Our New Home:
The Cooper Place:
Reverend Alden pulled up on the reigns of his buggy and the horse stopped. The house, a one story home was in shambles. The barn still stood as did part of the corrals. We pulled the wagons up next to the barn and the house. Reverend Alden got out of his buggy and I got down from my horse. My sisters', their husbands, and my father got down from the wagon seats. The rest of my family stayed on their horses, keeping an eye on the rest of the animals. I inspected the barn while my father and Reverend Alden inspected the house.
The barn roof was undamaged, as were the stalls. The hay loft was also undamaged. Pia & Nebi came up behind me and into the barn. We looked at each other and shook our heads. Pia spoke up first.
"We actually have to live here? We were better off on the road, always traveling, stopping in towns every now and then."
"I guess it could be alright. Pia don't be so haste to diss this place. Who knows, we might actually like living here." Nebi said.
"Come on, we should get the pets unloaded and into the barn before night fall. Mama & Papa will want all the stuff of use in the house as well. We should start on the corral as well." Pia & Nebi looked at me. Though they were older then me, I was always the one to want to start work right away. They had children, so they had to take care of their kids as well. I just had to take care of myself and my younger siblings.
"Golly, Nononi, you really want to give this place a shot don't you? You really want to get this place up & running?"
"Yes, Pia I do. Why do you guys only want to be on the road traveling all the time? I would love to stay here awhile. It almost feels like a good home for us. And the little ones will be able to go to school as well. You must want your children to get a good education?"
"Of course we do, Nononi. But we aren't as eager as you are to start working right away. We want to be able to explore our new home before working." Nebi said.
"I do to. But do you want the animals to be stolen or to wander off. I didn't think so. Come on, we have a lot to do. I don't think Mama wants to sit in a saddle all day, do you?"
"You're right Nononi, Mama will kill us if we don't get the corrals up and ready for the animals before night fall. We can start exploring our new home later, when all our chores are done. Then we, will leave the children with the men, grab the rest of our siblings and head out to explore our new home." Pia said.
"And who knows, maybe we will be able to hold our annual Festival here on our property, now that we have all this acreage." I said.
"Oh how everyone would like that." Nebi said.
"Amen!" we all cried out together.
Setting Up Everything:
The Corral:
Morgan, Wyatt, Pia, Nebi, Keeza, Nashat, Ashes, Ronin, Sasha & I started with the corrals. We all got wood for the corrals out of the wagon and started on the 60ft.x60ft. corrals. Because Nashat, Ronin & Sasha were the younger of us, they started tiring in less then three hours. When we took our first break, we noticed that some townspeople, mostly men, had come up to our property and were working it out with the Reverend and my parents about helping set everything up. The women and children of the town had also come up to help with the work & food. By the look on my parent's faces, I could tell that they hadn't expected to be accepted into such a small community so fast. Ronin & Sasha left our small working group to help with the unloading of the furniture and the rest of the useable things we would need for the next couple days. Our small working group ventured away from the partially built corrals and headed towards everyone else. I saw a young girl with brown braids looking at me.
"Mama, are we getting help today?" I asked.
"It would seem that way. But by the looks of what you kids have done, they'll only be here for maybe another hour or two. You've got half the corral up in less then three hours."
"We've had time to practice. Every time we stopped for a spell, we'd always set up the corral. All we'll have to do is put the dividers in, then get the animals in the right sections." Nebi said.
"Don't forget the roof over the corral. If we are going to be here permanently, we'll want the animals to have a roof over their heads like we do. It won't be fair to just have a few animals havin' a roof over their head." Pia said.
"Pia's right. Mama, when we're done getting everything set up, could we go out explorin' our new home?" Nashat asked.
"I don't see why not. Maybe some of the children from town will go with you."
"No thanks, we were thinking about just taking our siblings and the kids that wanted to come and leave the younger ones with Nebi & Pia's husbands." I said.
"You will have to talk to them about that. Come, get a few drinks of water, and then it's back to work for the lot of you. Nashat, Ronin & Sasha will stay here and help get the house in ship-shape. That way they won't be a bother to you or get in your way."
"Thanks Mama." Pia, Nebi & I said.
"Oh, we got a letter from your aunt and uncle the other day, when we were in Sleepy High."
"What'd it say?" Keeza asked.
"They were wondering if we would host the Festival this year now that we had our own permanent home. I was hoping to talk to you kids and see what you thought about that."
"We love it. We'll be able to see all of our cousins and friends. And then maybe they'll stay for a couple weeks like we usually do when we travel to their homes." I said.
"I knew you would love it Nononi. You always have fun when we all get together."
"How many people does the Kolwezi family have now?" Keeza asked.
"From what I remember, the last time we met up for the Festival," I started, "They had about fifty people with them. Have they grown more in number?"
"Will you let Mama talk? Golly Nononi, you're worse then Kicking Fawn." Pia & Nebi said together.
"They now have at least 60 people in their clan. Akule & Amadahy, to date, have had thirteen children. Their oldest is forty-five and their youngest is eight. I believe Akule is now sixty-nine and Amadahy is sixty-eight. And there is a new clan that will be coming as well. It's the Sanchez clan. They have twenty-eight people in their clan. From what I know, they have family members & two paid servants in their clan. The Sequa family with the Kolwezi's has adopted a nineteen year old girl who was orphaned by a fire that killed her entire family. We will see them when they get here in a couple weeks. We have much to prepare. And the women of this household have much cooking to get done. So hurry up and finish the corral so we can move onto our other projects."
"Yes Mama." Nebi, Pia, Keeza & I said.
Morgan & Wyatt were talking with the men of the town, trying to get some kind of schedule. The women of the town, along with the children, were setting up tables to put the food and drinks on. Sasha & Ronin got the herbs from the medicine wagon and took them to Mama. Mama was making a poultice for our hands and the towns men. The poultice would sooth the throbbing pain when our work was done. Pia, Nebi, Keeza, & I still had our long skirts on. The men headed for the almost finished corral. Nebi, Pia, Keeza, Ashes & I grabbed wood from the wagon, heaved it onto our shoulders, and headed out after the men. Morgan & Wyatt had wood on their shoulders as well. No way were they going to get all the credit for building the corral. The townsfolk would just have to get used to our ways. In our culture, men, women and children worked as equals, not as separates. It was just the way we lived. Morgan & Wyatt were waiting for the rest of the wood when some boy came up and started grabbing wood from my shoulders. I dropped the wood and turned on the boy, fist raised. He stopped what he was doing and stepped back. Nebi, Pia, Keeza and Ashes were already at the wood pile when they heard the crash of wood on the ground. My sisters' turned around, then hurried towards me. I of course we on top of the boy, had hit him four times already and was about to hit him again when Morgan pulled me off of him.
"What is the meaning of this Nononi?"
"He took wood from the pile on my shoulders. I may just be thirteen, but I can carry as much wood as any adult male here. These people need to learn that I'm not a baby."
"No, you're not a baby, Nononi, but you're acting like one now. He was just being nice." Wyatt said.
"You boys really don't know anything do you?" Pia asked.
"What does that mean, Pia?" Wyatt asked.
"Us women were taught to pull our own weight of risk being left behind. We are just as capable as fully grown men when it comes to building corrals, barns and even houses. Just because Nononi looked like she needed help was no excuse for this boy to not ask her first before taking. He should be the one apologizing."
"Apologize! Why should I apologize when she's the one that beat me up?"
"Yu obviously haven't been listening to anythin' we've just said."
"Oh, I heard alright. But you're a woman. Women should be in the kitchen where they belong."
That set me off. I ran at him again, only this time I wasn't alone. Ashes & Keeza were right behind me. Pia & Nebi controlled themselves but by the look on their faces, they were definitely pissed off. Morgan and Wyatt had been angered at his last statement, but they kept a civil face. Wyatt grabbed me & Morgan grabbed Keeza & Ashes.
"That's enough you three. Go get started finishing up the corral. We'll deal with this boy." Morgan said.
"And stop calling me boy, I have a name."
"Oh yeah, then what is it?" I flamed at him. I was so ticked off.
"It's Willie."
"Well Willie, learn fast because once I get to school, if you get in my way, I will beat you up!" At that, Keeza, Ashes & I walked away, back towards the corral. We each grabbed a hammer and some nails and then a couple pieces of wood and set off to our own part of the corral. Pia & Nebi joined us a few minutes later. Some of the men looked our way, then back towards Morgan & Wyatt, who had given Willie a swell whippin. Willie's parents didn't seem to mind one bit. Morgan & Wyatt joined us after they were done. I looked up.
"Are
you gonna tell Mama what I did?"
"You had every right to hit
Willie. He insulted you and you couldn't stand for that or let your
name would be shamed. But Mama Keresa is going to have to be told of
this incident. It may hinder the townspeople of wanting to help us
any further." Morgan said.
"I'm not sorry for what I did, but I am sorry that you may get in trouble for protecting my name."
"Don't be sorry Nononi. Just promise me you won't beat the boy up at every chance you get." Morgan said.
"I can't promise you that, but I will try not to beat him up."
"What do you think the men will think of us now?" Pia asked.
"His father came up to me and I explained what had conspired and he let us whip the boy. Apparently Willie is known for getting on all the kids' nerves at school and gets sent to the corner a lot. Don't worry, Mr. Olson appeared to believe Willie deserved it. And I don't think he'll be picking on you anymore."
"Thanks Morgan, Wyatt."
"No problem. You may be younger then your sisters, but you're more free-spirited then any of them. Just don't be getting into trouble at school."
"I'll try not to." I hugged Morgan & Wyatt, then we got backed to work. By the time supper came around, the whole corral & roof was finished and the townsmen seemed to have forgotten what had conspired between Willie & me.
The House:
At the same time we were working on the corral, Mama, Papa, Nashat, Ronin, Sasha, Naria, Dreamer, Kicking Fawn, Quinn and Terengi were in the house with some of the towns women. Potter, Khepa, Bramble & Karigi were being watched by some of the town's children who were old enough to watch younger kids. By the time we all came in from the field, the house was livable. Mama & Papa came out of the house together and looked straight at me. They saw the coldness in my eyes every time I looked at Willie Olson. Papa came to me and steered me towards the horses, tied to the wagons, which had been moved next to the barn. We untied our horses, then saddled them. Papa took the lead and I followed him.
"Where are they going? I thought we had agreed to go exploring together?" Ashes asked.
"Papa Kakala needs to talk to Nononi alone right now. They aren't exploring anything. Nononi needs to get something out of her system and Papa Kakala knows just how to get it out. Now, Morgan, Wyatt, Pia, Nebi, Keeza, Ashes, we heard there was a fight early on today, near the corral. Would you like to tell me about it while you help bring out the food out to the tables?" Mama Keresa said.
"Do we have any choice?" Keeza asked.
"Not really."
Morgan, Wyatt, Pia, Nebi, Keeza & Ashes told her what had conspired earlier that day, while bringing out the food. By the time they were done explaining, Papa & I were back and Mama had her look on her face. I got down from Lobo, tied him to the wagon, and walked towards her with Papa. Papa spoke to Mama before she said anything that she would regret. When they were done, Mama came up to me and sat me down. I now was about to get my punishment.
"I know why you did what you did Nononi. But what I don't understand is why you thought you would get in trouble for it."
"I thought the townspeople might run us out of town. The last time I got into a fight with a boy, I was grounded."
"That was because you had no reason to get into that fight. What Willie did was unacceptable for a boy his age. He needs to grow up. He's two years older then you and you're more mature then he is. Come, let's eat and have no more discussion about this matter. If his parents want to bring it up, then they shall do so in their own home. We will not have any gossip spread on our property. From what Morgan & Wyatt tell me, Willie's father gave them permission to thrash the boy. Let's eat, then in the morning, you will go to school. I've met the teacher, a Mrs. Laura Wilder and she seems very bright for her a teacher her age. You, Keeza, Ashes, Swan, Dreamer, Naria, Nashat, Quinn, Ronin and Sasha will go into town tomorrow and get what you need for school and then go onto school. Do you understand Nononi?"
"Yes Mama, I understand perfectly."
"Good girl. Then let's have no more talk about this matter."
"Yes Mama."
That was the last time we spoke of me beating Willie Olson for trying to take wood from me without asking first. When dinner was over, we moved all the animals into their appropriate sections in the corral, shut the gates, then headed back to the house. All 22 of our clan would sleep together under the same roof tonight. The dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and chickens were already in the barn where they would stay for the night. We gave the dogs and cats a separate stall so there would be no fighting between the animals. The townspeople went back to their homes & we went into our new home & got ready for bed.