Black Eagle Dream

Black Eagle Dream

May 3rd, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 31

Dwayne had only to tie down the old man’s longboard on the luggage rack of his old suburban, and the three men would be good to go. Dwayne had taken out the two rows of seats in order to make a comfortable pallet for his friend to rest upon. Cyrus was very weak now, so sitting for the entire journey would be impossible for the once powerful man. Dwayne phoned his friend Nadia Titla.

She was the managing editor and owner operator of a local native quarterly newspaper. Nadia had named it, ‘You Are On Indian Land’.

Her phone went to voicemail, so Dwayne let her know they were heading out to Shiprock, and also where he left the spare key. He had given her the alarm code, so she was prepared. Nadia, and her coworker Natalia were going to house sit while he was out of town. They also agreed to feed and water his horses.

Dwayne also told Nadia he had something important he wanted her to see.

He did not elaborate but promised to fill her in when he got back to town.

Nadia had recently received the news regarding officer Bob and his alleged assault of a native american college student, Jesse Coyote. After interviewing Jesse, Nadia had asked Jesse if wanted to be a part of her first exposé highlighting his assault by an Antelope Springs police officer.

He agreed, and promised to provide pictures that had not been previously released by law enforcement.

Nadia had her mocs on the ground, in an attempt to get a statement.

Right now local law enforcement appeared to be in damage control mode, which means they were avoiding her like small pox laden blankets.

She was the proverbial thorn in local law enforcement officials side in this part of Arizona. Nadia was relentless in reporting the numerous violations of indigenous peoples civil liberties. She had been hounding Chief Edwards for the last few years, but thus far he had been able to manipulate the system, circumventing the law and the truth at every turn.

She though was undeterred, as she felt that eventually something was going to have to give.

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Black Eagle Dream

May 2nd, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 32

“Got him.” Dwayne negotiated in and around small clumps of scrub brush to retrieve the quail he had dispatched with his old but reliable wrist rocket. Dwayne had offered Sonny Ray the wrist rocket earlier, but Sonny Ray assured him he would be fine with his pocket of rocks. Dwayne had not seen or heard from him in over an hour. Dwayne had shot ten quail.

After placing his quail in a used Bluebird flour sack, he decided to head back in the direction of camp, and keep an eye out for his hunting partner.

Dwayne headed down a small hill, walking on a game trail, when a cotton tail rabbit decided to make a jail break, and crashed through some mesquite branches near to the trail where he walked. “Wascally wabbit, scared the shit out of me,” Dwayne said in his best Elmer Fudd ever.

Suddenly he paused in his tracks. Dwayne sensed something watching him.
He looked around cautiously, moving only with his eyes.

Last year, his cousin Graham from Medicine River had been attacked and mauled by a mountain lion.

However, his sense of smell alerted him to the fact that there was no danger whatsoever.

He climbed the hill slowly and saw Sonny Ray sitting under a large piñon tree.

A cream colored cloud of cannabis blew gently upward, dispersing through the branches of the large tree. The burning flower wafed down in his direction. Both men smiled.

“Smoke Signals, hawaiian style,” Sonny Ray said.

“You did good with your pocket of rocks.” Dwayne sat down next to Sonny Ray, looking at his five quail. “Not bad yourself,” Sonny Ray said pointing at the flour sack Dwayne had placed on the ground. The men sat sipping water. Dwayne was a quiet man, and fairly reserved, but him and Sonny Ray got along like they had known each other for a minute.
“There’s a stream a little further up the canyon where we can go and clean these quail,” Dwayne said. Sonny Ray nodded, as he placed the five quail in the flour sack.

Tonight they would feast.

The afternoon had slipped away with the sun as the two men prepared to head back to camp. Large boulders dotted the land. A vapor blood trail followed quietly behind them. They had walked up the next hill, and stood quietly as they both gazed down at the small camp fire in the distance.

Cyrus was waiting. They descended to the bottom of the hill.

The leader of the quail covey could be heard calling, directing the surviving covey of quail to follow the escape plan.
The lead scout of the quail sat perched high on a branch, surveying the field. It sought refuge for those in its charge.

Vowing revenge for its fallen, the covey of quail retired from the field of battle, seeking respite, as they slipped away into the fading light of the Arizona landscape.

The men had walked up the next hill, and we’re almost to the bottom of that hill, when they saw it. It was kind of hard to believe really.
It was a bobcat. Both Sonny Ray and Dwayne had lived in Arizona long enough to know that it was rare for anyone to see a bobcat out in the open. It just doesn’t happen.
Both men became immediately aware that this particular bobcat had very little fear of man.

It approached nonchalantly, like your cat would do, when you first come home from work.

The bobcat was maybe thirty five pounds. It appeared to be somewhat malnourished; which in of itself was sufficient to account for it’s bold behavior. Either that or it had rabies. Nonetheless, these small cats were not to be discounted. The bobcat began a slow calculated approach to the men, and their quail. The bobcat could taste the blood of the quail in the air. It began with a low guttural growl. They were as prepared as possible, one with a wrist rocket, the other with a couple of tangerine sized rocks at the ready. The bobcat continued to advance closer now. It began to hiss really slow, but with a rising crescendo of hissy fit loud. Sonny Ray got chicken skin.

Without any firearms their options were a little scanty. Common sense said drop the quail, and cut your losses. Dwayne looked at Sonny Ray, and both men nodded in silent agreement to do just that. The bobcat was perhaps, sixty five yards away. As Dwayne was about to place the hard earned quail on the ground, the bobcat picked up it’s pace. “Not good,” Sonny Ray said, in the simplest wordage possible. Dwayne nodded in full agreement.

Both men began looking around, as they subconsciously wondered if they could out Macgyver the other.

“Oh Shit,” one of the men said, as the bobcat closed.

Out of the shadows of the sheer canyon cliffs, the giant black eagle, leapt from it’s rocky perch. The aggressive movement of the bobcat had aroused its rapacious instinct to dive, to hunt, to kill.

Though at this time it would not be out of hunger. It’s large powerful wings carried the black eagle in and out of a dimension rarely observed by mankind. The winged creature flew through the air, bearing down on the hapless bobcat.

The two men didn’t have a clue, as their interest was not particularly focused on the sky at this time. They began to back up but not quite ready to succumb to panic. The bobcat was within forty yards now. Dwayne dropped the blood stained bag of quail. The bobcat continued its quest.

The nubian eyes of the black eagle stared fixed at it’s target. Its talons were fully extended, as death approached silently, unrelenting was the Black Eagle Dream.

The heavenly predator laid claim to this creature of the earth.

Without the hint of danger upon it, the powerful black eagle snatched the bobcat from the ground; the way a child might pluck a dandelion from the grass. Its massive wings were perhaps only eight, maybe nine feet from the ground; as it blew over the top of Dwayne and Sonny Ray.

This was the original stealth fighter.

“AAhhhh!!!” The men cried out in unison, as they threw themselves, instinctively to the ground. Dwayne and Sonny Ray saw something that would not soon be forgotten; the terrified, and confused look of the bobcat, as the black eagle circled back flying over the two men a second time. The doomed bobcat seemed to plead with the men, as it’s legs were hopelessly flopping around in the wind. Its eyes seemed to beg; ‘help me.’

They could hear the cry of the cat on the wind, as the black eagle disappeared into the encroaching darkness.

The fading sound of the bobcat bleating out a final cry for his mother proved to be inconsequential.

The men stood slowly. After dusting off, they watched the silhouette of the black eagle finally fading into the night. “I am not sure what just happened here,” Dwayne offered with a college educated grin.

“What the fuck,” was all the high school graduate could manage.

“I concur sir,” Dwayne said. Both men began to laugh heartily. Dwayne had gathered their quail, and began the final push to their camp.

As the two men walked, they became captive to their own thoughts.

Sonny Ray thought about this black eagle. By virtue of the fact that this black eagle showed up when it did, it was obvious to Sonny Ray that it had acted out of a protective measure rather than of need.

Was this really happening to him?

The sun had set, and the stars began to shed their celestial light upon the earth, as the coyote sat on the hill with his friend the gila monster, watching the unpredictable humans.

The two men continued walking. Dwayne grinned. Cyrus was right, Sonny Ray was the one. And why wouldn’t he be, Sonny Ray was his son. The two men walked side by side as they neared camp. Dwayne had set up near the canyon wall. The glow of fire reflected off the many layers of sandstone of the canyon. The smell of various foods mingled in the air. The two men finally approached camp. Cyrus had brewed a pot of coffee.

Like a couple of teenagers they began to relate to the old man about the black eagle and the bobcat.

After sharing a simple but tasty meal the three men settled in on their bed rolls. The crackling of the burning mesquite was the only sound in the cool evening of night. Sonny Ray though, had grown weary of all the solitude, and opted for a Hawaiian mo’olelo, a story.

“Did you know, that a native hawaiian was at the Battle of the Little Big Horn?”

Sonny Ray asked, from deep, deep, left field.

The two men turned slightly in the direction of Sonny Ray.
“It’s true, really. This hawaiian guy ended up becoming a scout for Custer.”

Dwayne sat up slowly. “Sonny Ray are you jerking my chain?”

“I would never jerk your chain Dwayne I barely know you,” Sonny Ray smiled slyly.

Dwayne gave a look that denoted doubt.
“Dude I am dead serious. It is a little known fact, but a fact nonetheless,” Sonny Ray said trying not to laugh. “So what happen to him?” Dwayne asked, not thinking. “What happened to him? He got his ass killed that’s what. But hey he was running with the bad guys so what did he expect?” Sonny Ray stated, setting up the finish to his story.

“The sad thing though was, he was actually a relative of mine,” Sonny Ray said, pretending to be sad. “Sonny Ray I know we just met, but I have to tell you something.” Sonny Ray looked over at Dwayne trying to maintain his composure.

“You’re so full of shit.”

The old man chuckled, waiting for more. “Dwayne I’m serious now.” “Okay wise guy if he was your relative then what was his name,” Dwayne asked trying to squash his story.

“His name was Charlie Puka in the shirt,” Sonny Ray said proudly.

“Charlie Puka in the what?” Dwayne asked, knowing all the while he was being sucked into the black hole of his new friend’s story.

“Bruh his name was Charlie Puka in the shirt,” Sonny Ray declared. There was a slight pause in the conversation. Dwayne mockingly sighed. “Okay, what does Puka in the shirt mean Sonny Ray?” Dwayne was fully committed to the story now.

“Puka is the hawaiian word for hole. The hawaiian scout had so many arrows in him, they called him,’”Charlie Puka in the shirt.’”

“You’re full of crap, but that was a pretty good story,” Dwayne said. Cyrus chuckled.

Soon all three men were laughing. The men grew quiet again.

They resumed their search, as the stars hung like good memories in the sky, reminding them it was good to laugh now and again, even in the face of death.

The wind began to swirl, blowing the fire into disarray. Cyrus drifted off to sleep. The two men began to be carried away into their own thoughts. They lay back, and continued to contemplate the beauty of the star filled skies above them.

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Black Eagle Dream

May 1st, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 33

Throughout the storied chronicles of men, in every culture on the planet that has ever been, there are songs that people embraced for generations; and continue to do so to this day.

For Cyrus, his song was

singular

in its nature.

It’s added rarity supposed a category all of its own.

His song was the Black Eagle Dream; and the sound of the wind as it rushed up in his face, landing swiftly on the hand of the old Hawaiian man.

Cyrus had awoke early. He began a trek of short duration; however in his weakened state the dying man struggled to get up the hill. After reaching his destination he gathered himself, slowly catching his breath.

Cyrus observed the sun blink its eyes as it rose over the edge of the mountains; preparing to offer another unconditional day of warmth and hope.

As Cyrus stood alone, he called out to the Black Eagle Dream.

In the canyon, the shadows held ancient songs of a time of the not so distant past.

Cyrus called through the ages, through the shadows,

calling to this song, for one final moment together.

Cyrus called to the Black Eagle Dream, with all the fading strength he had left.

The old man’s heart cried out in anguish and in sorrow.

Cyrus knew that this would be the last time that he would call to his other worldly companion.

Cyrus was not afraid. He loved his life, but he knew it was time to go. The old man stood quietly facing the canyon, straining as he searched the shadows with his fading eyes.

Without a sound, the large black eagle approached from behind flying low; so low, that it nearly made contact with the once powerful hawaiian.

The black eagle had never done that before.

Slowly it made a wide sweeping turn as it came down to sing its song to Cyrus one last time. Tears flowed down his soft leathered face. The black eagle landed. Its familial sounds were comforting in the ears of the old man.

Perhaps though, the black eagle had approached from an unfamiliar direction, to remind him that death had indeed come to take his song away.

Be that as it may, this special song would play to it’s melodious, and mournful crescendo;

like thunder in the ears of Cyrus Keali’iwahamana, and the Black Eagle Dream.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 30th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 34

Traveling through Diné country Dwayne would naturally pick up a hitchhiker or two, but with Cyrus laying down in the back of the suburban it would have proven to be problematic.

Cyrus had a pallid complexion for the last couple of days, so Dwayne was cognizant that time was not to be squandered. Cyrus had managed to eat a small amount of fruit, and some coffee. Other than that he had no desire to eat. Dwayne by nature was relatively quiet.

However, being a human, the strain of Cyrus’ impending death was beginning to show on this young man’s face.

Shiprock Mountain was beginning to loom large in the distance.
It was a beautiful day. Dwayne looked at Cyrus through his rear view mirror. “The road is going to get a little bumpy uncle. Hang on Cyrus,” Dwayne said gently.

Cyrus raised a hand weakly in the direction of the two young men. Sonny Ray glanced at Cyrus, and then said to Dwayne, “So this is it huh? This is where Cyrus wants to die?” “Yeah, this is it,” Dwayne replied. Their eyes met briefly.

Dwayne began to decrease his speed as he left the hardtop, and so began their journey on this long dusty road.

They were to camp at a place that Dwayne had discovered as a teenager, when him and his friends were out riding their horses.

Shiprock Dike in of itself, is breathtaking. You had a sense of what you were not when you stood out here on this land. The two men slowly assisted Cyrus from the vehicle. There was not a stop sign for miles. With the exception of their incidental stir, the noise of modern life was for the most part temporarily suspended. This rare quality of hushed silence was something that Sonny Ray had not heard in many years. As they finished unloading their supplies Sonny Ray was beginning to understand why Cyrus would want to come here.

The land evoked feelings of timelessness.

Dwayne had encouraged Cyrus to stay in the back of the suburban, but the old man insisted on his pallet being placed on the ground. As Cyrus put it, he wanted to feel the aloha āina near to his still beating heart. The wind blew periodically, causing the dust to swirl, like little tornado wannabe’s. Every so often a big dust devil would form, and then fade away into nothingness.

Shiprock Mountain rises up from the desert floor some, 7,177 feet above sea level.
From their view, you could easily recognize the great wings that spread out over the top of this sublime summit. Perhaps that was why Cyrus really loved coming to this place, and why he wanted to die near the mountain.

Shiprock Mountain is a sacred place.

The young men had not seen the black eagle since leaving the small canyon they had camped at the night before.

It would come though, as it always had.

The sun slowly slipped in the sky, and with it the life of Cyrus Keali’iwahamana.

The only thing they could do now was to sit and wait.

The sun would set in a few hours. And away his spirit would fly.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 29th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 35

The phone had rung incessantly since the two journalists had arrived to their office. “You Are On Indian Land, the paper of the people, this is Natalia, how may I help you? Okay, okay, I’ll let her know, yes, right now, okay thanks bye.” Natalia, the assistant editor to her best friend Nadia, hung up the phone. “Nadia, we gotta go. Chief Edwards is calling for a press conference in one hour.” Nadia looked up at her wall clock with a perplexed look etched on her face.

Nadia knew this was a calculated move on the part of local law enforcement. Since the release of the first report of her two part exposé, the Police Chief was in damage control mode. To call a press conference this late in the day in this sleepy town was generally not done. Chief Edwards had pulled this crap before. Nadia was also upset that she had missed Dwayne’s call prior to him going to New Mexico.

She wondered what Dwayne had to tell her, and it was presently irritating the shit out of her.

Men.

She had to really listen to them because their thought processes generally involved sex, a solution, mansplaining, food, more sex, money, sports and trucks but not necessarily in that order.

Nadia was very passionate about her chosen field of journalism. Natalia and Nadia had met in college, and they shared a likeness in their approach work. Natalia was Puerto Rican via New York City, and was very educated and articulate.

“Come the hell on bitch, we gotta go now,” Natalia articulated, as she dropped some recording equipment on her bosses desk.

Natalia flashed her sassy smile and waited. Nadia stood up. She was mentally drained. She smiled at her friend. Natalia always kept her spirit up when she wasn’t feeling it. The two women gathered up their equipment and headed out into town.

Nadia hoped Dwayne and Sonny Ray were doing okay, she knew that Cyrus was very ill and only had a short time to live. Nadia and Dwayne talked occasionally.

She liked him, but was not rushing into anything. He was a quiet man, but had a nice sense of humor. He was Navajo and she was white mountain Apache. Perhaps an intertribal love connect in the making.

Nadia turned onto the highway. She knew that Police Chief Edwards was not to be trusted.

She would have to listen carefully if she were to catch this word whisperer.

Nadia and Natalia finally arrived into Antelope Springs.

The town was buzzing with activity.

This growing mountain town had not seen this much activity in years. The two women headed into the press conference.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 28th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 36

With Shiprock Mountain standing majestic silent alone, Cyrus stood unsteadily, and watched the sun melting away in the ether. He had insisted that the two men help him to his feet. The skies were ablaze with color. From the brilliant yellow hues, with the flashing burning orange hues against a fading blue sky. The warmth of the fading sun felt good on the face of the old man.

There is nothing quite like the warmth of the sun.

Cyrus had not said anything of course to the young men, but Cyrus could feel the coldness of death creeping ever closer. He felt weary in his bones. His time was close now. He knew that not many people had the opportunity to choose where they would die, so Cyrus felt grateful that he had decided upon, and arrived to this sacred place of such beauty.

The old man now sat propped up on his pallet, alone with the last of his thoughts, his emotions slowly seeping into the earth. Dwayne stood up so that he could sit with Cyrus. Dwayne kneeled down next to the old man. Cyrus weakly offered his hand. Dwayne squeezed his hand gently, acknowledging the deep affection he had for this man. “I am proud to have seen you grow up into a fine young man,” Cyrus said softly. Dwayne glanced over at Sonny Ray sitting across the fire.

“Cyrus I cannot tell you all the things that are in my heart, but I want you to know how much I appreciate how you looked after me after mom and dad were killed.”

Dwayne faltered, a silent tear streaming down his cheek. “I will always cherish your words, your kindness, your love, your wisdom, I…” Dwayne could not contain himself any further as he began to shake in sorrow. He hung his head down, unable to speak. Cyrus squeezed the hand of Dwayne with what fading strength he had left to offer.

“As I prepare to lay down with my ancestors, I must say that though the journey at times was a very difficult one, there were many good things that I enjoyed.

Never forget to seek the good things, things of value, the things that don’t fade with time.

Never forget your Creator. It is He that will watch over you during your journey of this life.”

The old man closed his eyes, and began to drift back between the sleep world of death, and the dreams of a life that was fading fast.

“I love you Cyrus.” “I love you too,” Cyrus said, spent now. Dwayne stood slowly. He looked down at Cyrus, unsure if there was anything left to say in this moment. Dwayne brushed away his tears, and attempted to sniff his sorrow back into his heart.

After adjusting his hat, he stood up and slowly walked to the suburban to get Cyrus another blanket. Sonny Ray was placing more wood atop the fire, as embers from the coals shot up briefly into the night sky. After placing the blanket upon his dying friend, Dwayne sat down in his chair. Tears streamed down his face.

Sonny Ray gave his friend some space, waiting for the wave of emotions to break over the reef of Dwayne Notah’s grief.

Sonny Ray waited. Dwayne began to regain his composure. “You all right?” Sonny Ray asked, almost in a whisper. “Yeah,” Dwayne offered. Sonny Ray poured some coffee as the two men continued their vigil.

High atop Shiprock Mountain, the solitary black eagle sat, observing the three men from afar.

It sat perched upon a wing of the sacred mountain.

It leapt from the ancient wing and began it’s descent to articulate a better view of the goings on of the men below.

A sliver of the moon began to rise.

The next few hours passed slowly.

Sonny Ray placed a few more pieces of wood on the fire. He glanced at his watch. It was four in the morning. He stood to shake the stiffness from his legs. There was a chill in the air. Dwayne sat at the fire with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Cyrus lay near the fire.

Cyrus had been sleeping peacefully for the last couple of hours.

Sonny Ray knelt down next to the dying man. In the dim light he could see that Cyrus was still breathing. He stared intently into the face of Cyrus.

Sonny Ray began to reflect on why Cyrus waited so long to tell him that he was his father. He knew his mother probably had played a large role in this.

Perhaps though Cyrus stayed away as long as he could, unsure that Sonny Ray would even accept this lifetime responsibility. Sonny Ray was about to go get another cup of coffee when the old man opened his eyes. “Hey Cyrus.” “Hello my son. I know you have many questions, and I am truly sorry that I will not be here to answer them. Do not be anxious over the things concerning the black eagle. Give me a drink of water,” Cyrus said, licking his lips. Sonny Ray helped Cyrus sit up a little. “Thank you.” Sonny Ray nodded, trying to smile bravely now. Cyrus took another drink of water.

Cyrus continued. “I know you are angry at your mother, and at me as well. You may never fully understand all the reasons for the things your mother and I decided upon many years ago. I hope that you can forgive us someday.” Sonny Ray nodded in acknowledgement.

“You have a fine family. Take care of the ones who love you the most. Never forget that.”

Cyrus was having a difficult time breathing. “Go get Dwayne.” Sonny Ray had tears in his eyes.

The quarter moon had not yet made it’s rotation complete, and hung in the sky, like the sail of an ancient hawaiian canoe that was fading on the horizon; in search of a new world in which to live.

The two men knelt on either side of Cyrus. The wind swirled again, causing the fire to throw shards of burning coals upward, into the dark blue black of morning.

The moon lingered in the sky like a promise.

“The life that we live now is one where much value is placed on what you possess.”

The old man’s breathing was ragged now. “As you live your lives, try to reach beyond what you can see, touch, feel. Search for the unseen things. If you do, then you will understand to where the Black Eagle Dream flies, look,” the old man said, fadingly emphatic as he pointed with a weary finger. The two men turned to see what Cyrus was pointing to.

They had not noticed that his arm had fell to his side. Sonny Ray was finally the first to notice. “Dwayne.” He looked down now too.

The old man’s eyes were open, as he appeared to be searching the horizon.

Cyrus had gone his way.

Dwayne placed his hand over his own eyes and began to weep. Sonny Ray was numb. He had lost track of time. He and his siblings had just been standing in a cold sterilized room in the ICU, fixated on an EKG monitor, like it was the big ball counting down in Times Square, on New Year’s Eve.

Time moved in slow motion that day, as they watched their father fade away from this life, into the white horizontal lines of destiny.

Now Sonny Ray was here.

Dwayne continued to hold onto the old man’s hand as he sobbed uncontrollably. Sonny Ray looked into the now vacant eyes of Cyrus. “Goodbye Cyrus. Mahalo nui loa. You never forgot about me, you kept pictures of me. Thanks for never giving up. I will do my best with your black eagle. Or perhaps it will do it’s best with me.

Malama pono on your journey. A hui ho Cyrus, aloha.”

Sonny Ray gently closed the old man’s eyes. It set off a flashpoint of emotions in both of the men. They sat upon the ground for perhaps an hour, watching over the old man, not wanting to give him up.

The sun opened its eyes, and began to look upon the world.

It was not concerned with who lived, and who died.

And it too, will always be.
As sure
as
the sun
will
rise
tomorrow.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 27th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 37

The men were dusty from all their activity. Each man worked within the framework of their individual comfort zone. Neither had much desire to speak, as their minds braced for the next set of emotions that would soon roll in.

Sonny Ray shoveled dirt into the fire pit.
Dwayne untied the koa wood longboard from the luggage rack of the suburban.
Sonny Ray loaded up the rest of their supplies.

Dwayne knew that the wind could blow fiercely out here, so signs of their presence would soon fade. Other than that it was for the most part as if they had never come.

Dwayne carried the surf board over to where Cyrus was lying. Sonny Ray walked over and stood next to his friend. They glanced at each other.

Dwayne pursed his lips in the direction of Cyrus’ feet. Dwayne positioned himself at the head of Cyrus. They counted to three, and then placed him on the longboard.
Dwayne covered Cyrus with a blanket his grandmother had hand crafted specifically for him many years ago. It had been his favorite.

It was tomato red and dark brown. His grandmother had woven an extra large blanket for Cyrus, as he was a man of inordinate dimensions. It was one of her personal favorites as a master weaver.

As Dwayne made a few minor adjustments with the blanket,
Sonny Ray walked to the suburban and opened the back doors. Dwayne looked around the campsite one last time. It would never be the same to return to this place without Cyrus. But in time he knew he would return.

Sonny Ray looked out at Shiprock Mountain.

Like his dad, and his twenty one gun salute, Cyrus too had received the last request of his heart. Sonny Ray felt proud to be a part of both, regardless of the pain incurred. It was about honor, and keeping your word.

The two men loaded up as they began an unhurried return to reality.

They drove without speaking for twenty miles or so. Finally they reached the hard top. “Where to?” Sonny Ray asked. “Shiprock, the town. You remember I told you about Daniel Falls?” Sonny Ray nodded in the affirmative. “He is a mortician. He was one of my fathers best friends back in the old days.
He lives on the edge of town, not to far from here,” Dwayne said.
Sonny Ray nodded, gesturing in the affirmative. “Daniel Falls is an old mixed blood. He has lived off the grid since I was a kid. He is in his late seventies I believe. In town they call him, ‘Daniel Falls down a lot,’” Dwayne said, slightly smiling.
“Okay, so how did the old man get that handle?”

Sonny Ray was biting on Dwayne’s story now.

Dwayne looked over his shoulder at Cyrus.

He hoped he wasn’t being disrespectful for telling a story in the midst of all this sadness.

Dwayne turned back to Sonny Ray. “Well the story I was told, was prior to the time when Daniel would make entry into this world, his mother had tripped, and taken a bad fall. He was born healthy, but as Daniel grew up he was forever tripping, and falling all over the place. His parents had him examined by several doctors down in Phoenix; but they could not provide a diagnosis.
Surprising enough it was his mother who assigned him the name, Daniel Falls down a lot, and the name just stuck,” Dwayne said, shrugging his shoulders now, with a smirk on his face.

“Now who’s full of shit?” Sonny Ray asked quietly, raising his eyebrows.

Both men feigned a smile.

Dwayne brought the suburban to a stop in the dusty little parking lot of Daniel Fall’s mortuary. Dwayne stepped down. “I’m going to go get Daniel. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Sonny Ray swung the squeaky door open of the vehicle. He sat looking at a covey of quail as they quickly made haste across the dirt road disappearing into the protection of the desert scrub and reddish rock that this part of the desert had to offer.

The leader of the quail had received an urgent quail mail with news of the quail massacre that had occurred two days prior. The commander continued clucking signals to his covey to withdraw, as he cut his eyes back at Sonny Ray.

Daniel emerged with his beat up gurney as Dwayne held the front door.
Dwayne took the wheel and maneuvered the old gurney down the worn out plywood ramp. Daniel had offered to help but Dwayne assured him he had help. He stood on the porch, waiting for the men to bring Cyrus inside.
After loading Cyrus on the gurney, the two men struggled a bit in the dirt, and rock laden parking lot. Once reaching the ramp they were fine. Daniel held the door as they wheeled Cyrus in.
Daniel nodded politely at Sonny Ray. “Right this way please,” Daniel said as he held the two swinging aluminum doors open for the three men. Dwayne began to untie the orange twine that held the blanket fast.

Cyrus used to say to Dwayne that the string used on bales of hay had a million and one uses. “A million and two now my old friend,” Dwayne said as he slowly took the blanket from Cyrus’ body.

The large Hawaiian was tall, and yet wide in his shoulders, and narrow in waist, with dense quads and immense calves. It pained Dwayne to see him lying there, looking so out of place; so incomplete without his spirit.

Daniel and Sonny Ray filed quietly out of the room so that Dwayne could say his goodbyes. Dwayne had stood quietly for some time, unmoving, grasping firmly the wad of orange string as he searched the old man’s face. Dwayne gazed down at the hands of his old friend, remembering the kindness he held in them. After a few moments he came out. Sonny Ray stood waiting.

“This will be your last chance to say goodbye,” Dwayne said, his voice thick with emotion.

Sonny Ray pursed his lips, and exhaled deeply. He slowly slid thru one side of the swinging aluminum doors and walked in to where Cyrus lie.
He leaned against the wall as he looked at Cyrus for a long time.

Sonny Ray found it hard to believe that this man that he just met, was not only his father, but without notice he too, up and died.

“I’ll do my best with your eagle Cyrus. Your timing kind of sucks old man; but I won’t hold it against you though, life happens. Mahalo for finding me.” Sonny Ray laid a large black eagle feather on the chest of Cyrus. He looked at the old man once more and then walked out of the room.

Sonny Ray continued walking, right out of the front door of the mortuary, refusing to make eye contact with the two men.

After awhile they stood together out on the porch. The trio of men discussed the details of Cyrus’ requests. “Is there anything else I could accommodate you with? Daniel asked.

“Yeah actually there is, Daniel.”

Sonny Ray had a way of speaking that made people pay attention.

“I left a black eagle feather with Cyrus. I would like you to cremate it with him please.” “Oh by all means young man, I will ensure it is done personally,” Daniel said enthusiastically, not recalling Dwayne knew he was the owner/operator of this one man establishment. They all shook hands.

Dwayne returned inside with Daniel to finalize the arrangements, and sign all the necessary paperwork. Sonny Ray walked down to the end of the long front porch. Daniel had a circular wood bench built around this wide and stout trunk of a piñon tree. The shade of this tree was tremendous. Sonny Ray sat down on the bench. He leaned the back of his head against the textured bark of the large tree, closing his eyes for a moment.

After some time he opened his eyes, looking around. It was getting on toward the evening. The parking lot was empty. Sonny Ray rummaged through the pocket of his faded wrangler jean shirt, and retrieved a crumpled joint of purple kush. He lit it, and exhaled upward into the dense underbrush of the tree. Sonny Ray again looked up into underside of the piñon tree.

He heard the sound of sparrows.

The fragrant flower of kush ascended upward; offering a strong but restful odor of this ancient medicine. Sonny Ray observed a sparrow peering down at him from a large bough of the tree. The sparrows began to gradually increase in number and in volume.

They were excited about something, and spoke incessantly to one another. Then it gradually stopped. He continued peering up into the tree as more sparrows began to sit side by side observing him. Sonny Ray was caught off guard as three adult sparrows, were suddenly sitting comfortably on the bench near to Sonny Ray. It was as if they appeared out of nowhere. The three sisters looked at the young man with the long wavy hair. They were bouncing in a dainty rhythmical dance. Sonny Ray observed the trio with a measure of curious disbelief. The three sparrows were engaged in a heavy discussion about something. They would occasionally glance in his direction as if to reiterate their point more emphatically. Sonny Ray loved sparrows. He liked their distinct personalities, and the general interactions of their group.

He had often watched them take little dirt baths. They made him laugh. These sparrows though were different. They carried on and behaved as though they were tame, or were lacking an inborn fear of man perhaps.

Sonny Ray continued to observe the lavender kush clouds as they ascended upward, melting away into the dark canopy of the tree.
Without warning, one of the three sisters flew down at his feet.

Meanwhile, in the upper deck of the piñon tree every sparrow in attendance roared with excitement. Sonny Ray didn’t move. This was beyond cool.

He had never had a sparrow land this close to him in his life. The raucous crowd of little winged creatures seemed to embolden the distinguished elder who stood at the feet of Sonny Ray.
She hopped ever closer. Sonny Ray looked down. The plump and sassy sparrow arched her head upward without any obvious signs of fear. Again without notice, another female flew from the bench and landed upon the shoulder of Sonny Ray. He froze. He had no words for the feeling he had at this moment.

The sparrow dome was out of control. The third female sparrow remained on the bench near Sonny Ray, observing.

The sparrow that remained on the bench chirped, signaling the large host of sparrows which began to fall rapidly from the tree. They began landing on Sonny Ray, wherever a spot could be had. The sound of the collective sparrows was deafening. Sonny Ray held his arms out smiling so hard his face hurt.

They looked like sparrow paratroopers descending from the sky.

The door swung open as Dwayne walked out. He stopped dead in his tracks. Sonny Ray looked at Dwayne. Dwayne looked at Sonny Ray.

The sparrow dome and the three sisters grew quiet, looking at the two men. Dwayne and Daniel who were both stunned and amazed, as they gazed intently at the little sparrow people.

It looked like an intertribal standoff with neither group willing to give any ground.

The impasse was avoided as a signal was given. The celebration of the sparrows started back up again. Dwayne was stunned, his face in a frozen smile. The two men laughed as the sparrow people behaved like puppies, bonding with Sonny Ray.
The celebration continued for a time, but would be cut short as the three sisters issued the familial call that it was time to go home now.

Grandmother was calling them to return.

The trio of sisters departed, and in short intervals, like a fluttering shadow, the sparrows ascended upward, back to the safety of their home. Dwayne approached Sonny Ray, and whacked him playfully on the shoulder. Both men felt like a couple of kids.

They had just shared an extraordinary experience.

The two men slowly headed to the suburban ready to leave now. The men turned at the sound of the mortuary doors opening.
Daniel held up his arm to get the attention of the men. They turned in his direction as Daniel came off the porch.

His foot was about to hit the ground when the cuff of his faded corduroy pants snagged a nail on the last step. Daniel Falls down a lot was sent sprawling, nearly into a full on header landing spectacularly onto the dirt parking lot. The two men instinctively stepped forward wanting to offer assistance to the fallen mortician. The old man rose before they could reach him. Whatever he wished to discuss would wait until tomorrow as he turned on his heel brushing himself off. “I will attend to Cyrus now. I will call you when everything is finalized.”
He quickly closed the door. A slight breeze blew causing dust devils to swirl upon the ground of the dirt parking lot. The two men stifled their urge to laugh as they pulled out onto the road. The two men were hungry, and Dwayne knew a spot.

They headed into the town of Shiprock to get the best fry bread ever made.

The two men had not noticed the sizeable black eagle as it sat upon the chimney of the crematorium.

The black eagle found itself in a unique quandary, to now having a son succeed his father. This was a first.

As in centuries past, the Black Eagle Dream would have instinctively followed its new charge, but as the journey of Cyrus was not yet complete, the Black Eagle Dream would remain.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 26th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 38

Police Chief Shane Edwards was a pertinacious speaker. Even so, Shane had not anticipated the circus like atmosphere of this current officer Fritz incident. Evidently the news media down in Phoenix had gotten wind of Nadia Titla’s exposé on Jesse Coyote, and the Antelope Springs Police Department.

Small town USA found itself glutted with news trucks, vans, and miles of thick black cables invading the generally uneventful mountain town.

News stations from across the state were there. Phoenix, Mesa, and Tucson stations were present, as other smaller markets began trickling in. Every reporter worth his or her weight was in Antelope Springs, trying to get the scoop on the small town redneck perspective on why a police officer would break the bones of the indigenous college student from White River, Arizona.

Chief Edwards came out of City Hall and stood quietly at the podium at the top of the stairs.

Nadia and Natalia had worked their way through the shark invested waters of TV land. “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. The Antelope Springs Police Department would like to officially confirm that there is an active police investigation being conducted with one of it’s police officers.” Shane adjusted his glasses. He turned his mouth away from the microphone, and nervously cleared his throat.

“As of now the officer in question has been placed on administrative leave until a complete and full investigation has been conducted. My office is working in close cooperation with the Mayor’s office, and with the City Council as well.”

Nadia had heard enough.

“Chief Edwards is it or is it not true that a group of college students were filming a class documentary at the time of the unprovoked attack on Jesse Coyote? And is it not also true that this same police officer over the course of the last several years, under your tenure has been investigated repeatedly, and has been involved in several cases of police misconduct, more specifically, the violation of the civil liberties of those in the indigenous community in the region?”

Nadia was on a slow burn but fought fiercely to keep her emotions in check.

“Well Ms. Titla, I don’t presently have that information in front of me, but if I’m being honest I’m not sure if those few incidents from the past are relevant to the case that we are presently investigating at this time.” The Police Chief wore a smug look on his face.

“Chief Edwards surely you must be aware that one of your officers has built a reputation, and has set a clear pattern of abuse here in this community, and in outlying communities here in the state of Arizona.” Nadia knew she should have brought her waders. “Well Ms. Titla, as you know Antelope Springs has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in the last couple of years. With this growth, of course the department has grown as well. I cannot possibly be privy to every alleged instance of abuse and or misconduct on the part of any member of my team.”

Before Nadia could point out that he only had a total of ten officers employed by the Antelope Springs Police Department, Chief Edwards continued, “While it has been established that there were eyewitnesses to this unfortunate incident surrounding officer Fritz, and the young native college student; I would like to announce that those who initially came forward and reported that they had filmed the entire alleged incident, have left our small town university and relocated, I presume out of the state of Arizona.

Without the film students footage, a piece of crucial evidence and the crux of our investigation; I’m afraid that it really boils down to the arresting officer’s recollection of the incident, and of course the word of our young Native American student.

However, in the spirit of liberty and justice for all, I would like to announce that Officer Bob Fritz, will be placed on administrative leave, and he will be immediately placed into a mandatory class for anger management, as well as an additional course on good community relations.

The City of Antelope Springs has also agreed to pay Mr. Coyote’s doctor bills, which includes I might add, any and all physical therapy needed to rehabilitate Mr. Coyote’s arm.

The City will be formulating a reasonable figure to offer him in order to compensate him for his pain and suffering. That’s all I have for now, thank you.”

The master of the white wash had struck again. Nadia had put in alot of effort for this first installment of her two part exposé.

Nonetheless, Nadia and Natalia were undeterred as they now waited for Dwayne and Sonny Ray to return from New Mexico.

For now they would head back to the war room and begin to put the framework together for the second story of their exposé. Only then would Nadia have an opportunity at removing this cancer from the community.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 25th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 39

The two men sat in a booth drinking their first cup of coffee. Dwayne had been coming to this restaurant in Shiprock. since he was very young.

It was called, the Nataani Nez Restaurant.

They had ordered breakfast, and sat quietly. They had stayed up half the night talking, and were still hyped over the sparrows. “You know growing up around Cyrus I often observed how birds of prey always seemed to find him no matter where he might be. There were eagles, falcons, hawks, sometimes an owl here and there, and many ravens too. But I can never recall him ever having sparrows land on him like they did you,” Dwayne said.
“That makes two of us,”
Sonny Ray replied, smiling.
“Okay boys who ordered the scrambled eggs, fry bread, with a steak well done?” Dwayne raised his hand. Sonny Ray had ordered an omelette, a double order of fry bread, and two steaks medium well.
After giving the men their breakfast, the two men began to feast. “So after we go see Daniel then what?” Sonny Ray asked with a mouthful of steak. “Well, Cyrus asked me to return him to the area where we camped near Shiprock mountain. He wants his ashes placed in a small pile.

He asked me not to spread them.

Before he died he asked me to give you a portion of his ashes with a special request.”

Sonny Ray looked up at Dwayne. He put his fork down. “What might that be Dwayne?”
“He originally wanted all of his ashes spread at Shiprock, but after he met you, he wanted you to take him back home to the big island. Cyrus said he wanted you to take him to the river in Waipi’o Valley. Cyrus said you would know. A comfortable silence ensued as both men began to shut down gradually.
“Cyrus left you a letter, and a few personal effects he wanted you to have. I left it in my office at the house.”
“Okay,” was all Sonny Ray could manage. The two men finished their breakfast, and after thanking the waitress for her hospitality they paid for breakfast and left the waitress a nice tip. Fifteen minutes later Dwayne was pulling in the dirt parking lot of Daniel Falls. Dwayne turned off the ignition. “Can I ask you a question?” Sonny Ray said. “Sure, what is it?” Dwayne looked at Sonny Ray in earnest.

“Why does Cyrus want to be cremated, and left on the ground?” Sonny Ray asked.

“The way he explained it to me, was that if he was buried and not cremated the black eagle would not leave Cyrus.”

Sonny Ray raised an eyebrow in the direction of Dwayne. “Before we left Arizona Cyrus shared a story with me about a man he had come across while conducting a covert reconnaissance during World War II.

Cyrus met a man named Altair Ali in the jungles of North Africa. He told me what he knew about this man, and how he came to be connected with this storied black eagle. Altair, who was from Morocco, told Cyrus about his family, and their long history with the Black Eagle Dream.

After his grandfather died, the family noticed the black eagle sat perched near where his grandfather had been buried. They became concerned because the black eagle had not moved, nor had it eaten or drank in days.

Altair began to have dreams. Dreams about his grandfather, and this imperishable black eagle.

He dreamed of a hungry fire.

After relating to the older men of his village about his dreams, they came to the consensus that they should dig up his grandfather and cremate him. They built a funeral pyre and cremated his grandfather right away.”

“Dwayne that’s quite a story.” Dwayne nodded in the affirmative.

“Cyrus said after Altair and his family cremated his grandfather the black eagle not only took food, but became the constant companion of Altair.

Cyrus had built a small scaffolding in the large pit where Altair had died. After wrapping Altair’s body in a colorful blanket he had found in the dead man’s pack, he placed his lifeless body upon the pyre.

After starting a fire with the many punji sticks that remained in this pit, Cyrus climbed out and stood watching as the flames of the funeral pyre gradually consumed the Moroccan soldier.
From that day onward Cyrus and the black eagle were inseparable. Did you want to go inside?” Dwayne asked.

“If it’s all the same to you I’ll wait,” Sonny Ray replied. “No problem I should only be a few minutes,” Dwayne closed the truck door as he headed inside to retrieve his dear friend.

Sonny Ray decided to step down, and stretch his legs for a few moments. Sonny Ray could see the smoke from the forest fires in the distance. It was all over the news. Out of the corner of his eye the silent black eagle came into view. He reached for the large falconry glove on the front seat of the suburban. He slowly walked out to a alfalfa field across the way. Sonny Ray attempted to call to the black eagle.

It was not sounding so pretty, but he was slowly improving. The black eagle continued to circle. Sonny Ray did his best not to move around unnecessarily. His left arm shook slightly as he held his arm high to give the black eagle a target to land. The black eagle circled a few more times, and without notice swiftly landed upon the outstretched glove. As a few trucks drove by, several navajo families began to slow down to see what all the commotion was about.

Sonny Ray could hear his heart pounding. If he smiled any harder he might have broken his face. The black eagle stared intently at Sonny Ray.
He did not yet have the courage to even touch the large predator. As his breathing returned to normal Sonny Ray felt a great sadness come over him.

It occurred to him that in order for this magnificent eagle to rest on his hand, Cyrus would have to be absent.

Sonny Ray stood alone.

The sound of a door opening and closing could be heard. Dwayne walked out of the door. He walked down the steps carefully with the urn. He saw Sonny Ray in the field. The closer he came to Sonny Ray the black eagle appeared to become agitated. Dwayne, who had spent some time with the black eagle, wisely stopped short.

A small crowd began to gather near to where the men stood. Sonny Ray whispered something to the black eagle. He pushed his gloved hand upward, cueing the black eagle to take flight. They stood watching the large eagle until it disappeared from their sight. Sonny Ray walked over to Dwayne. Dwayne stood holding the urn.

He had such a pitiful look on his face. “Hey, listen it’s gonna be alright bruh,” Sonny Ray said. Dwayne nodded, finally looking up at Sonny Ray.

“Thanks for coming on this trip with me, I…. I would not have wanted to do this by myself,” Dwayne said.
“I’m glad to have come along, thank you for asking me to,” Sonny Ray said, breaking eye contact with Dwayne. They loaded up and headed back to town. Dwayne wanted a few snacks, and water before heading back to Shiprock mountain. He needed to fill up on gas as well.

“Hey Sonny Ray remind me to call my friend Nadia before we leave okay?”

“Sure. So who is this Nadia, your girlfriend?” Dwayne stiffened slightly. “No, not exactly, I mean I do like her, but I haven’t asked her out or anything.” Sonny Ray smiled at his now uneasy friend. “Hey, don’t sweat that man, things happen in their own good time.” The two men continued to travel down the road together, forging their friendship one mile at a time.

Later that day the two men located the narrow dirt road that ran adjacent to Shiprock Dike.
After a slow dusty journey they located their campsite. Dwayne parked, and the two men stepped down. Dwayne handed the urn to Sonny Ray. They hiked a short distance from their camp, near the end of the Dike, closest to Shiprock peak. They came to a small dirt trail that lead through a small out cropping of rocks, and boulders.

They began a short hike up a fairly steep incline. Both men struggled a bit. They wore cowboy boots, so it was a little slippery, but they managed. Dwayne finally reached the top of the dike.
Sonny Ray handed the urn to Dwayne. They stood listening to the wind blow. It was a warm but pleasant day. The sky was blue with a few whispery white clouds passing by. They stood gazing at the monument that was aptly named; ‘the rock with wings.’

Each man stood alone sharing their own ceremony of condolence, offering up their prayers like the sweet smell of sage.

After a few moments of quiet reflection, the men proceeded with Cyrus’ last request. Dwayne took the top of the urn and placed it on a small boulder. He slowly poured a goodly amount of the ashes into a pile on the ground. They stepped back to take in the entire moment.
The view was panoramic.
After a considerable time, the two men thought it would be good to take their leave. They started down the narrow trail. After a few minutes the men realized they had left the top of the urn. Returning to the top of the small plateau, neither man could envision what would happen next.

As Dwayne walked toward Cyrus’ remains to retrieve the top of the urn, the large black eagle approached flying low from the other side of the dike. It landed directly on top of the remnants of his old friend Cyrus. It startled Dwayne and Sonny Ray. The black eagle was highly agitated. With its pinions spread wide, the black eagle screeched in a high pitch.

The remains of Cyrus covered the legs, and the lower part of the black eagle.

It stood its ground in this sacred place, preparing to take Cyrus to a place to that which the two men were not able.

The eyes of the black eagle seemed filled with fury. It continued to cry out, as the two men made no attempt to come any closer. Without warning, the black eagle flew right at them. As it flew over them the ashes of Cyrus dispersed as a fine ashy mist.

The black eagle banked hard left in the direction of Shiprock mountain. The large predator continued to climb the sky, higher and higher it went. The two great rock wings seemed to be its destination. As both men continued to watch, the Black Eagle Dream flew right through the middle of the ancient wings. For a moment it appeared that it had continued on. However, in a short time the black eagle reappeared.

It landed upon one of the rock wings.

Both men spontaneously raised a clenched fist. Dwayne and Sonny Ray stood for a long time, watching, appreciating. Now it was time to leave. With hearts both heavy yet satisfied, the two men headed back down the narrow trail. The hushed winds of the desert began to swirl. Dwayne left the dirt road, and started down the highway.

Sonny Ray looked back to where they had left Cyrus. He watched until he could watch no more, as the landscape faded into another. The song of the winds continued to swirl in an ancient melody known only to the lonely; and the forgotten ones.

Little dust devils whirled around on the earth, that was Navajo country. In time, a large desert tornado came, and took Cyrus Keali’iwahamana away, to the four corners of the earth.

He would rest now.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 24th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 40

Not counting the last stand of Custer, which was exposed as a big pile of horse poo in the pastures of imagination of history buffs everywhere; Nadia couldn’t recall a time that she felt so much joy about the news she had just received.

Apparently, in an ill advised stop, officer Bob had misplaced a piece of his jewelry, and it had now fallen into the possession of her friend Dwayne Notah.

Nadia dialed up her Chief of War.

Prior to Dwayne calling her from Gallup, Nadia had sat alone in her quiet office, dejected. But as the saying goes, it doesn’t matter how you start; it’s how you finish.

Dwayne had given her the details with regards to the recovered bracelet, as told to him by Sonny Ray. Dwayne had taken several photographs of Sonny Ray’s eyebrow gash prior to him receiving one hundred and forty stitches in the emergency room. The injury he had sustained of his left eyebrow was fierce.

Dwayne had emailed her all the pictures of Sonny Ray that he had taken of him at the emergency room, but she wanted to take a few more close up pictures of Officer Bob’s bracelet, when they returned from New Mexico.

Nadia and Natalia decided that they would call it a night. They were going to meet up with some friends for some ‘ndn’ tacos at this little trendy hole in the wall; and after that they would stop by and see her former college roommate, Carla Matten. Carla was in her fourth year towards earning her degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Carla had a spacious house and loved the company of like minded women. They could have a glass of wine, partake of a little cannabis and catch up with their lawyer friends.

Many women were pragmatic in dealing with adversity, and these two ladies were no exception.

Tonight they would unwind. In the morning it was war.

As the two men traveled down interstate forty they began to discuss their plans on how they planned on dealing with officer Bob. “Sonny Ray do you recall when you first showed me officer Bob’s bracelet?” Sonny Ray glanced over at his friend.

“The reason I ask that is because I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for over two years now.”

Sonny Ray sat up a little now. “Why, what happened?” Sonny Ray asked.

“Well, a little over two years ago officer Bob pulled over my cousin Sterlin on a lonely stretch of interstate forty. Officer Bob claimed that my cousin resisted arrest. Officer Bob ended up putting a choke hold on him. As a result, my cousin suffered brain damage as well as spinal and neck related trauma. Sterlin is now on full disability. This bracelet means a lot more to me than you realize,” Dwayne said.

“Don’t worry Dwayne, we’ll get the bastard.”

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