NATIVE AMERICAN SHORT STORIES

AuthorHouse

Contents

1. My Encounter with the Red Fox..........................12. My Second Encounter with a Red Fox.....................53. Second Chance..........................................74. Little Rabbit Speaks Up................................95. The Right Thing to Do..................................116. Twelve Arrows..........................................157. A Good Life............................................198. The Meaning of True Love...............................239. The Dugout Canoe.......................................2510. The White Buffalo.....................................2911. How the Raccoon Got His Face Mask.....................3312. Why Wolves Howl at the Moon...........................3513. Grandpa's Pony........................................3914. You are What You are..................................4315. How the Black Bear Lost His Tail......................4516. The Walking Stick.....................................4917. White Stallion........................................5318. Legend of the Talking Stick...........................5519. The Prairie Dog Mound.................................5920. The Black Pony........................................6121. The Littlest Eagle....................................6322. The Forked Lake Tribe.................................6723. Never Give Up Your Dream..............................6924. The Little Leaf.......................................7325. Singing Bird..........................................7726. Wild Flowers..........................................8127. Native Thanksgiving...................................8328. Making Friends........................................8529. The Apple Core........................................8930. Baby Bear Cubs........................................9331. Millicent Mouse.......................................9532. Little Doe Deer.......................................9733. Becky Bear............................................99

Chapter One

Based on a true story by Jim Red Fox

I remember the summer of 1996 as being very warm. My family and I loved to go camping, but as my two daughters grew older, their interest seemed to dwindle. My wife's lack of enthusiasm soon followed. Eventually, I found myself going camping alone on the weekends.

One of my favorite places to camp was, Beaver Kill Campground; located just north of my home town of Livingston Manor, New York. When I was younger, I worked there as a life guard.

In July of 1996, I decided to spend the weekend camping at this particular camp ground. I had asked my family to go but, as usual, there were no takers.

I had a new 25 foot travel trailer that was fully equipped. Most of the time, however, I would cook outside on an open campfire. The site I set up on (#56) was next to the famous Beaver Kill River, known for some of the best trout fishing in the state. I remember there were no other campers on either side of me. It was so clear, I could look up and see all the stars in the sky. The air was so still; not even a breeze to rustle the leaves. The only sound was of the constant flowing river.

I loved sitting in front of the fire, feeling safe and secure. I thought, as long as I kept a good fire going, no wild animals would dare come close. I soon would discover how wrong I was. I think it was around midnight that I found myself falling in and out of sleep by the fire. I don't remember what awakened me; but out of the corner of my left eye, I saw a dark animal moving slowly, straight toward me. I blinked my eyes a few times, thinking I was seeing things, but it didn't work. The figure continued to move forward, not veering from it's course. Chills ran up and down my spine. I could feel the hairs on my arms standing on end. My mind knew exactly what was about to happen. My first reaction was to defend myself. Most of the time I had one of my hand guns with me. I was in law enforcement at the time and usually carried one. How mad I was for leaving it home. I saw my camp axe leaning against the fire place, just beyond my reach. I slowly turned my head back and looked toward the dark figure. It now stood five to six feet away, just staring at me. The glow from the fire shown on it's fur. The animal I thought was a vicious wolf was one of the most beautiful animals I had ever seen. It was a full grown red fox.

We must have stared at each other for two to three minutes. When he realized that I meant him no harm, he came over to my chair. I couldn't believe what he did next. That fox sat down next to me on his haunches, facing the fire. I didn't know what to do, but sit there in utter shock. I never, no, never had a wild animal act like this. After a while, I spoke to him, like one would speak his pet dog. Whenever I said something, he would look up at me and acted like he understood everything I said. When I stopped talking, he would turn his head back toward the fire. I soon found myself feeling very comfortable in his presence. When the fire began to go out, I put a log or two on it. He would just sit there observing me. A car came down the road, causing him to get up. He moved into the woods and I moved into my trailer for the night.

The next day, Saturday, was another very beautiful day. I thought about telling the staff what had happened when I realized, who would believer me? I kept that wonderful event to myself.

That night I cooked a few hot dogs over the camp fire. I made sure to keep one by me just in case my new friend came back. It was about midnight when I noticed a figure walking toward me from the woods. I knew it was him, even before he got to my camp site. This time he did not stop but came straight to my chair. He sat down in the same spot and stared into the fire. I could see now, he was getting used to me. I grabbed the hot dog and held it out to him. He took one bite, chewed it and then took another until it was all gone. I would talk, he would listen, while looking at me. When I stopped, he would stare back into the fire.

The next part of the story is always very emotional for me. I had a feeling that he was trying to tell me something but what, I didn't know. He sat there for about an hour then turned his face toward mine. He stared into my eyes and I found myself staring back into his. I then realized that the eyes I was staring at, were not the eyes of a normal wild animal. I felt those eyes hypnotizing me, trying to pull me into his world. It felt like nothing around me mattered any more. I knew at any moment, he was going to pass on to me some wisdom he wanted me to know. The lights of a car, broke our concentration. He stood up and started walking back into the woods. He stopped once, turned his head toward me, as if to say good-bye. I never saw him again, after that night.

The next year, 1997, I camped in the same camp ground. I was talking to one of the staff members one day when he told me something that I was not prepared to hear. He told me that some of the campers thought they saw a red fox sitting in front of a fire place on an empty camp site, # 56.

Many people, after hearing this story, give me their opinion as to what the red fox really was. Others, try and guess just what he wanted to tell me. Some say he was pure evil, while others say he was a good spirit. I have been told that he might even have been a dead family member trying to make contact.

I have wondered many, many times what he was or what he wanted to tell me. Many years later, I still wonder. Maybe he was just a lonely red fox who loved sitting in front of a camp fire, sharing the company of a lonely, lonely man.

Chapter Two

Based on a true story by Jim Red Fox

I have often wondered why it is that I have such an excellent rapport with wild animals. I guess they sense something that I don't. It could be trust, compassion, or a true understanding of their nature.

It seemed like just yesterday that I had my first encounter with a red fox; and then much to my surprise, I had my second encounter.

It was on my way home after getting my mail one day. I was less than a mile from my home, which is located in Kerhonkson, New York. I remember seeing the dead red fox by the right side of the road. Just as I passed by it, I thought, "I can't leave that fox there like that, it isn't right." That thought caused me to back up, and pull off to the side of the road. The fox was a female. A feeling of sympathy and compassion filled me. I had an old blanket in the back of my car, so I wrapped her up in that. Then I climbed up on the bank and over a stone wall.

There was an open field beyond that point. I had no shovel, so I placed her next to the stone wall. I proceeded to cover her with stones from the wall. I remember looking up from my task toward the field. There, not twenty feet away, sat a red fox. He was very intent on watching everything I did. I realized that this must by her mate. How sad I felt for him, watching me burying his life's companion. He showed no malice toward me but just sat and stared. I continued to place the rocks on her. When I got done, I looked toward the male fox in the field and noticed he was much closer. We observed each other for a while, not moving an inch. I heard myself saying, "Take care of yourself and stay away from the road." I turned and climbed over the wall, but before I went down the bank, I turned around. There he was, sitting on top of her grave. "How beautiful," I thought. He still loved her, even after death, and could not leave her side.

I noticed him still lying on her grave for a while after that. When the leaves started falling from the trees by the stone wall, I only saw him a few more times. The snow came and covered her grave, but he was no longer there. He never did return again.

I only recently told this story to anyone. It was something very special to me and I will never forget it.

Chapter Three

Our story begins on a warm, sunny summer day out on the great plains of the Midwest. The land is primarily made up of lush green grass on rolling hills. The buffalo, antelope and elk are the only large animals that dwell there. Once in a while, a hawk will glide over the plains, searching for a meal.

To the average individual, there wouldn't appear to be much life there. The truth is, many creatures exist within the tall grass. Take, for example, the common grasshopper and the tiny, industrious ant.

One day, the grasshopper was enjoying himself leaping from one blade of grass to another. He thought, how good it feels to have the warm sun on his face. He didn't have a worry in the world, and was free to explore the great outdoors. As he was sitting on a blade of grass, he looked down at a tiny ant. The ant was very busy carrying a piece of grain back to his ant hill. The grasshopper asked, "Little ant, don't you ever get tired of walking so fast?" Without looking up, the ant replied, "I can't stop, I have to get this food back to the ant hill before it gets dark." "Darkness brings out many creatures that would love to eat me." "Maybe when I get done, I can rest." The grasshopper laughed to himself, because he knew the little ant would never take time out from work to rest.

The grasshopper could still feel the warm sun on his face. He thought, "I still have a lot of time before I have to go home." He continued to leap from one blade of grass to another, not really paying attention to how far he had gone. The sun began to set behind the mountain, before he realized how late it was. He began to worry, as he couldn't remember the way home. He thought, if he jumped fast enough, maybe he could find his way back home. Faster and faster he jumped but darkness was soon upon him. In the dark, he could not see where he was jumping. He thought, "I can't stay here, I have to keep going." He tried to jump on a blade of grass but he missed! The ground was hard, cold and damp but worse than that, the night was pitch dark! He recalled what the little ant told him, "You do not want to be out here in the dark." "Why didn't I listen to the ant?" "If I would have, I would be home by now." He then bumped into the base of a large stalk of grass. Slowly, he started to climb, up, up he went, not stopping until he reached the very top. Finally, he sat down on one of the flat blades of grass and went to sleep.

The morning rays of the sun woke him. He thought, "I made it through the night; none of the ground creatures ate me." There was his home! He could see it from on top of the grass. He was so happy, he couldn't wait to get home. The sun was now warming everything, including the grasshopper. It felt so good on his face. He said, "You know, I have all day to get back home now." "I guess it wouldn't hurt if I started to jump from one blade to another again." "I want to travel while the sun is on my face."

The grasshopper got a second chance at life. Did he learn anything from his experience? Remember, whenever you get a second chance in life, don't forget what you learned.

Chapter Four

The winter of 1875 was long and harsh for the people of the Lakota Sioux of South Dakota. Many people had died from starvation and many more were to follow.

The chief realized this and called a counsel gathering of all the leaders. When they were all together in the large counsel tepee, he called for silence. He then told them things looked very serious for the tribe. They had to come up with a plan to find more food. He asked the sub-chiefs if they had any ideas. They sadly shook their heads, no. The elders (consisting of men only) were asked next, but he got the same response. In frustration the chief asked, "Does anyone, anyone, know of a way we can find enough food for the tribe?" There was only silence.

Slowly, very slowly, the old story teller, Little Rabbit, stood up. Everyone had their eyes fixed on her as she faced the chief. Women never stood up to speak at the counsel gatherings. "Chief, elders, members of the counsel; hear what I have to say." "The Lakota Sioux have come to rely on the buffalo for our total existence." "We have to find a herd, even a small herd, to help us survive the winter." "What I suggest is this," "We send out four scouting parties, each consisting of six braves." "One party will travel to the North, one party to the East, one to the South and finally one to the West." "When one of the scouting party's sees buffalo, they send one of the braves back to the tribe." "This approach will enable more country to be searched then if just one scouting party were sent."

They all talked among themselves for a while. The chief finally stood up and said, "Little Rabbit, this is a very good idea." We will try it your way and see what happens."

Early the next morning, the four scouting parties departed. The chief and Little Rabbit stood alongside each other, watching them leave. He then looked down at the old story teller and said, "You know, if they do not find any buffalo, the people will blame you." She responded, looking up at the chief, "If they do not find any buffalo, we will all suffer."

A few days later, a scout from the West came riding into camp. "Buffalo, Buffalo!" he shouted. He told the chief, in a very excited tone, that a large herd of buffalo had been seen about two days west of the village.

When the chief held the next counsel gathering, he called for the story teller to come with them. He then proceeded to inform all present that from this day forward, women would be able to participate in all things that pertain to the tribe.

Chapter Five

Along, long time ago, in the Eastern part of our country, there lived a wise old owl. The old owl was the smartest, most knowledgeable creature in the forest. When anyone had a problem that they couldn't figure out, they came to him.

One day, the great big grizzly bear made an announcement to all of the animals. "Tomorrow," he said, "There will be a race to see who among you is the fastest animal in the forest. The race will start on this side of the lake and finish on the other side of the lake." The black bear said, "I will be first to the finish line because I am very strong and will not tire." The white tail deer said, "No, I will be the first because no one can run as fast as me."

Every animal thought that he would be first for one reason or another. Everyone, that is, except Porky, the porcupine. He said nothing as he walked away from the gathering. He knew that he could not outrun most of the animals. He thought, maybe if he could talk to the wise old owl, maybe could help him. When he arrived at the old owl's tree, he was very impressed. This tree was one of the biggest trees he had ever seen! There, inside the opening of the tree, sat the old owl. "Mr. Owl, may I speak to you about a problem that I have?" The wise old owl blinked at him a few times and finally said, "Very well, tell me about the race." The porcupine thought to himself, "How could he know, I didn't tell him anything about the race yet?" Now he knew why they called him the wise old owl. The porcupine proceeded to tell him everything about the race. When he was done, the old owl said, "Tell me, Porky, don't you have a twin brother?" "I do, but I don't know what he has to do with this?" The owl smiled and said, "He has everything to do with this." The owl then told the porcupine what he had to do. His brother was to hide in some bushes along the path to the finish line. When he saw the other creatures coming through the woods toward the finish line, he was to step out in front of them and cross the finish line first. He was to make sure no one saw him step out onto the path. He also had to make sure that everyone thought that his name was Porky and not his real name.

Porky thought and thought and finally said, "Yes, yes this will work, I know it will." When Porky asked his brother, Speedy, if he would help him, he said he would but it just didn't feel right.

The morning of the big race, Speedy climbed in the bushes in front of the finish line. He watched for the animals that would be coming through the woods. His brother, Porky, was at the starting line, waiting for Mr. Grizzly to start the race. Mr. Grizzly shouted, "One, two, three, go!" All the animals took off running. There were so many animals that they caused a big dust cloud to rise up behind them. This was what Porky was waiting for. When he thought that no one was looking, he stepped off the path and went home. He knew it was all up to his brother now. He just had to stop over and tell him everything that happened. When the knock came on his door, Porky jumped up to answer it. There at his door was his brother. The look on his face told Porky that something was wrong. He told his brother to come in and tell him everything that happened. Speedy told him that when he was hiding in the bushes, he started thinking about how much effort they were putting into this race. That was when he realized that what he was doing was just not fair. He waited until all the animals had raced by before he came out from his hiding place. Speedy was the last to cross the finish line. He said that even though he was the last one, they all cheered for him. He said he was sorry that he let his brother down, but he just could not bring himself to do it. Porky smiled at his brother and said, "No, I am the one who should be sorry for asking you to do something that was against your morals."

(Continues...)

Excerpted from NATIVE AMERICAN SHORT STORIESby Jim Red Fox Copyright © 2012 by Jim Red Fox. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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