From Time to time.

Chapter One.

Kaelin could hear the tiny flames, as they mounted the stack of wood that lay ready in the center of the large fire pit. She’d seen that same kind of flames dance like fairies across piles of wood before, but it had always fascinated her. The Sacred fire had always been one to behold, and nobody could ever love it more than she. This Sacred fire had always been a blessing to her people, lit on the first day of the Powwow that began late July and remaining lit throughout the week to keep the heart alive.

Kaelin’s smile broadened, as her mother dropped a log onto the hungry flames. This fire, like all fires lit here before it was the heart of her people. If the fire went out, the people would need to end the campout and their hearts would be on the ground as they buried the ashes beneath the reddened Earth. This fire was always fed when the people were served, and no language could be spoken badly in front of it. Kaelin had to smile at the memory of the time that last order had been disobeyed. How her Uncle had risen, when flames landed between his legs. Had it really just been the year before?

“What are you thinking, Kaelin?” Her mother questioned, as Kaelin turned her attention back to the fire.

“Everything. The world is a vast place, Mother. I want to know it all before I die.” Kaelin answered, speaking the language of her Arrow Lakes people in a halted, uncertain manner.

“your language is getting better, Kaelin. In a year or so you should know it all.” Her mother told her, as she stirred some logs deeper into the fire.

“I bet it will. I can’t wait to learn the entire language. If only English wasn’t the primary language among us Natives. I hate it.” Kaelin told her mother, as she looked with sad eyes into the flames.

“Language will come back to us. Right now I believe you should be thinking of your future. Kaelin, you are nearly eighteen years old. You should think of marriage and family soon. It’s your duty as a young girl to think these things.” Her mother said, the almost pretend accent coming in a thick manner that angered her.

If only her mother wasn’t such a show-off, Kaelin thought to herself. How often had she hated the way her mother always pretended she knew everything, or acted like a Medicine Woman to the people when really she was just an ordinary woman. A healer could be said to be her mother, but Kaelin could remember how her mother had told some of the people that she was a MedicineWoman. Kaelin had hated her then, believing that she’d given her family a bad name--one that couldn’t be repaired.

“I’ll never marry.” Kaelin stated forcefully, trying in just this small way to gain the upper hand over her mother.

“Why not? You’re a beautiful girl, and I want grandchildren.” Her mother told her kindly, though Kaelin could sense some distaste for what she’d told her mother.

From the corner of her almost blind eyes, Kaelin saw the outlines of men as they walked up the path from the Man’s Sweat lodge. Her uncle Ruban had lead a sweat there that night, one of ten nights the sweat would go for. Kaelin knew how tired he must be, and she admired him for his hard work. Ruban had once been a drunk, but once he’d found his roots once again, he’d become dynamic in bringing the people back to the old ways. Kaelin hoped he’d be able to bring Julius back to the path of his birth.

Julius Alexander had been born to a father and mother of a very gifted family, both in the traditions of their name and the strength of their medicine. As a baby, his father Paul had been an alcoholic and had treated him and his mother Christine very badly. Christine had given Julius up for adoption as an infant, mostly to keep him safe when his father had opened the car door and thrown his crying baby out into the street. Julius had since grown up into a strong, handsome man that sent Kaelin’s heart fluttering wildly whenever she saw him. He would never know that though.

For nearly three years, Kaelin had kept the secret of her love for Julius. He was technically a married man, and she cared much for his fiancée Linda. Linda didn’t seem to care much for her however, but Kaelin didn’t mind. It had hurt that Linda hadn’t loved her at first, but she’d grown accustomed to it as the years had gone by. In her own right, Kaelin was more than jealous of Linda. Linda had what she wanted, and there were times Kaelin didn’t believe she appreciated what she had.

Julius was a tall man with long black hair that came down to his bottom, and deep, sincere brown eyes that could pierce one’s very being with their depth. His face was smooth and round like a baby’s, and the way he spoke could bring one to their knees if they were caught off guard. He’d stolen Kaelin’s heart that very first day when he’d met her, reading to her in the halted way of a man who hadn’t much education. It was still a shock that he’d been able to be convinced to do so, when he’d read to no other.

“What you thinking, my girl?” A deep voice asked from behind her, startling her out of her thoughts.

“Uncle Ruban! I--I didn’t see you come.” Kaelin said quickly, jumping from her chair.

“Come here and hug me.” Ruban told her jovially, as Kaelin turned and ran into his arms.

Ruban’s tall form suited him perfectly to Kaelin. He was at least six feet six, with thick brows that covered beautiful and kind brown eyes. His face was round in the way of most of her people, and his belly stuck out somewhat with the fried bread everyone seemed to love so much. His long, glossy black hair hung down just above his bottom, left down most of the time instead of in one or two braids.

Now her Uncle Ruban smelled of herbs and sweat, and Kaelin breathed him in deeply as she hugged him close. She did so love the smells of the men after the sweat Lodge had had them. There was always a hint of sage and sweet grass clinging strongly to them, along with other herbs Kaelin couldn’t place. How wonderful and relaxing they smelled, but it was rare one of them let her get close enough to smell them. They preferred to be left alone, for the lodge and the steam that came from it generally tired them out. How happy she was to have an uncle as giving as Ruban was.

“yYou thinking of something I should know of?” Uncle Ruban asked, as eh smile crept onto his face.

“Uncle Ruban, I’m always thinking of things I can’t tell you. You’re haoka, so why don’t you know that already/” Kaelin asked softly, as she squeezed him close to her.

“Only in training. I can’t be a full Haoka until I can lift a boiling piece of meat out with my bare hands, and not burn.” Ruban told her gently, as he moved a strand of long black hair from her face.

“And you will. I know you will.” Kaelin said, as more of the men came to the fire.

Ruban smiled at her, and sat down on the chair she’d just vacated. Kaelin crouched at his feet, hoping he might tell her a story before she retired to the family teepee for the night. Perhaps he’d tell of the Sasquatches again? Maybe he’d even tell her of the little People, and how they’d overcome the famine man had caused.

“Did you know there’s medicine going on in this place tonight?” Ruban asked her quietly, a look of mischief in his kind brown eyes.

“There’s always medicine, Uncle Ruban. What do you mean by this though?” Kaelin asked, a tinge of excitement creeping into her at the look her Uncle was giving her.

“This is magic medicine. I think you will love this.” Ruban told her confidentially, smiling as he squeezed her hand.

“Oh, do tell me? I can’t stand the suspense!” Kaelin squeaked, grinning from ear to ear as she watched his face.

“There’s a magical kind of man I saw as I was coming up here to the fire. He has a box with him that cansend people to any when they want to be in. If he sends them, a person can go back to another when and meet their grandmother before she’s even big enough to marry.” Ruban told her, his eyes sparkling with the mischief of it.

“No!” Kaelin exclaimed incredulously, as she shook her head in denial.

“Oh, yes though.” Ruban replied, his face sincere.

“This is a story. There’s no way that could really exist.” Kaelin stated, preparing a laugh for what must be a joke.

“I tell the truth now. He is on the point beyond the Women lodge. He can do it, only by what the person wants. Name a when, and he sends you there.” Ruban told her, as Kaelin’s head began to whirl with wonder.

If she could go back into the when of Julius’s high school years, she could change everything. Wouldn’t it just be glorious to see what a rebel he must have been there? She could meet the boy who’d grown into this kind man she knew today, long before Linda ever did. Perhaps--but that was just something she could only dream of. She’d never have Joules, she’d known that when she’d adopted him as an Uncle. Uncles couldn’t be thought of in that manner, and she already punished herself for loving one who was technically married.

“What are you talking about over here?” Kaelin’s mother asked, as she walked over to them.

“Uncle Ruban was just telling me a story before I go to bed.” Kaelin answered, as she stood stiffly.

“Tell me? I want to hear.’ Her mother said, her voice breaking through the barriers of Kaelin’s mind in a way that infuriated her.

“You’re getting old, Kaelin. When you’re stiff when you sit long, you definitely know you’re getting old.” Ruban told her, the two of them ignoring her mother as he hugged her goodnight.

“I know. I’ll have to grease my joints.” Kaelin said, in mock seriousness.

“Don’t forget what I told you tonight.” Ruban whispered into her ear, as he released her.

“I won’t.” Kaelin promised, as she felt her face grow red.

Kaelin excused herself, and walked beyond the benches that lined the inside of the Arbor. The moon was out, but Kaelin’s blind eyes could not make out its light as she wandered the well-worn paths in the dirt. Everything about this place was dirt, wood and metal.

There were teepees set up outside the arbor, encircling it in the traditional manner that kept the tents and campers at bay. Kaelin often thought of it as a sort of breaker between the old and the new, and somehow she found this a comfort. Her Uncle Ruban had often told her she was born a hundred years too late, and Kaelin fervently believed him. If only the new tents with their canvases and bars didn’t exist. If only those stupid metal houses that made camping a comfort to the rich and wealthy, and softened the bones of the people didn’t come to make them weak. If those motors didn’t exist, perhaps she could drive. Yes, Kaelin hated modern life.

Smiling, Kaelin listened as the grass tapped lightly on her moccasins as she walked over it. Some day, her own bones would be accustomed to the ground, and her body would be made to swim in that cold river in winter. Someday, she’d live in a place where motors no longer existed--where light came from sun, moon and fires. Someday, life would be perfect. She just knew it would.

At least there were still trees, Kaelin thought as she passed some large pines. The paths were still made of dirt, and there wasn’t a spot of pavement in sight in this camp. In fact, there was little if any pavement on the Res at all. Kaelin did so love the Res. If only she didn’t ever have to leave it. She did though, for that wasn’t where her home lay, even though she’d tried hard to get her family to move there.

“Are you looking for someone, Miss?” A deep voice questioned, startling her out of her thoughts.

“My Uncle Ruban told me there’s a person around here that can control where a person goes. He says this person controls what when they can go to.” Kaelin told the person, her eyes shyly staring down at the floor.

“Controls the whens, huh? I might know of such a person. Why would you need them?” The man questioned, a smile crossing his face and warming her heart.

“I wanted to go back to 1982. There’s a man named Julius Alexander, and I wanted to go to high school with him.” Kaelin said, believing she must sound quite dumb in front of this tall and kindhearted man.

Another smile overtook his face, and Kaelin felt herself grow red. Had she just told the man what she meant to do? She couldn’t have dared! Now he’d tell the man not to send her back to the when before this one, and she’d be stuck there without a thing to do. Dangle, she thought angrily. Uncle Ruban dangled it in front of me!

“This Julius, is he special somehow?” The man asked, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked into her reddening face.

“It doesn’t matter. Forget I asked.” Kaelin said, spotting Julius as he walked slowly toward his camp.

How sad he seemed, with his face drawn in seriousness. Kaelin longed to make him smile, but she knew her Auntie Linda wouldn’t like that. She never liked anyone around Julius for long, and Kaelin suspected it was because the old woman was jealous. God forbid someone look in his direction, even for friendship. Julius belonged to her and no other. Linda seemed hell-bent on proving that to everyone.

“No worries for you, little one. Could you do me a favor? Will you walk to those trees? Walk quickly now, but do not run.” The man instructed her, as she gave him a look of wonder.

“Why do you want me to walk that way? My camp is the other way.” Kaelin told him, as she turned to go back to her camp.

“I’ve listened to your request. Now this isn’t too much to ask. I seem to have left something there, and I don’t want to retrieve it. That’s why I’m sending you to do it.” The man said casually, as though this was normal to him.

“Oh, fine then.” Kaelin grumbled, as she turned and headed toward the trees.

Cold air seemed to envelope her as she reached the trees, humming in a manner that was alien to her. For a slight second, her feet left the ground and a pang of panic ran through her like wildfire. Kaelin was frightened, and she hated that feeling more than anything else in the world. She just had to make it stop, and she had to do so quickly.