JC: William Redman Carter Noble Savage Chapter 52 By Lazlo Zalezac Copyright (C) Lazlo Zalezac, 2005 “That woman is impossible,” Forest Shadow declared. “Which woman?” William asked looking up from the journal in which his paper had appeared. In the week that she had been there, Forest Shadow had said that about Lisa, Lucy, Jan, Natalie, and Nicole. He didn’t think there was another woman in the house about whom she could complain. “Jan. Can you imagine that she started in on me again about how I treat Lucy? White people just like her were the ones that raped our culture. Why should I say please and thank you? I’m sure that Jan would love to see us lose the reservations and become homeless,” Forest Shadow declared expecting William to agree with her. “I seriously doubt that Jan would want anyone to be homeless,” William answered finding the assertion to be rather insulting to Jan. He liked Jan and thought that the relationship between Lucy and Jan was healthy. “Why not?” “She was homeless for more than ten years,” William answered knowing the effect that his words would have. He hoped that Forest Shadow wouldn’t use that knowledge in an attempt to hurt Jan. Of course, Jan didn’t have pretensions about her past. The statement confirmed her opinion of Jan. The woman was a loser and was there because they felt sorry for her. She said, “That doesn’t surprise me.” He closed his journal and turned to face Forest Shadow directly. In a stern voice, he said, “You are a guest in this house. You should learn to act like one.” “I don’t like whites,” Forest Shadow said looking at William with a challenging expression on her face. She said, “We were a strong people with pride. We were a peaceful people who lived at one with nature until the white man showed up. They destroyed a rich culture using bioterrorism, murder, and theft. You should be just as angry as I am.” In a sharp tone of voice, William said, “Don’t give me that Noble Savage bullshit. It is just as much of a myth as the Ignorant Savage. If you want to take offense over events that happened in the past, then at least make sure that you have an accurate picture of the past.” Surprised at his reaction, she asked, “What do you mean?” “Do you think our ancestors were casually wandering around eating berries and hunting animals without a care in the world? No, they weren’t. They were fighting for their survival with a near subsistence standard of living. There were wars between tribes that were quite brutal when populations grew larger than their individual territories could support,” William answered. “But that is just a little of our heritage,” she objected. “That is where you are wrong,” William said. He leaned forward and said, “You have to understand both the good and the bad of our heritage before you go around acting superior to others. What happened between the True People and the Whites was a war of survival. It was a war of survival for individuals, tribes, and cultures. It wasn’t a new war. Different tribes had already been fighting that war with each other. “A lot of very horrible acts were committed during that war. There were brutal massacres, rapes of women, and tortures. Both sides had individuals that wanted to totally eliminate the other side. I’m talking genocide, not a negotiated treaty or getting sent to a reservation. We lost the war, but we survived. “Some of the worst things that happened after the years of war were the result of well meaning people trying to help out those they saw as inferior. They tried to stop us from speaking our languages and practicing our rituals. They forced our people to convert to Christianity at the point of a sword. “Don’t forget that they were trying to save the souls of our ancestors from an eternity in hell. As far as they were concerned, our souls were damned because we believed in the Great Spirit and we didn’t believe in Jesus Christ. Each time we danced, they thought we were bargaining with the devil. Each time we went into a sweat lodge, they thought we were recreating the outer limits of hell,” William said. Forest Shadow was surprised to hear William take the side of the Whites. She said, “You’ve turned against your own people.” Shaking his head, William said, “No, I haven’t. I’m trying to teach you something. Don’t whitewash the truth because there are some facts that you don’t like. Don’t ignore facts because they disagree with your politics. Don’t condemn the Whites for actions that were not meant to harm. Try to understand the full truth and not just one side of the story. When you do that, you’ll find nobility in our people; a nobility that far exceeds that limited view that you take of them.” “What? Our people were miserable until you lifted that curse,” Forest Shadow said defensively. William looked at Forest Shadow for a full minute without saying a word. He was beginning to wonder if she could be salvaged. Such uncompromising hate of a group for actions in the past was not healthy. Ultimately, that attitude would prevent her from helping her tribe find its way in the future. The eternal victim became just that; a victim for all of eternity. Finally, he said, “Come out on the patio with me.” She stood to follow him out, but he stopped at his desk and picked up a pack of cigarettes. Surprised that he smoked, she followed him to the patio eyeing the pack of cigarettes. The significance of smoking while telling a story was not lost on her. He sat down and removed a cigarette before handing the pack to her. She looked at it and said, “I don’t smoke.” Without making a comment, William took the pack back and lit his cigarette. After he exhaled to the sky, he started to tell Forest Shadow about how his Great Grandfather came to have his name. He told the story in a manner that emphasized the titanic struggle between a poor Indian boy and a highly respected man of the cloth. His words touched Forest Shadow and it was only when William revealed the name of the young man at the very end that she realized he was talking about William Redman. Surprised by the ending, she sat back in her chair and said, “Your Great Grandfather won in the end.” “Yes, he did.” Impressed by his skill in relating the story, she said, “You are a great story teller.” “Not really,” William said having heard some of the best story tellers. He put out his cigarette in the ever present ashtray and said, “Let us talk about respect.” “Okay,” Forest Shadow said wondering if she was about to get another lecture or a story. The story was much easier on her ego to hear. William lit another cigarette and sat back in his chair. He said, “Once there was a young woman of pale skin who was accepted into a tribe of the True People. She knew nothing of their ways or their history, but recognized the honor that was being given her. It was a real honor and one that she did not request. “Not wanting to cause insult by an act performed in ignorance, the young woman went to a wise woman of the tribe. She asked if it was possible for her to learn of the ways and history of the tribe so that she would know how to be polite. The wise woman saw the wisdom of the request and arranged for someone to teach her all that she would need to know. “The young woman thanked the wise woman and went home to wait for her teacher to arrive. She set aside a room for the teacher and sought guidance from others of the tribe on how to welcome her. The time for the teacher to arrive came and went, but there was no sign of the teacher. “Afraid that something bad might have happened to the teacher, the young woman called the wise woman. After explaining the absence of the teacher, the young woman accepted the word of the wise woman that within a moon the teacher would arrive. The time came and passed, but the teacher did not show. “Thinking that she might be at fault, she called the wise woman and asked if she had caused insult to the teacher. The wise woman assured her that she had done nothing wrong. Once again, the wise woman assured her that within a moon the teacher would arrive. “Many moons passed and the teacher never arrived. Embarrassed at having to report that the teacher had not arrived, the young woman called the wise woman. The wise woman was embarrassed that her word, given in good faith, had proved false. “Finally, the teacher arrived without warning. On arrival, the teacher berated the young woman for not greeting her in a proper manner. The teacher announced her displeasure at having to be there. The teacher criticized the room that had been set aside for her,” William said. Uncomfortable with the direction in which the story was headed, Forest Shadow shifted in her chair. This was the kind of story that was told to children on how not to act. The idea that this story could be told and retold to kids through the ages was a very unsettling thought. Continuing his story, he said, “Lucy was respectful of the tribe, the wise woman, and the teacher. She wanted to learn the ways of the tribe so that she could honor them. She went to the wise woman for advice as all young members of the tribe should do. She prepared for the visit of the teacher in accordance to the advice of the wise woman. “Talks with Truth was respectful of the tribe, the student, and the teacher. She sought to train the young woman so that the tribe would be better served. She was respectful of the young woman by listening to her problem and giving advice. She was respectful of the teacher by praising the depth of knowledge possessed by her and recommending her for the task. “Forest Shadow was not respectful of the tribe, the wise woman, and the young woman. She thought it a waste of time to teach a member of the tribe the ways of the tribe. She made the wise woman look like a fool. She was abusive to the young woman.” The woman stared at William and then hung her head in shame. Hearing one of the greatest Medicine Men alive criticize her was humiliating. She didn’t say a word, but sat in the chair staring at the ground. It would only compound her shame to argue with him. William said, “Today is Thursday. I want you to leave the house. While you are gone, I want you to buy some real clothes. That outfit looks ridiculous. You’re walking around dressed like Pocahontas in misery. No one dresses like that any more. Our warriors are wearing Brooks Brother’s Suits, carry Armani briefcases, and wear Rolex watches. The days when they try to make a statement by dressing up like Hollywood Indians are over. Get the hint.” Her face turned bright red in embarrassment. He wasn’t the first who had told her that, but his position among Native Americans gave the comment more force than what her parents possessed. She nodded her head. He continued, “Go to a hotel for the next two nights. While you are there, think about what I have said to you. Come back at eight in the morning on Saturday. Do not be late. You will travel with Lucy, Jan, and Natalie to Pittsburgh. You are not to talk to them, but to watch and learn. When you return here, we will talk.” Forest Shadow looked up at William and nodded her understanding. He watched her enter the house. By the time he went in the house, she had left. Rock noticed him and said, “She looked like someone killed her dog and forced her to watch it die. What happened?” “We had a little talk,” William said. The cold crisp air of winter left the night sky clear. The stars danced in the heavens. The nearly full moon lit the back yard. Seated in a chair, William drank his hot coffee waiting for Forest Shadow to come out to talk with him. He had sat down at the same time Lucy returned from Pittsburgh with Jan, Natalie, and Forest Shadow. The back door opened and the shape of a woman outlined by the lights within the house filled the door. It was obvious that she was wearing blue jeans and a coat. Satisfied by the change in clothes, he said, “I’m here by the patio table.” Trying to see in the dark, she made her way to the patio table stumbling into the barbecue grill on the way. Taking a seat, she said, “I did as you asked.” “What did you see today?” “The people there… They worshiped her,” she answered. It had been the most amazing thing she had ever seen. Ugly dirty people had treated Lucy like she was a queen. They fetched coffee for her, gave up their seats for her, and listened to every word that she said. “Why do you say that?” William asked. “It was obvious. Every gesture they made was respectful. They spoke to her with awe in their voices. They watched her and tried to anticipate her needs. I’ve never seen anything like it,” she answered. “Why do you think they feel that way?” It was a difficult question to answer. She had asked that question to herself the entire ride home from the Homeless Hotel. She said, “I guess because she sees them as people and treats them with dignity.” “And?” “She treats them as equals,” Forest Shadow answered. “What did you think of them?” “They were ugly and filthy. I was disgusted by them,” she answered. Much to her shame, she had encountered a Native American who was homeless. He had told her that he wasn’t the only homeless Native American. There were thousands of them spread out across the country. “Was Injun Joe there?” “Yes,” she said. She hated that name and wondered how William could say it without disgust. “I’m glad. Last time we were there he was in Florida. You do know that he’s one of Lucy’s favorites,” William said. “I noticed. She hugged him when we arrived and kissed him goodbye,” Forest Shadow said. To her shame, she couldn’t bring herself to touch the man. It amazed her that Lucy had hugged many of the men and women there. “Do you know why he’s one of her favorites?” “No.” “Did you talk to him at all?” William asked. “No.” “He used to live in Atlanta. Since he didn’t have a high school degree, his choice of jobs was pretty limited. Like many of us, he doesn’t have a fear of heights. He took advantage of that fact and worked on tall structures. For a while, he washed windows on skyscrapers. Later, he worked construction on skyscrapers and bridges. Between construction jobs, he took any job that came his way. He had planned to marry a young woman and then buy a house for them to live in. “One day, he was on top of a water tower painting it with his friend. The two of them didn’t worry about how high they were and worked without their safety line. The problem was that they were drinking on the job. His friend fell off and died. Injun Joe felt really guilty about it. You see, he was the one who brought the bottle of booze with him. He never went back to work after that,” William said. “Oh,” Forest Shadow replied. “That happened before the curse on our people was removed. He doesn’t have the same problem with alcohol today, but he still hasn’t forgiven himself. Lucy hopes that one day he’ll realize that it wasn’t his fault that his friend died. His friend chose to drink. His friend should have been wearing the safety line,” William said. “I didn’t know.” “You didn’t bother to find out,” William said. It wasn’t an accusation, but a fact. He took a puff off his cigarette and then said, “You see, Lucy does bother to find out. She talks to the men and women at the Homeless Hotel and not at them.” “She treats them like equals.” “Exactly.” Forest Shadow sat in her chair wondering if she was supposed to say something. As the silence dragged on, she finally said, “She’s a credit to our people.” “I’m glad you think so,” William said with a small smile that was hidden in the dark. He took another drag off his cigarette. Exhaling to the sky, he asked, “Will you teach her?” “Yes.” “Will you treat her with respect?” “Yes.” After taking one last drag off his cigarette and then putting it out in the ash tray, William rose from his chair. He said, “Everyone in this house is important for making life pleasant for Lucy. Lisa cooks and cleans so that she can pursue her studies. Ken takes care of the house and cars so that she never has to worry about them. Even Tim gives her someone to play with on occasion. Natalie and Nicole are here to keep her safe. Jan saved her from being beaten and raped. If you respect Lucy, you will allow everyone here to do their jobs.” “Yes, sir,” Forest Shadow said. The information that Jan had saved Lucy from being beaten and raped was a shock. She hadn’t figured out the role that the middle aged woman had in the house since she didn’t appear to do anything. She had assumed that the woman was leaching off the success of William. “Let’s go in the house where it is warm. I believe that Lisa is making some hot chocolate,” William said. He picked up his coffee cup and gestured towards the door with it. The pair went into the house. Once inside, Forest Shadow said, “I’m going to my room. I’ll see you in the morning.” “Okay,” William said without further comment. Lucy came over to William and hugged him. She smiled and asked, “Did you miss me?” “Every minute that you were gone,” he answered with a smile. After giving her a kiss intended to curl her toes, he asked, “So how did your trip go?” “Good. Jan got permission to tell Bottle Cap’s story. He wants to read it before anyone else sees it,” she answered. Bottle Cap was surprised that anyone might want to hear his story. As far as he could tell, the only thing that he did of any note was attend the wedding of The Chicago Angel. “I can’t wait that long.” “He did mention that you, Harry, and I could read it first,” she said. “That’s nice of him,” William said. He was silent for a moment and then said, “Happy Harry won’t be around to read it.” “Why?” Lucy asked and then covered her mouth with her hand when she realized what William meant. She knew the reason why Happy Harry wouldn’t be around and said, “Sorry.” “No problem.” “When?” “The statues will be finished in a couple of months. Sometime after that, I presume,” William answered. He sighed and then tried to put on a cheerful face. He said, “Let’s get some of that hot chocolate.” “Right,” Lucy said wrapping her arm around his. They didn’t move from where they were standing. “I heard you saw Injun Joe?” “Yes, I did. He has a job washing windows on one of the downtown buildings,” Lucy said with a smile. “That is good news.” “It’s very good news. I told him that when he got a place of his own to leave his address and that I’d stop by sometime to see it,” Lucy said. She knew that he’d probably feel a little uncomfortable about having her see his place, but he would get over that. “I’m sure that Bottle Cap will have some suggestions about what we can get him for a housewarming present. He’s pretty good about that,” William said. Lisa came out of the kitchen and handed both of them mugs of hot chocolate. Sitting down at the table with Lucy beside him, William said, “Tell me all of the gossip.” For the next hour, Lucy told William about what was happening among the homeless all over the country. Some of the stories were funny, some were tragic, and others were just informative. It didn’t matter, hearing the stories over a cup of hot chocolate gave him a connection to the men and women who were his friends.