Dawn of Innocence

by Manly E. Hogg

Overview

DAWN OF INNOCENCE a novel by Manly E Hogg was written while I was out to sea during the Gulf War. I had written a poem called "The One " while standing a mid watch as Officer of the Deck. This poem led to the novel which is about a Native American college student and an African American student that meet, fall in love and then find themselves in a situation where they have to prove themselves worthy of the other parents love and respect. Dawn, the Indian girl, finds herself alone in "the hood" facing cultural differences which include a violent ex-girlfriend that does not want to accept losing her football star ex-boyfriend via her meal ticket out of the hood. Darryl, an African American finds himself alone on the reservation proving his manhood through trials and tribulations at the hands of a warrior chief grandson that refuses to accept that his meal ticket off the reservation is slipping away as Darryl meets all test given by the old warrior Chief.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468565065
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	08/23/2012
Pages:	104
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.25(d)

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Coming of Age

The sun was setting over the horizon as it always has so many millenniums ago, but today was different ... today two souls were watching with amazement at an eagle gracefully circling high above a snow capped mountainous peak.

Dawn Whitecloud and her father, a Cheyenne Chief known as Red Moon, was in deep discussion about Dawn's future in the world of "The White man," as her father would so coldly put it.

"Dawn, today is your forthright day, the day of your womanhood," he said with a solemn voice, as his heart was heavy at the thought of lending his only daughter to the outside world even if it was to further her education.

Chief Red Moon and his ancestors were of a different time, a different world. If his people were to move ahead, even he would have to let go of a little tradition, although it pained him terribly to do so. He saw much potential in Dawn from an early age, always inquisitive, always resourceful even in matters reserved for only that of The Tribal Council elders. She had a light in her eyes, which illuminated so brightly, that not even The Great Spirit could deny her slightest whim. Full of life and love was she, always graceful and always most respectful. Red Moon had always hoped to keep his precious daughter by his side to help on his modest ranch on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation he struggled yearly to turn a profit with. Yet how could he deny nurturing such potential?

Dawn could be of any profession she chooses. I must let her go now, to pursue whatever it is she dreams of as her sweet brown eyes travel to the Dream World every night and even sometimes during the day, as he would seldom catch her staring off into oblivion. Her hands would take on a mind of their own as they continued doing her chores despite the severed consciousness. He was always amazed at how she could manage such a feat. She is well prepared this day to venture forth into a new era for herself and our people. This to Ma 'heo 'o, The Creator, I pray.

This moment seemed to come much to fast for Red Moon. It seemed as if he had just celebrated her sweet 16 birthday. Even then she had looked to be a full-grown woman. In the ancient days she would have mated at that time with a young warrior. He would have gracefully handed over many horses and much land, for the hand of a Chief's daughter was an ultimate prize, especially with an Indian maiden as beautiful as Dawn. That was then and much has changed.

Had two winters come and gone so fast since Dawns Vision Quest? Red Moon turned to his daughter and looked deep into her dark brown eyes.

"You must decide on a future so I can prepare the Spirits for your coming with prayer."

Dawn looked at her father with a puzzled frown.

"Father, I don't understand."

Red Moon turned and pointed at the magnificent American Bald Eagle as it navigated the heavens, daring for even the smallest of movement below.

"That eagle you see in superior flight is just another bird to most, but to our people it will hear your words and carry them to the Maiyun, the spirits, as swift as the lightening can strike. You need but to whisper and its keen ears will hear all. Dawn, you are the daughter of a Cheyenne Chief and in my day, a squaws ... ah," Red Moon cleared his throat and continued, "a woman's place was with the man that proved his loyalty to the tribe. He would have a Warriors Bonnet full of War Feathers from many a battle with rival tribes. Dawn we live in a new time and if our people, our custom and our beliefs are to survive, we must move with the wind or die out as with the Buffalo."

Dawn gazed suspiciously at the eagle, which was now on a swift dive in prey of some unfortunate creature below. She pondered how such a creature could have such cognitive and spiritual powers, but she has come to accept her parent's beliefs as her own and decides to abide by her father's notions.

"I want to help our people father," said Dawn with conviction.

"I would like to take the scholarship to USC and from there I hope to major in Law."

Red moon responded surprisingly, "Our people could use much legal advice in the coming years, but I always thought you would pursue a career in medicine."

"Medicine!" Dawn looked at her father in shock. She remenence back when she was growing up how her parents spun tales of great Medicine Men with super natural powers. Even now, she could see the medicine pouch around her father's neck, which no doubtlessly held Parts from dead animals and herbs from Mother Earth.

"Pejuta Wicasa, our tribal shaman were only second to the chief of the tribe," explained Red Moon, "Medicine men were the chiefs' right hand man as the Americans says."

Dawn giggled with pride in her father not saying " The White Man or Pale Faces," as he used to while she was growing up on the reservation.

"Your grandfather was a very wise Shaman in his cycle of moons. He helped our people on many occasions with his visions. He is on the Ghost Trail journey as we speak as his road on this mortal plain has come to a close. It will not be long before White Buffalo passes on to the spirit world. His medicine was of great power but it was of an old time when our people needed more guidance than healing. You, my precious one, are of this time and I have had a vision of you performing great miracles of healing the bodies as well as the minds of others."

"I understand this Father, but do you think I would be taken seriously as a doctor with the Sioux and the Cheyenne of our reservation?" asked Dawn with skepticism.

Red Moon thought deeply of his daughter's words and he felt her concern for her treatment among the Sioux to be a truly insightful concern indeed. He knew without a doubt that no Cheyenne would test his patience where his precious daughter was concerned, but the Teton Sioux was another thing. The Lakota were just as traditional in preserving the ancient ways, as were the Northern Cheyenne, sometimes even more so. Its a wonder we survived at all in this new age among the Americans.

Red Moon put his strong right hand on Dawns shoulder to comfort her, but mainly to pause and allow thoughts to reel through his mind as he awaited guidance from the spirits. He used his left hand to place her long raven black hair off her right shoulder and let it flow to her back and into the breeze as if to make sure her ears were unobstructed to his next words for he was sure they would change her life-line forever. He went on to ponder ... Dawn speaks strongly of helping our people, but I'm afraid her heart will not be strong enough to battle in the courts of the corporate world for lands and artifacts promised returned to us. Corporate Lawyers are too ruthless as they are paid much to be so. Government representatives are no better. You would think they had personal rights to the land and our ancient treasures the way they bargain for them so. No, a lawyer's life would taint her spirit. This I am sure of as my heart and mind whisper to me. Dawn has always showed a kindness towards even that of the smallest of animals most would otherwise consider dinner. Medicine would be a nobler path for her spirit, but it will be ultimately up to her and the Great Spirit to decide. I will leave it in the hands of Ma'heo'o. All I can do as a father is to reassure her and blanket her from her fears of acceptance among our people, for it would be a blessing to have her return to us, after many circles of seasons has past during her learning.

"My child, a little more than century ago the Sioux of Dakota and the Cheyenne of Wyoming were bitter rivals. They were equal in strength and courage. They battled on this very ground for prime hunting land during the beginning of the Laramie treaty when no tribe understood the true meaning of its words.

Thanks to the union of your great-grandfather, War Hawk, a Cheyenne Chief, to your great-grandmother, Fox with Blue Tail, a Sioux Chiefs' only daughter, we today share a common bond on this reservation that has stood the test of time. Nothing is impossible, my sweet daughter and as long as you are the daughter of Chief Red Moon you will have the respect of every Soul on this reservation." Red Moon looked deep into Dawns' Ebony brown eyes and stated, "That I can promise you."

Dawn in return, looked deep into her fathers' eyes. His eyes always showed his conviction of the words he told her. His features, very strong and typical of his full blooded Cheyenne heritage. When his dark brown eyes had a glistening reddish look to them she knew that he felt deeply about his words. Today he was definitely serious. Today she would take his every word to heart.

"Father, I will pursue medicine as a career!"

"I'm proud of your decision darling," expressed Red Moon with much joy. Red Moon turned to face the Eagle making off with its prey deeply clawed. He bellowed at the top of his voice in the native Algonquian tongue of the Cheyenne, "Tell the Spirits to listen to our prayers closely tonight for Dawn Whitecloud, Daughter of Chief Red Moon, is to venture out into the world of the Americans and become a great Warrior of Medicine!"

Dawn could only smile with happiness to make her father so proud of her. She would apply for college soon and major in medicine. She would do this for her people, but mainly for her father who always expressed his concern for her future and his heartfelt pride for her.

Dawn gripped her father's hand tightly as they headed back down the steep slope and into the forest of Ponderosa Pines, which led to the riverbed below. Red Moon stooped down various times along the way to pick special herbs. Only a selected few knew of these potent herbs and the powers one could derive from them. Apart, they would have no true effects, but blended together, it's said that it could make a man feel as one with Nature herself. Tonight Red Moon's special blend will be smoked in his most cherished Pipe as he prayed to the Spirits. He and all the other Elders on the reservation will sit around a great fire and pray to the Spirits to watch over Dawn and give her guidance on her long journey amongst the Americans. Her mother, Fawn Running Deer, will make a great feast and after all has eaten; her younger brother, Black Wolf, would lead the other young Warriors in a Dance of Celebration to consecrate Dawns' 18 birthday. Today she has become a Woman.

CHAPTER 2

First Day

Dawn entered the brightly-lit halls of USC. With every step of her moccasin-adorned feet, she could feel her heart throbbing strongly with nervous anticipation. Today was the biggest day of her life. She will use the tuition from the American Indian College Fund to purchase her dream of being a Physician. She couldn't help but wonder how many Native Americans walked these very halls before her in pursuit of the very same dreams.

As Dawn approached the school auditorium she could see the long line of potential USC graduates.

"Attention please, attention all enrollees," loudly bellowed a raspy voiced woman over the intercom. Startled, Dawn stopped to listen.

"Please form a single line in front of the course you will be enrolling during the first semester, Thank you."

Dawn moved ahead to the line for Biology 301. Standing in front of her was a faddishly dressed woman. She couldn't help but notice the tremendous length of her hair.

"Ahem!" Dawn cleared her throat to attract the young female. "Excuse me please ... miss," she said quietly.

Katwana Delores Jones or KD as her friends called her, an African American, was slightly overweight for her height but knew how to wear her clothing well enough to hide that fact. She quickly turned around, as if to say, "why are you in my world cause I damn sure as hell didn't invite you!" She immediately started looking Dawn up and down. Dawn never experienced this type of posturing before and was quite shocked into silence. KD looked into Dawns deep brown eyes and saw innocence that she never thought possible in any human being just before Dawn's head lowered to the floor. She placed her finger on Dawns' chin and solemnly raised Dawns head to look into her eyes again.

"You have beautiful hair," Dawn thought to mention to break the ice.

"It must have taken you years to grow it so long and thick."

KD couldn't help but chuckle at her naive remark.

"Girl, you are a piece of work!"

"My name is Katwana, but my friends call me KD."

"Nice to meet you KD. My name is Dawn." A relief came over her suddenly as she gazed upon the gold toothed smile of this person that just a second ago seemed to want to eat her alive like some starving beast of the wild.

KD took a step back, "Dawn what in the world do you have on your puppy dogs girlfriend?" Dawn looked down at what she must have been describing.

"My puppy ... oh my feet," she replied with embarrassment.

"Oh, they are called moccasins," she explained.

"My tribe, the Cheyenne, actually still make them by hand."

"Well that's just find I guess if you are a tourist but if you're hangin with me girlfriend, then we have to get you with the times, baby g."

All Dawn could do was smile at KD because she knew that she just connected with a kindred spirit. She thought of the saying, you can't judge a book by its cover and that sure fitted her new friend KD. She just hoped she wouldn't look too silly with a gold tooth and nose earring as KD wore so well.

With courses enrolled and tuition's paid, Dawn and KD walked back to the school's female dormitory.

"What room you in girlfriend?" KD asked using the Ebonics language even though she was very fluent with the Queens English.

"I'm in 2D," replied Dawn curiously.

"Not for long baby girl," said KD as she changed the names on the room assignment board to reflect Dawn as her roommate. "I didn't want no snobby gray girl for no roommate anyhow."

Dawn was puzzled at KD's remark but knew enough about her already to be smart enough to leave that one alone. Although she still pondered how a persons skin could be Gray as she followed KD back to their room to unpack.

Dawn was neatly folding her clothes when she had noticed KD holding a small picture frame tightly to her bosom. She thought nothing of it till she noticed tears in KD's eyes. Dawn thought to let her have a moment to herself so she graciously started walking out of the room.

"Hey, where are you headed, young lady?" asked KD.

"Oh, I was ah ..." Dawn was at a lost of a good excuse and KD saw right through her, but appreciated the gesture.

"Come back here, you. Don't mind me. I'm just trippin a little," demanded KD.

KD motioned Dawn over to her side of the room. Dawn looked at the photo inside the gold rimmed picture frame. She smiled at the cute little boy that was missing his front teeth in the photo.

"Ah, he's so adorable, KD. Is he your little brother?" asked Dawn thinking the boy looked to old to be anything else but a younger brother or nephew.

"No, he's my son. At least he was my son," replied KD sorrowfully.

"Is he okay? You seem so sad," asked Dawn feeling KD's pain.

"I haven't talked about this with anyone since it happened, but I was so young and naive back then. All I could think about was keeping it a secret so I could move on with my life as if it never happened."

"What never happened, KD, I don't understand?"

"I had Jose' when I was only 14. My parents never even knew I was pregnant because I was always a full figured gal. I don't know, I guess I was hoping that it would just go away or I would miscarry. God, I even thought to stick a wire ..." KD burst out with an uncontrollable cry. Dawn sat down beside her and put her arms around her for comfort.

"I don't know what I was thinking, Dawn. My mom didn't take it too well when she found out. I was planning on keeping it from her as well, but my water broke while I was in class. I've never been so humiliated before in my life."

Dawn wiped a tear from KD's eye as the two chuckled to keep from crying.

"So where's your little boy?" asked Dawn excited to meet him someday.

"That's what I was crying about. My mother and I had decided it best to put the baby up for adoption. You think I would have given my baby boy a Spanish name? I would have called him Julius Jamal Jones, JJ for short."

KD smiled at the picture and showed Dawn where she had wrote JJ on the back of the frame. Dawn was curious to one other fact though. KD never mentioned about what her father must have thought about the situation. She was brought up to believe that the father always had a say-so in matters such as this. But she thought to leave that question for another day.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Dawn of Innocence"
by .
Copyright © 2012 Manly E. Hogg.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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