Spilyay tymoo., June 21, 1985, Page 7, Image 7

I Mommy, don’t hug me! J Part --------------i
--------L
III
S pilyay T ym oo
June 21,1985
Page 7
Angel fails to reveal sexual abuse
The following is the third
segment o f Frederick Bobb’s
“ M om m y, D o n ’t H ug M e!”
Readers learned in the second
segment that Mr. Sandman was
a drug addict and alcoholic and
that Angel was sometimes afraid
o f him. She was disappointed in
Mr. Sandman.
dark, m aking Lily stum ble over
several skates and replicas of
the Incredible Hulk.
Angel sat on the edge of the
bed, Bob near h e r w ith a wet
washcloth, A ngel’s hair had fal­
len over her face—which was
lowered along with the musical
sobs.
; “W hat the heck happened?!”^
Lily asked./ I
A ngel’s face rose, showing
the large, dark, alm ost purple
by Frederick Bobb
m arks near her eyes. Several
slits in her fac,e had begun to
The older brother., .
bleed, her face would probably
never be as pretty.
“I w o u ld have stayed there to
“Mommy!’’the blood curdling
p rotect her, i f I had know n what sobs stopped, Angel ran to her
was going to happen. B ut I m o th e r, th ro w in g h er arm s-
d id n ’t. S h e ’s m y sis, and I ’ll around the only person-pn earth.,
always love her. That nerd hat} who could com fort her.
no right to go into, our house
a n d beat u p o n her like that. I f I 1:00
w ould have fo u n d out earlier, I
w ould have killed the sucker!
Little more than bruises, and
S h e ’s m y sister, a n d I care f o r thank God there were no broken
her.
bones.
Angel h^d convinced her m o­
" I went to a p a rty that night.
ther th at she had fallen out of a
When I got hom e, she was cry-' tree, “A ll’the way from the top
ing. I c o u ld n ’t see herface, b u t !
to the bottom !”
k in d a ’ fig u re d w hat it lo o ked
“W hat were you doing climb--
like. I tried to f i x h er up so that
ing a, tree in the middle o f the
m om w o uldn’t notice, but she
night!” Lily scolded..,
,
did,
“ Well, ” Angel countered . “You
always tell me th at small girls
“I ’m happy she did, now. ”
Lily P rescott drove into h er were m eant to be girls, arid that
driveway, her body aching from they shouldn’t play .on rough
ano th er “social” night in the ■things like trees. I saw William
Kah-Nee-Ta lounge. Somehow, playing in a tree, I th o u g h t.it
it d id n ’t seem right for her to •looked pretty fun, so I waited
dress up. in her m ost precious until it got dafk to try it.”
Angel’s voice Quivered with,
clothes, doll herself up, and
even have her children wash the m utual terror, as she tried des­
car the day before ju st so she perately not to tell her secret
could go dow n t o ‘the lounge H er small face looked as if she
after the sem inar to.see the most h ad n ’t washed in m onths, ’t he
fancy people on the reservation bruises wereneatly outlined like
become wild and free-moving. large paint m arks on her pre­
The real person they hid deep cious face.
“Now, do you see why f tell
within their fake personalities
really did seem to come to the you not to be a boy, ju st be a
surface w hen .they were into- little girl?”
Angel d id n ’t reply, but only
■ xicated. ' '
sat on her bed, scared. Tears
ApOüfiding Kèìadache started • ' b e g a n to flow pheq ri^ain.c v
in as soon as the engine had
died.
Time,
“God forgive m e,” she said, It p okes at your sores.
shutting the door then walking Time,
tow ard thehfront door. “ But I It turns pleasure into pain.
jusf^didnT L ave fun at alF to ­ Time,
night;” I
It m ehds the holes in life fo r
Shê reached the doof; and fbrpe;., .
fum bled with her shiall purse. Time,
Thè keÿs were clever, and hid With it comes the rage.
neâr the -bottom of the rhiscel-
laneous objects.
— RBK
“Cóm e o n ,” she said, biting
on her bottom lip.
June 18,1982
Leaning against the door, she
felt it give away. W hat? She had
¡Angel had been Very W ie t
locked it, h a d n ’t she? Bob, if Aever since she “fell o u t of a tree.”
yoù left the little one’s alone 111 Her life seemed to shift'oh its.
kill you!
axis- She w ould recoil when her
Entering the trailer, she heard m other, tried to hug her, she
small, weeping sounds. It was w ouldn’t play with her dolls,
clear that they came from a little she w ouldn’t even watch Webs­
girl: the pitch was high, the sobs ter anym ore. Her brothers arid
came in short, frail bursts, f •?- sister had given up hope, and
“D ear God ! ” she yelled, drop­ had swit6hed to treatingher in a
ping her purse and funning for more Violent manner, her mother
A ngel’s room . Thé trailer was still cared, and began taking her
learn to swim. W illiam sat to ing fish th at sprayed water high just relax.”
’ to several doctors.
All th at day, she had sat the fear of the last bus, the one into the air. The cool water
They had been through this-
Under a tree on a blanket, look­ the Plym outh followed. The Dry em itted from the fish felt good, entire procedure before, and the
ing outw ard into the small val­ Creek Road was coming on it eased the heat of the naturally same thing always happened.
ley of D ry Creek. Nine years faM, W illiam ’s face enlightened heated pools.
Soon, the instructor would let
One week at swimming class, go of Angel, then Angel would
old, and too m any problem s and fell at the same time. He
arising. It w asn’t easy being a began to wave out the rear win­ and Angel hadn’t learned a thing. sink to the bottom . Angel would
person who had nothing to do dow at his m other—at his sister. She w ouldn’t get out of the sit near the edge of the pool for
“I ’ll go th e n ,” Angel said in a writer, unless it was time to the rem ainder of the day. Lily
dll surnmer. Lily had tried to
ease some of the boredom by low, disappointed voice. “But leave. W illiam hadn’t learned would change all that, today.
taking her children out—usually first we have to go back to the much himself, but he had learned
“Angel, d o n ’t sink down to
to places where children liked house and pick up my swim­ to float on his back. The small the sharks.” Lily called.
job w asn’t easily accomplished,
to go (movies, toyshopping, car­ ming clothes.”
“ Mommy, d o n ’t talk about
“You d o n ’t need to do th a t,” he Would usually sink as Soon as sharks!” Angel cried.
nivals and circuses)*—but none
, • >
he let go of the edge, pushing
“W ell,” Lily said in a low,
of these thjngs would help Angel Lily said.
himself into the middle of, the hypnotizing voice. “T h at’s what
“Why?” asked Angel.
get oyer her ipiniatUre mourning.
“ You can swim in your under­ pool. He was mad, thinking it makes little girls sink. The sharks
Swimming classes had just
was the shallow water th at made always get them that way. If
began, held, at Kah-Nee-Ta swim­ wear, can’t you?”
“Mommy, everyone Will tease him sink, and had argued with you’re afraid of then!, then you
ming pools. Angel and William
his instructor th at if he were to might as well give up right now
were persuaded by.their m o th e r, me!” Angel cried out in fear.
Lily heaved forw ard another go into the deep end of thè pool, and sink to them- Then they can
to atten d —although Angel felt
a little self-consejous about her laugh, proud of yet another things w ouldbe’a lot better. His gobble you u p .”
“Mommy, do n ’t!”
ow n b o d y . W illia m g la d ly joke. “I already put your swim­ instructor never let him. Soon
b o ard e d the bus early th a t ming clothes in the back. I knew enough, William was shocked
“ D o n ’t be a f r a id o f th e
when he let go of the edge of the sharks!” Give them a piece of
morning.
you’d change yo u r m ind.”
“I just can ’t see why you d o n ’t
The car sped tow ard Kah- pool, and* stayed afloat. Filled your m ind!” she thought. “I
w ant to go!” Lily scolded, driv­ Nee-Ta, passing the D ry Creek with excitement, he began to meant that literally.”
The instructor laughed.
ing back to the trailer after turnoff. Angel’s goal; to swim kjck and scream. Then he sank,
“ M omm y, I w anna get out
dropping William off at the like a fish by the time swimming i, Lily sat on the benches n e a r ,
thè edge of the pool, watching now .” A ngelsaid, squeezing her
C o m m u n ity C e n te r. “ Y o u r classes were over.
hier children receive instructions eyes shut.
brother went, why can’t you?”
The m other.. .
from the teacher—who just hap­
“Are you afraid of the sharks?”
“I don’t like swimming,” Angel
replied, curling in deeper into
I knew som ething was wrong, pened to be a woman^Vbut never Lily asked.
“N o,”.',
the seat o f the car.
she w ould never turn down a really getting the idea of swim­
“Well, then, float! They can’t
, ■ “Y ou’ve never swam in your sw im m ing class. She was the ming into their minds. Lily’s
entire life,” Lily countered, h e r type o f girl who— when around company seemed to make them get you then.”
The splashing sounds filled
voiced loaded w ith sarcasm . water— w ould n o t get out even throw their minds onto watch­
“Sure you get your feet w et, but to-go to the. . .well, yo u know ing W ebster, or screaming at the air even louder, Children
laughing made Angel mad at
you’ve never really swam.
that part. It m ade m y heart sink the silver screen.
“Okey', dokey, Angel.” said them for learning to float before
“I don’t know how to swim,” to, see her m ope around all day, -
Arig;Cl replied, realizing how stu­ nothing to do. She ha d good the young swimming instructor. she did.
“ Let go now ,” Lily told the
pid her -words had sounded. grades in school, so she d id n ’t “ Have you learned how to flo a t
instructor.
W ould m other notice w hat she need to go to sum m er school. yet?” -
Angel’s small head bobbfed
Time seemed to tick by, Angel/
had said?
But during the last fe w weeks, o f
“Angel,”
School, . .she had fa llen asleep- above the blue water, her face held her eyes shut, squeezing
She did notice.
D uring class— o f course. Mrs. smothered with tiny glistening. her eyelids together with tre-
“T h at’s why these classes were Vastiga was her teacher, and drops o f water. “ Hmm-mmm ,” iriendous force, she could hear
laughing, splashing and talking
made! They teach little girls like sh e ’d send A n g el hom e with a she Would say.
“Okay, then I’ll try to teach all around her. Several drops of
y o u to sydm away from sharks note. A ll said one thing. A ngel
if you’re ever caught in an ocean.” has fa llen asleep in class again. you th a t today. Do you knoW water fell onto her face, but she
felt no w ater co v erin g her
Arigel’s eyes increased the look Is there som ething wrong at how to float. Amil?” '
“William,” William corrected. body—giving her the sign that
of concern. “You mean there hom e? I ’d be glad to help in any
“Oh yeah. Sorry. Do you she’d have to stand up and do it
are sharks in the water?”
way I can.
all over again. Then silence.
“ M m m -h m m ,” L iiy sa id ,
j d id n ’t kn o w w hat was the know how to float?”
“Yup. Did it yesterday.” /
Silence.
p ro u d 'o f the'w ay ner voice was matter, so I sent a note back to
“¡Good'. You, can go have free
flowing. .
, M r s a y i n g - , that I ’d
time
while
I
teach
your
sister.”
two voices o f'h e r moTher and’
“Even in th^~Shitike!” Angel m ake A n g el go to sleep a fe w
“Oh goody!” William yelled, the swimining instructor har­
hours earlier. That d id n ’t help
cried.
“Y up.” Lily lied. “There are much. A n g el continued to fa ll taking off sooner than,|he sent­ monized together.
ence, was finished.
Angel opened her yes, her
sharks in all the waters. Except asleep during class.
The young womrin pulled breath held tightly in her lungs.
“Mr. S a n d m a n ” stayed away
for w ater made by m an. The
Angel closer to her, lifted her up She was floating!
pools do n ’t have sharks in them. fo r the longest time. :.
on her back, and said “Okay,
“ M om m y! I ’m d o in g it,
They wait until the students June 25,1981
ju s t re la x and ta k e a deep Mommy, I’m doing it!”
become better swimmers, then
Then she began to sink.
The too hot pools held dozens breath.”
they put the sharks in.”
Angel squirmed, as if trying
The instruefor laughed, rind
Angel’s et/eS filled with panic. upon dozens of small chil­
“Mommy, what about William!” dren—who would screattt with -to break free of the grip around pulled Angel out of the water,
setting herXdn the firm edge of
Lily laughed, proud of her delight, trying to make it from her.
“W hat’s the m atter?” asked the pool: *
small joke Onher daughter. “Oh one side of the pool to the other.
Lily rose to her feet, ran to
!well, th ere’s no sharks in any Some children tossed small beach- the swimming instructor.
“Y ou’re tickling me,” Angel where Angel stood, and hugged
water except for the oceans. But balls, giggling whenever another
Stilly you should try to learn; chilli would get bonked on the said, although she showed no her little girl.
Angel pulled back, her face
how to swim. Lt may help you head—getting m ad if they were signs of being tickled.
the one’s w ho were the bonkees. J’ “Sorry,” the instructor said, painted with fear. “ Mommy,
ope of these days.”
The small red Plym outh R e ­ The bears were turned on, hold­ loosening the grip. “Okey dokey, do n ’t hug mef”
liant crossed over Highway 26,
and began to climb the small
road tow ard Dry Creek/ Kah-
Nee-Ta. The decision would have
R e p re se n ta tiv e s fro m th e are awarded to those qualifying. ferent cultures and people and
to be made soon, made by Angel.
The Up With People program develop new abilities.
Angel sat quietly on the pas­ W arm Springs com m unity wel­
For more inform ation on the
senger side df the Car, watching comed the tip With People group enables young men and women
the yellow buses th at carried
with a presentation of Indian from many diffèrent nationali­ Up W ith People program con­
culture during their visit to the ties to travel together and to tact Up With People, 3103 North
loads of children who wanted to
express their concern and hope C am p b ell, T u cso n , A rizo n a
area.
A visit to the W arm Springs for the future, experience dif- 85719, (602) 327-7351.
agency longhouse, June 7, p ro­
vided the group an opportunity
to see Indian fashions, Indian ,
A n electrical arc from a pow- to strengthen the loundation on grass bordering the ground cable dancing and traditional Indian
foods. A short’ history of the
:rline to a ground cable ignited th e b rid g é "oyer th e W arm the Spark touched off a fire.
Fire and Safety D epartm ent reservation was presented along
i sm all patch of grass near Kah- Spririgs River at the Village
Qee-Tah Village the m orning of struck an underground high vol­ units from Kah-Nee-Ta, Sim- with a chance for members of
lune 12. Firefighters were called tage line, Whçn the line w àscut nasho and W arm Springs re­ the group to ask questions.
M embers of the Up With
the transform er went off. As it sponded to the call. The fire was
o the scene.
A m aintenance crew working autom atically turned back op extinguished within thirty mi­ People program were in the
area qs p art of their nationwide
an arc was created. W ith dry nutes. .
tour. T hey entertained the com ­
munity with a musical concert,
“ Beat of the People,” presented
at M adras High School.
The Up W ith People tour
group is an independent, non­
profit, educational organization.
Five international casts, each
with 120 students front 18-25
years of age travel approximately
32,000 ntiles and live in the
homes of host families in 47
Countries.
Acceptance to the Up W ith
People program is based on a
personal interview . Q ualities
looked for are m aturity, leader­
ship, m otivation, international
interest and desire to com m uni­
cate with others.
Each participant is responsi­
ble for the paym ent of a student
fee plus the cost of transpora-
tipn to the staging area, any
transportation during mid-year
break and transportation home
Spilyay Tymoo photo by Shewctyk
following completion of the tour.
¿pl/pop Tymoo photo by Shewctyk
Tribal
Public
Relations—Up
with
our
people
tour
group members
M ost students r^ise all or part
Tire igniied—R o a d maintenance crewmen accidently cut an underground powerline atKah-N ee-'Ia of th eir fee by their own efforts. ask D enise Clements (left) and Connie Daniels (right) about
Up W ith People scholarships Warm Springs culture.
which caused a electrical arc to ignite a sm all grass fire.
Cut powerline ignites grass
i
Up With People visit reservation