my little girl, they want that.

This landscape, impressive by his greatness was the place of many troubles… You know, the Indians were the first inhabitants of the country. However, the new inhabitants want to colonize our area. After many and many fights, they took the power, and decided to control us, they put us in reservation ! Now we live here, and we try again and again to be accepted. But little girl, I’m never gonna leave that.

In front of them, a lot of huge mountains stand. The height is not the same, but they are majestic. Around, there is nothing, maybe some tree. The last rays of the sunlight light their face, an happy and peaceful face. We can read on their eyes, the determination of saving this origin.

*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-ratner/rare-old-photos-of-native_b_5123162.html