On my home planet, Little Wave, we have a rite of passage…
When the time is right, each young clay ball will build themselves a space kayak of their own. My older sister Shining Dove was much older than Tessa or I were, so she was ready to build her space kayak when we were still in grammar school…
The young one must build the kayak alone. Usually, the first wobbly attempts at building result in a kayak that is not very space-worthy, & so the young clay ball can just make little flights, just hovering above the waters of our little planet…
As they gain building & flying skill, and as their craft becomes more space-worthy, the youth can fly higher & higher.
Shining Dove, as her name beautifully illustrates, is a born leader…she always had vision & the courage to carry it out, & whatever adventure she had planned, Tessa & I were her willing followers.
Tessa, our littlest sister, as most youngest children, led the family without us realizing it, with her good ideas for fun & excitement, & her peacemaking skills.
I, Clay Ball, was the middle one & the cautious one of the bunch…I would say things like, “I guess it might be time for supper!” or “I think I hear Mom calling now!” But, I had to go along to make sure my sisters were safe! Plus, who wants to miss out on all the fun & excitement?
So, my sister’s first space kayak, which she named the Blazing Beauty, and which had fine red tail feathers like no space kayak before or since, was gradually flown, adjusted, fixed, & improved upon…
Until, without anyone realizing it…it gradually became one of the most space-worthy kayaks on our planet!
Our Dad was busy with his healing tasks, which seemed to be never-ending, & about that time, an old aunt in the family became very ill, so our Mom was taking care of her day & night, & was a little preoccupied…
It came to pass that Shining Dove decided it was time for a…Road Trip!
And not just any road trip…a Road Trip to Orion!
Mom must not have been listening, or maybe she thought the tiny red space kayak was still at the hopping-just-over-the-surface-of-the-water stage…but my Mom just absently said, “Just bring the girls home before bedtime, Shining Dove…” and out the door my sister flew, with Tessa right behind her. I was dumbfounded, but after a moment, decided to follow my sisters, come what may…
Well Orion was in another galaxy, so we had to take a space tunnel…Shining Dove had taken a map, of course, a star chart, & had brought some snacks, & a compass of the universe, which always pointed to Home.
We flew all day. To pass the time, we sang rounds, took turns navigating, & made up funny stories about Mom & Dad, and what their life might have been, had they not had us.
Finally, we saw Orion in the distance! What a handsome constellation he was! Our hearts beat wildly & happily that we had made it this far!
We flew right up to Orion…& much to our surprise, he knew who we were! “Shining Dove, Clay Ball, & Tessa, what are you doing so far from Little Wave?” he asked in a deep, booming voice.
Shining Dove was always brave, and she answered truthfully, “We came to pay you a visit Orion, Bright Hunter.”
“Well.” is all Orion said. “How are your parents, & the Ancient Ones, & all the other clay balls on your planet?”
“They are all fine, thank you, Bright Hunter. Our Oldest Aunt, Auntie Number Four, is not feeling well, but our mother is taking good care of her.”
“Well, please send her my best wishes for good health…
And now, it is time for you to go back home,” said Orion (I suppose he did not like long, lingering visits) ”but before you go, I will give you a gift.”
A gift! I was hoping Orion had a flaming ball of fire for us to take home, or perhaps a comet he had caught in his hunting days, but instead what Orion gave us was a nugget of advice. (I was a little disappointed!)
“Always seek & bring goodness into your lives, do you understand?” he asked.
We nodded obediently.
Then he added, “What you hunt for & seek & bring home will change you & your loved ones, so always seek out the good things…that is what I gathered from all my hunting over time immemorial. Now I am giving it to you, three sisters, to take home.”
We nodded shyly & promised the Great Hunter that is what we would do (try to do!), and then we waved & waved, until we could just see Orion & his kind lights twinkling like little glimmers in the distance, & then he was gone from our sight.
We flew home, up and down with the space waves, in a dreamy silence…our brave leader was silent, our little leader was silent, our cautious one was silent…
That night, when our mother came & tucked us into bed, she asked us about our day…We told her the story about Orion…
Mom Ball just gave us her gentle, knowing smile & murmured something about space-worthy…& then we fell asleep….dreaming of the Blazing Beauty, with her beautiful red tail feathers, & Orion, the Bright Hunter…
love,
Clay Ball
