Nathaniel Smiley
By Chris James
Chapter 4
The drive to Blue Fox Glen took them over an hour, the last mile in four wheel drive. Ted had wondered how anyone could live in these tight little valleys, but the Ross farm looked like it was built right into the mountain.
The family house was right up against the foot of the mountain and from the outside resembled little more than a stack of stones. But it was built solid and seemed quite large until Ted considered the number of people that were supposed to live here.
The valley opened up past the house and they could see the corn crop was already waist high. The fields of bright green plants were divided with a stream that must be the source of water for the well tended crops. Corn was the source of nutrition for these people; their wealth was measured in the little yellow kernels.
JT had them stop at the fence which delineated the road from the yard, and he got out to approach the house. Being Saturday there were kids in the yard tending a small vegetable garden and chopping wood. The oldest boy looked up with a smile as JT made his appearance.
"O'siyo, Johnny," The boy called, which attracted the attention of the others. In no time at all he was swamped with children hanging from his belt.
Ted did a quick analysis of the scene. JT was well known here, the kids all seemed to adore him. The three boys ranged in age from about eight to fifteen, the two girls were both under twelve years of age. Their manner of dress was simple, plain, yet not tattered or torn.
Two old pickup trucks sat up in the side yard, lots of rust but they looked serviceable. Ted got a sense that this family had lived here for ages, the generations continuing to work the farm. There was no mistaking the poverty that surrounded these folks, but they looked happy.
Nate and Ted got out of the Jeep and waited for JT to say something. Nate held the box containing the pipe, it seemed important to carry it now. The older boy saw them first and walked over. He looked at Ted and then smiled at Nate.
"O'siyo," The boy said. "Do I know you?"
JT had wandered over by then, surrounded by kids and still smiling. "Nathaniel... Ted, this is James, Michael and Lenny," Pointing to the boys, then he turned to the girls. "And this is Marie and Janet."
The kids gave them the once over and JT laughed. "What, you kids act like you've never seen a white person before. Ted is a good person, so don't be mean to him. And this is Nathaniel, but you will probably remember him as Little Bear."
Lenny, the youngest boy stared in awe. "Little Bear... The Little Bear of your stories?"
JT nodded. "The very same."
Nate smiled down at the little man. "O'siyo, Lenny."
The boy blushed and nodded. "O'siyo, Little Bear."
"I hear you have a dance about Little Bear... will you share it with me sometime?" Nate asked. The three boys all nodded and gathered around as several women walked out of the house.
"Johnny, O'siyo... what brings you here?" The elder one asked.
"O'siyo, Mrs. Ross. I'm showing Little Bear and his friend around the Qualla, and of course we had to stop in and see Gran Huhu."
Mrs. Ross smiled and stepped forward, giving JT a hug. She nodded to Ted and stared at Nate. "Nathaniel Smiling Sky... is that really you? It's been an age since I last saw you; goodness... you have grown so much."
"Thank you, Mrs. Ross... it must have been a long time ago, I don't even remember."
"Your mother was with you then, I was sorry to hear of her passing," She said.
"My thanks," Nate said.
"Oh, these are my oldest, Nancy and Kathy... why don't you come inside, I'm sure Gran would like to see you."
Ted could feel the restraint, but he was an outsider here so he tagged along behind. JT understood and smiled at him.
"Give it time, they don't know you yet."
The house was large and yet so filled with furniture it looked crowded. The family space was built like a townhouse with a central fire pit and seating all around. And over in one corner sat an elderly woman, one of the oldest Ted had ever seen. JT led them over for an introduction and she smiled with a toothless grin, her eyes clouded with age.
JT knelt down on one knee and looked in her face. "O'siyo, Granny Huhu... it's me, Johnny Crowe."
She nodded and began to speak to him in the Cherokee language, her words soft and filled with humor, finally they both laughed and JT stood up.
"Granny, this is Little Bear... do you remember him?"
"Little Bear... yes, I remember the boy," Gran said. "Welcome to my home... come and sit with me."
Nate sat down beside her and she grasped his arm. He nodded at Ted and gestured him forward.
"Granny, this is my best friend, Ted. He's come here to meet you," Nate said.
Ted leaned down and smiled. "It's nice to meet you," He said.
"Your best friend is a white boy?" Gran said, and she nodded. "He is welcome in my home."
"Thank you," Ted said, taking a seat beside Nate.
JT took a seat close to Gran and began to explain why they were there. "You have the memories of our people, Granny. Little Bear and Ted have begun a great task for The People; they want to make a record of your journey in life for the generations."
Gran nodded and JT gestured at the box Nate carried. "Little Bear is now the pipe bearer, you will know he only wants to hear the truth spoken from your heart."
Nate opened the box and showed Gran the pipe. Her hands caressed the carved stem and she smiled. "Chief John showed this to me one time and told me it had passed through the hands of the old chiefs to him. I will respect the pipe bearer and speak of my memories."
Mrs. Ross looked around the room. "You will stay with us, and then you may talk."
She left the room and JT followed, leaving Nate and Ted with Gran. She seemed to doze off in her chair and Ted looked around the room wondering what they should do. But she wasn't asleep and she reached out to grasp Nate's arm.
"I remember your mother, how is she?" Gran asked.
"She passed away some years ago, Gran."
"Oh... I'm sorry, someone should have told me... maybe they did and I don't remember. So many things I forget, it's the way old people get. I remember my first husband; they called him Ahyoka, the bringer of happiness. He was a good man, he fought in the second war against Germany, and they gave him a medal for bravery before he died."
"He sounds like a brave man," Nate said.
Gran reached out and took Ted's hand, turning it palm upwards. Her fingers felt the ridges and lines. "Such a worthy hand, you must work hard, I feel great strength here. I have made many white friends in my life, almost married one. Why are you here, Seyodowa?"
Ted looked at Nate, unsure what she had just said to him. "I'm here to learn that which is strange to me. Little Bear has told me things I cannot understand about The People, I think I'm here for understanding."
Gran nodded. "A curious boy becomes a smart man. I see your mind, Seyodowa."
"Granny Huhu, can you please tell me what Seyodowa means?' Ted asked.
She grinned. "I wondered when you would ask... it's your name in our language, Theodore. Just like Theodore Roosevelt, the president of your country. Do you wonder how I know this?"
"Yes," Ted said with a smile, the woman was playing games with him.
"I know because he died on the day I was born and my mother always said that the great Seyodowa had to die for my spirit to be born. Of course that was just a story; there is nothing special about me. But my mother often repeated it."
Ted patted her hand and nodded. "I think your mother was right, you are special."
She nodded and her eyes blinked. "I am weary after this long life, I must rest a while. We will talk tonight."
Nate and Ted got up and left her sitting in the chair and went outside to find JT. Mrs. Ross was outside with him and two other men.
"Gran must be tired, it's her nap time," She said. "I'll go put her to bed."
JT introduced the two sons, fathers of the various children running around the yard. "Nate... Ted, this is Ethan and Joe Ross."
The men looked to be in their fifties, but it was obvious they were brothers.
"Little Bear... it's been a long time since I saw you," Ethan said. He nodded at Ted. "You and your friend are welcome. How is Gran doing?"
"Telling tall tales already?" Joe asked with a grin. "The older she gets the longer the stories."
"I hope so, that's why we're here," Nate said.
"JT was telling us of your project, a fine thing to do," Ethan said. He turned and placed a hand on Ted's shoulder. "Johnny was also telling us about your problem with the young warriors last weekend, you did a fine thing standing up for Little Bear. The council will have little patience with such activity."
Ted smiled and looked at JT who nodded back at Ethan. "This Mr. Ross is Chief of his clan," JT said.
"Thank you," Ted said.
"We have guests, I suppose that means we'd better find some fresh meat for supper," Joe said.
"There you go again, anything to get out of digging that ditch," Ethan laughed. "OK, that will keep, go do what you wish."
"Johnny, you and the boys with me?" Joe asked.
"Sure, I love a good walk in the woods... let's show them a good time."
'A good time' meant a three hour trek uphill through dense bushes and around rock formations. The four of them wandered the hillsides armed to the teeth and as Ted predicted, the rifles got heaver by the minute.
They were out hunting free range pig. Joe explained that keeping pigs in a pen made no sense; out here they could run wild and feed themselves. Corn was too precious to use strictly as animal feed, although they did leave some out on the coldest days of winter. It was also more fun to go out and find them when they needed meat on the table.
But hogs left to their own devices developed aggressive behavior and that made the hunt more thrilling. The Cherokee had been hunting these animals like this for generations and that left some pretty fierce pigs out there.
"Just be aware, they can get pretty sneaky," Joe warned. "They will even let you pass before coming at you from behind. The teeth on a full grown male will tear you up so stay alert."
They walked a line across the face of a hillside under the trees. The shadows here played tricks with the eyes and each stump or clump of bush began to look more like a pig as they moved further along.
Joe carried a rifle much like Ted's, JT had Ethan's old shotgun loaded with deer slugs. That left Nate and his small game rifle in the middle, as his weapon's firepower would probably only piss off a large hog.
It was in that third hour, just as they were tiring of the climb and the clinging bushes, when a hundred feet away the bushes shook and a huge hog burst out of cover. It made straight for the middle of their line where Nate was standing. Ted raised his rifle and slowly squeezed off a round, hitting the charging animal right between the eyes.
The hog seemed to crumble, its legs collapsing, and the animal went down, rolling down the hillside until it hit a tree.
"Nice shot," Nate called out. "It was headed right at me."
"I saw that," Ted said.
Joe hurried over to the hog as JT laughed, clapping Ted on the back. "The mighty hunter strikes again, I thought you never did this before?"
"Nope, just targets... and they don't move."
The hog weighed as much as a man so Joe gutted it on the spot. Then they tied the creature's legs and slid a fresh cut pole between them to carry it. The boys carried the rifles while the men handled the meat; at least it was all downhill.
The walk back took an hour, with several rest stops along the way, giving Joe a chance to talk about hunting.
"A hunter might wander for miles and be far from home. If I'd been alone the carcass would have been butchered on the spot. I could carry both the hindquarters on a pole by myself. But the entrails will be consumed by other animals that need the nourishment so nothing goes to waste.
"We buy pork at the store, I would have no idea how to clean and cook one," Ted said.
Joe grinned. "Then we'll show you."
The hog was strung up from a tree limb and the insides given a through cleaning, the outside was washed down as well and the hairs scraped off with a sharp knife. Ethan started a fire in a brick lined pit as Joe sat telling the story of Ted's great hunt. The family gathered around and was soon laughing as Joe embellished the story a little with fierce noises and descriptions of the terrible beast.
Ted laughed along realizing that this is how stories were told amongst these people. By the second or third telling the hog would become ten feet tall and weigh a ton. A story might convey truth to educate others, but it was also a source of entertainment.
They didn't stick around to watch the butchering of the hog, instead choosing to go with the kids down to the stream and bathe. The girls went upstream and around a bend to become hidden by trees, the boys all took off their clothes and sat in the shallows. It seemed obvious from the beginning that Ted would be the object of some curiosity, blondes were a rarity.
The water was cold, the sun hot, and between the two they managed to make time for swimming in the pond that fed the corn fields. James was past the point of puberty, Michael fast approaching the threshold and Lenny still had some years to go before that accomplishment.
Lenny gave Nate the once over and giggled. "Little Bear doesn't have much hair," He joked.
Nate smiled and then growled. "But he does have teeth and claws," He said, lunging at the boy. Lenny squealed and tried to hide behind Ted, who slid the boy up on his shoulders for a ride. They horsed around in the pond until the girls returned and stood on the bank laughing.
"Come out, come out so we can see your shortcomings," They teased.
Only Lenny pulled himself out of the pond and chased them away leaving the other boys in stitches. But soon they felt the cold seeping into their bones and had to abandon the pond for dry land. The afternoon was waning and the shadows were beginning to creep over the valley between the mountains. Nate had chosen a place for their tent and they went about setting it up before it got dark. Then they all trooped back to the house.
The fire pit had been covered over and there was no sign of the hog hanging in the tree, the adults were all inside. Nate led them through the door and discovered everyone sitting in the common room waiting. Gran Huhu was once again ensconced in her chair and the smell of something cooking filled the room.
"That smells wonderful," Nate said. "Is that the pork?"
"No, we'll eat that tomorrow, tonight we have fried chicken," Joe said. "That pig will slow cook all night and will eat fine when we uncover it."
Mrs. Ross laid out a buffet and they each took plates, the kids going first. The light outside was fading fast and Ethan opened a shutter in the ceiling over the central fireplace and lit a few twigs to get the draft going. The door was left open and there was soon a draft of air moving into the room and up through the hole in the roof.
The fried chicken, potato salad and fresh greens were soon consumed and the kids took the plates away to the kitchen. Nate went to his bag in the corner and removed the pipe, assembling the two pieces and holding it in his lap.
"You don't plan to smoke that thing do you?" Ted asked quietly.
"Hell no, I'd cough my brains out, this is just for show. Why don't you reach down in the bag and get that camera, it's all ready to go."
The family soon gathered in seats around the room and Nate passed the pipe to JT who accepted it with a nod.
"There's a long history behind this pipe, my uncle used to say. The pipe was given to us so that we might communicate with the Creator. The Cherokee had not been born at that time so our ancestors were the first to share the pipe.
"The Great Uktena lived in a sacred lake known only to the animals, which at the time had the ability to speak. He was a fearsome creature, a giant serpent with a jeweled forehead. No human had ever seen him until one day a woman of great bravery ventured out into the wood; she was called Arrow Woman because she carried weapons like a hunter.
"She came to the edge of the lake and was shocked when a great serpent rose up from the waters. She grabbed her spear and made to throw it when Uktena spoke to her. He told her to put down her weapons that he came only in peace to teach humans the virtues of truth.
"When she dropped her weapons Uktena raised up from underwater and laid the first pipe at her feet with a pouch of tobacco. 'This pipe comes from the Creator,' He said. Arrow Woman held up the red clay bowl and Uktena told her that the clay was the same material that all women were made of. Then Arrow Woman held up the stem and he told her that this was the male part of the pipe. Strong and inflexible like a man, it should be kept apart from the bowl until the pipe was ready to be smoked."
JT smiled. "A man may join a woman in marriage just as the pipe is joined. The smoke is said to cleanse the body and then rises to the heavens where it gives the Creator our prayers and thoughts. It's now the symbol of sacred thought and the one who holds it may only speak the truth."
JT slowly passed it to Joe who took it with wonder in his eyes. "I have never held such beauty, I am honored," He said, passing it to his brother Ethan.
"I remember this pipe," Ethan said. "I was just twenty years old when I sat down at a gathering with Chief John Crowe. He told the story of Uktena much as Johnny has just spoken, only then he lit the pipe and passed it. I too felt honored then as I do now."
The pipe passed from hand to hand, Mrs. Ross, the daughters and sons each held it for a moment. Lenny was the quietest of them all when it came to him and his hands shook. He looked at it in awe and then slowly passed it to Gran.
She took the pipe and held it in her lap for some moments before speaking.
"Tsa'la they named it... tobacco. The raw leaves of the plant can make a man sick if he touches the juice within. The Cherokee received the sacred tsa'la from the Creator and we honor her for the gift."
Gran smiled and looked at Ted. "We speak these words so that you may understand our ways, Seyodowa. The Tsalagi are a proud people, but not vain. When a clan of people has such a long tradition and history we come to feel a part of the stories we tell, and that is our pride."
She looked around at the kids sitting against the wall. "To each of you goes the knowledge of our ancestors so that you may tell it to your children and your grandchildren. Even the simple stories of the rabbit or the fox teach a lesson, as the nature of all creatures around us is a part of our lives. Be proud of what you learn, we are the chosen."
She turned back to Ted. "The Creator gave life to us all, and that includes the white man. I'm going to hand this pipe to you, young man. I don't know if any white man has ever touched it before, but you understand its importance to us and the pipe is a great teacher."
Ted set the camera down and took the pipe from her hands. It didn't weigh much, and yet it was heavy with the history of these people. He examined it closely and then passed it on to Nate.
"The circle is complete," Nate said. "This pipe is too old to be lit, I would be afraid of damaging it and upsetting the Crowe family. But I will do this as an offering." With that he took a small pouch of tobacco out of the box and pinched some between his fingers before tossing it on the fire. The smell of tobacco filled the room and everyone smiled, the smoke rose up to the hole in the roof and thus was given to the Creator.
The pipe was packed away and everyone looked around the room until Gran began to speak once again. Ted carefully turned the camera on her as it sat in his lap.
"I remember the stories my great-grandmother told when I was twelve years of age. She was born in the time of great unrest in the years after the Trail of Tears, Nunna dual Isunyi. I want to make sure the children of this family study the new ways and yet embrace the old.
"I have lived in the Qualla my whole life, this is a good place. I feel close to the old ways here, and yet in my grandchildren I see the new." She gave a short laugh and then nodded. "My little Lenny says they are teaching him many things in school, what was it you told me yesterday?"
Lenny smiled. "We studied how Christopher Columbus sailed the great ocean and discovered the New World. Mrs. Logan says that refers to the European discovery of the Americas, the Cherokee already knew because we were here."
Gran nodded. "Sometimes you have to look behind what someone tells you to find the truth, Mrs. Logan is right."
Her questions went around the room to each of the children, she was curious about what they were being taught in school. The inner workings of the family were open for discussion and Ted captured it all in his camera. He had changed the memory card and checked the battery charge; they still had an hour of recording time left when he shut down.
The conversation and storytelling had gone on for a long time until Mrs. Ross said it had to end, Gran was tired once again. One by one the children left for their beds and JT rolled his sleeping bag out on the bench against the wall. Nate and Ted walked outside and turned on a flashlight to find their way.
Dark had a whole new meaning up here, the only light came from the heavens. Stars seemed to fill the skies and there was no moon in sight. Nate led the way and the tent suddenly loomed up at the edge of the yard.
"Pretty sky," Ted said. "Are we going right to sleep?"
"Not if I can help it," Nate replied.
He unzipped the tent flaps and they both stepped inside to undress. The evening chill had settled in and each gratefully slid into the warmth between the sleeping bags.
"Its mid-June, I didn't think it would get this cold," Ted said.
"There's a million gallons of cold water running through this valley at night, it has to change the temperature. Come over here, I'll keep you warm."
Nate slid his hands around Ted and pulled him closer, and their lust began to build. Ted was such a great kisser, Nate couldn't help becoming aroused. Their bodies came together for a moment and then Ted saw the flashlight beam on the outside of the tent.
"Little Bear... are you awake?" Lenny's voice said.
"Yes, we both are," Nate replied.
Ted groaned and sat up to unzip the flap. Lenny crawled inside in his pajamas and bare feet. "Can I sleep out here with you?" He asked.
Nate laughed at what he knew would be Ted's moment of frustration. "Sure, little man, you can sleep here between us and keep warm."
Lenny lay down between them and scooted back against Ted for warmth. The boy had formed some pleasant feelings for the white boy today, they were friends. Ted sighed and laid an arm across the boy in the darkness and grasped Nate's hand.
After a moment of silence Lenny giggled. "This is fun," He said.
Nate smiled. "Yes it is, I just hope the bears leave us alone."
"Michael saw a bear last week, it was upstream about a mile," Lenny said.
"Seriously?" Ted asked.
"Yeah, they won't bother us," Lenny said, and then he giggled again.
"Now what's so funny?" Nate asked.
"I can feel Ted's hoo-hoo pressed on my backside," Lenny replied, and then he started laughing. "A big hoo-hoo too."
"So get your butt off my hoo-hoo," Ted snickered.
Nate joined the laughter. "So he's got a big one, huh?"
"Yup," Lenny replied. "I wanna big one when I grow up. James has a big one; he plays with it all the time."
"Oh crap, the both of you just shut up," Ted groaned.
"Lenny, it's not nice to talk about your brother behind his back," Nate said. "But you can talk about Ted's hoo-hoo any time you want."
The boys dissolved in laughter, including Ted this time. And then there was a noise at the tent flap and Michael looked inside.
"What's so funny?" He asked. "Lenny, I thought you were out here."
Nate slid over and made room for the boy. "We were just talking about hoo-hoos," He said.
"Lenny, not again," Michael said.
"Where's James?" Lenny asked.
Michael tried to stifle a laugh but couldn't. "Playing with his hoo-hoo I guess."
They all laughed and then a voice from outside the tent growled. "That's not funny," James said.
"Come on in and join the party," Ted said. "And bring your hoo-hoo."
The tent flap opened and James stepped inside. "Michael I heard what you said, do you want me to tell them the things you do?" He asked.
"Guys, let's not start a fight here," Nate said. "No more talk about hoo-hoos."
With five the tent was crowded, and now there were three boys between them so Ted and Nate gave up any thoughts of loving one another. The whispers eventually died down and they all slept while the world around them came alive.
A small herd of deer came down to the pond to drink, as did a raccoon family and two foxes. Up in the hills around them a bear wandered in search of a place to sleep and routed a possum from her nest. The Qualla was once again alive with game after so many years, the only thing missing were the buffalo and they were gone forever.
Nate awoke first and sat up, looking at the pile of bodies crammed in the tent. Ted was pushed up against the far wall with Lenny asleep in his arms. It was time to get up and seek some relief so he slowly stood up and unzipped the tent flap. Looking down Nate saw the black snake curled up on the threshold.
He tossed his sneaker at the creature, and the snake recoiled quickly, slithering away towards the rows of corn.
"What was that?" A sleepy Lenny asked.
"Inada... black snake," Nate said. "I have to go pee."
"Me too."
They crawled from the tent and stood by the bushes. Nate began to pee knowing full well Lenny was watching, curious kid... he remembered being like that.
"What time is it?" Lenny asked.
Nate looked up at the sky and saw the morning stars fading away. "Early, maybe five or so."
"I'm hungry," Lenny said. "Mom won't get up for another hour."
Nate led the boy over to a corner of the yard where the pig was buried. The fire ring was empty so he laid a simple pile of tinder and started a new one. He sent Lenny for some larger sticks from the woodpile and dug a cooking pot out of the Jeep to boil water. Soon they each had a bowl full of instant oatmeal with lots of brown sugar.
"Where are you going next?" Lenny asked.
"I think to the far corner of the state, out beyond the Qualla. Joseph Crowe says there's a man out there who makes dance costumes and he has a huge collection of artifacts in his house."
"Are you going to make a movie after you're done?"
"I'm not sure what to do with all this information, but I'd like lots of people to see it," Nate said.
"Will they see me?" Lenny laughed.
"Oh yes, I want them to see you... especially when you do that bear dance for me."
"Oh yeah, we have to do that today, don't we?"
"I'm excited about it, you aren't scared are you?" Nate asked.
"Nope, I want to do it at the gathering next month if Michael and James will do it with me."
"I bet they will... its fun to show other people what you can do. Ted and I will make sure to be there if you dance," Nate said.
"OK," Lenny said with a grin.
Michael, James and Ted finally joined them by the fire for about an hour before they were called inside for breakfast. Lenny was happy, he'd get two breakfasts today. By late morning Ethan decided it was time to uncover the pig and slice up the meat.
The spade work took a while as the deeper they dug the hotter the soil became. Finally they reached a layer of corn stalks and a cloud of steam arose from the pit along with the fragrance of cooked pork.
The pig had been wrapped in layers of wet corn leaves and stalks, the juices held in by about a mile of aluminum foil. Joe and Ethan slid a board into one end of the pit and used gloves to haul the pig up onto it. Everyone stood around enjoying the smell as the pig was carried over to a picnic table where the work could begin.
It took an hour to slice up the meat into pans that were carried into the kitchen. The whole time the kids circled the table, snatching bits and pieces here and there. Finally Joe slid the carcass into a bag, bones and all, and told James and Michael where to dump it. Tonight the hills would crawl with creatures after the remains, but by then the campers would be gone.
Nate and Ted would take JT back to the Crowe village after dinner and spend the night there, but first they had a feast to consume. The Ross family had invited some neighbors over and the younger boys disappeared for a while as the women set about making the meal. Ethan swept the ground around the fire pit and set up chairs for the invited audience.
Joe smiled as he piled cans of beer and soda into a cooler filled with ice. "We haven't had a party here since last fall, I love a good party."
JT laughed and turned to Nate and Ted. "Like he needs an excuse to party, I suppose he has you to thank this time."
The two men carried Granny Huhu outside in her chair and set her down in the shade of a large pear tree overlooking the yard. The neighbors arrived around four and there were four men all decked out in dance costumes. They each came over to pay their respects to Gran and she seemed in great spirits to see all these people.
Ted was finally going to see a good old fashioned Cherokee stomp dance. Ethan introduced the Davis and Turner families to everyone. John Turner was married to a white woman and it showed in the bloodline of the kids they shared between them.
The dancing would start early so there was light enough for the camera. John's wife brought several drums out of their truck and the kids each had rattles to add to the din. The men tied on great big wheels of brightly colored feathers to their backs and arms, and that made the costumes complete. Ted stood back with the camera and the dancing began with a drumbeat.
The name stomp came from the pattern of footwork which ended each movement with a flat footed stomp on the ground. The dancers held rattles and shook them to the drum beat as their bodies twisted and turned in a circle around the fire pit.
This was a real piece of Cherokee culture, a re-creation of the way their ancestors danced. All the things Nate had pointed out in the town as silly tourist crap had nothing to do with what Ted saw through the lens of the camera.
"This is a dance to bless the crops JT tells me," Nate said, moving up behind Ted so he wouldn't disturb the filming. "Usually the women participate but today they're just the musicians. Next month you'll see this again with the full group of dancers, it's really spectacular."
"So this is a practice for the summer gathering?" Ted asked.
"Yeah, kinda like that. Ethan invited them over just for us to see, isn't that cool?"
"I love the costumes," Ted said.
"Yeah, this is the real deal. Just look at Gran, she's enjoying the hell out of this."
The men danced for about twenty minutes and then took a beer break. That was the signal for Lenny and his brothers to make their appearance. The kid's version of the dance costume was cute, and Lenny even looked like a bear in his headdress. His mother had made the bear's head with soft leather ears that flopped around and a fluffy bear's tail tied to his waist.
Mrs. Ross slid into the seat behind the large drum and began a slow steady beat. Nate and Ted stood watching as the boys began to move around the fire pit. This was a storied dance, the legend of Little Bear. James was of course the large momma bear and Michael her cub, but only Lenny wore the bear costume.
The boys acted out the meeting in the woods and the friendship between the bear cub and Nate. The characters feasted on fish from the imaginary river and then the bear cub and Lenny danced in circles around the mother bear. Finally it was time for them to part and Lenny danced alone as the other two made their way towards the field of corn.
The boys took bows at the end as the adults applauded their efforts and Gran laughed, enjoying it more than anyone. Nate just had to run over and give them each a hug, lifting Lenny off the ground in the process. Ethan stepped forward and spoke some words in Cherokee and the neighbors all looked at Nate who blushed three shades of red. Through it all Ted kept the camera rolling.
The Turner and Davis families gathered around the boys and shook hands with Nate.
"They didn't know our Nathaniel was the Little Bear in the story," JT said, coming up from behind and startling Ted a little.
"I thought everyone knew?" Ted replied.
"They would if he lived on the Qualla, but Nathaniel will come into his own quite soon. He's a celebrity here but most think the boy is only a legend, they don't know he's very real. That's one of the reasons I think this project is so worthwhile, it will give you both exposure in a good way."
"This is Nate's project, I'm just along for the ride," Ted said.
JT clapped him on the shoulder. "You think so, huh? These may be Nathaniel's people but you're learning a whole lot, I can see that. Your effort will have its own reward, stick with it... just wait, you'll see what I mean."
The dancers all changed back into their clothes and the feast began. Ted found himself in conversation with John Turner about the costumes and how they were made. When Ted revealed they were headed out to find this reclusive costume maker John's face lit up.
"Marshall Lewis, he knows everything about making costumes and he's an historian too. I talk to him at the gathering every year and what he makes is just incredibly beautiful. But he's been in trouble with the council before because he's got a standing order to buy eagle feathers from anyone who brings them to him."
"You think people are killing eagles just for the feathers?" Ted asked.
"Some... maybe. I have eighteen eagle feathers on my costume and I found that bird dead on the side of the road. I called the police in to look at it and they agreed it had been hit by a car so I got to keep the feathers."
"Then you were fortunate," Ted said.
"I am blessed," John replied.
They ate and talked until the shadows became long and JT said it was time to go. First Ted and then Nate said their good-byes to Gran and she gave them each a blessing in Cherokee before speaking in English.
"The days are long and yet my time is short. If the Creator wills I will see you again at the gathering. I'm sure to go this year so look for me," Gran said.
They both gave her a hug and shook hands all around. Nate finally got down on one knee and hugged Lenny.
"You make me so proud, little man... thank you for your dance," Nate said.
Lenny smiled. "You're welcome... will I see you at the gathering?"
"Count on it, soon you'll be dancing with the big boys."
Lenny giggled. "Only if they let me drink beer," He whispered.
Nate laughed and stood up so Lenny could shake hands with Ted. And then they were off. The sun was over the mountains as they made their way back to the Crowe village. Tonight they would sleep under the shelter of the townhouse; it was too dark to think about pitching tents.
They spoke with Joseph for a while and then retired to the shelter.
"No kids to interrupt us tonight," Ted said.
Nate laughed. "I know you've been thinking about that all day. Maybe once the lights go off in the house we can snuggle."
"I like the sound of that," Ted said.
Nate had pushed two of the tables together to make up a sleeping platform. It was hard and the sleeping bags did little to soften the feeling. The lights in the house finally went out and they rolled together.
"A good beginning, don't you think?" Nate asked.
"The best kind, such wonderful people. What was it Gran said right before we left?"
"It was a blessing. 'May the rainbow always touch your shoulder.' A blessing for travelers like us."
"She has such a sweet spirit," Ted said.
Nate smiled in the darkness. "You're starting to sound like a Cherokee."
"A lot of you seems to rub off on me... and speaking of rubbing... "
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