Free Thunder on the Plains by Gary Robinson

sleep.”
    He shooed us away with a gesture of his hand.
    The next morning, everyone at the Wind house was up early. Amanda and Grandmafixed a big breakfast that the family wolfed down in record time.
    When I got out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around myself and went into my room to get dressed. My stepdad was there waiting for me.
    â€œDanny, I just want you to know how proud I am of you,” he said. “You took a lot of risks this summer and learned a lot about your own strengths.”
    He handed me a sack. I opened it and found a pair of beaded moccasins, brand new.
    â€œWow!” I said.
    â€œI thought you might want to wear them today at the ceremony.”
    I took them out of the bag and looked at them. “Thanks! These are actually very cool.” We were silent for an awkward moment.
    â€œWell, I guess you’d better get ready,” Bill said as he stood to leave.
    â€œI’m sorry I’ve been such a problem,” I said.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Bill replied. “You’ve been through some hard stuff. I think things will be better now.” He smiled and left.
    I put on my new pair of blue jeans and slipped on the moccasins.
    Just then Aunt Amanda came in carrying something. “I made this for you to wear today at the ceremony,” she said. She held up a bright yellow shirt with red and green ribbons on it. “It’s a traditional man’s ribbon shirt.”
    â€œIt’s awesome,” I told her.
    â€œI made one just like it for Robert to wear on our wedding day,” she added. “Here, let me help you put it on.” She slipped it on over my head. I looked at myself in the mirror.
    Then Mom stuck her head in the door.
    â€œYou look very handsome, son,” she said and stepped into the room.
    â€œI’ve got something to round out your wardrobe for today.” She held up a multicolored yarn belt. “I made it for you in the car while we were driving here.”
    She threaded the belt through the belt loops on my jeans and tied it in front.
    â€œNow the look is complete,” she said. “When you’re all done, come into the kitchen and I’ll braid your hair.”
    All the attention made me blush.
    â€œOkay, everybody out,” I said. “A fella needs a little privacy when he’s dressing.” Amanda and Mom looked at each other and winked.
    â€œAll right,” Mom said. “Come on, Amanda. Let’s give the man some space.”
    Later, the whole family gathered in the front yard so that Bill could take a group portrait. Everyone wore their best Indian clothes, except Bill. He stuck out like a sore thumb in his city clothes and bolo tie.
    Bill set a camera up on a tripod. Then he arranged the family in three rows for the three generations. He went back to the camera and set the timer. Then he ran back to join the family. Everyone smiled and the camera flashed.
    â€œThere’s one for your family photo album,” Bill said to Mom.
    We left for the ceremony and arrived at the tipi camp just before noon. I couldn’t believe it. Hundreds of tribal people had gathered. I kind of got choked up for a minute. They were all there to see me.
    Adults were setting up their folding chairs on the outer rim of the circle. Children were running and playing around the outside of the tipis.
    On one side there were several chairs set up for invited guests. The tribal chairman was there, along with Park Ranger Perkins, a few tribal council members, and Martin Two Bulls.
    Uncle Robert led the family to the front of the medicine man’s tipi. We waited there for the ceremony to begin. I looked around the crowd and saw Ben and the other kids. Charlene was there too. She waved to me. I smiled and waved back.
    A few minutes past noon, Thomas Red Elk came out of his tipi. He was dressed in buckskin, moccasins, headdress, and a large beaded belt.
    He spoke to the crowd. “Today we are here to recognize