Short+Stor

= __The Life of a Prairie Man__ = This is a short story, which is being told by a grandfather to his grandchildren while they are sitting around a fire in the middle of nowhere. The story that is being told is something that this grandfather had actually experienced. “It all happened when I was seventeen, everything dar was going great. Everyone called me Zohia, I was the slickest person around. I could do everything better than anyone else, and that’s no lie me children. Hunting; well I come home every night with three deer, at da least. Around dar everybody know Zohia, I get compliments on everything, me buddy and I Rohnza we was idols to many children’s. All people wanted to be like us, one day that all changed, everyone was killed and no one was left besides me buddy and I. Does you children want to know how it happened?” “Yeah tell us grandpa, tell us!” “Ok. The year was 1873, it was a Sunday night and Sundays was the day dat we celebrated life on our land. That Sunday I had one of da best meals I ever had; dar was venison, some assortment of vegetables, and potatoes. Da meal was great; everyone on da land had enjoyed themselves and was disappointed when nightfall came. All my fellow tribe members went home, while me brothers and sisters and me self gathered around a small pile of leaves that we lighted on fire for warmth. “You had brothers and sisters grandpa?” “Well of course I did me children.” “Then what happened to them grandpa?” “If you listen to the rest of me story, yous will then find out.” “Ok; Grandpa go on!” “Now was I was saying, my brothers and sisters and me self were gathered around a fire we made when we mom came over and told me to take one of me brothers wit me to go hunting. I say mom you see it’s late and very dangerous; but she say go, so we went. We snatched our wild horses, and headed off. We must have been going for miles, but no problem there da land was beautiful and quiet. Dar was always animals around to keep you company. Deer were in sight when me brother and me self, reached for our bows and took a shot. As we all know that me self obviously killed the one I shot, for I was Zhoia the best hunter! Me horse and I galloped to da dead deer and strapped it to me horse, when Rohanza came behind me. Rohanza and me self talked for what must have been a couple of minutes when we heard am ear piercing scream. We jumped on your horses and raced towards wherever the noise was coming from. When we arrived at the spot of da noise, all dat went though me head was oh me goodness. Dar lying on the floor with fire slowly creeping up his legs was me brother,” “Your brother grandpa?” ”Yes me children it was me brother. Rohinza and me self looked around wondering where the fire was coming from. Rohinza gently pulled me, towards the north the north direction where I see, that me village was on fire. Not only the village but the land too, we wept in tears, though quickly running in the opposite direction on our horses. Rohinza and me self had no choice but to leave me brother there is we wanted to stay alive. The horses raced quickly while looking to our sides we saw few animals running as well got those several animals and we were the only living creatures left on the land. We went as far away from da fire as possible, when we reached a small town where the people were generous and welcomed us greatly. Telling them what happened to us, we all had watery eyes, knowing there was nothing we could do. The land that me tribe lived on was in da middle of a drought and dar was no way water could be received to help put the fire out. Rohinza met a great family, who offered us to stay in their home! The morning after Rohinza and I decided that we go look at what the damage dat was done, we got on out horses and went off riding. Not knowing dat the damage was going to be dat bad, we went through the woods and open land, seeing burned trees, everything was destroyed the land the people and the animals. Rohinza and me went back to the peoples home where we were staying and told them everything we say, which eventually got around to the other people of the town who were asking us many questions about what we saw. After seeing all of what we saw, we knew that talking would be even harder than seeing it; we saw our family and fellow tribe members there lying helpless. Months went by and Rohinza and me self had never once returned to that land knowing there would be too much emotion and heartbreak. We the members of the tribe put much work to make da land livable and beautiful, children if you would have seen this land out love it. Everything thing that we worked for was destroyed, and would never be replaced. Hard was it was Rohinza and I left the country and eventually moved on, and separated ourselves from each other only seeing one another after several years had passed.” “Grandpa what happened to the land?” “Now the land and everything on it has grown again and looks that the damage that was done by the wild fire never happened, but me self knows and will never forget the memories that I had on the land, but most of all will never forget the people and animals that lost their life the day of that fire.” “Is it hard for you to talk about what happened that day grandpa?” “Children you will never know what it feels like to talk about such a tragic event as this, or what it feels like to share the stories and events you witnessed. One thing that you will have is the chance to tell accomplishments and stories of your loved ones who never got the chance to tell their stories.” “One more thing grandpa.” “Yes me children.” “How did you meet grandma?” ”Oh I’m sorry me children I didn’t tell you that did I? While staying in the town after the fire, your grandmother worked at one of the stores where people could buy and sell items they made or hunted. One day I walked in there and there she was her hair shinning in the sun and her eyes gleaming, I walked over and talked to her. That was the day we fell in love, two months later we got married and had you mother. Does that answer your question?” “Yeah grandpa.” “Ok me children go get in da beds, I’ll be in dar to tuck you in, in a few minutes.” “Goodnight grandpa love you. Thank you for telling us your story.” “ Your welcome me children, now go to bed okay.” The children then lay in bed and talked about what their grandfather had been through during the previous years of his life, and now really appreciated what he had done. Their grandfather sat by the fire and thought, though about everything he had been through. A tear calmly fell down his boney cheek, and on to the dirt floor as he slowly whispered in a voice that appeared to be sad “Good brothers, sisters, mom, dad, and everyone else who was killed the day of the fire. I miss you and wish you could have been here to experience life outside the land.”