The night air hung thick with anticipation. The evenings, at this time in the late summer, were always uncomfortable, but for the pregnant Laughing Water, expecting her first child, it was especially intolerable. She closed her eyes, slowly caressed her tummy, and psychically communicated with her unborn child. Thoughts, images, passed between the two. She knew that this would be a very special child. She could feel his inner strength.

Her thoughts drifted back to the evening when she and her husband, Walks Far, had conceived their child. She remembered how warm the fire was, but she also remembered the fire in his eyes. He was so gentle with her that night, but so strong at the same time. There was a lot of love between them that night, and she knew that this was the best time to create a new life. She looked over at her husband, sleeping peacefully, and smiled.

The baby kicked in her tummy as if to remind her that he was still present. She turned her attention back to the child again. She began to feel quite uncomfortable and sensed that something was going to happen. Cramps started to wrack her stomach, and it was all that she could do to keep from waking Walks Far. She knew that he wouldn't complain if she did wake him, but that wasn't the tribal way. She decided to get up and go outside for a walk, and to see if her friend Dancing Grass was up and about. Since her friend was a mother, and the tribal mid- wife, she was sure to understand what Laughing Water was going through.

Silently, she made her way to the opening of their small home. The door had been removed, and just an old blanket hung to cover the doorway. It was nice that way she thought. Doors made noise and disturbed people. She looked back one more time to be sure that Walks Far was still sleeping, then she pushed back the blanket, and became one with the night.

It took her a moment to get used to the night. It was so black and still out here. She could hear the breathing of the other tribe members as they slept, and the occasional footstep of a dog seeking food or shelter. She looked around and sighed.

"Can't sleep?" she heard the whisper as it "thundered" through the stillness.

It startled her for a second. Then she realized that it was Dancing Grass, so she smiled.

"No", she whispered in reply. "Where are you?"

Dancing Grass started to whistle a low note, so Laughing Water followed the tone.

As she approached Dancing Grass, the mid-wife stretched out her hand and caressed Laughing Water's tummy. She looked up at the expectant mother, and the silent question filled her eyes.

"I don't know if it's time yet", Laughing Water replied.

Dancing Grass smiled, patted a place next to her, and indicated for Laughing Water to sit down. The rest was well appreciated, so Laughing Water took her up on her kind offer. She sat down awkwardly, but gently, as women do who are expecting. Long minutes passed before either of them spoke.

Laughing Water shattered the silence with her innocent question. "Why are you up?"

"Because, I felt your need for me", came the assuring reply.

Laughing Water nodded her thanks and appreciation. Friends like these were valuable indeed. The two had grown up together, and they had been quite close their entire lives. True, Dancing Grass was a couple of years older, but since they were both the only children in their family, they had adopted each other as sisters. Dancing Grass had taught Laughing Water many things. They talked about nature, boys, and themselves. No two people had ever been closer. That's what Laughing Water had thought until her pregnancy, but the two were now closer than ever before. They sat there in silence and drank in the beauty of the night sky.

Laughing Water winced in pain, but she was still silent. Dancing Grass looked deeply into her eyes and Laughing Water nodded. Dancing Grass got up and went inside her home to retrieve her pouch. It had been handed down to her from her mother, and her mother, and into history. A second later she emerged holding the birthing pouch, took Laughing Water by the hand, and led her away from the village. The two walked, hand-in-hand for a while, seeking a proper place to bring the new life into the world. As they walked, Laughing Water paused and doubled up in pain. She looked down at herself in horror as water drenched her legs. Scared, she looked to Dancing Grass who assured her softly that everything was normal, so they proceeded, a bit quicker though. Soon, they arrived at the side of the stream and Laughing Water could go no further. She removed her dress, unfolded a new blanket, then she lied down in the warm, soft grass. She didn't have to wait very long.

A scream forced it's way up to her lips but she wouldn't permit it to escape. She thought it wouldn't be right to shatter the peace with her pain. Besides, it wasn't the tribal way. Childbirth was a normal and joyful time, not to be confused with the "pain" that the white women talked of. She felt the contractions intensify. She looked for Dancing Grass and panicked for a moment when she couldn't see her. She heard the reassuring footsteps as Dancing Grass returned from the stream, so she sighed in relief.

Dancing Grass started to sing quietly and it soothed Laughing Water considerably. The gentle singing continued as Dancing Grass took up her place, sitting next to her friend, to wait for the moment. The contractions continued to intensify until Laughing Water thought that she could bear it no longer. Dancing Grass occasionally checked on the progress of the baby's arrival. She looked for the signs of the baby's head starting to emerge, and then she went back to her soft singing. After what seemed to be an eternity, to Laughing Water at least, Dancing Grass whispered "It's time."

Laughing Water gazed up at the night sky. A shooting star blazed through the darkness as she uttered a silent prayer.

Dancing Grass helped Laughing Water to get up into a squatting position. Tribal women give birth the old way, not lying down.

"Push", Dancing Grass urged softly, "Push".

Laughing Water pushed for all she was worth. She reached back, a million years, to contact her ancestors for strength. Dancing Grass reached between her friend's legs and caught the emerging child. As the child entered the world, Laughing Water began to feel faint. Dancing Grass knew the sensation well, so she helped her friend to lie back down on the blanket. Quickly, she reached behind her to retrieve the knife and expertly, she severed the umbilical cord. She tied the knot, and then she helped Laughing Water cleanse the baby's eyes and mouth. Assured that the baby was breathing normally, she returned to her task helping Laughing Water finish the birthing process. Dancing Grass quickly finished the clean up process, then she smiled warmly as Laughing Water held the new child up to her breast. The sucking sound was all that anyone could hear. Now, there were three.

Laughing Water began to feel a bit cold, and she realized that she was still naked. Dancing Grass covered her shoulders with another blanket that she had brought and the three of them sat there silently, and celebrated the new life.

"I just wish that Walks Far could have been here", Laughing Water whispered.

Dancing Grass smiled, then looked back toward the village. There, in the evening, a man stood. His arms were crossed, and he stood proud as he watched the scene. The new day was starting to dawn and Laughing Water could recognize Walks Far in the pale light. She motioned for him to join her. He smiled, but declined. He knew that this was woman time so he didn't want to interfere. The love was there, and that was enough for the both of them. The two women returned to the business of the child. As the baby nursed from his mother's breast, the women talked of women things. Children and men, their tasks to come, and their hope for the future all were discussed. They became closer.

The sun was starting to rise now, and the new day was dawning. Tired, and drained from the ordeal, the two women started the journey back to the village. The trip was slow because the baby was asleep and they didn't want to disturb him. As the village came into view, the two were surprised to see all of the villagers waiting for them. In the middle of the crowd was Walks Far. As the two started to approach, Walks Far came toward them. He stopped just short and waited for them to arrive. Laughing Water came up to Walks Far and handed him the baby.

"BEHOLD!" she announced to her husband and all around, "Our new SON!"

Walks Far looked down at their new child. The baby, sensing he had been moved, awakened and looked up into the eyes of his father. The child smiled, and the father returned the smile. He was VERY pleased. He turned to his wife and asked.

"He doesn't cry?"

"There is no need", she replied in an assuring tone.

"GOOD". Walks Far grunted.

"When will you name him?" Laughing Water asked.

"I must think", Walks Far replied. "A name is a most important thing for a child. It is either a burden that he must carry, or a badge of honor to display for all to see. This is not a decision to make quickly, nor without enough thought. I will know him for a while, then I will decide".

Walks Far turned and walked away with the baby. He wanted to be with him for a little while by himself. He needed to feel the child's strength of character and bond with the child's spirit. Only then, could he do the child justice in the naming. He walked a little way, then he just sat.

After a little while, the baby began to fuss. Walks Far asked him what was the matter? He didn't really expect an answer from the child, but when the baby started to make little sucking noises Walks Far knew that he needed to be back with his mother for a time. After all, he couldn't feed the child. He rose and walked back to the village. When he got there Dancing Grass was there to meet him.

"Is Laughing Water sleeping?" he asked.

Dancing Grass nodded. She looked down at the baby who was starting to fuss a bit.

"He needs his mother", she stated.

"Maybe we should let her sleep, she is so young you know".

"She is a woman and a mother now", Dancing Grass told him. "Sleep will have to wait".

She took the infant from his arms and carried him into the parents' home. Walks Far followed at a slight distance. Laughing Water was asleep on the floor, covered with a blanket. The child whimpered just a bit and Laughing Water turned over onto her back. The blanket fell away from her breasts and Dancing Grass placed the child there. Laughing Water cuddled the child to her breast, still asleep, and let him begin to nurse. Quietly, the two slept. Walks Far looked down at his family and smiled with his pleasure. He looked deeply into Dancing Grass's eyes. She motioned for them to leave. He nodded his agreement, then the two went outside.

"How long were you watching?" Dancing Grass asked softly.

"I was there the whole time".

"Then you saw the entire birth?"

Walks Far nodded.

The two talked of trivial things. They passed the time, and then they went and sat in the shade of a large elm tree. The squirrels leapt and played, and seemed to be celebrating the event with everyone else. Walks Far laughed at the antics of the squirrels. He was amused, but his mind never wandered from the task of naming his newborn son. He knew that it would have to be done soon.

Hunger came to them, and they realized that they hadn't eaten for the entire day. The sun was getting high in the sky by now and it was past mealtime. Dancing Grass offered to get Walks Far something to eat. It is usually forbidden for another woman to get food for a man, but in this circumstance it would be permitted. He nodded, so she went off to get him some food.

She went over to the tribal cooking pot and scooped out some of the stew that had been prepared by some of the other women that day. It was a venison stew, and the variety came from the different vegetables that were added. Dancing Grass could tell be the amount of corn in the stew, who had made it. She smiled to herself, and picked up a piece of bread to go with the meal. As she was returning to where Walks Far was sitting, she noticed that Laughing Water had awoken from her sleep. With the newborn baby cradled in her loving arms, she stood just outside of her front entrance. Dancing Grass continued over to where Walks Far was sitting, handed him the food, then she stood up to cross over the lawn, to go and greet her friend. She heard footsteps behind her as she walked, so she turned to see Walks Far following closely behind her. She paused to let him pass. He speeded up a bit to get to Laughing Water quicker. As he approached, he held out his bowl for her to take.

Laughing Water smiled broadly as she accepted the stew from Walks Far. She knew that he wasn't required to show her this much kindness, but the act of giving her the stew made her feel very loved. She was still a bit weak, so she just smiled her thanks, but her eyes spoke a thousand words. She looked down at the child in her arms. Walks Far took the child to allow her to eat. Laughing Water was thankful for the break. She sat down and started to eat.

Walks Far wasn't very used to handling a baby. It seemed sort of strange to him, but very familiar at the same time. He took his son over to the large elm tree and sat with him for a while. After Laughing Water was finished with her meal, she came over and sat with her family. This was really the first time since the baby's birth that they had some peaceful time together as a family. It was very nice.

Laughing Water began to wonder about the baby's name.

"Have you thought about the name?" She asked.

Walks Far didn't say anything for a few moments. He looked at her and nodded.

"Yes", he said, "I've thought about it".

"When will it be time?"

"Soon", is all that he replied.

The rest of the day was spent in more normal pursuits. The men gathered together to speak of the tribal problems. The women gathered with Laughing Water to give love, support, and advice, lots and lots of advice. After all of the meeting, the day was drawing to a close. As the sun began to set Walks Far found Laughing Water and told her that it was time to name the baby. She was very happy about this, because it meant that the child would have an identity, and not just "the baby". She asked him if he wanted to do it alone, or would he like her to accompany him. He told her that naming was a public thing to him, and she should come, and invite as many people as she wished. She handed him the baby, then she ran off to find her friends.

Walks Far looked down at his son and thought.

He decided that, true to his name, the best way to do right by the child was to take him on a walk. The sun had set, and night was gathering quickly. Walks Far started off toward where the child had been born, next to the stream. Water, especially moving water, always brought Walks Far peace. He knew he could do his best thinking there. He walked and thought.

It seemed like just a couple of seconds to Walks Far until he reached the side of the stream. He sat down with the child, then he started to meditate and pray.

"Great Spirit, show me a sign", he prayed. "Show me how to call this child".

Walks Far was oblivious to the members of the tribe that had followed him to the stream. They watched, in respectful silence, as the father bonded with the child, and with the universe.

A gentle wind started to blow through the trees. It seemed to be singing a song of joy and praise for the new child. Walks Far knew that the time was drawing near for a sign to name the baby. He looked up into the darkened sky for guidance. As he stared up at the star filled evening, a shooting star crossed the sky. As it passed, the baby looked up at it, pointed, and giggled softly. Walks Far knew what he had to do.