Cutting Scenes - The Fine Line

“My … secret … my—”
Emily O’Brien rolled the cigarette in her fingers aimlessly
and leaned closer to Betty Ross, as if they were discussing a
conspiracy that reached into the highest levels of the
government.
“Oh come now Betty, don’t be coy with me, please. Just tell
me what brand of poison you used to get rid of those pesky ants.
They’re all over my house too. Bob says it must be some sort of
a secret Indian herb that you use?”
Betty Ross smiled languidly at her neighbor and shook her
head. “Well Emily you could say that that is what it is, but
it’s not a herb and it’s really not much of a secret, not among
the Cherokees anyway.”
“Oh? Oh, you’re, you’re part Cherokee then?”
“Yes, my mother is an Anidjiskwa.”
“An an-nadish …” I thought you said she was a Cherokee,
Betty?”
“Yes, she is, she’s a full-blooded Cherokee and a member of
the Anidjiskwa—it is the Bird Clan— my ancestors were members of
the Raven Clan, a clan that is now called the Bird Clan. She has
taught me many things, only one of which is that we must live in
harmony with all creatures and if you treat the ants in your
house as you would treat human beings who were guests in your
home they honor your wishes.”
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