AN: This chapter contains controversial topics. I do not promote what is contained herein; this is simply a story about how people are coming to grips with what they face in an uncertain and newly formed somewhat primitive society.

Chapter 11: Homecomings

A booming voice pries me awake, "Angie, sorry to bother you."

"What is it Aleki? It can't be morning yet."

"It is!" the good natured voice replies. I sit up, and try to focus.

"Its morning but you've only been in bed for a few hours. I just wanted to deliver Mahpiya."

"Oh, thanks," I yawn, still trying to come to consciousness. "Did you have a good time, baby?"

There is no reply as I come to my senses, "Deliver Mahpiya? Thank you Aleki, go get some rest."

My daughter doesn't look at me but slumps to her bed. "Young lady! Not so fast!"

She turns to me, still not looking up. "You went back to the Powwow? After I went to bed?"

She nods, rather grimly.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I . . . wasn't sleepy. Everyone was still out there having fun."

"I told you to find something to occupy yourself here until you got sleepy. Mahpiya, I made that decision for your own good. I'm very disappointed that you decided to disobey me. And I'm glad your Dad isn't here to see it."

"Will you tell him?"

"I don't know. What did you do after you went back out?"

"Went over and sat by Uncle Aleki and the others. Just listened. They were telling stories. Uncle Aleki asked me if I was supposed to be out and I told him no. He made me sit by him until he brought me home."

Thank you, Aleki.

"Mahpiya, pretend you are the Mom for a minute and your daughter did what you have done. How would you feel?"

"I'd want her to have a good time."

Oh no you wouldn't!

"Really now. Hmmmph! You need to think about this. I'm going back to sleep, if I can, and I'll have to think about what should happen now. You don't get to do whatever you want without suffering the consequences Mahpiya. You harvest what you plant. Get some sleep."

At least she went to Aleki and was honest in her answer to him. She's breaking away, trying to be her own person now. Going to be a rough road ahead at times. I remember sneaking out of the house when I wasn't much older than she is. It was a Powwow too! Our annual tribal gala.

It must have been two in the morning when my cousin, Nina, and I redressed in our regalia and went back out. A few groups of grownups were gathered in lawn chairs here and there, talking. We snuck through the shadows, knowing we'd be in trouble if any of them spotted us.

We went over to Grandma Wichapi's. We saw the light on in her house, she was in the kitchen. We went in and stuffed ourselves with fresh fry bread while she told us stories. Oh how she spoiled us. Not our blood grandmother. All of us kids called her Grandma. What I wouldn't give for some of her fry bread again.

"It's good to have you home," is all I can think to say when HD darkens the door. Still masked and armored, I do a double take at seeing him.

He enters, removing his mask. The armor follows. He gathers it together to take it up to his old room to store. "Baathee wittth meee?"

"Sure. I'll meet you at the pool. Mahpiya's in school right now. I'll tell you all about it."

At the secluded natural cavern pool, HD's private bathing area, I shove my torch into the stones HD piled here and shuck my clothes. The water is near body temperature. HD says it comes from deep in the ground and probably starts its journey hot. Nothing large enough to see lives in the water. HD and I have been bathing here for years without a sign of anything.

I wade to the deeper part and sink down until the water laps my chin. HD soon joins me, wading in and making me rise to avoid the waves. Settling down, he regards me for a few moments.

"Looookk weeelll."

"I am, thanks. Your daughter is too."

"Goood. Amm weelll allsooo."

"That's good. So . . . do you feel better now? Less . . . human?"

"Doooo. Mahpiya in scchooolll?"

"Yes, we've started some classes for the children. Not all of them are attending, most kids are. One of the classes is called Citizenship. We teach them values like honesty. I put the class together. I modeled it after what you taught Mahpiya."

"Surrrprrisseeddd. Soooo, finndd vaaluuee inn Yautja path of honor?"

"Yes, HD. I do. We do. We don't call it that, of course. Our culture will be better because of this training. We don't teach the 'die in battle and go to Cetanu's hall' part though."

"Willll makkee betterrr." He agrees.

"But attendance in all the classes is voluntary. That means parents don't have to send their children. I'm hoping that when they see how the kids who do attend turn out, more kids will come."

HD nods. "Whhatt ellsseee?"

"The second class is about sex and relationships. I don't know what other parents are teaching their kids. I tried to make Mahpiya's education as natural and easy as possible. That class has the lowest attendance, but I'm hoping that will change.

"And the third class is called Self Defense. Now, don't raise your hackles, it's not about fighting Hunters. It teaches children to defend themselves from other people."

"Whhhyyy?"

"Some day, a man might want to force himself on Mahpiya. To force her to have sex with him. I wanted her to be able to protect herself."

HD's crown is in full bloom. I can smell his anger. "Maannn dooo thhattt tooo heerrr . . . diiieee."

"You may not be there," I answer, calmly. "She needs to know how to handle this herself. Aleki is teaching the class. I even took it."

"Diiddd? Whhaatt leearrnnn?"

"How to find my center and how to hit and get away from an aggressor."

"Shhhow!" he demands, coming at me.

I try to find balance in the buoyant water, and think how to strike him, knowing any strike against HD will be futile. He comes closer, reaching to grab me. I merge both arms down on his one, yelling, "No! No! No!" My arms hit the thick branch of his arm and simply bounce off.

"Well, that's supposed to work on a human."

"Woullddd," he assesses. "Goooddd jooobbb."

"Thanks. I learned some other things too but they're hard to do in the water."

"Atttacckk maaayy noott beee onn drrryy grrrounndd."

"You're right. I'll ask Aleki to put some things in about defending ourselves in water. Good idea.

We had the Powwow while you were gone. Mahpiya looked lovely in her clothing. Oh, and she started her female fertility cycle. She likes some man but I don't know who it is yet."

HD bristles.

"I've narrowed it down to a group and I'm working to get to know them better. I want to know if the man she likes is worthy, HD."

"Gooodd. Muusstt gooo awaayy moorree offteen. Ang-ee tuurrrn Yautja whiillee goonnneee."

"It must look like that!" I laugh. "Our last conversation made me really think hard. There is much of your culture that I admire – that many of us admire. We are working to combine those things with our own culture. Maybe, maybe in time you won't feel like such an outsider here."

HD taps thoughtfully, "Ang-ee, youu doo alll thiiss foorrr meee?"

"Truthfully, no. I did it for Mahpiya, for all the children and for the future of our people. But I'm happy that you like it."

"Goood iddeasss. Buutt seeee hoooww isss befoorree approovvee."

"That makes sense. So . . . I'm not sure where we are right now. You seem a little distant with me. Does that make sense?"

"Feeel mooree balanncee. Gooodd noott tooo speakkk humaaan soo muccch."

"We don't need to talk if you don't want to."

"Goodd too finndd outtt hooww thinggss arree. Wasss gooodd ressttt. Noww goodd too bee hommee. Misss youu. Misss Mahpiya. Misss Aleki."

"We've all missed you. Do you think maybe you should go away more often? Maybe for a shorter period of time? That might be better than letting everything build up inside of you until you HAVE to get away."

He reaches for my hair, tousling it. "Wiisseee, Ang-ee."

I take his touch as a signal to move closer and soon find myself wrapped in rock-like arms. "I've missed this." A soft rumble reverberates through my skull.

"Angela, I'm sorry to bother, but could I have a few words with you and HD?"

"Why sure, Malik. Is anything wrong?"

"No, but I need to talk to you. Both of you – in private."

"HD's out observing students right now. He'll be back shortly. Would you like to wait?"

"That . . . yes. I'd like to wait."

"Would you like some tea? I have a pot of hot water on the fire and some dried sugar leaves."

"That would be most kind of you."

I place the whole dried leaves into two mugs and pour the hot water over them. With just a few minutes steeping, the leaves will impart a delicious sweet flavor to the tea.

"Here we go," I serve him and settle in another chair. "So how's it going Malik? Still fishing?"

"Yes, the fishing is good. I keep busy mending the nets. Pranav helps with that for which I'm very grateful. I've been thinking about building a boat."

"You have? That would scare me – being out there on a boat with those horrible creatures."

"It does me too," he laughs, "So, I only think about building my boat."

"Did you have a boat back on Earth?"

"I did. I was a fisherman back there too when I was a boy. Later, I ran a ferry boat across the great lake – Lake Tanganyika. Have you heard of it?"

"I'm afraid I don't recall the name. I'm sorry."

"It is of no concern. Tanganyika is a gigantic freshwater lake. The world's longest! Or at least Earth's longest. I wonder if there are any lakes here."

"HD has never told me of one, only the river. But where there's a river, there might be a lake. We should ask him. And speaking of HD, he's here now."

"HD, we have a visitor," I warn him before he enters. "You remember Malik, don't you?"

"Yessss. Fiisshhingg. Takke Mahpiya toooo fissshhh."

"Yes, that's right. Pranav and I took Mahpiya fishing."

I set a large cup of water on the table for HD and beckon him to sit with us. "Malik wants to talk with us."

Malik was beginning to feel at ease with our conversation until HD appeared. Now he looks as nervous as a rabbit.

"My mother, God Bless her Soul, raised me to be an honest man, a fair man, a man who respects others. I have a great deal of respect for your family and so I find myself here, speaking to you. First, let me assure you both that I am a gentleman. I would never . . ."

"What are you trying to say?" I interrupt, amazed at all his careful wordy preparation. "Are . . . are you the man my daughter has gone head over heels for?"

A great sigh escapes our guest. "So you already know. I assure you that I've been nothing but her respectful and caring Uncle."

"I had just assumed it was someone, ah, younger. Not that you're old, or anything."

HD's balled fist comes down to shake the table. "Iiii nooott knoowww. Whhaatt havee youu tooo dooo wiithh dauughhterr?"

"It's okay," I rush to assure Maliki "He's just defensive over his daughter. HD, this happened while you were away. I've just not told you about it yet."

"Teelllll."

"Mahpiya confided in me that there was a man that she was attracted to, but she wasn't sure if he was attracted to her. She said she'd tell me who it was when she was feeling more confident that the attraction was mutual. So until just now, I didn't know who it was either. Okay?"

HD nods.

"Go on," I encourage Malik.

"She's a sweet girl. I was happy to be her Uncle Malik and to show her how to fish. So many days, she would come to the shore to watch us mend nets or fish. Some days she would help us. Pranav said it was good that she was learning from us. I enjoyed her company, she reminded me of my sister.

"But it has become apparent to me, especially recently, that her affection for me is beyond what a child has for her Uncle. So, I thought the most honorable thing to do was to come and talk with you about it."

"Gooood. Moossttt honoorabbllee."

I gulp and ask what I must, "Malik, has she been uncomfortably forward with you in expressing her affections?"

"Oh no, not at all. But she looks, stares really, and smiles. I find her near me at the most unexpected times! It's like she knows where I am, somehow."

She's stalking you.

"We'll speak with her, Malik and let her know that she's making you uncomfortable," I offer.

"Oh! You misunderstand. I enjoy her attentions Angela, HD. I know she is young yet, but she is intelligent, kind. She possesses many wonderful qualities. I'm asking your permission to eventually court her."

"What the hell? You child-molesting pervert!" My voice could probably raise the cavern's ceiling. "She's only thirteen!"

Blinking from my onslaught, Malik stutters, "But, but, but, where I come from, courting a younger woman is not unusual. And, by my word as a man, I will not touch her until she is old enough. I will not even kiss her! I am not a pervert or a child molester!"

HD's arm comes out to restrain me as I jump up, ready to slug him. "Ang-ee, sssittt!"

"Youuu arreee mannn offf honoorrr. Weee lissteenn. Ang-ee, knooww youu havvee moorree quesstionss."

"I do," I sputter. "Just what do you think is 'old enough' for you to fuck her?"

Malik draws back at the coarse word. "I'm sorry, Malik. This is just a shock to me. At what age to do think she's old enough for kissing and for sex?"

"Fifteen? Sixteen?"

"She's just started bleeding. She won't be full grown and able to safely have a child until she's sixteen at the very least. Eighteen would be better. Did you know I almost died giving birth to her? I don't know if she'll have the same difficulty and I don't want her dying from something that a little discipline could have prevented!"

Tears have formed in my eyes by the time I've finished.

"I did not realize the . . . the difficulty you experienced," Malik says softly. "I would be as protective of my child, also. I am only asking your permission to see more of her and to see if anything unfolds between us."

"How old are you, Malik?"

"Almost twenty-five."

"She's twelve years younger. A mere child. Of course she likes you and the physical part is going to simply overwhelm her."

"I will not allow that," he says quietly. "I have the greatest respect for her. I only wish to be her friend at this point and to someday teach her about how to have a relationship with a man. True, she is beautiful. Even I can see that will only grow in time. I am a modern man, I promise to keep her at arms length until she is older. Sixteen at least. Let her be medically examined then and see if she is able to bear a child safely. I will not endanger her life. I know she is precious to you. She is precious to me also."

"Ang-ee annndd Iii will speeakk onn thiss. Willl giivee youu decccisionn soooon."

HD keeps an iron grip on my arm. I only nod.

"Thank you both for hearing my plea. Good day. May God bless you."

"Holy fucking hell," I mutter after he leaves. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought up this. She's only a child!"

"Ang-ee, iinnn natturaalll sttattee, hummanns arrree preeggnannt verrryy younnngg. Iiss naatuuree."

"Well we're civilized now! We don't let our children breed like animals! Dammit, HD, you act like your agreeing with him."

"Heee iisss honooorabblee. Oppeenn wiitthh whhaatt wanntt. Puuttt Mahpiya firrrsst. Sppeakkk ttrruutthh. Gooodd maannn. Whhhattt moorree youu wanntt?"

"I don't want my kid being fucked by a man twelve years older than she is."

"Yautja woomeenn piicckk olldderr mann fiirsstt timmee. Besstt tooo bee witth exxperieenccee. Youuu noott aggreee? Heee knoooww whhattt too dooo. Nooott stuupiddd. Betterrr foorr ddauugghhterrr."

"I don't know what to think right now, HD. This goes against everything I thought I knew."

"Waaiitt. Seeee whhatt minndd saaayy innn fewww dayyss."

"I'm wondering if I should discuss this with Mahpiya. We've always been open about things with each other. I was surprised when she didn't offer to tell me who it was she liked."

"Youuu, sshhee talllkk abbouutt usss?"

"Some. She knows we have sex but I haven't discussed the details. She doesn't need to know them."

HD seems satisfied with that and only grunts.

Mahpiya, I wish you were three again. How can I agree to this?

"Marie, I HAVE to talk with you!" I nearly pull her from the porch back into her house. "Where's Pranav. I need him too."

"What is it? Has something happened?"

"Oh boy has something happened."

"Pranav!" Marie calls out the back window, "Can you please come in?"

He arrives and takes in my upset state. "Angie? Whatever is wrong?"

Bursting into tears, I relate the details of Malik's visit and how he wishes to begin courting Mahpiya. "I don't know how to handle this." I admit. "I can't be objective, I need your advice."

"Angie," Marie asks, "How old were you your first time?"

"When I had sex?"

"Yes, if you don't mind telling us."

"I was fourteen, Marie. Only fourteen. I don't like to think about this . . . it upsets me. It was an older boy who forced me. He was sixteen . . . he did things and I was aroused but I was too ignorant to understand what was going on. I just remember that it hurt and he threatened me if I told anybody. I didn't know it then, but it was rape. It happened more than once. I ended up with a miscarriage later."

"Oh, Angie!" She moves in to place her arms around me while Pranav shakes his head. "I'm so sorry to hear this. And it explains some of why you are so protective with your daughter. Did you tell your parents?"

"My Dad was dead by then. I was living with my grandparents. No, I was too embarrassed or maybe ashamed to tell them. It wasn't uncommon for that to happen to girls on the Rez – the reservation, you know. I didn't realize it until I left and studied and got some perspective. Then I saw that our people were broken by history. The white man took the land we cherished, pushed us onto reservations with the poorest land available – the land they didn't want, introduced us to alcohol and then put us on the government dole. It destroyed so much of our society, our family structure. Kids on the Rez are just kind of thrown up, they don't grow up."

Marie begins, "Angie, I cannot imagine how painful, how horrible your first experience with sex was. But that doesn't sound like what's being offered to Mahpiya."

"I know it isn't. But the thought of her . . . I'm just not ready for this!"

"Things happen whether we're ready for them or not," observes Pranav. "This is an emotional issue for you. You've born a great burden your whole life. It would not be good for Mahpiya if you forced that burden on her."

"Oh. Wow. I hadn't thought that. You sure you're not a shrink, Pranav?"

He laughs, "No. Just an observer of human nature."

"Wouldn't what Malik has offered, in fact, be the opposite of what you experienced, Angie?" Marie's soft voice explains what I've been rejecting.

"But will he stick to it? His promise not to touch her until she's old enough."

Pranav answers, "I've known him for several years now and he's always been upright in our dealings. In fact, he's a generous man. Kind, thoughtful. If he was interested in Devi, and she was old enough, I'd be very pleased."

"That's just it! Old enough. Mahpiya's not old enough!"

"In India, many girls marry very young, Angie. I think you are biased because of western civilization. True, she's only thirteen. But Malik's only offering friendship right now. I believe he's a man of his word."

"He'll have HD to contend with if he's not!" I growl.

"Well THAT is a factor isn't it!" Pranav laughs. "What man would dare touch her without HD's consent? No man in this town is that stupid, Angie!"

"It's, it's just not how I wanted it to go," I grumble. "I thought she'd eventually date someone near her own age, like Junior."

"Date? And what restaurant and movie will they go to?"

"Pranav! You're exasperating!"

"I'm a realist, my friend."

"Marie?"

"I'm trying to be objective," she explains, "It's difficult because I love you and Mahpiya so much. But I think Pranav is right. When I look at this scientifically, biologically, I know that our girls, and boys, will become sexually active at a younger age than our old Earth society would have permitted – depending on culture of course. It is good to wait until she's grown, but it's also good to have babies when you're young! Modern western women who waited because of careers had all kinds of problems with fertility.

"And, Angie? I'm . . . I'm amazed that you're as normal about sex as you are. I mean, I think you're very healthy!"

"I suppose," I glum. "I got some counselling later in life. It must have done some good."