Two-Spirit

Chapter 15

"He came?" Amadah asks as she crouches down to pet Max.

I nod. "While we were picking berries he appeared."

He almost knocked me down when he did find me.

"Shall we get started on my dress?" I ask excitedly, today she is to help me make a dress.

"Yes but first I want you to meet someone." She smiles as I follow her.

"Oh, who?"

"You shall see."

We walk and eventually stop beside a group of children playing some sort of game. They are holding sticks similar to crosses used in lacrosse.

One boy stops playing when he sees us and shouts Amadah's name as he runs over wrapping his arms around her legs. I smile as she returns the hug with a chuckle.

He looks to from me and then Max. "Max!"He pets him. I almost wonder how he knows his name but I remember Amadah said Max follows her.

"Yansa this is my friend Constance." She looks to me. "Yansa is my younger cousin. Dakota's brother." I find it odd how Dakota is 28 and this child looks no older than eight.

I don't show my confusion. "Hello. It is lovely to meet you."

He smiles at me. "You as well. Is Max your dog?"

"He is."

"May I have him?" He asks as he pets him.

I chuckle though I'm tempted to say yes only because I can't imagine telling him no.

"You can't have her dog, Yansa." Amadah says amused.

He frowns.

"I'm sure he will be around much, you may take him to play with you." I insist.

His face lights up then he looks to Amadah. ("Will you be playing Anejodi with us today?")

("Not today, I am busy but soon.")

"Yansa!" Some of the kids call for him.

He glances at them before looking back to her with a grin. ("I can't wait.") He hugs her once more and I find it to be a heartwarming sight.

Then he looks to me. "Donadagohvi and thank you." He waves to us.

Me and Amadah say it back just before he runs off calling Max who happily follows.

I look to her. "He is adorable."

She smiles. "Yes. Sometimes not so much."

"How is it that him and Dakota age differs so greatly." I voice my curiosity.

Her face falls as she looks where the kids play. "Dakota's mother was a child when she had him."

Knowing that it was against her will makes me feel terrible.

"That is horrible."

"It is. Now shall we fetch the hide for your dress?"

I nod. "Lead the way."

"We once were able to weave dresses when we had spinning wheels and such back in Georgia but we had to leave it all behind."

"Oh, I wasn't aware your people knew of weaving." I admit as we walk.

She hums. "There is likely much you don't know if my people. I will use your white dress to measure the size, if you like I can make it as similar to it as possible."

"No. I want it as yours, please."

The beadwork patterns on their dresses and garments are beautiful, while mine is simply a boring white.