Second Spirit -3- by Melanie Brown

Second Spirit

By

Melanie Brown

Advisor: Lisa Charlene
Copyright © 2024

Part 3

“That crazy old woman can’t be dead! She has to change me back!”

The cop turned angrily to me. “Miss, you need to settle down and stop with these wild claims. The medicine woman was a beloved member of this community, and you need to show respect! Now, stand by the bed and be quiet. We’ll deal with you in a minute.”

“You don’t understand! I’m not…”

“Hush with your nonsense, little girl.” He then turned back to Sheila.

The door to the room opened, admitting two more officers – one a woman. The officer turned to face her. “Cruz, I’m glad you’re here.”

Cruz quickly scanned the room. “What’s up, Sam? You have a juvenile in custody?”

Sam nodded. “We’re trying to finish getting a statement from this witness, but the girl keeps being a distraction. Can you take her to the hospital to get her checked out? A tribal elder is on their way there to see if the girl can be identified. She’s refusing to give her name.”

“My name is Jack! I’ve been changed somehow!”

Sam smirked at Cruz. “See what I mean? We have a missing person who could be in danger if they’re out in this heat, and she keeps interrupting.”

Looking at Sam, Cruz asked, “She speaks English?”

Scowling, I said, “What are you, deaf?”

Sam chuckled. “It would seem so.”

Cruz knelt beside me to get to eye level. “Sweetie, make things easier on yourself and tell us your name and who your parents are. We’re going to find out eventually and I bet your parents are worried sick about you.”

As earnestly as I could, I said, “You don’t understand. I’m not really this… this Indian girl. My name is Jack. Sheila and I are on Spring Break. That old crazy medicine woman hexed me or something! I need to be changed back!”

Chuckling, Cruz stood and turned to Sam and said, “She’s got quite an imagination. Do you know what medicine woman she’s referring to?”

Sam sighed. “She died last night.”

Cruz nodded. “Oh, yeah. I heard about that. Very sad. She was pretty old. You don’t suppose she actually… you know… changed…”

Sam frowned at Cruz. “Get real. Can you go ahead and take her to the hospital? We need to finish up here. We have a tow truck on the way to impound the car.”

“That’s my car!” I shouted. I was ignored.

Cruz turned back to me. “Honey, do you have any other clothes besides that oversized t-shirt?”

I pointed at my suitcase. “Just in there.”

Frowning, Cruz said, “So you don’t have anything. Okay, sweetie. Let’s go. Be careful walking in the parking lot barefoot.”

I folded my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to be changed back, and I want my car back.”

Cruz’s partner said, “Little girl, you can either come with us willingly, or we can restrain you and carry you. Your choice.”

Cruz nodded towards the door. Maybe that tribal big shot could help. I was getting nowhere fast with these cops.

I grumped, “Okay.” Cruz took my hand, and I glared at her.

Sam said, “Turn her over to the tribal elder and come back here to look for this lost college kid.”

I looked at Sam before I got escorted out the door. “I’m right here.” He ignored me. I was led across the hot parking lot, trying to avoid pebbles and broken glass on the way to the police car.

Before I was belted into the backseat of the patrol car, I toyed with the idea of an attempt at escape. But the parking lot was really hot against my bare feet, and my t-shirt didn’t really cover me. I’d have to bide my time.

I felt intensely alone as the car I was in drove away from the resort. I hoped this tribal bigwig would know of at least one other witch doctor who could change me back. I mean, if one could change me one way, surely another could change me back.

During the ride to the hospital, I switched between looking out the car window and trying to figure out what the cops were saying. The one called Cruz was in the passenger seat of the patrol car. She kept glancing back at me. She and the other cop spoke in low tones, so I couldn’t hear them above the road noise.

The patrol car pulled into the emergency entrance to the hospital. Which is good as it’s in the shade, and I won’t burn my feet. Both cops exited the patrol car, and Cruz walked over to the rear passenger door. She opened the door and reached inside the car.

“Come with me, little girl. The doctors are going to check you out.”

The other cop monitored the other door, so I couldn’t make a break for it. He said, “Yeah. This heat can cook your brain sometimes.”

As I slid out of the patrol car, I glared at the as-yet-unnamed cop. “I’m not crazy. I’ve been turned into a girl.”

The officer laughed. “No. You’re not crazy at all. Come on. Let’s get you checked in.”

Cruz took my hand and led me into the hospital triage area.

A nurse greeted us. She smiled at me and said, “Go ahead and bring her back. There are two doctors ready to examine her.”

The male officer asked, “Is the tribal elder here?”

The nurse nodded. “Yes. He wants to interview the girl after we make sure she’s not suffering from dehydration or too much sun.”

Cruz said, “He needs to take custody of the girl. She’s a tribal problem now.”

The nurse bent down to me and smiled, “You’re not a problem, are you sweetie?”

In reply, I asked, “Am I still going to have to pay my resort bill after all this?”

The male officer pointed at his head and made an obvious “she’s nuts” gesture.

Looking unsure of the situation, the nurse said, “Let’s get you back to the doctors.”

Under police escort, Cruz still holding my hand, we walked to one of the emergency exam rooms where two doctors greeted us.

One of the doctors patted the examination table. “Honey, can you get up on this bed for us?” I climbed up on the table or bed or whatever and sat with my legs dangling off the side.

An elderly man walked up to the room and stood outside it. Cruz walked up to him and said, “Thank you for coming. I’m Officer Cruz.”

The man nodded. “Nice to meet you, officer. I’m Sahale Rainwater with the tribal elders. We’ll take charge of the child and see if we can locate her parents.” That Rainwater guy must be the tribal hotshot. I expected him to come dressed as an Indian chief. But it looked more like we interrupted his golf game.

Cruz said, “We haven’t received any calls on a missing child. Have you heard anything?”

Mr. Rainwater shook his head. “No. Which seems strange that no one is missing this beautiful little girl. Now I’m concerned about her parents.”

I looked over at the man while I was being poked and prodded by the doctors and loudly asked, “Can another one of your medicine people change me back? Look, I learned my lesson. Just change me back, and I promise not to file a lawsuit.”

The man chuckled. “She might not be from around here.” An elderly woman approached Rainwater. She was carrying a bag. He turned to the woman and thanked her.

To Cruz, he said, “When the doctors are done, we brought some clothes for the child to wear when the reservation takes custody.” Cruz nodded.

One of the doctors approached Cruz. “The child seems in perfect health. Her vitals are actually almost too perfect. Real textbook numbers. Anyway. Just sign this, and the child will be released to you.”

Cruz pointed at Sahale Rainwater and said, “You can sign. And she’s all yours.”

He smiled. “Thank you, officers. We’ll take things from here. Oh, does she speak English?”

I frowned. “I sure as hell don’t speak Navajo.”

The woman approached me and opened her bundle. Despite what I had said, the woman spoke to me in what I assumed was Navajo. When I just gave her a blank stare, she said, “Here are some temporary clothes for you. Please change into them.”

The items were a pair of cheap thong-type sandals, a generic pull-over dress, and plain white panties.

I pulled on the panties and she helped me with the dress. I slipped the sandals on. Then she walked back to that Rainwater guy, and they looked over some papers. The cops had left. The doctors had left. There was no one within arm’s reach of me. I didn’t really formalize a plan of action, but I decided I needed to get while the getting was good.

I jumped off the table and ran like a bat out of hell through the emergency room, out of the hospital, and into the bright sunlight. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.

End of Part 3