Page 3 of Citiali: Teach
Zeke shakes his head. ‘Andrew wasn’t at Hemy’s Club. He worked with Ginny on IT but was separated from Hemy’s Club kids. This is only his third time here. The two Clubs here are stillseparated. Hemy has more ability kids, but they work IT shifts for Aaron, jump to bounty hunting or train. Putam, Axe and even I spent more time here at Hemy’s Club, learning about the tribe and our Brothers. We didn’t have much downtime, but we spent that here. They’d show at Aaron’s for occasional outings, but none ever stayed at the big Club.’
Putam nods. “Hemy gave me Anchor’s room when he left. I’m more comfortable here than at the big Club. None of the Liberty tribe have a room at the other Club.”
Prez looks at Justice with his eyes flashing green. “What else needs to happen here?”
I shake my shirt out with a snap and pull it back on, yanking my feathers and hair out of it. I’m bored with the meet now that Andrew gets it.
Justice smiles and waves a hand in front of me. “Yourhair was messed up.”
I’m glad he fixed that and get my cut on, noticing my shirt is tucked in too. I throw him chin and sit.
“Andrew needs Cherokee lessons and the chart of the ability kids here. We all feel the energy when we walk in. The Training Center is the same. While Hemy sees the benefits of training by the kids, he knows he’s got more coming up and will need to fit them in somewhere. Atohi will start on Monday as Andrew’s second. He is equal to Keesog without long vision. He does have medicine man in him but is more like Chenoa and a help with energy along with the plant background. Andrew, you need to give what Atohi says weight and use his vision and insight, or you’re not going to have ability Protectors. They are not their parents and carry that shame in their hearts daily because your distrust won’t let them forget it. No one has ever thrown your mom at you. Trust what you see and the counsel of your Brothers with the same respect you’ve always been given.”
The honest truth incinerates boredom that fast. Justice shows why he’s the West’s Prophet and Leader, the Protector President, because his insight comes with an ancestral feel, along with pictures so we all see how deep it runs in him.
I shake my head feeling like I was in a bit of a daze. Holy shit, the Brother is strong. Everyone looks at the table. I watch Andrew.
His shoulders drop and he looks up at Justice. “That fuckin’ hurt but you’re right. I’m just trying to keep the Brothers safe and use this Club to do it. I can’t lose Brothers, Justice. I feel like I’m barely keeping ahead of that.”
I’ve always seen it but we’ve been right here ready to work. If he’d stop ignoring us, he’d be more effective and his ability Protectors wouldn’t be finding new homes with appreciation for their ability.
“Tell him, Citiali,” Prez Knight says.
I nod, not really surprised he's reading what I shield. “We see that, Hemy sees it and respects you for it, but the Brothers are tired of being used. We have a purpose just like you. Let us in so we can do what we’re meant to do. Our paths are written and you keep fuckin’ with it. You’re going to lose Brothers if you don’t start using everyone that’s given to you. We’re the tools you need to make this work, so you need to stop walking away from us.” I wait a good minute, surprised no one says a word.
Andrew is obviously shaken as he thinks that through. I see when his mind lets go of the mistakes as he runs through a slideshow of Brothers who left. He shakes his head. “I have a lot to learn and used everyone sent here for everything, everything but their purpose. With my eyes open, I see I wouldn’t have needed everyone sent to me if I trusted the firsts that showed. Axe, Putam and Zeke are more than Leads. I should have seen it.”
Zeke stands. ‘Repeating history played out here. I have less Indian than almost everyone here. Take Atohi and Enoli and use them to learn how to integrate everyone into one Club with one purpose. Atohi is now your teacher, a young Christian or me. While our path is set, yours is not, Brother. Write that path with your Cherokee Brothers in their rightful positions beside you.’
I nod. “He’s right and probably the best Brother to spell it out for you. Hear those words, then live them, Brother. We need us all to do this right.” What’s coming at this Club will need Atohi’s insight to make it through.
Everyone agrees with chin or nods. Aaron is not happy, but Hemy is. He can keep to his training plans and keep the kids happily in work.
Prez Knight claps his hands together. “So, you get Atohi and Enoli. Jump with them nightly, work them into your life as partners. Indian wasn’t easy when I was learning it, but I did learn it. Zeke and Hemy did too, hell, even Cort and his Presidents are learning it. You’ll listen to your Brothers and push for more professionalism from the kids. Hemy, Aaron, you got this covered?” He just made it iron clad.
My eyes close and I breathe out relief seeing this work.
‘It does, Brother. Atohi does well here.’
My eyes snap to Jacob as I throw him chin. I saw the path change but he sees more than I ever will.
Aaron stands. “Yeah, Prez. I wasn’t told we had a problem here. I’ll get with Hemy more than once a month. Life was easier when we lived on the compound.”
Prez Knight nods. “Make the whole fuckin’ county yours and drop a compound in the middle of it. Hemy liked the compound too but needed to be closer to Liberty and the reservation. It’s gone now. He can be a Club in a Club while living on the compound. Cort’s doing it all over the fuckin’ west.”
Jacob laughs with Zeke and Putam. I smile because he’s right.
Zeke starts walking. ‘Alder is ready. Prez, Brothers. I need to…’
Prez Knight nods. “He’s safe here but go.”
I’ve always liked that Zeke doesn’t do the circus tricks and smile as he walks out the door.
Hemy snags my forearm for a quick squeeze. “How is the new Club?”
That makes me smile too. “I don’t know. I was on the Protector compound then a day at Honor and one at Flight Guard. I haven’t met my new President or seen the Club, but I’m headed there when we land back at Phoenix or ABSZ.”
He nods. “Come for dinner. Atohi’ll be pissed if you leave without seeing him.”
