The hearthmother sat at the fire in the dark grinding ochre since her knees no longer allowed her to squat. She said "What do you want" to the naked boy creeping up to the fire. He started like a rabbit and almost fled for this hearthmother had a fearsome reputation among the boys. But gathering his courage he crept up into her view. When she nodded irritably across the sacred fire from her he scurried over and squatted there. He sat there for a while shivering, staring into the flame while she ground ochre. After a good long time she said, "Well what is it? You look well fed enough to me and I'm not hungry." He flinched. "Surely your not ready for coupling?" He blushed a ferocious red and almost died then and there. She snorted, "Not that you couldn't do better than me I'm sure if you were ready for coupling." This would have killed him but she reached across the hearth and took his chin in her hand. "You're a likely looking lad, what is it you want?" He whispered something and she snapped, "Speak up, the years have snatched away my hearing." She stopped and spoke softer admiring the boy's courage. "What is it that you want?" He cleared his throat and spoke loud enough to be heard, "Why do women bleed?" The hearthmother snorted, "Everyone bleeds if you cut them or break them." The boy looked terrified again and said quietly, "Why do women bleed," he paused, "in their women parts?" It was the hearthmother's turn to be shocked. "And what business is that of yours manchild? That is sacred women's business, none of yours." She looked very angry and the boy looked ready to flee again but then she smiled. "I am an old woman and perhaps I can tell you a story". He looked very excited at this as the hearthmother was known to be the best story teller and made himself comfortable. "You know that once upon a time men and women were joined together face to face. Well Trickster Squirrel separated us with a tool he had borrowed from the Stone Man and we've been apart ever since except when we couple." The boy turned bright red again and the hearthmother stifled a smile. "Well Trickster Squirrel had to sew up the wounds he caused and created a woman's and a man's parts." She snorted, "Messy job, puckered holes and dangly bits. Just like a male to botch the job. If Hearthmother had done it the sewing would have been done properly." She looked dreamily for a moment, "Of course men and women wouldn't have quite as much fun as they do then so maybe that's not so bad." The boy grimaced as though remaining where he squatted was agony. The hearthmother shook her head, "Anyway, men and women spend quite a bit of time trying to get back together and quite enjoy it. Now men, they try it and then they're satisfied. Not so women. We miss the togetherness so that twice a season our private parts weep tears of blood to show how sad they are." She lowered her head. The boy squatted there horrified and whispered, "Is that true?" The hearthmother raised her head and stared at him, "What do you think?" He let terror take him away into the dark and the snickering laughter of the hearthmother filled the air.
Oliver
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