October 1, 1998
Tribal Life 7
Talented Teen's writing gets noticed
Last Spring, tribal member ALLISON EMPEY was selected to participate
in the Fourteenth Annual Oregon Writing Festival at Portland State Univer
sity. Allison is in the 9th grade at McMinnville High School this year. Here is
the story that was selected for the Writing Festival.
A RUSTY BICYCLE
Jimmy longed for a new, shiny, red bike, like all the other boys at school
owned. The other night he asked his mom for a bike and she looked at him
with that pained look in her eyes because she wanted so badly to be able
to make her son's life wonderful. "I'm sorry, Jimmy," she explained,
"this month money has been sort of tight, " as she tenderly brushed Jimmy 's
shaggy red hair out of his eye. It seemed to Jimmy that the money was
always tight, since his father had split, leaving the family penniless.
After school Jimmy walked the long way home to his shabby apartment,
so he could walk past the bicycle shop. As he neared the store he slowed
down, scuffing his shoe on the pavement so he could look at the bikes a
little longer. The bikes were so shiny, they seemed to glow inside the
warm, lighted store. Outside Jimmy pulled his thin coat a little closer
around his tiny body as the wind whirled and howled around him. The
minutes seemed to pass like seconds as Jimmy stood watching the glowing
bikes with his face pressed against the window. When he finally tore him
self away from the window it was starting to get dark.
Hustling along home something seemed to be beckoning him, almost
calling his name into an ally way. Jimmy looked around to make sure no
one was looking and ducked into the alley. Inside the alley where the
wind couldn't reach, there was a calm, quiet feeling, almost like time had
stopped to take a break.
Something seemed to be calling Jimmy to the dumpster. He carefully
picked his way around the broken glass, mud puddles, old trash, empty
whiskey bottles, and smashed boxes to the dumpster. The smells of old
bananas, moldy foods, tuna fish, dirty diapers, and gym socks filled Jimmy 's
nose as he neared the dumpster. He could hardly keep his stomach from
rising. Then his eyes fell on a bike. Not a shiny, new, red bike like Jimmy
had envisioned, but a rusty, old, flat-tired, dirty bike. None of this mat
tered to Jimmy, though. As soon as his eyes laid themselves on the bike
his freckles seemed to dance on his face and his eyes glowed. His eyes
seemed to look past the rust and dirt and only see the beauty that the bike
once had. Jimmy carefully removed all of the old cans, boxes, and other
litter piled up against the rusty bike.
Jimmy tenderly picked the bike up and carried it all the way home. When
he reached the run-down apartment he called for his mom to see his new
prized possession. She looked into Jimmy's big, soft, clear, blue eyes,
dancing with excitement. The eyes of her former husband that she had
looked into many times before, but now never would again. "Oh, Jimmy,
Jimmy, " she thought. She knew how cruel kids at school could be to
someone who was different, or who had a different bike, a rusty one at
that.
The next day Jimmy proudly rode his bike to school, after he had wiped
up all the dirt and pumped up the tires. At school the kids hardly noticed
the bike because they were amazed over Jimmy's new attitude. He carried
himself better, smiled more often, and participated in the classroom and
the games at recess. Jimmy seemed to have a positive aura around him
that rubbed off on everyone.
The bike had changed his life. He had learned a valuable lesson in life,
to look past appearance and see the true beauty of life.
Wedding Announcement
Rebecca Crocker (granddaughter
of Anne C. Thompson and Wilson
Bobb, Sr.), and Terry Crocker have
the honour of announcing the mar
riage of their son. Tribal Member
BRIAN HOWERTON will marry
Erika Fulkerson on Saturday, the
third of October, nineteen-ninety-eight
at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church
in Beaverton, Oregon.
Erika is a graduate of Cornell Uni
versity and works as Project Coordi
nator for Intel of Beaverton. Brian is
Marketing Manager for Bank of
America in Portland. The couple will
live in Hillsboro.
15
'I
Final Salmon Distribution
Saturday, October 10
The distribution will be for those tribal members who have not received
their salmon yet. The distribution will start at 9 a.m. and run until all
salmon is gone. Anyone having question call Karen Larsen at 879-2376
or 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2376.
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Next time you
are at the Natural
Resources office,
check out the new
mural that hangs
in the foyer.
The depiction of a
Native American
with forest animals
was painted by
Peggy O'Neil of
WOW Exhibits in
Neskowin, Oregon.
Craft and dance class begins this month
The Royalty Committee invites interested tribal youth to participate in craft
and dance class, which will begin on October 12, from 6:30-7:30 at the Com
munity Center. They will be held the second Monday of every month from
now on. For more information or girls interested in Royalty Court, please
call: Leonette Galligher, (503) 879-5017; Claudia Leno, (503) 879-5892; or
Terry Warren, (503) 726-7535.
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Thank you
A hearty "thank-you" to Pam War
ren, Travis Benoist, Linda Olson,
and Melvin
Brisbois for
helping me
move on Au
gust 31 to my
new home in
Sheridan. I
am forever
grateful.
Veronica Gaston ("Ronnie Bears")
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a. 4 :- -
mam?.- .
Brooke Morgan Flores
was born June 1, 1995
in Houston, Texas.
She weighed S pounds, 3
ounces, and was 19 inches long.
Her parents are
Michael and Tiffany Flores.
Brooke is pictured here with
her big brother Cody.
Congratulations to the family.