September 2009

A FEW BRAVE SOULS

        "Kayadrosseras.  K-a-y-a-d-r-o-s-s-e-r-a.  MaMa.  What is this big, long word I just spelled, beginning with K?"

        MaMa turned away from the stove, then quickly turned back.

        "Just a minute.  Just a minute, Ben.  My fire is sputtering."

        MaMa reached down into the tall basket behind the stove and used both hands to pull up a heavy log covered with scrubby, black bark. She laid it on top of the back section on the right side of the stove, grabbed the poker, lifted the front lid and shoved the log down inside.  She gently pushed the log down, being very careful not to cover up the few, small popping flames.  She stood perfectly still, staring inside the stove box to be sure the new log had caught fire.  The lid was put back on and she swung around to face Ben.

        "All right now, Ben.  What was your question?"

        "What is this big, long, funny-looking word that starts with a K?"

        Mother came over to the cloth covered table, bent over and looked at the spot in the book where Ben's finger was still pointing.

        "Oh that's a very old, very famous word around here."

        "Why?"

        MaMa smiled as she looked down at the confused expression on Ben's face.

        "Before I tell you more about saying it, I should mention that this, long, funny looking word is not spoken the way it looks."

        Ben shook his head from side to side.  Now he was even more puzzled.

        "Come on, MaMa.  Say it.  I want to hear it."

        MaMa laughed right out loud, looked right straight down into Ben's eyes and said, "All right.  Here it comes.  Kay-der-ross."

        "But MaMa, you didn't say all the letters.  Why not?"

        "Yes, Ben.  I know...."

        Before MaMa could finish her sentence, Ben interrupted.  "You didn't say the letters 'eras' at the end of the word and I didn't hear you say the sound of the 'a' after the 'y'. "

        "I know.  I know.  Say Ben, your ears are wide open this morning.  And you are perfectly correct about the letters which don't seem to belong to the word when it is spoken."

        "So, say it again MaMa.  Let me hear it again."

        "Kaydeross"

        Ben looked down at his book, raised his head and said, "Kaydeross".

        "Just right, Ben.  Exactly right."

        "But why is it said like that?  Why do we skip some of the letters?  That just does not seem right to me."

        "It certainly seems unusual, doesn't it?  But, let me tell you about this word.  That may help you understand a bit more."

        "Where did it come from?"

        "Well, you already know, from your school studies that the Mohawk Indians lived right here, right where we are now sitting."

        "Yes, I know that.  But where did we get that K word?"

        "Well, that K word came from the Mohawk Indians.  We are now sitting in what was originally called the Kayadrosseras country, the 'country of the lakes and the crooked stream', the hunting and fishing grounds of the Mohawks.  And that crooked stream is what we now call the Kayadrosseras Creek."

        "Yes, Grandpa and I were talking about the Kayadrosseras Creek last week when we went fishing.  But, I didn't think then to ask him about the  K word.  Anyway, what happened here?"

        Mother checked the fire in the stove to be sure there was enough heat to boil the carrots and potatoes for supper and then she sat down next to Ben.

        "This was a very dangerous, frightening place."

        "What was there to be scared about?  Wasn't it all just woods and wild animals?  We haven't got this far in school.  Last week Mr. Steele said we would be studying the 'rampant terrorism' next week."

        "Come on now, MaMa.  Tell me.  Then I'll know all about it and I can surprise Mr. Steele.  I'll be able to answer all his questions.  See MaMa.  He'll think I am the brightest one in my class."

        MaMa laughed.

        "Yes, I'm sure he...."

        Before MaMa could finish her sentence, the pot on the stove began to boil over.  She jumped up, grabbed a pot holder, took hold of the searing handle on the pot and pulled it off the red hot stove lid.  As she took off the pot lid, she turned around.

        "Ben, I've got to finish getting supper.  Ask Grandpa your question.  He loves history, as you know.  He's spent years reading and studying about the history which happened before great grandma and great grandpa came over here from England.  He can tell you all about it.  It's quite a story, both frightening and sad.  Oh, I hear him coming in from the barn now. But wait until after supper to ask him."

        "I will MaMa.  And then tomorrow, I will be the brightest boy in my class.  I will know all the answers to Mr. Steele's questions."

        He laughed, jumped up and ran into the kitchen.