Rose Pumpkinseed (boarding school story) with Sidney Byrd

Thing is, that evening time was the worst time. We they call roll and then after roll call, with little guys, we said the Lord's Prayer. You talk about prayer in school? We said the Lord's Prayer. And then we would go to bed, and they gave us nightgowns. That was the hardest time. There is no [unsure of word] love. No one to say good night or tuck you in. Just four empty walls. You can hear the whimpering. Little boys lonely for their homes, their parents. And then one little boy started off the whole chorus, “Mama.” And then everybody started crying. That was the hardest thing for me because they want me to be brave. I'm a Lakota and I'm crying. I think when I see the stars and the moon through the windows and I remember my grandfather and my grandmother said, “[Lakota Word Trochosa], when you see the stars in the moon, these will be reminders that we'll be praying for you, and you pray for us.” So I would pray for them. You talk about lonely six year old boy. I found a secluded place on the campus. I'd go there, with no one around. I'd lay down and I'd cry. I think about my grandfather, and I'd cry and cry. Then I'd pray for my grandmother, my grandfather, all the animals and all the things that remind me of home. I'd pray for and come out. One day I came out and an angel stood there. Beautiful young lady, with dark hair, she whispered in our language: “My little brother. I know you've been crying because I could see the streaks on your face. Tell me, don't you have anyone?” I said, “No, my sister, I have no one.” And that's when the miracle happened. She knelt down, embraced me and kissed me. And said, “I will be your sister. We Lakotas, we take care of one another. So you come to me. Whatever your needs, I'll be here for you. Don't be ashamed. Come to me. I'll be here for you.” She did. She made the difference in my life. “We Lakotas, we take care of each other. I'll take care of you. I'll be here for you.” And she did things that I didn't know would help me. Her name was Rose Pumpkin Seed. She was from my same village. But she made the difference. We all need to be loved. It's one of the greatest things. A human being needs to be loved. She would come to me and tell me, “I'll be here for you, you know?”