Little Wolf

Ch 23 A Visit Home

Dad was there the moment I got off the bike.

"Where's your phone?"

I pulled the long dead device from my saddlebags. Dad handed it to Derrick, motioning toward the house.

I never made it to the house. Dad grabbed me in a wrestling move before I got halfway there. It ticked me off. I wanted to sleep in my own bed, not fight on the front lawn with people watching.

At least it didn't develop into a fight. The wrestling hold turned into a big hug. Dad kept telling me I wasn't supposed to be stupid. I didn't think he was going to let go for a second.

I hugged him back. I was looking forward to telling Dad my story, at least the part with the wolves and how I rescued the kids from the fire. I knew the story of the elders around the fire was something Grandfather would understand.

Dad and I were still holding each other around the shoulders when we turned toward the house. Mahina was standing in the doorway with Derrick. I looked at Dad.

"I wasn't the only one worried. Derrick had called, said you were out of it for a bit."

"Yeah, got stuck for a sec, did too much too fast I think. Stopped in Cherokee lands at the house of an elder, found my way back."

We went to the bike to unload. Dad saw the practically empty skin that held the tea. He picked it up, examining the workmanship.

"New skin."

"Old Badger Woman made me tea. Gave me some for the trip home. I want to gift her one of mom's bowls. She reminds me a lot of Auntie."

"You'll have to take Mahina by Anna's."

"I will, tomorrow. I want to set the tent up in the back, give it a good scrub down to get rid of the smoke smell, re-treat it just in case."

We unloaded our stuff. Dad didn't even open my duffle bag but headed straight for the laundry room, smelling the smoke clinging to my dirty clothes. I hugged Mahina in the living room, not wanting to let go.

"You need to do something about your dad. He put me up in his bedroom. I feel so uncomfortable..."

I kissed her to hush her, knowing Dad could hear.

"You'll never get to meet my mother. He just wants you to get a feel for her. It's his way of honoring her. I'll talk to him."

I knew it wouldn't do any good.

"Dad, Mahina and I are going to stop by Auntie's for a bit, I want to tell her about the tea. Derick, you wanna come? It's just a few blocks away."

"Nah, I'm good."

He couldn't fool me. The second we were gone, Derrick was going to tell my dad everything he didn't manage to get out on the phone. Not that it mattered. Dad already knew I had gotten lost within myself, he just didn't know how I had gotten lost. I wasn't a hundred percent positive I knew for sure myself.

Mahina and I held hands walking down the street. I led the way through Auntie's back yard. Her yard was full of raised garden boxes full of different fruits and vegetables. Dad and I had helped the group of men that built her green house for herbs back when I was a kid. Many were the times after a good kill that Dad would send me down with some steaks for her.