Watching The Stars
A story of the first white man Kaya saw
Chapter 1
Pow- Wow
Kaya watched as the jingles on her sister Brown Deer's dress flounced and hopped in the afternoon sun. Today was the day of the Summer Pow- Wow. Kaya was now 13. This would be her first Pow- Wow!
"Why aren't you in your dress Kaya?' Eetsa asked.
"Do I have to go?" Kaya replied
"Yes, and you didn't answer my question"
"I don't want to go, I am a terrible dancer"
"Oh don't say that, Brown Deer was scared her first time too"
"But look at her now, She's 16"
"Go put on your dress… NOW!'
"ok ok"
Kaya and Brown Deer were waiting outside their tipi. Kaya glanced up at her beautiful sister; she looked like a chiefs daughter in her red jingle dress. Finally Eetsa and Speaking Rain came out to bid them Farwell. Speaking Rain was Kaya's blind sister; she couldn't come because she was blind.
The colors of the dresses flickered in the firelight when suddenly the Chief marched in told every one to return home.
"Oh I tell you he ruins it every time," Whispered Brown Deer as they waked up the moon- lit path.
"Maybe something came up – something important"
"Maybe Kaya Maybe"
At home Eetsa jumped up from her beadwork.
And said "Your safe, thank Hun- Ya- Wat"
"Eetsa what happened?" asked Brown Deer
"Whites they have come here"
Kaya quietly slipped out of her bedroll to see Chief Snow Eagle lead a strange man to an empty tipi. Kaya wondered "Why are they here? What do they want with us? Speaking Rain stumbled out of her bed and said
"What are you doing"?
"I saw them, the white ones"
"What does white look like"
"You see blackness, white is different its... Completely lighter"