"I'm ready," I said with determination and we began. Immediately we lost the light due to the thickness of the trees. The trail started out on an incline with roots jutting up from the ground and spider webs hanging from above. I let him go on ahead thinking if any wild animals were to show it would give me time to escape. He had a knife--I had a stick so in my mind it balanced out things.
"I can do this I thought to myself," as I wiped away disgusting webs from my face. Then the high pitch buzzing started around my ears. Great--the bugs had discovered fresh meat and were excited. As we continued climbing I could feel my resolve slipping away.
"Though I walk through the valley of death--wait not a good verse for this," I muttered. Then I remembered something--my grandmother was half Indian. That means I had Indian blood flowing through my veins--well at least a dash. But maybe a dash was all it would take to recover my pride on this trail.
I let my imagination run free and suddenly the man up in front became a warrior chief who had captured me--an Indian that was gathering food at the time of capture. I looked down and my shoes disappeared into leather skins and I became strong.
"How are you doing?" glared this strange man who was determined to break me on this trail.
"I am doing--let's not waste time talking and filling the air with useless words." I found a stronger stick to use in case of a snake attack. We continued on for awhile and I felt myself become one with the earth. It was a good feeling--I was not afraid. Suddenly up ahead I could see light and realized our journey was coming to an end.
"You did it and without a complaint." said this man who was slowly turning back into someone I was familiar with.
"Yes, I did." Realizing that as I was speaking I was becoming my modern day self. As we exited the woods I turned and there she was--a part of me that I had forgotten existed. Until today--
"Until we meet again Vachya--God be you." She smiled and turned slipping away into the trees.
2 comments:
You made me laugh this morning!!
I really enjoyed these accounts of the trail experience. It had so much... humor, suspense, surprise, and I was touched by the ending. That finding within ourselves something that was there, but we had forgotten. Very meaningful, and well told! Totally captured my imagination, and kept me reading. :-)
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