by J. J. Park
It was almost the end of August and time to resume study at the college. Dyami received an e-mail from Susan, who had returned from the European tour. She asked him and Gopan to join her for surfing.
The two accepted the invitation as previously promised. The ocean was a new territory to explore, and surfing, a challenging new adventure.
One pleasant Saturday morning, Dyami and Gopan set out to Monterey on the bus to meet the new challenge. Susan met them at Monterey station with surfboards.
It was mid-morning, and surfers were riding high on crowning water. They changed quickly into board shorts and t-shirts and headed out to the sea.
“We have great waves today. We’ll begin near the shoreline,” Susan said.
They discovered that they had a natural talent for riding waves; they began to surf easily after Susan’s brief explanation. They surfed for three hours until the sun became too hot.
It was lunchtime; they walked back to shore to find a restaurant.
“This was fun, Susan. Much better than I had imagined,” Dyami said.
“It was a lot of fun. I can see why you like it so much,” Gopan agreed.
“You both are natural. I can’t believe you never surfed before,” Susan responded, leading them to a less crowded restaurant near the commercial zone.
“The food is good here,” she said, entering the restaurant.
The hostess of the restaurant acknowledged Susan and greeted her in a familiar tone.
“These are friends from church,” Susan introduced them to the hostess.
“Any friends of Susan are welcome here,” she said, handing out the menu and then moving away to greet other customers.
“How was your time in Europe?” Dyami asked Susan.
“The trip was amazing. We enjoyed traveling together.”
“What places did you like the most?” Dyami asked, full of curiosity.
“I liked every place we visited. Paris was fascinating. It’s so elegant and fashionable. I loved every corner of the city. It all had so much character and charm,” Susan said, bubbling in enthusiasm.
“That sounds fascinating. One day I will travel to Europe,” Gopan said, feeling a little awkward, not having been anywhere yet.
The hostess returned to take orders. While they were trying to decide, she leaned down to Susan and asked in a low voice,
“How is Joe? I haven’t seen him for quite some time.”
“Oh, I haven’t seen him, either,” Susan answered curtly and turned back to the menu.
Dyami and Gopan looked at each other but quickly returned their eyes to the menu. The same questions went through their minds simultaneously:
“Could this Joe be the same one?”,
“How many young men could have the name ‘Joe’?”
They could not imagine a nice person like Susan would have anything to do with someone like Joe. Dyami brushed off the thought and continued as if nothing bothered him.
Once the fall semester began, the rigor of study kept Dyami and Gopan busy. The study consumed most of their energy and time. On Sundays, they regrouped with the youth group at church. Susan was always friendly and pleasant to them.
However, Dyami could not help but think about “Susan and Joe” whenever he saw her. There was one way to find out.
He suggested meeting for lunch during the week at the school cafeteria even though he and Gopan avoided it. He knew that at one time or another, he would find Joe there.
Susan declined his suggestion, saying that her class schedule did not give her much time to take a social lunch. Her history major kept her in the region of the campus away from the cafeteria.
WINTER RECESS
Dyami and Gopan returned home for a short winter vacation. They rested and regrouped with Chenoa and Ela and shared their college experiences with them. One sunny day, the foursome took a walk to the lake to see winter scenery.
Various types of ducks swam in circles squeaking, whistling, and chattering. Dabbling ducks came near the shore and skimmed the surface of the water for insects and algae. Some tipped up to nibble through muddy water under thin ice for aquatic plants and to find small fish.
After some time, they focused their attention on one another, leaving ducks to their feeding and frolic.
“You both scored high on the SAT. How is it going with the college applications?” Now it was Dyami’s turn to ask the girls about the college.
“We both applied to your college,” Chenoa said.
“Great! We’ll be all together,” Gopan said.
“Do you miss home when you are at college?” Ela asked.
“Of course, but there’s no time. We’re almost always in the library studying,” Dyami said.
“Are there many girls at the college?” Chenoa asked.
“Yeah, there are many girls,” Gopan affirmed.
“Oh, good. See? We won’t stand out much when we go to college,” Chenoa said to Ela.
“I’m still not sure about college. I love it here. The sparkling lake and ducks.” Ela, then cried out, “Look! Look!”
A rare spectacle was unfolding right in front of them, a scene resembling a choreographed ballet.
“Several kinds of ducks swam in small circles
around the single large circle in the middle.
It appeared they were anticipating something
of importance that is only known to ducks.
Then, unexpectedly, two ducks flew upward
from the center of the large ring, facing each other,
letting out a loud quack. Circling continued around the two ducks.” – a courting ritual?
“Do you see that? Where can you find something like that? Is the sky as blue as ours in the city? How can you live in a crowded city full of people who despise you for no other reason than you are different?” Ela continued.
“Oh, Quit it! You’ve been thinking and mulling it over for months,” Chenoa cried in frustration.
She had been dreaming about college life with Ela and two young men in her life.
“I understand your feelings about this place, but there’s a lot more in the world than blue sky and sparkling lake,” Gopan reasoned.
“Think well. It would be nice to have you, girls, at the college with us. Anyway, it’s time to get back home. I have to help my dad cut firewood,” Dyami said.
“I have to help my dad too. I forgot that I had promised dad about that,” Gopan said.
“Yeah, I have to help mom with baking cakes also,” Chenoa said.
They walked back home, talking about what they would do together for the rest of the vacation.
***
It was the Christmas season, and everyone was in a festive mood. Christmas this year had a different meaning for Dyami and Gopan. They now knew the true meaning of the Christmas story, and it added significance to the celebration for them.
Dyami’s family decided to decorate a tree for the season, as Dyami requested. He and his father found a small pine tree in the woods. The two dogs jumped and barked while they decorated the tree, sensing the cheerful mood around the house.
It snowed on Christmas Day. It provided the foursome fun snow activities; they had snowball fights and made a snowman complete with a red hat and mustache. They left tracks in the forest in snowshoes with the two dogs following them.
However, Dyami could not help to think about Lato. Riding him in the snow-covered woods was one of his favorite activities, and he missed his neighing.
Karl joined the family for Christmas. He has now settled in an apartment and anticipated starting the new job at the construction company shortly.
When Karl left this time, he took Donner with him. They were sorry to see Donner go, but he seemed so happy to be with Karl that they were delighted despite their feelings of loss.
Karl invited them to visit his new home, and they looked forward to it.
13
ANOTHER CHAPTER
Life moved ahead without Lato, and spring bro
ught renewal and a fresh new outlook. Dyami decided to receive baptism during Easter service, as Susan and other group members recommended.
However, before the baptism, he needed to inform his family. He knew that his conversion to Christianity would be difficult for them, particularly for his Grandfather.
Notwithstanding this concern, Dyami went forward and prepared for the baptism, finding the biblical verses hopeful and comforting.
On one of the weekends in March, Dyami went back home to talk to his Grandfather and the rest of the family. His father appeared concerned when he met him at the bus station. They did not anticipate his visit until spring break.
“Is everything all right?” his father asked.
“Yes, dad. Everything is going well. I just wanted to talk to you and Grandfather about a decision I made. It’s something that I think is important.”
“Good. I am so glad that you’re sharing your decisions with us.”
It pleased Nantan that Dyami grew up to become his own man and still wanted to share himself with the family. They soon arrived at home. It was well into the evening. Lights were on, and Kitchi welcomed Dyami.
“How you’ve grown since last time I saw you only a few weeks ago,” Dyami’s mother said, hugging him.
Chenoa followed, and his Grandfather looked at him in a discerning yet warm way.
The next morning after breakfast, the three men went to the teepee.
“What’s on your mind?’ Grandfather said, filling the pipe with tobacco.
“I decided to become a Christian. I’ll be receiving baptism during the Easter service. I wanted to tell you before I took this big step,” Dyami told them.
“It sounds like you have made up your mind, and it’s unchangeable,” Grandfather said.
“Yes, Grandfather,” Dyami said affirmatively.
“Can you at least tell us how and why?” his father asked.
Dyami explained what happened one Sunday in the downtown church. Dyami gave details of arriving at church and how the hymn from the church drew him to it. He even told them about the unexplainable sobbing, and lastly, the kindness of Smiths.
“I have been reading the Bible since, and I understand a lot more about Christianity now. Geronimo said it was the best religion to follow to live right, and I agree,” Dyami quoted Geronimo.
Kuruk puffed his pipe a long while and said,
“Geronimo, he was a wise man and a spiritual man. However, I remember too well atrocities committed by Blackrobes on our people,” he inhaled tobacco deeply and, puffing it out, added,
“If you have decided, then there’s nothing more to say. You’re an adult now and a college man. You should know what you’re doing. If you found peace at the church, then there you must be,” Kuruk responded calmly to Dyami’s surprising declaration.
“The only thing I want to say is that in all things that you take good care of your conscience and be cautious in every step you take. This world is full of evil and tricky people. You must learn to discern differences among people. Does the church teach you to do that?”
“I’ll be careful,” Dyami said, relieved of the burden of telling them about his life-changing event.
Dyami thought about inviting them to his baptism, but he knew that the news alone was enough for them to absorb.
The meeting ended with Kuruk sighing and puffing away his pipe.
Dyami was glad that he shared his serious decision with the family. Keeping a secret from his Grandfather and his family would have made him deeply unhappy.
***
Dyami had always been level-headed, but he was emotional at his baptism, and he could not hide it. Gopan was the sole person there for him, but his church group provided ample support.
Everyone was gracious. Susan and the Smiths were proud of their achievement in bringing a young man into the church. When the Easter service was over, everyone dispersed for their celebration, and Gopan and Dyami returned home for spring break.
“How do you feel?” Gopan asked, looking at him differently.
“I feel great. Thanks for being there. It’s a new beginning for me,” Dyami stated.
“It must be nice to feel so strongly and passionately about something,” Gopan said enviously.
“You can have that too. I think believing and following God is the way to live right, as Geronimo said. Further, I think it would help us deal with our situation,” Dyami said.
On the first Sunday after Easter recess, Dyami and Gopan went to church and resumed youth group activities. Dyami and Susan continued their budding friendship. However, the question of “Joe and Susan” troubled him; he could not get the idea out of his mind.
“How do you feel after the baptism?” Susan asked at brunch.
“Good. The Easter service was beautiful, and it touched me deeply. Easter will remain a special time for me always,” Dyami affirmed.
“Did you do anything special afterward?” Susan asked.
“Gopan and I went back home and spent some time in the forest near our home. We go there often,” Dyami answered and asked, “What about you?”
“Easter is an important day for us. As you know, it’s the day Christians celebrate the risen Christ. Our family is no exception.”
“It’ll be a long while before our family celebrates Easter. As you probably already know, my Grandfather is opposed to Christianity,” Dyami stated.
“I’m sorry to hear that. May I ask why?”
“It’s a long story. It has something to do with the history of our people, white settlers, and missionaries. I’m sure you know about it,” Dyami continued.
“Yes, I do, but I can assure you that it is not the Christianity at fault,” Susan said with conviction.
“I understand that, but it will take some time to convince my Grandfather otherwise.”
“It was shameful what some of our predecessors did when they arrived here, but you don’t think that all whites are like that, do you?” Susan asked.
“No, I don’t believe that anymore since I met you, the Smiths, and others at church. However, I did have an awful experience at college.”
Dyami was surprised to hear himself bring up what happened with Joe and immediately regretted it.
“What experience? What was it?” Susan asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it. It was, and it still is just very unpleasant.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Tell me more about your Easter celebration,” Dyami quickly changed the subject.
***
They were coming to the end of the spring semester, the time to plan for the summer. Dyami and Gopan again decided to find jobs at the Wilder Ranch Park.
On the way to the interview, the two went to the cafeteria for lunch. They usually avoided it, but this time it was convenient for their schedules.
When they entered, they saw Joe and his boisterous clones conspicuously occupying a large table as usual. Their rowdy bantering and laughing dominated the sound waves of the cafeteria. The two friends hesitated for a moment but decided to ignore them.
Sure enough, when Joe saw them entering, he said something to his group, presumably the same name-calling, and they all looked at them. As soon as Dyami and Gopan sat down at a table, Joe approached them with his usual menacing air.
“Oh, trouble,” Gopan murmured when he saw Joe approaching.
“Just ignore him.”
“That might not be possible,” Gopan said.
“Look who’s here. I hear now you’re going to church!” Joe said sarcastically.
“What’s that to you?” Dyami retorted.
“Just stay away from the church,” Joe threatened.
“You don’t own the church. It’s not up to you,” Dyami held his ground.
“You‘d be better off if you do what I say,” Joe continued his threat.
“Who are you? Are you a chief?” Gopan said to him.
“You better do what I say. Stay away from the church and stay away from my gir
l!” Joe exclaimed.
“Your girl?” Dyami was stunned, as was Gopan.
“That’s right, my girl!” Joe asserted loudly.
“Who is your girl? She must be desperate. We don’t know any girl like that,” Gopan let out, trying to show that he was not intimidated.
Joe went back to his place, and Dyami and Gopan looked at each other dumbfounded. Now their doubts turned into reality; still, it seemed surreal that Susan was this character’s girlfriend.
“Can you believe what we just heard?” Dyami asked Gopan.
“I guess anything is possible. We don’t know Susan all that well,” Gopan said.
“Things are getting too complicated,” Dyami said.
“I can’t believe or even imagine that Susan can be his girlfriend,” Dyami added.
“Why not. The guy is good-looking and is always trying to display his masculinity. Some girls like macho guys,” Gopan said.
Dyami and Gopan barely managed to finish their lunch. They spent the rest of the week a little unsure and confused whenever they thought about the situation.
“We’re going back to church, understood?” Dyami said to Gopan when Saturday came.
“Of course. We like the group so far. I don’t want us to be intimidated. We can even talk to the minister about the situation. I’m sure he’ll handle it the right way,” Gopan affirmed.
“I’m sure he’ll give us good advice on how to handle the situation in a godly manner, but I’m not sure he’ll intervene,” Dyami said in a doubtful tone.
“Anyway, I want the situation to go away already. Why do you think Joe hates us so much?” Gopan asked the obvious question.
“That we’re different from him? Who knows what’s motivating a person like that other than the usual dirt,” Dyami said.
The next day, they went to church and joined the group, still trying to digest what Joe said. They were unsure how to handle it when they saw Susan, but she was not at church. They went to brunch afterward to see if anyone knew about Susan’s absence.
“It’s good to see you again. I haven’t been to church much during the summer. What’s been happening?” Bobby asked them.
