A Name

 

            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.

            “I see you over there,” said Julia from her seat on the steps. “I welcome you.”  

            The shining eyes moved a little closer.  She heard soft breathing, with a little rumble thrown in, like a huge purr. In the chilly evening air, she could almost feel the warmth of the great cat’s body radiating out.

            “What should I call you?” asked Julia.
            “Well, now,” said a soft deep voice, “you’re a strange one, Julia.  No one has ever asked me that before. There is a word the people use. Náshdóítsoh. But, that is only what I am, not who I am.”
            “Who are you?” asked Julia, smiling there in the dark.
            “That’s for you to decide. How about that?” It seemed as if the great cat might be laughing a bit.
            “Would you allow me to name you?” said Julia, rather boldly.
            “I will,” said the cat. “When I see you again, you will have thought of a name that we will use between us. Even Julia Chee did not name me.” Then she turned and walked away into the night, silently on her great soft paws.
            The girl rose and went back into the house. She went to her room and got ready for bed. Thinking. She was beginning to think of a name.
 
            The next day was the first of September. Julia would have been entering the 9^th grade soon, if she was going.
            Arizona is one of those states that doesn’t require too much of homeschooling families, so it was an easy matter to just inform the school district of their intention to homeschool. In any case, the law only would obtain in Julia’s case for one more year.  After age 16, there is no legal requirement to attend school or do it yourself in Arizona.
            The state does require that the normal subjects be studied. An easy matter.
            Julia’s freedom was easily accomplished.
 
            The matter of the cat’s name was much on her mind. She was thinking of Shiadi, older sister. Or maybe Shima’, aunt. But those weren’t really names exactly. Of course,  Julia spoke some Navajo, though she was mostly an English speaker.
            The word dina’, the Navajo word for to last or endure kept coming back to her mind. It itself endured. So, Julia began to think of the mysterious puma as Dina. Dina who always came back. She who persists. In some way, always there. Julia didn’t really understand why that name came to her so strongly.
           
            On the first day of the school year Julia stood up at the top of the driveway and watched the yellow bus drive by without picking her up. She felt very free. So many of the attendant small annoyances of school life would be her problem no more.
            Jessie came out of the house, ready to drive in to his shop and start his day.
            “Would you like to come to the shop with me today?” he asked Julia. He almost said “Emmy.” Beth and Jessie both still thought of her as Emmy.
            “Okay, maybe I can help or something,” she said.
 

            Jessie’s shop wasn’t really like a furniture store, though the door was unlocked so people could come in and maybe order something. Most of his customers learned of his work by word of mouth, or from an internet site that Julia had built for him. Almost all of his pieces had to be shipped. He was getting some notice with designers and high-end customers. He did very fine work, and was improving all the time, becoming quite a designer himself.
            The simple sign on the building, which he rented, said only “Nez’ Custom Cabinetry.”
           
            Father and daughter rode through the brilliant morning light toward Joseph city in  amiable silence. Then he said, “well, how do you feel?”
            “I’m happy, dad. Very happy. School wasn’t horrible, but it seems like such a waste of time. So much of it was just moving people around and business like lunch,” mused Julia. “I know there’s supposed to be a social aspect, but I don’t feel like I need that. I know people. We will still see each other.”
            “That’s right,” said Jessie. “None of us are joiners. Soon I think we should tell you the whole story of how we all ended up down here in Arizona in my old aunt’s mobile home.  It’s quite a story, Julia. It’s a little scary. It’s also complicated.”
            “Oh, some of that leaked out, dad, but I do want to hear the whole story.”
            “By the way, I’ll tell you something. It didn’t scare me, which is odd, really, but in the cold light of day it sounds crazy.  You know, a couple nights ago I went out and sat on the steps as the sun was going down, just happy because you guys said I could homeschool and use my real name.  While I was sitting there, I notice some yellow shining eyes nearby. I know how weird this sounds, but we talked.  This big mountain lion puma talked to me! I just sat there and talked with her.  I know it was a female, I’m not sure how, but she just seemed female.
            “There.  Is that nuts enough for you?” said Julia, looking earnestly at Jessie as he drove.
            “Well,” laughing a little, “I’ve heard something like that before.  Don’t worry. You’re not crazy. But, that is another complicated story. It has to do with my aunt.  Now you will think I am crazy, so we’re even. The puma would appear sometimes when we couldn’t find Julia Chee, and then disappear and Julia would turn up. Yeah. Sounds crazy! What did it mean? We were not absolutely sure about anything when it came to that lady, still aren’t.
            “Any how this puma seemed to be a guardian somehow. But since Aunt Julia disappeared the last time, we haven’t seen the big cat at all!” said Jessie.
            “I asked her what I should call her, and she said no one had ever asked her that before. Then I said could I name her, and she said I could. Then she said she would see me again and I would have a name.  Then she vanished into the night.  Spooky. But not scary,” said Julia.
            Jessie parked the old blue pickup in front of his shop.  After he parked he turned to his daughter and said, “I wonder if it has anything to do with a name. Your name. Julia?”
            “Well, let’s go in and see what’s to be done this day, my dear,” said Jessie Nez.

All 55, 687 words of it.