Forbidden Love

When I look back on that year I met him I still hate myself for what I did. Sometimes I miss home miss my mother. I still feel bad about my brother and putting my whole family in danger. I still remember it very clearly.

            It was the year 1756 and my Indian tribe the Abenaki have been living along the cost of what is called today the Androscoggin River for hundreds of years. I had just passed 16 summers and my brother Chayton who has 15 winters is going on his first hunting trip with the men. My four best friends Lona, Nita, Tusti, Ela and I were going to play. I was playing my favorite game with my friends called wolf, it’s like the game of tag. I was running through the thick brush when I caught a glimpse of what I know is called a ship. I quietly tried to get a better look at what this strange thing was. And then I saw him, a tall handsome man that looked close to my age emerge from the ship. His face was perfectly round and his eyes where crystal blue. He was wearing a blue shirt with black pants. He had short blond hair and was muscular.

            Just then my friend Nita came up to me and asked what I was looking at. I told her, “Nothing.” We started to head back to the site. My friends were all talking to me but I was still thinking of why those people came here. I probably should warn my tribe before trouble starts around here. I thought. When we got back every one was gathered around the fire. My little sister Juhi ran over to me to give me a hug. Everyone greeted me and my friends as we sat down by the fire. I looked over at my brother.

            “So what did you catch today?” I asked him.

            “I got a nice big deer and some fish. Papa was really happy,” he replied with a big smile on his face.

            “Well I’m glad that you got something on your first try,” I mumbled.

            “Well you didn’t think I would leave until I got something did you?” he laughed.

            “Hmmm I guess not,” I said.

I looked up at the sky and realized how late it was getting. Then I noticed how tired I was. “Well I guess I’m off to bed. I’m really tired.” I said as I was walking toward the wigwam house that my family stayed in. “Oh yeah, I think we have some company for a while,” I said over my shoulder. Some heads snapped up. My father studied my face for a long while

            “Why’s that, Chandrika?” my father said slowly still staring me in the eyes.

            “Well, because I saw a ship come in today and there were some strange men coming off the boat,” I cried startled by people’s reactions.

            Then my father jumped up and walked over to me some people started to get very nervous.

            “Tell me where they were located, Chandrika,” he said in a very serious voice.

            “Just up the river a ways, why?” I ask quickly.

            “Men head up the river and check them out,” my father said quickly to a few men.

            “Papa what’s wrong?” I asked scared.

            “I need to make sure these folks aren’t dangerous to be around,” he said to me calmly.

            “Okay, well please be safe,” I said very quietly as I continued to walk toward the hut.

            The next morning I awoke and stared up at the hole in the roof that is used so the smoke from the fire can escape from the house. I finally decided to get up after laying there a long moment. When I stepped outside I saw my friends standing there talking to a few people. I walked up to them and asked what’s going on.