Three Sisters, Rob Astor [speld decodable readers TXT] 📗

Three Sisters

By

Rob Astor

Word Count: 963 Words

“Pokedeva is of Sky World, not of the Earth,” the tall man with long black hair and a red complexion said. His strong frame was covered with brown animal skins and ceremonial feathers. Back to him, Pokedeva dug dirt at the base of Sky World’s Tree Of Life. She pulled animal skin robes closer, hiding her stomach. “What do you think you have to offer the Earth when the Iroquois are created?”
“Three sisters.”
“I do not want you to compete in the contest.”
“Daily you remind me, Sky Father.” Pokedeva turned her head over her left shoulder. Large dark eyes looked up at him. “Everyone prepares gifts. There is much I give to the world with three sisters.”
“Only one can win. Only one becomes Sky Mother.”
Pokedeva returned her attention to the dirt, exposing part of the tree’s root. She used a bone tool to carve off chunks of soft bark and placed them into a pouch hanging around her neck.
“Do not dig too deep,” Sky Father said. “If you fall through, to Earth Pokedeva will go and to the Earth Pokedeva will stay.”
Sky Father vanished. Pokedeva sighed, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“What gift does Pokedeva present to the Earth?”
Pokedeva glanced up at an elder woman with her arms folded under a woven brown blanket with colorful zigzagging stripes . “So you can steal my gift?”
“Silence your tongue, girl,” she snapped. “There is no reason for me to take Pokedeva’s gift when I have already spread much cotton, tobacco, and fruit across Earth land.” Her eyes were large, jaw set stern. She tapped her foot, turned on her heel, and quickly walked away.
Cold wind rustled the colorful tree leaves. Pokedeva shivered. Racing white clouds darkened, heavy with rain. Molded from air and vapor, a face appeared next to her. “Pokedeva,” a breezy current blew her name.
“West Wind. Why have you come here?”
“Sky Father knows Pokedeva is with child?”
“No. Speak not of this, we said. I will pay our indiscretions.”
“Pokedeva, it is you I love. But, it is Sky Father Pokedeva loves.” West Wind’s face dissipated. Cold rain fell, drenching Pokedeva’s animal skins, chilling her to the bone.
At the spot where she dug, water and dirt turned to mud, draining deeper into the Tree Of Life’s root system. So much water fell, a large hole opened. Sitting on her knees at the edge, Pokedeva lost balance. She tumbled forward into the chasm. Her hands clutched at any purchase. Slick young roots passed between Pokedeva’s fingers. Rich soft soil gave way under her hands and feet.
Without warning, there was nothing more to grasp. Pokedeva fell headlong through empty air below puffy white clouds. Her back slammed against the ground, sending out a crack of thunder.
Vision quest interrupted by the sound, Sky Father’s eyes opened.
Pokedeva tried to sit. Cramps like knife wounds pained her back and stomach. “No.” Turning to her side, she groaned loudly.
Pulling forward with her hands, Pokedeva breathed shallowly. She saw a fertile field surrounded by wild roses. There was a single tree at the center. Slowly, Pokedeva crawled toward it.
Once there, Pokedeva opened her pouch and took out the three slices of root bark from the Tree Of Life. She dug a hole with her fingers, placing one piece into the ground. Then she covered it with soil.
Crawling deeper into the field, Pokedeva panted heavily. There, a second hole was dug and a second piece of the Tree Of Life was buried. Dragging her body with her arms, Pokedeva chose one last spot and planted the last piece of root.
It was time. Her babies were going to be born. Wiggling up to the side of the tree, Pokedeva managed to shift herself into the right position. She pressed down with her center as hard as she could. A female and a male pulled themselves out of her womb. Their bodies grew as they crawled across the grass. Propping up on their feet, by the time they stood straight, they were a fully mature man and woman.
“The first Iroquois are now born to the Earth,” Sky Father said.
Pokedeva’s completely grown children helped their mother to her feet. “Take me over there.” She pointed at a grouping of red roses. They held Pokedeva’s hands. She squeezed tightly, forcing her legs to move by sheer act of will.
The delightful fragrance of the voluptuous red roses filled the air. Pokedeva collected petals and placed them in a large circle on the ground. In the center of the circle, she fashioned a cross, touching the circle at all four points. Standing at the center, Pokedeva said, “Pokedeva gives to the Earth three sisters. Remember always!” She stomped her right foot down as hard as she could.
The crack of thunder reached Sky Father’s ears. “The contest is complete.”
Body limp, Pokedeva fell to the ground. Her planted pieces of root began to grow as tender green shoots coiled up from the dirt.
“I have walked the length and breadth of the Earth,” Sky Father said. He stood at the center of all the would-be Sky Mothers. “I have seen all of the gifts. I will now tell you who Sky Mother is. For the gift of three sisters, Pokedeva is Sky Mother.”
The women murmured amongst themselves. “Gone from this life Pokedeva is. But, she gave the best gift to the Iroquois people. Gifts to sustain them. The Iroquois will never know hunger. Pokedeva’s plants sprout into beans. Shoot into stalks of corn. And swell into plump squash.” Sky Father raised his hands out, palms turned toward the sky. “Let us remember always Pokedeva as Sky Mother. To her, always give thanks.”

Publication Date: 07-06-2011

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