interested in. I went on a politics kick so we did lots of international relations stuff. World governments, economics. Then I was on a Russian literature phase for a bit. Read Tolstoy and the classics plus some old science fiction. Did you know 1984 and Brave New World were both based on an old Russian science fiction novel called ‘We?’” I was feeling enthusiastic.
Raf had a strange look on his face.
“What?”
“Harper, seriously, I’ve never met anyone like you.”
I wasn’t sure how to take that.
“No, don’t stop. I want to know more about Belize. Did you have a house? Where did you get food? Was it scary living in the jungle?”
“We grew our food, or traded for it. We lived in a house made out of sticks and mud with a thatch roof. We had a few small buildings. One where we slept in hammocks and kept our stuff. Then an open sided kitchen that was off to the side, in case it caught on fire. Don’t want all your stuff to burn. Plus we had a covered sitting area where we could just hang out. All around a little patio.
“It was mostly really nice. Except in the rainy season, that was fairly miserable. Everything was always wet and smelled of mold.”
“And the people? You lived with a bunch of Belizeans? What are they like?”
“We were actually in a village with mostly Maya people.”
“Like the ancient Mayans that built the temples? I thought they mysteriously vanished or something?” Raf’s grey eyes were wide open.
“No way. There are millions of Maya people still there. Maya, not Mayan, that’s what you call the language.”
“Wow, that is totally cool. So what are Maya people like?”
I let out a snort, “They’re people Raf. Just like everyone. Some are nice, some mean, happy, grumpy, funny, bitter and, you know, people.”
He blushed and I felt bad.
“I guess that was a silly question. I think of people like that as, you know, cooler than us. Do they,” he paused, looking for the right word, “do they still sacrifice animals and stuff?”
Time for a real laugh, “No way. Everyone in San Pedro was Catholic, there was a little church in my village and everything.”
“Oh, I thought they were, um, you know…like ancient people.”
“Well, there were still things that aren’t typically Catholic. After we planted our fields every year, an H’man, what they call a shaman, would come out and do a blessing, with flowers and corn meal and burning incense. He would thank the four corners of the world and stuff, so that was more traditional Maya than Catholic.”
“Wow, totally cool.”
Mrs. Wattana came back with a small man in tow. “Boon wanted to come say hi.”
Next to Mrs. Wattana, her husband looked wan and frail, though he shared the same warm smile. “Rafael, we’ve missed seeing you!” Raf got up and gave him a hug.
“Mr. Wattana, this is Harper. Harper, Mr. Wattana.” Raf introduced me.
Boon Wattana bowed. “A pleasure. You are always welcome here, Harper Dae.”
“Did you kids decide what you want?” Mrs. Wattana asked.
Raf ordered and wanted to talk more about Belize. “So, weren’t there wild animals? Wasn’t it dangerous?”
“Well, a little I guess, though no more than here.”
“So no jaguars or anything?”
“Oh sure, I’ve seen jaguars. But they aren’t going to attack you unless you’re a threat. So you just make sure you aren’t a threat. There were also aggressive, poisonous snakes, and killer pigs.” I paused, looking for a good story to impress Raf. “We also had an attack turkey terrorize our village for a while.”
He laughed, genuinely interested. “Attack turkey?”
“Hell yeah, don’t laugh. The turkeys there have razor sharp spurs, like little stiletto blades. They are beautiful, blue and green feathers like a cross between a turkey and a peacock. One of those lovely things decided that our village was in her territory. You’d have to check outside before leaving your house, make sure she wasn’t stalking
Raf had a strange look on his face.
“What?”
“Harper, seriously, I’ve never met anyone like you.”
I wasn’t sure how to take that.
“No, don’t stop. I want to know more about Belize. Did you have a house? Where did you get food? Was it scary living in the jungle?”
“We grew our food, or traded for it. We lived in a house made out of sticks and mud with a thatch roof. We had a few small buildings. One where we slept in hammocks and kept our stuff. Then an open sided kitchen that was off to the side, in case it caught on fire. Don’t want all your stuff to burn. Plus we had a covered sitting area where we could just hang out. All around a little patio.
“It was mostly really nice. Except in the rainy season, that was fairly miserable. Everything was always wet and smelled of mold.”
“And the people? You lived with a bunch of Belizeans? What are they like?”
“We were actually in a village with mostly Maya people.”
“Like the ancient Mayans that built the temples? I thought they mysteriously vanished or something?” Raf’s grey eyes were wide open.
“No way. There are millions of Maya people still there. Maya, not Mayan, that’s what you call the language.”
“Wow, that is totally cool. So what are Maya people like?”
I let out a snort, “They’re people Raf. Just like everyone. Some are nice, some mean, happy, grumpy, funny, bitter and, you know, people.”
He blushed and I felt bad.
“I guess that was a silly question. I think of people like that as, you know, cooler than us. Do they,” he paused, looking for the right word, “do they still sacrifice animals and stuff?”
Time for a real laugh, “No way. Everyone in San Pedro was Catholic, there was a little church in my village and everything.”
“Oh, I thought they were, um, you know…like ancient people.”
“Well, there were still things that aren’t typically Catholic. After we planted our fields every year, an H’man, what they call a shaman, would come out and do a blessing, with flowers and corn meal and burning incense. He would thank the four corners of the world and stuff, so that was more traditional Maya than Catholic.”
“Wow, totally cool.”
Mrs. Wattana came back with a small man in tow. “Boon wanted to come say hi.”
Next to Mrs. Wattana, her husband looked wan and frail, though he shared the same warm smile. “Rafael, we’ve missed seeing you!” Raf got up and gave him a hug.
“Mr. Wattana, this is Harper. Harper, Mr. Wattana.” Raf introduced me.
Boon Wattana bowed. “A pleasure. You are always welcome here, Harper Dae.”
“Did you kids decide what you want?” Mrs. Wattana asked.
Raf ordered and wanted to talk more about Belize. “So, weren’t there wild animals? Wasn’t it dangerous?”
“Well, a little I guess, though no more than here.”
“So no jaguars or anything?”
“Oh sure, I’ve seen jaguars. But they aren’t going to attack you unless you’re a threat. So you just make sure you aren’t a threat. There were also aggressive, poisonous snakes, and killer pigs.” I paused, looking for a good story to impress Raf. “We also had an attack turkey terrorize our village for a while.”
He laughed, genuinely interested. “Attack turkey?”
“Hell yeah, don’t laugh. The turkeys there have razor sharp spurs, like little stiletto blades. They are beautiful, blue and green feathers like a cross between a turkey and a peacock. One of those lovely things decided that our village was in her territory. You’d have to check outside before leaving your house, make sure she wasn’t stalking
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