D) You tell the men of your tribe that you are ready. All 13 year old males in the Huna tribe must undergo a rite of passage, a ritual designed to make one a complete member of the tribe. "It is simply a part of your culture, or your way of life.” you tell yourself, but you don't feel any better. Your older half-brother, son of one of your father's five wives, grabs your arms from behind. You are forced to the ground. An older cousin takes a shard of wood and snaps it against his hand. You don't even want to guess what that is going to be used for. As you are held down, the shard of wood is beaten against the soles of your feet. You want to cry, but you show no emotion. Soon you begin to bleed. Salt and spicy herbs are then rubbed into your open wounds. And you thought that the beatings were bad. You are then placed into a hot grass hut. You are alone for what seems like hours. Night falls. At midnight you begin to hear the beating of drums.
Do you?
copyright Jay D'Ambrosio 1998