Chapter 11

Jesse woke up to the sun shining through his window it was 6:30am. He almost forgot he was hurt, he got up to quickly, and laid back down in pain. When the pain went away he slowly got up and walked towards the window and looked out, he saw a beautiful paint horse, black and white with blue eyes.

"Jesse! Breakfast," shouted Alex from the kitchen.

He put his robe on and went down stairs to the table, Alex was putting it on the table.

"Everything looks good," said Walker.

"Thank you honey," said Alex.

"yes, everything looks fantastic," said Jesse.

"Thank you," said Alex.

"Your welcome," said Jesse.

Then they started eating. Then they started talking and laughing at jokes.

"Jesse, I talked to the elders, it would be an honor to them to have you a part of the hand drum singers," said Red Cloud.

"I can't," said Jesse.

"Why not, you would be great, you have a hand drum," said Red Cloud.

"Yes, but... I'm ashamed." Said Jesse.

"Ashamed?" asked Alex.

"Of being up there with them, because my father was one of them, I'm ashamed to be a native, let alone a hand drum singer," said Jesse.

"Jesse, you don't need to be ashamed of your parents, that was their choice, not yours, your Jesse, you're not your parents, your better than them, you can be a part of something, you can bring our people back to who we use to be," said Red Cloud.

"Really," said Jesse.

"Yes, your better than them, the elders would love to have you on their team, and you'll be with Richard as well," said Red Cloud.

"Oh, that's right, Richards father was also a part of the hand drum singers," said Jesse.

"Yeah, he used to be in it with your father as well, you see it's not bothering Richard," said Red Cloud.

"I guess not, okay I'll do it, it's been a long time since I sang also," smiled Jesse.

"Well alright then, I'll tell the elders now you're coming they will have practice on the reservation at 9:00am," said Red Cloud.

"Good, I'll be there, um Walker," said Jesse.

"I'll be glad to take you," smiled Walker.

"Great," said Jesse.

"Well we better get our chores done before its time to go," said Walker.

Jesse, Red Cloud and Walker had chores to do, they were in the barn mending the hay and feeding the animals. Walker was attending to the fence.

"Jesse! It's time to go, you don't want to be late on your first day," shouted Alex.

"Oh okay, Walker it's time to go," Jesse walking up to Walker.

"Alright let's wash our hands and clean up a bit and then we'll head up to the reservation, Uncle are you going with us?" asked Walker.

"Yes, there are a few people I would like to see again," said Red Cloud.

So, they all went inside to wash up. Then they headed out the door and on their way to the reservation. They arrived at the center, Richard was on stage with the other guys, and the elders sitting in chairs.

"Hey, you made it," said Richard.

"Yeah, I did," smiled Jesse.

"Good," said Richard.

So, Richard introduced Jesse to the guys and to the elders.

"You look so much like your father did, when he was your age," said the elder.

Then sadness and anger came up on Jesse, but Jesse kept smiling at the elder, then Red Cloud came over and put his hand on Jesse's shoulder and he relaxed.

"Alright let's get started," said Richard getting back on stage.

Jesse followed and was on the stage, he still had that feeling of being ashamed when he walked up there. Then the hand drum singers started playing. They played and sang songs, Jesse wasn't singing, he was just playing his drum, he was having flashbacks of when his father uses to sing the same songs. Then the elder raised his hand and they stopped.

"That was awesome as usual, thank you guys, keep up the good work," said the elder.

Then they all stepped down.

"Hey Jesse, you did great," said Richard.

"Thanks," said Jesse.

"But I did see that you weren't singing with us?" asked Richard.

"Yeah, I know, I was thinking about my dad, he sang up here, how do you do it, knowing that your father was a hand drum singer, doesn't that make you feel ashamed to be up there, knowing those guys, the elders, and the people knows about your life and what you went through?" asked Jesse.

"You want to know how I do it, how I overcame everything and doing this and dancing in the pow wows again... the answer is I'm not my father, I'm Richard Grey Eyes, I'm a proud Native, who is walking the red road," said Richard.

"Easy for you," said Jesse.

"No Jesse, it's really easy, you are not your parents, you look in the mirror and you see your father yes, but remember, you're not him, your Jesse, you're a proud native who's walking the red road, who wants to make a difference, you shouldn't be ashamed of yourself because of what you are, and what you stand for, or who your parents are, people will see you, the elders will see you, those guys will see you for you, not your parents," said Richard.

"You think so," said Jesse.

"I know so, and yes my father did bad things, that does not make me ashamed of being native, in fact it makes me a better person, because I am doing things that my parents never did, so actually I'm walking the red road for them, something that they left, and gave up on, so you're not only helping but making a difference, you're walking the red road for your parents, for your friends, for everybody on this reservation that gave up, you actually made a difference a couple of days ago," said Richard.

"I did, how?" asked Jesse.

"You just showed that you don't have to stay on the reservation, you can go out and do something in life, go do what you love to do, achieve what you want to achieve, a better home, a job," said Richard.

"I did that?" Jesse.

"Yes, you did," smiled Richard.

"Jesse, are you ready to go?" asked Red Cloud.

"Yes, thank you once again Richard," said Jesse.

"Your welcome, and remember, never be ashamed of who you are," said Richard.

"I'll remember that, thank you," smiled Jesse.

So, Walker, Jesse and Red Cloud walked out of the center and left to go home. The hole way home Jesse was thinking about what Richard had said.

"Were home," said Walker.

They walked in the house and all the lights were still on.

"Alex, I told you not to wait up for us, we were going to be late, and here it is, almost midnight and your still up," said Walker.

"Well I was worried," said Alex.

"But were okay though," said Jesse.

"I know darling," said Alex.

So, they all went upstairs and went to bed.