Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga) (6 page)

After a few minutes Mr. Janas put up his hands and the student body quieted down. “Despite his injuries Jason has continued his studies and has in fact caught up in all of his classes. With dedication that should be admired by teachers and students alike he has managed to become one of the top five in the freshmen class.” This was news to me. I watched as he waved four other students forward. “Because Jason has been in the hospital and could not attend the normal ceremonies due to his condition. Mrs. Grant and her daughter Katie planned this celebration to honor Jason and his accomplishments.”

Once of the students stepped forward and handed me a certificate. “My name is Amber, Jason and it's my pleasure to hand you this certificate that confirms your initiation into the Valedictorians of the class of 1983. Keep up the good work Jason.” She smiled at me as I took the award from her.

Mr. Janas handed me the microphone and urged me to say something. I took the microphone and started to speak. “Err.” the microphone squeaked with feedback. Some of the students present giggled. “Sorry about that. I am taken by surprise by the welcome I have received here today.” Words that my grandfather had often spoken to me echoed in my memory. “I don’t know very many of you due to the circumstances but I look forward to getting to know as many of you as I possibly can. And I thank you for the honor you have bestowed upon me today.” The cheering cut loose again and it startled me again.

I felt my grandfather’s hand on my shoulder and heard him say to me. “Well spoken Jason. Your family and your tribe are very proud of you.”

Katie came to me and bent down to kiss me lightly. My heart skipped a beat as she leaned in closer and said “There is more to come.” I looked at her confused.

Mr. Janas cleared his voice and calmed down the occupants of the gym. “There was a petition filed with the school board about one month after the incident that injured this young man. The school board was astonished at the number of signatures present on the petition. There was not only every signature from every member of the faculty and student body in this school but over a thousand signatures from the outlying community. The school board has no other choice than to honor this petition and rename the gymnasium to ‘The Jason White Gymnasium.’”

The cheering that broke out was thunderous and I saw banners drop at each end of the Gym. Much to my horror I saw my name at each end of the gym. I wanted to find a rock and crawl under it.

My grandfather chuckled behind me and said sternly. “Sit up grandson. Shoulders square and accept the honor they felt was right to bestow on you.

I discovered there was also a picnic planned for the event and I was constantly seeing new people and having them shake my hand. Every student I met was happy to see me. What surprised me the most was the fact that not only the freshmen class was happy I was ok but members of every class up to and including the senior class were also there with words of sorrow and encouragement. I had never expected to be this well known in my new High School but events had been played out in such a manner that I was. Fate, my grandfather would say, played some funny tricks on a person.

Chapter 7 - Live Love

That night I was sitting on the couch in the living room of Katie’s parent’s house doing homework with Katie sitting next to me. Dr. Grant was in the room with us. When Katie grabbed my free hand to hold all he did was sigh and raise his eyebrow. “So Jason, tell me do you have any specific plans for your future?”

I looked at him surprised and chewed on my pencil as I thought how to reply to him. “I had given some thought to Architecture but I don’t know if I will be able to afford the colleges that are good for it.”

Dr. Grant looked at me in surprise. “I would imagine if you keep up the work you have been doing so far you will end up with a full scholarship from any school in the country. That and the fact you are Native American.”

“What would my heritage have to do with college.” I asked.

Dr. Grant frowned and said. “Well as a minority there are grants and special funding available to you. Hasn’t your grandfather talked to you about this yet?”

“No sir, my grandfather has been teaching me more about my heritage than anything else. And lately I have been just struggling to catch up in school.” I put my pencil down and tried to move myself to my chair.

Katie saw this and jumped up. “You need something Jason?”

I frowned. “I was going to go get a drink of water.” I tried to shift myself again and she pushed me back down on the couch.

“I will get it for you. Wait right here.” She headed out of the living room toward the kitchen.

Dr. Grant cleared his throat to get my attention again. “She has changed you know. Since she met you.”

I looked at Dr. Grant in surprise. “How do you mean sir?”

He looked toward the kitchen to make sure she was still busy and would take a while. I heard her mother talking to her. “She had these misguided attitudes in junior high, that personally I was not to fond of, about, you know, social status and things of that nature.”

I nodded at him and said. “I know I experience the same thing in the catholic school I went to. Only I was on the receiving end of the social put down.” I looked back into the kitchen to make sure she was still there. “Sir, you have no objections about Katie and myself. You know being involved?”

“Jason I have known your grandfather for thirty years and we have been friends the whole time. No I do not object at all to the fact that Katie has affections toward you.” He looked back into the kitchen to make sure she was still busy. “Just make sure you keep your intensions toward her as honorable as I know your grandfather would want you to.”

I nodded to him and said. “Sir, if I disrespected your daughter in that manner my Grandfather would take me into the woods and beat me within an inch of my life.”

Dr. Grant grinned at me. “He would have to get in line young man.” He looked and saw his daughter coming. “Promise me you will make her happy.”

“Yes sir, I promise.” I replied.

“Your promise what Jason?” she asked as she handed me a glass of water.

“I promised your father I would do my best to get back on my feet and walking since you would be investing a lot of time helping me do so.” Dr. Grant looked at me and hid a grin behind his paper.

“You better Jason White because we are going to be dancing at the Junior Prom.” She said earnestly. She looked down at her paper and said, “There I finished my last problem in Geometry. Are you finished?”

I wrote down the last answer and placed my pencil on the table. “Yes. I am done too. Maybe we can do history tomorrow?” I asked.

She laughed at me and said. “Yup that’s what I was thinking too.” She turned to Dr. Grant and asked. “Daddy can I take Jason down to the corner for an ice cream?”

Dr. Grant reached in his pocket and pulled out a couple of bills. “Yes, but I insist on footing the bill.” He handed her the money and continued. “A celebration for your first day of freedom from the hospital. Don’t be too late, ok kids?” He added gently.

She jumped up and bent down to kiss her father on the top of the head. “Thanks Daddy, I love you.”

Dr. Grant got up and helped her lift me into the wheelchair. I thanked him and waved to her mother before we exited the house. “Thanks Katie. I needed some fresh air.”

“I know.” I heard her from behind me where she pushed the chair. ”Beside was haven’t had any time alone today.”

I stopped the wheelchair and reached around to drag her up front. “Sit down and I will take us to the corner in style.” She sat across my legs and I wheeled us down the sidewalk. I had a bit of difficulty getting around the curbs but I would not let her help me. I had a lot of time to work on my upper body strength the past few months and my chest and arms were filling out well. We reached the corner and she went into Homestead’s Dairy to get us some ice cream cones. When she came out we sat down close together at the tables they had outside and watched the sun set.

“Penny for your thoughts?” she asked me softly.

I sighed and said, “I just can’t get over the fact that you actually like me. You know when I first saw you. I mean when I first saw how beautiful you were I was sure that you would never want anything to do with me.”

“Jason.” she said sternly “I used to have some pretty strange ideas in Junior High but when I first saw you I decided I had been wrong.

“What where your first thoughts when you saw me?” I asked gently looking into her eyes.

“When I saw you standing outside the school. I was flabbergasted at your beauty. You stood there so boldly outlined in the sunlight. Your beautiful hair flowing in the wind. I saw strength in you and knew in that moment you were destined for something great.” She gazed back at me. “And then in homeroom how you acted was funny and I somehow knew I was the cause of your confusion. It was the way you looked at me. You could not keep your eyes off me.”

I laughed softly. “And your mother must has thought I was a babbling idiot. I knew what I was supposed to do but my mind went blank every time I looked at you or got close to you.” I looked at the sunset for a moment and then back at her. “What was it that your mother said to you when she bent over to whisper to you?”

“She said to me ’That poor boy is love struck if I have ever seen it before. Be a dear and help him find his locker or he may never find his way back to this room.’ ” She giggled at me as she said this.

I reached over and traced her jaw line. “She is right you know. I fell in love with you the first time I laid eyes on you. And when that animal struck you I wanted revenge for the pain he caused you.”

She put her hand on mine and shuddered at the unpleasant memory. Then she gazed softly in my eyes. “I think it was the same with me although I didn’t realize it until I heard you calling my name in your sleep. Be sure Jason, please be certain it is true because I love you with all my heart and I almost lost you once. I could not bear the thought of losing you now.”

I moved closer and looked deep in her eyes. I could lose my soul in those beautiful eyes. “I am certain Katie. I love you. You are my life and will always be my life.” My lips touched hers and this kiss was nothing like any of the other kisses we had before. It was so intense and filled with feeling. She threw her arms around me and kissed me deeper than ever before. I could feel the fire in her the burning emotions that burst to the surface and engulfed both of us. Dimly I remembered the promise I made her father so I gently broke the kiss and sat back gasping for breath.

She sat back and pouted. “Jason I wasn’t finished kissing you yet.” She slapped my arm lightly.

“Yes you were because if we would have stayed there any longer your father would have shown up with his shotgun.” I grinned at her. Or, I thought to myself, I would not have been able to control the natural reaction I was trying to prevent from happening with her sitting there. I was relieved to know that although I still hadn’t recovered feeling in my legs at least something down there was still working properly.

She giggled and grinned back at me. “Well, yes there is that to think about. We better get you walking so you will be able to run when he comes carrying the shotgun.”

“So you think he will have grounds to chase me with one?” I asked teasing her.

“He will if I have anything to say about it.” She broke out laughing at the same time I did.

After a bit we both calmed down and watched the stars in the skies. She hugged my arm and looked up into my eyes and asked softly “What are you thinking about now?’

“I was thinking about a story my grandfather told me once.” I replied.

“Tell me it please.” She insisted gently.

“Ok because it pretty much sums up my feelings for you.”

Story of Sarejana

There was once a maiden of the Bear Clan who was fairer than the sky in her beauty. She had several suitors who were after her hand in marriage but she was unable to make a decision on her own. One day she decided to put the three suitors to a challenge.

“Bring a representation of your love to me and I will determine based on what you bring to me who shall dance the wedding dance with me.”

The first brave thought he was smart and he brought her all the gold and jewels he could find. He stood before the longhouse of her mother and said, “Sarejana, I bring you all the gold and jewels within reach of our village, this is how much I love you. Choose me for I truly deserve to dance the wedding dance for you.”

The second brave also thought that he was a clever man. He brought a twig to her and called her out of her mother's longhouse. “Sarejana, I bring you a twig which is a representation of all the forests of the land, this is how much I love you. Choose me for I am the one who should dance the wedding dance with you.”

Sarejana looked at the third brave who was standing there with tears streaming down his face.

“What do you bring to me to show how great your love is for me?”

The third brave fell to his knees crying. “My loving Sarejana, I have failed because what I see that describes the greatness of my love for you is not mine to bring you.”

Sarejana looked at the third brave and said. “What do you mean by this?”

The third brave stood up and waved his arm at the night skies. “The stars in the skies and the stars behind them represent a mere fraction of the love I have for you.”

Sarejana called to her mother and told her to prepare the wedding dance because the third brave was the choice she made.

I looked at Katie when I finished and said, “This pretty much sums up my feelings for you Katie.”

She looked back at me with tears in her eyes and said. “Truly?”

“Without reservation my love.” I said softly.

She threw herself in my arms and kissed me as deeply as before. “Oh Jason!”

Chapter 8 - Physical Therapy

The next day I woke up a bit disoriented. I looked around the room and could not place where I was. Then it hit me I was at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Grant and the girl of my dreams. I lay in bed soaking up the delight in the thought of where I was. I pushed myself to a sitting position and reached for my jeans and t-shirt. Dressing was not as easy as it used to be. I managed to get myself dressed and shifted to the wheelchair. I maneuvered my chair to the door and opened it. Standing outside with a smile on her face was Katie.”Morning Jason,” she cheerfully said, “I hope you slept well.”