Chapter 1. Empty snares, cheating, friends forever.

The next morning, immediately after we reached our huge clearing and stopped, I went to Misha and silently worked my small hand into his much bigger one, to play it safe. Again, I didn't want to take any risk of another young kid claiming my special friend before I did!

Again, Misha seemed to be very pleased to have me at his side; although, this time, he didn't dare to tease me any more. Maybe, he still felt a little bit shocked about his own disappointed reaction when I suddenly left him to go look for a more entertaining guide...

Nearly all our younger kids paired up again with their experienced guide from yesterday; and, after counting our heads, the oldest kids released us and told us not to get lost while strolling around in our dense forest. They still didn't want to set up a rescue team at the end of the day...

Again, I followed Misha into the dense undergrowth, while 'tuning in' into my own trap. Again, much to my delight, my older friend deliberately walked into exactly that same direction.

My so much wanted 'sensitivity' really seemed to grow by leaps and bounds! I was now sure that, very soon, I would be able to find my own trap all on my own, without any help at all. Would I also be able to return to our campfire all on my own? Or, was I now speeding things up too much...

Soon, we reached 'our' steep ravine; and, from here, I took over and proudly walked up front. Just like yesterday, I brought us straight to our own traps, to have a look at what we had caught...

Very much to our disappointment, both porcupines had left their hiding place and hadn't returned!

Our traps were still empty and untouched. Maybe, our two porcupines had been too wary to return, or they had decided to resume their breeding at some quieter and safer place.

Obviously, we had been too noisy, after all, thus chasing the wary animals away for good...

Feeling a bit disappointed, Misha and I set up our new traps along other animal trails. This time, we were very careful not to make any noise at all; while we hid our new traps as good as we could, by using some forest litter and wiping our own trails to make our traps invisible.

We hoped that our friends had caught enough edible animals for all of us, so that everybody would have enough roasted meat to still all our hunger... Otherwise, we would have to wait until tomorrow, hoping then we would have some more luck.

Walking up front, I brought us back to our flat boulder; where we slumped down onto its surface.

Misha put his arms around my shoulders; and I leaned into him, still feeling a little bit disappointed. I had so rejoiced at finally savoring my first mouthful of fresh meat, spiced by my own special herbs...

Together, we stared at the meandering water stream that foamed along the bottom of our ravine. Too soon, everything would be overgrown again by the already abundantly budding vegetation...

Fortunately, I could now rely blindly on my new ability of 'feeling' all the hidden cracks and potholes in advance. Misha had done a really wonderful job, last year, by teaching me how to do it!

Feeling happy again, I tried to melt away even further into Misha's warm and safe aura.

My friend reacted immediately, by pulling me even closer into his arms.

After enjoying our togetherness very much, Misha whispered into my ear:

"I think we haven't been silent enough, yesterday, while rounding those thorn bushes and jumping across those hidden cracks... Probably, both porcupines have heard us and fled away, because they have an excellent sense of hearing. What do you think; shall we practice our sneaking skills some more, by trying to follow each other in absolute silence?"

I nodded enthusiastically, while I whispered back:

"Yes, I think that is a good idea! What kind of practice do you have in mind?"

"One of us sneaks away; while the other one tries to follow his sound from some distance..."

"Okay; that will be a lot of fun! I think you should go first, because you always know the way."

Magically, all my feelings of disappointment had disappeared; and I felt full of renewed energy!

Misha and I jumped off our flat boulder; and I followed my friend into the surrounding dense forest.

In a small clearing, Misha pointed to a faintly visible porcupine track, and whispered:

"Let's try to do something easy first. I start following this porcupine track; and, after ten seconds, you try to sneak after my sound and catch up with me. Okay?"

I nodded enthusiastically, closed my eyes, and silently started to count to ten.

In the meantime, I heard Misha sneak away, causing no more than only a faintly rustling sound.

Again, I realized that my friend was extremely good at sneaking; and I wanted to be like him!

Now, I hoped even more that Misha would soon teach me how to become a REAL natural trapper...

After slowly counting to ten, I opened my eyes, and started to follow the porcupine track.

Much to my delight, I found out that I no longer sounded like a rattling truck full of bricks! I had certainly learned quite a lot, since Jonno followed my footsteps and spoiled all my fun.

And, now, Misha was training me to become even better!

After taking a couple of silently sneaking steps, I halted, and perked my ears up... Was Misha still following our porcupine track? I stood still, and listened...

A faint rustle sounded in front of me, almost disappearing into all the other forest noises around me.

There he was, apparently still following the same track! This was almost too easy; and I hoped Misha would soon leave the porcupine track, to make our training a bit more difficult.

Planning to surprise my trapper friend, I tiptoed silently towards his faint rustle...

Suddenly, I heard a rather loud cracking sound, just in front of me!

What was that sound? Had my trapper friend unintentionally stepped onto some dry branch?

Now, I also heard a suppressed curse, as if Misha reacted angrily at being so stupid!

Of course, I wanted to laugh out loud; but immediately bit my tongue to suppress my own sound. For the moment, I didn't want to give my position away, because I wanted to surprise him.

Silently, I sneaked towards Misha's unintentional sound, without looking where I went...

"CRACK!"

Unintentionally, I stepped onto a dry branch, and the unexpected sound was deafening!

Of course, I admonished myself for being so careless. Now, Misha knew exactly where I was. This time, I could clearly hear his stifled laugh, while he in vain tried to suppress his snickering...

Well, although I had been stupid, I certainly didn't like to be laughed at! Therefore, I now felt even more determined to catch up with my laughing trapper friend, to teach him a lesson!

In absolute silence, I sneaked towards his still snickering sound, ready to jump onto his back...

Unexpectedly, I heard a faint cracking sound, this time sounding from my right side. Obviously, Misha had left our porcupine track, because he tried to run away from me...

Only, he would not escape my wrath! Immediately, I changed directions and went to the new sound.

Again, I sneaked towards my friend, in absolute silence, ready to jump onto his back...

Within two seconds, another faint cracking sound distracted me, this time coming from the left.

How could Misha have changed directions this fast? That was almost impossible for a human being!

Feeling confused, I changed directions again, and silently tiptoed towards the newest sound...

Two seconds later, another faint crack sounded, again coming from the right.

This was becoming eerie! No human being could ever be able to change directions this fast!

How, for heaven's sake, could Misha have stepped onto two dry branches that were far apart from each other? Had another kid unexpectedly showed up to help my teasing trapper friend; and were they now working together, trying to pull a prank on their little Prince?

Not knowing what to think of it, I halted, and silently waited for the next faint cracking sound...

Suddenly, I jumped up in shock, while my frightened heart almost jumped out of my throat! Totally unexpectedly, some unknown animal had tapped my back, from behind!

I dived to the ground at lightning speed, grabbed the first branch I saw, and turned around to defend myself against my unknown attacker. Tensing all my muscles, I pointed my branch forward; ready to push it into any open predator mouth with nasty teeth that would show up...

Then, I saw Misha, staring at my branch with an open mouth and a severely shocked face!

Immediately, he stepped back from my threatening branch, to avoid being impaled...

How the heck could Misha suddenly be at my back and tap it from behind, while I had heard his cracking sound in front of me? This was becoming really eerie!

After Misha saw I recognized him and pointed my branch down, he panted:

"My goodness; your reflexes are FAST! Did you really plan to impale me?"

"Yes, of course; because I thought you could be some dangerous predator! Only, how come you suddenly tapped my back from behind? I was sure I had heard you in front of me..."

"Well, let's say this is my 'little secret'! Only, your extremely fast reaction proves that you are absolutely able to fend for yourself! Do you still want to go on with our practicing? Then, it's now your turn to sneak away in silence; and I will follow your sound after counting to ten."

I nodded and started to sneak away; while Misha closed his eyes and started to count to ten.

After taking a couple of silent steps, I curved to the right to distract my trapper friend, while thinking about what could have happened... How could Misha have sneaked around me that fast, so that he suddenly tapped my back from behind? Only two seconds before, I had clearly heard his faint cracking sound in front of me... This was becoming more than eerie!

What could be Misha's 'little secret'? Had I really heard Misha's faint cracking sound? I had thought it had to be my trapper friend, while he stepped onto a small branch that cracked...

But, had I really heard a cracking dry branch? Or, had something else caused that cracking sound?

Ultimately, Misha was a very experienced trapper, and he was perfectly able to avoid all these dry branches... Had he mislead me, by using his 'little secret' on me? Only, how had he done it?

Because I wanted to eliminate a few things, I first deliberately stepped onto a tiny dry branch.

Immediately, it snapped under my foot, while I listened intently to its snapping sound.

No... this rather loud sound differed quite a lot from the faint sounds I thought had been coming from Misha! Clearly, I had NOT heard a cracking dry branch, but something else!

First, I sneaked to the left; because Misha would of course go straight after my rather loud crack...

After some heavy thinking, I could come up with only one reasonable explanation... Misha had deliberately thrown something in front of me, to distract me! But, what could he have thrown?

Immediately, I decided to try out my theory. I took a small branch from the ground and threw it far away, while trying to let it land somewhere in front of Misha...

Alas, the small branch entangled almost immediately in between all the entwined twigs; which caused quite a lot of reverberating noises across the many trees!

From behind my back, I heard Misha's suppressed snickering...

Immediately, I sneaked to the right, to stay free of my friend. Then, I started to think again...

What else could Misha have thrown, to mislead me; that had caused such a faint cracking sound?

It had to be something small, which could be thrown without getting stuck in between all the twigs...

Would a small pebble do the trick? Let's try it out, by throwing one towards Misha...

I took a small pebble from the ground, and threw it towards Misha's left side...

This time, I almost started to cheer from happiness. THERE WAS THE SOUND!

I suppressed a cry of victory, while Misha hastily changed directions and went to the new sound.

This time, I HAD him! The big cheater, with his 'little secret'...

During the next couple of minutes, I had the fun of my life! Obviously, Misha had not the faintest idea that he was following the cracking sound of my pebbles instead of my footsteps; despite the fact that I was now using his own dirty 'little secret' on him...

Therefore, I was able to send Misha into every possible direction where I wanted him to go! Only, I threw my pebbles a lot more careful than Misha had done; so that he wouldn't be suspicious...

Following my cracking sound, now and then trying to speed up to catch me, Misha sneaked from left to right, went forward, turned slightly to the right, and went to the left again...

All the time, he followed my carefully thrown pebbles, still thinking he was following my footsteps!

Obviously, my trapper cheater never thought I would be able to use his own 'little secret' on him...

All the time, I had to bite my tongue, to suppress my victorious laughter!

Sweet revenge!

At last, I got a bit bored, and decided to have my real revenge. Therefore, I lured Misha towards me, by carefully throwing my pebbles in front of him. I sent him past me, and let him stop.

Silently, I sneaked up to him, until I was at his back...

Now, I jumped forward and threw my arms around his neck; at the same time crying my victory:

"GOTCHA, you dirty cheater!"

Misha spun around and around, while he desperately tried to get me off his back...

Only, I still held onto him with all of my might, while trying to strangle his cheater neck!

At last, I had to let him go, because he started to pant and wheeze.

Suddenly sounding rather hoarse, my panting friend whined:

"How the heck did you do THAT? This time, you almost caused ME to have a heart attack! I really thought you still were in front of me, until you suddenly attacked me from behind..."

"Well; this is how it feels to be cheated! Of course, I've used your own dirty 'little secret' against you. I have thrown small pebbles in front of you, to mislead you."

"WHAT? You are the first one in all those years who immediately finds out what I am doing!"

"Never underestimate your little Prince..."

Misha started to laugh, while he lifted me high into the air and told me:

"You are absolutely right, and I am more and more impressed by all your abilities! You are our youngest natural trapper, and the biggest cheater, and a real little devil... but I still love you!"

Misha sat down on some mossy boulder, and I crawled between his legs. My special friend put his warm arms around me, and we hugged each other for a long time.

In the meantime, Misha told me a couple of private things about himself...

For the first time, Misha admitted he enjoyed our special friendship very much, and that he wished we could be friends forever! For a long time, he had been waiting for the 'little cookie'; until I finally would be dry during the night and be old enough to join the older children into our woods...

Then, he felt elated, when I suddenly took his hand and trusted him to guide me. He felt awful when Jonno chose him to be his guide; because he was afraid he would lose me to one of the others.

Fortunately, everything had turned out for the best!

While I offered my special friend an extra fierce hug, I assured him:

"Misha, don't be afraid; because you will always be my special friend, even when little Dimi shows up in our woods and wants to be with us."

"Yeah, I know; and, please, always remember that I can easily guide two younger kids!"

"I certainly will; and I hope that Dimi will be very early too!"

To me, our unexpected honesty felt like declaring our eternal friendship to each other! And, I could feel that Misha was experiencing the same strong feelings.

At that time, I was sure that nothing would ever come in between our close friendship; not even little Dimi with his built-in sun and always-excellent mood...

Finally, Misha and I decided to sneak after each other again, to train our trapper abilities even more. Only, this time, both of us would do it without any cheating or using 'little secrets'! We would only try to hone our trapper skills, by sneaking after each other as silent as possible.

Because it was Misha's turn to go first; I closed my eyes and started to count to ten.

Again, I heard Misha's faintly rustling sound, obviously disappearing into the dense undergrowth...

After ten seconds, I opened my eyes and started to sneak after my older friend. Because he hadn't followed any animal track, I didn't know for sure where he was, until a small branch cracked.

There he was; his faint sound coming from slightly to my left...

In absolute silence, I sneaked towards Misha's cracking sound; but he heard me coming and immediately changed directions, obviously trying to get away from me! Only, I didn't give him a chance to escape, and followed him like a sneaking cat following its prey...

A moment later, Misha sped up some more, and promptly stumbled across some hidden pothole! I heard him stifle a muffled cry, while he groaned something that sounded like an angry curse... Obviously, my stumbling 'experienced trapper' friend was NOT amused.

Could he have injured his leg, or a foot?

Inwardly, I grinned in triumph; while I already planned to jump onto his back again.

I only hoped for him he hadn't injured his stumbling leg or foot...

In total silence, I sneaked towards my now silent friend, feeling like a real predator.

Again, I HAD him!

4. Following a frightened porcupine; and lost in our dense forest.

Noiselessly, I sneaked towards Misha, on my way listening for any telltale sounds. Would my unfortunate friend wait for me to show up; or would he try to get away from me?

Before I jumped onto his back, I would first have a good look at his legs, to detect any injuries...

Then, I heard a faint rustling sound, coming from slightly to my left. Clearly, Misha was trying to get away from me, by silently sneaking around me!

I chuckled inwardly; while I already enjoyed my second victory. Carefully, without making any noise, I tiptoed towards his rustling sound, now sneaking like a hunting cat chasing its prey...

Surprisingly, Misha seemed to hear me; because he quickly rustled away, in a sudden hurry!

Wow, my experienced trapper friend certainly had a shockingly good sense of hearing! Again, I was jealous of his extremely good sneaking skills. Obviously, I had to train myself quite a lot more, to be able to outdo such a thoroughly trained natural trapper.

Again, I tiptoed after Misha's faint rustling sound, doing my utmost to sneak even more silently.

Only, after a few steps, Misha seemed to hear me again, and immediately sped up some more.

This was really eerie, because I couldn't even hear my own footsteps! I never knew that Misha could be that good at hearing or feeling somebody else approaching him. Could he have felt my aura preceding me, or was he really extremely good at hearing even the faintest noises?

Experimentally, I stood still, so that I was sure my friend couldn't hear me anymore...

Immediately, Misha stopped too, while he seemed to wait for me! Surprisingly, I even thought I heard him sniff the air, as if he tried to smell my scent...

Had I really heard Misha sniff the air? Had my friend really tried to smell my scent? How strange...

Again, I started to sneak towards Misha, even more slowly and carefully. This time, I was sure I didn't make any noises at all. The only thing I didn't know was how to hide my outstretching aura...

This time, Misha didn't move any more. Obviously, he couldn't feel my aura, but had heard only my faint sounds. Within a few steps, I would jump onto his back in triumph again!

Alas, a small branch made a swishing sound; because I forgot to guide it back after passing by...

Immediately, Misha hurried away from me, again making the same faint rustling sound.

Well, okay, nobody is perfect... Obviously, I still had to train myself quite a lot more, before I could call myself a real trapper! Ultimately, I was only a five-year-old little boy, with too big aspirations...

Again, I followed Misha's faintly rustling sound into the dense undergrowth.

This time, I heard my friend curve to the left, obviously trying to get rid of his little follower...

Only, how the heck did Misha know I followed him again, while I was sure I hadn't made any audible sounds at all? It really looked like he was using sort of a sixth sense... This was really eerie!

Again, I envied my older friend for his more than excellent trapper skills...

Determinedly, I curved to the left, and again followed Misha's sound through the dense forest.

For a very long time, I just followed my rustling friend, while he still tried to get rid of me...

Much to my happiness, he seemed to become more and more desperate, because he started to change directions more often! However, I didn't give him a chance to get away; and just followed his rustling sound, still pretending to be a sneaking predator following its wary prey...

Only, every time I thought I would see him, he suddenly changed directions and sped up again!

He seemed to have an extraordinary good sense of hearing; or he really was able to feel my aura from some distance. It seemed to be impossible to catch up with him and have my victory...

Well, I was now stubbornly determined to equal Misha's skills, and just didn't want to give up!

Perhaps, he was trying to tire me out, so that I would stop and call for him to take some rest...

To be honest, I really started to feel more and more tired. Only, I didn't want to give up this easily.

I just didn't want to offer my older friend a chance to laugh at me and call me a 'little cookie' again...

I only hoped that, finally, Misha would stop and tell me I had done well. Then, we would sit together on a mossy boulder, as usual; and I would give my tiring legs some much needed rest...

For a very long time, I stubbornly went on, still sneaking after Misha through the dense forest.

Now and them, he changed directions, or he started zigzagging from left to right and back to the left. All the time, he produced the same faint rustling sound, without ever cracking a branch or stumbling across a hidden pothole. I really envied him now, for being such an excellent trapper!

I certainly wanted to be like him; and I already planned to ask him to teach me 'the basics' as soon as possible, preferably immediately after my legs had had some much needed rest...

Today, I could clearly see how much training I still needed to become a REAL natural trapper...

At last, my trembling legs really became too tired to go on; and I slowed down considerably. My tired leg muscles started to cramp, and my sore feet were already aching from the unusual stress.

Yet, I stubbornly refused to give up and ask Misha to stop and take some rest!

Why didn't my older friend reckon with my much smaller body, and stop for a moment? He was my experienced guide, and he should have reckoned with tiring out his little pupil too much!

Ultimately, he was already fifteen years old; while I was only five years old, and a few months...

For a second, I thought of calling Misha, telling him I was too tired, and asking for a pause.

However, he might think I could be too weak to be a real trapper, and stop teaching me...

Therefore, I again stubbornly decided to hold on some more! I just didn't want to give up.

I hadn't the faintest idea where we were heading, but I trusted Misha's trapper skills. He had already proven to know his way everywhere, even through the densest of forest. I was sure he would bring us home safely, after I had finally caught up to him and taken some much needed rest...

However, every time I got a bit closer to him, he immediately sped up and again changed directions!

When would Misha finally reckon with his much smaller pupil, and stop for a second...

FINALLY, I thought I saw the sun, faintly shimmering through the dense foliage!

Yes, there was the SUN! We were about to reach some big clearing, or maybe a ravine...

Involuntarily, I heaved a deep sigh of relief. Finally, Misha and I would take some rest and sit down!

Feeling VERY relieved, I followed Misha's sound into a spacious clearing, where he stopped.

Of course, my friend would now tease me to death, for not being able to catch up with him...

For a moment, I squinted at the sudden sunlight that dazzled my eyes and prevented me from seeing anything. Then, I stepped forward and looked around, expecting to see a smirking Misha...

Only, at the same moment, my feet froze on the spot, while I didn't believe my own eyes!

Instead of looking at a smirking Misha, I stared in total disbelief at... an enormous PORCUPINE!

The trembling beast stared back at me with a frightened face, while it set up all its quills, as if wanting to protect itself... Then, it turned around, and hurriedly rustled back into the forest. The chicken...

Instead of following Misha, I HAD FOLLOWED A FRIGHTENED PORCUPINE!

For a moment, I felt totally dumbfounded, while I didn't know how I should react.

Then, I started to laugh at my own stupidity; but immediately tried to stifle my sound.

Looking back at the past hour, I should have known I had followed some animal instead of Misha!

No human being could ever be able to hear that well, or sneak away that noiselessly! Did I ever think I could be a real trapper? I didn't even know the difference between a porcupine and Misha...

Of course, Misha had followed me and my elusive porcupine from some distance. By now, he would have a stomach ache from suppressing his snickering at my obvious stupidity!

Now, he would show up, look at me triumphantly, and ruffle my unruly blond hair. Then, we would sit together on a mossy boulder, and wait until my worn out leg muscles had recuperated...

However, I expected Misha to tease me with my 'natural trapper' skills for at least the next ten years!

Probably, our whole camp would soon laugh at my 'trapper abilities'... Maybe, they would even take up my adventure into their ancient folklore tales! After a hundred years, they would still narrate their funny story of their little Crown Prince following a frightened porcupine instead of his guide...

Had I ever advised my Dad to breed a 'little duffer'? Hmm...

I slumped down onto a mossy boulder, to give my aching leg muscles some much needed rest.

My legs were now trembling and cramping, and my painful feet looked reddish and swollen...

While I rubbed my legs and my feet, I waited for my friend Misha, to show up and laugh at me.

However, I waited, and waited, and waited some more; but nobody showed up!

Now, I started to feel a bit apprehensive. Where was my friend Misha? Why didn't Misha show up and laugh at me? Hadn't he followed me, while I chased a porcupine through the dense forest?

Could Misha have LOST me? Or, even worse, had I unknowingly lost my experienced guide?

Or, was Misha still teasing me; waiting until I would give up and beg him to show up...

Slowly, my inside started to feel more and more uneasy, while I waited for my friend.

What, if Misha didn't KNOW that I had chased a frightened porcupine through our forest?

What, if my friend had waited for me to show up, an hour ago; instead of following me?

What, if Misha still waited for me where I had left him; maybe because he had a sprained ankle?

I hadn't the faintest idea where Misha could be now; or, even worse, where I could be now...

How would I ever be able to find my way home from here, without Misha's guidance?

Stubbornly, I decided to wait some more; while I still hoped that Misha would show up...

However, very soon, I started to feel too uneasy. Obviously, Misha was NOT going to show up!

What should I do now? Should I give up, and call Misha? Only, I had promised to be silent while we were in the dense forest; and I didn't want to make an even bigger fool of myself...

But, I also didn't want to wait in vain for my friend, during the remainder of the day...

After some more pondering, and another lot of hesitating, I finally reached a decision.

Okay; although Misha had told me to be silent in the dense forest, this was an emergency!

Perhaps, he would be mad at me for making too much noise, but I HAD to reassure myself...

Today, feeling all alone in this unknown part of the forest, I NEEDED my experienced trapper guide!

Hesitantly, I started to call my friend, with a slightly quivering baritone voice:

"Misha?... Misha, where are you?... Misha! Please, show up... MISHA!!!... MIIIIIISHAAAAAA..."

For quite some time, my deep baritone voice reverberated through the trees and along the clearing, causing an eerie and spooky effect. A couple of birds flew up, twittered angrily, and fluttered away, probably looking for a much quieter place...

Then, the forest fell silent again.

For a long time, I listened; hoping to hear Misha's voice, answering my cry for help...

Only, much to my disappointment, nobody answered my call, and the forest stayed silent.

Maybe, Misha was too far away to be able to hear me, and I had to call him much louder?

I climbed onto my boulder and called Misha again; this time YELLING at the top of my lungs...

A huge swarm of angry birds flew up from the treetops and disappeared into a far distance. Several small animals and other forest critters hastily scrabbled away from the too loud noise.

Then, the forest fell silent again, while my reverberating echoes slowly subsided...

Again, nobody answered my cries for help! Obviously, Misha was NOT here to rescue me!

However, I thought I had heard some faint echo, coming from behind, across the clearing...

Where did that faint echo come from?

Feeling a little bit more hopeful, I clambered down from my mossy boulder. Gritting my teeth, I slowly hobbled to the other side of the clearing, on my now very painful feet...

Unexpectedly, I stared into some unknown, bottomless, and uninvitingly steep ravine!

Now, I really started to panic. I had followed that elusive porcupine for at least an hour, zigzagging across our huge forest... Therefore, I could come up with only one frightening conclusion:

I was LOST in our outstretched dense forest!

Here I was, a naked five-year-old 'little runt', totally alone in an unknown forest, feeling dead tired, not knowing how to get back home, having painfully cramping legs and swollen feet...

What should I do now?

Involuntarily, I started to cry, from panic and exhaustion, feeling terrible.

Why hadn't Misha followed me and my fleeing porcupine? I thought I could trust my friend...

But, where was my 'very experienced guide' now that I really needed him?

Would Misha already miss me? Would he now go back to our camp, to alert everybody?

Had the oldest children already set up a rescue team, and were they now looking for me?

Or, did I have to spend the night here, in this unknown forest? What would happen, if I didn't find my way back to our camp, and my people couldn't find me before darkness set in?

I started to cry even louder; while, at the same time, cursing myself for being so stupid.

Of course, nobody knew where I was; so this had to be the pitiful end of little Prince Harold!

Would slowly dying from hunger and thirst be very painful? Or, would my parents eventually find my bare bones, after some hungry predator with sharp teeth devoured me?

At the frightening thought, I slumped down onto the ground and started to cry even more...

A few seconds later, I suddenly sat upright, looked around, and even stopped crying!

I was relatively sure I had felt some unknown person around me, trying to get my attention...

Could my Ancestors or Spirit Friends be around me, to help me find my way back home?

Only, how would they do that, because they were only a 'thought form' without an earthly body?

Now that they had my attention, a warm and soulful voice sounded in my inside, telling me:

"My dear friend; stop pitying yourself, and start thinking as a real natural trapper!"

Much to my happiness, I recognized the voice of my Cosmic Friend, our King of Ancestors!

I knew he had once promised he would always be there for me, if I ever needed him...

Now that I really needed him, he WAS here for me, to help me find my way home!

Immediately, I started to feel a lot better; while I thanked my unseen Friend in my mind.

Fortunately, I was no longer alone! Although my Ancestor Friend didn't tell me how to get home; I was now sure that I would survive and soon return to my own people!

Besides, I still had an Important Task to fulfill on earth... Therefore, today was not my time to die!

Again, I sat down on a mossy boulder, to give my cramping muscles some more rest. Now that I didn't walk any more, my strained legs and swollen feet started to feel more and more painful...

I also tried to 'think as a real natural trapper', as my Ancestor Friend had advised me to do.

What would a 'real natural trapper' do, if he ever lost his way in some unknown forest? Of course, he would try to discover where he was; or he would try to find out where his home was!

It was now clear to me that pitying myself and crying wouldn't help me in any way. Soon, the forest would be too dark and too cold; and I didn't have any warm shelter for the night. Therefore, I had to act FAST, before darkness set in and it became too late to go home!

Okay, let's go back to 'thinking as a real natural trapper'... How could I best discover where I was? Or, how could I try to find out where our secluded camp was? Would I be able to copy Misha's very useful 'ability', of always finding his way home from anywhere?

Maybe, I could use my own new ability, of letting our camp or our waterfall pull at my energy?

Immediately, I started to think of our waterfall, while trying to picture its energy in my mind...

Alas; it didn't work, because I didn't pick up any forest energies at all! Obviously, I had made myself way too nervous; and I had to wait first, until my panicking inside had calmed down considerably...

Was this what our Wise Woman had warned me about, when she told me to be very careful with 'feeling' any unknown herbs whenever I didn't feel too well or started to doubt?

In the meantime, the sun was already descending towards the mountain tops! Within a few hours, the forest would be pitch dark; and I wanted to be home before that time!

Whenever our people wanted any help while being in our forest, they always created a fire. Next, they threw moist leaves onto it; thus creating lots of black smoke. The moment anybody in our camp saw a column of smoke, they always immediately sent out a rescue team! Last year, one of our older boys had broken his leg while stumbling into a hidden pothole; and we rescued him within an hour!

However, how would I be able to create a fire, to make black smoke? I knew that all our older kids always carried at least a lighter or a box of matches, in case they ever needed it. Even Misha carried two lighters, a flashlight, and a long piece of rope in his string bag, just in case...

On the other hand, I carried NOTHING; not even a pair of glasses, to concentrate the sunlight onto some dry moss. Carelessly, I had relied totally on my older friend and experienced guide, Misha.

Thus, creating a smoking fire was not possible, although I had plenty of wood around me...

Would I be able to climb one of the surrounding mountains, to look around from there? Although they looked quite nearby; climbing one of them would cost me at least a couple more hours...

Plus, my painfully cramping legs were already trembling from exhaustion. On my sore feet, I would never be able to reach any useful observation post, to look out for our camp, before darkness set in...

Would I be able to follow my own footsteps backwards, to guide myself back to Misha?

Yes, of course! This time, I had found an excellent solution! As a little 'natural trapper' from the heart, I only had to follow my own trail backwards! Why hadn't I thought of this before...

Gritting my teeth, trying to spare my painfully swollen feet, I ambled back to the same spot where my elusive porcupine and I had left the dense forest. After some searching, I really found my own footsteps, which were faintly visible in the forest litter that covered the ground.

From here, I ambled into the dense undergrowth, and tried to follow my own trail...

Alas, this didn't work. Of course, my trail was already covered with too much new forest litter.

And, being a 'real natural trapper' from the heart, I hadn't left behind any other visible signs...

Within a minute, I had to stop my efforts; cursing myself for being a TOO good 'natural trapper'!

Slowly, I returned to the unknown clearing, where I slumped down onto some mossy boulder.

Would my Beloved Ancestor Friend be able to give me some more advice?

While trying to contact His energy, I asked Him:

"Please, my Friend, could you show me how I can get home before darkness set in?"

Alas, this time, I didn't feel anybody around me; and everything stayed silent...

Had my Ancestor Friend already left me; or could I have made up his warm voice myself?

Again, I felt totally alone, and on the verge of crying.

What should I do now, being lost in our dense forest, and not knowing how to get home?

Of course, sitting down on some boulder and crying would not help me any further!

Therefore, I forced myself to calm down, and think again...

5. Finding a solution; a porcupine lair; and a bunch of snoring rats.

Was this what my Ancestor Friend had meant, when he told me I first had to 'survive an important learning adventure' before becoming our youngest real trapper?

I clearly remembered His warm and soulful voice in my inside, telling me:

'After surviving an important learning adventure, you will become our youngest Real Trapper.'

Was I now surviving my 'important learning adventure', by getting lost in our dense forest?

Immediately, I decided to stop moping and do something more worthwhile! I sat more upright, straightened my back, and told myself that I had to LEARN something from this experience...

After I came through unharmed, I would undoubtedly feel much stronger and more proud of myself!

Having pepped myself up like this, I started to think again. What would a 'real natural trapper' do, if he was in my position? Would he give up, or would he start looking for another solution?

Only, first, I wanted to have a much closer look at the bottomless ravine across the clearing. Hopefully, looking down in it would give me some new ideas...

I went to the border of the ravine, and stared into its depth. Now, I saw that it wasn't really bottomless; but it was extremely deep, at least in my inexperienced eyes. A foaming water stream meandered along its bottom, coming from far away and seemingly disappearing into nowhere.

It was a beautiful sight, and I really enjoyed looking at it! Only... I had other things to do!

What would happen, if I yelled for help into this enormous ravine? Would the enclosing rocky borders amplify my already rather loud baritone voice, and hopefully send it towards our camp?

Suddenly feeling like a little discoverer, I decided to try it out! First, I folded both hands around my mouth, to create some trumpet that would amplify my voice even more.

Then, I yelled into the ravine, screeching at the top of my lungs:

"PLEASE, HELP ME! I AM LOST, AND I DON'T KNOW THE WAY BACK HOME!"

For a long time, several unintelligible echoes reverberated around the huge ravine, seemingly coming from everywhere. A couple of beautifully colored birds flew up while twittering angrily; and lots of small animals and other forest critters hastily scrabbled into their hiding places.

Then, everything fell silent again, except for the softly murmuring water stream at its bottom.

For a moment, I thought about setting our traps here, the next time we were in our woods... I was sure we would catch many more edible animals around here than we had caught ever before!

Only, wouldn't this splendid environment full of life be too far away from our camp? Maybe, nobody else knew that this ravine existed, and I could be the first one who discovered its existence...

If so, then, I really was a little discoverer!

In the meantime, I waited, until my reverberating sounds had disappeared into a far off distance.

Now, I perked my ears up, and listened intently for any faint answer or other human noises...

Alas, nobody answered my loud cry for help. Obviously, this unknown ravine was too far away from our secluded camp to be heard! Not even our 'rescue team' had answered my yelling...

Involuntarily, I started to pity myself again. How would my people ever be able to find me, being lost at the border of a far-away ravine that they didn't even know existed...

Had Misha already alarmed my people; and were their rescue teams now looking for me?

Maybe, Misha had really strained his ankle; so that he had to wait to be rescued first... Then, it would be too dark to go looking for me; and our rescue teams would have to wait for tomorrow...

In the meantime, where could I find some shelter, to survive the cold night and have some sleep?

Besides, how would anybody know where to start searching, in our outstretched dense forest; while they had no idea how far I had wandered away, by following that frightened porcupine...

Of course, they would start searching around where Misha had seen me for the last time; and nobody would presume that I could have wandered away for more than an hour, by following a porcupine...

Again, I nearly started to cry... However, immediately, I admonished myself sternly for being such a duffer. I was NOT a crybaby, but a real Gypsy Prince! And, I had to behave myself accordingly!

Now that it was clear to me that my subjects wouldn't find me, I had to find my subjects!

How was I going to do that, with my swollen feet and painfully cramping leg muscles?

For a moment, I thought about descending towards the water stream at the bottom of the ravine, and letting myself float towards our waterfall... Only, I couldn't think of any possible way to reach the bottom of this extremely steep ravine, without breaking all my bones...

Yet, I HAD to find a way to go home, before the sun disappeared behind the mountain tops!

The SUN, who always was our reliable source of light and warmth, coming up every morning; and going under every evening, in between two strangely formed mountain tops that I saw here too...

Could the already setting sun be of any help, to show me the way to our camp?

For a moment, I closed my eyes, to picture our camp easier... Where did I always see the descending sun disappear, in our camp, near the end of every day? I was sure it always sank in between those two mountaintops that looked like a huge nose and some strange bird...

I tried to imagine I was in our own camp, looking at the already setting sun. Then, I reopened my eyes, and looked at the two strangely formed mountain tops where the sun always disappeared.

Again feeling like a little explorer, I pointed my nose into the same direction from where I always saw the disappearing sun in our camp. Next, I turned around exactly half a circle...

Now, I only had to follow my own nose, to walk roughly into the direction of our camp!

Finally, I had found some real means of knowing in which direction our camp was!

That is, supposed there would still be any sun to look at... Way too soon, the descending sun would disappear behind the mountain tops, and I would lose the only visible beacon I had...

What now? I absolutely didn't want to wait until the sun would reappear the next morning! I wanted to go home NOW, give my painful legs their much needed rest, and preferably sleep in my own bed!

Would I be able to find some landmark, which would help me walk into the correct direction?

Still pointing into the direction where I now knew our camp would be, I looked along my nose...

To my utmost delight, I found out that my nose pointed nearly parallel to the ravine! Obviously, I only had to follow this unknown ravine, to arrive at our own waterfall and go home!

Feeling elated, I nearly started to dance from relief! Only, my swollen feet immediately protested fiercely. Obviously, I had to give my strained legs some much needed rest first...

Therefore, I laid down on a flat mossy surface along the ravine, and stretched my painful legs out.

Teasingly slowly, the trembling started to subside, while the pain in my feet started to diminish.

For a second, I closed my eyes, to relax some more and give my tired body even more rest...

An hour later, I woke up in shock, because the air around me started to feel much chillier!

In disbelief, I stared at the remaining small piece of sun, already disappearing behind the mountains...

Angrily, I sprang upright, while I sternly admonished myself for falling asleep. Very soon, everything in this forest would be pitch dark; and my unclad little body would probably freeze to death...

Therefore, I had to start walking home immediately!

Fortunately, my leg muscles now felt slightly better, and the pain in my swollen feet was bearable.

COME ON! I only had to walk along this ravine, to get home and sleep in my own bed!

Trying to spare my feet, I started to clamber along the unknown ravine, longing to be home...

Only, going home turned out to be much more difficult than I had imagined. I had to climb many steep rocks, jump overgrown cracks, and walk around dangerous thorn bushes with razor sharp prickles...

Although my again painfully cramping leg muscles didn't tremble so much any more, my swollen feet soon started to feel very sore again... But, I gritted my teeth, and just clambered on and on!

Now and then, I looked down at the foaming water stream, to assure myself I WAS on my way home.

From now on, I only had to follow the water downstream, and I was sure the stream would end up in our own waterfall! If I only could climb down and let myself float with the streaming water...

However, trying to climb down into this steep ravine would be the same thing as committing suicide! I was sure I would never reach the invitingly foaming river at its bottom unharmed.

Again, I gritted my teeth and stubbornly clambered on, trying to ignore my painful legs and feet...

Now and then, I yelled into the ravine, hoping that anybody would hear my cries for help.

After my echoes had faded away, I listened intently for any faint answers or other human noises...

Alas, nobody heard my desperate cries; and no rescue team answered my echoing calls for help.

Obviously, nobody was looking for me around this ravine; and I had to survive all by myself...

Could everybody be searching for me in the wrong direction, not knowing where I could be?

By now, all our grownups in our camp HAD to be looking for their suddenly vanished little Prince!

That is, if they had found Misha first, who probably had a sprained ankle...

Had Misha already created a smoking fire, to be rescued within an hour?

By now, my swollen feet had started to ache terribly, from the many sharp rocks and nasty small pebbles that they had to endure. My cramping legs had started to tremble again, from the too heavy strain they weren't used to; and my little body had started to feel more and more tired and sleepy.

Ultimately, I was only five years old; and I was still a bit too small for my age... Therefore, I HAD to take some much needed rest first, before I would be able to clamber on and go home!

Reluctantly, I decided to grant myself a few minutes, before I went on. I knew that my people were waiting for me; and I was sure they would miss me by now. I certainly missed them!

I slumped down next to a small bush; and collected a few berries and seeds to still my hunger. Fortunately, I knew which ones were edible, by sensing what they did to my body. I also found some water at the bottom of a pothole, and drank it, hoping it wouldn't contain too many impurities.

Then, I waited, until my aching legs stopped trembling and my swollen feet became less sore.

Only, this time, I didn't dare to close my eyes again; not even for a split second...

Unexpectedly, the remaining piece of sun disappeared behind the mountaintops. Immediately, the entire ravine became pitch dark, so that I couldn't see its reassuring water stream any more.

The air around me became really chilly, and my unclad body started to shiver from the sudden cold.

Again, I was on the verge of giving up, wanting to sit down with my head in my hands...

However, I forced myself to stand up and go on again! Stubbornly, I jumped across the next crack and rounded the next nasty thorn bush. I wanted to be HOME tonight, and sleep in my own bed!

Within a few more minutes, total darkness set in, and I couldn't see my path any more. Unwillingly, I had to admit that jumping any more hidden cracks would now be the committing suicide! Therefore, I couldn't possibly go on, unless I wanted to kill myself by stumbling and breaking all my bones...

Reluctantly, I forced myself to stop at the border of the next hidden crack, and look around.

Shivering all over, and with chattering teeth, I decided that I HAD to find some shelter for the night!

For now, going on was impossible, until the sun would reappear again the next morning.

How would I ever be able to survive a very cold night in this nearly pitch dark forest?

Fortunately, a half moon showed up, helping me by spreading some faint and spooky light.

Now, I started to look for some usable shelter to spend the night; feeling more and more desperate...

Could I build myself a tent, or dig a safe hole in the ground, without any usable tools? Or, would I be able to build a makeshift cover, out of a heap of fallen leaves? Tentatively, I gathered some leaves and spread them out across my body, but they were too clammy to offer me any warmth at all.

What should I do now? I didn't WANT to freeze to death...

With chattering teeth, and a trembling tiny baritone voice, I asked around:

"My Beloved Ancestors, or Spirit Friends; if you can, please, help me..."

Suddenly, I thought I saw something VERY interesting, which looked like some small cave!

I stared into the small cave, and thought I could see some faintly shimmering fluffy white hair.

Wasn't this the blond hair that always covered a porcupine, beneath its dangerous quills?

Had I really found a huge porcupine lair, to use it as a provisional shelter for the night?

Cautiously, I sneaked nearby, and poked into the white fluff with a long branch...

Then, I almost started to cheer, when the lair turned out to be empty! I had found myself a nice and cozy place, where I could spend the night and have some much needed sleep!

Now feeling very grateful, I spoke around:

"Thank you very much, my Ancestor Friends; for guiding me to this porcupine lair!"

For the first time in my young life, I felt grateful for being such a small boy. Happily, I wormed myself into the small cave, where I nestled into the warming fluff that nicely covered my cold body.

Of course, it reeked of porcupine, but not too badly; and the wooly fluff felt cozy and welcoming.

Feeling happy again, I closed my eyes, stopped my thinking, and almost immediately fell asleep.

Tomorrow, I would go on climbing home; and everything would turn out for the best...

Suddenly, I woke up in shock and opened my eyes, looking around in total disbelief. A whole bunch of small critters were running across my naked body; curiously sniffing at my unclad skin!

Several pairs of tiny eyes stared at my face, while they put their small noses up into the air...

Now and then, one of them beeped, while a few others tried to nibble at my ears and fingers...

Faintly, I could see even more small animals, entering my cave in the shimmering moonlight...

RATS! Hundreds of gray rats, probably trying to repossess what they thought was THEIR lair!

For a few seconds, I felt too shocked to do anything at all... Then, I started to scream at the top of my lungs; at the same time wildly swaying my arms and legs at the surprised looking rats!

All the rats stopped what they were doing, and stared at me with frightened tiny eyes... Then, they hastily scrabbled away, in a sudden hurry. Obviously, they felt even more shocked than I was!

In the meantime, my poor heart tried to pound out of my throat, while I still gasped for air...

Then, I started to laugh at my own stupidity. Everybody knew that gray rats weren't dangerous at all! Some gadjo children even kept one as a personal pet, by trying to teach it little tricks!

Then, I heard a rustling sound I recognized immediately. There was the owner of this lair, a big porcupine, warily entering its cave! It sniffed the air, looked at me, and indecisively rustled its quills...

Obviously, it was used to share its lair with small rats; but it didn't expect to see such a big one!

Well... tonight, this was MY lair, and its owner had to look for another shelter! Fortunately, porcupines were real cowards; thus, I knew I had nothing to fear from it. Therefore, I yelled at the now shocked looking porcupine, clapped my hands, and told it to go away and leave me alone.

Immediately, the frightened beast turned around and hurriedly disappeared. The chicken!

Chuckling inwardly, I closed my eyes, and again tried to get some sleep.

However, very soon, the rats returned, now shivering from the nightly cold. Warily, they stared at me, as if politely begging me to let me share my warm lair with them...

Suddenly feeling full of compassion for them, I decided to let them stay! I entered their minds, and told them to behave, not to nibble at my extremities, and to keep some distance from my face.

Immediately, all the rats streamed into my warm lair, looking very relieved! This time, they really behaved, because they kept a safe distance from my face and didn't nibble at me any more.

Happily, they nestled into the cozy fluff alongside my body. From there, they slowly crept nearer and nearer, obviously liking my body warmth. Surprisingly, their unexpected and friendly company even gave me a nicely reassuring feeling, as if now I was less alone...

Soon, all of us were deep asleep, softly snoring, while cozily warming each others bodies!

I woke up at the bright daylight that entered 'my' small cave, and first needed some time to realize where I was... Then, I remembered everything, and that I wanted to go home today!

This morning, my strained body felt as stiff as a dead tree, while my irritated skin itched all over.

My little companions, the friendly rats, had already left our shared lair, without saying goodbye.

Groaning, I worked myself out of my cave, and stretched my still very stiff muscles. Fortunately, nearly all of the cramping muscle pain was gone, and my legs didn't tremble any more. Only my feet were still a bit sore and swollen, but I would be able to live with that...

Outside my cave, I felt delighted to see the sunlight was already shining over the mountaintops.

Soon, the chilly morning air would start to warm up some more, while I would be on my way home.

I had survived my first night in solitude, accompanied by a whole bunch of snoring rats!

Now, I looked at my itching body, and saw it was covered with fleabites. Apparently, my porcupine was hosting a complete army of bugs as well! Fortunately, the fleas had stopped their biting after they discovered I wasn't an animal to their taste. After a lot of scratching, the itching slowly disappeared, and the only things left on my body were hundreds of small red specks.

Suddenly, I started to laugh at myself, because I now looked like having the measles...

Soon, the sun started to shine more and more abundantly, nicely warming the surrounding air.

First, I collected a lot of tasty berries and seeds, to fill my empty stomach. Then, I found a couple of wet potholes, and scooped some water from them, no longer caring about any impurities.

Finally, I thanked the evicted porcupine in my mind, for renting me such a nice shelter...

Feeling refreshed and full of energy, I restarted my journey along the unknown ravine. Again, I climbed huge rocks, jumped across hidden cracks, and walked around nasty thorn bushes.

Now and then, I looked at the meandering water stream at the bottom of the ravine, which showed me the way towards our waterfall. I was going home!

However, way too soon, my still swollen feet started to protest again. My painful legs restarted their trembling, and my too strained muscles were again cramping and aching...

I thought of my Dad, once teasing me with my 'baby-stiffness', and involuntarily started to sniffle.

Would my Mom and Dad miss me very much, or did they think I had to be dead? Had my people already set up a rescue search, and were they now trying to find me in our vast forest?

Would Misha accompany them, also looking for me everywhere? Or, would Misha feel too guilty, for not following his little pupil through the dense forest...

Of course, this had NOT been Misha's fault! Probably, I had been too good at sneaking away noiselessly. Maybe, Misha hadn't heard me any more, once I sneaked after that rustling porcupine?

However, I hadn't done it on purpose, and nobody could possibly blame me or anybody else for it!

Everything had been the fault of that frightened porcupine, trying to flee from its stalker!

Stubbornly, I clambered on and on, acting as a 'tough guy' and denying my discomfort. Now and then, I had to bite my tongue, to be able to bear the pain in my cramping legs and sore feet.

A few times, when my legs were trembling too much, I had to sit down and take a short rest, until the cramping diminished. Then, I pulled myself together again, and stubbornly went on. Groaning from the stinging pain in my swollen feet, I rounded the umpteenth thorn bush.

I wanted to be home today, and share my adventure with my parents and with Misha!

6. Rescued by my Dad; back home with sore feet; Misha is sorry.

Suddenly, I perked my ears up; because I thought I heard a faint yelling sound, coming from the unknown ravine! Immediately, I hobbled towards its border, bent over, and listened intently...

Alas, the only sounds I heard were coming from twittering birds and the murmuring water stream.

Yet, I could have sworn that I had heard a faint human voice, yelling from a far distance!

Were my people looking for me? Had they tried to call me, and were they listening for my answer?

Hastily, I folded my hands around my mouth to amplify my voice, and shouted into the ravine:

"HERE I AM! PLEASE, ANSWER ME! I WANT TO GO HOME!"

For a very long time, lots of unintelligible echoes reverberated back and forth through the ravine. A flock of beautifully colored birds flew up into the air, while looking angrily at my ministrations.

Several small animals scrabbled away hastily, obviously trying to find some quieter place.

Then, the ravine fell silent again, except for the softly murmuring water along its bottom.

Again, I listened intently, standing even closer to the border while trying to hear even better...

Alas. Again, nobody answered my desperate yelling for help.

Could my wishful mind have played some dirty trick, by making me imagine that human voice?

Again, I shouted into the ravine; yelling at the top of my lungs. Again, only my echoes returned...

Now, I started to feel disappointed, and on the verge of crying. Maybe, my people already assumed that I was dead, and they didn't even bother any more looking for me...

Obviously, I had to find my way home all on my own, without any help...

Again, I went on and on, clambering along the ravine, and jumping across treacherous cracks.

My painfully cramping legs were trembling more and more, making me waver from left to right.

My swollen feet now started to look like two wrinkled balloons, stinging with every single step.

Now and then, I had to stand still, to catch my breath and regain my wavering balance...

But, every time, I went on again, refusing to give up, still stubbornly walking home!

Suddenly, I stumbled over a wobbly piece of rock, and nearly tumbled into a treacherous crack!

At the very last moment, I could grab a nearby thorn bush, without feeling its razor sharp thorns.

With a shocked face, I stared into the narrow crack, which disappeared into a bottomless depth...

Slowly, I realized that this near-accident could have cost me my young life! From now on, it would be too DANGEROUS for me to clamber on and on, on my wobbly legs and too sore feet...

In horror, I looked at my bleeding hands, with many nasty thorns sticking out of my fingers...

This time, I gave up! I slumped down onto the ground, and started to wail from pain and agony!

Why was life so cruel to a little Gypsy Prince, who had done nothing but follow a scared porcupine?

Why didn't my own people show up, to rescue me and take me home on their shoulders?

Where were all my so-called 'friends', now that I really needed them?

Had everybody given up on their little Crown Prince and so praised 'Chief Cookie'?

Still sobbing and sniffling, I started to pull the many nasty thorns out of my bleeding hands, now and then using my teeth as Misha had taught me. Then, I looked around for the foul-smelling healing plant, which would soothe my pain and prevent any inflammation. Soon, I found one, squashed a couple of its leaves, and rubbed the stinking brownish sap into my wounds.

Almost immediately, the bleeding stopped; and I felt very happy to have such a good friend as Misha!

However, would I ever see Misha again? Or, would Misha now be too disappointed in me, and no longer want to be my older friend or my very experienced trapper guide?

Again, I started to sob. I MISSED my older trapper friend! And, I missed my Mom and Dad, Michail, our camp, and little Dimi... Would they miss me too?

Suddenly, I jumped up and raced towards the ravine at lightning speed, temporarily forgetting my painfully cramping legs and the stinging pain in my swollen feet!

This time, I had clearly heard a faint yelling sound, coming from the unknown ravine!

My people WERE looking for me!

I folded my hands into a trumpet, and yelled into the ravine:

"YES; I AM HERE! I AM HERE! PLEASE, COME OVER AND RESCUE ME!"

For a very long time, the deep baritone sound of my yelling voice echoed back and forth.

Impatiently, I waited, until the silence returned and I would be able to hear any answer...

Then, I heard a faint but very well-known voice, answering my yelling from far away:

"Harry, where are you? My dear son; please, answer me... Where can I find you?"

The very moment when I recognized the worried voice of my Dad, I started to cry again. Only, this time, my tears were tears of pure joy! My Dad had found me! Now, everything would be all right, and all my worries had vanished. My Dad would collect me and take me home!

I folded my hands into a trumpet again, and yelled into the ravine:

"I AM HERE, DAD, NEXT TO AN UNKNOWN RAVINE. PLEASE, DAD, TAKE ME HOME..."

After my echoes stopped again, I heard my Dad's faint answer, sounding from far away:

"Please, Harry, keep shouting, and I will find you. Just stay where you are!"

"I WILL STAY WHERE I AM, DAD; BUT, PLEASE, HURRY! I WANT TO GO HOME..."

Slowly, I slumped down on top of some mossy boulder, and started to cry my heart out.

Finally, I could release all my built-up stress and agony! I didn't have to be strong any more!

My Dad was already on his way to rescue me and take me home!

For a long time, I cried and cried; until I started to feel better. Then, I dried my eyes with a few tufts of moss; while I told myself that I had NOT been a crybaby. I had endured quite a lot more stress than any other five-year-old boy in our camp; and I had survived all the dangers!

Therefore, as our youngest 'natural trapper', I could be really proud of myself!

First, I shouted into the ravine, to direct my Dad towards where I was; and I felt very happy to hear his immediate answer. Then, sitting on my mossy boulder, I started to knead my still cramped leg muscles and terribly swollen feet. That was extremely painful, but I was sure this was necessary to make my blood start flowing again. Therefore, I gritted my teeth, and just went on.

Slowly, the trembling in my sore legs started to diminish, and my swollen feet relaxed somewhat.

Now and then, I shouted into the ravine, to let my Dad know where I was. Every time, I was very happy to hear his immediate answer! He was on his way towards me; and, every time, he sounded a little bit closer. Soon, he would show up and take me home...

In the meantime, I tried to distract myself, by throwing small pebbles into the ravine. Now and then, I was lucky to hit the water stream, and I could see the pebble plunge into the water.

After a moment, I had to leave my mossy boulder, to gather some more pebbles...

A black crow landed onto a nearby rock, and stared at me for a long time. All the time, it kept its head askew, as if it thought: 'little human, what are you doing here?'

The moment I started to shout again, the crow looked angry, jumped up, and flew away!

I chuckled and resumed my play, soon gathering even more pebbles. Every time, I was able to throw them even more accurate...

Again, I heard my Dad's answer, now sounding from even closer:

"Harry, my precious son, are you still waiting for me? Please, answer me."

"YES, DAD, I AM STILL WAITING FOR YOU."

"I think I know where you are! Be patient and don't move, because we are on our way."

"OKAY, DAD; I WILL BE PATIENT."

Thinking about my Dad's last words, I suddenly realized something important! My Dad had said: 'WE are on our way'... Thus, indirectly, he had told me he was not alone! Who was accompanying him, in his search for me? Would Misha be at his side, helping my Dad?

Suddenly, I felt a pang of fear, shuddering at the disturbing thought that crossed my mind. Would my Dad be very mad at me, for leaving Misha and sneaking away without my experienced guide?

The oldest kids HAD warned us not to get lost in the dense forest...

And, my Dad had told me to ALWAYS listen to the older kids!

What if my Dad thought I had proven to be too young to enter our woods?

What if he now decided to let me wait for another year or so? I nearly started to cry at the terrifying thought! I was way too used to our woods, and absolutely didn't want to miss them...

Would Misha now be mad at me, for leaving him alone; and would he stop being my friend?

I didn't want to lose my friend Misha either...

Everything had been the fault of that scalawag porcupine!

The next time I saw it, I would KILL it, and slowly roast it over our glowing campfire!

However, this time, I started to laugh at my own silly anger. I couldn't even catch it...

Still thinking, I resumed my play; and gathered a couple more pebbles. Feeling bored, I threw a small pebble high into the air; nearly hitting my black crow, or one of its black friends...

Then, I heard my Dad's voice again, this time sounding from quite nearby:

"Harry, where are you?"

YESSS! There was my Dad; and I responded immediately:

"I am here, Dad. You are quite nearby."

A couple of branches cracked, and two smiling men appeared from the dense forest!

For a second, they squinted in the sudden sunlight, while looking around for me...

Then, they trotted towards me, with happy faces and tears in their eyes!

I jumped up from my boulder; and threw myself at them, shouting a loud Indian howl:

"MICHAIL! And DAD! You found me! Sorry, for being such a nuisance..."

"Boy; this time, you had us really worried! But, you will NEVER be a nuisance! Now, come here, and let me hug you to death for surviving such a cold night in our dense forest!"

My Dad threw his strong arms around my tiny body; and lifted me high into the air.

Then, Michail did the same thing, swinging me around and around until I became a bit dizzy.

However, I didn't mind at all! I only started to sob again, feeling overwhelmed by my emotions...

Then, I laughed and cried at the same time, while my suppressed sobs tried to make me hiccup.

My ordeal was over; and my Dad and Michail would take me home safely!

First, my Dad took me onto his lap; and I 'octopussed' myself against his huge chest. He folded his strong and safe arms around me, and that was the most wonderful sensation I had ever felt!

For a moment, I basked in the happy feeling of being reunited with my Dad. Then, I put my sore feet into Michail's lap, wanting to have some bodily contact with my Big Friend as well...

Michail stared at my swollen feet and cramping legs, shuddered, and winced at the terrible sight!

Then, he spat into his hands; and tenderly started to massage my aching muscles and sore feet.

That felt really good; and I tried to bear the pain and smile at my Big Friend at the same time...

Looking at my painful legs and feet, my Dad got tears in his eyes, while he went on cradling me.

I sensed his powerful love engulfing me; and felt very happy to have him as my lovable Dad!

Obviously, he wasn't mad at me at all, and just accepted what could have happened...

After a moment, my Dad looked into my eyes and told me:

"Boy; are we ever happy to have you back healthy and unharmed! Never before did we feel so worried and frightened. Everybody in our camp was afraid you had fallen into a ravine and broken at least a leg... Only, how did you lose Misha, and get lost this far away from our camp?"

While sitting on his safe lap, I told my Dad how Misha and I had been practicing our trapper skills, by silently sneaking after each other. When it was my turn to sneak after Misha, I went after a rustling sound and followed it for a long time, thinking it was my trapper friend. At last, we reached a clearing; and I suddenly saw that I had been following a frightened porcupine instead of Misha!

Shuddering at the disturbing thought, I told my Dad:

"Now, I am afraid that Misha will be mad at me, and not want to be my friend anymore..."

"Misha is devastated; and he blames himself for losing you. He thinks that everything is his fault."

"Of course, this was NOT Misha's fault! Everything is the fault of that frightened porcupine! I wish I could catch the chicken, and slowly roast it over our glowing campfire!"

Both my Dad and Michail started to chuckle, at seeing my indignant face and blazing eyes...

Now, my Dad rose from our boulder, and lifted me onto his broad shoulders. Michail followed us from a short distance, carrying the long pieces of rope they had brought to rescue me if needed...

Walking together, we went home. Surprisingly, both my Dad and Michail seemed to know my newly 'discovered' ravine, and they also knew the shortest way back to our camp!

After we entered our camp, my Dad took me straight to our own Royal bench. Carefully, he sat me down onto the soft pillow one of our happy onlookers hastily offered.

Everybody in our camp started to cheer and dance, when they saw me back in reasonable health!

Obviously, they had felt extremely worried about me...

Little Dimi wrestled through the forming crowd, stormed towards me, and panted:

"Did you really fall into a ravine? Can I see your broken leg?"

Then, his mouth fell open, while his face went as pale as a ghost... He gasped for air and nearly fainted, while staring at my cramping legs and terribly swollen feet...

Looking very pale, he sat down next to Michail, leaning into his side to find some solace...

My Mom made her way through the still growing crowd, tenderly lifted me from our bench, and took me into her arms. She started to sob when she saw my swollen feet, and involuntarily squashed my sore ribs, but I didn't object at all. I was home again, and that was all that counted!

Now, I had only one burning question for everybody around me:

"Where is my friend Misha?"

Michail rose from our bench, gently patted Dimi's head, and went to Misha's caravan.

A moment later, a very pale looking older boy appeared, hesitated, and stared at his feet...

Trembling all over, he sauntered to our bench, where he stammered:

"I am so sorry... Of course, everything is MY fault; and, as your experienced guide, I shouldn't have left you alone in the dense forest. I have been so careless..."

Suddenly, I knew exactly how I could bring my trembling older friend back to life!

I left my Mom's lap, hobbled towards Misha, and first threw my arms around his waist.

Then, I forcefully punched his arm, while I admonished him:

"Misha, shut up; and don't try to get all the attention by playing the victim. The only careless one in our dense forest is a frightened porcupine, and not you. Now, I want to have a BIG hug! That is, if you still want to be my friend, after I was so stupid to follow that porcupine instead of you..."

For a long time, Misha only stared into my eyes, with a shocked face.

Obviously, he first thought that I was trying to pull his leg, or make fun of him...

However, all he could see in my eyes was my honest friendship and sincerity!

Suddenly, a couple of kids started to laugh, and that seemed to wake him up.

Now, Misha couldn't keep a straight face any more. The sun returned into his eyes, and he got some more color on his face. He smiled, punched my arm in return, and tentatively started to tickle my ribs.

Of course, I tickled him back immediately! A second later, we both were hiccupping with laughter, as usual. I had my older friend and experienced trapper guide back!

Our Wise Woman showed up, and stared at my terribly swollen feet with a shocked face. She shook her head in disbelief, and immediately trotted back to her caravan.

Five minutes later, she returned, now carrying a couple of jars and a steaming cup of greenish tea.

First, she smeared my swollen feet with a stinking brownish paste, to make the swelling go down. Then, she smeared my sore legs with another paste, to help my sore muscles recuperate from the excessive strain. I had to swallow her foul tasting tea, and burped with a sour face.

Finally, she stared at me with her piercing eyes, while she told me:

"You have strained your muscles way too much! Your brain might be well developed, but your body is only five years old! Now, you have to stay in our camp for at least three days, until your legs are healed and your feet are again capable of supporting your weight. This evening, I will bring you another cup of tea; and, please, don't do this ever again! I have never felt so worried..."

She started to sniffle and got tears in her eyes, while she slowly turned around. Without looking back, she went back to her caravan; carrying her jars and empty cup, and still shaking her head.

Obviously, she had been just as worried as all the others around me!

Of course, I wasn't exactly pleased to be 'grounded' for at least three days... However, I knew I had to listen to our Wise Woman, because it was for my own well-being!

7. Grounded for three days... Finally, Misha becomes my teacher.

Now that I was recuperating, everybody in our camp wanted to know how I could get lost in our dense forest, despite Misha's well-known skills as a very experienced 'natural trapper'...

Suddenly, I was the center of all their attention, while they again crowded around me!

Therefore, I cleared my throat, and started to tell them everything that had happened to me.

Vividly, I told them how Misha and I decided to sneak after each other, to hone our trapper skills.

Unexpectedly, I heard Misha stumble into some hidden pothole while trying to get away from me; and I planned to sneak towards him and jump onto his neck, if he hadn't injured himself too badly...

Then, I heard a faint rustling sound, and thought that Misha tried to get away from me again!

For more than an hour, I followed his rustling sound, until we reached a small clearing. There, I found out that I had been following a frightened PORCUPINE instead of my trapper friend! I yelled into the forest; but nobody responded, except for a faint echo coming from an unknown ravine.

At that moment, I realized that I got LOST and had to find my way back home all on my own.

I only hoped that Misha hadn't injured himself too much; and had created a smoking fire, to call for a rescue team to collect him and go search for me...

After a short pause, I explained how I tried to think as a 'real natural trapper', observed the sun and the mountains, and started to follow the ravine downstream to guide me towards our waterfall.

Everybody started to laugh, when I told them how I found a porcupine lair, chased its owner away, and slept in it, accompanied by a bunch of happily snoring gray rats and an army of biting bugs.

They shuddered and looked a bit pale, while I told them how I started to waver, nearly fell into a hidden crack, and rescued myself at the last moment by grabbing a branch full of stinging thorns.

Finally, they looked happy, when I described how my Dad and Michail found me and took me home!

After another pause, Misha told us his part of the story. He explained how he suggested to train our trapper skills some more, by sneaking after each other. While he sneaked away, he stumbled into a pothole, uttered a muffled cry, and realized that I had heard him and now knew where he was.

Therefore, he tiptoed away from that spot as fast as he could; hoping I would lose his track, give up, and call him to show up... He already knew that I was an excellent searcher; and he wanted to do his utmost to outdo me! After he didn't hear me anymore, he returned to where I had been; but, to his consternation, I seemed to have vanished into thin air. He called my name a couple of times; and panicked when I didn't answer. Now, he thought I could have fallen into a hidden crack or a nearby ravine; and hurried to our camp to ask for a rescue team to go and search for me immediately...

My Big Friend, Michail, took over, and told me how everybody in our camp immediately went searching for me! They followed Misha to where he had seen me for the last time, started to look everywhere, and shouted my name, until darkness set in and they had to give up their search.

Our whole camp felt devastated, and everybody prayed to our Highest Supreme Being and Beloved Ancestors to be with me and soon bring me home safely, preferably unharmed...

Our Wise Woman tried to trace my aura; but only found out that I was still alive. As a very powerful little Shaman and Mage, I was protecting my own aura too well from any 'energy intruders'...

Next, she went into a deep trance, where our Ancestors told her that I was unharmed but very tired, and could be found easily if they started to look for me around a far-away and very steep ravine!

Early in the morning, our rescue teams resumed their search, now spreading out into several different directions, while yelling and shouting into every far-away steep ravine that they could find.

Finally, my Dad heard my deep baritone voice, answering his calls from a far away ravine...

My Dad had listened to our stories; now and then smiling at me with lots of love in his eyes.

After I had told our people my side of our story, I had crawled back onto my Dad's safe and cozy lap; and he immediately threw his warm arms around my tired little body, and held me very close.

When Michail stopped, my Dad suddenly beckoned Misha to come over and join us:

"Misha? Please, come here, and sit down next to Harry and me..."

Misha looked frightened, swallowed a few times, and started to tremble all over! Clearly, my older friend expected our King to punish him, for leaving his little son alone in the dense forest...

Hesitantly, he sat down at the far end of our bench, keeping a safe distance from my Dad...

In the meantime, I already prepared myself to defend my friend! Everything that had happened to me, had been solely my own stupidity. My Dad had no right to punish Misha for something he had not done and that wasn't his fault. If our King wanted to punish anybody, he had to punish ME first!

Slowly, I left my Dad's lap, sat down next to him, and stared into his eyes...

My Dad looked back at me, saw my determination, and started to laugh at seeing my stern face.

Now, I understood that he was NOT mad at Misha, but only wanted to talk to my friend... Quickly, I read his mind, and found out that he planned to ask my trapper friend something important.

Immediately, I felt quite a lot better, and heaved a deep sigh of relief.

Silently, my Dad motioned Misha to sit down much closer to his little son and him.

Slowly and hesitantly, Misha shifted towards us, until he sat next to my Dad and me. Obviously, he still didn't know what to think of my Dad's twinkling eyes and too friendly smile...

After seeing Misha's hesitancy, my Dad started to laugh again, while he playfully ruffled Misha's hair.

Suddenly, he put his arms around Misha's waist, and pulled my friend close to his broad chest!

Then, he asked my now very surprised looking trapper friend:

"Misha, I want you to start teaching my son how to orientate himself in our woods!"

Slowly, Misha opened his mouth, gasped for air, and closed his mouth again. Then, he jumped up from our couch, now looking wide-eyed... He stared at my Dad in shock; while it slowly dawned on him what my Dad wanted him to do... This was absolutely not what he had expected!

After pulling himself together, my friend shook his head in disbelief; while he stuttered:

"But... but I have LOST your son! I am not good enough to teach him anything..."

Hesitantly, my friend sat down again, keeping some more distance, while staring at his feet...

Again, my Dad started to laugh, while he put both arms around Misha and pulled him very close.

Suddenly, Misha started to cry his heart out, while he buried his head into my Dad's chest! Obviously, all the built-up stress and worrying had been too much for my fifteen-year-old trapper friend. He expected to be punished for his carelessness; and got only kindness and understanding...

My helpful Mom offered Misha a couple of tissues; while little Dimi asked me:

"Why does Misha cry? Isn't he happy to teach you how to 'oriontate'?"

"I am sure Misha IS happy, and he only cries from sudden relief! Can you understand that?"

Little Dimi nodded slowly, showing me a pensive face, while his brain was working overtime...

After a moment of pondering, his face brightened, his eyes sparkled again, and he started to smile.

Suddenly looking very wise for his young age, he responded:

"I think that, sometimes, you can BE too happy to FEEL happy! But, what is 'oriontate'?"

A few older kids started to laugh; but they also explained the mispronounced word to Dimi. Clearly, they all liked my little friend very much; and they wanted to help him whenever they could!

Dimi thanked them politely for their explanation, and sat down very close to me.

In the meantime, Misha had pulled himself together and dried his eyes with my Mom's tissues.

Now, my Dad explained why he wanted Misha to be my teacher:

"Misha, I want to ask you to teach my son how to orientate himself in our woods, because I know that you are an excellent trapper with a lot of special skills! I also know I can trust you absolutely; and I am certain that you ARE good enough to teach Harry everything he needs to know for now! Only, I am not ordering you, but I am asking you a favor. Please?"

Misha looked up at my smiling Dad, while he slowly left his lap and sat down at his side.

In the meantime, the light returned into his still wet eyes; while an unsure smile rounded his lips, as if he started to comprehend what my Dad asked him to do. Then, he looked at me, questioningly...

Of course, I wanted Misha to be my teacher! This was what I had been waiting for all the time!

Finally, my friend would start to teach me how he always used his built-in compass... And, I was sure I could learn quite a lot more 'special skills' from him as well!

I nodded vigorously, while I told my trapper friend:

"Please, Misha, say YES! Of course, I want you to be my teacher; and I am sure you can teach me quite a lot more special skills, next to orientating myself in our woods! Please..."

Still looking a bit unsure, Misha hesitantly nodded his consent!

I jumped up, hobbled towards him, and enthusiastically threw my arms around my friend's neck.

Yesss! Fortunately, Misha really wanted to be my teacher!

Everybody around us started to cheer and applaud. Then, they all congratulated my trapper friend with his new job as my private teacher! They patted his shoulders, ruffled his hair, and told him they were sure he would be an excellent coach. Only, was he sure he would be able to keep their impish little Crown Prince under control, without letting him escape and chase after a porcupine again?

Misha still looked confused, as if he first had to digest everything that suddenly happened to him.

In the meantime, he stared at our faintly glowing campfire... For a moment, he closed his eyes, as if he wanted to disappear from all his confounding feelings...

Then, little Dimi tentatively plucked at his arm, while he pleaded:

"Misha? Can you please be my teacher too? I am nearly dry during the night, and I want to be ready for when I can join you and Harry into our woods..."

Suddenly, Misha started to chuckle, while he promised my eager looking little friend:

"The moment you are allowed to join our older group, I will teach you how to 'oriontate'. Okay?"

"Huh? I thought the right word is 'oriEntate', with an 'e'?"

Everybody started to bellow with laughter; except for a confused looking little Dimi...

Until they all ruffled his curly black hair, and his built-in sun started to shine again.

After everybody calmed down, my Dad had one more thing on his mind:

"Misha? I want to ask you one more thing, before you start teaching my son... Please, next time you turn into a porcupine, guide your pupil back to our camp instead of to an unknown ravine!"

Again, everybody started to bellow with laughter, making our caravan windows rumble.

Even little Dimi started to hiccup from the fun, until he almost couldn't stop. His Momtwo had to take him to their caravan, to drink some water and calm down before he returned...

At last, Misha turned towards me, while he asked:

"Harry? Shall we begin our first lesson tomorrow morning?"

"I would like that very much; but our Wise Woman has grounded me for at least three days..."

"Well, that is only good. Now, I can teach you a couple of important things in advance, before we start practicing them in our woods and dense forest!"

"OKAY! I will be here tomorrow morning, to have my first lesson in 'oriontating'!"

"Please, don't be too early, because I need my beauty sleep first..."

"Are you sure? Isn't a BEAUTY sleep wasted on you?"

"WHAT? And, the correct word is 'oriEntating, with an 'e'!"

Misha looked at me indignantly, as if I had told him a bad joke. Then, he tried to tickle my ribs; but I dived from under his hands and slid down onto the ground...

OUCH! That hurt terribly! In my sudden hurry to escape Misha's wrath, I totally forgot to reckon with my strained legs and painfully swollen feet!

Sitting on the ground, I gritted my teeth, waiting until the stinging pain would subside...

Immediately, Misha was all over me, apologizing for his 'clumsy behavior'. He even got tears in his eyes, because he didn't know how he could help me get rid of the pain...

My new teacher certainly cared quite a lot for his new pupil!

Carefully, he took me into his arms, and slowly lifted me back onto my soft pillow.

My Dad took my still very painful legs into his hands, and gently started to massage them.

That helped; and, soon, the pain subsided, while the feeling in my feet returned to relatively normal.

This time, I had to admit that our Wise Woman was absolutely right! I HAD to wait, until my legs and feet had recovered from all the excessive strain...

During the remainder of the day, I lounged on our bench, sitting or lying down on my soft pillow.

My swollen feet were still sore, and my too strained leg muscles now started to feel stiff and tired.

All the time, Misha was around me, providing me with everything I needed, without ever complaining!

Trying to tease my helpful friend, I told him:

"I think about promoting you to be my personal assistant."

Misha chuckled, while he supported me to our surrounding bushes to have a quick leak.

Next, he went to his own caravan, and returned with fresh orange juice and a nice snack! Of course, we let little Dimi have his own share, because he too tried to help me whenever he could.

All the time, little Dimi sat glued to my side, while asking me his zillions of questions as usual.

Patiently, I tried to give him the answers, unless I really didn't know. Then, Misha took over and explained everything to us, until both Dimi and I were satisfied with his answers.

At last, Dimi's Mom took our little friend to their caravan, to put him to bed.

Of course, Dimi tried to protest fiercely, but to no avail... His chuckling Mom just took him under her arm, and carried her struggling little son home!

Just before they disappeared inside, Dimi shouted:

"I will be back tomorrow, to help you again!"

"Okay; and thank you. Have sweet dreams, and enjoy your beauty sleep!"

A second later, I asked Misha to help me to my own caravan. I started to feel too tired, and wanted to go to bed early. Maybe, the next day, after having a lot of sleep, I would feel better...

Misha did as I asked him, took me onto his shoulders, and delivered me to my chuckling parents.

He promised me to be back on our bench the next morning, to teach me my first lesson...

I thanked him for all his help, and told him to have sweet dreams and a refreshing 'beauty sleep'.

This time, Misha only chuckled, but he didn't dare to answer...

My helpful Dad put me under the shower, washed me, and carried me to my small sleeping den.

Suddenly, our Wise Woman showed up in our caravan. She wanted to smear my legs and feet again with her stinking pastes, to help them recuperate even faster!

Next, she offered me a cup of a strange tasting tea, to let me have a sound and dreamless sleep.

Happily, I closed my eyes, and immediately disappeared into dreamland.

8. Misha teaches me about our sun; gravity; and the four seasons.

The next morning, I woke up early, already feeling quite a lot better and certainly less tired.

Enthusiastically, I remembered that, today, I would be Misha's pupil and have my first lesson!

What was Misha going to teach me? Would it be very interesting?

I left my bed, and found out that my poor body still felt as stiff as a dead tree! Cautiously hobbling on my still very sore feet, I went to our living room, to have a look outside.

Would Misha already be waiting for me?

From behind our windows, I stared at our faintly glowing campfire and empty wooden benches.

Nobody else was awake, and all our caravans were still enveloped in darkness! Obviously, I was a little bit too enthusiastic, at this early hour in the morning. My Dad once called me an 'early bird'...

Feeling a bit disappointed, I limped to my parents' bed, and silently crawled in between them.

My Dad grunted something unintelligibly, while he threw his arms around me and held me close.

My Mom yawned, turned towards me, and embraced me from the other side.

Feeling safe and loved in between their warming sandwich, I fell asleep almost immediately.

"Harry, wake up and eat your breakfast! Misha is already waiting for you..."

I opened my eyes in sudden shock, and squinted at my Mom's broadly smiling face.

WHAT did my Mom say? Had I really overslept my first appointment with my new teacher?

Why didn't she wake me up in time? Now, I was too late, and that on my first day...

I jumped out of my parent's bed in a sudden hurry. Then, I groaned at the stabs of pain that went through my stiff legs and sore feet. OUCH! That still hurt terribly! Obviously, I still had to be very careful, until my legs and feet would have healed sufficiently...

Groaning and gritting my teeth, I hobbled to our living room, to have another look outside.

A couple of our grownups had already gathered around our campfire; obviously planning to visit a nearby gadjo town, to try to find some work and earn some money. This time, both Michail and Pietro accompanied them, waiting for a few more grownups to show up...

Our regular group of older kids waited for the last lazy slackers to show up, as usual.

Our 'diaper kids' were already playing their usual games of hide and seek around our caravans. This time, little Dimi was the seeker, proudly counting to twenty before he opened his eyes and looked around. He saw me staring at him, and waved at me before he found the first hiding kid.

Misha sat on our Royal wooden bench, staring at our campfire while playing with his fingers.

Now and then, he turned his head and stared at our caravan, as if he could force me to show up sooner... He smiled from ear to ear when he saw me, and waved enthusiastically!

I forgot my cramped legs and sore feet, hurried to our kitchen, and whined:

"Come on, Mom! Please, hurry up! Misha already WAITS for me!"

"Yes, that is what I've already told you... Don't be so impatient, and eat your healthy breakfast first. I am sure Misha will not go anywhere without you!"

I wolfed my 'healthy breakfast' down in record time, and quickly gulped my glass of milk. Then, I kissed my parents goodbye and hobbled outside, to join my waiting teacher on our bench.

Would Misha be very mad at me, for making him wait on my first lesson?

Much to my relief, Misha's face lit up as a torch when I finally showed up. He took my soft pillow; and laid it out on our wooden bench, for me to sit on.

Trying to walk carefully, I limped towards my friend, and sat down with a slight groan.

Immediately, Misha was all over me, trying to help me sit even more comfortably. Obviously, he still was very concerned about the health of his new pupil!

However, I felt a little bit guilty for making him wait, and told him:

"Sorry, for making you wait for so long! My parents didn't wake me up in time..."

"Yes, I know. Your Mom told me she would let you have some more sleep first..."

For a moment, I felt a bit angry with my Mom, because she hadn't woken me up in time.

Women... They will never understand us busy men!

Why didn't she wake me to ASK me what I wanted? Then, it could have been my own decision...

Misha looked at me with little fun lights in his brown eyes, while he asked me:

"Did you enjoy your extended beauty sleep?"

"Oh yes, sure! Of course, I don't have to be afraid of LOSING my beauty..."

A moment later, we were rolling around on our bench, trying to tickle each other, as usual.

At first, Misha tried to let me win; but I didn't want him to have any mercy with me! I had only very stiff muscles, painful legs, and sore feet; but I was NOT a cripple!

Chuckling, I threw my arms around his neck from behind, threatening to strangle him...

For a moment, Misha squeaked, while he tried to get rid of my strangling arms around his neck.

Then, generously, I let him win, because I felt too curious about what he wanted to teach me...

With a slightly hoarse voice, Misha admonished me to be more serious:

"Now, sit still, and listen to what I want to teach you today!"

I nodded obediently, holding my breath in anticipation; while Misha went on:

"Today, I want you to have a very close look at the sun over our heads, without staring into it. What do you think the sun is in reality?"

"Well... To me, the sun looks like a very bright lamp; but I don't understand how it lights while Pietro hasn't attached it to his pile of batteries..."

Misha started to chuckle at the idea, while he answered:

"Then, Pietro would also be able to turn it on and off at will! Fortunately, the sun doesn't need any batteries, because it is not a lamp and doesn't use any electricity. The sun is more like an enormous glowing cinder from our campfire. While you blow onto a glowing cinder, it starts to glow more and more, until it finally radiates a bright yellow light."

"Yes, I know. Only, who blows onto the sun, to make it glow brightly yellow?"

"Well... I've never thought of that before. Maybe, our Supreme Being makes it glow brightly?"

I looked up at the sun and the surrounding blue sky, but didn't see anybody blowing...

Okay, some new things could be a little bit too perplexing for a five-and-a-half-year-old little boy to understand. Even my extremely bright mind had to accept that. I only hoped that our Supreme Being wouldn't blow at the sun too forcefully, thus blowing it away... That would be a disaster!

Misha squatted down, and fetched an old tennis ball and a small pebble from under our bench.

I looked intently at what he was doing. Obviously, my new teacher had already planned his first lesson in advance, while he waited for me. And, he had some really interesting stuff to tell!

Misha put the tennis ball down onto our bench, and circled the small pebble around it:

"Imagine this tennis ball is our sun, floating in our universe, glowing and radiating its bright light. This pebble represents our earth, in reality looking like an enormous boulder full of moss, trees, mountains, ravines, and potholes. Our earth turns around and around; so that, every time, another part of its surface is illuminated by the glowing sun. At the same time, our earth moves around the sun in a wide circle; but very slowly and at some angle. Can you follow me so far?"

I looked up at my teacher, trying to look indignant, while sending him a death look! Who did he think I was? Some stupid duffer? Of course, I understood everything that he told me!

Only, I already had an important question for him:

"Why can't I feel our earth turning around? How come it doesn't make people dizzy?"

"Well, our earth turns around extremely slowly! It takes a whole day to complete one turn around its axis; and that is too slow to feel anything. At the same time, the radiating sunlight creates day and night on it; while the moving earth completes its circle around our sun in exactly one year."

Suddenly, I understood how a little ant, sitting on the slowly turning pebble, would see the brightly glowing tennis ball disappear and show up again, day after day!

Everything started to make sense in my mind; and I felt more and more enthusiastic.

However, I already had my next question ready:

"Why does our earth never collide with the glowing sun? That would put everything on fire!"

For a moment, Misha chuckled at the absurd idea. Then, he made me remember how our kids sometimes attached a pebble to a piece of rope and swung it around and around. Now, I only had to imagine that I was the sun; and my pebble was the earth, rotating around and around the sun...

Immediately, I had my next question ready:

"Where is the rope? I don't see any, and doesn't a rope easily catch fire on the glowing sun?"

"This rope is an invisible one, which is called 'gravity'. Gravity pulls everything towards our earth; that is why all the loose things are always falling down towards the ground."

Chuckling inwardly, I imagined our Supreme Being, swinging our earth around and around, attached to an invisible rope of gravity. It sounded like fun...

Only, immediately, the next question popped up in my curious mind:

"What happens if the gravity rope suddenly breaks? Then, our earth will fly far away from the sun, just like our swinging pebbles are doing all the time..."

"Well... I think our Supreme Being will catch the earth just in time, and attach another rope."

"What if He sleeps when that happens? That would cause a real disaster..."

"I think He doesn't need any sleep, because he is too busy governing everything."

"What is 'governing'? Is that the same thing as 'navigating'?"

"Yes, that is the same thing; but let's go back to what I want to teach you..."

"Sorry, for asking too many questions. Am I annoying you?"

"You will never annoy me; but you are asking exactly those things I never thought of!"

"Sorry for that. Everybody else in our camp always complains about my zillions of questions. Some people even call me our 'walking question mark'... By the way, do you happen to know how much a 'zillion' is? Nobody ever told me..."

Misha started to chuckle, but he also answered my last question:

"A 'zillion' of anything means it is totally impossible to imagine how much it is in reality."

"Huh? Am I really asking THAT many questions? Wow..."

For a long time, we continued talking about impossibly large numbers, until Misha finally begged me to stop my questioning. He told me he got a dry throat from all the explaining; and wanted to insert a pause, to be able to drink some water from his caravan.

Of course, I immediately invited my friend to my own caravan, to drink some fresh orange juice! I also confessed that I felt thirsty too, from asking my 'zillion' of questions...

Together, we ambled to my caravan, while I slowly hobbled next to Misha.

Surprisingly, nobody was home, so I had to make our drinks myself. Maybe, my parents were at my grandmother's; or, they were babysitting Michail's little sons while he was away.

I took a few oranges from our small stock; and prepared two helpings of fresh orange juice. Next, I added a couple of carefully chosen herbs to our juice, to refine its taste...

Misha sipped his juice, licked his lips, and told me with beaming eyes:

"I am VERY impressed by your ability to make everything taste so much better. It's unbelievable!"

"Thank you for your compliment, and I am very happy with it as well! My mom calls it my 'gift'..."

"Please, could you teach me how you do it? I surely would like to have such a gift too!"

"Of course, I could give it a try... but, first, I want you to teach me how I can find my way through our woods all on my own, without ever getting lost again! I also want to know a lot more about the earth circling around the sun in one year. Why is there summer and winter, returning every year?"

"Actually, this is very simple! Just remember what I've already told you, about our earth circling around the sun at some angle, in exactly one year..."

Patiently, Misha explained how a little ant, sitting on our boulder, could see the heat-radiating ball slowly moving from north to south and back, during the four seasons.

Again, I felt excited, now that I finally understood why our earth was much colder during winter, when the sun was low at the horizon. On the other hand, during summer, the sun was much higher in the sky, thus warming our earth quite a lot more. I also understood that, near the 'North Pole' and the 'South Pole', the temperature had to be much lower than near the always warm 'equator'.

At last, we rinsed our empty glasses in our small sink, and returned to our wooden bench.

Again, Misha took his old tennis ball and the small pebble. This time, he let me see how a little ant, sitting on the slowly turning pebble, could see the glowing tennis ball moving along the sky:

"Now, you can see how the glowing sun seemingly moves from east towards west, every day. This is very important; because it lets you use the shadows to roughly orientate yourself!"

"I see; but does our earth always turn in the same direction? When does it change directions?"

"Fortunately, our earth always turns in the same direction!"

"What if our Supreme Being wants to pull a joke, and reverses the turning to have some fun?"

"As far as I know, our Supreme Being has never done such a silly thing."

"It would be lots of fun to see everybody suddenly growing younger, instead of older..."

"Please, stop joking around, and try to follow this extremely important lesson! You need to fully understand it first, to be able to follow my next couple of explanations."

Fortunately, Misha wasn't too angry at me, for teasing him and being such a nuisance. He only tickled my ribs mercilessly, until I gave up and promised him to better my life! The torturer...

After we stopped our playful bantering, Misha resumed my lessons. This time, he told me to have a closer look at our clearly visible shadows on the ground, caused by the bright sunlight.

Of course, I immediately started to play with my own shadow on the ground; creating lots of funny pictures by moving my arms and my hands and taking on several different poses. For a moment, I even tried to create a little octopus, but didn't succeed because I didn't have enough limbs...

After I finally stopped playing around, and returned to my important lessons, Misha went on:

"Remember how our earth turns around slowly, making the glowing sun over our heads seemingly moving from east to west... By keeping this in mind, could you predict how our shadows on the ground will move around us and change their length during the day?"

Suddenly, I understood why Misha taught me all these important things! Of course, our shadows were moving from west though north to east, at the same time changing from long to smaller to longer... By using this knowledge, I would always be able to tell roughly both the time and where north was, at least during the day. That could be very helpful, if I ever happened to get lost again!

Enthusiastically, I told my teacher about my newest insights.

Misha got a huge smile on his face, while he nodded approvingly. Then, he told me I was a very clever thinker! Not many boys my age would be able to understand how our shadows were moving around during the day, let alone knowing how to use this important knowledge practically!

However, within a second, I had my next question ready:

"How can I know where north is when it's dark, or too cloudy, or when I cannot see the sun?"

"Little man, again, you are a very clever thinker! Fortunately, I also plan to teach you several other ways of orientating, even when you cannot see the sun or create any shadows."

9. Different ways of orientating; my capabilities; and point of view.

Immediately, Misha went on with his lessons. He explained that, from now on, I should always look out for any usable orientation points. That way, I could always and everywhere orientate on our mountain tops, ravines, waterfalls, trees, and vegetation. He also told me to listen to and remember the direction of the mountain wind over our treetops, which always blew from the same direction...

Of course, I had at least two important questions for my teacher:

"What can I do if a thunderstorm rages, and the wind seemingly blows from everywhere? Or, if I am next to a waterfall; and its splashing noise drowns out the sound of the blowing wind?"

"You really are an excellent thinker! Fortunately, you can also look at many other things that help you orientate in our woods. For example, tree branches tend to grow towards the sunlight; so there is a difference between the northerly and the southerly branches. The same thing applies to moss; which tends to grow more onto the north sides of trees and moist boulders. Many plants always point their flowers towards the sunlight, even when it is dark or the sun isn't visible at all. And, last but not least, some people can train themselves to feel the forest energies, and orientate on them."

Suddenly, I felt VERY interested; and I perked my ears up while trying not to miss a word!

Train myself to feel the forest energies... wasn't that exactly what I always tried to do, when I copied Misha in our woods? Every time I felt the energies around me, my still very faint sensing became a bit more evident, as if it intensified by using my newly found abilities...

But, was there only one kind of forest energy, or would I have to deal with many different varieties? Unexpectedly, my 'orientation' teaching was becoming really interesting!

I sat more upright, and asked Misha my burning question:

"Misha, is there only one kind of energy around us? Many times, when people plan to visit our caravan, I can feel their energy field preceding them in advance. At first, everybody was amazed about my 'gift'; except for our Wise Woman, who did the same thing and wasn't surprised at all. Then, after some time, my parents became used to it; and they even started to reckon with what they called my 'clairvoyant abilities'... However, in our woods, I always feel too many different energies pulling at my aura; and I don't know how to separate them. Please, can you teach me what I have to do? Sometimes, I can sense other people's auras; but, at other times, they seem to have vanished..."

With sparkling eyes and a brightly beaming face, Misha exclaimed:

"See? You really are one of us! When I was still little, I always felt those energies around me, but I didn't know what to do with them. A few years ago, my own Dad discovered my abilities; and he and Michail took me into our forest, to teach me how to use them. Now, I feel honored to be able to teach you the same things! You only have to build up your sensitivity slowly, step by step. Please, can you tell me what you already know about those energies; and what exactly are you feeling?"

Feeling elated, I told Misha everything that I experienced! I told him how, as a little baby, I always understood what people told me, by sensing the energy of their words. I was also able to feel the energy fields around the people I loved most; and, soon, I recognized them by their specific auras. Now and then, I knew in advance what they were going to say, by just reading their thoughts.

I always 'felt' the energy of my herbs, and they 'talked' to me in my mind and told me what they wanted to be used for. Once, I knew exactly where little Dimi hid himself, by just concentrating on his name and sensing his energy field. When I was the seeker in our game of hide and seek; I could easily follow Jonno, by looking at his aura with my inner eyes. I had been able to muss up the thoughts of a gadjo police officer, by entering his mind and filling it up with pictures of dancing devils!

However, now and then, my abilities didn't seem to work; and I didn't know why that was...

One time, I had been able to follow Jonno's energy field in our camp, but I still couldn't sense our group of kids near our waterfall... Sometimes, our campfire faintly pulled at my energy; but, at other times, too many different energies were in the way and confused me... One time, I had sensed a red fox with a long tail in my snare; but, the next day, I didn't sense my snare at all... Obviously, I didn't know how to tune in correctly into only one single energy, while ignoring all the other energies.

What was I doing wrong, or how could I filter out all those disturbing energies around me?

All the time, Misha had listened intensely, open-mouthed, holding his breath...

Didn't my teacher expect me to have so many problems with sensing all those different energies? Would he now think I wasn't good enough to be able to learn anything important? Would he now send me back to my caravan, and tell me to develop my sensitivity some more first? Ultimately, I WAS the smallest child in our 'older kids' group; and our youngest 'natural trapper' ever...

I fell silent, slumped down onto my soft pillow, and stared at my still slightly swollen feet...

Then, I heard Misha exhale, immediately followed by a couple of very deep sighs!

I looked up at my teacher, and saw that he stared at me with almost reverence in his eyes...

Why did Misha look at me so funny? What had I done wrong? Was he now angry with me?

After heaving another very deep sigh, Misha told me, with a slightly trembling voice:

"My dear natural trapper; I am truly sorry, because I didn't realize you would be THIS far in your development... You could easily be our new Wise Boy, and work next to our Wise Woman! I really don't understand why your Dad chose ME to be your teacher... Sorry, but I don't know anything about all those energies you are telling me about; because I can feel only a few easy forest things around our woods. I fear I cannot teach you anything at all, in addition to all your amazing capabilities..."

This time, it was MY turn to listen intensely, open-mouthed, and holding my breath...

Did Misha really think he didn't know enough to teach me how to orientate in our woods?

Would my very experienced trapper friend now STOP being my teacher?

But... I didn't WANT to be such an 'upcoming shaman', or to have any 'amazing capabilities'!

I also didn't want to be 'our new Wise Boy' and work next to our Wise Woman, thank you very much!

I only wanted to be just a five-year-old little trapper boy, and learn some more about 'orientating'...

Why couldn't I be only some 'little duffer', instead of such a super-intelligent 'brainiac'?

Suddenly feeling angry, I slid down from our wooden bench and hobbled away.

Although Misha begged me to come back; I just entered my caravan, without looking back.

Because I also felt angry with Misha, and with myself, I didn't want to go on with my lessons!

Trying to spare my still sore legs and feet, I sauntered to my own caravan, without saying a word.

I wanted to be left alone, sit down in absolute silence, and think everything over first...

At the same time, I had some weird feeling, as if Misha could have betrayed my trust...

Inside my caravan, I hobbled to our empty living room, and slumped down onto our couch.

Outside, I saw Misha, leaving our bench and sauntering towards his own caravan, looking sad...

At that same moment, my inside got another weird feeling, as if life itself was betraying me! All my former enthusiasm was gone, as if I suddenly tumbled into a deep depression...

Angrily, I curled up into a tight ball; and didn't want to see, hear, or think anything any more.

Near the end of the day, my parents entered our caravan; looking surprised at seeing their little son curled up into a tight ball on our couch, as if he had fallen asleep like this...

However, I was awake; although I didn't feel or sense anything other than feeling depressed.

Slowly, I uncurled, wrestled upright, and crawled onto my Dad's lap, without saying a word.

Maybe, my Dad's powerful energy could help me feel a little bit better...

My Dad folded his warm and safe arms around my body, and tried to hold me tight, as usual...

At the same moment, I became ANGRY at being restricted; and wrestled free from my Dad's arms.

Not caring about his very surprised looking face, I hobbled to my own bed, and slumped down.

I didn't want to be restricted, by anybody! I only wanted to be LEFT ALONE!

What the heck was happening to me? This certainly was not my normal behavior...

My worried looking Mom entered my sleeping den, and felt my forehead to check for a fever.

Then, she wanted to know what had happened to my lessons, and why I was home early...

At first, I became angry at her too, and refused to talk to her. However, I forced myself to tell her that Misha's lessons had stopped early because I felt too tired. Now, I only wanted to be left alone, to think Misha's interesting lessons over before he went on tomorrow...

Shaking her head, my Mom left my sleeping den, and returned to our living room.

From there, I heard her talk to my Dad. She thought I could be a bit ill, as a backlash from my nasty experiences in our dense forest. Perhaps, our Wise Woman could help me?

Only, I didn't WANT to be helped by our Wise Woman! Therefore, I left my bed, and slowly hobbled back into our living room, pretending that everything was okay with me...

To prove I was not ill, I even followed my still worried looking Mom to our kitchen.

Absentmindedly, I helped her prepare our dinner, mixing my tasty herbs into our food on autopilot.

Hobbling on my still sore feet, I also helped her carry the filled platters towards our living room.

Finally, I sat down, next to my Dad, and absent-mindedly scooped up some food.

However, I didn't feel hungry; and only picked at our dinner, staring into empty space...

Again, my worried Mom wanted to call our Wise Woman, but I told her I was fine and didn't need any help! I was NOT ill, but only thought about what Misha told me during his interesting lessons...

Although I sensed that my Mom didn't really believe me; she stopped her fussing. She only felt my forehead again, but again didn't detect any fever or excessive sweat.

After a short time, I really wanted to go to bed, because I started to feel extremely tired.

My helpful Dad showered and washed me. Then, he carried me to my bed and tucked me in.

Within two minutes, I tumbled into a deep and dark sleep, filled with vague nightmares...

Halfway through the night, I started to dream about our Supreme Being, turning our earth around and around. Unexpectedly, He grinned at me, while threatening to reverse the turning and making me grow younger and younger... Of course, I became angry at Him; and told Him to leave me alone, and that He betrayed my trust! However, He told me I was now a Powerful Shaman and a Wise Boy; and dared me to stop Him... Feeling more and more angry at Him, I suddenly pulled the rope of gravity out of his hands. Only, from now on, turning our earth around and around was MY responsibility!

Desperately, I swung the rope around, while begging our Supreme Being to take over again...

When He didn't listen to me, I started to fill His mind with dancing little devils, making Him feel dizzy.

Chuckling, He took over, and again swung the rope of gravity around and around. Only, because He was still dizzy, our entire earth now started to sway from left to right and back to the left!

Slowly, I woke up, feeling dizzy and sweaty all over; still wrestling to take over the rope of gravity from our swaying Supreme Being, to prevent our earth from flying away and causing a disaster...

Just before I woke up completely, my very best Cosmic Friend, our Beloved King of Ancestors, took over, and stabilized our earth. Immediately, my dizziness went away, and I felt a lot better!

Now, my Cosmic Friend filled me with renewing energy, while He healed my strained legs and feet.

In the meantime, His warm and soulful voice told me:

"My dear friend; as I've already told you before, you needed this profound experience, to grow stronger and have even more confidence in your own abilities as a powerful Shaman and Mage. Soon, you will be our youngest Natural Real Trapper ever. Only, always listen to your own heart, and always do only those things that will make you feel really proud of yourself!"

Slowly, His warm and soulful voice subsided, while I woke up some more and opened my eyes.

Sleepily swaying on my feet, I stumbled out of my bed, to have a quick leak and drink some water.

Then, I went to my softly snoring parents, and worked myself in between them to feel safe and loved.

Within a few seconds, I drifted off into a sound and from now on dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to the bright sunlight, which peeked through a small gap in our curtains and tickled my eyes. Immediately, I sat upright and rubbed the sand out of my eyes.

Much to my delight, I found out that my so terribly strained leg muscles had healed almost completely, and my sore feet were only slightly swollen. My tiredness was nearly gone, and my overall stiffness had diminished considerably!

Feeling VERY thankful, I told my Ancestor Friend in my mind:

"Thank you very much, my powerful Friend, for helping and healing me!"

Almost dancing from happiness, I trotted to our living room, to have a quick look outside.

Misha sat on our own wooden bench, patiently staring at our campfire with a sad face...

Of course, my teacher still had no idea why I suddenly left him and went back to our caravan.

Thinking about it, I myself didn't have any idea either! I only knew that I suddenly was extremely tired, and felt betrayed by everybody around me... Fortunately, now, I was in an excellent mood again!

My parents had already left our caravan, so I prepared myself a nice breakfast and drank a glass of milk. Then, I stepped outside and trotted to our wooden bench, planning to apologize to Misha.

Only, before I reached our bench, our Wise Woman beckoned me over to her caravan!

What did our Wise Woman want from me? Could I have done anything wrong?

Hesitantly, I followed our Wise Woman into her caravan, where we sat down on her couch...

Could Misha have complained to her, about my asking too many questions?

Surprisingly, the Wise Woman only smiled at me and ruffled my hair, while she asked:

"My young natural trapper and upcoming little Shaman, how do you feel today?"

"Well... I don't really know how I feel, because something VERY strange has happened to me! Yesterday, I suddenly felt angry and betrayed by everybody. Last night, I had a frightening nightmare, about our Supreme Being challenging me to stop Him from reversing our earth... Then, my Ancestor Friend took over and healed my strained legs and swollen feet. This morning, I woke up feeling quite a lot better! I can now walk around on my legs and feet without feeling very much pain..."

The Wise Woman draped her warm arms around me, while she explained:

"Before your Mom left your caravan, she asked me to talk to you after you woke up; because she feels a bit worried about your rather strange behavior. She thinks you might have some backlash from your nasty experiences in our dense forest, and could be a bit ill... Of course, I told her not to worry, and that I would have a look at you and talk to you, after you woke up and first had some breakfast. After your Mom left, I went into a trance and contacted our Beloved Ancestors. One of them told me not to worry, and that He had given you a powerful healing during the night! He also told me that your strained body has endured too much stress; and your psyche now shows an angry reaction to your sudden fears after you got lost in our dense forest and didn't know the way back home. However, you also needed this experience, to grow stronger and have even more confidence in your own abilities...

Today, you still have to take it easy with your legs and feet; but, tomorrow, you are allowed to enter our woods again! Now, go back to your trapper friend, and have fun with your lessons."

The Wise Woman hugged me, kissed the top of my head, and walked me towards the door.

Suddenly squinting at the bright sunlight, I left her caravan, and raced towards Misha...

During the next hour, Misha and I had a deep and revealing talk. First, I told my friend everything that had happened to me, yesterday and last night, after I left him all of a sudden. I also told him what our Wise Woman had told me, and that she allowed me to enter our woods again tomorrow.

Now, Misha told me about his own doubts, when he found out that I could be an upcoming little Shaman and our next Wise Boy. He hadn't understood why I suddenly left him; but decided not to worry about anything, and return the next day as if nothing had happened...

In unison, we decided that, for the time being, Misha would try to forget everything that I had told him about being able to feel all these different energies around me. From now on, he would continue to see me as he always did; an intelligent little brainiac with a big mouth and too many questions.

Misha was an excellent natural trapper, and I was an upcoming little Shaman; and we both had our own unique and useful abilities! Therefore, Misha would go on training me to be an even better trapper; and, after we were ready, I would try to help him develop some of my 'special gifts'...

After we had our revealing talk, we first went to my caravan and drank some tasty orange juice.

Then, Misha started to continue his very interesting lessons in 'orientation'.

First, he showed me how nearby objects always look bigger than far away objects seem to be...

Suddenly, I remembered the first few months of my life, when I brought my foot towards my face and saw it growing bigger and bigger! Now, my curious brain finally understood why that was!

Feeling elated, I listened to Misha's explanation about using 'perspective' and 'point of view'; which always seemed to move the nearby and further away things differently. This could be very useful, when moving around while looking at nearby and far away trees or mountain tops...

A completely new world opened up to me, and I was fascinated and felt elated! Of course, I didn't know anything about 'geometry'; but this was my first lesson in it, and I felt extremely enthusiastic.

Immediately, I wanted to know a lot more about this useful phenomenon:

"What about our stars? Are there nearby and far away stars too, to help you orientate at night?"

"I am sure that the stars over our heads are too far away to show us any visible point of view shifting. But, our stars are certainly able to tell you where the North Pole is! In fact, finding North at night is extremely easy. Here, have a look at this drawing of our sky at night..."

Misha drew a picture in the sand, trying to depict a part of the sky over our heads at night.

He drew several stars, cleverly divided them into a couple of groups, and told me that many different groups of stars each had their own names, which were called 'constellations'.

Now, he showed me how I could recognize the 'Polestar', always and everywhere:

"This star is called the 'North Star' or 'Polestar', because everybody all over the world will always see this star in its same place. Point towards this star, and you always know where North is!"

After I nodded that I understood everything that he told me; Misha drew another picture of our sky at night, this time seen from a totally different position. Although this new picture differed quite a lot from the first one, I immediately found the North Star, and proudly pointed to it!

Suddenly, my teacher started to repeat several things he had told me earlier; and he asked me many rather difficult questions about them, as sort of an unexpected exam.

Of course, due to my extremely good memory, nearly every time, I knew the correct answer; but Misha's questioning also helped me remember all the important things even better.

My very experienced trapper friend really was an excellent teacher!

Finally, he told me to go to bed early, to be ready for my first field lesson the next morning...

Sometime during that night, I suddenly woke up, remembering some happy dream about knowing my way everywhere, by always looking at the Polestar over my head.

Would our stars at night really look exactly as Misha had depicted them in the sand?

Silently, I crawled out of my bed, tiptoed towards our caravan door, and sneaked outside...

Shivering from the sudden cold, I stared in rapt at all the blinking stars over my head. The sheer beauty of our Milky Way overwhelmed me; making me feel very small and vulnerable.

Suddenly, I really felt like some tiny ant, standing on an enormous bolder full of huge mountains, outstretched forests, and a circle of Gypsy caravans around a faintly glowing campfire...

However, I knew exactly where North was, as I easily recognized the Polestar!

What more interesting things would Misha teach me tomorrow?

Soon, sleep overpowered me too much, and I hasted back inside. Silently, I crawled in between my snoring parents, to let them warm my shivering little body.

My Dad woke up a little bit, and mumbled something about my being very cold... However, I was already deep asleep, and didn't hear the rest of his muttering.

This time, I dreamed about our enormous universe, with its zillions of blinking stars. Many stars had little ants on them, staring at their own suns with attached ropes of gravity. Our Supreme Being turned them around and around, so that they all had day and night and all the different seasons...

Would, maybe at this same moment, on other planets, other little boys like me look in rapt at all the blinking stars over their heads, musing about little ants and pulling ropes of gravity?

Would I ever be able to contact them, and talk to them about all our new discoveries?

Suddenly, our Supreme Being showed up in my dream, and broadly smiled at me!

He told me to pay very close attention to Misha's orientation lessons; because I would need them, to use them during the rest of my very long and very interesting life...

10. Orientation points; a dowsing rod; again my elusive porcupine.

The next day, my grounding was over; and I felt very happy to be allowed to enter our woods again! Early in the morning, I woke up, and immediately felt full of anticipation.

Hurriedly, I prepared myself a healthy breakfast and wolfed it down, because my parents were still snoring in unison in their double bed. The lazy slackers...

After drinking a glass of milk, I trotted outside, to enjoy the already abundantly shining morning sun on my skin. Just like most other kids, I already started to get a nice golden tan all over my body!

Impatiently, I sat down on our own wooden bench, waiting for Misha to show up.

Come on, lazy slacker, your pupil is waiting for you, to resume his interesting lessons...

Little Dimi showed up from his caravan, stormed towards me, and asked:

"How are your 'oriontation' lessons? Do you already know your way anywhere in our woods?"

"Not yet; but Misha has already taught me many very interesting things, and I am sure I will soon be able to use them around our woods and dense forest! Fortunately, since today, I am allowed to enter our woods again, because my strained legs and swollen feet are almost healed. By the way, the correct word is still 'oriEntation', with an 'e'..."

"I know, silly! Of course, I am only teasing you, because you are such a brainiac. After Misha is ready, will you please teach me how to orientate too? I still want to be like you!"

"Of course, you will never be like me! I will always be like Prince Harold; and you will always be like Dimitri; and there is nothing wrong with that. Yes, I will try to teach you Misha's lessons; but only after Misha is ready with his teachings, and I have first practiced them a lot."

At that moment, Misha's caravan door opened; and my fifteen-year-old teacher appeared in the doorway, yawning and looking sleepy. A broad smile lit up his face when he saw us, and he trotted towards our wooden bench, ruffled little Dimi's curly hair, and sat down next to us.

Teasingly tickling my ribs and ruffling my still uncombed blond hair, he asked me:

"This morning, both of you are early birds! Shall we go to our woods immediately, so that I can teach you my first field lesson? Sorry, Dimi, but you will have to wait until you are completely dry and your two Moms allow you to join us into our woods..."

My 'black and white' friend looked a bit sad, while he sauntered towards a few other 'diaper kids'.

I knew how he felt; because he had to wait until he would be old enough to stay dry during the night.

Still feeling full of anticipation, I trotted after Misha towards our surrounding bushes. What interesting things would Misha want to teach me this morning? Would he now start telling me about all the different earth and forest energies that I always sensed around us?

Walking together, now and then bumping into each other on purpose, we entered the winding path to our huge clearing. Fortunately, my healed feet and legs felt only a little bit stiff, but they were not painful at all. My Ancestor Friend had done an excellent job with healing me during my sleep!

Immediately after we arrived in our clearing and disappeared into the overgrown vegetation, Misha started to train my abilities. Time and again, he told me to train myself in recognizing all the different orientation points he had told me about; while he took me along another winding path, towards a small and heavily overgrown clearing I had never been to before.

Here, Misha halted and turned towards me, while he asked:

"Can you still tell me from where the sun shines, now that we cannot see it through the foliage?"

Fortunately, I had an excellent memory, and I told my teacher with a proud voice:

"While we left our camp, the sun shone at our backs, slightly to the left. In our huge clearing, I could see the sun again, and it was exactly where I expected it to be. Then, we entered this winding path, but it steered us only slightly to the right. Therefore, I am sure that the sun now shines exactly at our backs, and our shadows are still in front of us."

Misha beamed, while he enthusiastically ruffled my hair and told me:

"This is correct, and you are a very good observer! Can you also tell me from where the wind blew while we left our camp, and from which direction it blows now?"

Of course, I knew both answers; and Misha told me he was very happy with his outstanding pupil.

He left the small clearing and retook me into the dense undergrowth, in the meantime asking me many more questions... Had I spotted that small water stream, hidden under the dense foliage? Did I hear the little waterfall over there, although we couldn't see it? Had I noticed the subtle change in our surrounding vegetation? Had I seen in which direction all those yellow flowers were pointing?

Suddenly, Misha stopped in another heavily overgrown clearing, and asked me:

"Could you tell me, from here, in which direction our camp is?"

This time, being at an unknown place that was situated somewhere in the middle of nowhere, orientating turned out to be a lot more difficult! Of course, I again tried to depict the surroundings in my mind, while trying to remember where we had been and what I had seen and heard...

However, this time, we had made too many turns, and I couldn't orientate myself any more.

After a moment of trying to 'feel' the energy of our camp, I had to confess:

"I am sure I can still find our way back from the small water stream or from the little waterfall. But, since then, I have lost all orientation, because I cannot hear the wind or see the sun any more..."

Misha smiled at me and ruffled my unruly hair, while he chuckled:

"I hoped so; because that is exactly why I am bringing you here! Now, please, remember to use all the other means of orientating that I already taught you..."

Yes, of course! Why hadn't I thought of that before... Because I didn't see the sun any more, I could now look for any differences between the north sides and the south sides of the trees!

I stepped towards a huge tree, and looked up along its stem towards its many entangled branches.

Indeed, all the branches tended to grow towards the South, where they could catch the most sunlight!

With a proud voice, I told Misha what I saw, and where I was sure North would be...

Misha nodded; while I walked around until I found a couple of moist boulders. I looked at their moss patterns, and could see that all the moss clearly thickened towards the North!

Then, I saw a plant with flowers; and all its flowers were looking into the same direction. I knew they always tried to reach towards the sun, even under the dense foliage where they couldn't see it...

I became more and more enthusiastic; and started to feel like a real explorer. From now on, I would always know where North was, and from where the sun was shining. And, since I knew from which direction I had left our camp, I would always roughly know how to get back home!

Happily, I put my arms around my friend and teacher, and thanked him for his valuable lessons.

Misha accepted my compliment with a proud face, and went on:

"Up to now, you have proven to be a really fast pupil, and I am very proud of you! Therefore, I think we should go on to your next lesson. This time, I want to teach you how you can use all the different energies around our woods and dense forests, to orientate."

At hearing this, I could barely restrain myself; and nearly started to jump up and down from enthusiasm! Finally, Misha would teach me how to develop and use my unfolding shaman abilities!

This was what I had been waiting for all the time...

Much to my surprise, Misha told me to look around and get a small forked twig from some tree!

What the heck did I need some forked twig for? I thought that Misha was going to teach me how to sense and use all the different earth and forest energies around us?

Impatiently, I turned towards my smiling friend, to ask him my questions...

Misha smiled at seeing my impatient face; while he demonstrated how I should fetch the correct size of forked twig, from a not too thick tree branch that was both strong and elastic.

Unwillingly, I copied my teacher, and fetched my own forked twig from some elastic branch...

Now, Misha showed me how I had to take the small forked twig into both closed fists.

Next, I had to bend my arms and wrists, so that the tip of my strained twig pointed forward in some quivering equilibrium! That way, even the tiniest change in my tensed arm muscles would be clearly visible, by moving the slightly quivering tip of my forked twig up or down...

Unexpectedly, my inside was sure I had used such a forked twig many times before, during one of my past lives! At that time, I had used my twig to find hidden water streams and dig wells.

Would Misha now teach me how to find hidden water streams and dig wells in our woods?

In the meantime, I already got the hang of it; and, soon, I was able to let the tip of my fork move up and down at will, by tensing my arm muscles only the tiniest bit.

In fascination, I looked at the forked twig in my hands. Surprisingly, its slightly trembling tip really listened to even the tiniest movement of my arm and wrist muscles! I only had to bend the fork with my arms and wrists, so that the tip of my 'dowsing rod' was on the verge of turning over...

Misha nodded approvingly, while he explained what he wanted me to do:

"This forked twig is also called a 'dowsing rod'; and native inhabitants all over the world have been using such a device, during many thousands of years. The fork amplifies every movement; so that you can see even the tiniest change in your muscle tension, by observing its moving tip..."

Misha waited, until I had tried out my amplifying fork tip some more; before he asked:

"Please, could you now think of something which is true; while you look at what your dowsing rod does, but without moving your arms or your hands at will?"

I did what my teacher asked me to do; by thinking about telling him we were good friends...

Immediately, the tip of my dowsing rod moved upwards; while I was absolutely sure I hadn't done anything to make it move. This was an extremely strange phenomenon I had never seen before!

I let my thoughts return to neutral; and the tip returned to its starting position.

This was almost eerie! Would this phenomenon also work, if I thought about something that was untrue? To try it out, I thought about telling Misha that I had black hair...

Immediately, the tip of my dowsing rod slumped down, now sadly pointing towards the ground!

From sudden shock and disbelief, I nearly let my dowsing rod fall out of my hands. Never before had I seen such a strange phenomenon, which clearly reacted to my THINKING...

Misha started to laugh at seeing my surprised face, while he told me:

"When used correctly, a dowsing rod always works, every time you think about something. When your thoughts are true, your Inner Power grows a little bit, and the rod moves up. If they are untrue, you are losing power, and the rod slumps down. Therefore, 'positive thinking' always is good for you, while 'negative thinking' can make you ill! Everybody knows this; but only a few people know how to use the phenomenon to get useful answers from your own unconscious mind. By using a dowsing rod, or any other similar device, asking your Inner Self for any relevant answer is a piece of cake!"

Again, Misha waited, until I had digested his information and nodded my consent. Up to now, I never knew that 'talking to your Inner Self' or 'listening to your own heart' could be this simple! You only had to strain a forked twig, think of a question, and look at what the tip of your 'dowsing rod' did.

This could be VERY useful; and it would be fun to try it out on all my other thoughts!

After Misha saw that I was ready to digest his next piece of information, he went on:

"Every unconscious mind always knows where 'home' is. That is why we use our 'carrier pigeons' to send each other our important messages. The pigeon always knows where its nest is, even from a far distance; just like all the animals in our forest always return to their own nest or lair. In the same way, Bedouins always know their ways through the desert, finding their oases in the moving sand dunes without ever getting lost. Native Africans always find their temporary huts, even through the densest of unknown rain forests, by using their 'Inner Eye'. Eskimos always return to their igloos in the ever-changing North pole snow, even if their homes are snowed under and practically invisible..."

Fortunately, last year, after we had told each other about our past lives, the oldest kids had explained a couple of things about several other countries. Therefore, I knew what a 'desert' was, an 'African', an 'Eskimo', and an 'igloo'; although I had never left our secluded camp.

However, I had another important question for my teacher:

"Misha, how does a pigeon use a dowsing rod, to find its nest? I never saw any bird use one..."

Misha started to chuckle at the funny thought, while he explained:

"A carrier pigeon doesn't need a dowsing rod, or any other appliance, because it uses its 'inner awareness' to feel where it has to go. But, for most humans, until we are trained to listen to or feel the energies around us, a dowsing rod can be a very helpful instrument."

Silently, I thought Misha's information over. Again, my teacher talked about 'feeling energies'! Obviously, once you were a trained trapper, you didn't need to use a dowsing rod any more...

Automatically, while thinking, I continued to strain my dowsing rod, by trying to keep its tip in its equilibrium, pointing forward. Very much to my delight, every time I thought of something, the slightly trembling tip moved up or down a little bit, according to my feelings!

It was as if my dowsing rod had followed all my thoughts, and immediately reacted on them...

Feeling more and more enthusiastic, I started to try out a couple of things.

Misha had told me that my 'unconscious mind' knew where 'home' was... Immediately, the tip of my dowsing rod moved up a little bit, as if it positively confirmed my thoughts.

Would my unconscious mind also know where, for example, our waterfall was? Immediately, the tip of my dowsing rod moved up even more! Obviously, its enthusiastic answer was 'yes'!

Only, how would this forked twig tip be able to show me the way to our waterfall?

Let's ask Misha about it:

"Misha, how can I find our waterfall; by using the tip of my dowsing rod? Do I have to ask it for a 'yes' or a 'no', while I think of all the possible directions?"

"You want to storm towards my next lesson immediately? Well, okay, I suppose you are receptive enough to give it a try... This time, let your strained dowsing rod point down instead of forward. Now, turn around slowly, while you concentrate your thoughts on finding our waterfall..."

Feeling very curious about what would happen this time, I strained my forked twig again; but forced its trembling tip to point downwards. Now, I thought of walking towards our waterfall...

Only, this time, nothing happened! Why didn't my dowsing rod react to my thoughts, as it had done before? Had this to do with letting my dowsing rod point downwards instead of forward?

Slowly, I started to turn around, while looking at the still unmoving tip and thinking of our waterfall...

Suddenly, the tip moved up and pointed forward, as if it tried to tell me where I had to go!

For a moment, I felt surprised; and then, I nearly started to dance from enthusiasm. My dowsing rod was clearly showing me the way to our waterfall, by acting as sort of a compass!

Wanting to know more about this phenomenon, I turned around a little bit further... and, immediately, the pointing tip went down again, as if it wanted to correct me from turning too far!

Would my dowsing compass really bring me to our waterfall?

Hesitantly, I stepped forward, thinking of our waterfall, following the tip of my forked twig...

Within a second, I landed in the middle of some dense undergrowth; just like Misha always did when he brought us towards where he wanted to be. Only, HE always knew his way without using any dowsing rod! Obviously, Misha had other ways of knowing his way, without using any appliance...

Of course, I wanted to learn his even more useful ability as well!

Fortunately, my 'usual ability', of sensing hidden cracks and overgrown potholes, still worked. Every time I sensed where the next hidden crack or nasty pothole was, I happily jumped across it.

Now and then, I had to move around a thorn bush, or to round some too huge boulder. After that, I immediately reused my dowsing rod again, by turning around while concentrating on our waterfall.

Soon, its trembling tip moved up again, pointing towards where I had to go...

Misha just followed me, looking proud, but without saying anything. By reading his mind, I found out that my experienced trapper friend felt extremely surprised by my unexpected abilities. He never thought I would be this good at using such a hitherto unknown dowsing instrument!

Now and then, I was able to 'feel' the energy of our waterfall and to predict in advance where the tip of my dowsing rod would point to; but the feeling was still very faint and unreliable. Yet, every time, the faint feeling seemed to grow a little bit stronger and more reliable... I was sure that, very soon, I would be able to just follow my 'sensing' abilities, without using my dowsing rod at all!

Was this how Misha always knew his way, without using any appliance at all?

Within a few minutes of following the moving tip of my dowsing rod, I suddenly recognized the so well-known surroundings! My dowsing rod had brought me flawlessly to our own waterfall. And, I had found it all on my own, without any help from Misha or from my Ancestor Friends!

Happily, I started to dance around, while I nearly cried from happiness... From now on, I would never again get lost! I only had to use some forked twig, and concentrate on where I wanted to go...

I felt on cloud nine; and immediately wanted to experiment a lot more with my newly found ability.

This time, I thought of my trap, set up at the end of our steep ravine...

Soon, my forked twig jumped up again, pointing to where I was now sure my trap would be.

I looked at Misha; and he seemed to know what I wanted to do and nodded approvingly.

Again, I followed the tip of my dowsing rod, walking straight into the dense forest.

To my utmost delight, my dowsing rod brought me flawlessly to where I wanted to be! I arrived exactly at the end of our steep ravine and our own flat boulder!

Again, I started to dance around from sheer enthusiasm.

Never again would any troublemaking porcupine ever trick me into getting lost!

Besides, where would the beast be now, after I evicted it from its lair?

Had it been too frightened to return?

Misha had followed me all the time, looking very proud of his little pupil:

"Harry, you absolutely are a REAL natural; and I think we should switch places. From now on, you are going to teach ME..."

"Huh? Do you think so? I am just too amazed that it's working..."

"Yes! You are VERY special; as this is the first time ever you are using a dowsing rod! This is almost unbelievable, for such a young kid..."

I didn't really believe Misha, but again strained my forked twig.

This time, I concentrated on Misha's trap, letting my dowsing rod point the way towards it.

Of course, its moving tip led me flawlessly towards the small bush where he had set it up!

Misha grinned at my ministrations; went into the bush; and returned carrying a fat marmot.

He set up his snare along another animal trail, and we went on.

Now, I wanted to go to my own trap, set up in a small bush a little bit further away.

I really hoped to have caught an animal, so that I finally could roast my first beast of this season.

Hesitantly, I went towards my trap...

A moment later, I stared at my snare, open-mouthed, not believing my own eyes...

There was my porcupine, staring at me with its dead eyes!

I HAD CAUGHT MY ELUSIVE PORCUPINE!

This time, I totally forgot to be silent.

Shouting at the top of my lungs, I announced my victory, while dancing around Misha like crazy!

Finally, I was able to roast my porcupine over our campfire, as I had promised it in my anger!

The beast had NOT escaped my wrath!

After I calmed down, we swung our caught animals onto our shoulders, and went home.

This time, Misha led the way, because I was way too enthusiastic to be able to properly concentrate on our camp...

Half an hour later, we were home, and started to prepare our animals.

That evening, we shared a delicious roasted porcupine and a fat marmot with our friends.

We all licked our fingers clean and burped loudly, to thank our caught animals for offering us their healthy meat.

I even thought I heard the spirit of my porcupine, faintly telling me 'you are welcome', but I wasn't sure...

However, being thankful certainly felt great!

11. Negative earth energy; pretending; and being friends forever.

The next morning, I woke up early, again feeling full of anticipation.

Hastily, I prepared my own healthy breakfast and drank a glass of milk, not bothering about waking my parents.

By now, they knew I was sufficiently self-supporting to be able to look after myself!

Only, combing my hair was still a point of dispute; because I liked to look a bit more 'natural', while my Mom wanted me to look 'decent'...

After 'combing' my unruly hair, by using all my fingers as a comb, I trotted outside and retook my place on our wooden bench.

Obviously, Misha was still snoring in his bed, having his 'beauty sleep'...

Come on, lazy slacker, you have to teach your pupil the next important lesson!

For a moment, I thought about going to Misha's caravan, and pound the door to wake him up.

However, I was sure his mother and little sister wouldn't appreciate that...

Thus, I forced myself to calm down and be a bit more patient.

A moment later, little Dimi bolted out of his own caravan, raced up to me, and panted:

"Harry, has Misha already taught you how to orientate in our woods, as he promised?"

"Morning, Dimi, and you are a really early bird! The answer is yes; but I am still learning quite a lot more."

"Please, after you have learned orientating, can you teach it to me too?"

"Yes, of course, no problem! You only have to wait, until I am ready and you are allowed to enter our woods..."

Little Dimi started to beam all over, with sparkling eyes and a big smile on his face.

Apparently, he was very eager to join me and have his first lessons in our woods.

I knew how he felt...

Finally, Misha's caravan door opened; and my teacher showed up in the doorpost, yawning and looking sleepy.

However, his face immediately lit up when he saw me, and he trotted towards our bench.

Smiling from ear to ear, he punched my arm and asked me:

"Shall we go into our woods immediately? Today, I want you to repeat all the things I taught you, before we go on with my next lesson."

I nodded my consent, and put my arms around a now sad looking little Dimi:

"My friend, I know how you feel. But, soon, it will be YOUR time to be our youngest kid in the woods. Just be patient..."

I rose from our bench and followed my teacher, to have my 'exam' and get my next lesson.

Walking together, we entered our winding path, while little Dimi turned around and slowly sauntered back to his own caravan.

This time, Misha took me to an unknown part of our dense forest I had never visited before.

For quite some time, we followed winding paths, crossed foaming water streams, and jumped across small ravines.

All the time, my teacher asked me many questions about every single thing I saw or heard on our way.

Of course, I knew all the answers; and I started to feel really proud of myself!

Then, Misha suddenly halted, stopping in some deserted place in the middle of nowhere.

Here, we were surrounded by very dense undergrowth; having extremely thick foliage over our heads.

I didn't see the sun, couldn't hear the wind over the treetops, and I didn't see any flowers or moss to orientate from.

This strange place also seemed to radiate some eerie energy, making me feel disorientated and a bit dizzy...

Misha laughed at my questioning face, while he told me:

"From here, I want you to bring us straight to our waterfall."

What? Wouldn't this 'exam' be a bit too simple?

Of course, this task was extremely easy, because Misha had taught me how to use a dowsing rod!

Feeling certain of myself, I went to a bush, and found a nice looking forked twig.

I took the twig into both hands; and strained it by bending my arms and wrists, as I had done many times since yesterday.

Next, I forced its moving tip to point down, concentrated on our waterfall, and slowly turned around...

To my surprise, nothing happened!

The tip of my dowsing rod didn't move at all, although I did my utmost to concentrate on our waterfall.

Next, I thought of my trap, and even of our own caravan, but my rod didn't react at all...

Its tip just stayed where it was, pointing down all the time!

What the heck had happened to my so praised 'trapper abilities'?

Why didn't my dowsing rod react, although I had used it yesterday with a lot of success?

Feeling more and more frustrated, I looked at Misha for clarification...

Misha laughed again at my frustrated face, while he explained:

"This is exactly why I taught you many other ways of orientating; because a dowsing rod doesn't always work reliably.

"Here, in this particular spot, the earth itself radiates a strong negative energy; probably due to some underground water well.

"Even the birds and other animals know they have to avoid this place, because it confuses them and makes them feel dizzy and disorientated.

"Native people never build their huts on good looking places; but they always look for good feeling places to set up their bed!

"If staying in a place like this for too long, the negative energies will make you very tired, and finally ill.

"Now, please, walk away a couple of steps, and try to use your dowsing rod again."

My goodness... I never thought that the earth itself could be such a dangerous place to live on.

From now on, I would be very careful as to where I would sleep or sit down!

Fortunately, such a place seemed to warn me in advance, by making me feel uneasy and a bit dizzy...

Now, I did as Misha told me, and walked away a couple of steps.

Almost immediately, my dizziness went away, and I could think more clearly!

Again, I strained my dowsing rod, thought of our waterfall, and turned around until its tip moved up.

Fortunately, my forked twig worked again; and I walked happily into the direction it showed me...

A moment later, I was back in our eerie 'earth energy' spot, again feeling confused and dizzy!

What the heck was happening around here?

Why did my dowsing rod bring me back to this strange place?

This was really eerie!

Misha started to laugh at my confused face, while he told me:

"Now, you see why it's dangerous to rely solely on your dowsing rod! Around this place, the too strong earth energies are still tricking you.

"The negative radiation tries to let you follow the underground water streams, by pulling you towards its strongest energy source.

"Many people lost their way like this; because they relied on their pointing dowsing rod, but unnoticed followed some hidden stream instead.

"You always have to use all your other ways of orientating as well; and, please, check, recheck, and double-check your path, time and again!"

"Okay. But... how come YOU don't seem to be influenced by the negative energies? I bet you still know your way around here..."

"Yes, you are right; and that is because I am now concentrating on the energy of the sun, while discarding all the disturbing energies.

"Our sun is the most powerful source of energy in our universe; and it easily overrides any earthly radiation."

Of course, I immediately tried to tune into the powerful energy of our sun!

Once I knew from where the sun was shining, I could also roughly estimate where North was...

But... how should I concentrate on the sun, with all those disturbing negative energies around me?

I was still feeling disorientated, dizzy, and unable to think properly...

Suddenly, before I had a chance to ask Misha my question, I heard a warm voice in my head:

"Pretend you are a shaman, and you will know exactly what to do!"

For a moment, I was struck dumb and didn't know what to think of it.

Was this for real?

Had I really heard a voice in my head, telling me what I should do?

I even thought I recognized the warm voice of my powerful Ancestor...

But, then, my Spirit Guides were here, in this strange place, and helping me!

Was I really that important to them?

Wow...

Of course, I decided to do as the voice in my head told me.

However, how could I 'pretend' to be a shaman who knew what to do?

I had never done such a thing before...

Then, I realized that, as a kid, I knew exactly how to play, and pretend to be something else while playing!

I had been able to pretend I was a little 'badger', and that worked flawlessly...

Tentatively, I closed my eyes, straightened my back, and tried to pretend I was a wise and powerful 'shaman'...

At the same moment, my mind started to feel a lot older; while I became full of power, and much wiser than I ever thought would be possible.

I was in some strange and unknown forest full of negative energies, but knew exactly what I had to do.

First, I closed my aura, so that all those surrounding energies didn't disorientate me anymore.

Next, I opened only one small sensing gap; while I tuned it into the faint energy of our waterfall.

Then, I looked at the now clearly visible energy connection, using my 'inner eye', thus knowing exactly which direction I had to go!

Feeling stunned, I tumbled out of my 'shaman' role, and returned into the little boy I was in reality.

This had been a very strange experience!

Had I really remembered one of my past lives as a powerful shaman, who knew exactly what to do?

And, would I now be able to use the ancient wisdom from my former incarnation, to find our waterfall?

Hesitantly, I decided to try out my newly found knowledge...

To my surprise, it felt absolutely natural to close my aura first, before I started to tune into anything!

That way, no disturbing energies would ever be able to enter my energy field and interfere with my feelings...

There was the missing link I had been looking for while I tried to copy Misha!

Finally, I understood what 'tuning into any energy' meant in reality.

Now, let's try out my newly found capabilities on our waterfall...

I threw my dowsing rod away; and enthusiastically started to walk towards the waterfall energy.

Again, I tried to see its energy connection with my inner eye, by opening a small gap in my aura and tune into its faint energy field.

A moment later, I found out that I was way too agitated to tune in properly into anything!

I had to train myself first, to stay calm and be 'tuned in' all the time, before I could be a real shaman...

Well, okay, let's start immediately!

I turned towards Misha, and told him what I tried to do.

I also told him what our Ancestor had said, and that I suddenly felt like an old and wise shaman.

Now, I wanted to train myself to stay calm all the time, while tuning into where I wanted to go...

Misha looked surprised, but he didn't comment and just told me to go on.

He followed me towards our waterfall from a small distance, while I forced myself to stay calm and concentrated...

Slowly, my sensitivity opened up more and more, while my energy connections became stronger and stronger.

Although I felt more and more enthusiastic, I was really able to suppress my feelings for as long as I needed to stay calm!

Within a few hours of training, I turned into a real shaman and an excellent trapper, unconsciously remembering my past lives.

Soon, nothing around me could disturb my aura anymore, or push me out of my concentration.

Time and again, I brought us to where Misha told me to go; even across the most difficult terrain full of disturbing energies!

In the meantime, my teacher told me a couple of important restrictions, because I had to seriously reckon with them:

My abilities didn't work reliably when a thunderstorm raged and disturbed the cosmic energies.

Misha told me that even our pigeons got lost and didn't return to their nests during such atmospheric conditions.

He also warned me about being feverish or too sleepy, because that could hinder my concentration as well.

If I didn't feel well, I simply had to wait, or rely on somebody else to bring me home.

Tracking other people or living animals was difficult as well, as they naturally tend to protect their auras against any 'energy intruders'...

That was why nobody could find me, not even our Wise Woman, after I got lost in our dense forest!

As an upcoming shaman, I had protected my own aura too well...

Chuckling, I realized that I had already found a workable solution, once I knew where I could find somebody...

I just used my 'inner eye', to look at them and follow their energy field, as I had done before with Jonno and with little Dimi!

This combination of 'feeling' and 'looking with my inner eye' always worked for me.

In addition, I also sensed the sun, orientated myself, and listened to the wind; to check, recheck, and double-check my path until I was absolutely sure!

After a few more hours of training my newly found abilities, I became too tired, and asked Misha to have a short pause.

Misha nodded his consent; while I brought us straight to our flat boulder next to the steep ravine.

There, we sat down, and I positioned myself in between Misha's legs, leaning into his familiar chest.

Silently, we admired the beautiful sight of the meandering water stream at the bottom of the ravine.

It felt good, to have a friend like Misha; and, at that time, I was sure we would be friends forever...

Then, Misha started to talk:

"My little trapper friend, I think I am a bit jealous of your many wonderful capabilities! Again, you are developing so extremely fast...

"My own Dad and Michail needed almost a year, before they had trained me sufficiently to be a real trapper, and be allowed to enter our woods on my own.

"Now, you are doing the same thing in no more than two days' time, and with an outstanding result. This is almost unbelievable!

"Who are you? No, don't give me your answer... I can already guess it myself. Our Ancestors are training you to be a leader and help our earth.

"During the last few hours, I have seen you grow up; becoming a powerful shaman and a real trapper, instead of a five-and-a-half-year-old little boy.

"I only hope I will be allowed to help you and your Spirit Friends with your task, once you are ready. That would make me very happy..."

I looked up at my friend, who now had tears in his eyes; and answered his question from my heart:

"I think this decision will not be mine, but it would make me happy too. You are my best friend, and I really hope our friendship will last forever.

"However, I'm having a strange feeling, as if we first will be separated for a very long time. Only, don't ask me when or why that is...

"In the meantime, do you want me to train some more, or shall we call it a day and go home?"

"I am sure you are ready! I only wanted to enjoy your company a bit longer, before you leave me and enter our woods on your own...

"After we are home, our Wise Woman will test you. Next, if she is satisfied with the results, she will promote you to be our youngest Real Trapper!

"I only hope she doesn't think you are too young and have to wait a few more years..."

"Well, let's find out! And, thank you very much, my friend, for teaching me how to 'oriontate' in our woods!"

"Thank YOU very much, for allowing me to teach you the few things I know. I hope I didn't disappoint you. Besides, the correct word is 'oriEntate'..."

We both started to laugh, thinking of little Dimi, while we slowly rose from our flat boulder.

Next, we put our arms around each other's shoulders, and sauntered home.

Of course, I led the way, concentrating on our campfire...

12. My Ancestor Friend wants me to be our youngest real trapper.

Soon, we entered our camp, and parted to go to our own caravans.

However, nobody was home; and I drank some water, and washed my face and hands.

Next, I went outside again; and sat down on our wooden bench, to wait for my parents to show up.

A moment later, little Dimi left his game of hide and seek and approached me:

"Harry, are you ready with orientating? Please, can you now teach ME how to do it?"

"Yes, I am ready. And, no, I cannot teach you yet, because you have to wait until you are allowed to enter our woods."

"Oh yeah..."

Dimi looked a bit sad; and I put my arms around his small frame and pulled him onto my lap.

Again, he really felt as if he could be my own little son!

It also felt completely natural, to have him on my lap and cradle him.

Wanting to help him overcome his sadness, I told him:

"I know how you feel; because I waited a long time myself, until I no longer wet my diaper at night...

"Today, I am too tired; but, next time, I will try to teach you a few things in advance. Okay?"

"OKAY! You really are my best friend! When can we start?"

I chuckled at Dimi's eagerness, and kissed the top of his head.

I really wanted to make him happy, and thought about teaching him a few things about the sun and our shadows...

Then, my parents showed up; and I eased Dimi off my lap and raced towards my smiling Dad!

I jumped up at him, and he caught me adeptly in his strong and safe arms and held me close.

Octopussing myself against his broad chest, I told him:

"Dad, Misha finished my teaching; but he told me that our Wise Woman wants to test me. Shall we ask her to do it now?"

"Well... let's wait until everybody else is present and we have had some proper dinner first. Okay?"

"Okay. I only hope she will not think I am still too young to be a real trapper..."

A moment later, my other friends showed up from our woods, carrying lots of fat marmots and other small critters.

Immediately, I left my parents and raced to our surrounding bushes, to gather lots of nicely smelling herbs!

Our friends hadn't forgotten Misha and me, while we were training in our woods; and, every day, they provided us with fat slices of their own meat.

From now on, everything would return to normal, and Misha and I would again catch our own animals...

Soon, we all sat around our campfire, talking to each other while savoring our tasty meal.

Of course, I started to tell my friends about all my adventures with Misha as my teacher.

Wisely, I left out the part where our Ancestor talked to me and told me to pretend to be a shaman...

I didn't want my friends to put me onto a pedestal, instead of seeing me as just another small kid.

Finally, we divided the last slices of meat, and I went to our own caravan to wash my hands.

Of course, my Mom immediately wanted to wash my face and comb my hair as well!

Women...

However, this time, I let her do as she liked, without fussing too much about it.

I really wanted to make a good impression on our Wise Woman...

After I looked good enough in both my Mom's and my own eyes, we left our caravan.

To our surprise, our Wise Woman already sat on her own wooden bench, waiting for us!

Obviously, she had sensed we were planning to pay her a visit; just like I always sensed somebody planning to visit us...

She smiled when she saw us; and patted the bench next to her, to allow us to sit down.

Hesitantly, I sat down near the far end of her bench, looking at my feet...

However, the Wise Woman immediately told me to sit down close to her!

Well, okay, then let's face my ordeal and get it over with...

I left my safe place, and planted myself down next to her, ignoring the chuckles of my Dad.

How had HE reacted, when he was only a small boy and had to visit our Wise Woman?

The Wise Woman stared at me for a long time, while her piercing eyes tried to burn deep holes into my very core.

Her stare made me feel a bit uneasy; but I didn't waver and just stared back at her!

My Dad had told me to always be proud of myself, and I WAS proud of myself!

Even our Wise Woman couldn't change that.

Finally, her face softened, and she told me:

"My little shaman, I am proud of you! Only very few people in our camp are able to withstand my stare for such a long time, and you are one of them!

"I know that you feel ready to be a Real Trapper; and, in my heart, I am sure you already possess much more than the necessary abilities to be one...

"However, you are only five-and-a-half years old; and that makes you the youngest kid ever to apply to be tested.

"Are you absolutely sure you are ready; and are you really willing to take on all the responsibilities that come with being such a young real trapper?"

"Yes! I am absolutely sure I am ready; and I will do the best I can to always act responsibly, although I know that I am still a very young kid..."

"Then, please, would you allow me to ask our Ancestors for their advice first?"

"Yes, of course! I am sure they know what is best for me; and, please, greet my Spirit Friends from me."

Our Wise Woman nodded, closed her eyes, and went into a deep trance.

Everybody around us was silent, and waited patiently until she would come back...

They had seen such a trance many times before, and knew it was necessary not to disturb her while she was away.

The smallest kids were already in bed; and we all knew we could rely on the other kids, like our very curious looking little Dimi.

I was sure that Dimi would soon shower me with zillions of questions about 'going into a trance'...

After a few minutes, the Wise Woman woke up from her trance, and asked for a glass of water.

Then, she needed a few more minutes, to recover and be able to tell us what she had learned.

Finally, she turned towards my parents and me, and started to explain:

"My little shaman, I am very impressed, and still need to recover some more. I didn't know you had also befriended our beloved King of Ancestors...

"He seems to be very fond of you, and asked me to greet you back from Himself and from all the other Spirit Friends who are with you and protect you.

"I told him about my doubts, because I was afraid you would be way too young to take on all those responsibilities...

"However, your Ancestor Friend is adamant about His decision: You are absolutely ready to be tested, in spite of your age! And so be it."

For a moment, everybody around me was dead silent, obviously feeling very impressed...

Then, they all started to applaud, pat my shoulders, and ruffle my hair!

Had I thought I didn't want my friends to put me onto a pedestal?

Hmm...

In the meantime, our Wise Woman rose from her bench, went to her own caravan, and disappeared inside.

Soon, she returned, now carrying a black scarf and a small leather pouch.

She put the scarf and the pouch into her lap, and waited patiently until everybody around us calmed down.

After all my friends were silent again, she told me to sit down, next to her...

Then, she blindfolded me, using her black scarf.

Suddenly, I didn't see anything around me but only pitch dark!

For a moment, I felt confused and disorientated, not knowing what our Wise Woman expected from me...

Then, I started to feel around for all the surrounding energies, trying to switch on my Inner Vision.

A moment later, my Inner Eye opened, and I stared in wonder at all the different aura colors around me...

Hey, this was FUN!

Although I had often felt all the different energies around me, I had never really looked at them with my Inner Eye.

Now, I tuned into our Wise Woman, and was almost blinded by her very powerful white and violet aura!

Next, I tuned into little Dimi, and was surprised to see the same aura colors, only they were much softer and less powerful.

Would Dimi be an upcoming shaman as well; or could he be our new Wise Boy?

Our Wise Woman started to speak, and I concentrated on her voice:

"Please, stretch your hands out, and try to feel the energy of my magic pouch."

In her white and violet aura, I saw a small colorful ball, vibrating and strongly radiating all the various colors of a rainbow!

I felt how she put the powerful ball into my hands; and I almost fainted from the sudden energy wave which washed all over me.

Clearly, I sensed several extremely strong energy sources, bundled together into a whirling and twisting center of magic power...

Immediately, I closed my aura; so that I would be protected and able to look around again without losing myself!

Was I again remembering my own past life as a powerful shaman, used to working with these same powerful energies?

I was also sure that I once possessed such a bundle of energy myself, containing several magic attributes and powerful gemstones!

After a few seconds, the Wise Woman took her magic pouch from my hands, while she told me:

"Now, I am going to hide my pouch, someplace around our camp. Please, wait here until I come back."

The Wise Woman rose from our bench; and I curiously followed her aura with my Inner Eye.

I kept my aura connected to hers, and sensed how she tiptoed away and hid her magic pouch in the bushes across our camp.

Then, she rounded our campfire from the other side, and tiptoed back to my parents and me.

Now, she sat down next to me, and asked me:

"My little shaman, please, bring me my pouch! And, don't remove your blindfold until I tell you to do so..."

Well, this was VERY easy to do!

Still using my Inner Eye, I could clearly see the magic pouch, radiating its many whirling colors.

I rose from our bench, and walked straight towards the colorful pouch in a beeline...

However, suddenly, I felt the warmth of our campfire, clearly being in my way!

I stopped, sensed where our campfire was, and carefully avoided it.

Then, I concentrated again on the magic pouch, which still pulled at my energy.

I grinned inwardly, while I walked straight to the dense bush where I sensed our Wise Woman had been.

Now, I only had to find her small pouch...

For a moment, I grabbled around at the damp earth beneath the bush.

However, I didn't feel anything but empty nutshells and fallen leaves...

This clearly didn't work.

I had to use my shaman abilities again!

I stopped my efforts, straightened my back, and concentrated on the magic pouch...

Yes, there it was!

Again, I could clearly see the colorful pouch with my inner eye.

I reached for it, and triumphantly took it from the branch where our Wise Woman had put it, cleverly hidden behind a small bird's nest.

Immediately, I turned around and started to go back.

I rounded the warmth of our campfire, but couldn't find the energy of our Wise Woman.

Where was she?

I sensed around...

A moment later, I chuckled aloud, shaking my head in disbelief.

Did our Wise Woman really think she could trick me like this?

My Inner Eye clearly saw her, sitting on a far away bench, silently waiting for me...

I trotted towards her, still blindfolded, and performed a deep bow.

Then, I offered her pouch to her; without any hesitation putting it exactly into her outstretched hand!

At the same moment, everybody around us started to cheer and applaud.

Obviously, they had held their breaths, hoping I would be able to accomplish my difficult task...

The Wise Woman took my blindfold away, so that I was able to look around.

For a moment, I squinted at the suddenly very bright daylight...

Then, my proud Dad scooped me from my bench and took me onto his shoulders.

In triumph, he carried me around our camp, obviously being very proud of his little shaman and real trapper!

Next, my Mom took me into her arms and almost squashed me, having tears of pride and joy in her eyes.

Michail tried to crush my ribs, while he congratulated me with my achievement.

Misha took me onto his back and horsed me around our camp, while all my friends followed us and cheered at me.

Little Dimi jumped up at me, and spontaneously offered me a big kiss on my cheek.

Biny kissed me twice, on my mouth, telling me she loved me and wanted to be my friend forever, making me blush fiercely...

Finally, everybody calmed down and fell silent.

Now, our Wise Woman motioned me to sit down again, next to her on her own bench.

For a moment, I hesitated...

Had I done something wrong?

Or, did she think I still wasn't good enough to be a real trapper?

However, she smiled at me and ruffled my hair, while she told me:

"My little Shaman and Real Trapper, I want to sincerely congratulate you with your well-earned new status in our Gypsy community!

"Although I still had a few doubts before I tested you; I now confirm what our powerful Ancestor already told me: you ARE ready!

"Now, you are the youngest Real Trapper we have ever had, plus a recognized and confirmed powerful Shaman, plus a very prolific aura-reader.

"From now on, you are allowed to enter our surrounding woods and dense forests all on your own, without any supervision.

"I only want to ask you one important thing: Please, act responsible, and always be VERY careful, because your small body IS only five years old."

This time, I really didn't know what I should do or say...

I crawled onto my Dad's lap, buried my head into his broad chest, and started to cry.

Was I now crying from my way too strong emotions, or only from sheer happiness?

I wasn't sure, but decided that I was NOT a crybaby and was still very proud of myself!

A moment later, little Dimi offered me a huge packet of tissues, without saying a word.

I looked at him, and saw little fun lights in his small dark brown eyes, while he tried to suppress his snickering...

Then, we both started to shriek with laughter, soon accompanied by the bellowing from many others around us.

It felt really good, to let go of all our built-up tension like this!

My proud parents thanked our Wise Woman abundantly, for testing me.

Next, they thanked a suddenly very timid looking Misha, for teaching me how to orientate in our woods.

Finally, they asked Michail to prepare a Big Feast, to celebrate my new status in our community!

Soon, everybody around us was busy setting up tables and preparing snacks.

Of course, I helped them prepare our snacks, by spicing them with several nicely smelling herbs.

Little Dimi hopped from table to table, trying to help everybody at the same time...

Our violin players started to play their beautiful songs full of joy and happiness.

Again, everybody approached me; congratulating me, slapping my shoulders, or ruffling my hair.

They all told me they were very proud of their little Prince, little Cookie, little Badger, and now little Shaman and little Real Trapper...

They made me blush again and again; until I finally beckoned Misha, and we escaped into the surrounding bushes.

Again, Misha and I had another deep and honest talk.

I told him about my fear that he would feel jealous of all the attention everybody suddenly paid to me...

However, Misha soon convinced me that he had learned quite a lot from our first honest talk.

Now, he was convinced that we both had our own unique qualities, and we both could be very proud of ourselves!

He was still our most experienced Chief Trapper; and I was now our youngest Real Trapper and upcoming Shaman.

Feeling very good, we put our arms around each other's shoulders and strolled back to our camp.

Immediately, we dived towards all the tasty snacks and inviting goodies...

13. Misha becomes a clairvoyant; and our spare caravan is ready.

The next morning, my still proud looking Mom prepared me a healthy breakfast, of course spiced by my tasty herbs.

Feeling bright and shining, I left our caravan, to join our group of yawning kids as if nothing had happened.

Crowding together, or lounging on our wooden benches, we waited for the lazy slackers to show up...

Two minutes later, Misha left his caravan and joined our waiting group.

At first, he sat down on a bench far away from mine, talking to a few other kids.

Now and then, he stared at me, as if he wanted to ask me a question but couldn't gather up the courage...

Every time I looked at him, he immediately averted his eyes...

However, after a while, he suddenly rose from his bench and straightened his shoulders.

Hesitantly, he approached me; and asked, looking at his feet:

"Harry? Now that you are allowed to enter our woods alone, do you still want us to go together?"

I felt a bit surprised, but chuckled and playfully punched his arm:

"Do you think you can get rid of me this easily? Now, it's my turn to teach YOU a lesson! Come on, let's go."

I didn't know why I said I would teach him a lesson, but I was sure something like that would happen...

Could it be that our Ancestors and Spirit Friends were around us and had some plan?

Misha looked genuinely happy, while he heaved a deep sigh of relief because we would still be together.

He told our other friends we would first empty our old traps near our far away ravine.

Then, we would join them afterwards, to set up our new traps in our woods.

Our friends wished us good luck; but they also teasingly told me not to get lost in the too dark and creepy dense forest...

I stuck out my tongue; and told them not to worry about me, because I had a very experienced trapper at my side, to take good care of me!

Now, Misha started to blush fiercely, while everybody laughed at him and teasingly called him a 'babysitter'.

He made a silly face, while telling them he didn't even get paid for his tedious task!

It felt good, to banter like this and have some innocent fun.

Chuckling, and bumping into each other on purpose, Misha and his 'baby' left our still laughing group and disappeared into our woods.

Of course, I led the way, determinedly walking towards our steep ravine through the densest of undergrowth...

Soon, we reached our steep ravine; and I halted next to our flat boulder.

Suddenly, out of the blue, I knew what lesson our Ancestor wanted me to teach my friend!

For a moment, I closed my eyes, to have a better look at our traps with my Inner Eye.

Feeling very satisfied, I opened my eyes and asked Misha:

"Misha? Can you feel the energy of our traps from here?"

"Yes, I can feel them; and I could walk straight towards them with my eyes closed, if necessary."

"Okay. Now, could you also tell me what is in our snares?"

Misha looked at me with a surprised face, while he slowly shook his head:

"Are you a clairvoyant too? As far as I know, nobody in our camp has ever been able to do such a thing!"

"Well, I will try to teach you how to do it. First, close your eyes, and pretend you are seeing your own trap. Just picture it in your mind.

"Now, pretend you can see all the energies around it, even if your mind tells you it is impossible. What do you see?"

"I am not sure... but I am getting a faint picture of a dead hare. Of course, that is only my own imagination; because here, there are no hares at all..."

"EXCELLENT! I am clearly seeing a dead hare in your trap too! Now, please, have a look at my trap, and tell me what you see."

"This is too weird... I think I can faintly see a marmot, but that is also what I should expect around here. This is no proof at all."

"Why would you need proof? Just accept you are able to see things with you Inner Eye, by pretending. This is exactly how it works."

"Are you sure? Shall we have a look at our traps, to prove you are right? I still cannot believe it. During summer, not a single hare ever strays towards here..."

Walking together, we went straight to Misha's trap.

Slowly, almost unwillingly, Misha went on all fours, to look at his cleverly hidden snare...

For a long time, he stared open-mouthed and with a shocked face at a huge and fat hare, caught in his trap!

It was as if he still couldn't believe his own eyes...

Slowly, he shook his head, while he mumbled:

"I still cannot believe I SAW this same beast in my fantasy... Am I really turning into a clairvoyant? Or, are you pulling a prank on me..."

Tentatively, he touched the dead beast; as if he was afraid it wasn't real and would disappear...

Then, he looked up at me, and started to laugh.

Chuckling, he asked me:

"This time, I AM a clairvoyant, just like you, aren't I?"

"Yes, my friend, you surely are!"

Silently, I thanked our Ancestor in my mind, for making my friend happy by sending him a fat hare.

I could clearly feel several Spirit Friends around us, smiling and sending us their love...

After a moment, we went to my trap, which really held a marmot.

This time, we took our snares with us, because we wanted to join our own group from now on.

During the summer, we didn't need to go this far away, or to be silent...

We probably would return here after fall set in and the animals again became too scarce.

For the last time, we sat down on our flat boulder, near the border of our steep ravine.

Of course, I retook my place in between Misha's legs; and leaned into him, as usual.

Immediately, he put his arms around my frame, and held me close.

Together, we enjoyed the beautiful sight of the meandering water stream along the bottom of the ravine.

At that time, I was still sure that nothing in the world would be able to end our precious friendship...

After looking at our steep ravine for the last time, we finally rose from our flat boulder.

Unwillingly, we started to walk away, proudly carrying our caught animals.

Probably, we wouldn't return here until late fall...

I used my Inner Eye to find our group of friends, who had spread out in our woods.

Next, I concentrated on their joint energy, and walked straight up to them.

Soon, we reached them; and we set up our new traps along faint animal trails, as usual.

From now on, we all settled back into our 'normal' summer routine.

Every morning, we went into our woods, to gather our caught animals and set up new traps.

Now and then, we brought baskets of tasty nuts and fruits, to distribute them among the 'diaper kids' and our parents.

Of course, if we had enough leftover meat, we distributed that too...

Near the end of the day, I always quickly went into our surrounding bushes.

There, I gathered my tasty herbs, to spice our roasting animals; as, after all, I was still our little cookie!

Life was good; and I enjoyed every single day of it.

Until, slowly, nearly imperceptibly, summer came to an end and the days became shorter...

One morning, I wanted to leave our caravan, to join my friends into our woods.

Unexpectedly, my Dad called me, and asked me to follow him towards our small parking lot...

Why would he ask me to do such a thing, while he knew I wanted to look after my snare?

Had I unwittingly done something wrong; or, maybe, he needed me to help him with something important?

I looked at my Dad's face, and he showed me a really serious expression!

Well, I would soon find out what he had on his mind...

I jumped out of our caravan, and yelled to my gathering friends:

"Please, leave without me, because I have to join my Dad first!"

Immediately, little Dimi stormed towards me, and asked:

"Please, Harry, can I help you and your Dad too?"

Before I could answer, my Dad already took over:

"Sorry, Dimi; but my son and I have to talk about something important. You will have to wait until we come back."

"Okay."

With a disappointed face, my little friend trotted back to his own group of 'diaper kids'.
Meanwhile, I followed my Dad, who slowly sauntered towards our parking lot with me on his heels.

What would be the 'important something' he wanted to talk about?

I felt rather curious, and also a little bit anxious...

A moment later, my Dad scooped me off the ground and sat me onto his broad shoulders.

Now, I was sure he wasn't mad at me!

I started to tickle his ears, as usual, but he didn't react and only told me:

"Sorry, son, for sending your little friend away. But, I want to show you something that might be very important in the future...

"I don't want any others to know about it, not even our close friends, until we really have to use it. Only Michail knows about it."

Of course, now, I started to feel very curious!

What could be the 'very important something' we might have to use in the future?

My Dad took me towards the far end of our parking lot, where we kept our spare caravans.

Here, he put me down, next to a small and rather ugly looking old caravan full of mud and dried leaves...

I had seen the old thing many times before, but never paid it any special attention.

Now, I saw it was attached to a rather old car, which once belonged to Misha's deceased Dad...

Was this the 'very important something' my Dad had talked about?

I felt a bit disappointed...

My Dad squatted down to be on my level; and took my face in his hands, thus forcing me to pay close attention:

"My precious son; please, listen carefully to what I ask you to do, because this may be very important for your safety!

"Whenever any grownup in our camp tells you to flee, please, don't ask any questions, but go immediately to this caravan and hide inside, without any hesitation."

My Dad stopped, removed his hands from my face, and looked at my reaction...

Of course, I didn't understand why he would ask me to do such a strange thing.

Why would my parents ever ask me to flee; or from whom would I ever have to hide in this old and ugly caravan?

Were the grownups planning to play some sort of a game?

However, my Dad's serious face told me this certainly was not a game of hide and seek!

I tried to read my Dad's thoughts, felt very shocked, and asked him:

"But, why, Dad? I don't understand why you are afraid somebody might harm me..."

"Are you again reading my mind? Then, you know why I am afraid! Outside our mountains, more and more gadjo's start loathing and chasing us Gypsies.

"Fortunately, we still have a couple of loyal friends among them; and one of our gadjo friends warned me about a possible witch hunt in the near future.

"If so, the police certainly will look for me and you first, because I am our King and you are our Prince and Heir to the Throne...

"Please, son, always keep in mind what I ask you; and immediately hide in this caravan the very moment any of us tells you to flee!"

Of course, I had often listened to our ancient stories about nasty witch hunts and having to flee...

However, I still didn't understand why any people outside our camp would ever want to harm us!

We had never done anything bad to them, or had we?

I leaned into my Dad, and asked him my burning question:

"I still don't understand why any gadjo people would hate us, or want to harm us..."

"I don't understand either, my son... However, our past taught us to always reckon with a new witch hunt. That is why we keep this car and caravan ready all the time.

"One of our loyal gadjo friends warned us to be careful, and I'm taking his warnings very seriously!"

"Dad, what is the exact meaning of that strange word 'witch hunt'? Nobody ever told me."

"A 'witch hunt' is, when other people believe we have done very bad things; and they want to harm us and punish us."

"Why would they ever think such a thing? I am sure we never did anything bad to any gadjo!"

"I know, son; and, this time, I don't have an answer for you... But, please, always keep in mind what I told you!"

"Okay, Dad. The very moment anybody tells me to flee; I will immediately hide inside this caravan."

My Dad ruffled my hair, kissed my head, and silently hugged me.

Next, he opened the ugly and rather dirty caravan, to let me have a look inside...

Feeling surprised, I stared in awe at its spotlessly clean inside and all its filled lockers!

Everything was stuffed to the brim with all the things we might need if we had to flee unexpectedly!

A hidden locker held a small sum of gadjo money, next to a couple of passports and other necessary papers.

Those would allow us to cross borders, without having too much trouble with customs...

I never knew this old and ugly looking caravan would be so neat and well-maintained!

Next, we went to the old and a bit rusty car which once belonged to Misha's Dad.

To my surprise, its inside was clean and very well-maintained as well; and its fuel tank was filled to the brim!

The combination was ready to drive off immediately; and we could easily stay away for a couple of weeks, if necessary.

I even thought it could be fun...

Secretly, I hoped we would have to flee soon, allowing me to finally see the mysterious gadjo world outside our camp.

Of course, I wisely kept my thoughts to myself...

My Dad lifted me onto his shoulders, and we ambled back to our own green-and-golden caravan.

In the meantime, I thought about what he told me...

Would any gadjo people really want to harm and punish us?

For what reason?

We weren't 'bad', and I was sure we hadn't done anything questionable...

Why didn't those outside people leave us alone?

14. My difficult decision about joining my friends to a gadjo town.

Too soon, fall set in again, the days shortened, and the sun showed up much lower in the sky.

The number of caught animals started to diminish, just like it had done in the past year.

The first marmots already disappeared into early hibernation, and many other critters were already retreating towards the mountains.

Time after time, many snares turned out to be empty...

At last, the older kids told us to pair up again, to sneak towards our far-away places in absolute silence.

Of course, Misha and I went together again, immediately returning to our own steep ravine!

Unfortunately, even there, most animals were already asleep, hiding in unreachable caves.

Only now and then, we caught a dozy marmot or a stray hare.

After returning to our camp, we put our few caught animals together, and roasted them.

We had also looked for leftover fruits, carrots, or nuts, but couldn't find any.

Now, we divided our scant food, so that everybody would have the same share of meat.

Next, we went to our parents, still feeling hungry...

However, even our grownups didn't have enough food to feed us properly.

They had to do with the small amount of food Michail provided them with, from our spare stock...

Many times, they hung around our campfire, showing dejected faces and rubbing their empty stomachs.

Day after day, they had been chased away from every possible gadjo town they tried to visit.

Every gadjo seemed to hate Gypsies, and our people were always forced to leave their towns immediately...

Finally, Michail told us, with a sad face, that he had opened our very last box of spare food.

Within two days from now, we would be out of food and starving!

We were also nearly out of fuel, and had no money left to refill our tanks.

To stay alive and feed our kids, we HAD to do something about our precarious situation, and fast!

Our grownups put their heads together, and decided to do the same things they had done last year.

Again, they would visit a far away gadjo town, to lay their hands on anything of value they could gather.

They only had to follow our strict code of honor, meaning they would only take things from rich people who wouldn't miss them anyway.

In our Gypsy community, we always shared everything; so, why wouldn't our gadjo fellow-creatures share some of their wealth with us?

And, of course, to us, surviving was now a matter of life and death...

Next, my Dad called our waiting group of older kids together.

Immediately, we surrounded him, already knowing what he wanted to ask...

First, he stared at us for a long time, slowly getting tears in his eyes.

Then, he wiped his tears away, and told us with a sad voice:

"My precious friends, I love you very much; and I don't want to bring you into such a difficult or maybe even hazardous situation.

"However, again, I ask you to visit a nearby gadjo town and beg for food and money, to help us survive the upcoming winter.

"Never before has our situation been this precarious; and never before have any gadjo people been this hostile and mistrustful against Gypsies.

"Therefore, tomorrow morning, I don't want to tell you what you have to do. This time, the decision is entirely up to you...

"I only want to ask you for a favor; and nobody will be angry at you for being too scared and wanting to stay in our camp!

"All our kids who really want to visit a gadjo town; please, tomorrow morning, comb your hair and dress into your neatest clothes.

"Then, Michail will drive you to a nearby town; where you will beg for mercy, to get some food and hopefully a little bit of money..."

My Dad nearly started to choke up, again getting tears in his eyes.

He shook his head, left our group of kids, and slowly sauntered to our own green-and-golden caravan.

Of course, my Mom followed him immediately, to comfort him and be there for him if he needed her.

I followed my parents at a bit slower pace, on my way thinking of our group of older kids who would go begging tomorrow.

Again, I thought about all the fascinating stories I had heard, and about the strange gadjo towns I so eagerly wanted to see...

All the gadjo people seemed to live in huge two-story or even three-story caravans, without any wheels to move them if necessary....

Even the smallest gadjo children had to be dressed during the whole day, both in summer and in winter, according to their strange nudity laws....

Silently, I crossed my fingers, and hoped.

Would my Dad this time allow me to join Misha, and help him with the begging in that gadjo town, because I now was a Real Trapper?

I was sure that, this year, my Dad hadn't mentioned any age limit, which wasn't his usual behavior...

Ultimately, I was already nearly SIX years old, had absolutely proven to be able to fend for myself, and I was blessed with a VERY bright mind!

Well, actually, I was only five-and-a-half and a bit too small for my age... but I was very independent, and my intelligent brain was surely mature enough.

I waited until my parents had disappeared into our caravan, before I followed them inside.

My Mom was busy in our kitchen, brewing two cups of coffee; and she asked me if I wanted a glass of orange juice.

Of course, I told her: "Yes please!"; while I offered her a big hug.

Next, I went to our living room, where my Dad sat on our couch, staring into empty space with teary eyes...

I crawled onto his lap, put my arms around his neck, and told him:

"Dad, I understand this is difficult for you, and that you feel responsible for our own people. Only, you don't have any other choice but to let them beg!

"I am also sure that, again, everything will work out for the best; just like it had all those years before, without causing any trouble whatsoever.

"Again, we will gather enough money and goods to survive this winter; because our Ancestors are with us and protect us whenever they can.

"Now, I want to ask you a question. You know that I am our youngest Real Trapper, very bright, and more than able to fend for myself, even in an unknown town.

"Tomorrow, I want to help my people, by joining my friends to that gadjo town and help them beg. I am sure that my 'brainiac mode' will be very helpful.

"And, of course, I will be with Misha; and Misha will protect me and look after me, as he always does. Please, Dad, I want to help my friends tomorrow..."

Again, I crossed my fingers, while I showed my best puppy dog eyes to my still hesitating Dad...

In the meantime, my Mom showed up in our living room, silently putting our drinks onto the table.

She had overheard our conversation, and I thought I sensed some doubt in her mind...

Well, this certainly felt a lot better than the initial 'no' I had expected from her!

After a moment, my Dad looked at my Mom and asked her hesitantly:

"What do YOU think, Maria? I think that our son has a few valid points; and Misha is absolutely mature enough to look after him in that town..."

"Well, Janov, I am not so sure... He is still such a small boy, and what if he gets into trouble? He has never been in such a hostile environment before."

"Yes, but... This 'small boy' HAS caught a dangerous badger, survived a night outside in the freezing cold, and even forced a police officer to leave our camp...

"I think that Harry only looks like a 'small boy'; but he IS a very old soul with a lot of Inner Power, and he will absolutely be able to fend for himself if necessary.

"And, you know that our Ancestors are with him. He has a task to fulfill on earth, and our Ancestors will protect him and help him whenever they can!

"Besides, just have a look at his innocent face... I am sure that, with those bright blue eyes, he has a good chance to gather the most money and food."

"Yet, I think we should ask his Grandmother for her advice first, before we make such an important decision. After all, he is her grandson as well..."

My Dad nodded his consent, and he and my Mom both left our caravan and went to my Grandma.

During their absence, I almost couldn't sit still from nervousness!

Trembling with anticipation, I crossed my fingers, strolled around in our living room, and hoped...

Would my parents really allow me to join my friends to that gadjo town, although I was still very young?

Silently, I prayed to our Supreme Being, to make them trust me...

After a couple of very long minutes, my parents finally returned.

Immediately, I tried to read their minds; but, I didn't succeed.

This time, I was way too agitated to pick up any thoughts at all!

What had my parents decided, after talking to my Grandma?

My Dad lifted me off the floor and took me to our couch, while he told me:

"Look at me, Harry, and listen carefully to what I ask you to do..."

Now, my heart jumped up in my chest with enthusiasm!

My Dad called me 'Harry'; and, when he did it like this, I always knew he felt very proud of his big little son.

I was now sure that my parents allowed me to go, and I only had to do what my Dad asked...

My Dad sat me on his knee and put his safe arms around my small frame, while he told me:

"My dear son... We know that you are a very independent and extremely bright kid. That is why your Grandmother and we want you to decide for yourself...

"However, you have to realize that gadjo people are very different from us. Many times, they will do unexpected things that we Gypsies wouldn't even think of.

"For example, they may spit at you, throw things at you, curse at you, or try to chase you out of their town without any apparent reason.

"They may call you very bad names, like 'bastard' or 'crossbreed'; because of your notable appearance, having blond hair and blue eyes, unlike all the others.

"On the other hand, being a little blond boy with blue eyes certainly has some advantage! Because of this, every gadjo will have a look at YOU first.

"If you meet any good-hearted people, they may offer you more food or money; because you can show them your captivating smile and innocent puppy dog eyes...

"Now, you have to decide about what you will do tomorrow. Do you REALLY want to join Misha and the other kids to that uninviting gadjo town?"

At first, I wanted to shout 'yes' immediately, without any thinking!

Of course, I wanted to join my friends to that strange gadjo world; probably more than anything else!

However, I knew that I had to carefully think my decision over, before answering my parents.

All our grownups always taught their children to never decide anything important without carefully thinking and rethinking first.

You always have to look at every possible side, until the picture is clear in your mind and you are exactly aware of what you want...

In case you cannot succeed, you may ask somebody else to help you, but only after you really thought it over yourself first.

I hugged my still sad looking Dad and my still a bit wary looking Mom, before I went outside.

First, I told my waiting friends to look after their traps without me, because I wanted to think about something important.

Then, I disappeared into our surrounding bushes, and slowly sauntered towards our waterfall.

I wanted to be alone for a while, to ponder about what I really wanted to do...

Soon, I reached the edge of our so well-known ravine, and sat down on a mossy boulder.

For quite some time, I stared at the sparkling water drops of our waterfall, showing their beautiful colors in the lowering sunlight.

In the meantime, I started to think about my important decision...

Why was I so eager to accompany my friends to such a hostile environment?

Was I only curious about such a strange gadjo town that I had never been to before?

I knew the well-known saying we always used: 'curiosity killed the cat'...

Would any nasty gadjo really want to kill me?

I wasn't a cat with nine lives, but only a vulnerable 'little badger' with a way too big mouth...

However, so far, I had never heard of any Gypsy kid being killed for begging...

Was I really sure I would be able to withstand any malicious behavior my Dad told me about?

What if some gadjo spit at me, kicked me out of town, humiliated me, or called me nasty names?

Would I really be able to fend for myself, if any gadjo would be in a bad mood and wanted to harm me?

Now, I clearly felt that I was NOT so sure; but only hoped the gadjo's wouldn't be that mean...

Would switching into my 'brainiac mode' really help me with begging, as I had told my Dad?

Or, had I been bragging, hoping my parents would see me as a 'big boy' and allow me to join my friends...

The truth was that I didn't know how to beg, and only hoped I would do it right...

Of course, I reckoned on Misha, but he would have to teach me first how to do it!

Suppose, I really decided to join my friends to that gadjo town, tomorrow morning...

Then, I would be the smallest kid in our group, and the older kids would have to protect me all the time!

But, did my friends really want to protect me, because I was still such a little kid?

Maybe, they only saw me as a nuisance, hindering them in their efforts to gather enough food and money...

What if my friends thought I would be too small; and they didn't want to baby-sit me...

Finally, after some more thinking and rethinking, I knew exactly what I had to do!

I would ask my friends for their advice, about joining them tomorrow to that gadjo town and help them beg.

If they hesitated, or told me they didn't want to have me in their midst, I would stay home.

I didn't want to be a nuisance, or in their way, just because I was a Prince, or a brainiac with a too big mouth.

I rose from my boulder, and slowly sauntered back to our campfire...

My friends saw me appearing from our bushes, and enthusiastically beckoned me over:

"Harold, please, come here and help us with your herbs. We've caught a porcupine!"

Immediately, I turned around and went back into our bushes, to collect a couple of tasty herbs!

I raced to our caravan, washed the herbs, and cut them into small pieces on my Mom's cutting board.

Two minutes later, I was back at our campfire, proudly carrying my nicely smelling herbs mixture.

Soon, our porcupine was roasted; and everybody got a slice of its tasty meat.

Although one slice wasn't enough to really still our hunger, it certainly helped to calm down our rumbling stomachs!

My friends licked their fingers clean, while they complimented me:

"Again, your herbs performed their tasty magic on our meat! From now on, we will call you 'PRINCE Cookie'."

I smiled at them, and performed a deep bow while I answered:

"Thank you, my beloved subjects; but I think that 'Prince Harold the Great Chef' sounds even better..."

For a moment, my surprised friends were silent.

Then, they started to tickle me mercilessly, until I promised to better my life and come down from my ivory tower.

In return, they promised me to stop calling me 'cookie', as soon as I would stop being the smallest kid in our group.

Well... in that case, I would have to wait until little Dimi no longer wet his diaper at night and joined us.

I grinned at my little friend, and he clearly understood what I thought and grinned back...

Now, I decided to ask my friends my very important question:

"Please, listen to what I want to ask you... Do you really WANT me to join you to that gadjo town tomorrow?"

This time, everybody was struck dumb, looking at me with big eyes and mouths agape...

Obviously, nobody had expected me to ask them such a strange question!

They looked at each other and back at me, clearly not knowing what to answer...

Then, Misha asked me, with a very surprised voice:

"Why the heck do you think we would NOT want you to join us tomorrow?"

"Well, my Dad told me the decision would entirely be up to me... and I've been thinking and rethinking, because I don't want to be a nuisance to any of you.

"First, I look different, because I've inherited my Mom's blond hair and blue eyes. Thus, any gadjo's will look at me first, and maybe call me a 'bastard' or 'crossbreed'.

"I also don't know how to 'beg', because I've never done it before. I want to see the 'gadjo world' only because I'm curious; and you know that 'curiosity killed the cat'...

"If I join you tomorrow, you will probably have to protect me, because I am still the smallest runt in our group and cannot defend myself from any nasty gadjo attacks.

"The only advantages I have are my captivating smile and my blue puppy dog eyes. But, maybe, that is not enough to gather any food and money.

"Now, please, give me your honest answer. Do you REALLY want me to join you tomorrow?"

Again, all my friends were dead silent, looking at me with shocked faces...

Why was that? Had I told them something weird, or had I been plain stupid?

Then, one of the other boys started to laugh, while he told me:

"Wow, little man, you are using big words for such a small boy! 'Inherited, crossbreed, advantages, captivating'... Are you sure you are only five years old?

"But, yes, you ARE our smallest runt; and we WILL protect you from any too mean gadjo's! We will even teach you how to beg properly, although it is not difficult at all.

"Now, I suggest a truce... As long as you are little, we will defend YOU with OUR lives; and, once you are our King, you will defend US with YOUR life!

"Do you want to think this over first, or do we have a deal?"

Of course, I jumped up, and started to smile from ear to ear.

I had never seen it this way before; and immediately accepted their truce!

We had a deal!

I rushed to my parents; to tell them that I had decided to accompany my friends tomorrow.

15. Visiting an enormous two-story caravan, without any wheels.

The next morning, I woke up early; and immediately jumped out of my bed, already feeling full of anticipation.

Today, I would leave our secluded camp for the first time, to visit a gadjo town and help my friends with begging!

I almost couldn't wait...

My Mom and Dad were still snoring in their double bed, lying entangled into each other's arms.

At first, I wanted to wake them up, to help me find my neatest clothes.

Then, I decided to let them have some more beauty sleep, especially my emotional Dad.

I tiptoed out of their bedroom, went to our living room, and stared out of the windows...

A couple of early birds were already lounging around our campfire, waiting for the things to come.

They looked strange now, dressed up in their nicest 'winter' outfits!

My Big Friend, Michail, walked towards his own caravan, already dressed in his inseparable fur coat.

Maybe, he would be able to find my clothes and help me dress?

I went to our front door, opened it, and shouted:

"Michail? Please, could you help me find my clothes? Mom and Dad are still sleeping..."

Michail laughed at my eagerness, while he shook his head:

"Sorry, but you have to be patient... And, we won't dare leave the camp without you! Today, we need you, to help us beg.

"Besides, I am sure your parents will wake up soon, and I have to look after my own boys first."

Feeling a bit disappointed, I closed the door and shuffled back to our living room...

"Harry, Harry... didn't I teach you to always be patient and wait for your turn?"

My Dad used my nickname 'Harry', so I knew he wasn't angry at me.

Thus, I rushed to my parent's bedroom; where I launched myself onto their double bed, octopussing myself onto my yawning Dad.

He chuckled, threw his strong arms around my small frame, and tried to crush my ribs.

Next, we started to tickle each other, trying to find each other's most sensitive spots...

My Mom woke up from our tumult, groaned, and looked at me with sleepy eyes:

"Please, can't you wait for at least another hour? I am sure it's still dark outside..."

"It's not! Misha, Biny and Jock are already outside, with their neatest clothes on. And Michail is awake, but he doesn't want to help me find mine."

I wrestled free from my Dad's tickling hands, and jumped out of bed.

Next, I tried to drag my still protesting Mom towards the door...

Fortunately, she started to laugh, left the bed, and fetched my clothes from a drawer.

Impatiently, I snatched my clothes out of her hands, while I tried to dress myself in a hurry.

First, I had inadvertently put both legs into only one pant leg; and, then, I had to turn my T-shirt inside out and around before it finally fit.

I put on my socks and my shoes, and thought I was ready to go outside...

However, my Mom laughed; while she washed my face, combed my hair, and told me to properly lace my shoes.

Finally, I was properly dressed, and hurried outside to join the other waiting kids.

By now, many more of them had gathered around our smoldering campfire, fidgeting or wandering around.

Impatiently, we waited for the things to come, in the meantime muttering about our itchy clothes.

This was the first time since many months that we had to wear anything at all...

Little Dimi left his caravan, clad only in his birthday suit, and immediately raced up to me:

"Harry, please, can't you stay home today? I'm sure I will miss you terribly..."

"Sorry Dimi; but, today, I have to help my other friends with begging in a gadjo town!"

"I know; but, next time, I want to join you!"

"I hope so, because I will miss you too. Together, we could have a lot more fun..."

Suddenly, we heard a well-known sound, coming from outside our circle of caravans.

After a moment, Michail's enormous truck appeared from our parking lot, pulling one of our spare caravans.

All the kids started to cheer; while they crowded around the combination, eager to get in and take off.

Michail climbed out of his truck, chuckled at our eager faces, and started to count our heads:

"Twenty-two noses; that is, let's see... It's seventeen older kids into the caravan, and five younger ones into the back seat of my truck."

I cheered again, when I realized I would be riding in Michail's enormous truck, for the first time!

Jonno's dad opened the caravan door; and seventeen older kids bolted into it in a sudden hurry.

In the meantime, our technical man, Pietro, helped the five younger ones climb into Michail's huge truck.

One by one, we entered its outstretched back seat, where we crowded together.

Pietro climbed into the front seat, while Michail sat down at the steering wheel and started the engine.

He tooted the horn, our parents waved at us, and our truck-and-caravan combination drove off!

We were on our way to a gadjo town; to beg for food and, if possible, a few flaps of that valuable gadjo money...

Our back seat was packed with five fidgeting kids, all of them trying to look out the windows.

We were supposed to be the 'smaller ones', but all the other kids were at least half a head taller than I!

Unfortunately, I sat in the middle, because I hadn't thought of seizing a place next to a window.

I stretched my neck out as far as I could, trying to have a look outside, but all the other heads were constantly in my way...

After some time, I also started to feel a bit sweaty and uncomfortable.

Would the others allow me to climb into the front seat of the truck, where there was plenty of space left next to Pietro?

I didn't want to make them jealous, but I WAS the smallest kid, and our back seat WAS crowded...

Finally, I tapped Pietro's head, and asked him:

"Pietro, please, may I sit next to you; as I'm only a small boy, and I cannot look outside from here?"

Pietro looked at me, and started to laugh at seeing my anxious face:

"Of course, you may sit next to me, because you are my own mechanical engineer! Can you climb the console on your own?"

I didn't know what 'the console' was, but thought it could be the huge box in between the front seats, where Michail now and then grabbed a big pin with a knob...

I started to climb; but halfway across the box Pietro lifted me up and transported me to his seat effortlessly.

He sat me on his lap, folded his arms around me, and held me close with his chin resting on my head.

Now, I started to grin like crazy; while I immensely enjoyed the splendid outside view I suddenly had!

Michail competently steered his enormous truck-and-caravan combination across our woods.

We went through small clearings, past huge trees, and along steep ravines; avoiding dangerous potholes and enormous boulders.

All the time, it looked like my Big Friend drove his enormous combination effortlessly, as if it was on autopilot...

From now on, I started to admire Michail as my own personal hero!

I wanted to be like him, once I would be a grownup and able to drive such an enormous truck myself!

Studiously, I looked at everything that my Big Friend did, planning to remember all the significant details.

Once I would be old enough to be the owner of such a truck, I already knew how to drive it...

After half an hour, we left our forest and entered a huge clearing, surrounded by steep walls.

Here, Michail slowed down, adeptly parked our combination, and stopped the engine.

What were we going to do here?

I looked outside, and saw an enormous two-story caravan without any wheels, cleverly built against one of the walls!

This strange caravan had a huge double doorway, and too many windows to count them in such a small amount of time.

Inwardly, I wondered how many people would be living in it...

Michail told us to leave our truck; which we did, clambering down, again helped by Pietro.

At the same time, all our older friends left their attached caravan, followed by Jonno's dad.

First, we stretched our stiffening muscles and took a fast leak in the surrounding bushes.

Then, we gathered around Michail, and stared at the strange caravan...

A smiling gadjo woman appeared in its double doorway, looking genuinely happy to see us.

First, she waved at Michail, Pietro, and Jonno's Dad, and beckoned them over.

Now, she looked at me, and started to smile even more!

Enthusiastically, she asked me:

"I think you are our young Prince Harold? My, you certainly are a good-looking lad! Please, follow me, because I have something for you to serve out..."

I felt a bit unsure about what to do now, and looked hesitantly at our grownups...

However, Michail winked at me, while he started to walk towards the entrance and the still smiling woman.

Pietro and Jonno's father followed him; and, after a moment of hesitation, I decided to follow them as well.

The other kids stayed where they were, and I thought they looked at me with some jealousy.

Well, not everybody could be such a good-looking young Prince...

We followed the smiling gadjo woman through the huge double front door, crossed a hallway, and entered another door...

Suddenly, I looked around, open-mouthed and holding my breath, this time feeling totally perplexed!

I was now in what had to be the largest living room that had ever been built into a caravan!

Unwittingly, I felt very small and vulnerable, and leaned into Michail...

In a corner of the enormous room, a gadjo man was busy brewing some nicely smelling coffee.

Many huge windows offered an open view towards the clearing, where the other kids were frolicking around or waiting for us.

The nice gadjo woman told us to sit down at a large dark and shiny wooden table, with many armchairs around it.

At the same time, the man in the corner started to rummage with a couple of cups and glasses...

Still feeling totally overwhelmed, I clambered onto Michail's lap, to feel a bit more safe and protected.

The man offered each of the grownups a steaming cup of coffee, and I got a big glass of yellow lemonade with a very cold ice cube in it!

Silently, I sipped my tasty lemonade, while I let the ice cube slowly melt in my mouth.

In the meantime, I looked around curiously at what surely had to be the largest caravan in the world.

How would they ever be able to pull this huge thing away, being fitted against a wall and without any wheels attached?

What if they wanted to move it to another place?

Wouldn't this caravan be way too heavy to transport it?

Slowly, my curiosity won over my initial shyness; until I suddenly blurted:

"Michail, how come this caravan hasn't got any wheels? How will they ever be able to pull it away?"

For a moment, all the grownups went silent, while they stared at me...

Then, they looked at each other and started to laugh!

At first, I felt a bit ashamed, and didn't know where I should look.

Had I really asked them such a strange question?

Then, the nice woman ruffled my hair, and told me she understood that I had never been outside our secluded camp before now.

Of course, I had never seen a 'brick building' like this, and therefore thought that everybody else would live in caravans as well...

Soon, I would discover that nearly everybody else lived in 'buildings'; which were not intended to ever be wheeled away.

This particular building was called a 'hotel', because it accommodated many rooms where people could spend the night before they went on with their voyage.

In a 'town', I would see many smaller buildings, which were called 'houses', where people were living with their families as we live in our caravans.

If they ever wanted to move to another place, they didn't take their house with them, but sold it for money, and bought themselves another house elsewhere.

Well... Inwardly, I thought it to be a very strange way of living; and I wasn't sure I wanted to ever do such a weird thing myself...

I was way too used to our own green-and-golden caravan, where I knew every small corner, hole, and scratch!

Why would I ever want to sell our caravan, to go live in such a 'brick house'?

After I emptied my glass of lemonade, the nice woman handed me a basket filled with shiny red apples!

That was a real treat for us kids, as we weren't used to having apples in our mountains.

Of course, I thanked her abundantly for her generosity.

Did she know we hadn't eaten anything this morning, because we were nearly out of food?

Pietro helped me carry the heavy basket outside, while Michail and Jonno's father carried a huge tray of plastic cups filled with lemonade.

The kids cheered when they saw us coming; and they huddled together to receive their cup of lemonade and an apple.

Soon, the tray and the basket were emptied; and we felt less hungry while munching on the tasty apples and sipping our lemonade.

We put the empty cups back onto the tray, and thanked the smiling hotel owners.

The nice woman wished us all the best, and told us to visit her again before we went home.

Then, she ruffled my hair, suddenly looking a bit sad:

"It's a real shame you have to accompany the others to beg."

I absolutely didn't agree with her, but was sensible enough to keep my mouth shut...

We reentered our combination; while Pietro helped the smaller kids into the truck, by pushing them up one by one.

Of course, as soon as Pietro sat down, I once again climbed onto his lap in the front seat.

Michail tooted the horn, and we drove off, waving at the nice woman until we rounded a corner.

Again, we were on our way to that strange gadjo world...

Suddenly, we left our mountains, while I sat glued to the front windshield and didn't know where I wanted to look first!

We entered a strange and leveled landscape, marred by what Michail called 'highways', being several endless roads made out of grayish 'concrete'.

I had never seen so many cars racing each other and driving past our truck at such a high speed!

It made me feel a bit dizzy; and, as a precaution, I looked only through my eyelashes.

After some time, I got used to the constantly passing by of all those cars that seemingly were in a tremendous hurry.

From now on, I tried to look everywhere at the same time, desperately trying not to miss a single interesting sight...

A few filthy kids were scurrying along the highway, obviously looking for some leftover food thrown out of a passing car.

Now and then, we passed a wrecked car, left behind by the unfortunate owners.

Once, I saw an old bus that seemed to be inhabited by a few grownups and their many small children.

They all looked very thin and hungry...

Silently, I prayed that Michail's truck wouldn't have any breakdowns, leaving us in this middle of nowhere!

At last, Pietro pointed us to what looked like an enormous, outstretched, and ugly looking caravan camp in a far distance:

"There is where we are going to beg today."

Thousands of brick 'houses' and other 'buildings' were set together, seemingly at random and rather disorderly.

Our own caravans were always neatly placed around our campfire...

Were gadjo people really this untidy?

Michail slowed our truck down, while he adeptly turned the combination into a small secluded clearing along the road.

He shut the engine off; and, all of a sudden, everything was surrealistically silent...

For a moment, we looked at each other, while Michail opened the door and left his seat.

Then, we clambered out of our truck, again helped by Pietro.

In the meantime, the older kids left our attached caravan, followed by Jonno's Dad.

We all gathered around Michail, silently waiting for the things to come.

What were we going to do now?

16. A suburb; playing gadjo kids; huge four story condominiums.

For quite some time, Michail just stared at us, with a sad expression on his face.

I tried to read his thoughts, and was surprised to feel that he didn't want us to visit that gadjo town!

He was afraid the gadjo's would be too aggressive towards us, and that they wouldn't give us any food or money.

However, what else could he do but let us go and hope for the best...

Finally, my Big Friend wiped his tears, and told us with a sad voice:

"You know what you have to do? Please, be very polite; and try to produce some tears, to make the people feel more sympathy.

"Also, be as persistent as possible, telling the people you and your family are starving and don't have any food or money...

"Always be careful not to get lost in an unknown part of this big town; and never enter any house, even if they invite you in!

"Now, each of the most experienced kids will guide one of the younger ones; and all the others will set off in pairs, as usual.

"Please, return to this clearing before the sun starts to descend; or maybe earlier in case you are in any trouble.

"We will wait here for you, until everybody is back. Now, please, pair up; and I wish you all the good luck you need!"

Of course, Misha and I immediately turned towards each other, before any of the other youngsters would be able to claim my friend!

Too vividly, I remembered how Jonno had attached himself to my waiting friend, the first time we wanted to go together...

Misha seemed to have the same remembrances; but he asked me teasingly:

"Are you really sure you want us to go together to that town?"

"Well... not really... perhaps, one of the other kids will be more entertaining."

Misha chuckled; while he started to tickle my ribs until I squealed and begged for mercy.

Soon, I gave up, and promised to stop teasing him like this.

Of course, we were going together again, as usual!

We had never been in any doubt about that.

And, fortunately, we were still able to laugh, after Michail's sad face.

Now that everybody had paired up, Michail dismissed us, after again telling us to be very careful.

All eleven couples started to disappear into the surrounding shrubbery, choosing different directions.

Misha seemed to know the way, because he took my hand and determinedly followed a few others.

After we crossed the thick shrubs, we suddenly stepped onto some outstretched gray pavement...

For the first time, I stared in awe at the outstretched suburbs of a big gadjo town!

For a moment, I squinted at the bright sunlight and rubbed my eyes.

Then, I gasped, and didn't know where I wanted to look first...

Camp after camp showed up along endless roads, stretching out and disappearing into even more camps.

All the camps were filled with enormous two-story caravans without any wheels, haphazardly lined up along the various roads.

This wasn't at all what I had expected to see in the so-called 'gadjo world'; and I needed some time to get used to the strange sight...

In the meantime, the other couples and we parted, after wishing each other a good begging.

Each couple went its own way towards the town, walking off into different roads.

How did they know where they had to go, in this outstretched field full of crowded camps?

To me, all those strange gadjo roads were looking exactly the same...

I nudged Misha, and whispered into his ear:

"How do you know where we have to go, as all those camps look exactly the same?"

Misha started to chuckle at my confused face, but he told me in his normal voice:

"You don't have to whisper, as we're not in our woods looking for wary animals. Around here, you may talk, laugh, or even shout if you wish...

"We are now in a 'suburb', that is an outside of the town. The roads you call 'camps', are here called 'streets'; and most of them lead towards the center.

"Today, we are going to the 'central market'; which is the place that gives us the best chance to get some fresh food and a little bit of money...

"The other couples are going to other markets or big malls; except for Joc and little Jonno, who will visit the same market from the other side."

"But, all those gadjo 'streets' are exactly the same! How do you know where you have to go, without getting lost?"

"Well, have a look at this little plate... it shows a name on it. In every gadjo town, each street has its own name, while every house carries its own house number.

"That way, each single gadjo house has its own unique 'address'; consisting of the name of the street, the house number, and the name of the town.

"Thus, everybody is always able to find any single gadjo in the world; just by knowing his name, street, house number, and town where he lives."

Of course, I had to ponder this new information; while I followed Misha towards the 'suburb'.

Wow, those gadjo's had found a really clever solution, by using their 'street names' and 'house numbers'!

All the things Misha told me sounded very logical.

In our small community, everybody always knew where everybody else's caravan was, and the only things we needed to know were our names.

However, in this enormous town, having thousands of nearly identical caravans... oops, sorry, 'houses'... they had to use a more reliable system, to be able to find everybody else...

Maybe, those gadjo's were not that dumb, after all.

Misha and I left the gray pavement; and we entered one of the many roads that were called 'streets'.

Now, I had a closer look at the many lined-up gadjo houses along it.

In my eyes, they didn't look very nice; but some of them appeared to be a bit better, and a few even had small cultivated gardens.

I looked around curiously; but none of them seemed to have any campfire, not even a small one...

How would they ever be able to roast their animals, or warm themselves in the evening?

All the houses had a front door and windows, just like our own caravans; but their walls were made of many rectangular reddish pieces of rock!

No wonder they had no wheels and couldn't be moved away...

They would be way too heavy to pull them, even with the help of Michail's enormous truck!

Why didn't gadjo's build their houses from less heavy material, like wood and plastic, as our own caravans were made of?

That would make their lives a lot easier, and moving away shouldn't be such a problem...

A few gadjo people were working in their small gardens; or sitting on plastic folding chairs and talking to each other.

They were clad in dull and grayish clothes, quite opposite to our own abundantly colored garments!

I was sure I would never be able to feel happy in those boring and gloomy colors...

Could this be reflecting how gadjo's were feeling, inside their hearts?

No wonder they hated everybody else who wasn't like them...

A couple of fully dressed children frolicked around, playing games in their gardens and on the sidewalks.

They had to be very warm and sweaty by now, because the morning sun was already shining abundantly.

However, they seemed to be used to their dull and rather funny looking garments, and didn't complain...

Suddenly, I felt very happy to be living in our own secluded Gypsy camp, where we could go naked whenever we wanted!

I really pitied those sweaty gadjo kids, who didn't have any choice but obey their strict nudity laws.

Their King surely had to be a very goofy gadjo, to invent such a dumb restriction on behalf of his beloved subjects...

Or, didn't gadjo's have any King and Queen, or beloved leader?

But, then, who else would govern them?

All the time, Misha and I walked along the street, looking at a couple of playing gadjo children.

The kids still hadn't seen us; because they were playing 'hide and seek', looking for each other in and around their gardens...

This was the same game our own kids were playing all the time; and I happened to be VERY good at it!

Only little Dimi had been able to equal me in hiding and making ourselves almost invisible...

Would the happily playing gadjo kids allow us to partake in their game, for a few minutes?

It would be fun to outdo them, and I already planned to teach them a few things they didn't seem to know about proper hiding...

I let go of Misha's hand; and enthusiastically started to cross the road, wanting to make some friends.

However, Misha immediately raced towards me, grabbed my hand, and forcefully pulled me back!

He looked rather shocked, while he hissed:

"Please, don't go near them; because they will never accept us."

Now, one of the playing gadjo kids saw us; and, suddenly, he froze.

Looking at us with fear in his eyes, he stopped his game, and called his friends for assistance!

A moment later, all the gadjo kids huddled together, staring at us with hatred in their eyes...

One of them even balled his fists, took a step towards us, and gave us the finger.

Talking with a strange sounding accent, he told us:

"You are only a couple of filthy thieves and vagabonds! Why don't you leave us alone?"

He turned around, and yelled towards his house:

"DAD, those Gypsies are here again, and now they even brought their children!"

It was a bit difficult to understand his accent; but I was able to feel the energy of his words, and thus knew what he said...

For a moment, I was perplexed, and didn't know how to react.

Why were these children so full of fear and hatred towards us?

We surely hadn't done anything to deserve their strange treatment!

I only wanted to be their friend, and join their game to have a little bit of fun...

One of the gadjo boys stooped down, and snatched a small pebble from the street.

He took a step forward and threw the pebble at us; but he missed us by a couple of feet.

Another gadjo boy followed his example, throwing a pebble that bounced up and hit me against my leg...

Well, I was sure I could aim my pebbles a lot more precisely!

I was always perfecting my skills, by throwing lots of them across our waterfall, trying to hit a far away tree.

Now, I was able to hit even the tiniest leaf, from quite a distance and very accurate.

In our Gypsy camp, throwing things at each other was very rude and impolite, unless we were friends and played a game...

Thus, it was time to teach this cheeky little gadjo boy a lesson he would never forget!

I picked up the pebble; and swung my arm backwards to throw it back to the attacking boy.

Carefully, I aimed for his throwing hand, intending to rule him out for the remainder of the day...

However, Misha pulled at my arm and stopped me just in time, while he groaned:

"PLEASE, DON'T DO THAT!"

He dragged me away from the huddle, with a troubled face:

"You will only make them even angrier; and you can never win."

"But, why are they behaving like this? I am sure we didn't do anything to deserve their rude treatment..."

"I don't know why they do that... But, I think their parents taught them to hate Gypsies."

"That is crazy and total nonsense! We don't hate them, so why should they hate us?"

With a lot of regret, I let my pebble fall to the ground and retook Misha's hand.

It would have been fun to outdo them, and let them see we could throw our pebbles quite a lot better!

Maybe, then, they would act a bit more respectful towards Gypsies...

Misha just walked on, pretending not to be bothered by the now snickering gadjo kids.

Behind our backs, they started to yell at us and call us 'chickens'...

However, they didn't dare follow us or throw any more pebbles.

Who were the chickens here?

A moment later, Misha and I rounded a corner and entered another paved street.

I still felt a bit shocked, and didn't understand why any gadjo kid would ever hate us without even knowing us...

We hadn't done anything other than walk in their street!

Yet, they threw pebbles at us and told us we were thieves and vagabonds...

Maybe, their grownups had told them stories from their past, about thieving Gypsies; without really knowing us...

Just like our own grownups always told us their stories from our past, about nasty gadjo's and cruel witch hunts...

Yet, I was relatively sure we didn't know anything real about gadjo's, just like gadjo's didn't know anything about us!

Suddenly, I started to understand what might cause their strange behavior towards us.

We just didn't KNOW each other, but only assumed things...

Misha and I walked on and on; until we left the 'suburb', and entered a more dense part of the big gadjo city.

We rounded another corner; and, suddenly, I looked around with bulging eyes and holding my breath!

Feeling rather overwhelmed, I stared at block after block of enormous three-story, four-story, and even multi-story houses!

They were put down less haphazardly along their streets, but they were HUGE and very impressive, at least in my eyes.

They also didn't have any cultivated gardens, except for a few grassplots and lots of small parking lots filled with cars.

At first, I didn't understand why each huge house showed so many front doors; so I asked my friend:

"Misha, why are these houses carrying so many doors and windows? Are they 'hotels', with many rooms for guests?"

"No, but they are intended for lots of people living together. These buildings are called 'flats' or 'condominiums'.

"Inside the buildings, many families live in their own house, and every family has its own front door."

I looked at a nearby 'flat', or maybe this was a 'condominium'; and started to count, feeling curious about how big each inside house would be:

"Misha? I'm counting forty-eight windows in that flat; but there are only six front doors. Why does each family have eight windows?"

Misha started to laugh, while he patiently explained:

"Behind every door, a staircase leads up to several other floors. Thus, every house has its own front door and only two front windows."

I started to calculate... forty-eight windows; that had to be twenty-four gadjo families, living together in one huge 'flat'.

Suddenly, I started to feel a bit giddy at the mere thought of its vastness...

Twenty-four families, living together in one enormous four-story caravan, having four floors with staircases, and using two front windows each...

This gadjo community certainly had a weird way of life!

Now, I was very happy to be living in our own small caravan, sheltering only one family, needing only one floor and one front door...

After some time, I got used to the sight of all those huge 'flats', which all looked nearly the same.

They all had several floors, many doors with staircases, and lots of windows to accommodate many families.

I started to get a bit bored; thus I asked my friend:

"Misha? Where are we going now, and when do we finally start begging?"

"We are nearly at the 'central market', where we hope to find people with enough money to give us some small change...

"And, maybe, some booth owners will give us something to eat, if they are in a good mood and don't chase us away immediately."

I didn’t know what a 'booth' was, but nodded without asking.

Again, we walked on and on...

All of a sudden, we reached a huge square, crowded to the brim with all sorts of little vending stalls!

Again, I was totally in awe, and looked around open-mouthed and holding my breath...

Never before had I seen so many people, crowding together and paving their own ways around each other, seemingly in an everlasting hurry.

It was a real wonder they never bumped into each other, and always avoided stumbling across each other's feet!

Lots of busy sellers were standing or seated in their many 'stalls' or 'booths', loudly recommending their merchandise.

They tried to sell all sorts of food, clothing, knickknacks, and several nice looking gadjo things that I had never seen before.

Now and then, somebody stopped at a stall and bought something, before walking on and disappearing into the ever-moving crowd.

Immediately, the content looking seller restarted his vending talk, loudly praising his goods...

Suddenly, I felt lost in this constantly and hurriedly moving crowd and all the unusual sounds around me.

All the different energies around me started to pull at my nerves, making me feel dizzy and very unsure.

In our own secluded Gypsy camp, everything always was peaceful and in harmony...

But, here, nobody seemed to care about anybody else.

They didn't even look at each other!

I started to sweat all over; and wanted to sit down and close my eyes, in a desperate attempt to shut out all the whirling energies...

Fortunately, Misha saw my dismay; and he put his safe arms around me.

He told me to close my eyes until I felt better; and breathe in and out slowly and deeply...

To my surprise, that really helped!

Within two minutes, I felt quite a lot better, and reopened my eyes.

Wow. Again, my friend and teacher had taught me something very valuable I would never forget!

Misha smiled at me, while he released me from his arms and told me:

"You are not the first one who gets dizzy and disorientated in this strange cacophony of sounds and all different kinds of energy fields.

"Soon, you will get used to it; and, then, it will no longer bother you. Just keep breathing. Now, are you ready to start our begging?"

I nodded enthusiastically, and followed my friend towards one of the small food stalls...

17. Begging for food; a gadjo friend; and I am our lucky mascot.

The small food stall displayed all sorts of tasty looking gadjo goodies, making my mouth water...

Ultimately, the only food I had this morning was one apple; and that for a growing boy!

Suddenly feeling hungry, I stared at the busy stall owner who still loudly praised his goods...

Misha put his hands onto my shoulders, and gently pushed me in front of himself.

Patiently, he waited, until the busy stall owner looked into our direction...

Then, he showed me to the frowning gadjo man, while he pleaded:

"Please, sir; my little brother and I didn't eat this morning, and our parents don't have any money either..."

At first, the disturbed stall owner just glared at Misha, looking angry!

I thought he would yell at us because we were Gypsies, and immediately shoo us away...

However, after he saw me, he suddenly started to bellow with laughter, while he hiccupped:

"Well, well; look at what the cat brings home! There's a little bastard Gypsy, blond with blue eyes...

"I suppose your hungry mother sold herself to a blond haired sailor?"

For a moment, I stared at the man, not understanding what he was talking about...

Then, suddenly sensing the meaning of his words, I was severely shocked by the sheer malice of what he suggested!

Never before had anybody been this mean and rude about my Mom.

I loved my Mom with all my heart, and didn't want that man to berate her like this!

Tears of anger and frustration welled up in my eyes; while I started to sniffle.

Immediately, I wiped my unwelcome tears away, using a sleeve of my shirt.

I certainly didn't want that mean man to think I would be a Gypsy crybaby as well!

At the same time, I stared into his eyes, trying to enter his mind and probe his intentions...

Why was that gadjo man so mean to me?

Had his parents never told him about Love and Respect?

That was very sad...

Suddenly, the man stepped back as if I had slapped his face, while he turned a deep red!

At the same time, the malice in his eyes started to soften quite a lot.

He even averted his eyes, as if he suddenly felt ashamed of what he had said...

For a moment, the man stared into empty space, as if he remembered his parents.

Then, acting a bit shy, he reached down, and took a huge paper bag from a pile.

While bashfully trying to smile at me, he mumbled:

"Sorry, little man; I didn't mean what I said. Now, come on and dry your tears, because today is your lucky day."

In a sudden hurry, the gadjo man started to fill the paper bag with all sorts of fresh and tasty looking gadjo foods!

I sensed that the man had changed his mind quite a lot; and, now, he wanted to be nicer to us, after all...

Still looking very bashful, he handed me the heavy paper bag, while he told me:

"I hope your brother and you will have a good meal out of this. Now, move on, because you're hindering the other customers."

I didn't know what to say, while I took the paper bag and slowly turned towards Misha.

Had the man suddenly changed his mind, because I had been angry with him and showed him my disapproval?

Or, had he seen my tears, and decided to have some more pity with us...

However, Misha already politely thanked the man:

"Thank you very much, sir, for your kindness! You are a good man."

This time, the man hastily retreated towards the back of his stall!

I even thought I saw a couple of tears, welling up in his eyes...

Misha smiled proudly, while he took over and carried our heavy paper bag.

Walking together, we left the crowded market; looking around for something to sit on.

Soon, we saw an empty wooden bench; where we sat down, to have a look at what was in our bag...

Suddenly, Misha threw his arms around me, while he told me:

"Wow, little man; that was absolutely amazing! I've made a good choice, by choosing you as my begging buddy!"

"Huh? What do you mean? I didn't do anything at all; and that gadjo man used very mean words and offended my Mom..."

"Who cares? Look at what is in this bag! Please, keep getting tears in your eyes every time, because I think you are our Lucky Mascot!"

I shook my head in disbelief, not comprehending what special things I had done to be a 'lucky mascot'...

Then, all my attention was drawn towards the paper bag full of nice gadjo goodies!

Misha opened it; and offered me a tasty looking brown roll filled with yellow pudding, while he himself took a similar goodie.

A moment later, we both savored our meal, gratefully licking our fingers clean.

Finally, we were able to have some proper breakfast!

A filthy looking and really thin gadjo boy of around twelve years old hesitantly approached our bench.

He sat down at its far end; slowly rubbing his stomach, but not looking at us directly.

With hungry eyes, and unconsciously licking his lips, he stealthily eyed our filled paper bag...

Obviously, this boy was at least as hungry as we had been, a minute ago!

From the corners of my eyes, I saw Misha looking warily at the hungry boy.

He took our paper bag, closed it, and protectively clamped it in between his legs...

Did Misha really think this starved gadjo boy would try to steal our food?

I thought that all the gadjo kids called US thieves?

I looked at the hungry gadjo boy, and suddenly decided to help him!

We were both human beings, and both desperately trying to get some food...

So, why should we not share some of our free meal?

Gently, I took the paper bag from between Misha's legs, while my friend stared at me with a questioning face.

However, he respected my intentions, and didn't object other than slightly raising his eyebrows.

Next, I opened the bag, and invitingly held it towards the now very hungry looking gadjo boy...

For a moment, the boy hesitated.

Then, tentatively, he reached for the bag, and took some tasty looking brownie.

Immediately, he popped it into his mouth, as if he was afraid we would want it back...

Still chewing and swallowing, he suddenly blurted:

"But... you are GYPSIES!"

"Yes, we are; and you are a gadjo. So what?"

"What is 'gadjo'? You now cut my throat?"

"WHAT? Why would you ever think such a ridiculous thing? We are not murderers!"

"Everybody tell Gypsies mean, steal, and cut throat... but you seem nice?"

For a moment, I felt flabbergasted, and didn't know what to answer.

Was THAT what all those gadjo's were thinking about us; that we were thieves and throat cutters?

No wonder their children were afraid of us, and threw pebbles at us to chase us away!

I smiled at the still hungry looking gadjo boy, and again put the paper bag under his nose.

Hesitantly, he took a huge doughnut, this time looking even more grateful.

He held it into both hands, as if he couldn't believe his own eyes...

Then, he mumbled:

"I keep this for sister. She hungry too..."

A minute later, we were in an animated conversation.

Misha and I told the boy about our lives in our secluded camp, and that we were peaceful people who never harmed anyone.

The gadjo boy told us about living in an abandoned sewer plant, together with his slightly older sister, since their parents died.

Day after day, they scoured all the different markets and malls in town, looking for anything edible.

Our brownie had been his first meal of the day...

Now and then, it was difficult to understand each other's heavy accent and foreign use of words.

Fortunately, I seemed to be an excellent translator, because I felt the energy of his words and thus knew what he was saying.

I also seemed to pick up the foreign gadjo words really fast, and immediately mixed them into our conversation.

Misha admiringly told me I seemed to have 'a real knack for languages', making me blush about the compliment...

Then, the gadjo boy wanted to go to his sister and bring her his precious doughnut.

He was sure she was still hungry, and would be very grateful for her first meal of the day...

Of course, Misha and I immediately decided to share our own huge bag of food with the boy!

Carrying two hands full of goodies, and having tears in his eyes, our new gadjo friend sobbed:

"I hope we see back sometime! And, thank you a lot! You good friend, and sister and I love you..."

He disappeared into one of the side streets, almost skipping, and carefully carrying his precious gifts...

I never thought we would make such a good gadjo friend; while we were hungry and still begging for our own food!

And, I also never thought that even gadjo kids could be poor and starving...

Misha stared at me for a long time, until he finally blurted:

"My friend, again you taught me quite a lot; about being friendly even to our enemies, without thinking the worst in the first place...

"And, again, you showed me that you are a real Royal Prince! I think you will grow up to be an Apostle of Peace."

"Thank you, my dear friend; and I am sure you will grow up to be an Apostle of Love."

"I surely hope so; but I'm afraid I will have to learn quite a lot more first..."

We threw our arms around each other and hugged for a long time, oblivious to the busy people around.

Then, we decided not to tell our friends about sharing half of our food with some hungry gadjo boy.

We were afraid they would never accept our motivation...

Besides, we still had our halfway filled paper bag with all the remaining gadjo goodies!

Together, we returned to the central market, to resume our begging.

This time, we took another lane, looking around until we detected another promising stall.

Again, Misha pushed me in front of himself, while he waited until the few customers left and sauntered away.

Then, he showed his best puppy dog face to the female stall owner, while he begged:

"Please, madam... This morning, we didn't have any breakfast; and my little brother and I are still hungry..."

The stall owner looked at us with sudden fear in her eyes, while she barked:

"I don't trust any Gypsies. You have already done enough harm! Go home, you thieves; and don't let me see you again, or I will call the police!"

I was able to feel the energy of her angry words, and felt very shocked by what I sensed.

This woman meant what she said; and I was relatively sure she had a valid reason for her fear and hatred!

Maybe, somebody else once had betrayed her trust, and afterwards blamed us Gypsies?

Now, I knew how it felt to be a scapegoat...

Misha tried to drag me away from the stall, but I refused to move on and dived from under his hands.

I stepped forward and stared at the woman's eyes in wonder, trying to read her mind and understand why she didn't trust us...

Feeling her Inner Self, I could sense she was a good woman with a big heart, capable of giving a lot of love.

However, she didn't trust any stranger; because somebody once betrayed her kindness and stomped onto her soul...

Slowly, my eyes filled with tears, while I opened my heart and sent the poor woman all the love I could muster.

She wasn't really mean, but only very afraid of being betrayed again...

I also 'saw' a faint picture of a young boy, dearly loving his mother, until he suddenly died...

That too had broken her heart.

Misha started to be impatient, while he forcefully pulled my arm to get me to move on.

However, I resisted him again; while I continued to send the poor woman my love.

I sensed that she remembered her own young boy, but she was very afraid to love a kid again.

Knowing this, I opened myself up even more...

Suddenly, the woman colored a deep red, while she turned around to hide her face.

Hastily, she took a couple of money flaps out of a metal box, without looking at what she did.

Without counting them, she handed me the pile of money, ushering me to go away and leave her alone...

Feeling very bashful, I took the money and handed it to Misha, while I stammered:

"Thank you very much, madam; and you have a good heart!"

"It's in your eyes... they remind me of my own son... you are a good boy; and sorry for my harsh words!"

She started to cry, turned her back towards us, and blindly grabbled around for a box of tissues...

Misha and I walked back to our wooden bench, where we sat down in silence.

I felt confused, while I desperately tried to get rid of the woman's sad feelings that still lingered around me.

I also sensed her deceased son around me, gratefully thanking me for helping his Mom!

However, I had done nothing but only sending her my love and telling her she had a good heart.

How could that ever have 'helped' her?

Then, I remembered what Misha had taught me this morning, after I felt confused and dizzy...

I started to steadily breathe in and out, slowly and deeply; and that helped immediately.

The grateful boy disappeared from my aura, after again thanking me and sending me his love.

My sad feelings disappeared completely, and I felt like being reborn!

In the meantime, Misha had been busy counting our pile of money flaps.

With an astonished face, he counted the money for the second time...

Now, he threw his arms around me, while he exclaimed:

"Look at what that woman gave to us! This is a huge amount of money. How the heck did you do that? You ARE our Lucky Mascot!

"Please, keep doing what you did, again and again. You are opening a real goldmine!"

"Sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about. I am sure I did nothing special..."

"Then, please, keep doing 'nothing special'! Thanks to you, Michail will now be able to buy all the food we need!"

"Really?"

Now, I felt even more confused!

I was sure I had done nothing special; and, yet, every gadjo seemed to offer me lots of food and money, just like that...

Maybe, my Dad had been right, about my 'innocent face' and 'blue puppy dog eyes'; although I still hadn't switched into my 'brainiac mode' yet...

Silently, I leaned into Misha, who put our pile of money into his back pocket.

18. A weird gadjo man; sweetie; an enormous amount of money.

For the third time in a row, some tall gadjo man walked past our bench.

I had already seen him at the central market, furtively staring at me while Misha and I were begging.

After he saw me looking back at him curiously, he even winked at me before averting his eyes...

What did this man want from Misha and me?

Would he try to steal our food or money?

I had a better look at the man, and immediately got a strange feeling in my Inner Self.

It told me that I shouldn't trust this stranger and be very cautious; but he was not after our money...

Behind my back, Misha sat more upright, while he protectively put his arms around my shoulders.

Obviously, my friend felt the same strange feelings of caution!

The fourth time around, the man suddenly stopped, in front of our bench.

First, he looked around furtively; as if he was afraid someone else might see or hear him...

Then, he sat down, very close to us, trying to smile reassuringly.

A moment later, he whispered, barely audibly:

"Boys, do you want to earn some money? Please, follow me."

He stood up, and beckoned us to follow him towards one of the side streets...

At first, neither Misha nor I moved, because we didn't trust this weird stranger!

Yet, I was relatively sure he wouldn't try to steal anything from us, or want to cut our throats...

I looked up at the man and stared into his eyes, trying to detect his real intentions.

Then, I felt even more confused!

This man wanted to... and I wasn't sure... to... CUDDLE me?
This was very weird; but there was something else to it that I didn't understand...

By now, the man's eyes stared back at me hungrily, as if they saw some sort of a prey.

Unconsciously, he licked his lips, while a few beads of sweat formed on his forehead...

Never before had I experienced such a strange feeling; as if this man wanted to eat me alive!

How weird...

Could he be a 'cannibal', as in some sort of a creepy story?

After a moment, the man turned towards Misha, while he whispered:

"How much money, for letting me look at your little brother?"

What?

This stranger wanted to pay Misha some money, just to let him LOOK at me?

But, the man WAS already looking at me; staring at me a lot more intensely than any other man had ever done before!

Now, I felt really confused...

What the heck did this gadjo stranger want from us?

A moment later, Misha's arms left me; while my friend slowly rose from our bench.

First, he looked the man over from head to toe, appraisingly, and almost provocatively...

Then, he asked the man, with a sly smile on his face:

"How much do you want to pay for him?"

"Twenty."

"Are you crazy? He's a virgin, and this is his first time! Besides, he is very soft all over, and an absolute joy to play with."

I was an absolute joy to PLAY with?

Was that what the still hungry looking gadjo man wanted to do; play some game with me?

Maybe, the man would try to stare me down, by looking at me this intensely...

Well; then, he would be in for a surprise!

Or, was this another part of our begging?

I looked at Misha questioningly; and my friend looked back with a smile and even winked at me!

Now, I was sure we were still begging, and that Misha wanted me to partake in it.

Okay, my friend could count on me!

I looked up at the man, showed him my most innocent puppy dog face, and smiled broadly.

I even tried to produce some tears, but didn't succeed...

This time, I thought the man almost got a heart attack from sheer excitement!

He started to tremble all over, while he breathed heavily and again licked his lips.

With a flushed face and a hoarse voice, he told Misha:

"I want him! Fifty?"

"Two hundred; and that's only for feeling him up and nothing more. You will have the time of your life..."

"That is too much, for such a small boy. One hundred is enough!"

"You are insulting my brother. Now, it's raised to two hundred and fifty! One more insult, and it will cost you three hundred."

Again, I showed the man my most seducing smile, this time copying him by licking my own lips...

However, inwardly, I started to doubt.

What was that 'feeling up' Misha was talking about?

And, why would this strange man 'have the time of his life'?

What was this man going to PAY Misha such a huge amount of money for?

Was this still a part of our begging?

After I smiled seducingly at the strange man and licked my lips, I thought the man would faint.

He started to breathe heavily, while his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets!

Sweating, and still trembling all over, he worked a thick wallet out of his pocket.

Hastily, he counted a huge pile of money flaps; and handed them to Misha, with trembling hands.

Misha recounted the gadjo money flaps carefully, a total of two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand Lei.

Then, he nodded, while he put the pile of money into his now bulging back pocket.

Again, he winked at me; silently telling me everything was okay and that I just had to trust him.

Next, he told the still sweating man:

"Don't forget that all our friends will be here to rescue us immediately, if necessary! Now, where do you want us to go?"

Suddenly being in a tremendous hurry, the man beckoned us to follow him towards a small side street...

Hesitantly, I rose from our bench, grabbed our paper bag, and took Misha's hand.

Although I did my utmost to look confident, my Inner Self didn't feel at ease at all...

I was sure I could trust Misha, because he was my best friend and would never let me down.

But, where were we going, following this stranger into a small and ugly looking street?

Weren't we supposed to be begging at the central market?

And, what exactly was 'feeling up'?

On our way, Misha suddenly snatched an old broomstick from a huge pile of litter.

Now, I felt a lot more confident about our rather vulnerable situation!

My friend seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

And, now, we were able to defend ourselves, if necessary; by pushing Misha's broomstick into the gadjo man's mouth...

Or, did this work only on nasty wolves and other dangerous predators?

A moment later, the man stopped, while he pointed to a closed restroom door.

First, he looked along the street cagily; as if he wanted to be sure we really were alone...

Next, he opened the door, listening for any inside sounds before he entered the restroom.

He looked around swiftly; to be sure all the stalls were empty, before he beckoned us to join him.

Misha and I followed the man into the small restroom, but we stopped inside the doorway.

I sniffed the air cautiously, and almost threw up because of the stale smell that wavered towards us!

Why did this weird gadjo man want us to follow him into such an unhealthy environment?

Things were becoming stranger and stranger...

The man went straight to one of the dirty looking and stinking stalls, and opened its door.

Then, he turned around, and beckoned me to go inside!

Suddenly, I started to feel very unsure.

Why would any weird gadjo man want me to enter such a stinking stall?

Would he now want to 'feel me up' and 'have the time of his life', because that is what he paid Misha for?

And, I certainly didn't want to pee here, or empty my bowels, while the man stared at me...

I was NOT going to enter that stall, not even for two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand money flaps of LEI!

Again, the man pointed to the open stall, while he told me with a shaky voice:

"Come on, sweetie, and be a good boy! You know we have a deal, and I've already paid for you..."

SWEETIE?

Did that man really call me a 'sweetie'?

That word was only for girls!

Now, I started to be angry at the man, and stubbornly decided that enough was enough.

I didn't want to play that weird man's crazy gadjo games anymore!

I wanted to go home, or resume our begging at the central market.

My part of the deal was over, being paid for or not!

Resolutely, I turned towards Misha, planning to take his hand and drag him back to the central market.

We were in this gadjo town to beg, and not to play weird games with gadjo strangers in stinking restroom stalls.

This weird stranger could go 'feeling up' himself, whatever it meant!

However, Misha shook his head furtively, using his eyes to try to tell me something important...

Sensing what he wanted, I stretched my aura out towards him, trying to read his thoughts.

To my surprise, I effortlessly entered his mind to read his intentions!

He had already opened up to me, hoping I would understand what he wanted me to do.

Now, he showed me his pictures, trusting that I would understand them...

A moment later, I nodded my consent, while sending him my own thoughts:

'Yes, my friend; and I think you have cooked up a really clever plan!'

I turned back towards the still impatiently waiting gadjo man, as Misha had asked me to do.

This time, I offered the man my broadest smile, while I pointed towards the open stall...

Immediately, the man started to sweat even more, again licking his lips.

Laughing inwardly, I told him with my sweetest voice:

"Please, sir, after you!"

For a moment, the man looked confused, while he hesitated...

Maybe, he sensed that Misha and I had something totally different on our minds?

Then, his eagerness won over his initial prudence!

He stepped into the stall, turned around, and told me with a shaky voice:

"Come in, sweetie, and let me have some fun..."

However, before he finished his sentence, Misha already jumped towards the stall door!

He slammed the door shut with a loud bang, while he triumphantly grinned at me.

Next, he took the broomstick, and adeptly slid it across the door handle, thus locking the door effectively.

Misha and I started to dance around each other, while we cheered loudly!

Together, we strolled towards the exit, with our arms around each other's waists.

Today, we played and won some weird gadjo 'game' over an even weirder gadjo man, and thus earned a lot of money.

We could be very proud of ourselves!

Behind our backs, the weird gadjo man in vain tried to open the blocked stall door.

With a frustrated voice, he started to curse, loudly telling us to open the door immediately, or else...

Next, he kicked the door forcefully, and groaned because he injured a couple of toes.

Again, he cursed and shouted at us.

Then, he started to sob and beg for mercy!

The big crybaby...

Feeling in an excellent mood, Misha and I left the stinking restroom.

We shut the entrance door, leaving the still begging and crying gadjo man inside.

Secretly, I hoped it would be a very long time, before somebody else found the man and removed the broomstick.

I didn't like the thought of the now undoubtedly murderous man, angrily chasing us around the town...

Misha tried to squash my ribs from sheer enthusiasm, while he chuckled:

"Wasn't that easy, sweetie? Again, your innocent eyes performed their magic!"

"Please, don't call me 'sweetie'! That's weird, and only for girls... But, now, I want to know what 'feeling up' is! What game did that man want to play with me?"

"Well... This gadjo world seems to be full of very weird grownups, who all want to abuse sweet little boys like you...

"And, 'feeling up' means they want to feel your little pecker and play with it. They are even willing to pay huge sums of money for their strange pleasures."

"Huh? Why would any grownup ever want to do such a crazy thing? Can't they go play with their own peckers?"

"Next time, I will ask them... But, this time, that man offered us an excellent opportunity to get a lot of money out of his crazy habit!"

"From now on, if one of our own grownups accidentally touches me there, I will ask him to pay!"

Misha started to bellow with laughter, while we walked across the suburb towards our waiting caravan combination.

Of course, we didn't dare return to the central market and resume our begging!

What if that angry gadjo man freed himself too fast, and found us?

Besides, I carried our still halfway filled paper bag, while Misha's back pocket literally bulged with money!

We surely had done enough begging for today.

On our way back, we playfully kicked small pebbles across the street and towards each other.

Fortunately, the gadjo kids were nowhere to be seen; or they had resumed their playing elsewhere.

The streets were empty, except for a few older gadjo's who didn't pay us any attention.

Soon, we arrived at the outstretched gray pavement from where we started our first gadjo adventure...

For the last time, I turned around, to look back at the crazy gadjo town with its many streets and houses.

I was sure I would remember this town for the rest of my life!

Together, Misha and I crossed the thick shrubbery, and entered our waiting caravan.

Inside the caravan, Michail, Pietro, and Jonno's father were seated around the small table, lazily playing some game of cards.

They looked surprised, because we were the first returning couple and very early.

Michail greeted us, while he curiously looked at the halfway filled paper bag I carried:

"Hi, Misha and Harry. You are back soon! Did you have any luck today?"

Before I could answer, Misha started to empty his back pocket onto the table.

A moment later, the deck of playing cards was totally covered below a wagon load of whirling money flaps!

For a moment, all the grownups remained dead silent...

Then, Michail pulled me towards his chest, protectively putting his arms around me.

Suspiciously glaring at Misha, he hissed:

"That is quite a lot of money! Has this to do with our little Prince? I surely hope you haven't..."

"Of course not! I feel offended by your insinuations, thank you very much. But, today, Harry is our Lucky Mascot! Just listen to our unbelievable story..."

We sat down around the money-covered table, while the grownups sorted out and counted all the money flaps.

In the meantime, Misha and I told them everything about our strange adventures in the gadjo town, taking turns.

Vividly, I pictured how that gadjo child abuser first started to yell, then kicked the stall door, and finally cried and begged for mercy...

Misha explained why we decided to return early, because we didn't want to take any risk of meeting that man again!

After counting all the money, and neatly piling it up, Michail beamed:

"Boys, you really did an excellent job. With all this money, we are now able to buy everything we need for at least the upcoming winter!

"And, Harry, I am sure that Misha is right. You ARE our Lucky Mascot; and thank you very much for helping us out like this."

I started to blush, and didn't know where I should look.

Everybody around me seemed to think that I had done something very special...

Only, I still hadn't the faintest idea about what I had done to 'help out'...

But, being our 'Lucky Mascot' certainly felt great!

After some time, our other kids showed up and entered the caravan, a pair at a time.

Some of them carried paper bags with gadjo foods, while others had gathered some money.

Michail put all our money away, into his enormous leather billfold.

Next, we put all our food together; and each of us got a couple of tasty gadjo goodies to munch on.

Then, Misha and I had to tell our unbelievable story for the second time...

After our stomachs were filled to the brim, the five smallest kids followed Michail to his truck.

All the other kids stayed in our attached caravan, accompanied by Jonno's father.

Again, Pietro helped us climb towards the backseat, by pushing us up.

Of course, I retook my place on Pietro's lap, again enjoying my unrestricted view outside!

Michail started the engine, and adeptly drove our truck-and-caravan combination back onto the highway.

We were on our way back to our own secluded camp, feeling rather tired but also very happy.

Again, I sat glued to the front windshield, staring outside at all the interesting gadjo things that passed by.

It felt good, to go home, after a day's hard work!

19. 'Communism'; narrating mode; caught in a nasty police raid.

Some time later, I saw the same wrecked old bus I had seen before.

However, this time, it seemed to be inhabited by even more thin and filthy gadjo kids!

Feeling sad about their obviously very difficult situation, I started to think...

Wouldn't we be able to help them, by sharing our own sudden wealth with them?

I was sure we had now more than enough food and money for all of us...

However, before I could ask my question to Michail or Pietro, we had already left the old bus behind.

Now, it was too late to ask Michail to stop, turn around, and help them.

Maybe, a next time, I would ask him a bit earlier.

I leaned into Pietro's broad chest, pulled his safe arms around me, and started to think some more...

Of course, I had to wait first, until I would be old enough to be a powerful King and reign...

But, then, I would change the way the world behaved, by forcing everybody to share their own wealth with all their fellow human beings!

That way, nobody would ever be hungry again, or be compelled to beg for their daily food.

Both gadjo's and Gypsies would work together brotherly, earning the same amount of money.

Then, everybody would be the same, sharing all their possessions among each other!

It was a shame that, up to now, nobody else had thought of such an easy and practical solution...

It was time to change the world, by rooting out all poverty and inequality!

After some more thinking, I even found a name for it.

Because the entire world would change into one big Community like ours, I would call my solution 'Communism'.

I almost couldn't wait to start...

Then, I saw our own mountains with their glowing snow-clad tops, showing up in the distance!

My heart jumped up in my chest, while I nearly started to sob from my powerful emotions of recognition.

This was where my home was; and it also was where I belonged, for all eternity!

Nothing would ever be able to pull me away from our own campfire and so well-known circle of caravans!

I heaved a deep sigh of content, while I looked for the intersection where we would leave the highway and go home.

Soon, our truck slowed down; and Michail adeptly turned it into the narrow path that led us to the friendly 'hotel'.

A moment later, my Big Friend parked our combination in the clearing, and stopped its engine.

Hastily, we left our truck and caravan, to take a fast leak and enjoy our short break, before we went on.

We wanted to be home as soon as possible, to tell our waiting parents about our adventures!

However, the nice hotel owner already appeared in the double doorway.

Enthusiastically, she invited the grownups and me in again, smiling broadly as usual.

This time, I took Misha's hand, and dragged him with me through the double doors!

I was sure the nice woman wouldn't mind at all; and I wanted my friend to have a look for himself at the enormous room inside this building...

A minute later, Misha and I drank our tasty lemonade with an ice cube, while the grownups sipped their steaming coffee.

A man showed up and offered us some inviting looking pastries, but both Misha and I declined politely.

Our stomachs were still filled to the brim with our gadjo goodies!

The man smiled, put the pastries away, and disappeared outside with a full platter of cups of lemonade...

After some small talk with our grownups, the nice hotel owner turned towards me, and asked:

"And, my young Prince; how was your first day in a gadjo town? Did you help your friend?"

Immediately, everybody turned their chairs towards Misha and me.

Of course, they already knew what would come; but they obviously wanted to hear our story for a second or even third time...

Okay; I decided not to disappoint them!

This time, I wanted to try out a new kind of 'narrating mode'.

Therefore, I rose upright onto my chair, so that everybody could see and hear me even better.

From my makeshift pedestal, I looked at my waiting audience, one by one, to build up some tension...

Then, I started to tell them enthusiastically about Misha's and my adventures in the strange gadjo town.

Vividly, I described the many houses and multi-story flats; where lots of gadjo's were living together as bunches of huge rats in their over-crowded nests.

Their always fully clad children thought that all gadjo's were nasty throat-cutters; and they chased us away by yelling and throwing pebbles at us.

The central marked looked like sort of a huge and busy anthill, full of swarming gadjo's who never paid any real attention to each other.

Although the grownup gadjo's used very mean words and tried to shoo us away, they still seemed to have preserved some compassion...

Therefore, after they saw my teary eyes, they suddenly offered me lots of food and money, before they told Misha and me to leave immediately!

Then, some strange gadjo man offered quite a lot of flaps of money to Misha, because he wanted to 'play' with me in a stinking restroom stall...

However, Misha and I cleverly locked him up in his own stall; and now, the big crybaby started to curse and beg for mercy!

Feeling proud of ourselves, we returned to our waiting caravan and handed our money to Michail; and everybody now called me their 'Lucky Mascot'...

I looked at my audience, and suddenly felt a bit shy and timid.

Everybody's eyes were on me, while they listened intently to my story, with their mouths agape!

For a moment, they were dead silent, slowly closing their mouths...

Then, they all started to cheer and applaud, making the windows rumble!

Obviously, they liked my new way of storytelling very much.

I sat down again, silently basking in the nice feeling of being applauded.

In the meantime, everybody started to talk at the same time, about nasty gadjo's wanting to abuse innocent little children...

Fortunately, their little Prince had escaped such an ordeal, albeit with the invaluable help of his big friend, Misha.

Thus, he certainly had proven to be able to fend for himself, even in an unknown gadjo town!

Then, the nice hotel owner turned towards Misha, and told him:

"Please, Misha, always be extremely cautious with such a dangerous 'game'! Fortunately, this time, everything turned out for the best.

"However, a next time, you could be in severe danger! Please, never again provoke such a venture with such a small and vulnerable boy..."

Misha looked a little bit guilty, but he responded:

"Yes, I promise; but Harry is NOT a vulnerable boy! For example, he is capable of reading any human mind effortlessly.

"Last year, he forced a police officer to leave our camp in a sudden hurry, by filling the officer's mind with pictures of dancing devils.

"I am sure he would do a similar thing to this weird gadjo, or even worse, in case the man would ever try to attack or abuse him!

"That is why I trusted my friend to do exactly the right things; also because he knew what I intended to do, by reading my mind.

"With any other little boy at my side, I would have told the man to go play with himself; or to go to hell, whatever comes first!"

Everybody started to laugh, even the still worried looking hotel owner.

After drinking our coffee and lemonade, we wanted to go home, because we felt rather tired.

We thanked the nice woman politely for all the good things she always did for us.

Next, every single man got an enormous bear hug, and she tried to crush me against her huge bosom!

She walked us to the door; and told us to visit her again, anytime we were on our way to a gadjo city.

We entered our truck and caravan, Michail started the engine; and, again, we were on our way home.

Again, I sat glued to the front windshield, looking at all the huge boulders and nasty potholes that tried to block our way.

Fortunately, Michail was a very competent driver!

Within half an hour, our truck-and-caravan-combination reentered our circle of caravans.

Immediately, all my people crowded around us, feeling happy to see us back in good health.

After receiving many hugs, Michail emptied a couple bags of gadjo goodies onto a big platter...

A little cannonball wrestled through the herd, until he reached me.

Next, he launched himself onto me at full speed, with a loud Indian yell!

Using all his little limbs to octopus himself onto my neck and chest, he sobbed:

"Harry, I've missed you terribly! All the time, I thought of you, hoping the nasty gadjo's wouldn't harm you or kill you..."

"Well, as you can see for yourself, nobody harmed or killed me! And, I'm bringing home a lot of money and a bag full of tasty gadjo goodies."

"Really? Where are they? Can I taste one?"

Little Dimi's built-in sun started to shine again, while he untangled himself from my chest and raced to Michail to have his share of the goodies.

Chuckling, I mused that it was extremely easy to soothe such a small child!

I only hadn't realized he would be this worried about me.

My own little son, from one of our past lives...

Our cars with all the other grownups showed up; carrying lots of nice gadjo clothes and other useful things.

They had visited another gadjo town, far away, to snatch away from rich people anything valuable they could lay their hands on.

Immediately, we helped them stow away all the goods into our special caves along the ravines.

In rank, we marched on and off, until our cars were emptied.

Next, we sat down around our campfire, while our men told us about a day without any difficulties or troubles.

After we had told them about our strange adventures, and earning such a lot of money, Misha and I were the day's heroes!

We had to tell them our story over and again, until we started to be hoarse and had to drink lots of water.

Everybody around us wanted to ruffle our hair and slap our shoulders!

My proud Dad beamed when he heard our story; and he lifted me high into the air:

"Boy, now I am very glad I've allowed you to join Misha to that gadjo town. You certainly are our Lucky Mascot!"

Again, I marveled in the nice feeling of being a 'Lucky Mascot'; although I still didn't understand what I had done to earn all those praises...

Michail stowed the remainder of our gadjo food away, to serve us during the forthcoming days.

Our violin players started to play beautiful melodies, full of joy and happiness.

Soon, everybody was singing, dancing around, and having lots of fun!

We all sang and danced all night, until we were too tired to lift our feet off the ground...

Finally, we wavered towards our caravans, to have some sleep and dream of joy and happiness.

We were planning to sleep through at least a huge part of the next morning...

I woke up in total darkness, and needed a moment to realize what alerted me.

Outside our caravan, I heard the sounds of several cars, entering our camp at high speed!

Not knowing what to think of all that sudden noise, I sat upright in my bed and listened...

Car doors slammed, and many strange sounding voices yelled and shouted all over our place.

What the heck was happening to our always so peaceful camp?

My Dad showed up in my sleeping den, looking nervous and worried, while he whispered:

"Please, my son; be swift! Flee to our spare caravan, as I've told you before, and hide inside it until the coast is clear!"

He opened a small hatch in the floor of our caravan, and hurriedly pushed me through.

I landed in the small space between our caravan and the ground, and shivered from the sudden cold on my naked body.

Over my head, I heard my Dad close the hatch and drag something heavy onto it.

Still feeling drowsy from sleepiness, I slowly crawled from under our caravan; while trying to orientate myself in the darkness outside our circle...

But, what was all that strange yelling and shouting around our campfire?

Slowly waking up some more, my natural curiosity took the upper hand...

After a moment, I decided to have a quick look at what was happening!

Of course, I remembered what I had promised, about fleeing immediately towards our old spare caravan...

But, just looking at the pandemonium in our camp couldn't cause much of a problem, or could it?

I crawled back under our caravan, hid behind one of the cartwheels, and peeked through its spokes...

Suddenly feeling shocked, I stared at the strange spectacle around our campfire, almost forgetting to hide properly...

Wherever I looked, police officers carrying flashlights were running around our camp, loudly shouting their orders.

Many police cars with burning headlights tried to light the environment, causing spooky shadows.

The officers yelled at everybody, opened all our caravans, and harshly told our people to leave and wait outside.

Other officers dragged several of our confused looking men to their waiting cars, where they roughly pushed them into the back seats.

Why the heck did they do that, and where were our men going?

One of the officers marched to our green-and-golden Royal caravan, and opened its door without knocking first.

Without asking permission, he rudely entered our home, without wiping his feet or excusing himself, the brutal.

Our own people would never do such an impolite thing!

A moment later, the officer returned, roughly pushing my protesting Dad towards one of the waiting police cars.

My Mom starting to cry, while my Dad tried to turn around to reassure her from a distance...

Suddenly, I exploded with anger, almost growling from hatred!

Those nasty police officers had to keep their stinking hands off my Dad!

Who did they think they were, with their rude and almighty behavior?

My Dad was our King, and they should pay him their utmost respect!

Forgetting all my promises, I crawled from under our caravan, as fast as my legs would let me.

I was NOT going to hide in that old spare caravan; because I was our Prince, and my Dad needed me!

Immediately jumping onto my feet, I stormed blindly towards the nasty officer who dared humiliate my Dad.

Uttering a loud growl, I bumped my head into his stomach, making the surprised man sway and pant for air.

Then, I started to kick and pummel him, using my feet and fists as furiously as I could.

Almost hiccupping with anger, I shouted:

"Keep your stinking hands off my FATHER!"

Another uniformed officer looked at the spectacle, and started to guffaw.

Still chuckling, he came over to rescue his surprised companion, who desperately tried to fend me off...

He grabbed my still flailing arms; and lifted me high into the air, while he snickered:

"Look at what I found today! Here is a little half-breed Gypsy, as naked as the day he was born!"

Bellowed with laughter, he slung me onto his shoulders, and marched off.

Of course, I tried to fight the officer with all my might, by pummeling and kicking him; but to no avail.

He just dragged me towards the waiting police cars; where he dropped me into one of them, upside down!

Not realizing what happened, I landed on my head and injured my knee.

Ouch, that hurt!

Still trembling with hatred, I grabbled around in some car that smelled of gadjo.

For a moment, I felt confused and dizzy, while I tried to find out where I was.

Then, I suppressed my emotions and forced myself to calm down, by taking a couple of deep breaths.

Looking around in amazement, I tried to find out where all those upside-down legs came from...

In the meantime, I licked my painful lip, rubbed my knee, and tried to repress my upcoming tears.

Suddenly, the car door slammed shut, the engine came to life, and we drove off.

Where were we going, in this smelly upside-down police car?

And, where were they taking me and all those strange legs?

A couple of hands helped me to my feet; and, now, I recognized several well-known faces.

Immediately, I felt a lot safer, because I was with my own people!

I was sure they all would defend me with their own lives, if necessary.

Still licking my painful lip, I crawled onto one of the inviting laps, from where I asked:

"Where are we going? And, why are those police officers so rude and mean?"

Before anybody could answer my question, one of the police officers turned around angrily...

Unexpectedly, I slammed down onto another lap, because the officer forcefully slapped my face!

He turned back towards the road, while he snarled:

"Shut up; and I warn you not to make another sound!"

My world whirled around and around, while my painful left ear started to sizzle and whistle...

For a moment, I didn't understand what had happened, because this was the first time ever anybody slapped my face.

I felt disorientated, and had a strange idea of our Supreme Being pulling a trick with his rope of gravity...

Then, I started to cry from the shock, the frustration, and the sudden humiliation.

Again, the officer turned around, while he barked at me:

"Stop crying NOW; else I kick you out of the car and leave you to the wolves!"

I felt severely shocked, into my deepest core, by his harsh and merciless voice.

And, of course, I also didn't want to be eaten alive by a flock of hungry wolves!

I knew they were out there, although they never approached our camp...

And, why had that officer slapped my face this forcefully, for the first time in my life?

What had I done, to deserve this cruel treatment?

Suddenly, I gasped; while I started to panic at a dreadful thought...

Had the officers now started their 'crazy gadjo habits' Misha had warned me about?

Were those gadjo officers now going to 'abuse' me, whatever it might be?

Misha had told me that all gadjo lunatics wanted to do that to little boys with innocent eyes like me...

Although I still didn't know what 'abuse' was, the word sounded very creepy...

An unexpected wave of sickness overwhelmed me, and I started to puke.

At seeing me panic and puke, all my people rose to their feet!

Acting as one man, they attacked the officer who had slapped my face, and nearly killed him.

They only calmed down after the other officer drew his gun and threatened to shoot everybody...

Reluctantly, they sat down again, still looking furious and ready to murder both officers, if necessary.

The officer who had slapped my face, continued to cough and groan for quite some time.

Now and then, he threw up some reddish slime, while he rubbed his painful throat.

The other officer carefully kept his eyes on the road, not daring to look at me or at my people.

The coward...

In the meantime, my people tried to clean my face, using their hands and some spit...

20. Entering a restroom; and again winning over a police officer.

During the remainder of our trip, I sobbed silently, inwardly dreading what would come next.

Both police officers in their front seats looked very pale, not daring to utter any more words.

They just drove on and on, silently following their companions, while keeping their eyes on the road...

My own people kept silent as well, except for a few softly whispered words to cheer me up.

However, their cheerful whispers couldn't really reach me in my worrying.

I had slumped down onto some lap, still trembling all over, and stinking of sour smelling puke.

While trying to repress my sobs, I started to worry even more...

What were those nasty police officers going to do with my people, and with me?

Were they going to abuse everybody, or did they 'abuse' only innocent little kids like me...

Would being 'abused' be very painful, maybe even more than being slapped in my face?

Misha told me that all gadjo's wanted to 'abuse' sweet little boys like me, to have some strange pleasure out of it...

However, he did not tell me WHAT exactly the gadjo's wanted to do with little boys, besides 'feeling them up'...

Stealthily, I tried to read the minds of both police officers in their front seats.

However, I didn't pick up anything of value, because my Inner Self felt way too agitated.

I only sensed that the officers were afraid of us too; and that made me feel a little bit better!

Obviously, I wasn't the only one who dreaded what could happen next...

Finally, the row of police cars drove into the backyard of a huge gadjo police station, where they stopped.

Both still very pale looking officers left 'our' car in a hurry, without looking at us or uttering any words.

Silently, they waited outside the car, until all the other cars had stopped and all the officers had crowded together.

For a moment, they all put their heads together and deliberated among each other...

Then, they drew their guns, opened all the car doors from the outside, and harshly told us to enter the police building.

We left 'our' police car, and slowly followed our line of people towards a huge steel door.

Shivering in the nightly cold, I got goose bumps all over my naked body, while my teeth started to chatter uncontrollably.

Inwardly, I wondered how I would look now; as our little Prince, having dried puke smeared all over my tear-stained face...

From some distance, my Dad stared at me, with a worried face and teary eyes.

Immediately, I smiled at him, to let him know all was well and that I was still alive and kicking!

Looking relieved, my Dad smiled back at me, silently telling me not to worry about him either.

Fortunately, he wasn't mad at me, for not obeying his orders...

The police officers drove us into their building; where we walked into a long corridor with several closed doors.

Near the end, they opened one of the doors; and we entered a dull and cheerless looking waiting room...

Harshly, while swaying their guns, the officers told us to sit down on a couple of wooden benches against a wall.

All our men sat down, next to each other, huddling together, silently waiting for the things to come...

Because I didn't want the officers to focus on my Dad, I crawled onto on of the other laps, to feel safer.

Of course, my Dad wanted to stay incognito; without letting the officers know who he was in reality, or that they had caught his little son as well!

And, if my Dad had wanted me to join him, he surely would have let me know, by winking at me or beckoning me to come over.

Okay; even here, in this gadjo lion's den, my Dad could trust me and count on me!

I would not give our secret away.

After a moment of silence, a couple of police officers huddled together and deliberated with muffled voices.

They seemed to be in some heated discussion, but I didn't pick up what they were talking about in their gadjo language...

After they finally fell silent, one of the officers came straight up to me!

Grabbing my arm and pulling me off my safe lap, he told me in my own language:

"You come with me!"

Suddenly feeling frightened, I panicked again, because I certainly didn't want to be torn away from my own people!

I was sure that, for so long as I stayed with my own folks, my people would help me and protect me with their own lives...

But, what would happen to me, if this gadjo officer took me to another room, to 'abuse' me?

Ultimately, I was only a five-and-a-half-year-old small and vulnerable little boy, for crying out loud!

Couldn't I just go home, to resume my sleep in my own safe and cozy sleeping den?

I started to fight the officer, kicking and pummeling him with all my might, while I shouted:

"Leave me alone! I don't want to be here! I want to go home..."

The officer didn't listen; but he just scooped me off the floor and swung me onto his shoulder.

That seemed to be the signal for my own rescue team to intervene!

Suddenly, all my people rose to their feet, as one man, with grim faces.

They stomped towards the officer and me, clearly planning to rescue me from my assaulter!

Yes! They WERE going to protect me...

Unfortunately, all the other officers immediately drew their guns, while one of them barked:

"Go back and sit down, NOW; or we will shoot you down!"

For a moment, my people hesitated, looking at me and at each other...

All of a sudden, I realized that they really were offering their own lives to me, to rescue me from being abused!

Did they really love me this much?

But, I didn't want them to be shot down, only because they wanted to help their little Prince!

Whatever being 'abused' might be, being 'shot down' certainly would be much worse!

I stopped my struggle; and told the officer who carried me, with a fierce voice:

"Please, put me down; and I am coming with you voluntarily."

Everybody fell silent; while the surprised looking police officers hesitantly lowered their guns.

My own people looked surprised too; but they also slowly retreated towards their benches and sat down again.

Obviously, they knew me well enough to trust me, knowing that my bright brain had already cooked up some clever plan...

I sent them a thankful look, while 'my' officer slowly lowered me towards the ground and put me onto my feet.

Without any hesitation, I took the officer's hand, while I told him with my firmest voice:

"Let's go!"

Inwardly, I shuddered from all my built-up fear and tension!

However, outwardly, I forced myself to be calm and at ease, as befits a real Royal Prince.

My beloved subjects had been willing to offer me their own lives, to rescue me...

Now, it was my time to pay them back, by rescuing them from being shot down!

The gadjo officers could do with me as they liked!

That is, for as long as I let them do what they wanted...

However, they would only have my body; because my mind and my soul belonged to ME and to my own people!

And, they had to pay me for it, as Misha had taught me while we were begging in that gadjo town.

Two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand LEI, and that was only for 'feeling me up'!

Determinedly, I dragged the officer towards the door; at the same time winking at my own people.

My beloved subjects could trust me, because I was doing the only right thing.

Their 'Lucky Mascot' would again survive and triumph!

Of course, I still didn't know what would happen to me; but I would play it by ear...

The surprised officer followed me without any protest, like some huge puppy dog!

I opened the door, dragged him through it, and closed the door behind after again winking at my own people.

Now, we were back into the hollow sounding corridor with its many closed doors...

Where would my puppy dog officer want to bring me, to start his 'abuse'?

Would it be very painful?

Suddenly, I felt a lot less sure; now that I was without any protection, other than what my own bright mind offered me...

I still didn't know for sure what this police officer had planned to do with me!

Was he really going to 'abuse' me; as Misha had told me all gadjo's always wanted to do with innocent little boys?

Involuntarily, I started to tremble all over again, feeling very tiny and vulnerable.

Wasn't I grotesquely overplaying my 'lucky mascot' hand?

In the meantime, the officer had taken over; and he guided me towards one of the many closed doors...

In sudden shock, I stared at a colored gadjo sign on the door, showing a picture of a man next to a toilet!

I was sure I had seen such a strange sign before, in a small deserted alley in some gadjo town!

I could almost taste the same stale smell behind the gadjo restroom door...

Or, was that my own dried puke?

The officer opened the door, and gently pushed me into the already brightly illuminated room...

I looked around, and involuntarily gasped from my suddenly upwelling fear, while I nearly started to puke again!

Almost panicking, I stared at a long row of small stall doors, all of them opened invitingly...

This room WAS a gadjo restroom!

Oh NO; please, not AGAIN...

Trembling all over, I was sure the gadjo officer would 'abuse' me here, or whatever else he had planned to do!

For what else could he want me to enter this restroom?

Only, this time, Misha would not be here to rescue me; by locking my abuser in with a broomstick.

This time, I had to fend for myself, relying solely on my own clever inventiveness...

However, what could I do against such a strong police officer, probably soon followed by all his companions?

I was way too agitated, to even think of sending pictures of nasty devils into their heads...

My beloved Ancestors, please, help me!

A second later, I forced myself to calm down, while taking a couple of deep breaths.

I would bear everything the officer did in stride, as a real Gypsy Prince and Lucky Mascot!

I would show him that I was PROUD of myself, whatever he was going to do with me!

And, of course, he had to PAY me for his 'feeling up'.

Two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand LEI, to pay in advance!

The officer put his huge hands onto my shoulders, and gently pushed me towards a small washbasin...

To my utmost surprise, he took a couple of tissues from an automatic container, and wet them under the water tap.

Carefully, he started to clean my face and chest from all the dried puke, throwing the soiled tissues into a waste bin.

Next, he dried me all over with another couple of tissues.

Finally, he dried my still teary eyes, and helped me blow my nose...

Would the officer want me to be spotlessly clean, before he started his abusing?

However, suddenly, I started to doubt; while I looked up and stared into his eyes.

The man's ministrations felt as if he really cared for me; and I was sure he tried to help me respectfully!

Maybe, this gadjo man was less mean than I expected him to be...

The officer stared back into my eyes; while he smiled at me, seemingly a bit bashfully...

However, now, I remembered the other gadjo man; who also had smiled at me, before he wanted to 'feel me up'!

Shuddering from a new wave of fear, I decided not to fall into his tricks!

I knew what smiling gadjo people wanted to do next...

Unfortunately for the smiling officer, he was interrupted by the suddenly opening door.

A tall gadjo man entered the restroom, carrying a pair of gray and dull looking gadjo trousers.

This man looked at me as if he pitied me; while he too tried to smile at me...

However, I didn't respond, and just stared back at him.

I didn't want to be pitied; but I wanted to go home and resume my much needed sleep, preferably as soon as possible!

The bashfully smiling gadjo man handed me the pair of trousers, telling me to put them on...

Oh yeah; I totally forgot about their strict nudity laws Michail had told me about.

They were forcing me to wear some garment to cover myself, unless I wanted to be put into jail for a very long time...

Trying to look a bit more grateful, I took the trousers and tried to clamber into them.

However, the gadjo trousers immediately turned out to be way too big for my tiny frame!

In vain, I tried to hoist them up; feeling clumsy, and undoubtedly looking utterly ridiculous...

Why did I have to wear those way too big and stupid looking gadjo things?

Was this another part of their 'abusing'?

I looked up at the gadjo man; but he seemed to be even more bashful and averted his eyes.

He rummaged in his pockets, and came up with two small pieces of rope.

Hesitantly, he handed them to me, now showing me a faint smile.

To my surprise, I sensed that this man felt even more ashamed than I was...

Both he and the police officer left the restroom without saying a word, leaving me alone!

Feeling very surprised, I stared at the now slowly closing door.

Were they NOT going to 'abuse' me, or 'feel me up'?

For a moment, I felt relieved...

But, then, I started to doubt again.

Would they return soon, this time accompanied by all the other officers, to resume their 'abuse'?

Well, then, they would have to pay me for their strange gadjo pleasures!

Two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand LEI, a person, to be paid in advance!

Else, I would gather all my shaman forces, and wreck their minds by sending lots of glowing embers into their weird gadjo brains!

Suddenly, I felt a bit better, chuckling inwardly at my own bravery...

Feeling a bit more determined, I sat down, and wrapped up the way too long trouser-legs.

I also tried to fasten the stupid things, by knotting the pieces of rope together and put them around my too small waist...

However, the same moment I rose from the floor, the trousers immediately sagged down towards my knees!

After a couple more tries, I gave up, and just held onto the unwilling things with my hands.

Next, I stepped towards the door, and tried to open it.

I wanted to flee from this nasty police station; preferably before the officer returned, followed by all his companions!

However, much to my disappointment, he seemed to have locked the door from the outside.

Obviously, he had been afraid I would try to flee the very moment he left me...

Well, of course, he was absolutely right.

I certainly didn't want to be here!

I didn't want to be 'abused' either.

I wanted to go home and resume my sleep...

Now that I was alone, I felt dead tired from deprived sleep and all my built-up emotions.

I went to the small water tap and gulped a lot of water; using my hands as I always did under our waterfall.

Next, feeling very uneasy, I jumped into one of the open stalls, and hastily emptied my bladder without closing its door.

Almost stumbling over my own feet, I left the stall, panting from nervousness.

One could never know...

Finally, I slumped down onto the floor, with my arms around my legs and my head resting on my knees.

This time, I felt grateful, for wearing my gadjo trousers on this rather chilly tile floor!

Slowly, I started to doze away, being very sleepy and dead tired...

I woke up, because somebody suddenly opened the door and stepped inside the restroom.

For a moment, I squinted at the very bright lamplight, trying to see how many officers would follow...

Then, I saw that only one police officer had entered the room, smiling at my still very sleepy face.

He offered me his hand, to lift me onto my feet, while he told me:

"Sorry, my young friend; for letting you wait. We had to interrogate all the others first. Now, please, stand up and follow me."

Well... this smiling police officer looked and sounded very friendly.

He even called me his 'young friend'...

However, what the heck was 'interrogate'?

This unknown gadjo word sounded very creepy!

Had it to do with the 'abuse' they had planned?

And, was it now my turn to be 'interrogated'?

I shivered at the unwelcome thought, and felt myself panicking again...

The officer saw the panic in my eyes, and immediately tried to reassure me:

"Please, don't be afraid. We only want to ask you a few questions. Trust me, and nothing will happen to you."

Did this gadjo police officer really ask me to TRUST him?

Didn't the man know what had happened to me, during the last few hours?

How would I ever be able to 'trust' one of the officers who kidnapped my Dad, and threw me upside down into a police car, in the middle of the night?

And, he really told me 'nothing will happen to you'?

How about slapping my face, threatening to throw me to the wolves, and all the other humiliations I had to endure?

Were all the nasty things he and his companions had done to me, only 'nothing' to this officer?

I will certainly NOT trust him, or any of his nasty gadjo companions!

I glared at him, while sending him as much disdain as I was able to muster...

Suddenly, the officer staggered and gasped, grabbing his head as if he was in pain...

At the same time, he hastily averted his eyes from my furious stare.

The smile left his face; while he prevented himself from falling over, by holding onto the still open door.

Obviously, my eyes full of disdain and fury had made him feel very unsure...

Looking at him, I started to feel quite a lot better, almost chuckling inwardly.

Again, I had stared a police officer down, for the second time in my young life!

Now feeling very proud of myself, I straightened my back and sat more upright.

I never knew that winning over a gadjo grownup would be this easy!

Of course, the police officers were much stronger than I was...

They certainly were a lot bigger than I was...

They even could do me some bodily harm, like slapping my face...

But, they would never WIN.

I clearly was the mentally strongest one!

Deliberately ignoring the officer's still outstretched hand, I rose to my feet without any help.

Next, I went straight through the open door and entered the corridor, proudly leading the way.

Our Lucky Mascot was in full action!

From now on, I would be fearless; knowing the officers could never win, not even over such a small boy as I was.

I would let myself be 'felt up', 'abused', or 'interrogated' by them, without crying or uttering any audible sound!

I would show them I was a real Gypsy boy, and that I was proud of my origin!

And, of course, they would have to pay me for my services, in advance!

The still dazed looking officer trotted after me, following me into the corridor like some faithful puppy dog...

21. Interrogated; and the officers were protecting me, from what?

For a moment, a joyful thought entered my mind, while I stepped into the long corridor.

Maybe, this officer had NOT planned to abuse me; because he let me leave the restroom without intervening.

Perhaps, he would bring me back to my own people, after he had 'interrogated' me?

However, that strange word, 'interrogate', still sounded very creepy!

What would the officer do, if I went straight to the waiting room where my own people had been?

Would my Dad still be there, after being 'interrogated', impatiently waiting for his little son to show up?

Probably, he would bellow with laughter and slap his knees, at seeing me clad in these loathsome gadjo trousers!

I missed my Dad terribly; and desperately wanted to sit on his lap and be squashed in between his strong arms, as usual...

In the meantime, I held on to my too big trousers with both hands, thus prohibiting them from sagging down my knees.

Determinedly, I started to walk; towards where I thought the door to the waiting room could be.

Only, all these doors were looking exactly the same; and my 'abilities' still didn't work, because I felt way too tired and agitated...

Feeling unsure, I walked from door to door, hoping to feel or hear my own people...

What, if I started to shout for help, and my people heard me and came over to rescue me?

However, I also didn't want my folks being shot down by the other officers...

Before I had decided what to do, my puppy dog officer reached me and took my arm.

He guided me towards one of the nearby doors, and opened it.

Next, he beckoned me to enter the room...

For a moment, I felt happy.

Could this be a waiting room; where my people were waiting for me, to go home together?

I entered the relatively small room; still trying to keep my silly gadjo trousers onto my hips, with only one hand...

Suddenly, I felt utterly deluded in my hopeful expectations!

I forgot to hold on to my trousers; which immediately slid down onto the floor, with a soft thump.

Feeling very disappointed, I stared at a small wooden table, surrounded by four wooden chairs.

One of the chairs held another police officer, obviously waiting for us to show up...

The new officer saw me, looked at my sunken trousers, and started to laugh at my obvious dismay!

For the first time in my young life, I felt strangely ashamed of my exposed nudity.

I didn't know why, but this chuckling gadjo police officer had no right to laugh at my displayed body like this!

So far, nobody had ever ridiculed me, or laughed at me, for being unclad...

In our own secluded community, we always wore our clothes only for protection against the cold.

For example, we didn't even have a proper word for 'being naked'!

My face felt hot, undoubtedly coloring a deep red; while I dived towards the floor, and pulled 'my' trousers up towards my chin at lightning speed.

Now, I almost started to cry, from my disturbing feelings of sudden shame and humiliation.

However, within a second, I repressed my tears, forcing myself to return into my feelings of pride.

I was NOT a crybaby, for crying out loud; but a proud Gypsy boy!

This still chuckling police officer would NOT corrupt my Inner Self!

I only had to be strong enough...

The still smiling officer rose from his chair, and politely offered me his hand.

However, I stubbornly refused to cooperate with the enemies!

I didn't fall into this too obvious trick, because I knew what he wanted to do next...

Staring straight into his eyes, I tried to let the officer feel my rejection and disdain.

In the meantime, I took a chair and sat down, waiting for the things to come, still feeling dead tired and sleepy.

I wanted to get this all over with as soon as possible, so that I could go home...

The police officer looked at me with a stunned face, as if he couldn't believe what he saw.

Clearly, he felt rather taken aback by my obvious determination and my still piercing stare!

After a moment, he shook his head as if he wanted to get rid of something, while he averted his eyes.

Slowly, he slumped back onto his chair, now looking at his companion for any help or advice...

However, the other officer only shrugged his shoulders.

He sat down onto one of the other chairs; while looking at me, curiously, but also with some respect.

Obviously, both officers didn't know how to handle such a small boy with such an enormous amount of Inner Power...

After a long time of silence, the new officer hesitantly asked me:

"Why were you naked when we found you? Are your parents forcing you to walk around like that? You can tell me everything..."

What? Did I understand his question correctly?

This had to be absolutely the silliest presumption I ever heard in my young life!

Why would my parents ever force me to do something that felt totally natural to do so?

Everybody in our Gypsy camp always slept naked; both our grownups and their children.

Except for little babies and our 'diaper kids', who had to wear their diapers at night because they else wet their beds...

Had this silly question to do with their gadjo 'nudity laws', forcing all the gadjo's to be dressed all the time, even when sleeping in their own beds?

Would the officers now try to put me in jail for a very long time, for walking around naked?

Or, had they finally started their 'interrogation', whatever that might be?

Suddenly, I sensed what the exact meaning was of their strange word 'interrogation'!

I started to snicker, while I inwardly almost cheered from sudden relief.

'Interrogation' was only their gadjo word for our own concept of 'asking questions'...

I had nothing to be afraid of, for so long as I offered them the correct answers!

The 'interrogating' officer looked very surprised at my suddenly smiling face.

Obviously, he didn't comprehend why I almost started to laugh...

Sounding a bit impatient and angry, he told me:

"Stop laughing at me! You know that we can keep you here for a very long time, unless you answer all our questions.

"But, maybe, after I am satisfied with your answers, I will let you go home."

I stared back at the officer, in total disbelief.

Didn't this man understand how stupid his own promise sounded?

Was this really all that this official gadjo police officer could come up with?

Then, I was very disappointed in his 'interrogating', and in his mental abilities!

However, I also realized that this gadjo man HAD the power to let me go home, or to keep me here for a very long time...

And, I wanted to go home as soon as possible!

Therefore, I decided to switch into, what my own people always called, my 'brainiac mode'.

Staring the officer down with all my might, I told him, speaking slowly, as if talking to a little kid:

"Sir, it looks like nobody ever taught you how to think properly. However, I will answer all your silly questions, because I really want to go home.

"Every Gypsy always sleeps in his 'birthday suit'; except for little babies, or too small children who still have to wear their diapers at night to keep them dry.

"We only dress outside our caravans if it's too cold during winter; or when we have to visit a gadjo town, to beg for money and food because we are hungry...

"Only perverted gadjo people, like you, force us to cover ourselves from their prying eyes; like that silly trouser thing I am forced to wear now...

"You promise to let me go home after you are 'satisfied' with my answers... But, that means you can always tell me you are NOT satisfied, and keep me here!

"Besides, by using 'maybe', you tell me you have already planned to keep me here, whatever my answer might be. Am I right?"

I was a little bit out of breath, from talking while sending him my powerful disdain.

At the same time, I was rather curious about how the officer was going to answer MY question!

Inwardly, I had a lot of fun looking at his fazed eyes and heated face.

Obviously, this so easily outwitted officer didn't feel at ease at all...

Suddenly, the other officer started to bellow with laughter.

He looked at me with a lot more respect in his eyes; and I even sensed he wanted to help me!

Would this gadjo man really want to help me find my own people and go home?

But, how about the 'abuse' and 'feeling up' all gadjo grownups always wanted to do with little boys like me?

His frustrated companion sent him a fierce look of disdain; and the laughing officer calmed down considerably.

First, he coughed a couple of times, as if he tried to hide his sudden outburst of laughter...

Next, he turned towards me; and told me, still showing little fun lights in his eyes:

"Boy, you certainly are a clever thinker! Only, we gadjo's are NOT 'perverted'. We only always hide our 'private parts', because our laws tell us to do so...

"And, don't be afraid. We WILL let you go home, after you've honestly answered our questions. For now, I only want to know one more thing...

"While you and your people were begging in our town, did anybody take any things that clearly belonged to other people?"

Again, a grownup gadjo police officer in function was asking me such a silly question...

Even our youngest toddlers would have formulated this supposition a lot better, supposed they were able to speak properly!

I was sure that Misha would have told both officers to 'go to Jericho' with their silly and immature interrogation.

Little Dimi would effortlessly have them wrangled up in his thousand-and-a-lot-more 'why', 'what', and 'how come' queries.

Even Michail's small twins would have laughed their little behinds off...

This way, being 'interrogated' was no fun at all; even without using my 'brainiac mode'!

However, so far, this particular gadjo officer had only been nice to me; and I even sensed he really wanted to help me.

Therefore, I decided not to be too harsh to him, while I told him:

"Excuse me, sir; but doesn't 'begging' mean: 'taking' things from 'other people', which clearly first belonged to them, and now are given to me?

"As such always is the case while we are begging, my only answer can be a 'yes'."

For a moment, both officers looked stunned, staring at each other with very surprised faces...

Then, they both started to bellow with laughter, looking at me with a whole lot more respect!

Obviously, my 'brainiac mode' was making quite an impression on them.

I only hoped this would really be their last silly 'interrogation' question.

I wanted to go home and have some more sleep...

However, after they calmed down, the other officer tried to formulate the same question a bit more precise, frowning from his effort:

"Did you ever see any Gypsy people take away anything that weren't their own property?"

This time, I had more than enough of their totally impossible stupid questions!

Nothing in the world could ever be our 'own property'; because nobody was able to carry it towards their next life on earth!

All 'our' things were only temporary 'ours'; and we had to leave them behind the moment we passed away and went 'home'.

Even our smallest kids knew that from the heart; that is why we never had any quarrels about any material things!

We always happily shared all our 'possessions' with everybody else...

I stared at the still frowning officer; again sending him my disdain:

"Dear sir; nothing will ever be your 'own property', because you will have to leave everything behind after you pass away and go home!

"But, now, please, stop your interrogation, and start with the 'feeling up' and the 'abuse' you already planned to perform on me...

"I feel tired; and I want to go home, immediately after you are ready with whatever you want to do. You only have to pay me for my services, in advance."

I stared at my naked feet, which were partially covered by my way too big gadjo trousers.

Finally, the moment of truth had come; and I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible!

I had some vague idea about what 'feeling up' would be; but what was 'abuse'?

Would it be very painful?

The word sounded creepy.

I closed my eyes in defeat, and waited for the inevitable...

For a long time, the interrogation room stayed dead silent.

Nothing happened; and nobody made any sounds.

In a far distance, a door shut with a dull bang.

Two men talked to each other, while the sound went softer and softer until it disappeared into nowhere...

When would the police officers finally start their 'abuse' and 'feeling up'?

Of course, I would let them pay for it, in advance; just like that gadjo man had paid Misha for me!

Then, I would hand all the money to Michail, to help us survive the upcoming winter even better.

Again, I would be our 'Lucky Mascot'...

Still nothing happened, while both officers remained dead silent...

What were they waiting for?

Could they be waiting for me?

Were they expecting ME to take the first step?

Why?

This was their own strange kind of gadjo fun, and certainly not mine!

Come on; let's get it over with, and let me go home...

After a long time, I grew too impatient, and hesitantly looked up at my 'abusers'...

What were they waiting for, for such a long time?

To my surprise, both police officers were still staring at me, with their mouths agape!

They were doing nothing else but just continuing their stare, as if they felt totally perplexed.

And, did I really see tears, blinking in the eyes of the officer who had been nice to me?

That had to be my own imagination, of course!

Why would any gadjo officer show any compassion with me, being only a little Gypsy boy?

THEY were the gadjo's, always wanting to 'abuse' innocent little boys like me.

At least, according to what Misha told me...

Finally, the police officer with tears in his eyes started to move, trembling all over.

He coughed a couple of times, bashfully, as if trying to clear his dry throat.

Next, he took a huge handkerchief out of his pocket, and wiped his eyes.

He HAD been crying...

Now, he looked at me, and asked me with a quivery voice:

"Oh my goodness... Please, son, give me an honest answer... Why do you think we would ever try to abuse you, for crying out loud?"

"Well, sir, you are a gadjo, and I am not your son! But, to fresh up your mind, I will tell you what happened to me, while begging in one of your own towns.

"Some strange gadjo man wanted to 'feel me up' in a stinking restroom; but my friend Misha rescued me, by locking the man up in his own stall.

"Then, Misha told me that all gadjo men always want to do that to innocent little boys like me. They want to 'feel me up' and 'abuse' me, whatever that is...

"But, of course, it will cost you two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand LEI, a person, just like that gadjo man paid Misha, and that is only for 'feeling me up'!

"Now, please, can you pay me and start immediately? I feel too tired to answer any more 'interrogations', and I want to go home and resume my sleep."

Again, the room fell dead silent, while I returned to staring at my feet.

Would the officers now finally start doing what they wanted to do, so that I could go home?

Or, didn't they have enough money, to pay me for it?

In that case, I would resist them with all my might; by sending glowing embers into their minds until their already futile brains were burnt away completely!

What were they still waiting for?

Then, I heard again the voice of the police officer with the tears in his eyes:

"My dear boy... What, for heaven's sake, did your friend make you believe... Please, trust me on my word, that Misha is wrong in his assumptions!

"Unfortunately, there are some bad men in our world who might want to abuse you... but we, the police officers, are here to PROTECT you against them.

"Be assured that none of our officers here would ever do such an abominable thing; like wanting to 'abuse' you, or to 'feel you up'!

"On the contrary; we are here to help you grow up in a wonderful and safe world, full of joy and happiness..."

Immediately, I jumped up in sudden anger; overturning my chair!

My silly trousers slipped down onto the floor, but I didn't even bother pulling them up.

This time, I was sure my eyes were shooting burning daggers at both police officers!

Shouting at the top of my lungs, I cried:

"Dream away, you silly and out-of-this-world good-doers! Did you ever look around, to see what your companions are doing at the same time?

"You tell me they are here to PROTECT me? Then, why did they tell me to shut up, when I tried to find out why I was thrown into a strange police car, upside down?

"One of your so-called 'protectors' even slapped my face, with a lot of force, making me feel dizzy and puke; while he threatened to throw me to the wolves!

"Why did you take me away from my parents, in the middle of the night, feeling cold and sleepy, and not knowing why our camp was in such an uproar?

"Why do I have to wear this ridiculous and humiliating trouser thing, which keeps slipping down all the time? I am a proud Gypsy boy, for crying out loud!

"And, why did you lock me up in a RESTROOM? Don't you know that innocent little boys like me are ABUSED in such restrooms? I was frightened to death...

"Now, is THIS what you call 'helping me grow up in a wonderful and safe world full of joy and happiness'? Shame on you, and dream on!"

Suddenly feeling dizzy, and trembling all over, I slumped back onto my chair and started to cry.

Immediately, both worried officers almost buried me under a wagon load of tissues and two linen handkerchiefs!

Taking turns, they tried to calm me down; while I continued to hiccup and sob for a long time, on purpose...

Of course, I could have stopped myself much earlier; but I also tried to teach them a lesson they wouldn't easily forget...

At last, one of the officers offered me a few plastic cups of water, and that 'helped'.

I gulped down most of the water, splashed my face with the rest, and determinedly pulled myself together.

Next, I stepped out of the interrogation room and went to the restroom, all by myself and without saying a word, to take a much needed leak.

I washed my face, and used both handkerchiefs to dry myself and blow my nose into them...

Now, both officers would have their pocket full of my snot!

Chuckling inwardly, I thought this 'little devil' had provided them with a good demonstration of what they were doing to 'innocent little boys' like me...

I only hoped they had learnt their lessons well; and, from now on, would take a lot more care of their next little victims!

I pulled my silly trousers up for the umpteenth time, and walked out of the restroom without closing its door.

Both officers were already waiting for me, when I finally returned into the passageway.

To my surprise, one of them carried some nice looking leather dog leash...

What the heck were they planning to use that for?

I hoped they didn't think I wanted to be leashed, as if I was some unruly puppy dog in training?

However, the nicest police officer put his arm around my shoulders, while he told me:

"I hope you can use this leash to fasten your unruly trousers; because you understand we cannot allow you to walk around naked while you are here...

"And, we will immediately start an investigation concerning all the abominable things you told us about. I promise these things will never again happen!

"Now, let me help you with your trousers; and I will bring you back to your waiting people, so that you can go home immediately."

This time, I believed him.

I looked up at him, and proudly offered him my broadest smile!

Looking very relieved, the officer squatted down in front of me.

He helped me fasten my too big trousers, so that they wouldn't slip off my waist any more.

Then, he took my hand, and gently guided me along the corridor, to where I was now sure my people would be waiting for me.

Finally, I would see them back and go home!

22. Finally going home; a gadjo van owner; what is a telephone.

The smiling officer took me straight to another door, and opened it invitingly.

Feeling a bit nervous, I entered the room, hoping I would not have to endure another disappointment...

Then, I looked up, and almost started to dance from sudden relief.

THERE THEY WERE, ALL OF THEM!

With a loud Indian yell, I threw myself onto my Dad; immediately octopussing myself against his broad chest.

Never before had I felt this happy, seeing my own people back alive and in good health!

I had survived a very strange gadjo police intervention; and, now, my ordeal was over!

Finally, I could relax, feeling absolutely safe in my Dad's strong arms.

Sobbing with the delight, I tried to melt away into his so well-known aura.

My people cheered loudly when they saw me, unexpectedly showing up in the doorway.

Now, they started to tease me, and make fun of my way too big and silly looking gadjo trousers...

However, I couldn't care less, while I just smiled back at them in between my sobs.

I was laughing and crying at the same time; but decided I was NOT a crybaby.

I was only a little Gypsy boy who was reunited with his own people, after going through a very impressive adventure!

All the gadjo officers disappeared into an adjacent room, leaving the door open.

Immediately, they started a heated discussion, now and then shouting at each other.

Of course, I felt curious, perked my ears up, and tried to follow their conversation...

Using both my hearing and my 'special abilities', I was able to pick up bits and pieces of what they were talking about.

Things like 'what did you do to that boy', 'let them go', 'bring them back to their camp', 'are you crazy', 'let them fend for themselves', and 'we are not a taxi firm'...

Finally, one of the police officers appeared in the doorway, and announced with a smug face:

"This time, we will let you go. However, be very careful; because, a next time, we will put you in jail for a long time!"

Another officer opened the door towards the corridor, and beckoned us to follow him.

Next, he guided us to the entrance, opened a double front door, and told us to leave their police station.

We did, in a hurry.

We stepped into some unknown gadjo town, very early in the morning, just before crack of dawn.

Almost immediately, my teeth started to chatter uncontrollably, while my naked upper body shivered from the sudden cold...

Fortunately, my Dad saw my goose bumps, shucked his own coat, and wrapped me into it!

Soon, I felt warm and cozy.

Only, now, my Dad got goose bumps on his uncovered arms, because he wore only his t-shirt...

However, he told me not to worry about it, because the first warming sunbeams would show up within half an hour.

Then, the air would soon be warm enough for all of us.

I knew that my Dad offered himself up to me; but I couldn't change a thing about it...

While trying to feel around and sense where our camp was, my Dad asked me:

"Harry? Please, could you switch into your excellent trapper skills, and show us the way towards our camp?

"Maybe, we can find some highway, and try to get a lift towards the mountain hotel..."

"Of course, Dad! I am already sensing our own caravan, with Mom awake and waiting for us. Just follow me..."

We started to walk across a desolated gadjo suburb; while I proudly led the way, towards where I sensed could be a highway.

Fourteen sleepy and tired grownups were following one five-and-a-half-year-old and yawning little shaman boy, wrapped up in a warm coat...

Unfortunately, we were without any means of transportation, and without any money to pay for it.

We also didn't have the faintest idea about in which gadjo town we were, or how far it would be to our camp.

We only hoped to find a nice truck driver who wanted to give us a free lift...

Half an hour later, we left the suburb; and crossed a couple of thick bushes.

Suddenly, we stepped onto the broad shoulder of some major gadjo highway, feeling much happier!

We had to cross its outstretched concrete slab, because I sensed our camp would be the other way around.

Then, we started to try to get a lift from some truck driver...

However, at this early hour of the day, only a few cars-in-a-hurry passed by, teasingly tooting at us or giving us the finger.

We started to walk along the highway, towards our camp, hoping to get a lift soon...

After another half an hour, the rising sun finally showed up, and the air around us became less chilly.

I shucked my Dad's now too warm coat; and he slung it across his shoulders while we walked on along the highway.

One of our men looked at my silly gadjo trousers, and started to chuckle:

"What strange belt are you wearing? Is this a dog leash? I didn't know we kept any dogs in our camp..."

"Yeah, well... First, some janitor offered me only two small pieces of rope as a belt, but my trousers kept sliding down all the time.

"Then, an officer helped me with this leash. At least, now I am able to walk without having to hold onto my trousers all the time.

"Only, I am loathing the silly things, and I will get rid of them as soon as we have left this crazy gadjo world and I can go naked again!"

Now, I started to tell them vividly about all my weird police adventures, while we walked on and on along the endless highway.

My narrating also helped us pass the time, and our tiredness and hunger became a bit less prominent while we were busy.

Every time we saw a passing big bus or a huge truck combination, we tried to get a lift; but nobody stopped or even looked at us.

We had no choice but walk on and on; hoping that, finally, one of the passing drivers would have some pity and offer us a ride...

After another hour of walking on and on in the now very hot sunlight, I grew too tired to go on.

Ultimately, I was only a small boy, and not used to walking in the burning sun for such a long time without any eating or drinking!

I started to feel dizzy, and developed a headache from hunger and thirst, while my eyes began to see blurry from deprived sleep...

At last, I told my suddenly worried Dad about my suffering; and he immediately lifted me onto his shoulders, tenderly holding me with both hands.

That helped; and, soon, I drifted off into a slumber, while my hands automatically gripped his hair.

Some time later, I woke up from my slumber, looked around, and detected a couple of small bushes I recognized!

I knew they only flourished where they had at least some streaming water; and their fruits were very tasty.

Pulling at my Dad's ears, to get his immediate attention, I told him:

"Dad? I'm sure that over there is some streaming water; and we can safely eat those red berries without getting a stomach ache."

"OUCH! My ears! My dear son, are you performing your shaman magic even while you are asleep? Okay, let's have a look at it..."

We left the highway shoulder, and went straight to the small bushes.

Of course, I turned out to be absolutely right!

We all immediately dived towards the small water stream, to cool off and fill our thirsty stomachs with lots of fresh water.

Next, we greedily robbed all the small bushes from their tasty berries.

Finally, we had something to eat, although it wasn't enough to really still our gnawing hunger.

Feeling slightly better, we decided to take some much needed rest first, before we went on.

We slumped down; and crawled under the various bushes, trying to find some shadow.

Of course, I crawled onto my Dad's broad stomach, to be his 'octopus' as usual.

A few minutes later, fourteen grownups and one little boy were happily snoring together...

After I had a little bit of sleep, I woke up to the sudden shout from one of our surprised men:

"There is a Gypsy caravan! Let's ask them to give us a lift!"

Still feeling sleep-charged, everybody stumbled upright and staggered back to the highway.

Alas. The caravan had already disappeared into the distance, although we waved and shouted at its backside like crazy...

Feeling a bit disappointed, we slumped down along the shoulder, muttering inwardly at our misfortune.

Of course, I wanted to know who this Gypsy family could be, because I didn't recognize their caravan:

"Dad? Who are these people? Are they going to live in our camp? I don't recognize their caravan..."

"No, they are from another Gypsy camp; probably visiting some friends. I am sure they will soon return to their own camp."

"What? We are not the only Gypsy camp? There is another camp like ours? Please, can we visit it?"

A moment later, I listened to my Dad's explanations, open-mouthed, almost forgetting to breathe!

My Dad told me about many different types of Gypsy camps, spread out all over the world.

Some camps were very small, while other camps were really huge, carrying many hundreds of Gypsies and all their caravans.

In total, we were around forty million of Gypsy people, living in several thousands of Gypsy camps...

Our own secluded camp was in reality one of the smallest ones, with only a few selected people living in it.

Only, it also was the most important Gypsy camp, because our own Royal Family had been living in our mountain forest for many centuries!

No more than a few people knew where to find our Royal camp; because we always kept our secluded place a secret, for safety reasons...

We were communicating with our sub-leaders in other camps, but mainly by using our healthy and well-maintained carrier pigeons.

Normally; our King, my Dad; and our vice-King, Michail; were leaving our secret camp only during severe emergency cases...

Our secluded camp would be my future life as well, once I would be old and wise enough to reign.

However, first, my Dad would send me away from our own camp, to discover a lot more of the rest of the world!

There, I would also look out for a nice girl, preferably from one of the other Gypsy camps, to marry and thus secure our Royal lineage.

Finally, I would return to our own camp; to be crowned as our next Gypsy King, and live in my own Royal caravan for the remainder of my life...

Suddenly, I sensed a bit of sadness; but I didn't mention it to my Dad or to the others.

My heart was sure I would leave our secluded camp much earlier; to return home only after living many years in some foreign country...

And, after I finally returned, married, and had my own son; my task on earth would include a lot more than merely being our next Gypsy Leader...

I only didn't understand where my strange thoughts came from.

After my Dad had patiently answered all my questions, we started to walk along the highway again.

Now and then, we desperately tried to get a lift; from the few passing gadjo vehicles that would be big enough to carry all of us.

Again, nobody stopped, although some of the passing drivers tooted or gave us the finger.

Everybody seemed to be afraid of Gypsies, and they didn't want to have us in their car...

After walking on and on for a long time, I started to feel too tired to go on.

My unclad feet looked swollen, while every single step now felt as if I walked on glowing embers.

At first, I gritted my teeth and stubbornly continued to walk on and on; until my legs started to tremble too much from the unusual strain.

At last, I gave up, nearly crying from the pain; and told my Dad I couldn't walk any further...

From now on, I moved from piggyback to piggyback, while my people took turns in carrying me.

Unfortunately, we still didn't have the faintest idea about how far it would be to our camp.

Even in a far distance, we still didn't see our huge mountains with their glowing tops.

All my people started to feel very tired; and they just dragged themselves along, slowing down more and more...

Why did nobody have a little bit of pity with us, stop, and offer us a lift?

This way, dead tired as we already were, we would never get home...

Would our beloved Ancestors and Spirit Friends be able to help my tired people and me?

I tuned in into their Eternal Realm, and begged them in my mind:

"Please, my beloved Ancestors and Spirit Friends, send us some means of transportation..."

Suddenly, an enormous van drove onto the shoulder, loudly tooting its horn.

The enormous vehicle stopped next to us, with hissing and screeching tires!

Immediately, the driver left his seat, without even bothering about stopping the engine.

The angry looking gadjo man stormed towards us, with a heated face and blazing eyes.

Furiously pointing at me, he yelled at my surprised people:

"Don't you feel ashamed, to walk along the road with such a small child? Look at the silly trousers he wears! I surely hope you didn't abuse him?

"Be assured I will report you to the police, the very moment I see a telephone! It's a real shame..."

Before the angry man could go on with his tirade, I left my piggyback and hobbled towards him:

"Please, sir, could you give us a lift to our mountains? Nobody abused me; but your police officers arrested us and brought us here, without any money!

"Now, we have to walk home; but we are very tired, and I cannot walk any more from the pain in my legs and feet. Please sir, could you help us go home..."

"WHAT are you telling me? You have been walking from our police station towards here, all the way? That will have cost you at least several hours...

"Now, I am sorry for my angry outburst. But, I saw you, and thought these men had abused you, because you are wearing this strange piece of clothing...

"Please, climb into my van, all of you; and make yourself comfortable. I hope I can help you, by driving you to the mountain hotel and leave you there?"

"Oh yes, please sir, that is very kind of you! We know the hotel owner, and she will certainly help us reach our camp!"

"You are a very polite boy; and I feel honored to help you and your people! Only, how come you don't look like a regular Gypsy boy, with your blond hair?"

The now very friendly van owner helpfully opened the doors of his huge vehicle.

All my people climbed into the rear seats, politely thanking the nice gadjo man for his goodness.

However, the man told me to sit up front, to stretch my cramped legs and give my swollen feet a bit more freedom.

Of course, I did as he told me; and the friendly gadjo man even helped me buckle up.

After we drove off, I told him a few things about my life as a little Gypsy boy in our secluded camp in the mountains.

I also told him that I was a real Gypsy, just like the rest of us; only, my Mom came from a Northern country called Sweden.

Then, I told him about the sudden police raid, and how an officer dumped me upside down into one of their police cars, clad only in my birthday suit...

That is why I was now wearing this silly and way too large gadjo trouser thing, held onto my too small hips with some leather dog leash.

Then, I suddenly saw our own huge mountains, showing up in a distance, with their snow-clad tops sparkling in the bright sunlight!

I started to cheer from enthusiasm, immediately joined in by all the other men.

Finally, we were almost home.

Our gadjo adventure was approaching its end...

Soon, the huge gadjo van left the highway, and turned into the small path that led us to the mountain hotel.

A moment later, it stopped next to the hotel parking lot, and the driver politely opened its doors.

We all exited, one by one, after thanking the helpful man abundantly for his much appreciated help!

The suddenly rather shy looking man ruffled my hair, before he drove off without looking back.

At the same time, the huge double door opened, and a very relieved looking hotel owner stormed towards us.

First, she scooped me off the ground, and tried to crush me against her huge bosom.

Then, she greeted all the other men, and told us that our people at home felt desperate after our sudden imprisonment!

Michail had already told her everything about the nasty police raid, where the officers had captured our King and little Prince as well.

Our people at home didn't know where the officers brought us; and they could only pray and hope for the best...

Fortunately, now, we were back in our mountains, still alive and in good health...

Did we want some fresh coffee or lemonade; and, of course, a good meal, to recuperate from all the stress?

In the meantime, the bartender would take his own car and drive to our camp, to tell everybody the good news.

Unfortunately, we still didn't have any telephones...

Of course, we accepted her invitation immediately, feeling elated!

We all followed her inside, and sat down around the huge wooden table in the enormous 'dining room'.

Dinner would be ready within half an hour, while we sipped our coffee and lemonade.

However, I was still very curious about the new and strange sounding gadjo word I now had heard twice...

Thus, I plucked at my Dad's arm, and asked him:

"Dad? What is a 'telophone'?"

"A 'telephone' is a very useful gadjo invention; which lets you talk to people who are far away from you, by means of a long electric wire.

"Did you see all those wooden poles along the road outside, carrying many wires?"

"Yes. Many birds are sitting on them, screeching and fighting with each other."

"These electric wires are transporting all the electricity to this hotel, and they are also connecting their telephone to the outside world.

"We have thought about connecting our camp to them as well, but decided it will cost us too much money. Our carrier pigeons are much cheaper.

"However, in the future, we want to try out a couple of 'cell phones'; which don't need any electric wires, but connect us via 'satellites' high in the air."

Wow! Some of those gadjo's had to be really clever, to invent such useful things!

Would they also have a spare caravan, or spare house, full of old batteries for their electricity, like Pietro had invented in our camp?

I always helped him recharge the batteries with an old generator; and, now and then, connect new wires to our caravans.

Thus, all our caravans had electric lights; next to some small useful apparatus, like little fans to cool us off when it was too warm...

In the meantime, our good looking and nicely smelling dinner arrived.

We all dived at our china plates, filled them, and started to replete our very hungry stomachs!

Soon, we were stuffed to the brim, burping loudly to thank the food spirits and our broadly smiling hostess.

All of a sudden, many of our own cars arrived in the outside parking lot, and stopped with screeching tires!

All the drivers left their cars, raced towards the hotel, and crowded around us to hug us and tell us how happy they were to have us back.

After thanking the hotel owner abundantly for her good care, we left the hotel and entered our cars to go home.

I honestly can't tell you what happened next.

I fell asleep in one of our cars; and woke up in my own bed, halfway through the next day...