FACING SUNRIZE
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Salanka gave birth in the Spring to a beautiful baby girl whom she and Red Horse named Rizing of the Full Moon. As time passed, the girls grew up together. They were the best of friends and played well together most of the time.
Sittingjing-gongala had now found a new purpose for living, in caring for the little ones. Although she still thought of Chin-Honaw as much as ever, she was content. She was joyful again, and sorrow was just a forgotten dream. Gongi went often to the cave where Chin-Honaw's remains had carefully been placed. She went with flowers, chanting and whispering prayers in the wind for his soul. As time passed, Peaciwawala grew quickly. She loved to linger in the forest when the sky was clear and the sun shone so brilliantly through the lovely meadows, down to the valley basin below. She listened intently to the wind as it moved through the leaves of the trees, whispering the songs of the Great Spirit for all to hear who had an ear to listen. Their secrets unfolded in her heart like a blossom, unfolding as it did, the immense sense of womanhood growing within her. Inside Lali a river coursed it's way, pressing ever onward. She needed to sit by the steam so she could listen....listen to the movement of the inexplicable feelings ripening within herself. As time moved on, this calling to her through the things of Nature, became more intense. She stayed away for longer periods alone, lingering in the forest, dreaming the days away. She missed her mother and remembered the sound of her voice. This was the basis for her discontent and sadness. Why had her mother abandoned her?...and why didn't she have a father like Rizing Moon! She didn't know how to express her feeling verbally. The pain was too deep to put into words.
It wasn't long before Salanka gave birth to twin boys, Ebi and Shiro. Lali, now 7 years old, lost interest in helping Rizing Moon with them when Salanka and Gongi were working. Ebi and Shiro were very active, and Rizing Moon was kept quite busy helping her mother with them. That left Lali to help Gongi. But she didn't like doing that either. She just had a lot of dreaming she wanted to do. She was like her mother in that way, and this was reason enough for Gongi to be concerned. Try as she might, Gongi could not control Lali. Lali didn't like doing chores when she could be out and about, with her pony Lokie, and Tumbala her little dog. Gongi had been over protective of Lali and spoiled her rotten from the very first day. Now she was paying for it. "Lali, honey" Gongi would call, "we need water dear. Here's the jug. Go down to the stream and fill it please"
Lali was a good girl. She wasn't mean. She was just wild and willful. When Gongi tried to get Lali to do her little chores, the child would throw a fit. She was quite impossible to live with. Finally, Gongi would have to go get a fresh switch from a nearby bush. That's when Lali would laugh and jump on Lokie or just run away into the forest with Tumby. Gongi couldn't catch up with her anymore, so Gongi wound up doing all the chores herself.
As Lali grew, she became more and more unhelpful, and even rude. Gongi was getting old and she had lost quite a bit of vitality. Lali didn't care. She would say bad things to her grandmother and make her cry. Then she would run into the forest to spend the day. No one understood Lali. Why was she like that?! Couldn't she see how it hurt her grandmother and the rest of her family. Salanka was plenty mad with her too. It didn't seem to bother Lali. She loved being alone in the forest. She loved the freedom of tearing her buckskin dress and moccasins off and running about bare butt. She loved feeling the fingers of the wind. The refreshing breezes consoled her emptiness. Even her Uncle Omwanaku couldn't help her. Omwanaku was Gongi's younger brother, and he was a wise elder with skill in healing arts. He was a village Shaman. Many came to him for healing far and wide, but he could only watch Lali and weep. It was not until the child started having recurring fits, that Gongi actually called on him for help.
Lali's mother Leula was the baby of the family and her father Chin-Honaw's favorite. She could do no wrong as far as he was concerned. When Chin-Honaw died, Leula became withdrawn. She grieved and found little joy in living....except when she could go and be in the forest alone. But she didn't feel "alone". She listened for her father's voice in the waterfall and in the breezes. She even thought she could see him in the cloud formations. No one and no thing could console her. Leula was tiny for her age and very pretty. Her mystical nature was a pleasant surprize to some, but others thought she was stuck up. They would tease her. As she was a very shy girl, their tauntings made her more reclusive, until she avoided the other villagers completely whenever she could. She turned to Omwanaku once in a while, and was able to confide in him her deep sorrows. But as she grew into her teenage years, she no longer sought her Uncle Omwanaku's advice or comfort. To all, she was a mystery.
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Peaciwawala fretted nervously more and more each day. Sittingjing-gongala could not, for the life of her, understand what was going on inside the child's brain that made her act so naughtily. Peaciwawala would stomp her feet and scratch her arms and legs. She would pull her hair and scream. Gongi seldom used the switch, for she loved the child so tenderly, but why was Lali so dreadful at times?!
Peaciwawala was not really bad, she was just a little lazy and she loved to daydream. Lali could sit for hours on end listening to the voices in the waterfall. She even imagined she could hear her mother calling her, and she strained to listen. Lali knew the sound of her mother's voice. She needed time to listen. She felt so left out and alone.
CHAPTER 1, PAGE 2
Gongi's expression changed instantly from surprize to joyous ecstasy. Stunned with her mouth hanging up, she could barely move her lips to form the word....the sound that came forth was shaking from her shock of incredulity. "Leula?"...the mother gasped as tears formed in the corners of her eyes and spilled onto the cragginess of her canyoned face. She looked at her brother as if all her pain was now gone and forgotten. Leula her baby was back... and now, with a baby of her own. The light came back into her eyes. The sad lonely days and cheerless nights were over. Omwanaku said nothing.
Recomposed, she spoke her daughter's name again. "Leula...well, where is she brother? Is she coming this way soon?" Gongi looked around to catch a glimpse of her. He seemed hesitant to reply, but knew he must. Gongi sensed something was amiss. His face was soured and hiding something. "No” he blurted out. “She returned to the forest. She did not look well."
"Brother,...is she alright?...How could you let her go?!" "She's changed Sister. She's been through a lot,” he finally added.
"I don't care about that.” said Gongi confidently. “She's my daughter. I love her. She made a mistake, but her place is to be here. What about this baby. Is this Leula's baby? "Yes, she's your grand-daughter." Omwanaku assured Gongi. "What's your name little one" Gongi said affectionately cuddling the little girl in her arms, her wrinkled skin falling in happy folds. The baby girl touched the old woman's skin with her finger and smiled. The baby's smooth skinned chubby face contrasted distinctly with the old woman's as they pressed their cheeks together. They both laughed aloud at the very blissfulness of it. The baby kissed the old woman's eyes and rested in the warmth of Gongi's neck. Omwanaku's uneasiness seemed over, and he happily said, "I think you've got a buddy old woman. Ha! you're a grandmother now!"
"Isn't it wonderful Brother. Oh I have so needed a sweet little baby to love and take care of again. Soon Salanka will give birth, and the children will have each other growing up. It's so wonderful! It's a dream come true!!! Did Leula tell you her baby's name?" "She mumbled something", he replied. "Why don't you give her a name," he added quickly.
Gongi was annoyed for a moment that Omwanaku was not forthcoming with the baby's name. "Well, I will call her... Peaciwawala! The Fragrance of Pine Cones. We'll call you Lali for short." She kissed the little baby and played with her hair, twirling it in her fingers like ribbon.
"Isn't she coming back Brother?" Gongi finally asked as she and Omwanaku walked over to the tipi. Gongi held Lali on one hip. "Why would she leave her baby with you and return to the forest? Is she with someone?" "I don't know Sister," he replied. "I'll go out looking for her and when I find her, I'll try to bring her back." "Are you hungry Omwanaku?" she asked as they went into the tipi.
Gongi put the baby on the great grizzly bearskin rug, and then sat beside her. The fire was still cooking one of Gongi's gopher stews. It simmered in a ceramic pot resting on a set of stones. It was warm inside the teepee and the aroma from the stew made the baby very mobile. Gongi had to show Lali how to sit by the fire and not be burned. Lali didn't listen. She let her toe touch a hot pebble that popped out of the fire. It sure hurt. She screeched and tucked her head into grandma's lap. Lali learned that lesson fast.
"I'm still full," replied Omwanaku. "I want to go now and look for her. She must have a camp close by." He smiled to see the baby on the bearskin. "We haven't seen that for a long time." "Are you sure this isn't your baby old man?!" Gongi chided. "Do you have a girl friend somewhere we don't know about?"
Omwanaku laughed. "I wish" he replied as he moved the buffalo skin to open the door. "I'll be back. I have traps to check. Maybe I'll have a squirrel or rabbit to add to your marvelous stew." "That would be nice Brother. Good luck" Gongi said gratefully."...and be careful."
Omwanaku went out leaving Gongi and Lali together in the warmth of the tipi. The fire was almost out. Only the embers were still smoldering into ash, and the warmth of the sun beat tenderly upon the buffalo skins. Gongi moved to open the door. She tied it up, and the sun flooded in bringing light and fresh air. Lali crawled to the doorway and looked out. Then she looked at Gongi and sat up clapping her hands gleefully. "Mama" she said clapping her hands and smiling at Gongi."No" said Gongi. "Grandma" "Mama" she said again. "Mama"
The days passed quickly, and Gongi waited hopefully for Leula's return. The nights were grueling and long, but Lali slept beside her on the great grizzly bearskin that Chin-Honaw had battled himself. How Gongi wished Chin-Honaw were with her now to enjoy their grand-child. Having a baby alone was a lot of work. "If only Leula would come back" she thought hopefully.