CANOES FROM THE SKY Living in the Guanahani tribe life was very simplistic; each new day

was the same as the last. I would wake up with the sun and help mom clean the hut from last nights dinner, maybe go with dad to collect firewood and fruits and hunt that I would carry, I would then spend the rest of the day playing with my friends. Little did I know that our peaceful way of life was about to change. It all began late one evening. I was sleeping when I heard some commotion down at the shore. Most of the village was on the beach looking out at the sea. The dim light from the barely rising sun revealed what I could only think to describe as a giant canoe, as that is the only thing that I know to travel on the sea, like whenever the men of the tribe go fishing. But these were different large white cloths attached to them it was a very peculiar looking spectacle. As they came closer we saw that there were three of them. They finally came to a gradual stop at the edge of the bay, and then we saw men climb out into smaller canoes and paddle to shore, but we could tell that these were no ordinary men. Upon reaching the shore they all jumped out. They seemed relived, they were shouting, dancing and some even kissed the ground! One of the men came forward and planted a short stick into the ground with a brightly colored cloth attached to the top, as he did this he shouted La Naviadad! It was very strange the way they acted. The chief said that we must go and meat these men and show them hospitality. So everyone gathered all the finest of our fruits and cassava and corn and went down to the shore to meet the strange visitors. Getting closer to the men only made them seem stranger, their bodies were covered with cloth varied in color. They also had these shiny flat things fastened to their chests, arms and legs and long flat sharp looking things tied to their waists. They had pale white skin, it looked very

unnatural. Their eyes were varied in color some had eyes as blue as the sky and others as green as the trees. We were all surprised to see that they had hair growing from their faces and arms. Despite how they appeared, one by one we each gave them an offering. Some of the villagers thought that they were Gods. I dint know what to think of them. The only thing I thought was that they were nothing like anything I had ever seen before. We showed them great hospitality offering them food and fresh water. In return they gave us the most beautiful colored cloth and smooth stones that were clear and shone like stars. That was tree years ago. Since then they have cleared away our village, killed off or enslaved most of the tribe. Brought sickness to those who werent lucky enough to be killed or worked to death. They came and conquered our island that was their plan all along. My mom is dead and I dont know where dad is. As for me, I am now chained to a giant canoe on my way to who knows were. I have since let go of all of what has transpired but I cant help but wonder if we somehow knew that these terrible things were going to happen what would we have done differently?

by Vuai Fermin