Kindred Read Free Page A

squeezed her hands.
    “Wut it be?” She peered at him with somber curiosity.
    “Trust me, ’Zina, as you have these past six years. Stop your
    fretting.” Dr. Twain sat down again. Smiling, he picked up his empty bowl and shoved it at Rozina. “Now, please, more spoon bread. I need to fortify myself to face Mrs. De Groot’s boils this morning.”
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
    Kindred struggled up the hill to the church. Joshua hadn’t even waited for her. She fumed inwardly. He knew she had to gather the herbs every morning. He could have at least waited for her she reasoned. As she rounded the corner to the back room, laughter
    punctuated by boisterous shouts greeted her. She saw her brother already playing with their makeshift school’s newest pupil. A lanky boy, about Joshua’s age, he was tossing a ball to her brother. His black braids flapped in the breeze as he gracefully lobbed the ball between them. Kindred approached.
    “Joshua, you were supposed to wait for me,” she puffed, out of breath.
    “We were supposed to be here on time this morning, Kinny. To meet the new student.” He nodded in the Indian boy’s direction.
    “But you know I have to get the herbs every morning. You could have waited! Can I play?” she asked. She stretched for the ball.
    “Get here on time,” Joshua said, raising it above his head, out of her reach.
    “I hate you sometimes, Joshua Twain! Let me play!” She lunged for the ball.
    The Indian boy interceded. “You can play.” He wrested the ball from Joshua and handed it to Kindred.
    She stuck her tongue out at Joshua who shook his head at her antics. “Thank you,” she replied. “I am Kindred. What is your name?” She looked at the boy closely. He had jet black eyes in a face the color of cinnamon. He wore a soft deerskin shirt, a breechclout, moccasins and leggings held together by leather laces.
    “ Lelaheo niyúkyats ,” the boy answered in Oneida, the warmth of his huge smile in his voice. This little brown girl was feisty he noted. He liked her already.
    “What?” Kindred asked.
    “Excuse me, I forget my English. I am called Lelaheo. Now we all can play.”
    Kindred beamed at him and tossed the ball high. The three squealed as they angled to catch the projectile. They stared as the ball lost momentum and began its plummet back to earth. Lelahelo shot straight up and snatched it from the air.
    “That’s not fair!” Kindred protested, pouting.
    Lelaheo scrambled away, looking over his shoulder as Kindred and Joshua chased him.
    “You can not catch me!” Lelaheo bragged. He raced away, head down into the wind and collided with Reverend Harkness. The impact sent both to the grass.
    “This is not what your people sent you here for,” Reverend Harkness said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. The cleric got to his feet and shook the green blades from his black attire. Lelaheo clambered to his feet.
    “I am sorry, Reverend Harkness. I did not see you. I ....”
    Harkness waved his hand, terminating Lelaheo’s apology. “Obviously. It is time you all came in for today’s lesson.” He pointed to the church. “Move. Now.”
    The children fell in line, the reverend bringing up the rear. Once inside, Kindred and Joshua took their seats on a bench in front of the slate board on the wall and pulled out their hornbooks. Reverend Harkness folded his hands behind him and cleared his throat loudly as he paced. “Our new pupil will introduce himself now.” Harkness crooked his finger at Lelaheo. “Front and center, young man.”
    The boy walked to the slate board, turned and faced the class.
    “I am called Lelaheo and I come from the village of Kanowalohale,” he pronounced proudly. “My nation is People of the Standing Stone; my clan is Bear clan.”
    “I know where that place is, but why are you here?“ Kindred asked earnestly.
    Joshua nudged his sister surreptitiously and spoke softly. “Not now, Kinny.”
    “Well, I just wanted to know.” She glanced