Page 76 of Citiali: Teach
I throw chin and hold my fisted hand over my heart and think of appreciation. He nods and walks off the stage to the crowd howling.
“You’re the tops, you’re the Mona Lisa.” The Bits sing with him.
I laugh at the little Brother that always has a new voice. “Thanks, are you Alta or Amal?”
He points at himself. “The Real McCoy, Amal.”
“Glad you’re not the hologram.”
“Nope, I’m the real deal.” He uses a different voice.
I shake my head wondering what Amal sounds like.
Walker laughs. “He does movie quotes.”
I nod. “I’m not a buff.”
“Me either, we’re outside, riding, anything but closed in when we’re off.”
“Same here, do you run?”
“On a treadmill at home or for training. Hiking and lately climbing is Aylen’s thing. Anchor’s girl had us up a couple of times this month.”
“I’ll get with him.”
We turn back toward the stage with clapping from the crowd. Pres Knight, Cort, Hemy, Justice, Alder and the elders come out. Chairs and a table are brought out by Prospects. It reminds me of Church.
I’m surprised when Alder starts up. “Brothers, I not bore you this time. Tyson. He puts his arm out and Tyson walks slowly to him from the side.
“Yep, Tyson in the house. I’m not boring you either.” He waves at us up in the air. “The Brothers showing off up there must be doing that so they’re not mixed in the crowd.” We laugh and I nod. “Those Brothers keep us safe like they’re keeping the Bits and all the ability kids safe. Caelan told me too many people means he has to block. Some of them can’t even be touched. Do you feel the energy down here?” He asks the crowd getting some agreement.
“They feel that times, like, a hundred. Being tuned in with those abilities means they feel it so much it stops them from doing stuff we love. We all know Brothers that don’t like crowds. My dad is like that. He’s good for a while but he’s quiet and just sort of watches everyone. He hates being singled out and never stays in a crowd for long. I’m the opposite.” His big smile has me laughing.
“I’m not usually in crowds but I don’t seem to have a problem with it. So, Little Brothers news. Dreng will be sending out what he calls fireside chats. This will go out Internationally but we need you to get your Clubs and kids ready to tune in. These are stories passed down through Indians. It’s all tribes but we’re told all tribes are one tribe now. So, everyone is included, everyone is welcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re Indian or not and the tribe doesn’t matter. My dad has a whole trunk full of Badass Indian stories I’ve heard all my life. For kids, it’s entertaining, a good way to connect and it keeps me looking for more. Once the fireside chats are running, you’ll see what I mean. We’ll get the Badass Indian stories in there too. These stories are lessons that get remembered. For us kids, we need the good and bad so we have a reason not to make those mistakes that seem so obvious to all of you. You know, becauseeverythingyou do is a lesson.” He smiles big again. “It will make your life easier too.”
Everyone laughs. It’s a line we all learn. He bows then looks up at us. “VP Citiali, thank you from Little Brothers across the country.”
I hold my hand over my chest and throw him chin and think appreciation.
“I felt that.”
I laugh. He would. Mag is waiting at the side and Tyson sits in his chair.
Hemy steps up and talks about a program Brantley and Web have for Clubs for planes. He doesn’t know a thing about it but he tells everyone they’ll get it out as soon as they can. He thanks the Clubs that sent Brothers to cover his so they get some time off too.”
He looks up and my hand goes over my heart. “Proud you’re mine, Citiali, Atohi, Yona. Thanks.” Apparently, this is a thing.
Atohi lets a war cry out. I throw him chin and think appreciation.
Cort moves and points up at me. “Tyson is great with the lessons of our fathers, but Nanyehi Brothers will bridge the Indian and Badass so we all get how impactful Native has been to Badass through the years. FBI had all for one and one for all.” He pauses for the Brothers giving the chant. I laugh seeing Brekan saying it. “Badass is never alone.” More Brothers yell. “Badass Indian is one tribe.” The war cry is deafening.He waits without trying to stop it.
When it’s quiet, he nods. “I feel it too. For fuck’s sake, they’re up in the air.” He waves his arm and everyone laughs. “I didn’t get the Indian draw to Badass but I’m realizing it was always a Badass draw to Indian. Wall was Indian, take Thunderhawk, Knight, Blackhawks, here it’s Waters names, likeWhitewater, Blackwater we added Lightfoot, Knight, Blackhawk, all the LaPonte variations and now Nanyehi. They’ve always been one tribe. Badass, or maybe it’s just me, but we’re learning. It’s not Mason Badass, FBI Badass, Indian Badass, Space, PD, Sheriff, whatever; to survive, we’re like the Natives. We’re all one tribe banded together or we’re not making it. In one we are many. I read it, see it and hear it all the time, but for some reason, Citiali showed me what it really means just today. We don’t have Mason Brothers and free women, we have Brothers, women.” He looks up again and points. “Citiali, Brother, thank you. E pluribus unum. Badass.” The crowd gets loud again.
My hand goes up and I throw chin feeling it. I think appreciation and he smiles. He felt it.
Justice steps up. “Brothers, Tyson said half the shit I was going to so I won’t keep you long. The ability Brothers tend to shy away from attention and crowds.” He looks up making a face. “That was obvious.” Brothers laugh.
“Anyway, we’re not all Indian or the line is so long and names have changed that it isn’t obvious. Look at Caelan, the LaPontes like me. Alder reminded me that we all came from somewhere and he does DNA shit so I figure he means we’re all Native somewhere in us. To me, Brothers floating in the air is normal. To you it’s like a circus show. We’re working at toning that down so our abilities will show when we need them.” He points moving from right to left up at us. “That’s needed. My boys fall asleep with too much energy. Some adults pass out from too much energy. They have a shield under and around them to keep that energy at bay. It’s not a slight but a need. Ability means we can do the crazy shit but there’s a cost.” He points at us again. “We can’t all take crowds or touch. It’s not an easy way to live hearing Brothers thoughts bombarding us all day, every day, but we learn to block and handle life in a different way. It allows us to be the Brothers that show to warn, shield,heal or fight for our Brothers, communities and home.” He smiles up, looking right at me. “Like Citiali, thank you, Brother. Wearethe Protectors, born and bred for this shit.”
