Ghost Ores

Muddied McCleary Jones: part 2

We all sat in a circle around the fire in the tent, as the old woman instructed.

I didn't think it was a very good idea but then I thought since all the adults are doing it, what the heck. We could all just burn together.I mean a fire in a tent. How could that be safe.

Within an instant all the others took their shadow form. But I was still very much focused on the fire. I didn't want to die today or tomorrow for that matter.

"You must be prepare yourself", she said. Obviously I thought she was speaking to me since I am the one with the problem.

"Ready my darling", asked my mom.

The old woman looked at her confused, "not her", said the old woman bitterly. "Do you even love your daughter. You want to send her to ancestors who refused her. This trip is one you must take. Go see your mother plead on the behalf of your child."

"Me", said my mother.

"Yes it is you who must go", she answered before turning to my granddad. "You must stay here to ancor her to this side of the world."

After she explained what needed to be done. My mom did it and all five of us held hands.

I glanced up for a second and the eyes of my granddad was like a rainbow. It was blue, red, green and yellow all in one. Just for that specific moment, It was beautiful.

"Yashsena I send to your child", said Sarafena. Within an instant I watched as everybody tinted her head back. And their eyes became coated with a shadow of white.

I tilted my head back and it seemed I joined the show. I saw us sitting into pure darkness and my mother walking away from us.

I saw her meet with a figure, a few feet away from us. She looked just like my mom did. However her eyes, hair, brows and fingernails was the colour of blood. And she looked rather angry.

"Mom", I heard my mother spoke.

"My child", she responded. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here on the behalf of Yashmin", stated my mother as she pointed to me in the circle.

"Then you shouldn't have come."

"Mom why not? Why have you refused my only child."

"That child isn't of pure blood, her DNA has been muddied."

"Muddied mom, you are discriminating because her dad is human."

"No am discriminating because what she is, is in humane."

My mother's brow furred up in confusion. As she realized her time was limited here.
But she continued pleading on my behalf.

"Mom you owe this to me", said my mother.

"I owe you nothing but if I accept her you have to promise me something."

"Anything mom" answered my mom.

"The ancestors require penance. For your wrong doings", stated my grandmother.

"My wrongs?"...................What did I do?"

"You muddied the blood line, when you produced an offspring with that thing."

"That thing", asked my mother.

"Do you want my help are not or would you rather the ancestors to disown her."

"Of course I want your help, I will pay penance."

"When the time shows itself you must kill her."

"Kill my own child. That's barbaric."

"The ancestors have spoken", she shouted sternly.
Before my mom could respond again we were back before the fire in the tent and all in human form. Everyone including me.

"The deal as been made", Sarafena. And the ancestors will require payment at some point.

My mother's speech was absent. She just couldn't speak. She was in shock.

"When did Yashsena become so cold Sarafena", asked my granddad. At this point his eyes reflected only the blue, we all had. It would seem our eyes change with our mood, I thought to myself.

"It would seem, she had no choice in the matter", stated Sarafena. "The greatest thing is , she got the help she went for. We will figure the rest out later. Let's just have the ceremony."

My mom speech was still absent. I embraced her in a hug hoping I could make it better.

"It's ok if your mom doesn't like me", I said with a smirk.

"I know right", said my mother. "Cause now I hate her too."

"We don't need them mom. It always been just us and dad. I love granddad and Ci Ci. You four is all I need. Let's just do the ceremony and go home."

Sarafena went around and gathered the four child which had been born, 15 years ago. Two was from the McCains; lily and Lilian, one from the McIntosh; Mark and one from the McMelons; Dew.

When their name was announced; I notice particularly that Dew, Mark and I had something in common. They were name Dew McMelon Brown and Mark McIntosh Moolan.

That could only mean they too had human dads. I wonder if their mothers' mothers refused them the way my grandmother had done.

I had a few burning questions I needed to ask but I waited until my mom and I was on my way home.

"Mom", I said with a puzzled look on my face.

"Yes Yashmin?"

"Are Dew and Mark fathers human, like mine."

"Yes they are. Lily and Lilian however has a human mother."

"So did their ancestors refused them as well."

"Not to my knowledge. They were no problem reported."

"Oh ", I said. So that means it isn't a general rule, my grandma just hates me. I thought to myself. But why. "Mom , why are all our eyes of different colors? Does it have to do with the emotions we are feeling?", I continued.

"What do you mean Yashmin?".

"I noticed in the ceremony that Lily and Lilian eyes were yellow, Dew eyes were red like grandma and Mark eyes green."

"Oh that goes with the family from which you came; red for McMelons, blue for McCleary, yellow for McCains and green for McIntosh."

"At one point, I recognized all of those colors in granddad's eye. So Grandma is a McMelon?"

"That's because he is the council chief? And yes grandma is"

"What council mom?"

"Look Yashmin I understand you have questions and I promise I will answer them all but just not now, ok."

"Ok", I responded. Lowering my head on the side of the car door. I remember thinking that I would see Leona soon as I fell asleep.

Word from author
What's happening with Yashmin grandma? Refusing a child from her own maternal line. This raises many question. I hope her mom answers them all. Don't you?