I could feel danger in the air.To bad! I had enjoyed the river so much. As I was about to get dressed, the older Indian boy made a sign for me not to. He motioned me to take off what I had on, so I did. The younger boy showed up with a bowl full of red seeds, the same color as the spots they had on their bodies. They both started to paint me. They painted the back of my hands. My chest. My thighs. My chin, my forehead and my cheeks. I was full of red spots. It was a shame I couldnΓÇÖt see myself in a mirror. I was a bit fairer than the other boys, but besides that, there wasn't much difference.
At least for a second I felt like a real Indian. It felt great. It was as if for a moment I wasn't just a boy. I was a bit alligator, wildcat, spider, ant, bird, monkey.
