Sonny Pair's Memoir: A Short Story

Ten year old Sonny Champagne always knew he had magic in his blood. He could sometimes hear the whispers of his ancestor's spirits; he saw things around people that no one else could see. He knew that because at a young age he began to fact check with family and friends. Of course, they all assumed he simply had a wonderful imagination and humored his inquiries. By the time he got around to checking with his favorite Aunt, Auntie Darby, he was certain he was on to something. The look in her eye that said, "We need to talk," was both clear and cryptic not to mention, scary. As she reached for his hand, time slowed and his vision sharpened. He saw a map of her experiences in the palm of her hand, her life's story written in the countless

First, we're going to the roof for some privacy while we go on a soul journey. Second, Stewards are people who are responsible for watching over something. Last, your Great, Great Grandmother knew that she had to come here to the New World, so she let herself get caught. She had the farseeing of the family gift and knew this is where she needed to be. You might say it was her Dharam, her purpose." Sonny's face screwed up in puzzlement and he held his hand up for his Aunt to give him time to make sense of all of this. "Darma an African word or

Now, hush up and listen. Have you heard of Harriet Tubman and

Sojourner Truth?" "Yes, they helped run the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to freedom." A smile spread over her coffee brown face and she slowly nodded, brushing her thick braids from her face. She cinched the belt of her comfortable looking knit cardigan against the breeze even though it was warm on the building's rooftop. "Well, your great, great Grandmother had a lot to do with their success and a whole lot of other people too. She had use of a powerful magic that helped to make people not notice things. She used that and her knowledge of living off the land to help Miss Tubman on countless journeys. The point is, our family has played an important part in the history of this world. Now I'm gonna teach you some things, and if you're strong enough and wise enough, you're gonna play an important part it this world's future. I'm gonna teach you about Bayou Magic and you gonna be a fine Bayou Mage one day.

"That's more than Daddy's ever going to be, with his sorry