Dakota laughed. “Sure, that can be arranged.”
Ashwin's expression suddenly grew serious as he stated, “You didn't say Sani's father was here as well.”
Dakota shrugged .”According to Birdy, he's working on some big project.”
Ashwin nodded and smoothly changed the subject. “Are they still having the fireworks display tonight?”
Dakota nodded. “As far as I know.”
“Are Little Bird and Sani going?”
“I think Sani wants to, but I'm not sure if Birdy's going.”
Ashwin nodded. “We can take Sani with us tonight.”
Dakota beamed at Ashwin's generous offer as he replied, “I think Sani would like that very much.”
Ashwin glanced up when he heard the front door slam shut, and his smile was genuine as Sani came bounding into the kitchen, full of that seemingly endless ten year-old energy. He ran over to Ashwin and gave him a high-five, then excitedly said, “Hi, Mr. Ashwin! Grampa told me you were coming to visit this weekend!”
Ashwin laughed and replied, “And here I am.”
Sani glanced at Kasey and gave her a polite smile, then said, “Hi, Mrs. Kasey. Are those your babies in the living room?”
Kasey smiled at the child's innocence. “Yes, Sani.”
“They're cute!”
Kasey blushed while Ashwin laughed. “Why, thank you, Sani. I'll be sure to tell them you said so.”
Sani smiled and glanced at Ashwin, and one look at the boy's face let Ashwin know that something was on the child's mind. He leaned down when Sani stepped close and whispered in his ear, “Mr. Ashwin, I need to talk to you alone.”
Ashwin slowly straightened and nodded as he glanced at the boy's serious expression.
“OK, but you can just call me Ashwin.”
Sani nodded but continued to look at Ashwin expectantly, and that was Ashwin's cue to get to his feet and follow Sani out onto the porch. He sat down on the swing at the far end of the porch, then patted the seat next to him and said, “Have a seat and tell me what's on your mind.”
Sani nodded and sat down beside Ashwin, then began to swing his feet back and forth as he said, “I've been having these dreams.”
Ashwin frowned. “What kind of dreams?”
“They're kind of weird.”
“In what way?”
Sani began swinging his feet back and forth a little faster as he said, “I'm always in a forest, and I always meet this talking owl.”
“A talking owl?”
“Yes.”
Ashwin nodded. “Hmm, that's interesting.” Ashwin cocked his head to the side before he added, “Have you told anyone else about this?”
“No.”
“Not even your grampa?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Sani shrugged as he continued to stare down at his feet, but Ashwin's next question caused the boy's feet to instantly stop moving. “What does the owl say to you, Sani?”
Sani slowly raised his head and met Ashwin's concerned yet understanding gaze, and his voice faltered as he replied, “It says things to me that I don't always understand.”
“Like what?”
Sani glanced away and replied, “It tells me not to be afraid of it, that it means me no harm, but...it's HUGE, Ashwin! And it's always sitting on top of this rock. I just don't understand it.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Ashwin's mouth at the boy's words, for he finally understood what was happening. Before he could say anything, though, Sani frantically added, “I know that the owl means sickness and death, and I dream about it almost every night! Does that mean something bad is going to happen to my parents or Grampa?”
Ashwin slowly shook his head. “No, son. None of this is bad, nor does it mean that anything bad is going to happen. It's quite good, actually.”
Sani turned his head and gave Ashwin a puzzled look. “How is it good?”
Ashwin sighed and said, “Have you thought about what you want to be when you grow up?”
Sani shrugged and glanced down at his feet again. “Kinda.”
Ashwin waited for a few moments to see if Sani was going to say anything else, and when he didn't, Ashwin gently prodded, “Well?”
Sani bit his lip and sighed. “I want to do what you do. I want to be a doctor.”
Ashwin smiled at the boy's words, and his voice was gentle as he inquired, “Sani, do you know what else I am?”
Sani nodded. “Yes, Mr. Ashwin. I think you're a—a—Shaman?”
Ashwin nodded. “That's right.”
Sani bit his lip as he turned to look at him. “Can I be one too?”
“How old are you now?”
“I'll be twelve in a few months.”
Ashwin nodded and said, “When's your birthday?”
“November first.”
“Tell you what—I'll come up for a visit on your birthday, and we'll see what happens. OK?”
Sani frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Don't you know about the rite of passage?”
Sani shrugged. “Kind of but not really.”
Ashwin gave the boy a reassuring smile and said, “I'll explain all of that when I come back on your birthday, OK?”
Sani nodded. “OK.”
“You three go and enjoy the fireworks. Dakota and I will be fine here with the children,” Goga said as she shooed Ashwin, Kasey, and Sani out the door later that evening. Ashwin laughed when his mother shut the door behind them, then turned to Kasey and quipped, “If I didn't know any better, I'd swear she was trying to get rid of us!”
Kasey laughed and shook her head at her husband's words, then smiled when he took her hand in his and began leading her to the ridge for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display. Sani was walking along right beside him, and he was glad that the boy seemed happier than he'd been that afternoon. After a delightful evening of grilled hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chips, homemade ice cream, and socializing, as well as the spectacular fireworks display, he led a weary Kasey and a definitely groggy Sani back to his mother's house. He tucked Kasey into bed and led Sani to Dakota's old house, where Little Bird was no doubt fast asleep down the hall. Sani led Ashwin into his room and climbed into bed, and moments later the child was fast asleep. Ashwin smiled and covered the boy with a blanket, then quietly retrieved the small, plainly wrapped item he'd been guarding all night from his inside jacket pocket. It was something he never left home without, and as he stood holding the sacred parcel, he realized that the time had come for him to pass his wisdom and knowledge of Shamanism to the one the owl had told him about several years ago. He carefully set the package on the nightstand right beside the bed, then smiled down at Sani once again and gently ruffled the boy's hair before he silently slipped out and returned to his mother's house.
Sani blinked at the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, then slowly sat up and stretched his small arms over his head as he simultaneously yawned. He sighed and sat staring out the window for a few moments, then pushed the blanket back and swung his legs over the side of the bed before he spotted the package. It was wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a piece of twine, and he scrunched his face up as he tried to figure out where the package had come from, as well as what it was. He carefully removed the paper and gasped softly as he took in the sight of the weathered, leather-bound book, and as he carefully opened it to the first page, he gasped again when he realized what he was holding in his hands. He had only heard rumors of this very thing, but now...now he knew it was true as he continued to casually thumb through the fragile, parchment pages. He also knew who had left it for him, and he bit his lip to keep from crying when he read the note that Ashwin had tucked on the inside cover: “To Sani, my very own little Shaman in training. Keep this book near and dear to your heart. Put it somewhere safe, where no one else will ever be able to find it. Do not talk about what is in this book. Someday you will pass this book on to someone else. Until then, heed the wisdom contai
ned in this book and practice it diligently and with care. Always strive to practice Shamanism with a person's best interests at heart. Pay attention to the owl, for he will never misguide you. And last, but not least, always remember this: You were chosen to be a Shaman, which makes you a very special boy indeed. Happy early birthday. I will see you again then, as we will have a lot to discuss. Love, Ashwin.”
THE END
The Medicine Man, Book 2 Page 32
