Two-Spirit

Chapter 34

"Wake, my love."

I open my eyes to Ama's voice, she smiles down at me. A bowl of food in each hand.

"I've made your porridge." She holds one out to me as I sit up.

"Thank you, sweetheart." I kiss her lips before grabbing the bowl. She sets her bowl on the bedding next to me as I sit and eat while she fetches the two cups that rest on the table to the back of her hut. I take one of the cups from her before she joins me in eating. We sit quietly, enjoying the sounds of the morning.

I must admit I'm sick of eating porridge but it's all I can keep down in the morning lately. Since the two months before this one, the smell or even the site of certain foods brings me to retch, mostly in the mornings. Therefore, I've resorted to eating foods that lack a smell for the most part.

Inola swears that I am with child which wouldn't be a surprise, I've noticed my stomach seems to be getting rounder ever so slightly. It's also been sometime since I've had my menses.

We finish up our food and gather what we need for our morning bathing. Before we leave Ama helps me put on my fur coat before putting her own on. She'd helped me make it not long ago. Within the three months I've been able to better my dress making and many other crafts.

We step outside into the autumn cold,. As we walk our way to the river, I take in the beautiful forest surrounding us. It now a beautiful assortment of red and yellow leaves. Autumn is quite a beautiful season next from spring.

We reach the river and help each other wash. It is awful washing in the cold I can't imagine it in the winter, surely we will be warming the water to wash inside by then. We finish and make our way back home, cleaning our teeth as we walk.

Once inside I grab my comb and begin running it through my damp hair.

"Allow me to do it." Ama grabs it from me not waiting for my answer.

My hair has gotten much longer as the months have passed. It's always grown quite fast and I've kept it cut. Three months have gone by and It's nearly to the middle of my back. I wouldn't mind having it as long as Ama allows hers to stay though it's unlikely I could grow it to that length.

"What will we do today? There's no work." I question.

She seems to think for a bit before smiling brightly. "Well it seems I've taught you everything but you've yet to learn tsutsugotlvnvnvi." (Pottery.)

I squint my eyes at the long saying. "And that entails?"

"It is how we make bowls and mugs using dirt. Would you like to learn?"

I smile. "Of course." I love learning from her and it's been sometime since I last have.

"Alright, we must grab a basket and a bowl." She says as she makes her way to the shelf in her hut.

She grabs a bowl and I follow her out.

"First we have to gather gadagwala and I must admit it is quite a lengthy task to clean so we will get it from the women who've already gathered and cleaned it.I will have to show you that task another time." (Clay)

"What is gadagwala?" I ask, walking alongside her.

She looks off in thought. "It is... a dirt, I don't know your people's word for it."

If it is what the pots are made from I assume she is talking of clay. I know a bit on pottery though I've never done it.

I hum in understanding and let her lead me through the village. We soon reach a hut between the huts we go too for animal parts and the hut we go to for making belts and such.