Chapter 2 Cultural Differences
Over the next few weeks John was slowly eased into the life and easy rhythm of the village by Pocahontas. He learned how they hunted, fished and tracked. How they handled disagreements amongst each other. And how they planted and grew all kinds of wonderful food. He had surprised them all at how quickly he picked up their language, though he was by no means fluent yet.
"Pocahontas? May I ask you something?"
"Yes, John?" she asked, looking up at him with a kind smile. The two of them were picking corn together in the tall, green fields, laying it in small carrying baskets to take home to their teepee.
"Not that I'm complaining or anything, but why have I only been doing chores with the women for the past two weeks?"
The others chattering around them went silent at his question, clearly listening intently while they continued to work.
"Because Kocoum asked me to teach you this position," Pocahontas explained to him simply. "When you first came to us, Kocoum said that you told him you wanted him. If that is true, then it makes you a two-spirit. This is what two-spirits do."
"What is a two-spirit, exactly?" John asked her, clearly only further confused by her statement.
"You are."
"Yes, you said so. But why?"
"Because you want Kocoum."
"So I am a two-spirit because I want other males? The way that a woman would?"
"Yes," she confirmed with another sunny smile and a nod of her dark-haired head. "Do you not have this position where you and your former people come from?"
"No.. There is not. It is not.. accepted. Rather frowned upon, actually."
"So.. In this other world, the two-spirits would be shunned? Shamed simply for being who they are?" Pocahontas asked, obviously struggling to understand a concept that was completely foreign to her.
"Shunned, yes," he admitted, feeling uncomfortable under her shocked stare. "If not outright killed, or at least beaten and put in prison. Locked up alone."
"How terrible! Well, you need not be afraid here," she spoke with compassion. "We all understand that everyone has their place in the great circle of life. We have several other two-spirits among us. Male and female bodied both," Pocahontas continued quietly, gesturing briefly to a group a short distance away from the two of them. "Some awaiting husbands or wives to choose them to join their teepees. They chose their positions years ago now, when they were children, and they have been learning ever since."
"I will not have to wait years, will I?" John asked, suddenly concerned.
"Oh no, of course not. Kocoum has already chosen you, John. My father and the elders just need to know that you are serious about being Kocoum's two-spirit husband, that is all. So doing these things will help to get you there where you want to be."
"I never actually said that I want to be Kocoum's two-spirit husband."
"You mean you do not?"
"No, I do, I do," John replied quickly, not wanting to be misunderstood about something this important to his future here among the people he was rapidly growing to admire and love. "But I never actually told him that, though. He asked me if I like women touching me, and I said no. Then I tried to explain that I like men by pointing at him, then wrapping my arms around myself. He must have thought I was saying I want to feel his arms around me. Which I do, but that was not what I tried to tell him that day."
"Oh. I see now." She smiled at him again brightly.
"But, Pocahontas.." John inquired in concern, his blue eyes intense as he looked at her. "How can I be Kocoum's mate when you are? Surely he would not leave you for me, would he?"
"Oh goodness, no," Pocahontas gasped, clearly bewildered by his question. "I am first mate. You will be second mate. Our people allow this, though not all the tribes do. There are many, many of us. All are different and unique. We will be like sisters. Do they not allow this where you come from as well?"
"No, they do not. Pocahontas?"
"Yes, John?"
"What all does a two-spirit do? Are we ever permitted to hunt? Or fight?"
"If the situation requires it, then yes, you can do those things. But for the most part a two-spirit does what a wife does. Cooks and cleans. Takes care of their husband and his teepee while he provides for us. It is a good life he can offer you, John. You will see."
"I am sure it is, Pocahontas. I- if there are other two-spirits waiting, should he not take one of them as husband instead?"
"No, John," she answered, patting his left leg for a brief moment reassuringly. "He wants you, or he would not have asked me to help you to understand our ways. The others will have their chance when the time is right."
They finished up then and headed back to the village carrying their baskets of golden corn, the pair meeting Kocoum on his way back from a successful hunting trip. The bare-chested warrior carried a large buck over his dark shoulders, laying it beside their teepee and asking Pocahontas and John to clean it in their ways after he finished speaking to them, telling her to share the meat they did not need with others.
"I will see you tonight, Pocahontas," Kocoum said, watching her nod before turning to look at John intently. He was surprised when the stern warrior's expression softened, Kocoum lifting a hand to touch John's face lightly before sliding his fingers deep into his golden hair, letting them fall away after a long moment. Kocoum was clearly studying his face, noting his surprise at the simple touch of his hand, but also John's pleasure in response. "Sunshine," the dark skinned man said, causing John to blush pink when he understood that Kocoum was calling him sunshine. It was clearly a term of affection, likely related to the color of his hair. "The Chieftain and our oldest warriors will meet tomorrow night to discuss tribal politics. They wish to meet with you officially. To ask you questions about your choice to live among us, as well as about your former people. I have informed them we shall go before them together."
"Yes, Kocoum," John agreed with a nod and a bright, glowing smile. "Kocoum?"
"Yes, John?"
"Thank you.. for choosing me. It is not exactly a common thing where I am from, but.. I think this, you, are exactly what I need to be happy. I.. this feels right, somehow. Like I belong here."
"That is because you do belong here, Sunshine," Kocoum stated firmly, his dark eyes intense as John looked at him. "It was the will of the Great Spirit that you came here and saw Pocahontas that day. Because it guided you here to us. We will make sure that you are happy among us."
"You already have," John told him with another smile.
John and Pocahontas gutted the deer and harvested everything usable from it, keeping only what meat they would need to dry with salt for the coming days to feed the three of them, since Kocoum would soon be providing for John's needs as well. Then they went to take the rest of the meat to those in the tribe who needed it.
"John, this is Morning Dove," Pocahontas said in introduction, smiling at the pretty young woman with dark hair and blue eyes who lived not far from them. "Her brother recently married into another tribe. She has not taken a husband yet, so we all help her out by giving meat. The rest of her family has already gone to be with the Great Spirit."
"It is nice to meet you, Morning Dove," John said with a bright smile, handing her one of several small baskets of meat that he carried. "This is for you."
"Thank you, John. Pocahontas," she replied sweetly, her eyes curious as she looked at him. "This really helps me. The corn and other vegetables are good, but I really need meat as well to stay healthy."
"Of course. You are welcome."
"Well, we had better go," Pocahontas interjected then, smiling at the other woman again. "Kocoum will be expecting us back before too long to salt and dry the meat before we make supper, and we still have to visit the two-spirits."
"Right. Thank you again," Morning Dove replied, her expression happy and grateful. "This is very kind of Kocoum. Thank him for me?"
They agreed to do so, continuing on their way to the small circle of teepees where the two-spirits lived in a section of the camp not too far from Morning Dove's teepee. Pocahontas called out in greeting, and three dark haired males poked their heads out of two teepees, coming out to greet them with friendly smiles. She introduced him to Shining Fish, who, surprisingly, had sea green eyes and midnight black hair, and Swift Rabbit, who had light brown hair and hazel eyes. Growling Bear, who had dark brown hair and eyes, was the one who had been in Swift Rabbit's teepee with him, as he was apparently courting the two-spirit male.
There were others, but they must have been out doing things in the fields, or the forest on this clear, sunny day. Growling Bear and Swift Rabbit were as curious about John as Morning Dove had been, but Shining Fish was utterly fascinated by him, and John hoped that he had found a possible close friend in the other two-spirit.
By the time they left after giving them the rest of the meat John felt like one of them, like he really belonged. They had all embraced him warmly into their group, Shining Fish most of all, teasing him good-naturedly and naming him The Pale Two-Spirit.
"If all goes well tomorrow night, I will be becoming a member of the tribe," John said to Thomas when he was back by the fires in the camp across the river.
"What?" his friend gasped sharply, his eyes going wide at John's statement. "You- You did not tell me this was your plan! Was this what you wanted all along? To leave us?"
"No, Thomas," John reassured him with a smile, shaking his head briefly. "It was not. My plan was to help all of you to survive here. I will continue to do that if you will allow me. But I wish to become a member of the tribe, Thomas. It is where I belong."
"There is something that you are not telling me, John, isn't there?"
John hesitated for a moment, but then he nodded, pulling Thomas gently by the arm away from the others so there was lower risk of being overheard. "I.. Thomas, I am marrying into the tribe," he confessed in a hushed whisper.
"M-Marrying?" Thomas choked, looking at him in clear shock. "But you told me that you were not interested in being with Pocahontas. And she is married to Kocoum."
"Yes, Thomas, she is. I am not marrying Pocahontas."
"Then who?"
"Kocoum."
"Kocoum?" Thomas hissed loudly, not realizing his volume in his shock.
"Shh, Thomas, please," John cautioned him quickly. "Be careful."
"Of course. I am sorry. But.. Kocoum?" he asked, lowering his voice.
"Yes. I want him, Thomas. I love him."
"And that is not strange to these people like it is in England?"
"No, Thomas. They accept it. They call us two-spirits. Me, and the others like me in the tribe. I will be his two-spirit husband."
"Really?"
"Yes. I am finally safe here among these people, and the kind, beautiful men like me. Would you like to meet them?"
"Well, yes. I would. If it is allowed."
"I will ask permission from the Chief. Meet me at the river tomorrow."
"So. You are called John?" Powhatan asked him in a low, kind voice. The Chief of the people sat across from him and Kocoum in the gathering house in the village's center. The oldest warriors were gathered around them in a circle to ask him questions as well, about his people, and his decision to join the tribe.
"Yes, Chieftain," he replied with a respectful nod in his direction and a smile.
"Where are you from, John?"
"England. It is a land across the sea from here. We came on a ship."
"A ship?"
"Yes. A very large boat. Similar to your canoes."
"I see. Are your people a threat to mine, John?"
"Oh, no. They have already promised me that they would stay on the other side of the river unless invited here by you. They do not want any disagreements over hurt feelings. Because so much of your culture is strange to us, I think that best for now. I would like to have your permission for my friend to visit the camp tomorrow."
"Yes. I agree this is good. I see no problem with having another visitor among us, John. Now. Can you tell me why it is that you wish to wed with our warrior Kocoum?"
John smiled again, his lips curving upward slightly as his sky blue eyes softened at the question. "When I saw him, it just felt right," he replied softly. "Like I finally knew where I belonged. I felt safe with him, once he realized that I did not want Pocahontas. I have never felt safe before in my life. Even if I did not feel other things for him, feeling safe seems like it is something worth holding onto when it is found."
"My daughter has told me of some of the differences in our worlds. Are you sure that you can handle being Kocoum's second partner in his life?"
"Honestly? No. I am not sure. But that is not because I do not care for Pocahontas. I do. She is like my sister already. I am sure that I can get used to the idea of it in time. I need to be honest, and my feelings for Kocoum are too intense for there not to be some jealousy. But I know we can work it out together. I know that she comes first."
"That is not exactly true, John," Powhatan explained, correcting him gently. "You will be equals in Kocoum's home. Though my daughter does hold seniority over you as first partner. But we do not use position to hurt others as Pocahontas has told me seems to be common in your England."
"I would not say common, exactly," John stated, his sadness clear at the thought of his people's behavior. "It is just that most of them are much too concerned about bettering their own lives to notice, or sometimes care, when the things they do or say could hurt other people."
"I see. That is very sad. But you will not know the same among us. We all serve the tribe. We take care of each other here."
"I am glad of this, Chieftain Powhatan."
"Yes. Well, I believe that we are all in favor of John joining the tribe?"
The elder warriors nodded in agreement with their Chief's statement, giving their consent to it.
"It is customary to choose a name for yourself when joining a tribe, if you were not a part of one before doing so. Is there a particular name that you would like to take among us? Or would you prefer to keep your own?"
John glanced at Kocoum briefly with another smile, his eyes softening again with affection before looking back to Powhatan to reply, "I do not want to give up my name entirely, but I think I would like to be called Sunshine."