Weak in Body, Strong in Mind and Spirit
Chapter 24: the Plan

The winter passed quickly. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s photographs were in scrap books, whatever they are and whatever that means. According to Pamela, idle time was then spent shooting something called pool with friends at a local saloon, either the Pig Pen in Hog Valley or the Am-Vets in Eureka. In the evening, it was usually watching Netflix movies, or (as David says) saving the world on Facebook. I don’t comprehend what any of that means, but that’s what Pamela projected to me during one of our conversations. It was now springtime in Flori-duh.

The entire family was sitting at dinner, talking about the upcoming trip to the Ratirontak Mountains. Pamela was getting excited. David was full of dread.

“Don’t be such a Debbie Downer, David,” scolded Pamela.

“I’m not. I’m just being realistic,” said David. “You try driving that old RV all of those miles with the dogs.”

“Do you want to trade?” asked Pamela. “I’ll drive the RV and you drive the Kia towing Jeremiah with goats in the back?”

“No, that’s OK,” replied David. “I don’t want to be responsible if anything was to happen to Jeremiah.”

“Right.”

“Momma, I have something to ask you,” said Megan.

“What?” asked Pamela.

“I want to come with you. Caesar and me,” she answered. “I asked for a leave of absence and my company will give it to me. They like me, and don’t want to lose me.”

“That would be great,” said Pamela. “But what about Bishr?”

“He’ll stay here. He has to work at the restaurant,” said Megan.

“Well, I’m not going,” said Judi, Pamela’s mom, Megan’s grandmother, and Caesar’s great-grandma. “I have too many dogs, cats, and the rabbit to take care of.”

“How many little yappy dogs do you have?” asked David with a smile.

“With the new puppy, nine. Plus two cats and the rabbit,” answered Judi.

“Five cats,” added Pamela.

“Five?! No, two,” said Judi.

“We’re leaving our three here,” said Pamela. “If we take them, they might run off up there.”

“Well, I suppose a few more won’t make any difference,” said Judi with a frown.

“Do you think your Sasquatch will let us come?” asked Megan.

“I’ll have to ask the Elders,” said Pamela. “Why do you want to come with us?”

“Well, I loved reading Dave’s books about your Sasquatch,” said Megan. “I think it would be so cool to meet them.”

“Cool? That’s an understatement,” said Pamela. “Well, we’re leaving in about two weeks.”

“Perfect. I can give my notice tomorrow,” said Megan.

“What does Bishr think about you and Caesar leaving for months?” asked David.

“Oh, he doesn’t like it at all. But he understands, and told me to do it,” said Megan.

“Well, let me check with the Elders tonight first,” said Pamela. “It’s eight o’clock and dark. They’ll be waking up now.”

Pamela rose and walked to the RV where it was quiet. She sat on the couch and cleared her thoughts.

“Windago? Nakani? It is me, Pamela,” she projected.

No response.

Windago? Nakani? It is me, Pamela,” she projected again.

No response.

“Madu, can you hear me?” asked Pamela.

“Hello Pamela,” I answered.

“Hi Madu. I’m trying to contact the Elders but I think my connection isn’t strong enough. Can you connect and relay for me?”

“Of course,” I replied. “Go ahead.”

“Windago? Nakani? It is me, Pamela,” she channeled.

“Greetings Pamela,” answered Windago. “Nakani is sleeping still.”

“That’s OK,” replied Pamela. “I have a request for the Elders.”

“What is your request, my little Friend?” asked Windago.

“I’ve been talking to Kim and we’re making plans to return to the Five Brothers,” she said. “We’d get there in about three weeks. Three quarters of a moon cycle.”

“That’s wonderful, “said Windago. “But what is your request?”

“Some of my family would like to come too. You’ve already said that David can come. Now my daughter and her son would like to also.”

“I see,” said Windago. “I shall present your request to the Elders tonight.”

“Thank you,” said Pamela. “I’ll contact you tomorrow to ask if a decision has been made.”

“Alright, Pamela,” answered Windago. “I’ll talk with you tomorrow. Bye.”

“Bye Windago,” said Pamela. “Madu, is there any change in Izee?”

“He’s sitting up now,” I said. “His recovery has been slow. He was badly injured.”

“Yes, but he’s still alive,” said Pamela. “Thank God.”

“Who?” I injected.

“God. Who you call the Earth Mother,” said Pamela. “You’re as bad as David. I told you that before.”

“Oh, right,” I answered sheepishly.

“I’ll let you know of the decision of the Elders tomorrow,” I said.

“Thank you,” said Pamela.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Pamela,” I said.

“And I you, Madu,” replied Pamela. “I love you all and miss you.”

“I’ll see you later,” I said with a smile, very pleased with myself for learning the language of the Little People.

“Do no unkind thing to others,” said Pamela with a grin in her voice.

We disconnected. I decided to check on Izee, who was still at Aurora’s nest. When I arrived, Izee was sitting outside enjoying the moonlight.

“Izee, you are looking better!” I said cheerily.

Izee looked up at me slowly.

“Thank you, Madu,” he answered weakly. “Aurora says I am making progress, but that I have far to go.”

“What is Aurora treating you with?” I asked.

“She’s grinding inner willow bark and putting it in a vessel of lake water for pain,” he answered, “and Echinacea mixed with Ginseng root to strengthen my immune system and to fight infection.”

“Good. What is your prognosis?” I asked.

“Aurora is worried, but hopeful,” said Izee. “I know she’s doing all she can, and for that I am grateful.”

“Pamela was asking about you,” I replied, “so I thought I’d check.”

“She is a good Little Person,” said Izee. “Her reputation for having a kind heart is accurate.”

“Yes it is,” I smiled. “She will be returning to the Five Brothers soon, before one full moon cycle. I know she will ask to see you right away.”

Izee sat up a little straighter, and smiled.

“I must try harder to get my strength back,” he said.

“You must rest, my Friend,” I said kindly. “Do the best you can, without overdoing it.”

“Aurora?” called Izee.

Aurora emerged from her nest.

“Ah, you have company. How nice to see you, Madu,” said Aurora.

“And you,” I replied.

“Aurora, Pamela will be returning here before a moon cycle,” he said. “I know that she feels badly about my injuries. Is there anything you can do to quicken my recovery?” sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (F)indNƟvᴇl.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Well, it is really up to the Earth Mother,” said Aurora, “ but there is something we can try.”

“Do it,” said Izee.

“I will add Sage to your lake water,” said Aurora. “Sage is good for many general ailments, but it also draws bad spirits from the body. I have some inside. Let me get it.”

Aurora soon emerged with a small handful of green leaves which she crushed between her palms and let fall into the vessel of medicine Izee was holding. Izee took a sip.

“I like it. It’s minty,” he said smiling.

Aurora smiled back.

“I sometimes just drink it to help me think,” she said. “It is called a ‘thinker’s tea’.”

“Well, I like it,” he said.

“I must go,” I said. “I must contact Pamela with news of you, Izee.”

“Don’t get her hopes up too high,” whispered Aurora to me so Izee wouldn’t hear. “Izee is doing well, and this may be as much as he will recover. But he is young and his will is strong.”

I looked at Aurora with resignation. Only the Earth Mother knows, I thought. I turned and went to my peaceful place on the ledge by the lake. It was a beautiful night, chilly with a bit of wonderful sleet now falling. The sun will come up soon, I thought, and Pamela will be active. I should contact her shortly. I no longer got the thought filed in my head when I was contacted.

“Madu? It’s me.”

“Oh, hello Pamela,” I responded. “I was just thinking of you.”

“We’re getting ready to leave soon,” answered Pamela. “Have you heard from Windago, Nakani, and the elders?”

“No, I haven’t,” I replied.

“Pamela and Madu? It is Windago,” he projected.

“Hello Windago,” said Pamela.

“I presented your request to the Elders, and it is granted,” he said. “The Elders feel that to know you as a member of our Tribes, that we should meet your family. As you know, this is all new to us, accepting Little People as Tribe members. But everyone here loves you and Kimberly the Healer, and your family is our family.”

“Mi casa es su casa,” answered Pamela.

“My house is your house,” said Windago.

“You know that Spanish phrase?” asked a surprised Pamela.

“I was taught it by my Father’s Father,” said Windago. “He claimed to have learned it while living in the lands of the south from his Father. He had a wild story about learning it from a Little Person there.”

“Which lands of the south?” asked Pamela.

“That I do not know,” answered Windago. “This Little Person’s name was said to be Ponce DeLeon.”

There was a period of silence.

“Pamela?” I asked finally.

“THE Ponce De Leon?” asked Pamela.

“How many are there?” asked Windago.

“Well, I don’t know,” said Pamela matter-of-factly.

“This one came upon my Tribe in the southern lands,” said Windago. “The legend is that he was looking for a healing water. I can’t recall now exactly what it was.”

“The fountain of youth?” asked Pamela.

“That’s it,” said Windago. “So you know of him?”

“Yes, everyone knows of Ponce DeLeon and his fantasy of a magical fountain of youth,” laughed Pamela.

“Well, after my Father’s Father Father showed him where such a water could be found, he was overjoyed and said ‘Mi casa es su casa’ in his Little People language.”

“Wait,” said Pamela. “They could communicate?”

“Yes, that was the legend,” said Windago. “They somehow joined spirits and could speak as our ancestors did, as we are now.”

“Fascinating,” said Pamela. “And so there are Forest People here in Florida?”

“I do not understand Flori-duh,” said Windago. “But if Flori-duh is in the southern lands, quite possibly.”

“Wow,” projected Pamela.

“My Father’s Father’s Father continued to live in the lands of the south,” continued Windago. “It was my Father’s Father who decided the southern lands were too hot for his liking and journeyed north until he found snow, and the Panther Tribe adopted him as one of their own.”

“So you have relations here?” asked Pamela.

“Well, perhaps,” said Windago.

“Do you communicate with them?” asked Pamela.

“No. How?” asked Windago.

“Well, I guess with mindspeak, as we are now,” she answered.

“That is an ability once used by our ancestors,” said Windago. “It has been lost to the ages.”

“Yet we are doing it,” said Pamela. “So I guess the ability isn’t actually lost. Only misplaced.”

There was a pause, and then Windago laughed.

“Perhaps you are quite correct my little Friend,” said Windago with a smile.

“What is your great-grandfather’s name?” she asked.

“My Father’s Father’s Father?”

“Yes.”

“He was called Ocklawaha,” answered Windago.

“Are you kidding me?” asked an astonished Pamela.

“Kidding?”

“Are you messing with me? Joking?” she replied.

“Oh. No, that is a trait of Little People,” said Windago. “We do not joke.”

“Well, there is a river very close to here where David and I live that is named Ocklawaha,” said Pamela. “Could this be your great... uh, your father’s father’s father’s lands?”

“I cannot answer that, Pamela,” said Windago.

“Well, OK, fascinating,” said Pamela. “I guess I should run.”

“Run to where?” I interjected.

“‘I should run’ is a phrase,” giggled Pamela. “It means I should go.”

“Oh, OK,” I replied. “Oh, but before you run away somewhere, I want you to know that I saw Izee today.”

“Oh! How is he?” asked Pamela.

“Well, he’ll live,” said I. “He’s being well cared for by Aurora, but his prognosis is uncertain.”

“I see,” said Pamela, choking back a sob.

“Pamela,” said Windago softly, “I explained why Izee had to do what he did. It is our way. And something you yourself did to help Madu, at great risk to yourself.”

“I know,” whispered Pamela, “but I just feel horrible.”

“It is your kind heart,” projected Windago with a smile in his voice.

“Thank you,” whispered Pamela.

“I must now run away,” said Windago.

Pamela laughed. She went into Judi’s abode to tell Megan that the Elders approved her visit.

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