Week 2 Story: A Navajo Díne

Long Exposure Traffic Light By: Lucas Zimmermann

It was an unusually dark night as the Begay family was making their way back home…..

They had just come from spending the whole day with grandma and grandpa. Before they left, grandma was begging them not to get on the road that late, for the moon was approaching mid sky and bad things tend to roam that late. The father insisted on getting back home since he had work the next day. So Grandpa, the mother’s dad, went back inside their home to get yellow corn pollen to bless the family on their way but little to his luck they had already gotten into the car. He noticed out the corner of his eye the little one’s doll and quickly said a blessing and ran it out to the car. The little one was no more than two years old and had already fallen asleep so he tucked the soft doll right under her arm. He then told his daughter to head home fast, keep straight and not to look back. Because of being in such rush, she didn’t have a chance to answer him for the car was pulling away.

….They had to travel through a small town which still had dirt roads and only two stop lights. As they approached the first light they noticed a figure standing on the side of the road. The dad pointed out the figure and how it appeared to be a man with a breechcloth on and a fur cloak. His feet were bare and hair was long and covering his face. As they pulled up to the light which he stood the dad kept staring at him as if trying to figure out who the man was and what he was wearing. The mom sat staring forward not wanting to look. The mysterious man approached the car and just as the light turned green and they began to drive away, they heard what sounded like a scratching on the side of the car. The dad then decided to look in the rearview mirror to see check to see if the man was still there and the mom looked out the side mirror…

…The car rolled to a stop at the second light only to have just the little one inside fast asleep.

Moral of the story is to accept blessings and listen to your elders.




Author’s Note:

I wrote this story after reading The Indian Who Wrestled With A Ghost. The story inspired me to tell a supernatural Navajo story and how these native stories have shaped the daily beliefs of many Native Americans today. I decided to create my own story instead of going off the original because I saw the original as an inspiration and not as a guide in this case. I do hope you enjoyed!

(No Bibliography needed/Story Personally Created)