October, 2009

        "Ben, why are you racing through the house like that?  Where are you headed?"

        "Right here, Grandpa.  Right here to see you.  MaMa told me you would help me."

        "Help you!  Help you!  What's the matter?  Are you hurt?  Are you sick?"

        Grandpa's face took on a frightened, worried look.  His eyes began to bulge, as he bent down to more closely scrutinize Ben's face.

        "No, no, Grandpa.  None of that has......"

        Grandpa interrupted.  "Well then, what is it?  What's the matter that caused you to tear in from the kitchen as if mean, old Charlie Blodgett was chasin' you with his big, black broom?"

        "Grandpa, Grandpa!  Wait a minute. Wait!  Give me a chance to tell you."

        "Tell me what?"

        "Why I was running?"

        "Well, spit it out.  Come on, tell me.  Don't keep me a waitin' another minute."

        "It's the Kayaderosseras."

        "What are you talkin' about?  The Kayaderosseras?  Are you crazy Ben?  Run at high speed through the house because of the Kayaderosseras?  I don't believe it.  Why?  Why?"

        Ben stood up just a bit straighter, stuck both hands in the pockets of his bib overalls and looked Grandpa right straight in the eyes.

        "In school Mr. Steele is teaching us about Greenfield History.  On Friday, he said next week we'd learn about the Kayaderosseras. That's all he said.  When I got home I asked MaMa about the big, long word Mr. Steele put on the chalkboard.  I couldn't remember much about the word.  All I could think of is it began with a K.  When I told Mama, she told me what the word was.  But, when I began to ask her more about the word, the pot on the stove boiled over.  That's when she said you would help me."

        "Oh, for goodness sake.  Is that all it is?  Well, let me take off my wet boots.  Then we'll go in the parlor so I can sit in my old rocker and we'll talk about your K word."

        Ben thought it was taking Grandpa too long to pull off his high boots.  He went over and looked out on the porch through the screen door.  Grandpa was just about ready to standup.  Ben backed away from the screen door to let Grandpa come in.  His stocking feet didn't make a sound as they crossed through the dining room to the parlor.  Grandpa got himself comfortably settled in his favorite chair, leaned back against the soft, deep red pillow MaMa had made for him, and took a deep breath.  Ben dropped down on the colorful, braided rug Grandma made years ago, his favorite spot.

        "All right Ben.  We're all set.  Where do we begin?  Tell me."

        "Yesterday, Mr. Steele told us to find out on Saturday and Sunday, just where the Creek begins and where it flows.  That's all."

        "Well, that assignment is no big deal and that's a good place to start."

        "But Grandpa, before you tell me that, can't you tell me what that word means and where it came from?"

        "I sure can and you found a much better way to begin this story. Telling about the meaning of the word and where it came from is a much better way to commence this great tale.  Good gracious, I haven't thought about the Kayaderosseras like this in a long time.  Well.....are you ready?"

        "I sure am.  Come on Grandpa, begin the K story."

        "Grandpa chuckled.  All right.  Here we go! Oh, say!  I just had a thought.  Do you want to run upstairs and get my old trumpet.  I'll play taps and we can have a grand send-off for the story which tells about one of the most important series of events which occurred in this area and has had such a long lasting affect on all of us.

        They both chuckled as they pictured in their minds Grandpa, blowing his old trumpet, to usher in the Kayaderosseras saga.

        "All right now, we've had our fun, so let's begin with the Six Nations Confederacy and in particular, one tribe, known as the Mohawks, who used this area for hunting and fishing along with the five other tribes, especially during the summer months.  They did their hunting in these deep woods which still surround us.  But where, oh where, did they do their fishing?"

        "Is the answer to that question the K word?"

        "Ben, you hit the nail right on the head.  Yes, they did their fishing in a fast flowing stream and they gave that stream the name Kayaderosseras."

        "Does that name mean something?"

        "It does.  Yes, it does.  The word Kayaderosseras means the 'country of the lakes and the crooked stream'.  That word came from the Algonquin language."

        "So the Algonquin Indians just kept hunting and fishing in this area right where we are now sitting?"

        "No, Ben.  The story of what happened is quite complicated.  Sadly, the various Indian tribes began to fight one another."

        "Why did they do that?"

        "Well, that's a simple question, but the answer is much more difficult.  Most of the serious problems began in the year 1300 A.D. and can best be described by the words, "Barbarities knew no limits."

        "What does that mean?  Does it..."

        Just then the parlor door opened.  Mother appeared.

        "My goodness you two look so serious.  Let's take a break from the K word story.  Supper is all nice and warm and waiting."