Portfolio: When the Storm God Rides

Joey and Elliot couldn't have been more excited to spend the Fourth of July weekend at the beach with their entire family. It was a family reunion that was held every ten years, so this was the twins' first time, as they had just turned eight. They peered out opposite windows as their father drove over the channel in the direction of the sea wall. Although the water wasn't crystal-clear, they still couldn't wait for that first jump into the gulf. Joey and Elliot had been coming to Galveston since they were babies, but something about this trip was going to be different.

As soon as they arrived at the house they had rented, the twins leapt out of the car and scrambled upstairs to claim the best room before the rest of the family got there. They threw their bags on the bunk beds and immediately changed into their swim trunks.

“Last one in the water’s a rotten egg!” Elliot yelled to Joey and the boys took off racing towards the vast Gulf of Mexico.

The water was cooler than normal with what seemed like a storm brewing in the distance. The twins played undistracted in the water and sand for two hours, until they heard the voice of their mother telling them to come in before the weather got any worse. They looked up at the sky, wondering how long they would have to wait inside. It was an odd color, somewhere between blue and yellow, but not quite green. As they ran into the house, the thunder began. They barely made it to the door before the skies started to open up. They ran up the stairs, slipping all over the hardwood. The entire family was in either the kitchen or the family room, with a grand total of 51 people. Some of the cousins had brought their partners and others came solo. No matter, everyone was laughing and talking all at the same time. Although the circumstances weren't ideal, Joey and Elliot couldn’t wait to meet everyone.

Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

They scanned the crowd and met the gaze of an elderly man sitting in an enormous leather chair in the corner of the family room. He had long gray hair that almost touched his belly button and wrinkles that seemed to tell a story within themselves. In front of him sat a group of about twenty children and the old man gestured for the boys to come over. They nervously looked at each other and then back at their mother who was standing behind them.

“That’s your great-grandfather, boys. We all call him Chief, but don’t be nervous. He’s very kind and also happens to be the best storyteller in the entire family,” she whispered and nudged them in his direction.

The twins sat behind two younger cousins and looked around at the other children who were absorbed in a story that seemed to be coming to an end. “…and that is why the hummingbirds drink dew,” breathed Chief in a raspy, yet hypnotizing voice.

Suddenly, a paralyzing horn screamed from the TV and a woman’s voice alerted everyone that there was now a hurricane warning in effect. They were ordered to seek shelter away from the beach immediately. This hurricane could potentially be the worst Galveston had seen in the past five years and could hit land any minute.

Joey and Elliot’s father attempted to calm down the now anxious group, but he eventually resorted to whistling. Everyone’s heads twisted toward him and he cleared his throat. “I know this is scary, especially for those of us who haven’t experienced a hurricane before, but please don’t worry. We made sure that the house we rented would be equipped with everything we would need if something like this were to happen. There’s a hurricane shelter in the basement under the garage, so let’s try to be calm about this…” He couldn’t finish his sentence before adults and children were running down the stairs and outside into the underground shelter. Joey and Elliot made their way to the storm shelter with the remaining kids and with Chief leading the pack. They had heard a little bit about Chief’s stories from their mother and they couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hear one for themselves. The shelter was much more spacious than expected and Chief led the children to a large couch in the corner. They all got comfortable, never taking their eyes off the mysterious, timeless man.

“I’m sure you all know, but we are all a part of the Tejas tribe,” he began. Joey and Elliot were aware of this, but didn’t really know much about the tribe or its culture. “All the stories I tell are from Native American tribes, but there is nothing I enjoy more than a good Tejas tale. I think it’s only fitting that I tell the story of the hurricane and the Storm God who brings it,” Chief started. He then mesmerized the children with the incredible story of the Storm God and his bird Hurakan for the next 30 minutes.

As the story came to a close, Chief finished by saying, "The Storm God would ride on his giant bird Hurakan, which would make the entire sky dark when he flew over the land. He first came in the shape of a cloud, which is the actual storm, and then he would fly overhead and pluck the colorful feathers from the birds for his cloak. The people were afraid of him, but eventually he was the one they had to turn to when their birds were being murdered by a neighboring tribe; and on days like today, the Storm God visits the coast through, what we know as a hurricane."

Almost at the same time, Joey and Elliot's father yelled, “It has passed!” Everyone cheered, but the children still looked to Chief to tell another story that would blow their minds.

Author’s Note: This story is based on the Tejas myth, “When the Storm God Rides.” The original story is about the derivation of the word “hurricane” and why hurricanes happen. The Storm God would ride on his giant bird Hurakan, which would make the entire sky dark when he flew over the land. He first came in the shape of a cloud, which is the actual storm, and then he would fly overhead and pluck the colorful feathers from the birds for his cloak. The people were afraid of him, but eventually he was the one they had to turn to when their birds were being murdered by a neighboring tribe. A difference between these children’s tales and other Native American myths is that they always have a positive message and outcome and they don’t include gruesome details of tragedies. The reality of life is not taken out of the myth. It is just told in a way that is sure to be enjoyable for children. Although the hurricane itself is a tragic disaster, the Storm God and Hurakan saved the birds and have been appreciated by the islanders ever since. I wanted to encompass the elements of these children's stories in a modern way. I thought about retelling the story in a different point of view, or possibly writing about the history of a famous animal rivalry. However, this idea popped into my head and I ran with it. I made sure to include Native American cultural references, such as the art of storytelling and family unity. I thought it was best to not have Chief tell the entire story, because I wanted to save space to tell my own unique rendition.

Bibliography: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton.