Yellow Moon
by
Ginger Simpson
When the fire died down and the dancing ended, Yellow Moon returned to
her mother’s lodge with her family for the night. She and Two Doves lagged behind, still
chatting about Thunder Eyes and the impression he’d made. Her mother looked from the full moon to her
daughter. “Too bad the celebration
lasted so late. This would be a perfect
night for a young man to come courting.”
She chuckled.
“Will I see Thunder Eyes tomorrow?”
“He’ll probably spend the day with others who plan to dance. Although he needs a wife, he made this trip
for another purpose as well.” She gazed
at the sky again. “Isn’t the June Berry
moon beautiful?” Her ate sighed. “Makes
me want to be young again.”
“Well, I’m young, and the moon is obviously of no use to me.” Yellow
Moon’s hopes of spending time with Thunder Eyes unraveled. The yellow circle in
the sky only had meaning if she stood beneath it with her newly intended. She
pulled her mouth into a pout. “What will we do tomorrow?”
Two Doves shrugged. “Most likely spend our time as we did today,
meeting others, learning new things, and sharing what we know. Oh...how could I forget?” She clapped her hands and smiled, her teeth
glistening in the moonlight. “Tomorrow is the day the Shaman announces who will
assist with the ceremony and who will lead it. You know what that means, don’t
you?”
“Not really. You have never
before suggested me to be part of the ceremony, and I did not come last
year. Remember, according to you, I was wasting
my time at the white man’s school?”
“Waste is a fitting word, but you are here this year and for that, I’m
happy. Tomorrow we will learn whether or
not your name will be called as one to search for the sacred cottonwood. Only
the purest of women are allowed to participate, so you’ll surely be among those
chosen.”
From her mother’s emotional display, being among those named must be an
honor for the parents, but Yellow Moon didn’t feel the least
exited...especially when she recalled the speech to the Shaman about her virtue
and character.
Embarrassment burned her
cheeks. She wasn’t in the least worthy
to be among those chosen. “That’s what I get for keeping secrets from Ate and
Ina. ”Grumbling, she ducked inside the tepee.
Guilt gnawed at her, but she
dare not say a word.. Her father would
most likely deny Thunder Eyes courting rights, and that caused a pain in her
heart.
The family settled down quickly on their pallets. Yellow Moon slipped between the comfort of shaggy
buffalo robes and curled on her side.
Although tired, images of her handsome suitor played over and over in
her mind. Thoughts of courting, how she
would react to the attention, and most of all, traveling to live among virtual
strangers kept her head spinning while she peered at the small crackling fire
her father had built before settling into bed.
Her eyes blurred from staring at
the flames and she looked away. A
coyote’s yowl pierced the night—a chilling sound, too close for comfort. At the rustling noise of her sister bolting
upright, Yellow Moon edged up on her elbow and recognized wide-eyed fear on Red
Feather’s face.
“Did you hear that?” The young girl’s creased brow made her appear
older than her eleven summers.
A second howl
answered the first before Yellow Moon could respond. Goosebumps peppered her flesh despite being
warm, but she swallowed hard and hid her fear.
“Don’t be afraid, my sister.” She
whispered in a calm tone not wishing to wake the others, then glanced up at
moonlight filtering through the smoke hole.
“We’re safe inside. Calm yourself
and go back to sleep. Sunrise is still
hours away.”
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