Black Eyes (editing)

Chapter 9

Atsa sat before his mother and father with his head low. He betrayed Haseya. He promised he wouldn't tell.

Malcom held on to Ahiga wide eyed looking at all the people looking at him in fear. Everytime he moved they flinched and didn't dare touch him.

Everyone held their breath as Tahoma picked up the child him self from Ahiga. Malcom looked desperately to Atsa. "Shidá'í." His lip quivered he didn't know this stranger.

"It's okay Malcom. He's your grandfather."
Atsa sighed. Ajei felt horrible that she accused Atsa and caused a scene. She didn't mean to get anyone in trouble. She loved Haseya and that was the last thing she wanted to do. She was just upset and irrational. She felt so so guilty.

Malcom looked at Tahoma warily. Tahoma shocked his people by smiling at the small child. Malcom shy around strangers ducked his head into Tahoma's shoulder to hide from his eyes and everyone else's.

Doba looked disgusted. She knew that negro girl was no good. She went a head and impregnated her self by the devil's servants. The whites.

"What is your name?" Tahoma's deep voice wasn't as scary as Ahiga's or his dad's but it still made Malcom nervous.

"It's alright." Atsa encouraged. "Malcom." He whispered still tucked away. Tahoma's couldn't stop smiling at the child it was very off putting . Everyone expected him to burst into a rage.

"Get rid of him Tahoma before he plagues our land." Doba dramatically gasped. Tahoma ignored her and looked at the child more.

Tahoma didn't know the father but had a feeling the child favored him he didn't look like Haseya. However he did have little features of Haseya by his hair.

He swallowed hard trying not to get emotional. His first grandchild was in his very arms right now. His daughters son. She birthed a boy, a strong boy. Because she was a strong woman.

"Can he speak our tongue?" Tahoma asked Atsa. Atsa nodded and Malcom began to get scared as the people started to come closer seeing as their chief was okay with it.

Tahoma's chest swelled with pride that Haseya didn't abandon her culture. "Little one don't cry. We will take care of you." He comforted the child.

"I want my mother." Malcom whimpered. Everyone's eyes widened when he spoke fluently in response. Tahoma rocked the child before glaring at his son. He couldn't believe he had kept this a secret for so long.

"Where is she?" He almost growled at his son. Doba of course ready to defend Atsa but Tahoma pushed her aside gently before stepping up to his son. "Father-"

"Where is my daughter!" He snapped.

Atsa swallowed looking toward Ahiga but Ahiga shook his head. There was no protecting her now. At least her father has her best interests at heart.

'I'm sorry .' Atsa apologized to Haseya before ushering his father inside for privacy.

___________

"How's your leg?" Haseya unbraided her hair as she and Coleman called it a night. Coleman shrugged. It still hurt a little bit since he was shot but it had more than enough time to fully recover.

"I'm perfectly fine." He gave a small smile before leaning back.

They laid down gazing up at the stars in silence.