Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom Stallion and Bold dialog is from the book, so I don't own that either
I`d just finished raking the ranch yard when Grandpa Mac pulled up in his rusted-out scout. Guess I can't avoid this any longer at least my brothers aren't back from checking on the cattle. The less witnesses the better, but then again they had to do this too, they couldn't give me too much grief about it. My grandpa climbed out of the car and head towards the house he looked almost exactly the same as my dad, bronzed skin, high angled cheekbones, and laugh-lines around the mouth. The two major differences being Grandpas steel-gray hair cut into a crew cut and his eyes which are a dark brown, just like mine. Since I had no other choice I followed him into the house.
We walked through the kitchen and into the den. My parents were already there sitting on the couch, I sat in the lazy boy. Grandpa sat in the rocker directly across from me and began his speech,
"Jake your sixteen now on the verge of adulthood, as a man you'll need to be able to take care of yourself and your family. You'll need a skill. You may not think it applies to the modern world, but I'd"
He paused and inclined his head towards my parents to include them.
"We'd like you to master a skill from the old ways. It doesn't have to be Shoshone, but we shouldn't turn our backs on the old ways. The lessons they teach us are timeless".
He finished and they all stared at me expectantly. I sighed and tried to weasel my way out of it.
"I don't have time."
Out of the corner of my eye I could see my mom getting ready to protest. I'm a quiet type of guy. I don't like to talk a lot, but I knew I had to get my mom on my side. She's the only one who can get my dad to change his mind. I knew I'd need her help too, because my dad had that look on his face, the one me and my brothers (mostly my brothers) got when we were in big trouble. Grudgingly I continued,
"Tracks coming up"
They all knew I was a good runner, good enough to be considered for scholarships even though I'm only a junior. But I wouldn't get any of those scholarships if I wasn't in my best shape. Mom, being a teacher was big on education, but with such a big family and the ranch the budget was tight. My parents couldn't afford to send me to college. I had some money saved but, I needed those scholarships. I must have failed to convince her, because she put on her teacher face and continued in a maternal tone,
"Now Jake you could make time for this. It's like a family tradition all your brothers did it"
yeah, that convinced me because I really want to be just like my brothers, I thought sarcastically. The thought must have shown on my face or my mom just knows me to well cause after a short pause she continued,
"And your father did it at your age too. It's not a momentousness request or an unusual one"
she put a slight emphasis on the word. My mother just knows me too well she hit the nail on the head with that. I'm really shy, I hate being the center of attention. An Indian initiation? In a small town? That will make you the talk of town; I thought mom went on to say
"lots of families have traditions, ones that take a lot more commitment then this, like joining your parents church or yours father's fraternity at college"
looking at it that way, I guess this wasn't asking a lot. Mom most of sensed me weakening because she added,
"Plus it will mean a lot to your father and your grandfather"
I almost snorted at that. Who'd she think she was kidding? I could tell the history teacher in her loved this. I looked at my dad and grandpa who, like we male Elys normally do, left all the talking to my mom. I could tell by the set of their jaws, they weren't budging on this. Since I couldn't do anything else, I agreed to do something. Earning a bright smile from Mom and solemn nods from Dad and Grandpa. We sat in silence for a few minutes till mom said, overly cheerful considering the situation
"Jake, do you know what you're going to do yet?"
I just shrugged, that got me a small frown, she thought for a moment then suggested,
"What if you build a tepee?"
I sighed and buried my head in my hands. A tepee? Yeah, that won't make me stand out. I tried to think of a way to let my mom down gently, but gave up after a few minutes instead I announced
"I'll think about it, I'm going for a ride."