Smiles Alot had a busy day with Grandma Speaks Softly and her Mother, Silent Tongue.  Today her Grandmother and Mother taught her how to make fry bread, summer stew, and cornbread cookies.  Grandmother Speaks Softly even showed Smiles Alot how to get honey from a bees hive without making the bees angry. Grandmother spoke gently, ‘Please brothers don’t get angry and sting me.  I would like only a little bit of honey, for my Granddaughter has just learned how to make fry bread. I am sorry for disturbing you and ask for your forgiveness.’ Grandmother only took a little, enough for them to have for their frybread.  She explained to Smiles Alot, "you always ask for forgiveness and explain why you must take.  Always leave a gift."  Grandmother planted a bright flower, and burned a little sweet grass.  One bee did sting her however.  She explained that would happen.  "He

Smiles Alot and Brother Eagle

probably had a bad day.’      As Smiles Alot and Grandmother Speaks Softly walked back to the tipi, Grandmother told Smiles Alot of when she was a young girl. Speaks Softly would sit in a meadow and listen to all the voices of nature.  The trees talking, the different birds calling to one another. The babbling brook, the crickets rubbing their legs together. This was Grandmothers favorite time of day when all her chores were done.  So when they got back with the honey, Grandmother gave Smiles Alot a big hug and told her to run and play, ‘This can be your favorite time.  ‘Thank you Grandmother! Bye Mother!’        Smiles Alot tries to contain her excitement. She runs as fast as she can, her braid beating against her back with each stride she takes.  She felt as though she could run forever, but stopped at the edge of the forest. A meadow. A meadow so beautiful it took her breath away.  As far as Smiles Alot could see green, tall green grass with flowers of every color sprinkled throughout. Colorful butterflies fluttering from flower to flower.  ‘Grandmothers meadow!’  Smiles Alot ran in the meadow ‘til she dropped.  At first all she could hear was her own breathing. But as she lay back in the tall grass she could hear its crinkling voice. As her breathing slowed she could hear the buzzing of the bees and the woodpecker tapping with his beak on the tall trees.      As Smiles Alot laid in the meadow enjoying the warmth of the sun, she notice Brother Eagle flying overhead. ‘What a peaceful flight,’ she thought, chewing on a piece of grass. ‘How wonderful it must be to be an Eagle. To fly so high. To soar.’ As she watched the Eagle she noticed he was getting bigger and coming closer. Bigger and bigger, until he landed just beside her. His wings creating a soft breeze.  ‘Hello Smiles Alot.’  ‘How do you know my name Brother Eagle?’  ‘I know many things. My Father, the wind, tells many things. All you have to do is listen. I also hear you would like to fly. Climb on my back and hang on.'      Smiles Alot slowly climbs on Brother Eagle’s back.  ‘Don’t be afraid sister. I am strong. Take a good grasp and get comfortable. Make sure you can see, the sight is beautiful.’  Smiles Alot was very nervous when the flight began. She’s never been up so high.  She closed her eyes tight and held her breath.  ‘Look sister, look down there.’  She didn’t dare. She was afraid she might fall.  Sensing that Smiles Alot was afraid, he told her, ‘Come on Smiles Alot, you must trust me. I wouldn’t let you fall, for I’ve seen my brothers fall from the sky and I wouldn’t allow it to happen to you. Every living being is special. Now please look at what the Great Spirit has created.’      Smiles Alot peeked through the feathers on Brother Eagles back.  The sight was like nothing she could have ever imagined. Everything was so much smaller. She could see the forest, all four corners and sides.  And the smoke rising above the top of the trees, it came from her family’s tipi. The water they used for cooking, she could see where it began and finished. The meadow where she lay and the sun warmed her, more beautiful than Smiles Alot could imagine.       ‘Oh Brother Eagle, thank you! Thank you for sharing your world with me. It is so beautiful!’  Smiles Alot enjoyed her Brother Eagle’s flight. Soaring with Father Wind. She couldn’t wait to tell Grandmother.  As they went through a cloud, Smiles Alot reached out to touch it.  ‘Soft, just like they looked from the ground.’  ‘Hang on Smiles Alot. I must take you back now.’  She sighed with disappointment.  Feeling this Brother Eagle told her, ‘Your family will be worried. Now that we are friends, I will come visit you again. Now hold on tight.’  Brother Eagle headed for the meadow. He swiftly but softly landed where they had met. His wings spread wide, the flowering meadow parted and bowed to let them land.  As Smiles Alot slid off Brother Eagles back, she reached into her pouch and pulled out a piece of dried meat.  ‘Grandmother Speaks Softly says we should always offer a gift when we take something. You shared your beautiful flight and I am grateful.  Please accept my gift.’  ‘Thank you Smiles Alot. Your Grandmother is wise in her knowledge. Always listen carefully when she is teaching you. She will give you great knowledge. I must go now my family is waiting, as well as yours.’  Smiles Alot placed the meat in Brother Eagles claw as he started his flight back to his family. Before he was too far from her he told her, ‘I will be back. We will soar again!’ Smiles Alot watched her new friend fly off till she couldn’t see him anymore, then with all her excitement started running through the meadow back towards her family’s tipi. ‘Grandmother, Grandmother, oh wait till you hear of my adventure!’ smileybear67 This article copyrighted to smilebear67 Home