The Pipe Ceremony

He was here when I came 7 years ago. He has gone to other things but he still comes here. He does sweats. He opens and he closes. He has had a hard life. He has spent time in prison. He is one bad ass dude. Now he can sing and pray. Sometimes he cries when he prays. His songs make me cry. No kid that I know has ever crossed him. The Pipe Ceremony is to ask for blessings. It is to honor the Spirit over All. The ceremony is voluntary. Only for those who choose. All of mine choose and I am surprised. They must sit still for over an hour. They must listen. They must respect. They could be in the computer lab surfing the internet. But they come to the gym and listen to the lesson and the story. The air is heavy with sage. The songs are sung. The tobacco is bundled into prayers and offerings. The pipe is passed. A big circle. The boys on one side. The girls on the other. The male and the female. The stem and the bowl. Inside... the smoke of the Spirit. Near the end I look across to the other side of the gym. A. has his lighter out. He is holding the flame on the leg of the boy sitting next to him...goddamnit.