In the FIRST book of our 'Gypsy Series', which is titled 'Gypsy Prince -1- Little Shaman'; I've told you how my beloved people and I finally celebrated my FIFTH birthday.

Maybe, you want me to jog your memory a little bit? Okay...

As a little Gypsy prince, I grew up in our own secluded valley in our outstretched Rumanian forests; surrounded by huge mountains, dangerous water streams, and overgrown steep ravines.

Amazingly, I looked like my Mom who came from a Northern country; having unruly blond hair and very bright blue eyes, while everybody else in our Gypsy camp had dark hair and brown eyes!

To everybody who didn't know me, or who saw me for the first time, my tiny appearance always made me stand out like a burning flashlight in the darkness.

To make things even 'worse', I also had a surprisingly deep and sonorous baritone voice for such a small child, making me sound like a much older boy...

Nevertheless, my parents, our Gypsy King and Queen, the Leaders of all forty million Gypsies on Earth, were very proud of their extremely bright little Prince and only Heir to the Throne.

As a very 'old soul', I had inherited several 'psychic abilities' and useful 'sixth senses' from my past lives, which let me 'sense' the energies around me and 'read' the minds of other people.

Now and then, my Dad teasingly called me 'our new Wise Boy'; and I was very proud of my honorary title!

In our camp, we also had our own powerful Wise Woman; and she had explained I was an upcoming little 'Shaman' and 'Mage' and should be very careful with my precious 'gifts'.

Although my Inner Self remembered I had an Important Task to fulfill on our so confused Earth; my too witty brain was always in the way and pestered me with all its 'buts' and 'ifs'...

For the time being, until my little body grew up some more, I was only a five-year-old little 'brainiac', with an almost insatiable curiosity and a way too big mouth.

Immediately after we celebrated my fifth birthday, life in our secluded Gypsy community retook its harsh winter routine.

Again, day after day, our grownups drove their cars with attached snow chains to far-away 'gadjo' towns, to look for some work and try to earn a little bit of money.

If our grownups succeeded, they went to a 'gadjo market' and bought us some cheap nourishment, so that we could try to fill our always-hungry stomachs.

Otherwise, we had to wait until we found any putrid carrots or forgotten nuts, or caught a stray hare or early marmot to roast it over our campfire and eat its little bit of meat.

Fortunately, our vice Leader, Michail, had still reserved some leftover money; but he was very strict, and used it only for real emergencies.

Especially we kids waited desperately for spring to show up; so that the marmots and other edible critters would start breeding again, and we could catch them in our snares.

We terribly missed our daily portion of nourishing meat; roasted over our glowing campfire, spiced by my tasty herbs as our little Chief Cookie.

Impatiently, we waited, until finally the still very cold mountain wind would quit and our Mother Nature would wake up from its hibernation.

Then, the marmots and other edible mammals would immediately start breeding again; so that we could catch their many offspring in our snares.

In the meantime, we spent out time playing hide and seek, building rickety snow forts, and surviving ferocious snowball wars.

Fortunately, much to our happiness, this year, our cold winter seemed to end early; because the thick blanket of snow was already turning into dirty pools of mud.

Only, we still had to wait until all of the snow was gone, before our grownups would allow us to enter our surrounding woods and set up our new traps.

Until then, our snow-covered mountain paths with all their hidden cracks and treacherous potholes were still way too dangerous!

Besides, nearly all the edible animals were still in hibernation, also waiting for spring to arrive...

This year, as our growing little Crown Prince and Heir to the Throne, my beloved people had given me my first official birthday present.

Now, I was the proud owner of a beautiful tiny mountain bike, painted in our own Royal black-and-golden colors, and provided with lots of extra gadgets.

Our technical man, Pietro, had refurbished it to perfection; and our Vice King who also was my Big Friend, Michail, had sanded and painted it until it sparkled in the sunlight.

Because I was only five years old, and still a little bit too small for my age, all the other bikes in our camp had been way too big for me to ride on them easily.

Fortunately, a couple of older friends had already taught me in advance how to ride a bike, during summer, by letting me use their own much bigger 'steel steeds'.

Because I couldn't reach their too high saddles, I always had to stand on the pedals; but that also helped me tremendously in keeping my balance all the time.

I didn't know how my people had been able to find such a small real mountain bike, but its saddle was exactly low enough for me to sit on it with my feet touching the ground!

I was sure it was the smallest bike we had ever seen in our camp, and I LOVED every single part of it!

Now, while riding my own small mountain bike, I was able to slip in the muddy snow and spray huge fountains of snow onto my onlookers, without ever falling!

Of course, I used the same proven technique Pietro had taught me on our repaired snow scooter, of pulling up while using my brakes at the same time.

And, although I was the smallest boy in our kids group who had a mountain bike, I also was one of the fastest bikers, because of my minimal weight and very strong muscles.

It was a LOT of fun, as a five-year-old 'little runt', to be able to outrace many much bigger boys and girls!

During last summer, another small Gypsy boy, our nearly-four-year-old little Dimi, became 'dry' during the day and had joined our growing group of 'diaper kids'.

Immediately, the little devil turned out to be very good at playing hide and seek; and he was the first kid ever I couldn't find and had to look for by using my 'abilities' to sense his aura!

Dimi was the only kid in our Gypsy camp who equaled me in making ourselves invisible, because he too was very small and could wriggle himself into impossible narrow places.

Just like I always did, he too was able to sit or lie absolutely still, without moving at all or making any sounds that could give him away...

After I finally found Dimi's hiding place, and he showed me his beaming little face and sparkling eyes; we hit it off immediately and liked each other at first sight.

My little friend was firmly built and had a normal posture for his age; while my lithe but very strong body still refused to grow and remained a bit too small for my age.

However, Dimi's bright spirit certainly equaled mine; and both of us were very intelligent, now and then acting a little bit naughty, while we both had a profound sense of humor.

Within a few days, Dimi turned out to be a real little devil, already acting as a much older kid, and always trying to have some more fun.

He was always in an excellent mood, with his built-in sun and sparkling dark brown eyes; and we immediately became inseparable friends.

We only had to wait until he would be 'dry' during the night, before his two Moms and our strict rules would allow him to join our group of 'older kids' group into our woods.

Because Dimi had pitch black curly hair, and I had nearly white blond hair, nearly everybody in our camp teasingly called the pair of us our 'black and white' couple.

Of course, I had already taught little Dimi how to fold a snare; just like my fourteen-year-old older friend, Misha, had taught me how to fold mine in advance.

Just like me, Dimi picked things up very fast; while he showered me with all his questions about our outstretched woods, dangerous ravines, and the animals we caught in our traps.

Plus, he too was extremely eager to set up his first trap and catch his first animal, to roast it over our campfire!

He too couldn't wait, until he finally would be allowed to join my older friends and me into our woods...

Soon after I got my beautiful little mountain bike, Dimi had approached me, and politely asked me to teach him how to ride on it.

While showing me his best puppy dog eyes, he pleaded that my little bicycle was the only one small enough for him to reach the ground without falling...

Of course, I promised to help my little friend; because I liked him very much, and I already started to feel like his older brother, or maybe his parent.

Surprisingly, I even had a faint recollection of once being Dimi's Mom and feeding him from my breasts, during one of our past lives...

Although I wasn't sure about that, it absolutely felt as if we had known each other for ages, and finally were reunited again!

Today, I was in my 'training mode', riding around our camp while teaching myself how to pedal my little mountain bike with even more confidence.

For a long time, I crossed around our faintly glowing campfire and wooden benches at top speed, now and then using my brakes to slip in the muddy snow, without ever falling.

All the time, my onlookers kept a safe distance from me and scowled when I showed up, because I tried to spray them with muddy snow every time I passed by...

Fortunately, they all loved their impish little Prince very much, and never reacted angrily.

After I finally stopped; little Dimi raced towards me with his beaming face and sparkling eyes, while he shouted:

"Harry, you absolutely are the 'bestest' biker in our camp! Now, I am sure I want to be like you, once I have my own small bike and know how to ride it...

"Next month, I am finally four years old; and Momtwo already promised me to look for a small second-hand bicycle, if she can put aside enough gadjo money to afford it.

"Do you still want to keep your promise, and teach me how to ride your mountain bike? Then, we could ride together and race each other, after I have mine..."

"Of course, I will keep my promise! Let's first go inside to find something edible; and, then, I will try to teach you how to ride my mountain bike."

"Yesss, you are a real friend! Do you want to come with me? I am sure you can eat with us if you want. I only hope my Mom has enough leftovers from yesterday..."

"Then, let's go to your caravan and ask your Mom first."

Of course, Dimi's friendly Mom invited me in immediately; and she even teased me:

"Come in, Prince Harold, and take a seat. Unfortunately, we still don't have any wild boars on the menu."

Both Dimi and I started to laugh; remembering last summer, when we had teased each other about eating such a pungent tasting beast with all its male hormones.

First, we washed our hands in their small kitchen, teasingly splashing some water at each other and at Dimi's chuckling Mom.

Then, we tried to help his Mom in her kitchen, while she tried to prepare something healthy from a few scant leftovers...

After I saw she was nearly out of everything edible, I told her to stop, and asked Dimi to follow me outside!

We both raced to my own caravan; to ask my Mom for a couple of potatoes, a clove of garlic, and three eggs from our own small stock.

Of course, my Mom happily helped us, because I had to eat some healthy food anyway...

After I also collected a few tasty herbs from my own dried stock, we raced back to Dimi's caravan, to help his Mom prepare a more decent meal.

Fortunately, Dimi's mother already knew that I was our little 'Chief Cookie' and always helped my own Mom prepare our own meals.

Therefore, she let me use her sharp kitchen knife to slice my herbs; while Dimi looked at my ministrations wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

Up to now, his two Moms had never allowed him to touch a sharp knife, because they thought he would be way too young to handle such a dangerous thing on his own!

They always told him he had to wait for at least another couple of years; because they wanted to keep him in one piece for as long as possible, preferably with all ten fingers intact.

Twenty minutes later, Dimi's second Mom, which he cleverly called 'Momtwo', entered their caravan and happily greeted me.

Now, we all sat down around their living room table and started to savor our tasty meal, nicely spiced by my special herbs.

Soon, both Dimi's Mom and Momtwo complimented me with its exquisite taste, while Dimi almost swallowed his own fingers in his enthusiasm!

They never knew I could be such an excellent chef, and that I would be able to make such a wonderfully tasting meal out of almost nothing...

At last, all four of us burped loudly, to thank our Supreme Being and our food spirits for their healthy nourishment, as usual.

Half an hour later, I tried to steady my small mountain bike, using both hands, while little Dimi enthusiastically mounted its saddle.

Unfortunately, his small feet barely touched the ground; while I desperately tried to keep my swaying bike and its rider from falling over...

Would I really be strong enough to teach my little friend how to ride, although I had never done such a thing before?

Because my stubborn character still had a 'pigheaded' streak, I decided to give it a try, and told Dimi:

"Please, lift your feet from the ground, and put them onto the pedals. Now, start to push the pedals around slowly..."

Of course, Dimi did as I told him; but he immediately started to pedal with all of his might!

Unexpectedly, my bike jumped out of my hands, and it started to sway from left to right like some inebriated alcoholic...

Just before it would crash into one of our caravans, it fell to the ground with a dull thump!

Slowly, Dimi disentangled from its fallen frame, looking at me with a surprised face.

Obviously, he first needed a few seconds, to comprehend what could have happened...

Then, the little devil started to shriek with laughter!

Feeling relieved, I saw that my little 'black and white' friend was unharmed and still in one piece.

Then, I raced towards my fallen bicycle, to look it over for any visible defects...

Fortunately, both my beautiful mountain bike and Dimi were still in excellent condition!

Heaving a deep sigh of relief, I already started to think about what to do next...

Obviously, because I was only a small boy, my arms were not strong enough to teach Dimi how to ride and keep my bike steady at the same time!

Maybe, I should ask my older friend Misha for help, or one of the other boys...

Fortunately, my Dad had watched our antics from behind our caravan windows, chuckling at seeing what was happening.

Now, he left our caravan and came up to us, still smiling.

Obviously trying to spare my feelings of pride, he asked me:

"Harry? Although you are doing very well, you might be a bit young to perform such a grownup task. What do you think, shall we work together?"

Of course, I immediately nodded my consent; because, this time, my Dad was absolutely right!

Although I was very strong for my age; my arm muscles lacked the necessary strength to steady my bike with little Dimi on it.

Therefore, I offered my Dad a quick cuddle, stepped aside, and left Dimi to my Dad.

From now on, my Dad held my bike in place, while Dimi mounted its saddle and put his feet onto the pedals.

Immediately, Dimi started to pedal again, with all of his might; making my mountain bike jump forward like a little colt in a fresh meadow.

My surprised Dad trotted after him, huffing and panting while desperately trying to keep my bike in balance.

I followed them at a small distance; chuckling inwardly at the funny sight of such a little boy on such a small bike, accompanied by a heavily panting grownup.

Suddenly, I started to realize how the other grownups were seeing ME, the littlest runt on the smallest bike, racing around our camp at top speed, pestering them with muddy snow...

It absolutely was a hilarious spectacle!

Almost an hour later, my tired Dad slumped down onto the steps of our caravan, still wheezing and panting while trying to regain his breath.

At the same time, little Dimi raced around our camp on my mountain bike; with a beaming face, and all on his own!

His dark brown eyes sparkled with fun and joy, while he tried to steer the bike through the muddy curves as fast as he could.

Now and then, he even tried to copy my trick, of slipping in the snowy mud while using the brakes at the same time.

Indeed, he really succeeded in producing a nice spray of wet snow towards our onlookers!

Now, my surprised friends scolded him, instead of me...

At last, Dimi grew too tired, and stopped next to my Dad and me with screeching tires.

While wiping the sweat from his little forehead, he smiled happily at my Dad and me.

Offering him a big smile in return, my Dad told him:

"Dimi, in spite of your young age, you are a very fast learner; and you can be really proud of yourself!"

"Thank you very much, King, for teaching me how to ride Prince Harold's bike. He is my bestest friend in the whole camp, and I am very proud of him too."

Involuntarily, I started to blush, while I tried to disappear under our caravan steps.

I still wasn't used to be praised this abundantly, and certainly not by a younger kid who respectfully called me 'Prince Harold' instead of 'Harry'...

In the meantime, our older friends showed up, and muttered:

"Good for you, Dimi; but we are not too happy to have such a second 'brainiac' in our camp! Having one little daredevil around us has been more than enough..."

Of course, my teasing friends didn't really mean it; and they were still very fond of their 'black and white' couple.

Besides, I too felt very proud of my little biker friend; who once had been my own little son, in one of our past lives!

I really hoped he would soon have his own small bike, maybe as a birthday present from his Momtwo, so that we could ride together.

For the time being, I would alternately let him use my own mountain bike, so that he could train himself some more in advance...

Three weeks later, our technical man, Pietro, waited patiently, until little Dimi was riding my bike and disappeared from our sight.

My 'black and white' friend and I were taking turns on my mountain bike, trying to outrace the other bikers on a difficult cycling track we had set out together.

Now, Pietro approached me, and asked me:

"Harry? As our youngest mechanical engineer, do you want to help me repair a small bike? Only, please, keep it a secret from your little friend..."

"You found a second hand bike for Dimi's fourth birthday? Really? Yes, of course, I want to help you repair it! Just give me a moment to tell him..."

I waited until Dimi returned from our cycling track, and decided to bring my news a bit mysteriously:

"Dimi? I am sorry, but Pietro and I need to do something important. Do you mind riding alone for a couple of hours, until we are ready?"

"Why is that? What are you going to do? Can I help you?"

"Nobody can help us. It's a Royal secret; and, as our Crown Prince, I am not allowed to tell anybody anything about it. Not even you!"

"Why not? I thought we were best friends? You know that I can keep a secret, and my mouth is sealed..."

"Yes, I know. I trust you with my own life; and, of course, we are still best friends! But, I already promised not to tell anybody. And, you can use my bike while I am away."

"Thank you for letting me use your mountain bike; but it's a lot more fun when we are together! When are you coming back?"

"Well, I think within a couple of hours. Only, please, wait until I show up, and don't go looking for me! In the meantime, you can use my bike all the time."

"Okay, thank you again; but I am still sure I will miss you terribly!"

Dimi sauntered back to our racing track, showing a pouting face; while I followed Pietro to 'our' nicely warmed spare caravan.

Inside our spare caravan, I looked in awe at a real small children's bike that would be very suitable for my little friend!

Only, I could clearly see it was a used one; and I was sure it needed a lot or work to make it a bit more presentable than it was now.

For a moment, Pietro and I talked it over, while we decided what to do first...

Then, we started to remove its rather rusty handle bar and way too wobbly wheels, to be able to clean all its important parts first.

In the meantime, Pietro explained that ALL our grownups had collected some money, to help little Dimi's Momtwo buy a bike for her adopted son.

Normally, they never did such a thing; but little Dimi was a special case, because he was the 'bestest' friend of their own little Crown Prince!

Everybody in our camp was very fond of their 'black and white' boys; and they all had donated a little bit of money from their own poverty.

Unseen, Michail and Pietro had been to a nearby gadjo town; where they bought the small bike at a local market for a really low price.

Then, they still had some money left to buy new ball bearings, new tires, and a small tin of blue paint.

Working closely together, Pietro and I first renewed all the worn ball bearings, and put brand new tires around the rebalanced wheels.

Next, we carefully sanded and painted its rusty frame, using the sparkling bright blue color Michail had already mixed for us.

At last, Pietro copied the beautiful golden striping from my own mountain bike onto Dimi's blue birthday present!

We were sure Dimi would like that very much.

After we were ready and had cleaned up, Pietro looked at me... and started to bellow with laughter!

Hiccupping, he told me I now looked like a little Indian warrior, having my face and both hands painted in sparkling blue and gold...

To play it safe, he took me to his own caravan; where he scrubbed me with thinner and yellow soap until all the sticky paint was gone.

Now, my reddened face looked more like a cooked lobster...

When I arrived home and entered our living room, my sniffing Mom told me I smelled of paint and thinner!

Before we were going to eat, I first had to take a shower and wash myself thoroughly!

Of course, I tried to protest, and told her that Pietro had already washed me; but she didn't even listen to my complaints.

Muttering under my breath, I did as she told me; but I asked my chuckling Dad to help me wash.

Women...

Five days later, little Dimi showed up from his caravan, but he didn't look very happy.

With a sad face, he sauntered to our circle of wooden benches and sat down, followed by his two Moms.

Today was his FOURTH birthday; but, of course, his Momtwo hadn't given him any birthday present at all.

Obviously, my little friend thought she had been too poor to buy him anything, and had told him only empty words.

Only, he was too polite to be mad at her or throw a tantrum, as I undoubtedly would have done...

As we had promised each other, immediately, all his friends crowded around him and ruffled his curly black hair.

Next, all our grownups went to him, hugged him, and congratulated him with finally being four years old!

They all told him they loved him very much, and wished him a very happy birthday and lots of luck during his upcoming year.

Then, our grownups sat down on their wooden benches, while all the children climbed onto a safe and cozy lap to be cuddled.

In the meantime, poor confused Dimi just didn't know what to say or do, while he almost started to cry...

Behind our circle of caravans, I had waited impatiently, until everybody had congratulated my little friend and sat down.

Now, I mounted Dimi's beautifully painted birthday present, and raced up to my confused little friend at full speed!

With screeching tires, I stopped in front of his very surprised face, and told him:

"Dimi, everybody in our Gypsy camp wants to give you this birthday present; because you are my 'bestest' friend, and we all love you very much!"

I smiled at my little friend, put his beautifully painted bike onto its kickstand, and beckoned him to come over and try it out...

For a couple of seconds, little Dimi seemed to feel too overwhelmed, while he only stared at me and at his new bike...

Then, he started to cry openly, for the first time since we were friends.

He stormed towards me, wrapped his small arms around my waist, and buried his head into my chest, sobbing loudly!

Obviously, my friend liked his birthday present very much.

Instinctively, I wrapped my own arms around my sobbing friend, and held him very close...

Then, involuntarily, I started to cry too, from my own overwhelming emotions!

Now, I realized how much I already loved him.

Dimi really felt as if he was my own little son!

After a long time of crying together, Dimi's Momtwo showed up and offered us a couple of tissues.

Slowly, we disentangled from each other, gently dried each other's eyes, and blew our own noses in the next tissues.

Then, we both looked around, suddenly feeling a little bit bashful...

Much to our surprise, everybody in our camp looked at their 'black and white' couple with happy faces and lots of love in their eyes!

A couple of our grownups even had tears in their own eyes, furtively wiping them away.

Fortunately, nobody around us seemed to think we were crybabies...

Ten seconds later, a happy looking Misha demonstratively brought me my own mountain bike!

Now, Dimi left me, handed the used tissues to his Momtwo, and proudly mounted his sparkling blue birthday present.

For a moment, he tried it out, until he knew exactly how to steer it.

Now, riding together, we started to race around our camp, immediately cheering loudly while trying to outrace each other.

This was exactly what we had promised to do, as soon as Dimi would have his own bike!

My little friend looked at me with a beaming face; and I looked back at him with a huge smile.

Everybody in our camp rose from their benches and started to encourage us, telling us to race even faster.

That is, until a couple of our friends teasingly stepped in our way, trying to slow down their over-enthusiastic 'black and white' couple...

How could we tease them back?

Dimi and I looked at each other; and we had a silent conversation without words.

After reading each other's mental pictures, both of us nodded at the same time.

Now, we knew exactly what we had to do!

At top speed, we raced up to our teasing friends, who hastily tried to scurry away...

In unison, we used our brakes, and both of us sprayed a beautiful spray of muddy snow onto them!

Our surprised looking friends scolded us and gave us the finger, while they hastily wiped the snow from their clothes.

At the same time, all our grownups started to laugh at them and cheer at us.

Sweet revenge!

2. Spring arrives; and everything in our camp returns to normal.

A few weeks later, finally, SPRING arrived in our mountains, and nature restarted to blossom abundantly!

I woke up early in the morning, and immediately sensed that the air outside our caravan had changed.

Even the sunlight looked different, while the sky was brighter, and the cold mountain wind was replaced by a much warmer breeze.

The birds outside were twittering their most beautiful chants; and the thick bushes around our camp were already budding!

I bolted outside, without putting on my beautiful badger fur coat and warm fox boots, almost crying from happiness.

Finally, we could be naked during the whole day again; instead of wearing our clammy garments whenever we wanted to leave our caravans!

My Mom laughed at my enthusiasm; while she put my fur coat and fox boots away, until I would need them again next winter.

Within a few minutes, our camp was crowded with laughing and frolicking kids.

We all loved feeling the warmth of the sun directly on our bare skin, while we tried to get our bronze complexions back as soon as possible.

It was as if we felt more alive now, while we gathered around our campfire and started to dance in the warming sunlight.

It felt good to be a five-year-old Gypsy boy, worshipping spring in our secluded camp in the Rumanian mountains.

After all our friends had gathered, we deliberated about what we were going to do.

Immediately, everybody agreed about going into our woods and setting our new traps, first thing tomorrow morning.

Although most animals still had to wake up from their hibernation, we were all craving for our first portion of fresh meat!

Pietro promised to provide us with new pieces of wire; and the experienced kids would tell us where we could find the most animals.

Then, the day after tomorrow, we would finally roast the first beasts of the new season over our campfire!
We couldn't wait to savor our first fresh and nourishing meat, of course spiced by my tasty herbs...

Misha, my now fifteen-year-old best friend, came up to me, and asked me a bit hesitantly:

"Harry? We have a question for you... May we still count on you to be our Chief Cook?"

"Duh! What do you think? You cannot get rid of me that easily!"

"Sorry... We only wanted to know for sure. We really don't want to miss your tasty herbs on our meat!"

"Okay; but you have to stop calling me 'little cookie'. Else, I will tell my herbs to give you a nasty stomach ache!"

"What? Oh no, you wouldn't DARE..."

"Just try me..."

Of course, I smiled at my friends, so that they knew I was only kidding.

They could be sure I would never misuse their trust in me; or take revenge on them, by abusing my knowledge of herbs...

Misha chuckled, lifted me onto his shoulders, and playfully horsed me around our camp, while he sang:

"Our 'little cookie' grows up; and now we call him our 'big cookie'."

Then, he put me down hastily, because I strangled his neck and threatened to suffocate him!

He tried to say something, but only produced a few hoarse squeaks, until his breath returned...

Then, he started to laugh, tickled my ribs, and called me a 'little devil'.

Of course, I tried to tickle him back, while I admonished him:

"The only thing you may call me from now on, is 'little badger'!"

All the others started to laugh too, and told me they agreed with me.

Then, they playfully admonished Misha not to pick on the smallest kids...

It felt good, to banter like this; and I was sure it deepened our mutual friendship even more.

Little Dimi had followed our conversation intently, chuckling and with sparkling eyes.

I was sure he couldn't wait to join our group of older kids and partake in our playful bantering!

However, he had to wait until he would be dry during the night and no longer needed any diapers.

I knew how it felt...

And, I surely hoped he would join us SOON!

Our frolicking kids group parted; and we all went our own ways, to wait for the next day to show up.

Our 'toddler group', consisting of our three-to-six-year old 'diaper kids', started to play their game of hide and seek around our caravans.

Many older kids strolled to our parking lot, planning to play soccer with an old and worn leather football.

The oldest kids sat together on our wooden benches, talking about where the fattest animals could be found.

Most grownups had disappeared in their cars, to find some work in a far-away gadjo town.

They would return near the end of the day, hopefully bringing us something healthy to eat...

Michail played with his little sons, this time accompanied by a few other little toddlers and their parents.

Pietro started to go to his spare caravan; but he beckoned ME to follow him...

Immediately, little Dimi came racing up to us, while he panted:

"Where are you going? Can I come with you? I don't want to play hide and seek with the toddlers..."

Obviously, Dimi had the same feeling I once had, of being much older than he was in reality...

It was almost eerie, to see how much we resembled each other!

Pietro turned around when he heard Dimi's pleading voice; and he chuckled:

"Of course, working with two 'mechanical engineers' may be even better than having only one helper..."

Little Dimi started to cheer, ran up to Pietro, and leapt onto his back.

Pietro chuckled again, put his hands under Dimi's little bottom, and horsed him towards our spare caravan.

There, he put him down, and ceremoniously opened the caravan door, grinning:

"Entrez monsieur; and after you."

Suddenly, little Dimi acted a bit hesitantly, looking at me for support...

Obviously, his parents had taught him that grownups ought to enter a caravan first, and little kids had to wait their turn...

Well, Pietro was our FRIEND, and both he and I had shucked our courtesies a long time ago!

It was rather difficult to keep acting polite, when both of you were covered in dirty oil and smear...

I chuckled and dived into the caravan, on the way dragging my little friend with me.

Now, Pietro explained what he wanted us to do.

He offered us a spool of glistening wire, and told us to cut the wire into many equal pieces.

We got a pair of sharp wire cutters, and a length of rope to use as our measure.

We were going to produce many new snares, for our group to use them in our traps!

For a moment, Dimi and I deliberated about how we were going to do it.

Then, I took the spool into my hands, while Dimi pulled at the wire until he had freed some length.

Next, we placed the rope measure alongside the wire, and I cut the first length off.

Now, Dimi took the spool into his hands, while I freed the next length of wire, and he cut it off...

After measuring and cutting a couple of pieces of wire like this, I started to think.

Measuring and switching turns, like we did now, took quite a lot of time...

Wouldn't there be a faster way to accomplish our rather tedious task?

What if we put the spool onto some pin, and fastened the pin onto Pietro's workbench?

However, little Dimi already beat me to it!

He took a screwdriver, put its metal part through the spool, and pushed its end firmly into an existing hole in the wooden workbench.

Next, he took our rope measure, and laid it out from the spool along the bench.

He took a small nail, and hammered it into the workbench, exactly at the end of the rope...

Now, we only had to pull the next piece of wire from the spool onto the nail, and cut it off where it left the spool!

Both Pietro and I looked at Dimi's silent ministrations with surprised faces.

We never thought that our little friend would be such a clever technical inventor...

Pietro ruffled Dimi's hair with a proud smile, while he told him:

"See? I knew you would be a valuable mechanical engineer!"

Little Dimi beamed, while he asked me to pull the next piece of wire towards the nail...

He cut it off and added it to the other snares, while I already pulled the next piece of wire.

In no time, we had readied a whole bunch of glistening snares; probably more than enough to last the entire season!

With proud faces, we brought them to our oldest kids, who would distribute them among our friends.

The next morning, our happy group of kids gathered around our campfire, feeling bright and shining.

We waited until all the lazy slackers had joined us, and enthusiastically followed the oldest kids into our woods.

Soon, we entered our huge clearing with its majestic trees and mossy ground; where we halted, as we always did.

The oldest kids gathered us around them, and told us:

"Because most marmots here are still in hibernation, we will set up our traps further away, where the animals already started breeding.

"Just like we did before winter set in, we will again pair up into couples. Every older kid will again take a younger one under their wings."

Immediately, I trotted towards Misha and took his hand, before any other young kid had a chance to claim him!

Misha smiled at me when he felt my hand; and he seemed to be very pleased with my decision.

He bent over, and teasingly whispered into my ear:

"Are you sure? Maybe, one of the other kids will be more entertaining..."

"Okay. Then, I will leave you, and look for another guide."

I left Misha's hand, and pretended to walk away...

When I turned around, I started to chuckle at seeing his very disappointed face!

I went back to him, retook his hand, and whispered:

"I am only teasing you, silly! Of course, we are going together again; unless you want to guide Jonno instead of me..."

Misha shuddered at the thought, and unconsciously clamped onto my hand some more.

Obviously, he remembered last year, when Jonno panicked and refused to follow us into the 'creepy' forest...

For a moment, I thought of little Dimi, who had stared at us with a deep longing in his eyes when we disappeared into our woods.
I knew how he felt; because I had stared at our disappearing group myself many times, until I no longer wet my bed at night...

Would I feel jealous, if Misha ever decided to guide my little friend instead of me?

I wasn't sure...

However, I already missed Dimi's sparkling eyes full of joy, and wished he would be here and join us!

Misha could easily guide two young boys...

A few older kids offered each of us a glistening piece of wire, to fold our new snares.

Then, each pair of kids took off into different directions, and silently disappeared into the dense undergrowth.

Where would Misha take me this time?

I pulled at his arm, and whispered into his ear:

"Where are we going today?"

"I want to return to our steep ravine; because most of the porcupines are there, and I think we might have a chance to catch one."

"Okay. And, I also hope to see another badger..."

Misha shook his head and chuckled at my eager face, while he turned around slowly.

For a moment, he seemed to feel or sense all the different energies around us, by using his 'built-in compass'.

Then, he decidedly paved his way through the undergrowth, walking straight towards our steep ravine.

Again, I tried to copy what Misha did, trying to tune myself into the steep ravine with its many meandering rapids.

Suddenly, I had a faint feeling of its surroundings; silently calling me towards it, by pulling at my aura...

I pointed my nose into that direction; and, much to my delight, my nose pointed exactly into the same direction where Misha went!

Although the faint feeling was almost non-existent, I was sure this was how Misha always used his own built-in compass...

I only had to train myself some more!

Feeling very happy about my discovery, I followed Misha's footsteps.

Now and then, he stopped to feel around again; and, then, I copied him and tried to feel our ravine.

Every time, Misha walked exactly into the same direction from where I had sensed our steep ravine pulling at my aura!

It also was as if my sensitivity became more pronounced, and I was able to sense the pulling at my aura a little bit clearer.

I was sure that, in time, I would be able to follow my wakening senses without any help...

Walking together, time passed by very fast; and, in no time, we reached our steep ravine.

Of course, we went straight to our old traps; but they turned out to be thoroughly destroyed!

Obviously, some hungry predator had emptied them and devoured our caught animals.

Well, we wished the lucky predator a bon appetite, and went on.

Live and let live...

Stealthily, I looked around for any unexpected badger trails...

Of course, I didn't find any; and I felt a little bit disappointed.

However, Misha turned out to be absolutely right, about catching porcupines.

We really found a clearly visible fresh porcupine trail, disappearing into a thick shrub!

Misha told me to set up my snare; and I set my first trap of the new season along the fresh trail.

Carefully, I covered it with some forest litter, before I wiped my own footsteps.

Then, we saw a second porcupine trail, disappearing into the same shrub!

Maybe, the animals had been breeding; or, they had planned to do so, until we disturbed them and they fled away...

Now, it was Misha's turn to set up his trap, along the second trail.

To my delight, he used MY special knot to fold his own snare...

He smiled at me when he saw me looking; but motioned me to be silent.

Walking together, we went back along our steep ravine, until we reached our flat boulder.

Sitting together, we enjoyed the beautiful sight of the meandering water rapids, while I leaned into Misha.

He put his arm around my body; and we could clearly feel our mutual love radiating between us.

At that time, I was sure we would be friends forever...

After some time, we decided to leave our steep ravine and go looking for the other kids.

This time, I tried to tune in to our group, expecting to feel them pulling at my aura...

However, to my disappointment, I didn't feel or sense anything!

Maybe, my tuning in worked only on a single person, or only on some natural thing like a water stream?

I decided to ask Misha about it as soon as possible...

Now, I tuned in to our waterfall; and, immediately, I felt its faint energy pull at my aura!

Fortunately, my newly discovered ability still worked; although I wasn't sure whether I really could count on it, or not.

I pointed my nose into its direction; and, much to my delight, Misha started to walk into that same direction.

My own 'built-in compass' was starting to work better and better...

Feeling happy, I followed my friend towards our waterfall.

Soon, we joined the others; but the water turned out to be too cold to take a shower or have a swim.

We had to wait for at least a few more days, until our still cold mountains had warmed up sufficiently.

After our last couple of kids showed up, we frolicked home.

That evening, I went to bed feeling very happy and satisfied.

Tomorrow, we would finally roast our first animals and have our first portion of fresh meat!

I almost couldn't wait...

Our camp had finally returned to 'normal'.

3. Empty snares; sneaking; cheating; and being friends forever.

The next morning, Misha took us straight to our own steep ravine, to have a look at what we had caught in our traps...

However, much to our disappointment, both porcupines seemed to have left their hiding place without coming back!

And, probably, all the other animals were still in hibernation, or too sleepy...

Our traps were still empty and untouched.

Maybe, the porcupines had been too wary to return, and resumed their breeding at some other place...

Moping, we set our new traps along other trails, silently cursing both escaped porcupines.

Maybe, we had been a bit too noisy, after all, thus chasing the wary animals away for good?

Now, we only hoped our friends would want to share a piece of their own first meat with us...

Otherwise, we would have to wait until tomorrow, hoping then we would have more luck.

Slowly, we sauntered back to our flat boulder; where we slumped down onto its mossy surface.

Misha put an arm around my shoulders; and I leaned into him, still feeling disappointed.

I had so rejoiced at finally savoring my first mouthful of fresh meat, spiced by my special herbs...

Silently, we stared at the meandering water stream that happily foamed along the bottom of the steep ravine.

After some time, Misha released my shoulders, and whispered into my ear:

"Maybe, we were not silent enough, yesterday; while we rounded that nasty thorn bush, or jumped across one of the cracks...

"It's quite possible that both porcupines heard us and fled away, because they have an excellent sense of hearing.

"What do you think... shall we practice our trapper skills some more, by trying to sneak towards each other in absolute silence?"

For a split second, I pondered Misha's idea; and, then, I nodded enthusiastically and whispered back:

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

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

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

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

Misha and I jumped off our boulder; and we trotted to the surrounding dense forest.

Here, we stopped, and Misha smiled at me and ruffled my hair.

I smiled back at him, and threw my arms around his waist...

After a brief cuddle, Misha pointed to a faintly visible porcupine track and whispered:

"Let's do something easy first. I start following this track; and, after ten seconds, you try to 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 into the forest, 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!

I hoped that Misha would teach me how to be a REAL natural trapper...

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

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 a couple of 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 this track, to make our training a bit more difficult.

Planning to surprise him, I tiptoed silently towards his faint rustle...

Suddenly, I heard a cracking sound, in front of me.

Could Misha unintentionally have stepped onto some dry branch?

I even heard a suppressed curse, as if he reacted angrily!

Now, I wanted to laugh out loud; but immediately bit my tongue to suppress my sound.

I took the next step towards the sound, planning to surprise him...

"CRACK!"

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

Of course, this had not been my intention; and 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 tried to suppress his snickering.

I didn't like to be laughed at; and felt even more determined to catch up with him as soon as possible.

Silently, I sneaked towards his sound, ready to jump onto his back and teach him a lesson...

Then, I heard another faint crack, this time sounding from my right side.

Obviously, Misha had left our porcupine track and tried to run away...

Okay, but he would not escape my wrath!

Immediately, I changed directions and hurried towards the new sound.

However, within a few seconds, another faint crack distracted me, coming slightly from the left!

How could Misha have changed directions this fast?

That was impossible for a human being...

Feeling very confused, I tiptoed towards the newest sound.

Within another few seconds, another faint crack sounded, coming slightly from the right.

This was becoming eerie!

No human being could ever be able to change directions like this, within only a few seconds!

How, for heaven's sake, could Misha have split himself into two halves, both of them stepping onto dry branches?

Or, had another kid showed up, to help him; and were they now working together, pulling a prank on me?

Not knowing what to do, I halted, waiting for the next faint crack...

Suddenly, I jumped up in shock and almost yelped, because something unexpectedly tapped my back from behind!

Automatically, I dived to the ground at lightning speed; on my way grabbing the first branch I saw, to defend myself against my unknown attacker...

Tensing all my muscles, I pointed my branch up; ready to push it into any open mouth with nasty teeth that would show up...

Then, I saw Misha, looking at me with a shocked face, while he stepped back hastily!

How the heck could Misha be at my back, while I had heard his cracking sound in front of me?

This was really eerie!

After Misha saw I recognized him and calmed down, he started to smile and told me:

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

I stared at his smiling face, threw the branch away, and uttered:

"How come you suddenly tapped my back? I was sure you were in front of me..."

"Sorry, for making you panic. But, your reaction proves that you are absolutely able to fend for yourself! You already ARE a real trapper.

"Now, do you want to go on with our practicing? This time, it's your turn to go first, and I will follow your sound after counting to ten."

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

After a couple of silent steps, I curved to the right to distract him, while thinking about what had 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 impossible!

Was it really Misha's cracking sound I had heard?

I thought it had to be him, because he carelessly stepped onto a small branch that cracked...

But, had I really heard a cracking dry branch?

Or, could something else have 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?

But, how?

I decided to try a few things out, and deliberately stepped onto a tiny branch.

Immediately, it snapped under my foot, while I listened intently.

Well... this cracking sound differed quite a lot from the sounds I thought had been coming from Misha!

Obviously, I had NOT heard a cracking dry branch, but something else!

I sneaked to the left; because Misha would of course go straight to my loud crack, and I didn't want him to find me this easily...

After some more thinking, I came up with only one reasonable explanation...

Obviously, Misha had deliberately thrown something in front of me, to distract me!

But, what could he have thrown?

I decided to try out my theory, and took a small branch from the ground.

Next, I threw it away, trying to let it land in front of Misha...

Alas, the branch stopped almost immediately in between all the entwined twigs; and it caused quite a lot of noise!

From behind my back, I heard Misha's suppressed snickering; and I sneaked to the right to stay free of him.

What else could Misha have thrown in front of me, to mislead me, causing such a faint cracking sound?

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

Would a small pebble do the trick?

Let's try it out, and throw one...

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

Then, I almost started to cheer.

THERE WAS THE SOUND!

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

This time, I HAD him!

The cheater...

During the next couple of minutes, I had lots of fun!

I was able to send Misha into every possible direction where I wanted him to go, just by throwing small pebbles!

He tiptoed 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, thinking it had to be my sound...

Obviously, he never thought I would be able to use his own trick on him.

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

Sweet revenge!

At last, I got too bored, and decided to have my real revenge.

This time, I lured Misha towards me, still carefully throwing my pebbles.

I sent him past me, let him stop, and silently sneaked up to him until I was at his back...

Then, I jumped forward and threw my arms around his neck!

At the same time, I cried my victory:

"GOTCHA, you cheater!"

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

"How the hell did you do THAT? You almost caused me to have a heart attack! I thought you were in front of me..."

"Now, you know how it feels to be cheated! Do you think you would be the only clever one here? Then, I have to disappoint you!

"I've used your own dirty trick against you. All the time, I threw small pebbles to mislead you, just like you did to me."

"What? How the heck do YOU know what I did? You are the first one in all the years to find out how I'm cheating."

"Never underestimate your little Prince..."

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

"You are absolutely right, and I am very impressed by your abilities! All the time, I thought it was you who made the cracking noises...

"You are the youngest natural trapper, and the biggest cheater, and a real little devil... but I love every part of you!"

He put his arms around me, and we hugged each other for a long time.

For the first time, Misha told me he enjoyed our special friendship very much, and that he wished we could be friends forever.

At first, he had been waiting for the 'little cookie', until I finally would be dry during the night and old enough to join our friends into the woods...

Then, he felt elated when I took his hand and trusted him to guide me along the ravine and across the stream.

He felt awful when Jonno suddenly chose him to be his guide; because he was afraid he would lose me to one of the others.

Fortunately, everything turned out for the best!

I offered him an extra fierce hug, while I told him:

"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."

After declaring our friendship, we decided to sneak after each other again, to train our trapper skills some more.

However, this time, we would do it without any cheating or using dirty tricks!

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

Again, I heard his faintly rustling sound, while he disappeared into the dense forest.

After ten seconds, I opened my eyes and started to follow him.

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 sound coming from slightly to my left...

I sneaked towards his sound, but he heard me coming and immediately changed directions, trying to get away.

Of course, I didn't give him a chance to escape, and followed him like a sneaking cat following its prey...

A moment later, he sped up some more, and promptly stumbled across a hidden pothole!

I heard him stifle a cry, while he mumbled something that sounded like a curse...

Inwardly, I grinned in triumph; already planning to jump onto his back as soon as I caught him.

Again, I sneaked towards him, in total silence, feeling like a real predator...

4. Following an elusive porcupine; and lost in our dense forest.

I sneaked towards Misha as noiselessly as I could, on my way listening for any more telltale sounds...

Suddenly, I heard a faint rustling, coming from slightly to my left.

There he was, this time sounding quite nearby!

I chuckled inwardly; while I already enjoyed my second victory, planning to jump onto his back again...

Carefully, without making any noise, I tiptoed towards his sound, sneaking like a hunting cat chasing its prey.

However, Misha seemed to hear me; and he rustled away in a sudden hurry!

Wow, he certainly had a shockingly good sense of hearing.

Again, I was jealous of his extremely good skills.

Obviously, I had to train myself quite a lot more, to be able to outdo my trained trapper friend!

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

However, after a few steps, he seemed to hear me again, and immediately sped up some more!

Feeling a bit disappointed, I stopped for a second, so that he couldn't hear me anymore.

A moment later, Misha stopped too, and waited.

I even thought I heard him sniff the air...

Had I really heard him sniff?

Had my friend really tried to smell my scent?

How strange...

Again, I started to sneak towards Misha, slowly and carefully.

This time, I was sure I didn't make any noises at all.

Only a few more steps; and I would jump onto his back in triumph...

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

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

Okay, nobody is perfect...

I still had to learn quite a lot more, before I could call myself a real trapper!

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

This time, I heard him curve to the left, obviously trying to get rid of me...

How did Misha know I followed him again, while I was sure I hadn't made any audible sounds?

It looked like he had sort of a sixth sense...

This was almost eerie!

Again, I envied him for his excellent trapper skills...

Determinedly, I followed Misha's faint rustling sound through the dense forest.

Now and then, he changed directions, obviously trying to get rid of me...

However, I didn't give him a chance to get away; and just followed him, like a sneaking predator following its prey.

Every time I thought I would finally see him, he changed directions and sped up!

He seemed to have an extraordinary good sense of hearing; or he was able to feel my aura from some distance...

It seemed to be impossible to catch up with him and have my victory...

However, I was very stubborn, and didn't want to give up; although I started to feel more and more tired.

When would Misha finally stop, and tell me I had done very well?

I really needed some rest...

I followed Misha through the dense forest for quite some time.

Every time, he changed directions, zigzagging from left to right and back to the left.

All the time, he produced the same rustling sound, without ever cracking a branch or stumbling across a hidden pothole.

I really envied him now, for being such an excellent trapper!

And, I really hoped he would teach me how he did it!

After a very long time, I became too tired to go on, and slowed down.

My legs started to cramp, and my feet were already aching.

Why didn't Misha reckon with me and stop for a rest?

Ultimately, I was only a five-year-old small boy...

Should I call him, tell him I was too tired, and ask him for a pause?

However, then, he might think I was too weak to be a real trapper...

Being stubborn, I 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 excellent 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...

However, every time I got a bit closer, he immediately sped up and changed directions.

When would he finally stop, and let me have some rest...

Then, I suddenly saw the sun, shimmering faintly through the dense foliage!

Now, I knew we were about to reach a big clearing, or maybe a ravine.

I heaved a deep sigh of relief...

Here, Misha would finally take a rest and sit down, to let me build up my energy.

Of course, he would also tease me about not being able to catch up with him...

I followed Misha's rustling sound into a spacious clearing, and stopped.

Planning to congratulate him with his victory, I squinted at the sudden sunlight that dazzled my eyes...

Finally, my friend had decided to stop and let me have some rest!

I stepped forward and looked around, expecting to see a smirking Misha...

At the same moment, I froze on the spot, not believing my own eyes.

Instead of seeing a smirking Misha, I stared in total disbelief at... a trembling porcupine!

The 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 safe woods.

I HAD FOLLOWED A PORCUPINE!

For a moment, I was dumbfounded and didn't know how to react.

Then, I started to laugh at my own stupidity, immediately trying to stifle my sound.

Looking back at the past hour, I should have known I had followed some frightened animal...

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 porcupine from a small distance.

Most likely, he would have a stomach ache from suppressing his laughing at my stupidity!

Now, he would show up, look at me triumphantly, and ruffle my hair as usual.

Then, we would sit together, and wait until my worn out muscles had recuperated...

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

Probably, the whole camp would soon laugh at my supposed 'natural abilities'...

Maybe, they would even take up my adventure into their many ancient folklore tales.

After a hundred years, they would still narrate their funny story of a little Prince following a porcupine instead of his friend...

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

Hmm...

I slumped down onto a flat boulder, trying to give my tired legs their much needed rest.

While I rubbed my painfully cramping muscles, I waited for 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 be a little bit apprehensive.

Where was my friend Misha?

Why didn't he show up and laugh at me?

Or, hadn't he followed me, while I chased that wary porcupine through the undergrowth?

Had he lost me after some time, in the dense forest?

Or, maybe even worse, had I lost him?

Or, was he still teasing me; waiting until I would finally give up and call him...

I started to feel a bit more uneasy...

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

What, if he had waited for me to show up, instead of following me?

What, if he still waited for me, feeling more and more uneasy?

I hadn't the faintest idea where Misha was; or, even worse, where I was...

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

What should I do now?

Should I give up, and call Misha?

However, I had promised to be absolutely silent while we were in the dense forest.

I didn't want to make an even bigger fool of myself...

But, I also didn't want to wait in vain...

I decided to wait some more; still hoping that Misha would show up...

However, after another couple of seconds, I started to feel too uneasy.

Obviously, Misha was NOT going to show up...

Okay; Misha had told me to be silent, but this was an emergency!

Maybe, he would be mad at me for making so much noise, but I also had to reassure myself...

I NEEDED him!

Hesitantly, I started to call him, with a quivering voice:

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

My high-pitched voice reverberated through the trees and along the clearing, causing a spooky effect.

A couple of birds twittered angrily and fluttered away, looking for a quieter place.

Then, the forest fell silent again.

I listened carefully, hoping to hear Misha's voice answer my cry for help.

Alas, nobody answered my call, and the forest stayed silent.

Maybe, Misha was too far away to be able to hear me?

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

A huge swarm of angry birds flew up and disappeared; and several small animals scrabbled away from the loud noise.

Again, the forest fell silent after my reverberating echoes subsided...

Again, nobody answered my cry for help.

Obviously, Misha was NOT here!

What should I do now?

Then, I heard a faint echo, coming from behind, across the clearing...

Where did that faint echo come from?

Feeling a bit more hopeful, I went to the other side of the clearing...

Suddenly, I stared into an unknown, bottomless, and uninvitingly steep ravine!

Now, I started to panic.

I had followed that scared porcupine for more than an hour, zigzagging across a huge forest...

Therefore, there was only one frightening conclusion:

I was LOST.

Here I was, a naked five-year-old 'little runt',

totally alone, dead tired, not knowing what to do,

lost in a vast forest...

WHAT NOW?

I slumped down onto my boulder, and started to cry from panic and exhaustion.

Why hadn't Misha followed me and my fearful porcupine?

I thought I could trust my friend...

But, where was he now?

Would he already miss me?

Would he now go back to our camp, to alert our grownups?
Or, were my parents already looking for me?

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?

I started to sob loudly; while, at the same time, cursing myself for being so stupid.

How would I ever be able to ask anybody for help; while I was here all alone...

Nobody knew I was here; so this had to be the pitiful end of little Prince Harold!

Would dying from hunger and thirst be very painful?

Would my parents eventually find my bare bones?

I slumped down even more, and started to cry my heart out...

Suddenly, I sat upright, looked around, and stopped my sobbing!

I was sure I felt an unknown person around me, trying to get my attention!

Now, I got goose bumps all over my body, while I sensed some powerful energy surrounding me.

A warm voice sounded in my head, telling me loud and clear:

"Stop pitying yourself, and think as a trapper!"

The voice faded away, and the feeling disappeared, leaving me totally bewildered.

Who had been talking to me, all of a sudden, and out of the blue?

I looked around; but, of course, I didn't see anybody...

Yet, I was sure I had felt and heard a powerful aura around me, telling me to think as a trapper!

Were my Ancestors and Spirit Guides around me and helping me, as our Wise Woman once told me they would?

I knew they had promised me they would be there for me, if I ever needed them...

Suddenly, I started to feel a whole lot better, and even smiled!

Obviously, I was no longer alone...

I greeted my spirit friends in my mind; but they didn't answer.

I also didn't feel their powerful aura around me any more.

Yet, I was now sure that I would survive and return to my own people!

Vaguely, I remembered that I had an important task to fulfill on earth...

Thus, today was not my time to die.

I tried to 'think as a trapper', as my Spirit Friend had told me.

What would a real trapper do, if he would be lost in a huge forest?

Of course, he would try to discover where he was, or where his home was!

Now, it was clear to me that being a crybaby wouldn't help me in any way.

Soon, the forest would be too dark and cold; and I didn't have any shelter for the night.

Maybe, I could use my newly discovered abilities, by letting our camp or our waterfall pull at my energy?

I tried it out immediately, and started to think of our waterfall...

Alas, this didn't work, and I didn't feel anything at all.

Obviously, I had made myself way too nervous, to be able to pick up any faint energies.

I had to wait, until I calmed down considerably...

However, the sun had already started to descend towards the mountain tops!

Within a few hours, the forest would be pitch dark.

And, I wanted to be home before that time!

Okay, let's stop pitying myself, and try something else.

Whenever one of our people wanted any help while being in our surrounding forest, he always created a huge fire.

Next, he threw lots of moist leaves and humid moss onto it; thus creating a huge column of black smoke.

The moment anybody in our camp saw such a column of smoke, they immediately sent out a rescue team!

Last year, one of our older boys broke his leg while chasing a pig; and we rescued him within an hour.

However, how would I be able to create a fire?

Our men and older boys always carried at least a lighter or a box of matches, in case they ever needed it.

I knew that Misha had two lighters, a flashlight, and some 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 and catch it on fire.

Carelessly, I had relied totally on my friend and guide, Misha...

Creating a 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 and find our camp?

The mountains looked quite nearby; but climbing one of them would cost me at least a couple more hours...

Plus, my untrained legs were already trembling from exhaustion.

I would never reach any usable observation post before darkness set in...

What, if I tried to follow my own footsteps backwards, thus guiding myself to Misha and our camp?

Yes, of course!

Now, I had found an excellent solution!

As a trapper, I only had to follow my own trail backwards!

Why hadn't I thought of this before...

I jumped off my boulder; and trotted back to the spot where I had left the dense forest.

Soon, I found my footsteps, still faintly visible in the forest litter that covered the ground.

Enthusiastically, I entered the dense forest and started to follow my own trail...

Misha, I am coming!

Alas, this didn't work either.

Within a few minutes, I had to stop my efforts and go back.

My faint footsteps were already covered with too much new forest litter.

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

This time, I cursed myself for being TOO good!

Feeling very disappointed, I returned to the clearing and slumped down again.

I tried to ask my Ancestors or Spirit Guides for more help; but they didn't show up...

Weren't they really around me, and had I made up that warm voice myself?

I started to doubt...

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

What should I do now?

Sitting down and crying would not help me any further...

5. Finding a solution; a porcupine lair; and clambering on and on.

Soon, 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 from this experience...

After I came through unharmed, I would certainly be much stronger and a lot more proud of myself!

Having pepped myself up, I started to think again.

What would a 'real trapper' do now, if he was in my position?

Would he give up, or would he immediately start looking for another solution to find his way home?

I decided to have another look at the bottomless ravine across the clearing.

Maybe, 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 very deep, at least in my eyes.

A foaming water stream meandered along its bottom, coming from far away and disappearing into nowhere.

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

What would happen, if I yelled for help into this huge ravine?

Would the enclosing rocky borders amplify my voice, and send it towards our camp?

Suddenly feeling like a little discoverer, I decided to try it out.

First, I folded my hands around my mouth, to create a trumpet that would amplify my voice.

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!"

For a long time, lots of unintelligible echoes reverberated around the ravine, seemingly coming from everywhere.

A couple of beautifully colored birds flew up, and several small critters scrabbled away hastily.

For a moment, I thought about setting our traps here, the next time we went into our woods.

I was sure we would catch many more animals around here than we had caught ever before...

Or, would this splendid environment full of life be too far away from our camp?

Maybe, nobody else knew that this ravine existed...

In the meantime, I waited patiently; until, finally, all the echoing sounds had disappeared into a far off distance.

Now, the ravine was silent again, except for the softly murmuring water stream at its bottom.

I perked my ears up, and listened intently for any faint answer...

Alas, nobody answered my cry for help.

Obviously, this ravine was too far away from our camp to be heard.

How would my people ever be able to find me here, being lost at the border of some unknown ravine...

I almost started to pity myself again.

However, I immediately decided to be PROUD of myself, as my Dad always told me to be.

I was no longer a crybaby, but a real Gypsy Prince!

And, I had to behave myself accordingly!

Now that my people weren't able to find me, I had to find my people.

How was I going to do that?

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.

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

The SUN, our reliable source of light, coming up every day; and going under in between two mountain tops...

Maybe, the already setting sun could be of help, to show me the way to our camp?

I started to think, closing 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...

First, I tried to imagine I was in our own camp, looking at the setting sun.

Then, I reopened my eyes, and looked at the two well-known mountain tops where the sun always disappeared.

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 into the direction of our camp!

Finally, I had found a useful means of knowing where our camp was.

That is, supposed there would still be any sun to look at...

But, too soon, the sun would disappear behind the mountains, and I would lose the only beacon I had...

What now?

I didn't want to wait until the sun would reappear the next morning.

I wanted to go home NOW!

Would I be able to find some landmark, which let me follow the correct direction?

I looked along my nose...

To my utmost delight, I saw that my nose pointed parallel to the ravine!

Thus, I only had to follow this ravine, to arrive at our waterfall and go home!

I almost started to dance from sudden relief, but my cramping legs and sore feet immediately protested fiercely.

Obviously, I had to give them some more rest first...

I laid down on a flat mossy surface, and stretched my cramping muscles.

Fortunately, the pain started to diminish almost immediately, and the trembling subsided considerably.

For a moment, I closed my eyes, while trying to give my tired body some more rest...

I woke up, because the air around me started to feel too chilly.

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

Then, I bolted upright in panic, sternly admonishing myself for falling asleep!

Within an hour, the forest would be pitch dark; and I would probably freeze to death...

I had to go home immediately!

Fortunately, my strained muscles felt a lot better, and the pain in my feet was nearly gone.

Come on, let's follow this ravine, and go home!

Enthusiastically, I started to walk and clamber along the ravine, longing to be home.

However, going home turned out to be a lot more difficult than I had imagined.

I had to climb many huge rocks, jump across nasty cracks, and walk around several dense thorn bushes...

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

I only had to follow the water downstream, and I was reasonably sure it would end up in our waterfall.

If I only could climb down; and let myself float with the water...

From time to time, I yelled into the ravine, hoping that somebody would hear my cry for help...

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

Alas, nobody heard me and answered my loud calls for help.

Then, I clambered on, rounding the next thorn bush and jumping across the next nasty crack...

After almost an hour of climbing and jumping, my bare feet started to feel very sore from the many sharp rocks.

My poor legs started to tremble again from the heavy strain they weren't used to.

My small body started to feel more and more tired, and my little heart almost hammered out of my throat.

Ultimately, I was only five years old, and a bit too small for my age...

I HAD to get some rest, before I would be able to clamber the next rock!

Reluctantly, I decided to grant myself a few minutes, before I went on.

My people were waiting for me; and I was sure they missed me by now.

I certainly missed them!

I sat down next to a bush; and collected a couple of berries and seeds to still my hunger.

Fortunately, I knew which ones were edible, by feeling what they did to my body.

I found a little bit of water at the bottom of a pothole, and drank it using my hands, hoping it wouldn't contain too many impurities.

Then, I waited until my legs stopped trembling and my feet became a little bit less sore...

Way too fast, the remaining piece of sun disappeared behind the mountaintops.

Immediately, the ravine became very dark, so that I couldn't see the reassuring water stream any more.

The air around me became too chilly, and I 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 immediately.

Stubbornly, I jumped across the next crack and rounded the next thorn bush.

I wanted to be home, and sleep in my own bed!

However, after 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 cracks would be the same as committing suicide!

I couldn't possibly go on, unless I wanted to kill myself by breaking all my bones...

Reluctantly, I forced myself to stop at the border of the next nasty crack.

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

It was impossible to go on, until the sun reappeared again the next morning.

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

I started to look for a shelter to spend the night; feeling more and more desperate...

How could I build myself some tent, or dig some safe hole in the ground, without any tools?

Would I be able to build a cover out of a heap of fallen leaves?

I gathered some leaves from the forest, but they were too clammy to offer me any warmth at all...

What should I do now?

"Ancestors, or Spirit Guides, please, help me..."

Suddenly, I thought I saw something interesting, faintly shimmering at the far end of a small cave...

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

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

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

Then, I almost cheered 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 my much needed sleep!

"Thank you very much, my beloved Ancestors!"

For the first time in my young life, I was grateful for being such a small boy.

With ease, I wormed myself into the narrow cave, where I nestled into the warming fluff that nicely covered my naked body.

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

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

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

Suddenly, I woke up in shock and opened my eyes, looking around in disbelief.

A whole bunch of small critters were running across my naked body; curiously sniffing at my face...

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

Faintly, I could see many of them running around in the shimmering moonlight.

RATS!

I started to screech, and swung my arms and legs; trying to chase them out of my lair!

The rats stopped, stared at me with frightened eyes; and then they scrabbled away in a sudden hurry.

Obviously, they were even more shocked than I was!

My heart tried to pound out of my throat, while I gasped for air until my breath slowly returned...

Then, I started to laugh.

Everybody knew that rats weren't dangerous at all!

Some gadjo children even kept one as their personal pet, teaching it little tricks!

Although I wasn't very happy to have them around, I closed my eyes again and tried to get some more sleep.

A few minutes later, another animal warily sneaked into the small cave.

It sniffed the air, looked at me, and indecisively rustled its many quills...

I woke up again, now staring at two faintly glowing eyes that stared back at me in fear.

There was my porcupine!

Or, maybe, this was one of its prickly friends...

Well... tonight, this was MY lair, and its owner had to look for another shelter!

I yelled at the porcupine, clapped my hands, and told it to go away and leave me alone.

Immediately, the frightened beast turned around and hurriedly disappeared.

The coward!

Again, I closed my eyes and tried to get some more sleep.

However, after a moment, the rats returned, now warily staring at me.

This time, they behaved a lot better, because they kept a safe distance from my face.

I didn't care anymore; and, in some way, I even welcomed their company.

After a few minutes, they all nestled into the cozy fluff alongside my body.

Slowly, they crept nearer, obviously liking my body warmth.

Their company even gave me a reassuring feeling, as if now I was less alone...

A few minutes later, all of us were sleeping soundly, softly snoring while warming each other!

I woke up early in the morning, and needed some time to realize what had happened.

My body felt as stiff as a dead tree, and my skin was itching all over!

Then, I remembered where I was, and that I wanted to go home.

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

Groaning, I worked myself out of my cave and stretched my very stiff muscles.

I was delighted to see the warming sunlight, already shining over the mountaintops.

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

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

I looked at my itching body, and saw it was covered with many nasty fleabites.

Apparently, my porcupine was hosting a complete army of bugs as well!

Fortunately, they had stopped their biting after they discovered I wasn't an animal to their taste.

After some scratching, the itching disappeared, and the only things left were a lot of small red specks.

I started to laugh at myself, because my poor body now looked like having the measles...

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

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 poor evicted porcupine in my mind, for renting me such a nice shelter.

Feeling refreshed and full of energy, I restarted my journey along the ravine.

Again, I looked at the meandering water stream at its bottom, showing me the way towards our waterfall.

Again, I climbed huge rocks, jumped across nasty cracks, and walked around dense thorn bushes.

I was going home!

However, way too soon, my still swollen feet started to protest again.

My legs restarted their trembling, and my still strained muscles were again cramping.

Ultimately, I was only a five-and-a-half-year-old little boy...

I thought of my Dad, 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 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 guilty, for not following me 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, once I sneaked after that rustling porcupine?

However, I hadn't done it on purpose, and nobody could possibly blame 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.

I wanted to be home today, and cuddle my parents and Misha!

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

Groaning from the stinging pain in my swollen feet, I rounded the umpteenth thorn bush.

Suddenly, I thought I heard a faint yelling sound, coming from the ravine...

Immediately, I hobbled towards its border, bent over, and listened intently...

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

Yet, I could have sworn that I had heard a faint human voice, shouting my name from a far distance...

Were my people looking for me?

Had they tried to call me, and were they now 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 long time, lots of echoes from my high-pitched voice reverberated back and forth through the ravine.

A flock of beautifully colored birds flew up into the air, looking angrily at my ministrations.

Several small animals scrabbled away hastily, 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 close to the border to hear even better...

Alas. Again, nobody answered my cry for help.

Maybe, my wishful mind had played some dirty trick, by making me imagine the yelling voice?

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

Alas. Again, only my own echoes returned...

Now, I started to feel disappointed.

Maybe, my people already assumed that I was dead, and they didn't even bother looking for me...

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

Again, I went on and on, stubbornly clambering along the ravine and jumping difficult cracks.

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

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

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

But, I went on again, gritting my teeth, stubbornly walking home.

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

At the last moment, I grabbed a nearby thorn bush, without feeling its many 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.

Then, I looked at my bleeding hands, with many nasty thorns sticking out...

This time, I gave up!

I slumped down onto the ground, and started to wail from agony.

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

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

Where were all my friends, now that I needed them?

Still sobbing and sniffling, I pulled the many thorns out of my hands, using my teeth as Misha had taught me.

Next, I looked around for the foul-smelling healing plant, which would soothe my pain and prevent any inflammation.

I found one, squashed its leaves, and rubbed the stinking brownish sap into my wounds.

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

However, would I ever see Misha again?

Or, would Misha be too disappointed in me, and no longer want to be my friend?

Again, I started to sob.

I MISSED my trapper friend!

And, I missed my Mom and Dad, Michail, our camp, and little Dimi...

Would they all miss me too?

Suddenly, I jumped up and raced towards the ravine at lightning speed, forgetting the searing pain in my feet.

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

My people WERE looking for me!

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

"I AM HERE! I AM HERE!"

For a long time, the high-pitched sound of my yelling voice echoed back and forth.

Impatiently, I waited until the silence returned...

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

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

I started to cry again, when I recognized the voice of my Dad.

However, this time, my tears were tears of pure joy!

My Dad had found me!

Now, everything would be all right, and all my worries vanished.

My Dad would take me home!

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

"I AM HERE, DAD, NEAR A RAVINE. PLEASE, TAKE ME HOME..."

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

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

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

I slumped down on top of a 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 on his way to rescue me!

I cried and cried; until I started to feel a lot better.

Now, I dried my eyes with a tuft of moss; but 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!

I could be very proud of myself!

Sitting on my boulder, I started to knead my cramped muscles and swollen feet.

That was very painful, but I knew it was necessary to make the blood start flowing again.

Slowly, the trembling in my legs diminished, and the bluish color relaxed somewhat.

Only my feet stayed very swollen and painful.

From time to time, 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 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 boulder, to gather some more pebbles...

A crow landed onto a nearby rock, and stared at me for a long time.

It kept its head askew, as if it thought: 'little boy, what are you doing here?'

The moment I started to shout again, it 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 a bit more accurate...

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

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

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

"Now, 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 words, I suddenly realized something important.

My Dad had said: 'WE are on our way'; thus telling me he was not alone!

Who was accompanying him, in his search for me?

Would Misha be at his side?

This time, I felt a pang of fear, shuddering at the disturbing thought that crossed my mind.

Would my Dad be mad at me, for leaving Misha and sneaking away without my 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 didn't want to miss them...

Would Misha 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 campfire!

However, this time, I started to laugh at my own silly anger.

How would I ever catch it...

I resumed my play; and gathered a couple more pebbles.

Feeling bored, I threw a too small pebble high into the air; nearly hitting my crow, or one of its friends...

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

"Harry, where are you?"

YESSS! There he was, and I answered immediately:

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

A few branches cracked, and two smiling men appeared from the dense forest.

They squinted in the sudden sunlight, and looked around to find me...

Then, they trotted towards me, with happy faces.

I jumped up and threw myself at them, shouting a loud Indian howl:

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

"Boy, you had us really worried! But, you will NEVER be a nuisance! Now, come here, and let me hug you."

My Dad almost squashed me, while he threw his strong arms around my 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 started to sob again, feeling overwhelmed by all my emotions.
Then, I laughed and cried at the same time, while my sobs tried to make me hiccup.

My ordeal was over!

My Dad took me onto his safe lap; and I 'octopussed' myself against his huge chest.

He folded his strong arms around me, and that was the most wonderful emotion I had ever felt!

I was safe again!

After a moment, I put my sore feet into Michail's lap, wanting to have some bodily contact with my Big Friend as well.

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

He spat into his hands; and tenderly started to massage my sore muscles.

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

My dad had tears in his eyes, while he went on cradling me and kissing my head.

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

He wasn't mad at all, and just accepted what had happened...

Then, he looked into my eyes and asked me:

"Boy, am I happy to have you on my lap healthy and unharmed! Never before have I been so worried and frightened...

"I was afraid you had fallen into a ravine and broken all your limbs... But, how did you lose Misha and get lost?"

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 saw that I had been following a 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 you fell into a ravine, and that everything is his fault."

"It was NOT Misha's fault! Everything is the fault of that porcupine! I wish I could kill it and slowly roast it over our campfire!"

Both my Dad and Michail started to laugh at my indignant face and blazing eyes...

Then, my Dad rose from our boulder, and carefully 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.

Walking together, we went home.

Fortunately, my Dad knew the way back to our camp...

An hour later, we entered our camp, and my Dad took me straight to our Royal bench.

Carefully, he sat me down onto a soft pillow one of the onlookers offered us.

Everybody started to cheer and dance, when they had me back in reasonable health!

Obviously, they had been very worried about me.

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

"Did you really fall into a ravine? Where is your broken leg?"

Then, he saw my bluish legs and swollen feet, and almost fainted...

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, lifted me from our bench, and took me into her arms.

She started to sob and tried to squash my sore ribs, but I didn't object at all.

I was home again!

Now, I had only one burning question:

"Where is my friend Misha?"

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

A moment later, a pale looking boy appeared, hesitating, and looking at his feet.

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

"I am so sorry... Everything is my fault, and 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 friend back to life.

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

Then, I punched his arm and told him:

"Misha, shut up! Don't try to get so much 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, of course, if you still want to be my friend, after I was so stupid to follow that beast instead of you."

At first, Misha stared into my eyes, with a shocked face.

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

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

For a moment, he didn't know how to react...

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 friend back!

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

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 muscles recuperate from the excessive strain.

I had to swallow her foul tasting tea, and burped with a sour face.

Finally, she looked at me with her piercing eyes and told me:

"My little shaman, you have strained your young 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 properly 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 been 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!

I wasn't exactly pleased to be grounded for three days...

However, I knew I had to listen to our Wise Woman, because it was for my own well-being!

Now, of course, everybody wanted to know how I got lost in our dense forest, despite Misha's well-known skills as a very experienced trapper...

I cleared my throat, and started to tell my people what happened when I followed a frightened porcupine, thinking I sneaked after Misha.

They nodded understandingly, when I told them how I tried to think as a trapper, and finally followed the ravine downstream towards our waterfall.

They started to laugh, when I told them how I slept in an empty porcupine lair, accompanied by a bunch of snoring rats and an army of biting bugs.

They shuddered, after I told them how I nearly fell into a nasty crack, and rescued myself by grabbing a branch full of stinging thorns.

Finally, they looked happy, when I told them how my Dad and Michail showed up and took me home.

Then, after a short pause, Misha started to tell us his part of the story.

He explained how we decided to train our trapper skills, by silently sneaking after each other.

While he sneaked away, he stumbled into a hidden pothole, uttered a 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 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 and make me give up!

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...

After another pause; my Big Friend, Michail, took over, and told me how the whole camp had been searching for me.

Immediately after Misha asked for help, all our men hurriedly followed him into the dense forest, to find me!

They looked everywhere, shouting my name again and again, until darkness set in and they had to give up their search.

The whole camp was devastated, and they all prayed to our Supreme Being and Ancestors to be with me and bring me home safely...

Early in the morning, they resumed their search, spreading out into all directions and looking into every ravine and hidden crack.

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

My Dad had listened to our stories; and, now, he beckoned Misha to join us:

"Misha, please, come here, and sit down next to me."

Misha suddenly looked frightened, swallowed, and started to tremble all over.

Clearly, he expected our King to punish him, for leaving his son alone in the dense forest.

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

However, I was already preparing 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 he wanted to punish anybody, he had to punish ME!

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

He threw an arm around my waist, and tenderly kissed the top of my head.

Now, I understood that he was NOT mad at Misha, but only wanted to talk to my friend...

I felt quite a lot better, and crawled onto his lap with a sigh of relief.

Again, my Dad motioned Misha to sit down next to him.

Slowly and hesitantly, Misha approached us, and sat down next to my Dad and me.

Obviously, he still didn't know what to think of it...

My Dad started to laugh again, and playfully ruffled Misha's hair.

He put an arm around Misha's waist, and pulled him close.

Then, he told him:

"Misha, I want you to teach my son how to orientate himself in our woods."

Misha opened his mouth, gasped for air, and closed his mouth again.

Then, he jumped up from our couch, 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!

He shook his head in disbelief; while he stuttered:

"But... but I've LOST him! I am not good enough to teach him anything..."

Hesitantly, he sat down again, keeping some distance, and staring at his feet...

Again, my Dad started to laugh, while he put an arm around Misha and pulled him close.

Suddenly, Misha started to cry and buried his head into my Dad's side!

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 Mom offered Misha a packet of tissues; while little Dimi stared at him and asked me:

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

"I am sure Misha is VERY happy, and he only cries from happiness and relief! Can you understand that?"

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

Then, his face brightened, his eyes sparkled again, and he started to smile.

Looking very wise for his age, he told me:

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

A few kids started to laugh; but they also explained the mispronounced word to Dimi.

Clearly, they all liked him very much, and wanted to help him whenever they could.

Dimi thanked them politely for their explanation, and sat down next to Misha.

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

He still looked a bit bashful, but my Dad put an arm around him and pulled him close again.

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

"Misha, I ask you to teach my son how to orientate himself, because I know you are an excellent trapper with a lot of special skills.

"I also know I can trust you; and I am convinced that you ARE good enough to teach Harry everything he needs to know!

"Only, I am not ordering you. I am only asking you a favor. Please?"

Misha looked up at my smiling Dad, while the light returned in his still wet eyes.

Slowly, 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!

I nodded vigorously, while I told him:

"Please, Misha? I want you to be my teacher; and I am sure you can teach me quite a lot more special skills! Please..."

Finally, but still a bit hesitantly, Misha nodded his consent.

I hobbled off my Dad's lap, and enthusiastically threw my arms around my friend's neck.

Yesss! Misha really wanted to be my teacher!

Our intently listening friends around us started to applaud, when Misha decided to teach me.

Then, they all congratulated him with his new job as my private teacher!

They patted his shoulders, and told him they were sure he would be an excellent coach.

Misha still looked a bit confused, as if he first had to digest some more of what happened.

After a moment, he dived from under my Dad's arm, and stared at our faintly glowing campfire...

For a moment, he closed his eyes, as if he wanted to disappear from all his confounding feelings...

Until little Dimi pulled at his arm, and pleaded with his best puppy-dog eyes:

"Misha? Please, can you 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."

Suddenly, Misha started to laugh, while he promised little Dimi:

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

"Huh? I thought the right word was 'oriEntate'?"

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

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

"Misha? I only 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 bellowed with laughter, slapping their knees, and making our caravan windows rumble.

This time, little Dimi started to hiccup from the fun, until he almost couldn't stop.

His Mom had to take him to their caravan, to drink some water and calm down...

Now, Misha turned towards me, while he asked:

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

"Well... I would like that very much, but our Wise Woman grounded me for the next three days..."

"Excellent. Now, I can teach you a few important things in advance, before we practice them in our woods!"

"Okay. Then, I will be here tomorrow morning, to have my first lesson."

"Don't be here too early, because I need my beauty sleep first..."

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

"WHAT?"

Misha looked at me indignantly, as if I had told him a very bad joke.

Then, he started to tickle my ribs; but I dived from under his hands and slid down onto the ground...

OUCH! That hurt!

In my sudden hurry to escape from Misha's wrath, I totally forgot to reckon with my swollen feet!

Sitting on the ground, I gritted my teeth, waiting until the stinging pain slowly subsided...

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.

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

Finally, he took me into his arms, and lifted me back onto our bench.

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

That helped; and, soon, the pain subsided and 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 feet recovered from the excessive strain.

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

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

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

Teasingly, I told him:

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

Misha just chuckled, while he supported me near 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.

Little Dimi was glued to my side, asking me his zillions of questions as usual.

Patiently, I tried to answer them all, unless I really didn't know the answer.

Then, Misha took over and explained everything, until both Dimi and I were satisfied with his answers.

If not, we just asked him our next important question...

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

Dimi tried to protest fiercely, but to no avail...

She just took him under her arm, and carried her struggling son home!

Just before they disappeared inside, Dimi shouted:

"I will be back tomorrow!"

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

Next, I asked Misha to help me to my own caravan.

I started to feel really tired, and wanted to go to bed early as well.

Maybe, the next day, after having a lot of sleep, I would feel a bit 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'.

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

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

Suddenly, our Wise Woman showed up in our caravan, and came straight up to me...

She wanted to smear my legs and feet again with her stinking pastes, to help them recuperate a bit faster!

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

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

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

The next morning, I woke up early, 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 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, but he threw his strong 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 sits on our bench, waiting for you to show up."

I opened my eyes in sudden shock, and squinted at my Mom's 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?

I jumped out of my parent's bed in a sudden hurry...

Then, I groaned at the stabs of pain that went through my sore feet.

OUCH! That still hurt!

Obviously, I still had to be very careful, until my feet would heal sufficiently...

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

A couple of grownups had already gathered around our campfire; planning to visit a nearby gadjo town, to try to find some work.

Our regular group of older kids waited for the last lazy slackers, as usual, to enter our woods and look at their traps.

Of course, our 'diaper kids' were already playing their usual game of hide and seek around our caravans.

This time, little Dimi was the seeker, proudly counting to twenty before he opened his eyes.

Then, he saw me looking at him, and waved at me before he found the first kid.

Misha sat on our Royal wooden bench, staring at our campfire while silently 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, and hurried to our kitchen:

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

"Yes, I've told you... Now, don't be impatient and eat your breakfast. I'm sure Misha will not go anywhere without you."

I wolfed my healthy breakfast down in record time, and 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 like a torch when I finally showed up.

He took my soft pillow and laid it down next to him, for me to sit on.

Trying to walk carefully, I limped towards my friend, and sat down on the pillow 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 my health!

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

"Sorry, for making you wait, this first morning! My parents didn't wake me up in time..."

"Yes, I know. Your Mom told me she would let you have some more sleep, after everything you went through."

For a moment, I felt angry at my Mom, who didn't wake me up in time.

Women... They will never understand us men!

Why didn't she just wake me, and ASK me what I wanted...

Then, it could have been my own decision.

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

"Did you enjoy your beauty sleep?"

"Oh yes, I certainly did! 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 and sore feet, but I was NOT a cripple!

Chuckling, I threw my arms around his neck, and threatened to strangle him...

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

Now, Misha told me to be serious, and listen to his first lesson:

"Sit still, and let's have a look at what I want to teach you today..."

I nodded, sat still, and held my breath in anticipation; while Misha went on:

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

"Well... It looks like a very bright lamp; but I don't understand how it lights while Pietro hasn't attached it to his batteries."

Misha started to chuckle, while he answered:

"Then, Pietro would 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. When you blow onto a cinder, it glows more and more, until it finally radiates a bright yellow light."

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

"Well... that's a question I never thought of. I don't know... maybe our Supreme Being?"

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

Okay, some things in our existence 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!

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

Immediately, I looked intently at what he was doing.

Obviously, he had already planned his first lesson in advance, while he waited for me.

Fortunately, my teacher had some really interesting stuff to tell!

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

"Now, I want you to imagine that this tennis ball is our sun, floating around in our universe, glowing and radiating its bright yellow light.

"And, imagine that this small pebble is our earth, in reality looking like a huge boulder full of moss, trees, mountains, ravines, and nasty potholes.

"Our earth turns around slowly; so that, every time, another part of its surface is illuminated by the glowing sun.

"At the same time, the earth moves around the sun in a wide circle; but even slower and at some angle. Can you follow me so far?"

I looked up at my teacher, indignantly, sending him a death look.

Who did he think I was? Some stupid duffer?

Of course, I understood everything that he told me!

But, I already had a very important question for him:

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

"Of course, 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 some little flea, sitting on the turning pebble, would see our sun disappear and show up again, day after day.

Everything started to make sense; 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!"

Misha chuckled at the rather absurd idea.

Then, he made me remember how we sometimes attached a small 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?"

"The rope is an invisible one, called 'gravity'. Gravity also pulls everything towards our earth; that's why all things always fall down."

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

It sounded like fun...

But:

"What happens if the rope breaks? Then, the earth will fly far away, just like our swinging pebbles do all the time..."

"Well... I think our Supreme Being will catch the earth in time, and immediately 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's way too busy governing everything."

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

"I think that is the same thing; but let's now 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 the things I never thought of!"

"Sorry for that. Even my Dad always complains about my zillions of questions. He calls me a 'walking question mark'...

"By the way, do you know how much a zillion is? Nobody ever told me..."

Misha started to chuckle, but he 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..."

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 drink some water in his caravan.

Of course, I immediately invited him to my own caravan, to drink some fresh orange juice!

I told him I was thirsty too, from asking all my questions...

Walking together, we went to my caravan, while I slowly hobbled next to Misha.

To my surprise, 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 couple of oranges from our stock; and prepared two helpings of fresh orange juice.

Next, I added a few carefully chosen herbs to our juice, to refine its taste.

Misha sipped his glass, 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 always calls it my 'gift'."

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

"Well, 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 getting lost!

"I also want to know a lot more about the earth circling around the sun in one year. Why is there summer and winter, every year?"

"Well, actually, this is very simple. Just remember what I told you, about the earth circling around the sun at some angle..."

Misha explained how a little ant, sitting on the boulder, saw the heat-radiating sun moving from north to south and back during the four seasons.

I felt very excited, now that I finally understood why our earth became 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.

When would I finally be able to visit all these extremely interesting parts of our earth, sigh...

We rinsed our empty glasses in the 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 turning pebble, saw 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 sun to roughly orientate yourself."

"Yes, I see; but does our earth always turn in the same direction? Or, does it change directions from time to time?"

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

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

"As far as I know, our Supreme Being never did such a strange thing."

"It would be very strange to see everybody growing younger, instead of older..."

"Now, stop joking around, and try to follow this important lesson! You need it, to understand my next couple of lessons."

"Yes teacher. Sorry teacher, for bothering you. I will try to behave from now on."

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...

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

After we stopped our joyful bantering, and I sat still again, Misha resumed my lessons.

This time, he had me have a close look at our clearly visible shadows on the ground, caused by the sunlight.

Of course, I started to play with mine, creating some funny pictures with my arms and hands...

After I stopped and returned to my lessons, Misha asked:

"Now, keep in mind how our earth turns around, making the glowing sun seemingly move from east to west...

"Knowing this, can you predict how your shadow moves around and changes its 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 smiled, nodded approvingly, and told me I was a very clever thinker.

Not many boys my age would be able to understand how our shadows were moving, let alone knowing how to use this knowledge practically.

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

"How can I know where north is when it's dark, or cloudy, or when I am in a dense forest and cannot see the sun?"

"Little man, again, you are a very clever thinker! Fortunately, I also plan to teach you many other ways of orientating."

Misha told me I should always look out for several orientation points, as soon as I planned to enter our woods.

That way, I could always try to orientate on our mountain tops, ravines, waterfalls, trees, and different kinds of vegetation.

He also told me to listen to the sound of the wind over the treetops, which always blew from the same direction.

Of course, now, I had two more questions for him:

"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 sound drowns out all the other sounds?"

"You really are an excellent thinker! Fortunately, you can also look at several other things that help you orientate.

"For example, tree branches tend to grow towards the sunlight; so there's a difference between the northerly and the southerly branches.

"The same thing applies to moss; which always tends to grow more onto the north sides of trees and moist boulders.

"Many plants always point their flowers towards the sun, even when it's too dark or the sun isn't visible at all.

"And, last but not least, some people can train themselves to feel the energies in our woods, and orientate on them."

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

Feeling the energies around us... wasn't that exactly what I always tried to do, when I copied Misha in our woods?

Every time I did it, my still very faint sensing became a bit more evident, as if it intensified by just trying to use it...

But, was there only one kind of energy, or would I have to deal with many different varieties?

Now, my teaching was becoming really interesting!

I sat more upright, and asked Misha my burning question:

"Misha, is there only one kind of energy? Mostly, 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; but, at other times, they seem to have vanished..."

"See? I KNEW you would be one of us! When I was little, I always felt many energies around me too, but I didn't know what to do with them either.

"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 the energies; and what exactly are you feeling?"

Feeling elated, I started to tell Misha everything that I remembered about the first years of my life.

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 all the different energies around the people I loved; and, soon, I recognized them by their specific auras.

Now and then, I knew in advance what they were going to say, by entering their minds and 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.

I had been able to follow Jonno's energy in our camp, but I 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 ones.

What was I doing wrong?

All the time, Misha had listened intensely, open-mouthed, holding his breath...

Maybe, my teacher didn't expect me to have so many problems with sensing all the different energies?

Would he now think I wasn't good enough, yet, to be able to learn anything important?

Or, would he send me back to my caravan, and tell me to develop my sensitivity some more first?

Ultimately, I was the smallest child in our kids group, and the youngest...

I fell silent, slumped down onto my soft pillow, and stared at my still slightly swollen feet...

Suddenly, Misha exhaled, followed by heaving a couple of deep sighs.

I looked up at him, and saw that he stared at me with almost reverence in his eyes...

Why did he look at me so funny?

After another deep sigh, Misha told me, with a trembling voice:

"My dear friend, I didn't realize you would be this far in your development... I think you are, at the least, an upcoming shaman!

"Soon, you will be our new Wise Boy, working next to our Wise Woman... and, I really don't know why your Dad chose ME to be your teacher.

"I don't know anything about most of the energies you told me about; because I can feel only a few easy things around our woods...

"Now, I fear I can only teach you what I know; and that isn't very much, compared 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 he now stop being my teacher?

But... I didn't WANT to be an 'upcoming shaman', or to have 'amazing capabilities'.

I also didn't want to be 'our new Wise Boy', thank you very much!

I only wanted to be just like every other five-year-old little boy...

Why couldn't I be some duffer, instead of such a super-intelligent 'brainiac'?

Suddenly feeling disappointed, I rose from our wooden bench, and turned around.

Feeling angry with Misha, and with myself, I didn't want to go on with my lessons...

Hobbling on my still sore feet, I sauntered to my own caravan, without saying a word.

I wanted to be alone, sit down, and think everything over first...

At the same time, I had some weird feeling, as if Misha betrayed my trust.

I also had another strange feeling, as if life itself was betraying me!

All my former enthusiasm was gone, and I wanted to just sit down and be left alone.

Misha begged me to come back; but I didn't listen to his pleading, and slowly entered my caravan without looking back...

I hobbled to the living room and slumped down onto our couch, waiting until my parents returned home.

Outside, I saw Misha, sauntering towards his own caravan, with a sad face...

Would he now be mad at me?

After some time, my parents entered our caravan; and I crawled onto my Dad's lap without saying a word.

My worried Mom asked me what had happened, but I told her that my lessons had stopped a bit early.

I was only tired, and wanted to have some rest...

To prove that everything was normal, I followed her to our kitchen.

Absentmindedly, I helped my Mom prepare our dinner, mixing my herbs into our food on autopilot.

I helped her carry the platters towards our living room and set the table.

Then, I sat down next to my Dad, and scooped up some food.

However, I only picked at our tasty dinner, staring into empty space...

My worried Mom thought I could be ill, as a backlash from my nasty experiences in our dense forest.

She 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 wanted to think about what Misha told me during my interesting lessons...

Although I sensed that my Mom didn't really believe me; she stopped her fussing.

She felt my forehead, but didn't detect any fever or excessive sweat.

After a short time, I wanted to go to bed, because I started to feel extremely tired.

My helpful Dad put me under the shower, washed me, and dried me.

Then, he carried me to my bed and tucked me in.

Within two minutes, I tumbled into a deep sleep!

Soon, I dreamed about our Supreme Being, turning our earth around and around.

All the time, He grinned, teasingly thinking about reversing the turning, to have some more fun...

I became very angry at Him; and told Him to leave me alone, and that He now betrayed our trust!

However, He told me I was a Powerful Shaman and a Very Wise Boy; and dared me to stop Him...

Feeling even angrier at Him, I started to fill His mind with dancing devils, making him dizzy.

Now, our earth started to sway from left to right and back to the left...

In the middle of the night, I woke up, feeling very sweaty and dizzy.

Swaying on my feet, I stumbled out of my bed, to have a leak and drink some water.

Then, I staggered to my parents, and worked myself in between them to feel safe again.

Fortunately, that helped; and, after a few minutes, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to the bright sunlight that tickled my eyes.

Much to my delight, I detected that I felt quite a lot better!

My tiredness was gone, and my stiffness had diminished considerably.

Vaguely, I remembered some beautiful dream about a powerful Ancestor, healing me and filling me with new energy...

He also told me that I needed my experience, to grow stronger and have more confidence in my own abilities...

But, of course, that had only been some strange dream.

I jumped out of my parent's bed, and found out that my legs and feet were almost healed!

Had my Ancestor really filled me with new energy, during my dream?

"Thank you very much for helping me, my powerful Friend!"

Almost dancing from happiness, I went to our living room and looked outside.

Misha sat on our wooden bench, staring at our campfire with a sad face...

Of course, he 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 a good mood again!

My parents had already left our caravan, so I prepared myself a nice and healthy breakfast and drank a glass of milk.

Then, I left our caravan and trotted to our wooden bench, planning to apologize to Misha.

However, before I reached our bench, our Wise Woman beckoned me over to her caravan!

What did she want from me?

Had I done anything wrong?

Hesitantly, I followed our Wise Woman into her caravan...

Inside her caravan, she smiled at me, ruffled my hair, and asked:

"My little shaman, how do you feel today?"

"Well... I think that something very strange happened to me! Yesterday, I suddenly felt sad and betrayed, without any explanation.

"Last night, I had some weird nightmare, about our Supreme Being challenging me to stop Him from reversing the earth...

"But, this morning, I woke up feeling quite a lot better! My feet and legs seem to be healed overnight, and I can now walk on them without any pain."

The Wise Woman smiled at me, and explained:

"This morning, your Mom asked me to have a look at you; because she felt a bit worried about your strange behavior.

"She told me about your sadness and tiredness, and thought you might have some backlash from all your nasty experiences.

"I told her not to worry, and that I would have a look at you and talk to you, after you woke up and had some breakfast.

"After your Mom left, I contacted our Ancestors. They told me not to worry, and that one of them already healed you during your sleep!

"Your body has endured a bit too much stress; and your psyche showed a sudden reaction to your fears after you got lost in our dense forest.

"However, you also needed this important experience, to grow stronger and have some more confidence in your own abilities...

"Please, today, still take it easy with your legs and feet; but, tomorrow, you are allowed to enter our woods again!

"Now, go back to your impatiently waiting friend, and have fun with your lessons."

The Wise Woman hugged me, 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.

I told him 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 told me, and that I was allowed to enter our woods again tomorrow.

Misha told me about his own doubts, when he suddenly found out that I could be an upcoming shaman.

He didn't understand why I suddenly left him; but decided not to worry about it, and return the next day as if nothing had happened.

In unison, we decided that Misha would forget everything I had told him about feeling all these energies.

From now on, he would continue to do as he always did; seeing me only as his a bit too intelligent little friend.

He was an excellent trapper, and I was an upcoming shaman; and we both had our own unique and useful abilities!

Misha would go on training me to be a better trapper; and, soon, I would try to help him develop some extra 'special gifts'...

After we went to my caravan and drank some tasty orange juice, Misha continued his lessons.

He squatted down onto the ground, took a branch, and drew a picture in the sand.

Now, he showed me how 'perspective' and 'point of view' always moved the nearby and further away things differently.

This could be very useful, when looking at our nearby and far away mountain tops...

Suddenly, a completely new world opened up to me, and I was fascinated and felt elated!

I didn't know anything about geometry; but this was my first lesson in it, and I was very enthusiastic.

Immediately, I wanted to know a lot more about this very useful phenomenon:

"What about the stars at night? Are there nearby and far away stars too, to help you orientate when it's dark?"

"Well, I suppose the stars over our heads are too far away to show us any visible point of view shifting.

"But, they are certainly able to tell you where the North Pole is! In fact, that is very easy. Here, look at this drawing."

Misha drew another picture in the sand, trying to depict a part of the sky at night.

He drew several stars, and told me that many different groups of stars each had their own names, called 'constellations'.

Now, he told me how I could recognize the Polestar:

"This is the North Star, which always is in its same place all over the world. Point towards that star, and you know where North is."

After I nodded, Misha drew another picture of our sky at night, this time seen from a different position.

Although the picture differed quite a lot from the first one, I immediately found the North Star, and proudly pointed to it!

Now, Misha started to repeat many things he had told me; and he asked me several questions about them, as an exam.

Every time, I knew the correct answer; but his questioning also helped me remember all the different things even better.

My friend really was a very good teacher!

Finally, he told me to go to bed early, to be ready for my first field lesson the next morning...

That night, I woke up, and silently crawled out of my bed.

I sneaked outside our caravan, and stared in rapt at all the blinking stars over my head...

The sheer beauty of our enormous Milky Way overwhelmed me; and I felt very small and vulnerable.

This night, I really felt like a tiny ant, sitting on an enormous bolder full of mountains, woods, and caravans around a faintly glowing campfire...
But, I knew now where North was, as I easily recognized the Polestar!

At last, sleep started to overpower me, and I went back inside.

Silently, I crawled in between my snoring parents, to feel safe and let them warm my shivering body.

My Dad woke up, and mumbled something about my being very cold...

However, I was already asleep, and didn't hear the rest of his muttering.

Soon, I started to dream about our universe with all 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...

Suddenly, He grinned at me, and told me to pay close attention to Misha's lessons!

I would need them, to use them during the rest of my very long and interesting life...

10. Orientating points; a dowsing rod; again my elusive porcupine.

The next day, my grounding was over; and I felt happy to be allowed to enter our woods again!

Early in the morning, I prepared myself a healthy breakfast, and wolfed it down in a hurry.

Then, I went outside, enjoying the already abundantly shining morning sun on my naked body.

Just like most other kids, I already started to get a really nice tan!

I sat down on our own Royal wooden bench, impatiently waiting for Misha to show up.

Come on, lazy slacker, your pupil is waiting...

A moment later, 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 me, and he trotted towards my wooden bench and sat down next to me.

Teasingly tickling my ribs and ruffling my uncombed hair, he asked me:

"This morning, you really are an early bird! Shall we go to our woods immediately, so that I can teach you my first field lesson?"

I nodded enthusiastically, and stood up to follow Misha into our woods.

Walking together, and 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 powerful Ancestor had done an excellent job, by healing me during my sleep!

From the very first moment after we entered our woods, Misha started to train all my abilities.

Time and again, he asked me to recognize all the different orientation points he had told me about.

First, he took me along another winding path, towards a small overgrown clearing I had never been to before.

Here, Misha halted, while he asked me:

"Can you still tell me from where the sun shines, now that we can't see it through the dense foliage?"

Fortunately, I had an excellent memory, and I told my teacher with a proud voice:

"When we left our camp, the sun shone at our backs, slightly to the left. We entered this path, but it finally steered us only slightly to the right.

"So, I am sure that the sun now shines exactly at our backs, and our shadows are in front of us."

Misha beamed, and enthusiastically ruffled my hair again:

"Excellent! Now, can you tell me from where the wind blew when we left our camp, and from where it blows now?"

Of course, I knew both answers; and Misha told me he was very enthusiastic about his outstanding pupil.

He left the small clearing; and took me through the dense undergrowth, in the meantime asking me many more questions...

Had I spotted that small water stream, hidden under the dense overgrowth?

Did I hear the little waterfall over there, although we couldn't see it?

Had I noticed the subtle change in our surrounding vegetation?

Again, Misha stopped, in another overgrown clearing, while he asked me:

"Now, can you tell me in which direction our camp is?"

This time, being someplace in the middle of nowhere, orientating turned out to be a lot more difficult!

I tried to depict the surroundings in my mind, trying to remember where we had been and what I had seen and heard...

However, we had made too many turns, and I couldn't orientate myself any more.

After a moment of feeling disappointed, I told Misha:

"I am relatively sure I can 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 through this too thick foliage."

Misha smiled at me and ruffled my hair, while he told me:

"I thought so, and that is exactly why I brought you here. Now, please, try to remember all the other means of orientating I taught you..."

Yes, of course! Why hadn't I thought of that before...

Now, I had to look for the 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 thought North would be...

Misha nodded; and I walked around until I found a couple of moist boulders.

I looked at their moss patterns, and saw that the moss clearly thickened towards the North!

Then, I saw a plant with flowers; and all the flowers were looking into the same direction.

I knew they 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!

Since I knew from which direction I had left our camp, I would always roughly know how to get back home!

I put my arms around my friend and teacher, and thanked him abundantly for his valuable lessons.

Misha smiled at me with a proud face, while he went on:

"You have been an extremely fast pupil, and I am very proud of you. I even think we are now ready to 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 forests."

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...

However, to my surprise, Misha only told me to get a small forked twig from some shrub.

What the heck did I need some forked twig for?

I thought that Misha would teach me how to sense and use the energies around us?

Misha smiled at my impatient face, while he showed me how I had to take the small forked twig into both hands.

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, any tiniest movement of my muscles would be clearly visible, by moving the tip of my forked twig up or down...

Soon, I got the hang of it; and I was able to let my fork tip move up and down, by tensing my arm muscles only a tiny bit.

Misha nodded approvingly, while he explained what he wanted me to do:

"This forked twig is called a 'dowsing rod'; and many native inhabitants all over the world have been using such a device during many thousands of years.

"The fork amplifies every involuntary arm movement; so that you can see even the tiniest change in your muscle tension, by looking at its moving tip."

Misha waited patiently until I had tried out the amplifying tip some more; and now he asked:

"Please, think of something which is true, and look at what your dowsing rod does while you don't move your arms at all..."

In fascination, I looked at the small forked twig in my hands.

Its slightly trembling tip really listened to even the tiniest movement of my arms and wrists!

I just had to strain the fork with my arm muscles, so that the tip of my 'dowsing rod' was on the verge of turning over.

Now, let's try out what my teacher had asked me to do...

Misha had asked me to think of something that was true; and I thought about telling him we were good friends...

Much to my own surprise, the tip of my dowsing rod immediately moved up; while I was 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, pointing forward.

Would this useful phenomenon work too, if I thought about something that was untrue?

To try it out, I thought about telling Misha that I was more than ten years old...

Immediately, the tip of my dowsing rod slumped down, sadly pointing towards the ground!

This was almost eerie...

Misha started to laugh at my surprised face, while he told me:

"See? It always works, every time you think about something. When it's true, your Inner Power grows a little bit, and the rod moves up.

"If it is untrue, you are losing power, and the rod moves down. Therefore, 'positive thinking' is good for you, while 'negative thinking' makes you ill!

"Everybody knows this; but only a few people know how to use this 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."

Misha waited patiently, until I had digested his information and nodded my consent.

I never thought that 'talking to your Inner Self' or 'listening to your own heart' could be this simple!

You only had to take a forked twig, strain it, 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 many other thoughts!

After Misha saw that I was ready for the 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 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, after my friends and I told each other about our past lives, the older kids had explained a few things about the other countries.

Now, I knew what a 'desert' was, an 'African', and an 'igloo'; although I had never left our secluded camp.

However, I already had another very 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 thought, while he told me:

"I think a pigeon doesn't need a dowsing rod, or any other appliance, because it always uses its 'inner awareness' to feel where it has to go.

"In the meantime, for us humans, until we are trained to listen to our own hearts, a dowsing rod can be a very helpful instrument."

Silently, I thought this new information over.

At the same time, I continued to strain my dowsing rod, trying to keep its tip in its equilibrium, pointing forward.

To my delight, every time when I thought of something, the slightly trembling tip moved up or down a little bit!

It was as if my dowsing rod followed all my thoughts, and reacted on them...

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 confirmed my thoughts.

Would my unconscious mind also know where, for example, our waterfall was?

Immediately, the tip of my dowsing rod moved up quite a lot!

Obviously, its enthusiastic answer was 'yes'...

But, how would this forked twig 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' all the time?"

"Boy; you really want to storm towards your next lesson immediately? Well, okay, I think you are receptive enough to give it a try...

"Please, this time, let your strained dowsing rod point down. Now, turn around slowly, while you concentrate on our waterfall..."

Feeling very curious about what would happen, I strained my forked twig, this time letting its tip point towards my feet.

I thought of walking towards our waterfall; but, to my disappointment, nothing happened.

Why didn't my dowsing rod react to my thoughts, as it had done before?

Tentatively, I started to turn around, slowly, while looking at the still unmoving tip...

Suddenly, the tip of my dowsing rod moved up until it pointed forward, as if it wanted to tell me where I had to go!

This was VERY strange!

For a moment, I felt surprised; and then, I nearly started to dance from enthusiasm.

My dowsing rod really showed me the way to our waterfall, acting as sort of a clever compass!

Wanting to know more about this phenomenon, I started to try out a few things...

Every time when I turned slightly to the left or to the right, the pointing tip immediately went down, as if it wanted to correct me!

Would it really bring me straight to our waterfall?

I looked at Misha for approval; and he looked back at me with a smile on his face:

"Please, go on! Let your dowsing rod bring us to our waterfall..."

Proudly, I stepped forward, following the pointing tip of my strained forked twig.

Soon, I was 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 found his way without using any forked twig!

Maybe, Misha had another way of knowing his way, without using a dowsing rod, just like many animals seemed to do...

Now and then, I had to move around a thick thorn bush, or round some huge boulder or nasty pothole.

After that, I reused my dowsing rod again, turning around while concentrating on our waterfall.

Immediately, its slightly trembling tip pointed again towards where I had to go...

Within a few minutes, I suddenly recognized our so well-known surroundings!

To my surprise, my dowsing rod had really brought me flawlessly to our waterfall!

I started to dance around, and nearly cried from sheer happiness...

From now on, I would never again get lost in our dense forest!

I only had to use some forked twig, and concentrate on where I wanted to go...

I felt on cloud nine; and wanted to experiment a lot more with my newly found ability.

Tentatively, I thought of my trap, set up at the end of the steep ravine, while I turned around slowly...

Soon, my forked twig jumped up again, eagerly 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 black-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 black-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 black-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 black-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...</