And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >X-Originating-IP: [208.198.144.133] >From: "Becky S" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Dead Pawn >Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 23:35:25 CST > >Hi there! I thought you might be interested in a bit of prose that was >passed my way. > >Many Blessings, >-BeckyS "Gentle Breeze (Udanvti Unole)" > > > >Subject: Dead Pawn > > >Dead Pawn > > What is the price of caring for your children, this came to me >when I returned home. There was mom sitting at the table drinking >coffee with a far away look in her eyes.. It was Saturday, town day, >for those on the Rez, the time you get up early and get on your good >clothes, the sheep are fed out of the closely guarded bales of hay >saved for days like this. They will be penned for the day. Grandma is >dressed, long skirt and velveteen blouse, the truck is checked, all are >fed. The old couple get in the front. the rest of us crawl in the back >in the bed and settle in for the ride. We see many others on the road, >there is food to buy, car parts needed, twine, rope, animal medicine >and goodies for the kids, a chance to eat out, maybe a movie and to see >old friends. > > It was a good day. We travelled on to town, there was a stop at >the Navajo Shopping Center, the old folks like this place it is like >old time trading posts. My mother gets up and crawls out of the back of >the pickup, she has been quiet during our ride. I follow her into the >store, she looks at the many colored Pendleton shawls, and stops at the >counter to get a money order. We wander around and slowly there is the >back of the store. Many are here, it is crowded. This is where our >people pawn our hard goods, silver jewelry, turquoise, jaclo, concho >belts. It is accepted as a way of life to do this, every family has >hard goods, they are hidden away like money in a bank. The family >heirlooms, the treasure of each family. A question, are you going to >pawn something, it is not necessary there is enough money for today. >She walks away looking at all the dead pawn in the cases there. > > Looking, there is a bracelet made many years ago at a time when I >was young, I had worked in a curios shop in Tucson, I was able to find >some Morenci, a brilliant blue turquoise, hard and choice, it was good >stone. I had thought for a long time about a design, using what is >called No. 1 triangle wire, sterling silver, it became a large heavy >bracelet favored by the old people. It was not an ordinary one for sale >to tourists but made for my children and their children. I had brought >it home and showed my father, he put it on and wore it around the house >all day. Let me take care of it for you son, when you want it back >just tell me it will be yours. So it was left, when he passed away it >remained at home. > > There it was in the case. There were many there, those dead >pawn. Where is the counter person, an old man comes. That bracelet, is >it really dead? Oh yes, it is, do you want to look at it. My hands >held it, there is the mark, my initials, the scratch from dropping it >while polished, the edges softened by my father wearing it on town day >for many years. Can this be redeemed, the old man changed his smile, >no, it's too late, but you can buy it back. Turning it over, there it >is a price more that can be afforded. The price is too high, it goes >back in the case. > > After a while when we got home that evening after a long day, I >asked my mother, why. She looked at me and said while you were away, >things have been tough, your brother needed help. I gave it to him to >get money, it seems that there was never enough to pay the interest, so >now it is gone. What about him, I asked, she told me he was having >trouble with a job, but the party life and drinking in Albuquerque at >the Midnight Rodeo had taken it's toll. She said, what am I to do, if >you need help I must try. What about the rest of the hard goods, she >wouldn't look at me. She quietly said, they are gone too. > > Somewhere they are, in some store, in some closet, in some >drawer, these things that are no longer ours. They have been sold, but >the value is not in the material, but at the cost of a mother caring >for a lost child. I wanted to get angry, to shout, to yell, but there >was nothing to say. I told her it will be o.k. I am a silversmith, >Mom, I can make more. > Oh, the price of caring and foolish children. >-- >Surf Usenet at home, on the road, and by email -- always at Talkway. >http://www.talkway.com > > > > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER=-=-=>>>> If you think you are too small to make a difference; try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito.... African Proverb <<<<=-=http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ =-=>>>> IF it says: "PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW...." Please Check it before you send it at: http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm
