Chapter 10: A MOMENT IN TIME
Jorken sauntered ahead, a slight limp in his gait, before disappearing within the white sprawling gift shop. It was the largest shop adjacent to the two-pump gas station. In front, an enormous wooden sculpture of a native was erected to stand sentinel outside of the Tyendinaga Mohawk reservation. Aside from the soft sounds of their shoes on crushed gravel was the crackling of a purple and white Mohawk flag, undulating in the crisp breeze.
Hand in hand, Arlana and Aziel followed Jorken from a
distance.
"Don't touch anything, okay? If something breaks, I'll have to pay for it," she cautioned.
The tapered aisles were lined with silver jewelry, artwork, carvings and beadwork. Toward the back, just off to the side, was a separate room with clothing and moccasins. Beyond that were housewares, soaps, maple syrup and nicknacks. Winding stairs led up to a loft containing priceless artwork but Arlana had never ventured farther than the first floor.
They'd depart for Kingston again as soon as they left the store, so Arlana took her time, examining each item slowly, wishing she were wealthy. Exquisite artifacts captured her attention, along with a painstakingly hand-painted canvas.
"Your Auntie Adelaide would love this place!" Arlana shared with her son, "She's always loved Indians. Let's look for a gift for her. What do you think she will like?"
Aziel immediately pointed to a doll wearing a traditional buckskin dress. Her reddish-brown cheeks were framed with two ebony braids, a feather in her headband.
"It's really nice," Arlana acknowledged, "But let's keep looking."
A leather necklace caught Arlana's eye. It wasn't the simple leather cord that caught her attention, but the pendant suspended from it.
Tenderly cradling the image in her hand, Arlana inspected it thoroughly. It was gorgeous and yet hard-featured at the same time, the impressive likeness of a warrior chiseled from silver.
How was such a thing even possible? The features were relatively rough-hewn, yet that could only be anticipated when working with such a hard metal. On the back, the artist had etched their signature, or perhaps, it was the name of the person the carving depicted. It was too difficult to read.
Arlana set it back down on the display table, turning away to resume her search for the perfect gift, but didn't take two steps before returning, lifting the necklace once again. There was something about it, and Arlana knew she would regret walking out of the store without it.
The metal was warm in her hand as they walked toward the cashier.
"I'll take this please," Arlana released the necklace reluctantly, placing it in the hand of the doe-eyed cashier.
"Ah..." She smiled softly, a glint in her fathomless chestnut-brown eyes.
Pocketing her change, Arlana extracted the necklace from the bag, cradling it in her palm on the drive home.
"What did you get?" Jorken glanced over.
Arlana revealed her single purchase to Jorken, her heart squeezing hoping he wouldn't criticize her decision.
"Hmph, that's different."
"I got it for my sister," Arlana explained, although it wasn't really necessary.
Adelaide was a busy, homeschooling mother to three children.
"Alright, you can take a quick recess," she called out, "I'm going to put the timer on."
The children weren't listening, dashing up the stairs, not wasting a second of their mid-morning playtime.
Pouring another mug of steaming coffee, Adelaide took a much-needed break, savoring the piping hot liquid before checking her email. She rapidly typed a response to Jaira, glancing at the time. Five minutes remained - enough time to check the mail.
Adelaide sifted through flyers, fingering the bulging frosted white package.
"We got a parcel!" Addy announced to the children who were reluctantly returning to continue their studies.
Adelaide turned off the timer with her free hand, reaching for the scissors.
"It's from your Auntie Arlana," she read the return address.
Three sets of eyes peered over her shoulder as she freed the contents: a pocket-sized gift box containing a necklace.
Adelaide didn't wear jewelry but this necklace was from her sister. Releasing it from the clear-topped container, she examined it for a moment. It was unique if nothing else.
"Alright, let's get started."
Adelaide set down her half-empty mug on the corner of her desk, placing the necklace beside it. Necklace abandoned, she began to correct the children's work.
The fan oscillated, gently whisking the papers before her, creating a faint rustling against the desk. Standing, Adelaide searched the room for a paperweight, papers swirling on the desk before spilling onto the floor. Undulating they pirouetted, like a graceful ballet, the room spinning.
Adelaide should have grabbed some painkillers, her head suddenly throbbing. Reaching for a corner of the desk, the room swam out of focus, the sensation of falling washing over her.
A moment in time.
A chilly breeze wafted through the open windows of the small church that doubled as a one-room schoolhouse during the week.
Adelaide glanced around the room, swallowing hard. Her daughters sat on either side of her on the hard wooden pew, Joshua sitting at the end.
A handful of children sat beside their parents in their Sunday best frocks, the ladies wearing their best bonnets.
"Please turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter ten and we will read in unison verse two."
Adelaide didn't have her Bible with her. Her eyes narrowed as they focused on the pastor. A priest!
Like Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz, they clearly weren't in Kansas anymore.
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest."