Kindred Read Free Page B

sideways at him and rolled her eyes.
    “All right you two, please! You have interrupted our student’s narrative. Kindred. Do that again and ....”
    “The people in my settlement are starving,” broke in Lelaheo. “My mother sent me to Reverend Harkness to survive.”
    It was true. Hospitality as practiced by the Oneida, and all of the Haudenosaunee, was destroying them. Manners dictated that no guest be turned away. Prominent families, like Lelohelo’s, suffered the most from this custom. There was not enough food in Lelaheo’s longhouse for everyone, so his mother had sent him to Reverend Harkness to feed his body and his mind.
    “Oh!” said Kindred. “Thank you for telling us.”
    “You are very welcome,” said Lelaheo. Very welcome.”
    “Resume your story, young man, resume it,” carped Reverend Harkness impatiently.
    “My mother sent me here to live. She says she wants me to understand the ways of the white man so I will not perish.”
    Kindred felt sad for him. “So people come and eat all your food?” Youthful bluntness fueled her words. “And your mother sent you here? What did your father have to say about that? You can come to our house and eat. We have plenty. Our Gramma’s a good cook.”
    “Miss Twain, one more time and you will stand in the corner!”
    “Reverend Harkness, I just wanted to ....”
    “Enough, Miss Twain! Hold out your left hand. Palm up. Now!
    Kindred froze, not knowing what was next. She unclasped her hands, which had been resting in her lap. She raised her left one.
    From out of nowhere a straightedge flashed and left her with a stinging, red palm. The straightedge flashed again and delivered another hit. Kindred bit back tears and whimpered as Reverend Harkness landed a third blow.
    Suddenly, Lelaheo rushed him, grappling with his right arm for possession of the ruler. “What do you think you are doing, child? How dare you!”
    “Do not hit her anymore, Reverend,” Joshua pleaded.
    “No more, Reverend Harkness. No more.” Lelaheo added, his tone commanding for a young boy’s.
    “This is an outrage!” puffed the reverend, out of breath from trying to shake the boy from his arm. “You all will regret this!” He raised the ruler.
    “No, Reverend, no!” Kindred screamed, springing to her feet . “It was my fault.”
    ****
    Quiet reigned in the tiny school room now, except for the ticking of the clock. Reverend Harkness sat at his table, grading tests and preparing the next day’s lesson. The early afternoon sun light slashed blindingly across the room, landing on the empty student bench.
    “Have you learned today’s lesson yet, my rioting heathens?” barked Reverend Harkness without looking up from the hornbooks on the desk in front of him.
    Silence permeated the room.
    “Have you?” he repeated more emphatically.
    “Yes,” a trio of voices replied in a tearful whisper.
    Lelaheo, Joshua and Kindred each stood in a corner of the room. And had been there for hours with their badly beaten hands folded behind their backs.
    ****
    “Uh’ll kill him! Who made him king? Hit my chillun and dat po’ lil injun chil’ he need sumbody kick him’own holy b’hin’. Leggo me!”
    Rozina was half in and half out the kitchen door, being held firmly by Dr. Twain from behind, with Joshua and Kindred blocking her exit in front.
    “We will heal, Gramma. We are fine. Please! You’ll make it worse.”
    “Yaas uh will. Fuh him! Leggo me!”
    “No, Rozina. Calm down! They will heal. I’ll see to that. You are not making it any better. They are using their hands to restrain you.”
    “Oh!” Rozina stopped struggling. Dr. Twain and the children relinquished their hold. The doctor stepped back, taking Rozina with him into the kitchen. The children followed.
    “Come here,” beckoned Dr. Twain to Kindred and Joshua. “Let me see those hands.” He pulled a chair out from the table, its legs scraping the floor. “Bring the lamp closer, ’Zina.” Rozina went to fetch