Reflection of teachings

As a child I was never considered bright in Grade school and certainly not in High school, in fact I have fond memories of my friends in our, “special class” in our, “special room”. We were set aside; we looked different; some of us came from house that did not have what others did, kids called us names, and we did a good job putting ourselves down. During all the times of difficulty my grandmother’s visits were often and she was my teacher in good times and hard, she always said, “you live in two world’s grandson you need to understand both”.

One day I got a call from my Granny she did not say hello all I could hear was her laughing on the other end of the line, “Grandson you never stop learning till you breathe your last breath” and she continued to laugh! Then she hung up the phone! That’s how it was on a particular day that I did not find the courage in the heart to move beyond the challenge of my day that was not one of the best; but that is how she taught me; later we talked about life; love; and courage; at the beach that day the sun and the wind in my face and the smell of my beach she told me this.

A long time ago grandson there was this Chief and he had but one child a daughter and she was the most beautiful of all the women her name was Atch-kiss; at the very beach this took place we sat in the same place that this most beautiful Chiefs Daughter Atch-kiss would come and just let the sun and the wind warm her face.

Many worriers would come and show off their strength and abilities of worrier hunters, these men were strong powerful and most handsome. Day after day these men would come from all Nation; other Chiefs of neighboring tribes would bring their sons along and yet this most beautiful Chiefs Daughter would not wed any man!
Then one day a young man small not a great hunter he was the quite one of the Tribe keep to himself one day the boy expressed his love amongst the other men; they fell on the ground laughing at the young man.

That young man got in his canoe and paddled his anger out into the water before long he was far from shore and he took his bow and arrow and shot that arrow high up in the air he watch it come back down to the water; before it hit the water the arrow stopped in mid air just above the water; the boy paddled toward it and the arrow started to move; the boy sensing something most spiritual he followed it!

For Four days he followed and on the fourth day it came to an island the boy stayed and slept during the night the strangest beautiful sounds came to him in his dreams the sound of water over rocks; the sound of wind in the trees; the sound of Atch-kiss sitting on the beach.

In the morning when the boy awoke he found a flute; he began to play beautiful music like he had heard in his dreams; he got back in his canoe and went home; as he arrive to the beach all the worriers were there trying to win over Atch-Kiss; just then the boy showed up and all the worriers start to laugh at boy; just then the boy played the flute and Atch-kiss eyes lit up and she began to fall in love with the young man; they began their courtship; on days when the sun is just right and the wind is warm just enough you can still hear the flute music. That how my granny was always teaching one story that linked to another….

It was the stories that keep me going and still does to this day and the memory of my teachers; mom, aunties, and granny’s. It’s a long time away from that “Special Room” that was tucked away between classes with no widows, hot and stuffy with bad lighting. I am proud of my friends that made it out of that room; as I reflect back to my kids and now to my granddaughter who is Grade thee and loves school, enjoys reading, it’s because I did not keep myself locked in that special room. You’re a personal legend, make your story, overcome your past not by holding on but by fond reflection of its teachings.

Collaboration by Michael J McCarthy & Dr. Joshua Guilar Adaption of Traditional Story