15. Plot Twist

Siblings & Subterfuge

Until you realize how easy it is for your mind to be manipulated, you remain the puppet of someone else’s game. ― Evita Ochel

In many Native American tribes, personality traits are attributed to different animals. These characteristics represent their “medicine”, their meaning when you encounter them either in life or a dream. For example, a dog represents loyalty, a deer gentleness, a turtle is introspection, and a coyote is a trickster. A trickster is someone who can not be trusted, who is not as they appear to be and who can convince you to do things you might otherwise not do. At this time in my life, I encountered coyote medicine in a few different ways.

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During the summer before fourth grade, we moved to a farmhouse in North Blue Hill. By now, tensions were very high between my mother and Bruce. They audibly argued constantly. My mother had her hands full with baby Jacob and managing Bruce’s temper which had a violent edge at times. I recognized that there was now even less attention for me. Even though I couldn’t fully comprehend the dynamics of an adult marriage, I accepted the status quo and retreated inward as I had always done.