Why There Are Stars in the Sky

by Missy D.

A young boy named Mikasa lay on his back, staring up at those dots in the sky called stars.

"They're so bright!" Mikasa exclaimed as he stood up and brushed himself off. He walked into a
longhouse where a very old woman, named Onawa, lived.

"Grandmother, why are there stars in the sky?" Mikasa asked

"Ah, Mikasa, my grandson, it is a long story that a very wise man told me, and I shall now tell you." Mikasa sat down on the dirt floor to listen. "Once a very long time ago, there were four brothers, Sondo, Tokola, Ahanu, and Russom. They were known as "The Star Pack" because of the first initial of each of their names. The star pack weren't good people though, because they disrespected their elders and the Maker. They were very selfish, always stealing, and sometimes even starting fires.

One day the Maker appeared in front of the brothers. "Sondo, Tokola, Ahanu, and Russom! You must stop ruining my land, and stealing, and being disrespectful! If you don't stop you shall be horribly punished!" The Maker boomed, but the brothers just turned their heads away. "Fine, suit yourself!" The Maker shouted, and then he vanished. That night the brothers killed a deer just to eat among themselves. They then
stole two bear skin blankets. The Maker stood in front of them furiously, and grabbed Sondo

"Put me down! Please! Please put me down!" Sondo yelled in fear. The Maker shook his head then placed him back on the ground.

"Everyday and night the four of you disrupt my people, you take their food, you steel their cloths, I will spare you punishment, if you promise to stop. This is your last chance." The Maker informed them, and then vanished, just as he did before. The next day the brothers tried very hard to be good citizens, but they soon grew very bored and hungry.

" I'm so bored," Tokola moaned.

"And I'm so hungry," Russom grunted.

"You heard what the Maker said, didn't you? We must be good or else we will be terribly punished." Sondo declared.

"Ah yes, but if we hunt with caution. . ." Tokola mentioned.

"No." Ahanu interrupted. "In the Mohawk tribe we share, we will have a meal soon." "What's one rabbit? There are plenty of other rabbits, as well as squirrels and deer and wild turkey in this land. If we eat just one, no one will mind." Tokola stated. After some thought, they all agreed, and they went to their longhouse to get their bows and arrows. After they caught their rabbit, Ahanu moaned, "Ouch! My moccasin ripped!" They decided to steal just one pair of moccasins, hoping no one would notice. It was dark out when the brothers were finishing their dinner. When the maker saw what had happened, he darted down to earth in fury. "STAR PACK!" he yelled, "I gave you your last chance!" He grabbed Tokola. Tokola shrieked in fear and struggled to get himself free. The maker pulled his arm back slowly and then threw Tokola into the air where the sky grabbed his body and wouldn't let go. He did the same to Sondo, Ahanu, and Russom, until they were all trapped by the sky for all eternity. Every now and then, a few new stars will appear in the sky
because they were as terrible as the Star pack brothers.

"So you see my Grandson, that is why stars are in the sky."

My story teaches that you should never steal, be disrespectful, or waste, and that you should always keep any promise you make, whether they're large or small.

 

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