Chapter 21

The next morning came around, Peter and his friends were at the bus stop, waiting for Jesse to show up, Jesse's so-called friends were there also.

"I can't believe we are going to graduate on Friday," said Martha.

"I know, I can't believe it either," said Peter.

"Look here comes Jesse," said Haskel.

"Hey Jesse," said Peter.

"Hey guys, how's it going," smiled Jesse.

"Good, good," said Haskel.

"Good," said Jesse.

"Would you care to sit with us on the bus?" asked Martha.

"Sure I would, thank you," said Jesse.

His so-called friends could not believe what they were hearing. So they all got on the bus and Jesse sat in the back with Peter, Haskel, and Martha, they started talking and laughing.

"What is the deal," said the so-called friend.

"I don't know, maybe he does not want to hang with us anymore, we are too good for him I guess," said the so-called friend.

"Yeah," said another so-called friend.

The bus drove to the school and all the kids got off the bus and walked to there classrooms.

"Jesse, it is good to see you again, we are all glad that you are okay," said the teacher.

"Thank you, ma'am, I'm feeling good also," said Jesse.

"I'm glad to hear that," said the teacher.

Jesse sat down at his desk and just smiled, looked at Peter and Haskel and Martha, and just smiled, he was thankful that he had really good friends now. They started doing there work in class. Then the bell rang for class. They went through the lunch line to get their food, then Peter, Martha, and Haskel went to there table, and Jesse started walking towards there table and he sat down with them.

"May I have all your attention please," said the principal.

So it got very quiet in the cafeteria.

"As you guys may know, this is the last day for our seniors this year, I just want to wish them good luck in the world, and may your future look very bright and positive, and oh yeah, stay out of trouble when you are out there, and Peter, good luck to you, you have come a long way, and you are getting more and more in touch with your native side and that is good, keep it up," said the principal.

"Thank you," said Peter.

"I wish you all well, go out there and make a difference," said the principal walking back to his office.

"Good speech," said Jesse.

"Yeah it was, I am excited about the future," smiled Martha.

"Me too," smiled Haskel.

Haskel knew that Martha and Peter liked each other, he was happy and excited for his sister, he knew they would make a great couple and who knows maybe even a family someday he just hoping that Peter has the nerve to ask her out. He just looked at the two and just smiled.

"What, why are you smiling like that?" asked Martha.

"Oh no reason," said Haskel.

Peter just smiled he knew what Haskel was thinking. So they finished eating, then the bell rang again and all the kids got up and threw their trash away and ran out the door. All the seniors ran out the door running towards the bus because they all knew that this will be there last day at the Indian school and on to there futures.

"I will see you guys Friday at graduation, we can all meet up at the gym," said Peter.

"That sounds great to me," said Martha.

"See you later Peter," said Jesse getting off. Martha and Haskel got off right behind Jesse and went home. The bus drove towards Peter's house and dropped him off at his drive and he walked up to the house and went inside.

"Hey, how was school?" asked Karen.

"It was good, the principal wished us well at lunchtime," said Peter.

"That was nice of him to do," said Karen.

"Yeah it is," said Peter.

"Oh when you dad gets in, he has something in the barn for you, it's for your graduation gift from all of us," smiled Karen.

"Oh okay, you guys didn't have to do that really," said Peter.

"No we wanted to sweetheart, you deserve it more than anybody else," said Karen.

"Well whatever it is, thank you," said Peter.

She went back to doing dishes and smiled. Peter was in the living room doing his homework when Walker pulled up and honked. He got up and opened the door. Eagle Bear and Walker got out of the truck.

"Hey son, follow us to the barn, we got something for you," smiled Walker.

So Peter walked off the porch and followed them to the barn.

"Close your eyes," smiled Walker.

So Peter closed his eyes and Walker opened the barn doors.

"Okay, now you can open them," said Walker.

He opened them and there sat a 1972 Harley-Davidson.

"What! no way, is that mine," said Peter.

"Yes it's yours you have earned it son," smiled Walker.

"Whoa, nice pony, I like the black and chrome on it," said Peter walking around it.

"Now you can ride around the rez, and when you get a job here you can ride it to work," said Eagle. Bear.

"Yeah that would be cool," said Peter.

"Yeah we will get your license here and you can start class on riding, I know on the rez you don't have to be a certain age to drive but here you do, so for right now, it is going to sit here covered, and we will take you to driver's ed so you can get your license to drive a car. That will give us time to enroll you in the motorcycle class, so you can learn to ride and get your motorcycle license as well," said Walker.

"Wow thank you all so much," said Peter.

"Your welcome you deserve it," said Eagle Bear.

Peter helped them cover it back up and closed the barn. Peter turned and ran towards the house.

"Mom thank you so much as well, I love it, it is amazing," said Peter hugging her.

"Oh your very welcome," said Karen smiling.

Karen was putting supper on the table and they gathered around the table and sat down and started eating. Then there was a knock at the door.

"I wonder who that is at this time?" asked Karen.

"I don't know, maybe the reservation police," said Walker getting up.

He opened the door and it was Jesse.

"Jesse, are you okay, what are you doing here at this time of night?" asked Walker.

"I heard a rumor going around that my father is getting out," said Jesse.

"Yes that is true," said Walker.

"Oh," worried Jesse.

"Jesse come on in, you can have supper with us and we can talk," said Walker.

"Thank you," said Jesse.

Jesse walked into the kitchen.

"Jesse is everything okay," Peter got up from the table.

"Yes son everything is fine, sit down, were going to eat supper and talk," said Walker.

Peter sat down and continued to eat.

"Yes your father is getting out tomorrow morning and he will be back on the reservation at your old house," said Walker.

"I am afraid he will come to look for me at my grandparent's place and harm them and me, even though they are his parents he will still try to hurt them I am sure," worried Jesse.

"Does he know where they live?" asked Eagle Bear.

"Yes, homeless people and drunks talk on the streets," said Jesse.

"Did they tell anyone where you went to?" asked Walker.

"I'm not sure, I don't want to live on the reservation when my dad does get out, I am done with him, I'm done with all that," said Jesse.

"Well Jesse, there is plenty of job openings around here, you can get good-paying jobs here," said Karen.

"Hey, dad, I was thinking his father and everybody else on the rez does not know where you live exactly, I was thinking maybe he can stay in the cabin," said Peter.

"You know that might not be such a bad idea, especially if he is going to be out of school and becoming an adult," said Karen.

"This is true, I mean it is all set up, then the only thing that is missing is a bathroom," said Walker.

"Na Mr. Walker, I am from the rez, it's all good, I'm used to going outside anyway, but since the cabin is close by I can just swing by and use the spare bathroom downstairs," said Jesse.

"Yeah, I would not see a problem there," said Karen.

"Me either," said Peter.

"Okay it is a plan," said Walker.

"Great I will come back at night with my belongings, that way nobody can see me or know it is me, but at early morning I will have to go back and wait at the bus stop, so I am going to hide in the old abandoned house in the woods, where Corkey was murdered and stay there until the sun comes up and then wait at the bus stop," said Jesse.

"Okay sounds like a good plan to me," said Peter.

"Yeah then when we graduate, I don't have to worry anymore, because I'll be living here and working here, no need to go back on the reservation," said Jesse.

"Sounds good, see you tomorrow then," said Peter.

"Yes tomorrow," said Jesse leaving the house in the dark.