The Wild King

It's September, so it's not cold.

It's so good not be wrapped in pounds of clothing.

I take almost an hour to commute from Grand Marais, to the community center on my hometown Grand Portage.

Only a few miles shy of the Canadian Border, in the easternmost point of Minnesota on the Arrowhead is a small community called Grand Portage and it's loaded with Native American history and natural beauty.

I'm just a 17 year old girl that happens to live there. There are not a lot of kids.

My name is Ziigwan, that means Spring, but everyone calls me Zig. Except my mom when she's mad.

My mom works at the community center here, a teacher at the Oshki Ogimaag Charter School.

Unfortunately I could only attend that school until 6th grade.

After that, I started to live with my grandparents in Grand Marais during winter months, because it's too cold for me to commute that many miles to school every day.

Over 40 miles and one hour trip.

It's too much when the temperature is almost zero. Right?

My mom is white and was originally from Grand Marais. When she started working in Grand Portage she met my father and the rest is history.

They name me Ziigwan because I was born in March 20th, the beginning of spring.

I still got to live home 'till mid November, after that, travelling home after 4:30 pm is just a countdown to darkness. Or darkness itself.

And after my birthday I come back home too. Starts to be warmer and there's more daylight.

Of course, my parents visit almost every weekend when I am not home, I'll be too homesick to survive otherwise.

Today was the first day of school and the stranger thing happened on bus back to Grand Portage.

My long lost friend, King Thunderbird returned and is now attending Cook County High School.

I noticed because he was on the same school bus as me.

As, we were the only seniors at the bus for the last 15 minutes.

There are just fifty senior students at my school, so it's hard to go unnoticed.

"Ogi." I say.

Nothing. Maybe it's just not him.

"Ogi!" I try louder.

He turns his head. Surprised expression on his face.

"Ziig?" He asks doubtful.

I smile wide.

"When did you returned?" I ask smiling and getting up.

"Wait there. I'll come to you."

I sit. He's right, I'm in heels. I'll probably fall.

"Oh my gosh. Are you okay?" I asked again.

I'm like starstrucked. He's bigger, taller... Wow.

This was my best friend through kindergarten and all the way until 6th grade.

After that my mom told me he moved to Canada because, you know, he comes from THE original family and they move him there because 'Cook High is too white'.

Which I kind of get...

"If I'm okay? You should have seen his face!" he smirks.

"What?"

"Oh... You not asking about the fight..." He murmured.

"What have you done?" I make a face so he knows he has something to reveal.

"Stupid Cole Cook..." He tells me.

"Yeah. He's an ass. " I agree "What happened?"

"Basketball tryouts."

Oh... Yeah. Cole Cook is the team captain.

"You didn't make it?" I ask concerned.

"Oh I made it... "

"He tried to hit you?" I demand "Or did he say a typical racist thing that set you off?"

"The second. No one saw. It was in the boys locker room. He tried to swing back but he fell flat on his face. Stupid brat!" He's trying to control himself but I see he's annoyed.

"Well. Anniin to you too dear friend. Care to acknowledge me?" I say pretending to be mad.

"NanaBooZhoo, Ziigwan. You're older!" He laughs.

"You're huge. Shut up." I blush, rolling my eyes.

"You know, no one calls me Ogi. Just you." He states.

"Why? That is not you name? Ogimaa? Ah? Right?" I ask teasing him.

"No. It's not, besides everyone calls me King. You know that. Only my grandma calls me Myeengun and the Elders too."

"Come on. I was a child. It sounded great to me... O-G-I."

"You're still annoying." He cried.

When we got off the bus I finally asked him "Are you staying this year?"

"Yeah. Got to graduate in the states. I was born here. It's only fair." He answers.

He's really tall. His shoulders wide. His skin is darker and his eyes black as death.

"In the winter how are you coming back from school?" I ask.

"I got a car. It's a Land Rover. Good in snow and ice." He says " and you?"

"I stay in Grand Marais during snowing months. My grandparents. Remember them?"

"Yes. Blue eyed. I remember. Your grandma used to give me candy." He laughs.

"Do you need a ride home?" I ask.

"I'll walk. Just give me your number. If you want I can give you a ride tomorrow." He says giving me his phone.

"Okay. But you know that your family house is like four miles away. Right?" I type my number and call myself to get his.

"Yeah. I'll run there." He grins.

Wow. Billion dollars smile.

"Just take the phone." I give it back "Baamaapii, my king." I tease.

"Miinwaa kaawaabmin, anang." And he starts running home.

Did he said 'Again I will see you, Star' ?

Prick.

I call my mother.

"Mom? I'm at front. Where are you?"

"Coming out." She hangs.

One minute later I see mom.

She hugs me and we walk home. It's not far. Only half a mile.

"So, how's school? Still stands?"

"Yes. Still stands." I say dryly.

Suddenly I remembered.

"Mom!"

"What?"

"Guess who's back?"

"Little Wolf... Sorry I forgot to tell you." My mom apologies.

"You knew?"

"Yes. I saw Aniibish last weekend at the center. I just forgot." She apologized again.

"Ogi is huge. We should invite them to eat at our house sometime." I suggest.

"When Dad comes home. You know he likes to keep the Tribe business far from him."

As we enter the front door of our house I meditate on that.

If it wasn't for my mom I wouldn't know one word in Ojibwe. I don't know much, only the easy stuff.

My features are more white that indigenous, for that I'm not bullied at School. Not much. My name is Ziigwan Woods, though. It's there in my name.

Other then that I am just not blonde, because I got my moms blue eyes and white complexion.

My father is away doing business. I don't know. He works for a big lumber company. Usually he works from home, but sometimes has meetings or board meetings.

He goes away on work and it's only me and mom. They talk to each other every night. I just text him goodnight.

When we are alone at the house we just eat in the kitchen. My mom is trying new Italian cuisine and I'm afraid I'll gain some weight in the process.

They know how to cook. I'll give them that.

"Mom. Ogi is giving me a ride tomorrow to school. Can I invite him over for breakfast?" I ask.

"Sure honey bear, tell him to come early I need to talk to him first."

Odd but okay.

Me: Binesi, my mom wants to meet you before school. She's cooking breakfast. Do you still eat?

Two hours later...

Ogi: I eat a lot. What time?

I waited fifteen minutes just not to seem too eager to reply.

Me: 7:00

Ogi : o.k. c'ya

I went downstairs to tell my mom.

"Mom, mom! Where are you?"

I found her in the laundry room.

"Mom?!"

"What?"

"He'll come. 7:00" I say to her.

"Okay. Come help me to take this to the dryer."

"Why did I come down here for? Stupid chores."

After that I just shower and went to bed. I really need some sleep, tomorrow is the first day of volleyball. I'm not that athletic but somehow I'm good at volleyball.

I love it and this makes me more sociable, because we're a team. And we go to other High School's to compete on the weekends. Not all weekends. Some weekends.

It's cool. Makes me more accessible to my peers. Since other than Volleyball team, I'm just into fashion, but feel like I don't like to share that with anyone at school. So I share Volleyball.

I have one girlfriend and she is nice to me but we don't really hang out on weekends.

I'm a top student and that is not considerate cool but at least I don't wear glasses.