"You're on edge..." Ogi tells me when we get to the car.
"McKenzie... is just... Urgh!"
"You're afraid that people notice your pull towards me. They all already have. Just stop fighting it."
"I have no idea of what you are talking about... I mean. We're friends." I say stoically.
"Well, we don't need to be more than friends... just you keep lying to yourself and that's when your pain grows. Meaning. I got used to it and manage to function without much-needed closeness, but you... you'll find it an impossible task if you deny it even exists." He tells me calmly.
"When did you become a philosophy master?" I ask.
"I had to deal with a lot in the past six years. That's it." He shared.
"I see. So, how weird it would be if I place my hand in your neck?" I ask afraid of sounding desperate.
"That's an interesting choice, but okay. I wouldn't be offended. Neither would I look too much into it." He says.
I immediately place my lef
Buzz buzz buzz6:15Alarm.Get immediately out of bed. I'm fresh as a leaf today. Guess that nap wrapped in Ogi had some positive effects.Great.What am I wearing today? Oversized white shirt, white skinny jeans. Camel cardigan and ankle boots. Wavy beach hair, light make-up but purple lipstick. Purple tote bag.I think I've overdone it today, but I don't care. I love it.Me: Can you come inside? I'm a tiny, little late. Sorry!Ogi: O.k.. C'ya soon.And I'm freaking late. Urgh!7:00"Mom, I'm late." I yell, descending the stairs."I know. Sit down.""Ogi is already here." I smile."And got some awful news." My mom adds."Indeed. I was just telling Mrs. Woods that Sheriff called my father last night to inform that a person that was found dead in Covill motel. it's a man, late 50's. Animal attack." He says."Oh my. That's terrible. Horrible news. What is going on? Rabies?"
"Ogimaa, you had six years to get used to it. I'm seventeen and thought I knew all it was there to know about myself. I'm sorry if this is not easy for me to swallow." I pause " I don't even know if you're not having a psychotic episode and I'm getting convinced of something that is not real."He starts to come back to the car and strip his clothes."Shit." I let out "what if someone sees?""If you don't believe it yourself, even with your family background... Do you think a tourist will believe his or her eyes?""No." I simply reply.He was only with boxers shorts.I don't think anybody is around here anyways. This is a pretty remote access to the woods and the car is really close to the trees."Okay. Here goes nothing." He declares "Take the car keys, my flower."I run to his side and store the keys inside one of my many pockets, zipping it."Okay, just let me kiss you first."I look up to him and
"Your mate was born on a snow moon and Great Spirits Moon. First full moon of the year. He's not white, is he?" My father asked as it was nothing."He's dark brown, almost black. And you?" I ask with shaking hands and voice."I'm plain grey. Like the wonderful Canis Lupus. Just bigger. We thought you wouldn't be like me, since your mom is not Anishinaabe. Looks like she is. Not pure of course, but not as far as it looks." He pause " Pure was an awful word to use. I'm sorry my love." And kisses my mom's hand."That's why we're only having this conversation now?""Yes. Until now, you didn't need to know." He answers "Your mom told me 5 or 6 years ago that little wolf was acting strange. I told her who he was. She also expressed concern about you and him. I wrongly dismissed any imprinting on you. I thought you didn't have enough Anishinaabe blood to be his mate.""Both Grandma and Grandpa are Chippewa descendants, I didn't know that." My mom adds.
"Look. We have super abilities. I'm not joking. We literally can smell every component of that amazing shampoo that you usually use. Sometimes you switch to another, more like a pine tree meets an orange scent. I can see your blood passing through your veins, in your neck, in your wrists. I can hear your lungs and the air entering and exiting. Your heart beating. I can see a gap in your third and fourth right upper teeth and other things that I don't have to tell you."I ruminate on that. "So you have to focus on what you want and ignore the rest. If you are not trained...""She lost it. Probably don't even know what to do. Acting only by instinct. Instinct of a wolf that was born a month ago. This is a mess." He concludes."I don't want to be a mess..." I say sad."You won't be a mess. Not even a hot mess. You were born wolf. You just didn't know. Besides you got me to help you."*-*-*-*-*-*-*Covill is a small t
"I heard that the men that was killed in Covill was a regular client. Is this true? " Hunter asked Tiffany."Yes, known player. He was married and lived in Croftville." Tiffany said.Croftville is another small and unorganized community that is located 3 miles northeast of the city of Grand Marais."Was the wife with him?" I ask."The mistress was with him." She implies.Any connection with the women working at the Diner? I wonder."Animal attack?" Ogi asks."Mrs. Clarkson said that the blood was everywhere." Tiffany says with a sad look on her face."Okay guys. Let's talk about Homecoming Dance and Spirit Week. It is in two weeks. I'm head of the committee. Again and I need help. Any ideas? Theme? Pranks? " I ask."Actually. Spirit Week will mark the beginning of Basketball games, with our game." Cole Cook says " We, man are going to take care of Spirit Week, including the traditional picnic, pep rally and the bonefire.
"That backyard will be for ceremonies and celebrations? You know I won't host a pow wow in my house."He laughs "No. The ways will be the same. You know that you'll be hosting it. Shut up. Just not on that backyard. That will be for us to express our love... you'll see.""I'm sorry for being shocked. I shouldn't.""Calm down. You have until graduation." He smiled " If it was 50 years ago, we were walking into a broken, poor and highly discriminated tribe. We are blessed, Ogimaakwe. And I know that you will be the one I'll look up to everyday. Sharing my life, heart and tradition.""We'll get there when we get there. Just don't impregnate me with your thoughts." I laugh."Not scientifically possible, but I can try...""Shut up." I chuckle, kissing his cheek "let's visit the store where that woman works. Ok?""Okay. I'll be right back." He says getting up to pay.He looks better everyday. Damn!
"Wow. I'm impressed." Katie speaks before anyone."Me too." The others agree."Want to add something, Ogimaa Binesi?" I ask."I will ask for the Sweet Grass, Wiingash, ritual. For strength and kindness. Also, smells good." He pauses. "You are not who I thought you were." He tells Cole "Any of you. I'm glad I met you.""Okay... We all agree. This will be a changing year in our life's." I smile.I was really feeling good about my life and the fact that my friends, not only love me, they also respect me."Thank you for doing this. I know the Elders won't like it but in the end will see it was worthy." I say to King in the car after practice."You'll be the best ogimaakwe ever." He reply."Shut up. Do you drive trucks?" I ask."Yeah, I am not very good with driving it in reverse though." He laughs."Thank you."We were in silence for some time and listening to music."Ogi, should I say something to my pa
"Hi. How are you? I'm Ziigwan Woods and head of Homecoming Committee. Probably the Dean already told you that I would need your assistance for the Dance next week and to the pep rally too." I start."Hi Ziigwan. Yeah. He told us. Do you have any list or scratch of the lighting design." Jake Hill reply."Yes, Jake. I got a list. It's not much. For the pep rally we only need two microphones and one profile spot light." I hand him the list " and to the gym, a dj table and minimum lightning. Off course we'll need two follows-pots lights for the Queen and King of Homecoming Dance. Lightning for the photographer booth..." I paused "I'm sorry. I'll let you eat. I will visit you at A/V club after class. If that's ok." I smile."Yes. It's okay." Aaron answer for the group."Thank you." I smile.And go back to lunch. Which is corndog and I'm starving, as always."Molly. I'm not going to practice today. Can you tell Coach Johnson I'm in Committee duty?