The Rooftop

[Spot Conlon]

The Roof-- Probably the only romantic place in the Brooklyn Lodging House.

[Levi Akecheta]

Levi sat with his back to the wall. He hummed a song he remembered from the dances his tribe had held. He sat cross legged and his jacket was off, sitting next to him carefully. His plaid shirt was unbuttoned-it was hot and why not? He sat with a piece of buckskin he had recived in the mail from Grandfather Enapay. With steady, practiced hands, he plunged a bone needle with bought string in and out of the leather-like material/skin. With his other hand, he held beads in place and created a design with them.

He wondered if her would ever be as good as Mother had been at bead work. He doubted it, he guessed you had to be a woman to aquire the skills necessary. He sighed and continued until he ran out of beads-which wasn't very long. He yawned and closed his eyes, then opened them, blinking quickly. He looked up to the sky. No birds... no anything. He missed the wildlife of the plains and he especially missed his horse, Tatewin, or Wind Woman. He remembered how she had flown over the hills of his home, and how his long hair would whip out behind them. He had never braided it like the other boys. And, he had even earned a feather for his riding, and later for his hunting skill with the bow and arrow. He never liked the guns that the other boys always used. Levi sighed again, completely lost in the past.

Even though he was half-blood, his mother and Chayton had tried to hide it, saying he was ligther then usual because he was blessed by the gods. The only people who knew the truth were the elders, his grandfather (who was chief at the time), and his close relatives (Aunt and Uncle included). But he had proved his worth, through being especially skilled with riding and hunting. He was even slated to be the next chief when his grandfather died or retired. He had even been honored by Chayton, his step-father had allowed him to help care for the family.

But that was over now, the part of his life had been finished when he had been chosen to be in the living display-which was a touring thing that showed Native Americans dressed in their traditional attire.