The Day the Sky Shattered Page 2

  I remember when I was two. Precisely two. I am crawling around on the floor. There are people all around me. They are looking at me and making funny noises and gestures. My mother was singing. Later on in life, I realized that she was singing Happy Birthday in Tlingit. I can see my cousins there: Roger Rainwater and Carol Rainwater. The Chief was there too. On the Chief’s lap was two-year old Banks Blackhorse.

  Banks squirmed off of his uncle’s lap and walked to me. Yep, later I learned he could walk when he was one year old. But at two, I never took a step. So standing on his feet, he extended his hand. I took it. I managed to stand with his help. He let go. And I took my first steps. Success. I walked all around the circle as all the people clapped.

  The people apparently were more astonished by the way I walked rather than the simple fact that I was walking. Someone said, “She bends with the wind. We should call her Bends with the Wind!” Another said, “Grace! Her motion is so graceful.” And then Chief Dan settled it: “Sway.” And Banks repeated his uncle, “Sway.” Banks grabbed my hand. We walked together in a circle and all the guests chanted, “Sway.”

  Exactly one year later, we all met again. My cousin Carol Rainwater brought me a garland of gardenias for my third birthday. She placed it around my neck. I remember Banks smelled it and said, “You smell good...Sway Garland.” And those are my earliest memories. My name at birth came from a traditional Hmong spiritualist. Even today, I could not pronounce it. My new name would become official when I registered for school.

  Now I know you remember when you were five. That was the time you were in kindergarten. That was the time that your teacher would read to you about princes and princesses, the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss or the white world of Dick and Jane. Come on, you remember something when you were five!

  I remember in kindergarten class that a bunch of white kids seemed to flock to one another. But that was okay, I had Banks Blackhorse. We were at our own table mixing flour and water to make paste. We were building a volcano. I dabbed my finger in the paste and ate it. Banks made some sort of disgusting sound and I retorted, “It tastes good.” Banks tried it and he agreed: “Paste good.” Then I put some paste on my nose and laughed: “This is my Indian war paint.” Banks did the same. “Look, I have war paint too.” The laughing subsided. We looked at each other. There was an eloquence to our silent pause. Then something came to me and I shared it with Banks, “When we are older, we will marry. Is that okay with you, Banks?” And Banks responded, “Of course, silly. Of course I will marry you.” And we solidified our engagement when I dabbed some paste on my finger and inserted it in his mouth...and he did the same to me.

  In first grade, Banks and I always sat next to one another in the lunch room. Sometimes we didn’t even speak...we just giggled. In second grade, we would gossip about Indian stuff during recess. And in third grade, we took the big step: We walked hand in hand down the hallway. When teachers and administrators would try to stop this behavior, I would simply tell them that they needed to be more ‘culturally tolerant.’ And...they listened. I think they sent a memo out since they never bothered us again.

  All the way through seventh grade we were inseparable. And during our summer break we had our first kiss. It was kind of awkward and gross but in the end when our lips finally met, so did our souls. It was mystical, magical and miraculous.

  Eighth grade girls are mean! They mocked my walk. They said nasty things about me. They made up lies and tried to break Banks and me apart. And I think they were succeeding because by the time we entered Juneau-Douglas High, Banks became distant. There was no more hand holding, no more lunches together and no more kisses. Yes girls can be mean and Banks Blackhorse began to ignore me. And Sway Garland was not to be ignored!

  I retaliated against the girls and they came back at me in numbers. Boys were ogling me and telling one another that they had sex with me. Some asked me point blank if I wanted to have sex with them!

  When I was a sophomore, I thought about dropping out of high school. I thought less about Banks and more about spirituality. That was because I met almost daily with Shaman Roger Rainwater. He taught me the ways of Hmong spiritualism and I began to grow.

  In my junior year, the Skyline Boulevard girls, you know the rich ones led by Tricia Powers, made me their target. They nicknamed me the ‘capital bitch.’ Roger said I was at my low point and I learned about love and sorrow. He said I was ready for my vision quest. And in my senior year, despite the loss of Banks Blackhorse, I was a full woman.

  And now two years after graduation, I still know that I was completely ready to restore my relationship with Banks, even if he were not ready.

  Last month, after I delivered my child—my creature, I kept it alive. This creature from my womb would be the only living one left in Juneau. It will have an important role to play in the near future.

  May your spirit sparkle.

  “Where the Hell is Peyton?”

  At the wedding reception the sky darkened by a curtain of birds in flight. But Julie Powers didn’t care. She was face to face with her daughter Tricia: “Where the hell is Peyton, Tricia?”

  Tricia rehearsed her response by eying the birds above and then: “Peyton is sick, mom. He vomited all over the carpet and we thought it was best that he stay at home. I told him that I’d wait until he felt better, but then he vomited again. So I left.”

  After Julie texted Peyton and there was no response, she told her husband Stan that they’d better drive home and check it out. After her directive to Stan, Julie’s cell rang. Mrs. Kadet explained all the events of the day and told Julie that her car was missing. Julie explained to the others.

  Murray and Dassi joined the group and told them if they wanted to go that was fine since their next door neighbors rode to the complex with the Powers.

  A window of opportunity presented itself to Tricia: She eyed Johnny Angelo, her ex-boyfriend who had been avoiding her during the past months ever since the Valentine’s Day from hell. She ran after him and went into full theatric mode; with tears in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around Johnny who rebuffed the closeness. “Johnny, my dear brother is very sick and now he is missing. You know how much I care for him. I’m frantic. He may be at the hospital.” This concern that Tricia had for Peyton was always Johnny’s Achilles heel. He found that singular quality that Tricia had for her brother endearing. Johnny, an only child, always wished for sibling love. He placed a hand on her shoulder. From a distance, Ann Abrams watched the action. Ann for the first time in her seventeen years encountered the emotion of jealousy.

  The news of Peyton’s disappearance circulated quickly. Banks moved in to action and ran towards Peyton’s father Stan. Banks to Stan: “How can I help?” Stan responded with appreciation. He told Banks to notify the shaman and explain their departure to Carol and Marilyn.

  As Banks headed back to Ann, the Monarch Raven circled. Banks was sure that ‘intel’ was coming and he extended an arm to the raven to land on. But to his surprise, the raven landed on the shoulder of Sway Garland. What on earth was his animal guide doing with Sway? He was wrestling with his dilemma. He didn’t even want eye contact with her. And now for the first time in years, he approached Sway.

  As they studied each other in silence, the Monarch Raven made a succession of caws. Sway cawed back in the form of a question and the raven responded with one caw. Her attention went to Banks and she spoke.

  “How are you doing, Sport?”

  He responded coolly, “That’s my line and that’s my bird.”

  “Your tone is so cold, Banks, as if we didn’t have a history.”

  “Our history was over when high school began. I don’t want to argue. Peyton—“

  “Peyton is the boy you tutored on Skyline Boulevard?”

  “Yes, and he is missing. Do you understand?”

  “Skyline Boulevard. Yes, and the girl over there, she too is from Skyline Boulevard?”

  “Yes. Do you understand that the boy is missing...ta
ken?”

  “I understand everything now. This was never about me really. Your withdrawal was because I am an—“

  “Stop it, I need to be alone with the raven.”

  “No need. The Monarch Raven thinks it knows where Peyton is. He told me how to get there. Let’s go.”

  “I have to get Ann. There’s only room for two in my pickup truck.”

  “Then we will squeeze together.”

  As Banks and Sway walked together towards Ann, the awkward meeting of these two resulted in an awkward walk from Banks, a quickened heart rate, faster breathing and an annoying bulge in his pants.

  The raven leapt to flight. His successive caws sounded almost like laughter. After introductions were made to Ann and Sway the trio arrived at the truck. Sway was about to enter the truck in the middle of the threesome but Banks asked Ann to sit next to him. She countered that she wanted to be next to the door. Sway’s body was next to Banks’ and he could smell the gardenias. Her leg touched his and at that very instant, the White Raven, atop the empty Powers’ house, laid an egg.

  As Banks started his engine, so did Tricia. Johnny sat in the passenger seat of Tricia’s new car. He was somewhat anxious from ‘remembrance of things past.’ Just in case, he folded his hands in a protective manner over his crotch.

  When the two cars got to the Juneau Memorial Hospital Tricia saw the Kadets talking to two police officers. They pointed to the empty parking space where there car was stolen.

  The Abrams and the Powers walked over to the Kadets. Murray looked haggard and was lifting his sling with his free hand. He whispered to his wife Dassi that he needed to go lie down. The police told Stan that it would be wise if he searched his house thoroughly. This solved Murray’s problem.

  The police discovered that Peyton and Plato were on the third floor of the hospital. Banks drove up to the police and he was trying to listen to their conversation with Stan and Julie. He heard one of the police officers say: “...yes a blind boy and his dog were seen going into the room of a patient by the name of—Hey you, you need to park your car or keep going.”

  Banks drove off with Tricia following. Sway was giving directions to the location that the Monarch Raven suggested.

  The Eye of Mount Juneau

  “You’re awfully quiet, Johnny,” Tricia whispered as she followed Banks’ pickup truck.

  Johnny queried, “Do you know where we’re going?”

  “We’re going to find my brother Peyton. I’m really worried about him and I’m worried about you too.”

  “Me? Don’t be. I’m doing fine.”

  Tricia added, “Seeing anybody?”

  “I’m working fifty hours a week on rebuilding the bridge. My off time is spent with the shaman...you know, he helped me graduate last semester with math tutoring, but now we’re working in other areas.” His eyes turned towards Tricia, “No time for girls.”

  Tricia slammed on the brakes, she could have slowed down but the rejection infuriated her. Yes, slamming on the breaks to throw Johnny off balance was the proper punishment. Banks’ truck was making a turn on Gold Street. Since Johnny indirectly declared that there was no time for her, she began cracking her gum. She had to give up on Johnny, which meant that she had to give up on the best sex she ever experienced. He was her first and only. Well senior year was about to start at Juneau-Douglas High and there might be prospects. New worlds to conquer!

  At the instant of Tricia’s screeching brakes, Ann turned around and caught Johnny’s eye. She also caught his two muscular arms bracing himself against the dashboard. Somehow she sensed that Tricia braked intentionally since there was plenty of distance between the two cars. Her thoughts wandered to her new dilemma. Could she maintain her wonderful, loving friendship with Banks and enjoy the warmth of Johnny’s embrace? Was it the classic feud of love vs. lust?

  Banks was thinking about Sway. He was thinking about lust too. It took him a while to cool down and concentrate about Peyton. There was a period of time that he loved Peyton like a brother, even a son. Peyton initially was an excuse to enter white society—a means to an end. But the process was rewarding. He never had a younger brother and working with Peyton had given Banks a sense of purpose. He would save Peyton from death several times which in turn created a strong bond for him, a new role and sense of duty. He was protector. He didn’t feel that way to anyone else. And now that he was Chief, it would seem natural that this was a trait that he must recapture. Ann really didn’t need protection. She had all the advantages in life including the fact that she was remarkably intelligent. It seemed that Ann didn’t need him...for anything. He thought that after Ann had finished this senior year, she would be off to a high priced university on the other side of the world. Where did that leave Banks?

  Sway patted Banks’ leg: “Banks, turn on Basin Road and follow it to the end.”

  Banks thought these were more than directions; the touch of his leg created a grinding and pleasantly nagging surge of lust. He wanted to scream, “Touch me again!” But that was not his purpose. Peyton. Yes, he must think of Peyton. It hit him that once again he was on a mission to rescue the boy that was responsible for destruction, injuries and death in Juneau. Peyton had killed Banks’ parents. Peyton was also going to kill Banks until an agreement was reached. Why not just let Peyton disappear? And then Banks realized that maybe that was why the raven flew to Sway and not him with ‘intel.’ Maybe the raven knew that I might not act but that Sway would insure the search for Peyton. Maybe, just maybe, the raven was right.

  The two vehicles parked at the end of Perseverance Trail. Once parked, Ann ran off to two alpines that camouflaged the Kadet’s car. “Peyton is here. I tell you he must be here; that car is the Kadet’s car from across the boulevard.”

  The others all agreed, they looked around for Peyton and his dog Plato. It was Johnny that noted broken shrubs, possibly from Peyton’s stick. Johnny led the others through the Perseverance Trail to its end. They were at a high vantage point and there was no sign of others. Sway looked up. She pointed at the Mountain Juneau Trail. “That’s where Peyton is. Up at the top of the summit. About a two mile walk.”

  But it was really a two mile climb up a trail that at times reached a forty-five degree angle. What Johnny noted was more marks of Peyton’s cane and dog prints. Tricia thought it was time to call the police but none of their phones had service up here. They were 3500 feet over Juneau.

  Tricia said, “Let’s go back and get the police.”

  Johnny argued that we were so close and Peyton might be in jeopardy. “...and I know how much you care for your brother,” Johnny added. The eyebrows of Tricia and Banks raised with dubiousness.

  Tricia stopped at the one mile point out of exhaustion. Johnny lent a hand and dragged her up the heavily sloping trail. This was an improvement from his previous rejection.

  Sway was very hearty and still was walking/climbing with grace. Banks held hands with Ann whose eyes went to Johnny.

  Huffing and puffing they made it to the summit of Mount Juneau. Peyton was nowhere to be seen, but the group had a moment to lord over the town of Juneau below. Their eyes went to the Gastineau Channel and then the Mendenhall Glacier. They noted the transition from the coastal forests up to the surrounding alpines. Their exhaustion was comforted by welcomed 65 degree breezes. This was beauty extraordinaire. It was Tricia who broke the awe-inspiring silence: “I feel like a goddess atop Mount Olympus.” There was a momentary respect for Tricia’s utterance but it was dashed when she followed up with, “Now all I need is an Olympian god to shack up with!” The group’s eyes were upon her. “Joking! I was just joking...a little.”

  Tricia sat down. Banks, Ann and Johnny sat. Sway walked over to Tricia: “That’s a beautiful scarf you’re wearing.”

  Tricia responded, “Thanks. It’s a Givenchy. Daddy bought it for me. Want to see?”

  Sway opened her hand. “By the way, do you have enough gum for all of us?

  “Yes, I always carry a spare
pack,” she confirmed.

  Sway faced the group: “You all know about the ‘Eye of Mount Juneau? It’s right over there. I want you each to take a piece of gum and chew on it. Then we will cover the eye. We must temporarily blind it with Tricia’s scarf.”

  “You’ll ruin my scarf,” Tricia cried.

  “We’ll launder it for you afterwards,” Sway countered.

  “You will not launder a Givenchy, you will have it dry cleaned,” Tricia acquiesced.

  Banks quizzed, “What are you up to Sway?”

  Sway explained that the eye on the nearby rock overlooked Juneau. The way to get to Peyton was to cover the eye. This caused doubt and confusion from the others. To assuage their concerns Sway said that she was here about three years ago with Roger Rainwater. She added that the Monarch Raven also confirmed it. Ann believed all of this from previous experiences. Johnny took it in as truth since he had worked with shaman and was soon to further his education with the shaman who indicated that he would be studying the spirit world. Banks was certain that Sway was right. Tricia just wanted her scarf back.

  The Eye of Mount Juneau was near the precipice of a 3500 foot drop. It appeared to be a painted eye that was on a large rock that could be noticed from the entire city below. It was the size of a beach ball.

  Following Sway’s instructions, each placed their gum around the circumference of the eye. Then Sway affixed the Givenchy scarf to the five pieces. Immediately, all heard a noticeable sound. They returned the middle of the summit and a cylinder appeared—it seemed to reach to the heavens. It was large in circumference and translucent. The muffled sound was heard again. And all of a sudden, Plato stood against the translucent cylinder from the inside. A translucent door was available to the group.

  They opened the door and Plato attempted several times to come out unsuccessfully. It was if there were something blocking his exit. Banks put his arm through the door; he was able to pet the dog. Banks told the others to hold hands. One by one the group entered the cylinder. Once in, the entrance behind them sealed.