We Know How The Wind Is

 

            The wind searches things out. It goes under and through. Looking here and there, and perhaps what the wind is looking for is truth. Or maybe, it’s interested in seeing things move. You would certainly be forgiven for believing that.

            The wind wandered up to John Chee’s mine and peeked inside. Well, the wind does as it wishes, so it invited itself right in. It ran up and down searching every corner. On the way back out it knocked over a precariously placed shovel and then slammed the door open hard. Winds don’t like dead ends. A wind does not like to be thwarted.

            Outside, feeling light again it danced some dry leaves up, it practiced being a small whirlwind. It danced the leaves way up high, then let them fall all over the roof of the old Hogan. Ah, the old Hogan. It looked like a part of the earth, so old and brown and rounded off like a river stone or a small mountain. Sometimes there was still smoke from the chimney there. The wind liked to scatter that too, blowing it flat and low.

            No one had seen the great cat in a while. Which doesn’t mean anything one way or another, her stock in trade being obscurity.  And then, sometimes not seeing is a relief. The family of Jessie, Beth and Emmy was busy with life’s details. The past had retreated into legend. It was rounded off too, not quite forgotten, but not heeded.

            Billy lived on, grave and wise. He didn’t speak. But he always noted.

            No one had seen Julia Chee in a long while either. But she had a way of peeking in from time to time that made it hard to believe that  she was completely gone.

            When she stopped coming in for meals and couldn’t be found in the Hogan or anywhere around, they searched for her.  The local police and the county searched for many days. Navajo trackers looked in both worlds, but they didn’t see her either.

            There were rumors of course. What is mankind if not a maker of rumors? Some said she must have gone back up into the rocks and fallen into a crevasse. Some who styled themselves as knowers of hidden truth, said she was kidnapped and taken far afield. But who kidnaps an ancient Navajo lady? It didn’t hold water.

            Now speaking of water, some others said she must have tripped and drowned in the little river as it rushed its way downhill. But where was the small body then? A good question indeed.  Where was the small body, living or dead?

            One day when only Beth was home, Jessie being in town and Emmy at the local school, Beth heard the door of the mobile open.  By the time she had dried her hands and came to see who had opened the door, no one was there except that Billy was in the room and he had been outside. He gazed down the hall toward the bedroom. 

            Beth felt a chill on her neck and arms as she looked down the hall where Billy indicated. She called out, “Aunt Julia, is that you?” She felt foolish saying that out loud. She didn’t know what to do. She walked slowly down the hallway feeling very much alone. She didn’t know why she should be fearful; Julia had loved her, and she knew it well.

            Just at that moment, the wind puffed itself up big and knocked some dried plant matter up against the bedroom window making a loud clatter. You see how the wind is?  It butts in.

            Poor Beth.  She was frightened for a minute. Then she laughed at herself and searched the mobile. No one was home but herself and Billy.  Honda was with Jessie at his shop in Joseph City. Jessie had decided to go back to making furniture. Most of his work was custom, for people who can afford such things. He was doing well, after a slow start.

            So, Beth was alone there with Billy the cat, several chickens, and an imponderable question. Where was Julia Chee, anyhow?

            Later in the afternoon, the school bus stopped down at the end of the driveway. Emmy made her way slowly up toward the house.  She looked thoughtful. Her steps were slow and deliberate. She released a big sigh and went on in to greet her mother.

            “Hi, mom. I’m here,” called Emmy.

            Beth had been lying down, taking a short nap when she heard Emmy arrive.  She got up, calling back as she moved down the hall, “hi Sweetie, I’m back here! How are you? Everything good?”

            “Everything’s good mom, but I have two things I want to do or have done. I’ve been thinking again. Sorry!” Emmy laughed. She threw her backpack down on the floor by the sofa and said hi to Billy, who looked fairly pleased.

            “Alright, daughter.  What are those two things,” said Beth, giving her girl a squeeze and a little smooch.

            “I want to be called Julia now.  I’m nearly 15 years old, and that baby name sounds silly. Kids know my name is Julia and they keep bugging me about that old nickname.  It’s not a huge deal, but I want to be Julia now,” announced Emmy.

            “I’m pretty sure we can do that,” said Beth, with her eyebrows up just a little. “I might goof once in a while. I’m sure your dad will be fine with it. What’s the other thing?”

            “Well, mom, I want to finish high school with homeschool. I think I would get more real study done and I wouldn’t have to travel around so much and waste so much time.  I really want to do this, mommy dear!” Emmy, now Julia, sat on the sofa and put her hands together in prayerful attitude.

            “That’s alright with me, Julia,” said Beth, smiling down at her daughter. “You know we have to give your daddy final veto, right? But I think it will be alright. I don’t see him objecting as long as you keep reading, writing and doing age appropriate math.”

            Julia jumped up and gave her mom a hug and hauled her pack down to her bedroom. She flopped down on her bed with a big smile on her face.

            “You’re getting it, Julia,” said the Golden Frog from his house where he peeped out, gleaming.

            Later, after dinner, and negotiations with Jessie, Julia went outside to sit in the evening light. She just looked at the signs of the end of summer, the dry corn stalks rustling in a demure small breeze, a few bright leaves on the ground, she listened for the river’s whoosh.  All good.

            As it grew darker, Julia noticed two glowing golden eyes not too far away. She smiled. She had no fear.