For a synopsis of my historical fiction novel “ECHOES AT EHKOLA”, click here. Books – Keith Canedo
Klahanie Dufresne, or Kloe, as she was called by her friends, sat in the classroom at Yesler Elementary, in the International District of Seattle. She was feeling a little apprehensive and not really understanding why. It was the Friday before her eighth birthday in 1980, but celebrating was the furthest thing on her mind. It hadn’t even been ten months since her parents, James and Misty mysteriously vanished, leaving a big hole in her heart. There was so much love within her family. One that included her grandfather Chikamen and grandmother Hyak, that accepted the responsibility of raising Kloe in the traditional and mystical ways of the Chinook.
She was a beautiful child with straight jet-black hair, big brown eyes and an olive skin complexion. Normally wearing her hair in two braids, she kept it long that day. The round glasses portrayed her as a studious type, but friends knew of her mischievous clever side as well. One thing agreed on by students and teachers alike, there wasn’t a mean bone in her body, she was extremely kind and sweet, always willing to help a friend.
Along with her thirty-five classmates she listened inventively to their teacher, Miss Levee as she began the history lesson. She must have been one-hundred years old, had stringy grey hair tied up in a bun and wire rimmed glasses resting on the tip of her beak-like nose. Her body and voice reminded the kids of Ursula from The Little Mermaid, but with a heart of gold. Being a somewhat meager inner-city public school required the kids to share textbooks. So, her Houghton-Mifflin Social Studies copy was shared with her best friend Hudson Henry. During the silent reading time Kloe would always have to wait for him to catch up.
“Sorry Kloe,” Hudson whispered.
“It’s okay Hudson, I don’t mind,” she responded with a smile. Theirs was a special friendship and anyone could plainly see how much Hudson adored her. Miss Levee continued . . .