Relationship Difficulties

Author’s Note: These prompts are my attempt at working on writing fiction. I may not always follow the cards exactly, but it is me writing fiction. The comments about the clan system and being related are very true in many of our Tribal Nations in Minnesota.

Stop Talking — Cards against normality prompt: Change Relationships. Consider other ways your characters could be related, both now and in the past.

Picture your hero on a date with each of the major characters in the story. Where would they go? What would the end of the night be like?

If all the major characters in your story were part of a single family, who would have what role? What would the arguments be?

Pick two supporting characters and imagine them as dogs or cats. How would the story change?

Highland 2

Sarah has a huge extended family, and it is because her parents came from a family of ten and twelve siblings. While Sarah's siblings were only half of that, five and with her that was six kids in the family.

In addition, she is Native American from a tribe that follows the clan system. That means that you don't marry your clan member, even though there may be no blood relationship.

In the clan system, you are considered siblings with other clan members. Sarah and George went out to a Indigenous People's Day event. It was great as the event included three elders from the community.

One talked about food contributions, one of them did a show and tell of wood items used in everyday life and the third person talked about wild rice. While there Sarah and George met Sam, and Wilson, who were two of George's cousins. Wilson was one of the elders who had the wood items he explained.

When Sarah and George returned to Sarah's house, she invited George in for cards. There was a card game going on, and the family was competitive and happy to have a new person to beat at cards. Well, you have heard of beginners luck. Soon the game ended and George went home.

Sarah's mother Joan soon had many questions for her, but the first one was what George's last name is and what is his clan. Sarah knew his last name but didn't think to ask his clan. The next time she asked he was the same clan as her and that meant that they were brother and sister.

Which meant they could be friends but nothing else. Two days later she got a call from Sam. Sam was not the same clan and wanted to know if Sarah would be interested in going out with him.

Sam had spoken with George and found out they were the same clan. Sarah agreed and it went smoothly and they would see each other again.

However, when she told her mother Sam's last name, there was a knowing frown on her face. He was a Smith. Since there are a lot of Smith's in this world, she would have to ask about his parent and grandparents names and where they are from.

It was happening again. Was it possible Sarah thought. Then she said to herself, if he is related, I am not going to marry a Native man. I will go outside my race and only date, Asian, Black or White men.

Even though her parents talked to her and each of her siblings about marrying a Native person, she wondered if it was even possible. Then she thought about maybe leaving the area. She could go away to school in another state.

In another part of the country, just like her sister did when she went to a Native American art school. There she met and married her husband, and she has two wonderful children.

That is it. My plan is to go to college in another state. That is settled.

The next day she was talking with Sam and found out that they were not related and that she could continue to date him. Her plans for leaving the state did not go out the window but were on hold for now.

One year later Sarah and Sam were married. He was a great addition to the family, and they were very much in love. George was the best man at their wedding. And Sarah knew they would live happily ever after.

Sarah decided that she would save the idea of going to college out of state for the children they would have, just in case!