With complete stillness, Ziibi watched her sister speak to Ajijaak. The other girls were watching too. What were they saying? Did Ajijaak understand that Miinan did not care for him like he cared for her? How could he be so blind? It had been foolish of her to point him out to Miinan. She had hoped her indifference to Ajijaak would make him understand her feelings for him, but no, her stupid sister went to where he was to have a conversation in public with him. This would get back to Noko, and most likely her father. Then, then, well…that remained to be seen, but it would not be pleasant for Miinan, and it might be devastating for Ajijaak.
When Aamoo called to the girls, Ajijaak and Asaawe moved out of the shadows and walked with the girls. Ziibi hung back. She could hear the whispers about her sister keeping company with the silent boy. Miinan must have heard them too, because she slowed her pace and started to talking to* Waabizii, a tall girl with a slender neck. At first Ajijaak did not realize she was not beside him. He looked behind him. Ziibi saw the joy in his eyes go flat. His face turned red. How could Miinan be so rude? Awkwardly, he continued ahead of the girls. His cousin Asaawe was flirting with Waaban. He did not notice his cousin. Though she knew she could not ease his embarrassment, Ziibi ran up to Ajijaak. He pretended not to see her.
She refused to be hurt by this because she was so aware of how hurt he was. Did he understand yet? No. She could tell by the set of his jaw he was angry, not with Miinan, but with himself and his limitations. Ziibi longed to take his hand, but such an action would only further embarrass him. So, she contented herself with walking beside him chattering about things that did not matter, like the color of the pine needles and the number of berries in her bucket. Ajijaak gave her no sign that he heard her. His eyes from time to time would glance backwards hoping Miinan would look at him again. She did not. When they reached the village, Miinan stayed safe in the cluster of girls. Waaban who had been walking with Asaawe slipped back among the girls.
Gently, Ziibi touched Ajijaak’s arm, before she left to join the girls. He glanced at her. He jutted his chin out indicating that she should go with the other girls. She did as he told her.
Ziibi fell behind the older girls. She heard Waabizii ask, “Did you see Ajijaak? What does he think Miinan? Does he really think your father will let you walk the path with him?”
Miinan’s voice dropped low, “He would not think that. He knows we are just friends.”
Waabizii laughed, “Ha! What ever you say.”
Shy *Waaban whispered, “I heard the old women talking. They say, since you are the daughter of a Mide. Your mate was chosen long ago.”
Miinan and Ziibi both looked at Waaban. They had not heard this before. Miinan asked, “What are you talking about?”
Too quickly, Aamoo answered, “Long ago you were promised to another Mide family.” She flushed and said, “Oh, I should not have said that. Your father will be angry. No one repeat what I have said.” She gave the girls a warning look before she shooed them to their homes.
When Ziibi entered her house with her bucket, Noko took it from her. She looked inside, and then she looked at Ziibi’s stained face and teeth. “It seems once again my little Ziibi has put more blueberries in her tummy than in her bucket.”
“I am sorry Noko. They are just so good when warmed by the sun.”
“Yes they are. Tomorrow you will do better.”
“Yes Noko.”
Miinan fidgeted with her bucket. Noko asked, “Is something wrong Miinan?”
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With eyes full of tears, Miinan asked, “Is it true I have been promised to a partner all along?”
Noko’s voice was sharp, “Who told you this?”
Miinan remained silent.
“I bet I can guess. Amoo?”
Miinan nodded. Two tears slipped from her eyes.
“Why are you crying child? There is nothing to cry over. Your father would not choose a poor mate for you. The young man is strong and smart. He will provide for you well when the time comes.”
Before she could stop herself Ziibi asked, “Who is he?”
“That is something only your father can tell your sister. You do not need to know.”
Oh yes she did. And she would find out. Waaban’s noko would know. She would ask her tonight when they all gathered around the fire. The old woman loved to share every secret that crossed her path.
Miinan asked, “Are you sure he will be a good man?”
“Yes, his father and his grandfather before him are good. They treat their wives and children well you have nothing to fear. Trust your father’s judgment.”
“But other girls get to pick their own mates.”
“Other girls are not Mide the way we are Mide. It would not be fitting for you to choose anyone.”
Ziibi thought of Ajijaak. All at once she realized that if her father had chosen a mate for her sister, chances were, there was a boy out there destined to be her man. “Has father picked me a partner too?”
Noko looked at her anxious granddaughter. “Yes, and I feel sorry for the poor boy. You will make a difficult woman.”
Anger flushed through Ziibi. She would not join her life to some strange boy of her father’s choosing. Did Waaban’s noko know the name of her future mate? This was something she would find out. She would make the boy hate her so he would refuse to join his life to hers. There was only one man that she would walk with, and he would not be a man of her father’s choosing.
*
The fire burned bright in the center of the village. The men sat around the fire exchanging stories of past battles and treacherous hunts. Sitting by his cousin was Ajijaak. His eyes kept flitting to Miinan, who did not even see him, she was so absorbed in her talk with her friends.
Quietly Ziibi made her way to where Waaban’s noko sat with the other nokos. The old women were bantering back and forth. Ziibi waited. No one paid her any mind. In time they forgot her presence all together. This is what she wanted them to do. She waited for the old women’s tongues to become loose in their heads. It did not take long.
Waaban’s noko said, “Did you hear, that Ajijaak tried to walk Miinan home this evening?”
Old heads nodded.
Waaban’s noko said, “You will be in trouble Aamoo for your carelessness.”
“I was not careless. What harm can come from young people walking together in broad day light.”
Waaban’s noko shook her head. “Much trouble, when one of the young people is Mide and the other is a broken vessel.”
Ziibi felt her face go red with rage. It took all the self-control she had to remain silent and unnoticed.
The old woman continued, “Mikinaak will have words with you, Aamoo. Just wait. It will happen. You know that girl is promised to a boy from the loon clan.”
One old woman asked, “Do you know who?”
“I have heard that it is a boy named Giniwi. He is said to be very handsome and tall. A strong boy with much power. He will come as soon as Miinan’s woman hood arrives. I hear he is anxious to meet his wife. Miinan’s beauty has been told to him. She is a pretty girl. Sweet too.” Waaban’s noko’s bright eyes flashed at the group. There was something in the gleam of them that sent fear through Ziibi. The old woman continued, but she had dropped her voice almost to a whisper, “I wonder what will happen to our love sick Ajijaak, when Miinan is mated.”
Tongue’s clucked. It was mock concern. Only Aamoo’s eyes registered any genuine feeling for Ajijaak.
Unable to contain herself longer Ziibi shot up. “He will be fine. He is strong. His heart will mend.”
The old women seeing her earnest red face, laughed at her. Amoo asked, “How is it that you care so much for the feelings of this boy?”
“He is good and kind and honest. He works hard to take care of his noko and his mother. They are never hungry. Do your son’s provide for you as well as he does for them.” Ziibi waited for the backlash of their anger. It did not come.
Amoo teased, “Little girl, I think your heart beats for Ajijaak.”
It was true, it did. Angry and embarrassed Ziibi ran away from the women. Their laughter followed her. They had not meant her any harm, but her young heart was wounded just the same. They had criticized the boy she loved and chided her for being so young. She would not always be a child. One day she too would be a woman and she would show them. If her father did not forbid it, she would have heaped some small curses on the old women. They deserved them, but her father would not allow any power to be used to evil purposes. The abuse of power always came back on the abuser. It had happened in Ajijaak’s family, it could happen in hers.