Where Is My Soul?

"Ancient One," Meredith said respectfully, "the Anasazi said I must discover my soul first before I could save the world. Do you know where I can find my soul?" 

"Yes, she is here," he said in his wheezing voice.

The Surprise

Just then a human child emerged from the rear of the cloud hut. She appeared to be about six years old, was smiling and fair, with blond hair like Meredith's, only lighter. She wore a gold cotton smock over her halter and loincloth.

There's something familiar-looking about her, Meredith thought.

"Is it time for the surprise yet?" asked the girl.

"It won't be a surprise if you give it away," said the old Kokopelli, smiling kindly, "but youth is ever impatient. I suppose now is as good a time as any. Go ahead."

Meredith was fascinated. Who is this child? Why does she remind me of myself?

Sweet Chariot

The girl stood at attention as if on rehearsal, then opened her mouth and began to sing. It was a simple tune, one that Meredith knew instantly. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

The song Mrs. Gulliver, her elementary school principal, had always led the students in singing at Assembly. A song Meredith had sung so many times she could sing it in her sleep.

The girl's voice was a clear sweet alto, combining the sounds of heaven and earth. Meredith listened transfixed, then joined in singing,     

Swing low, sweet chariot
comin' for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot, 
comin' for to carry me home.

A Band of Angels

The child paused for breath and beamed a sweet cherubic smile before she continued. Meredith sang along.  

I crossed over Jordan and what did I see, 
comin' for to carry me home? 
A band of angels comin' after me, 
comin' for to carry me home.

"Yes," Meredith cried ecstatically, waving her arms toward the Kokopelli. "That's it, you're angels. You must be angels. Cloud folk who sing gospel songs. I'm dead, I've gone to heaven." She laughed so hard she cried.

Found My Soul

The tears streamed down Meredith's face and fell onto the misty clouds. Meredith jumped and ran to embrace the young girl, then held her at arm's length to admire. "Yes, you are my soul! I've found you at last."

"I have been waiting for you, Meri, hoping you would come," said the girl, snuggling up to Meredith and hugging her in return.

"You left," said Meredith tentatively, "just before puberty."

"No," said her soul, "I never left you. You put aside your childish ways, but I have always been with you. You have trouble seeing me sometimes, but I am that part of you that you have been trying to find again." Again the sunlight grew intense, and the gentle breeze came to steal away the heat.

Kiva in the Sky

The Old Kokopelli laboriously lowered himself onto a cloud cushion, folded his legs under and sighed. He placed his cane on his lap, and Meredith could see that it was actually an extremely long pipe. The others sat down in a circle around the fire, drew pipes from sheaths at their waists and held them on their laps.  

"Here, sit beside me, Buffalo Calf, and your Soul Child, too." He motioned to Meredith, who sat beside him holding her medicine bundle in her lap.

The Soul Child took her place on Meredith's other side. 

As they sat silently in the circle, Meredith began to notice something unusual. The clouds were swelling up around them, rising to form the sides and dome of a circular shelter. It was as if an invisible mason were piling up cotton bricks, one by one, in rows that raised the walls higher at each go round. It began to look like a kiva in the sky.