The Native Who Needed To Change - Whitney Shaw (best short novels .txt) 📗

their faces and say we don't need your help," said Ivy.

 

"That's because they are living in the past, and at one time we did know how to live right, but now, we live so poorly and discusting conditions, if our ancestors came back and saw how we live today, we would probably be ashamed. They all drink and do drugs, because there is nothing here, but if they see how you guys are changing all that, then maybe there will be something here," said Red Deer.

 

"Lets do that, lets go to the center tomorrow since it will be Saturday tomorrow," said Little Crow.

 

"Yeah, we can go to the center tomorrow since its Saturday," said Ivy.

 

"Yeah," said White Eagle.

 

"Good, that's a good start," said Red Deer.

 

Then the bell rang and everybody walked outside and went to the bust stops and went home.

 

"How was school?" asked White Dove.

 

"Washte" (good), were going to change our community," said Little Crow.

 

"That's great son," said Rocky Crow.

 

"Is Grandfather home?" asked Little Crow.

 

"Yes," said White Dove.

 

Little Crow walked outside and went over to is Grandfathers house and went inside.

Grandfather's story

"I am ready now," said Little Crow.

 

So he sat down on the floor like a little child getting ready for a story.

 

"When Shawn and Becky arrived at the Lakota village, the chief was waiting to greet them and welcomed them to his home, he showed them around the camp.

 

"This place is amazing," said Shawn.

 

"Please stay "kola" (friend), we would like to adopt you and your "winyan" (woman) into our nation are tribe?" asked the Chief.

 

"Its a bad idea, there is going to be trouble, war, when the blue coats find us here, they are going to think you kidnapped us," said Shawn.

 

"But we can help you survive, especially in the winter time," said the Chief.

 

"We will stay," smiled Shawn and looking around.

 

So the Chief showed them more and was teaching them the language as well, he told them there will come a time where there will be blood spread on this land," said Grandfather.

 

"Why did they take our land, why couldn't we share it and live together as one?" asked Little Crow.

 

"Greed, also played a roll on us as well, we didn't want to share neither did they, so we fought over it, because either side would not share, and they thought there was gold as well, but there was not, so both sides died over land and gold that wasn't even there, and fear," said Grandfather.

 

"Oh," said Little Crow.

 

"Yes, now as Shawn and Becky were adopted into the Lakota nation. Becky was with the women down by the stream, a woman looked up and saw a "waschia" (white man). They all ran into the camp, the warriors grabbed there weapons and, the white men started firing, Shawn and the warriors started fighting both sides were either killed or injured. The whites even killed Shawn, because to them, he was no longer a white eye, but an Indian," said Grandfather.

 

"So you see Grandson, not all whites are bad, they try to help us be will not allow them to, see Shawn could have went home. But he died as a Lakota warrior," said Grandfather.

 

"Like the red headed Kiowa Indian, he was a white boy captured by the Indians and he became one of them, and he died as a Kiowa and went back to the same Mother," said Little Crow.

 

"That's right my grandson," said Grandfather.

 

"Were going to change our community, and make a better place," said Little Crow.

 

"You can put C4 up George Washington's nose, it will get a good laugh, maybe that's what our people need is a good laugh," said Grandfather.

 

"No, I am not going to do that, but I am going to burn the liquor story in White Clay, maybe that will help our people," said Little Crow. "Thanks Grandfather" Little Crow running out of the house and went home and went to bed. Next morning he called a meeting at the center.

Meeting

"Alright, I have a couple of ideas, were going to help the younger ones go to school and stay in school, or go back to school, and help others get jobs and to keep them. One more thing, the drinking, it has to stop, that's what's really doing the damage to our people, so this job is a one person job, and that is why I am doing it. I am going to burn the liquor store down in White Clay," said Little Crow.

 

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, what? are you kidding me, burn down the liquor store, how are you going to do that," said White Eagle.

 

"Easy, I'm going to do it at night, time when people or to drunk to stand," said Little Crow.

 

"I don't know, its to dangerous," said Ivy.

 

"I know," said Little Crow.

 

"Alright, but all of us in here promise not to tell anyone or anybody," said White Eagle.

 

"Thanks you guys are good friends," said Little Crow.

 

So they walked out of the center and walked around the rez a little, and then went home.

 

It was late when they got home. So they went to sleep. Everybody was sleeping except Little Crow.

Darkness

Little Crow quickly got up and put all black clothes on, and painted his face black. He looked like a "wanagie" (dark Ghost Spirit). He snuck out of his window and went to his Grandfathers shed and got gasoline and a lighter that he left on his little table, and he jumped on a horse and rode to White Clay.

 

When he found the liquor store on his left he went further away and tied his horse up to a tree and walked over to the store. He broke the window, and quickly poured the gasoline inside and out side of the building and threw the jug inside. Then he lit the place on fire and threw the lighter in there as well and quickly rode away back to the Rez. When he got home, he put his Grandfathers pony back in the shed and went home. He slept out side of his window.

 

Next morning, he quickly jumped up and crawled in his window and went to the bathroom and took a shower, he also put his clothes in there with him as well to wash them also, then he got out and dressed and went to sit at the table.

 

Rocky Crow turned the television on and the news came on.

 

"Somebody burned the liquor store in White Clay," said Rocky Crow. "Maybe somebody got tired of seeing the whites making money off of Indian misery."

 

"Good, somebody finally put a stop to it," said Kicking Bird.

 

"Its about time," said Little Crow.

 

"Who ever done it, thinks he solved the problem, but they will just rebuild another one, twice as big as that one was, and make even more money," said Rocky Crow.

 

"No, but that is why I am here, and my younger generation is going to help our people and our community," said Little Crow going out side and looking at the sun.

Imprint

Text: Whitney Shaw
Images: Whitney Shaw
Editing: Whitney Shaw
Translation: Whitney Shaw
Publication Date: 10-14-2015

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
I wrote this when i was 18 and in the 11th grade. November 22, 2008. Typed on the computer 2009.