Haibu Lost in New York. Blake Freeman

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      MEET HAIBU

      “Hello, my name is Haibu, and I’m a Mayok, or as most people call us, the ‘People of the North.’ You say my name like if you were saying hello to a ghost: Hi, Boo!

      I live way up north, almost as far north as you can go, in a little place not even on a map, called Montooka. It’s a colorful little village, where all the houses are painted brightly. That way we can find them easily when they’re covered by snow. I live with my mom, dad, and brother, Amook. Sometimes Amook picks on me, but I don’t get angry because I know it’s just his insecurities. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I overheard my parents whispering about it one night.

      Anyhaibu … ha-ha, did you get what I did there? So, everyone in Montooka lives by the creed ‘Be Happy, Be Friendly, Be Family.’ I spend most of my days playing and working to be the best I can be at fishing and providing for my family. The problem is, I don’t want to just fish! I want to be Haibu the Adventurer! Haibu the Brave! Haibu the Great! I want villagers all over the world to know my name!

      Do you want to know something? They will! Some day, most of the world will know my name, and it’s all because, as you’re going to find out, I have a very special purpose in life.”

      MONTOOKA

      Haibu was running around the front yard, chasing after the dogs like she was in the middle of a great battle, when a neighbor approached. It was Mr. Toko, one of the elders in the village. He was a great warrior and hunter back in his day, and always took time to talk to the other villagers, especially Haibu.

      “Well, hello there, little Haibu,” he said.

      “Hello, Mr. Toko. I’m protecting the village from these ferocious polar bears!” Haibu yelled.

      Mr. Toko looked at the dogs that were climbing all over Haibu and licking her face. “Well, I thank you, and I’ll leave you be to save us helpless villagers from those wild beasts!” he said.

      “Okay, Mr. Toko, I will save us all!”

      Mr. Toko walked off in the snow and Haibu continued to play with her dogs. When Haibu’s father and brother appeared from behind the house, they were pulling a sled with several hunting and fishing tools.

      Haibu ran over, excited. “Atata! Atata!” she called to her father.

      Kneeling next to Haibu, her father spoke. “What are you up to, my little warrior?”

      Haibu knew that they were on their way to go ice fishing. She also knew that fishing was usually left up to the men in the village. But what her father and brother didn’t know was that Haibu wanted badly to prove that she could fish just as well as the boys.

      Haibu replied, “I want to come fishing with you, Atata.”

      Haibu’s brother, Amook, laughed. “You’re too small; you couldn’t catch your own shadow, much less a fish! You want the village to starve?!”

      Amook СКАЧАТЬ