After we’d been sitting there for a few minutes, I looked over at the gate and saw something. I whispered to my uncle, “Uncle Paul. Am I being a little paranoid or is that the guy that attacked me in the hotel.”

“Where?”, Uncle Paul whispered back.

Without pointing, I said, “Talking to the gate attendant.”

My uncle looked over at the gate, then said, “It might be. … Yes. … I think it is.”

“I hope he’s not on our flight.”

“Don’t worry. He won’t recognize you.”

“You don’t think?”

“Who were you when it happened?”

“Kai.”

“Who are you now?”

“Oh! Yeah. Tom.”

“Believe me he won’t recognize you.”

“I hope not.”

Amy had heard us, and said, “Honey, he won’t.”

My uncle had been watching him. As my uncle got up, he said, “I need to make a phone call.”

I watched as he walked over to a pay phone and made a call. He talked for a few minutes, looked at the guy, then said something else, and hung up. He walked over to us, and said, “Tom and Amy. Come with me for a minute.”

We walked a little way down the concourse to an unused gate and sat. My uncle then said, “I don’t want you two to worry. But yesterday Shilah told me that the guy had made bond, and one of the conditions was that he couldn’t leave the county until his arraignment this coming Friday.

“I just talked to my sister at the sheriff’s office, and she told me that what Shilah had told me was true. She then had me talk to a detective, and I gave him all the information including the guy’s description. He told me that the guy had violated his bond agreement.

“He was going to contact the Albuquerque police and try to have him picked up before the plane left. If not they would try to have him pulled off the flight when it reached Dallas.”

“I can’t get on the plane with him.”, I said.

“Honey.”, Amy said. “He won’t know you. You know when you're Tom you don’t look anything like Kai or even Tammy.”

“I know. But what if he recognizes you?”

“He was too intent on you at the hotel to remember me.”

“Tom.”, my uncle said. “You’ll be fine.”

“Maybe. … I guess.”

A short time later they called for us to board. The five of us stood, and Amy and I gave hugs to my grandmother, aunt, and uncle. The guy was one of the first out the door and walking towards the plane. Amy and I hung back, so we were the last ones to walk across the tarmac and go up the loading stairs. Amy whispered, “Honey. Relax. He won’t even notice us. He’s too intent on himself and getting out of here.”

We had assigned seats, and ours were close to the front of the plane. We walked into the cabin and sat in our third-row seats. I didn’t see where the guy was sitting. I wasn’t looking for him, but for our seats. I put our carry on in the overhead compartment and took the window seat. Amy sat next to me in the aisle seat.

Soon after we’d taken our seats, they closed the cabin door. And one of the stewardesses gave the usual safety talk. The engines started, and we slowly backed away from the gate. As we turned toward the runway, we stopped. The captain came on the intercom and said, “Ladies and gentlemen. We have a small problem and need to return to the gate for a few minutes. Please remain in your seats. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

We taxied back to the gate, the engines shut down, and the cabin door opened. And in walked two police officers and what I think were two airport security officers. The captain came out of the cockpit and the police officers talked to him and one of the stewardesses, then the four officers walked down aisle almost to the back of the plane. They stopped at one row and talked to whoever was sitting in the aisle seat. Soon he was standing, and they were putting him in handcuffs. They escorted him down the aisle and off the plane. And it was the guy that had attacked me in the hotel lobby. At least he went quietly.

After a layover in Dallas, we were home. And we were met by both my parents and Amy’s parents. As my mother hugged me, she asked, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine Mom.”, I replied.

“From what I heard earlier, you had a rough time.”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“Your Aunt Ruth.”

“Oh God. Why did she tell you?”

“Honey. Your Aunt Ruth was very worried about you. She told me all about the guy.”

“Mom. I’m fine. It’s over with, and I want to try to forget it.”

“I understand, honey. But you knew there were people like that.”

“Mom.”, Amy said. “This guy just came out of nowhere and attacked Kai. It happened so quickly that neither of us could react. But the one desk clerk handled it very quickly.

“And with the guy ending up on the same airplane that we did gave us a real scare. But since it was Tom flying back there was no way that he’d recognize him. Besides the Albuquerque police got to him before we took off.”

“Your aunt told me most of this. And it scared the heck out of me when she did.”

“I know Mom.”, I said. “I had a flashback to the beating I had on campus. And I thought it was going to happen all over again.”

“Honey you need to be more careful.”

“Mom, I try. But this guy must have heard me talking to Amy’s friend Patty and her husband, and when he saw me again, he just overreacted.

“Let’s stop talking about this and talk about better things.”

“One last thing.”, my dad said. “Your uncle told us, that they figure that if he’d made it to Dallas that he wouldn’t have come this way. He lives outside of Chicago and would have gone that way.”

Our parents took us out to dinner, and we filled them in on everything that we had done, that wasn’t too personal. We told them about Patty and her husband showing up. About the lady that did our hair in fancy braids. About our meeting with some of the tribal elders. And about our massages.

Then we told them about what Aunt Ginny had found out about my Great-Great-Grandfather Kilchii Nez. And when I mentioned that his name was Kilchii Nez, my mother looked at me, and said, “Wait. Your uncle gave you the Navajo name of Kai Nez. Didn’t he?”

“Yes.”, I replied.

“Did he know about Kilchii Nez before he did?”

“No.”

“Did he ever say why he chose that name for you?”

“All he said was that it came to him that night when we were at the bonfire.”

“That’s a strong spiritual place. Isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. And I know that very well.”

Then as Amy pulled the framed picture of Kilchii Nez out of a bag that she was carrying and showed it to everyone, she said, “This is Kilchii Nez. And it appears that he was a well-known silversmith.”

“And Mom.”, I added. “That picture is yours. Aunt Ginny made one for each of us.”

My mother took the picture, looked at it, and said, “I don’t believe this. But it’s wonderful to know something about your ancestry.”

Then we told them about our trip to Taos and meeting a silversmith that gave us a lot of information on Grandfather Nez. Him calling Grandfather Nez an old master, and thinking very highly of his work.

I also explained the signing of pieces by the silversmith. Amy had worn the silver feather earrings that grandma had given me. She removed one and showed everyone the hallmark on the back.

Everyone had a good laugh over how we handled the collector that wanted to buy my Concho belt. But they were all shocked when I told that the silversmith in Taos had appraised that belt at over five hundred dollars. We told them that it just wasn’t the silver in the belt, which was sterling, but also the turquoise stones, the quality of the work, and who the silversmith was.

Then I dropped the bomb. I asked my mother, “Mom. Do you think that you could teach us some Navajo so we could at least be somewhat conversational in it?”

“Sure.”, my mom said. “Can I ask why?”

“Well. … Amy and I have talked about going back out next summer if we can. And ... maybe moving to New Mexico once we graduate.”

Our parents just looked at us, and then I saw my mother slowly get a smile, as she said, “I was wondering about you two. You appeared to like it out there.”

“We do.”, Amy said. “It’s beautiful, and for the most part, the people we’ve met were very friendly. We just love it there.”

“Honey.”, Amy’s mother said. “I know you were thinking of getting your master’s degree. What about that?”

“We stopped at the University of New Mexico’s School of Nursing and talked with them. And they do have a graduate program. And the hospital there is always looking for nurses.”

“Tom.”, my Dad asked. “What about jobs for someone with your degree?”

“I haven’t looked into those.”, I replied. “But that area is growing, and there should be jobs. Plus I could work on my master’s degree out there too.”

It was quiet for a minute or so, then Amy’s Dad said, “You kids are serious about this. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, Daddy.”, Amy said. “We are. We’ve talked about it. And feel it would be a good place for us.”

Then her Dad looked at me, and said, “Going to take my little girl away from me. Aren’t you?”

“Daddy.”, Amy said. “Tom and I made this decision together. He wondered if I might like to move to New Mexico after we graduate. And I told him that I would. And we decided to talk to the four of you about it.”

“Sir.”, I said. “This isn’t set in stone. So it’s still up for discussion. We have two years to finalize our decision. And many things can happen.”

“You’re right Tom.”, Amy’s father said. “And nothing should stand in the way of your happiness.”

“And Daddy.”, Amy said. “Remember that you can always come out and visit. And we’ll come home to visit too.”

To change the subject, I looked at my Dad, and said, “Dad. I have a project for us.”

“Oh.”, my Dad replied. “And what is that?”

“You remember the tree on the cliff that was hit by lightning?”

“Yes.”

“I picked up a number of the branches that were left. And I think I have enough to make frames for the clan membership certificates that Amy and I have. Plus for the frames for the two pictures of Grandfather Nez. It would help make them a set with the Navajo Nation certificate.”

“You packed all of that back with you?”

“It wasn’t that much. But, yes I did.”

“Why?”

“I felt something for the wood. And after I’d collected it, I knew that I needed to burn one piece of it in the bonfire and I did. And I also felt that I needed to bring the rest of it home and use it as frames for the certificates.

“I did ask Naainish why I’d felt that I needed to burn that piece of wood. He told me that I had felt the spirit of the tree and that it needed to be released, so I’d tossed that one branch into the fire to release it.”

“You felt that the wood had a spirit?”

“Yes, sir.”

“So you’d like to make frames out of what left of the tree?”

“Yes.”

“Might be a good project for us. And it would complement the membership certificate from the Navajo Nation.”

When we got back to my parent’s house, we gave our parents the gifts that we’d purchased. My father loved his fly fishing set we got him, and he said that now he'd have to buy a rod and reel. My mother and mother-in-law loved the turquoise rings that we got them, and my father-in-law liked the leather belt with a silver and turquoises buckle that we got him.

Later when Amy and I were alone, I said, “I think your Dad was a little unhappy with our idea of moving to New Mexico after graduation.”

“Maybe a little.”, Amy said. “I’m his little girl. But I think once he thinks about it for a little while that he’ll understand that it’s what we want. And accept it.”

“I hope.”

“He will.”

* * * * * *

On Friday morning, after breakfast, Amy and I took a walk. We walked the lake trail at the park. When we reached the bench, our bench, we sat. Nothing was said for a short time. Then Amy said, “You know if we move to New Mexico, we won’t be able to come here.”

“I know.”, I replied. “But we might be able to find another place out there, a place that makes us feel like this one does.”

“A safe place?”

“Yes.”

As we sat there, the two Eagles flew in. One landed on the old telephone pole, and the other landed at the top of an old tree. Amy and I just looked at them and them at us. Finally, I whispered. “I see our old friends are still here.”

“It’s nice to see them here.”, Amy whispered. “I’ll miss them if we move.”

“Me too. But we can always come back to visit.”

Later the gang of six, Amy and I, Maria and Mark, and Larry and Kelly, we're getting together. We met up at the pavilion in the park and sat at a picnic table and talked. We filled them in on everything that happened in New Mexico. Their interest was peaked when I told them that I spent the whole week as Kai. And that Amy and I had become members of a clan and that I had become a member of the Navajo Nation. We also told them about the site seeing that we did, the shopping, and other things.

When we finished our story, Maria said, “What you guys did makes what we did sound like nothing.”

“Sometimes.”, I said. “I wish our lives weren’t so complicated.”

“You love it.”, Larry said. “It’s just the continuation of curious Tommy.”

“You might be right.” I looked at Amy, and said, “Should I tell them?”

“Might as well.”, Amy replied.

Maria looked at Amy, grinned, and said, “You’re pregnant.”

Amy gave her a nasty look, and said, “No.”

Then I said, “We made a stop at the University of New Mexico.”

“Why did you do that?”, Maria asked.

“Amy is thinking of doing her master's there.”

“What? You … You’d have to move out there. You can’t do that.”

“Why not?”, Amy asked.

“First of all.”, Larry said. “I want Tom to be my best man.”

“And I want Amy to be my maid of honor.”, Maria said.

“No problem.”, Amy said. “We’ll just come back.”

“You’d better.”, Kelly said.

“Have you set a date?”, Amy asked.

“The summer after Larry graduates.”

“We may still be here.”

I saw Maria and Mark look at each other. And I asked, “Have you two set a date yet?”

“Sort of.”, Maria replied.

“Sort of?”

“We're talking about next summer.”

“Can’t wait?”, Amy, with a smile, asked.

“It’s hard.”

“It is. Isn’t it. We couldn’t.”

“I know.”, Maria said, “You came back from that wedding in Minnesota, and it wasn’t much later that you two tied the knot.”

“That may have been the final straw.”, Amy said. “But I’d been thinking about it for a long time.”

“Since Tom gave you a ring?”

“No. Since that day I kissed Tommy at the park when I came back from Minnesota.”

Don’t ask me why, but after we had dinner at one of our favorite places, we went bowling. We are either gluttons for punishment, or we have a lot of fun. But as usually happens, no always happens, Kelly beat the pants off of us. And I’ll vote for having fun.

After we’d finished bowling, the six of us headed to our favorite drive-in for something to drink. It was a beautiful night, so we put the top down on the ‘57 Chevy, and all piled into it. The three girls in the back seat and the three guys in the front seat. We left Larry’s and Mark’s cars at the bowling alley.

As we pulled into the drive-in, I decided to cruise around the building a couple of times before parking. So we joined everyone else that was cruising the parking lot. I finally parked, and one of the carhops ran out and took our orders. As we wait for our drinks and snacks, we talked.

Larry commented that Dr. Grunewald was hosting a seminar on transsexuals and cross-dressers and that he was going to present his paper as part of it. I looked at him, and asked, “Your paper is good enough to present at something like this?”

He just nodded yes. But Kelly said, “He’s a little reluctant to say how good it was, but Dr. Grunewald told him that it was at least good enough for a master’s thesis and that it was close to a doctoral thesis.

“And parts of it were published in one of the psychology publications and it received some good comments.”

I looked at Larry, and said, “Larry, why didn’t you tell us.”

“It’s nothing.”, Larry said.

“I think it is.”

“It’s not. It was a fun thing to do. It was work, but I learned a number of things. I especially learned things about my best friend. So it was worthwhile.”

“I kept telling him it was a great paper.”, Kelly said. “But he keeps telling me it was nothing.”

“Larry.”, Amy said. “From what I read it was excellent. And you touched not only on Tommy and his two spirits but got into what the native tribes feel about the half-male half-female people.”

Maria asked, “Who is this Dr. Grunewald?”

“She’s the doctor that helped Tom after he was beaten up, and met Tammy when she hypnotized Tom.”

“Oh her. I remember that, and what a surprise it was to her when Tammy appeared. Has she met Tammy in person?”

“No.”, I replied.

“Hmm.”, Larry said. “You wouldn’t want to come to the seminar would you or at least that session?”

“Why would I?”

“Maybe to learn some things. And see if Dr. Grunewald remembers you. At least come to the session where my paper is being presented?”

“Maybe go as Tammy.”, Amy said.

“Why?”, I asked.

“So that Dr. Grunewald can meet her in person.”

“Maybe we, you and I, could go to that session.”

“I’d do that. But I think it would be fun if Tammy went with me.”

“I don’t know.”

“Could be interesting.”, Kelly said.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Okay.”, Larry said. “I’ll get you into that session.”

“And when is this seminar?”

“Next Friday and Saturday. And the session that you need to be at is after lunch on Saturday.”

“We can do that?”, Amy said.

The following week, Amy and I started taking a self-defense course through the university. It turned out to be a regular karate course, and there were fifteen people in the course, and I was the only guy. We liked the instructor and how he taught. So we figured that this would be fun.