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Show 126 Chua found Toho near the dry riverbed cutting willows for the prayer sticks. "Most of the willows were destroyed by the raging water," Toho said. Chua ran his fingers up and down the long willows that were left. Many of them were scarred. They cut the willows and then divided them into lengths that measured from their wrists to their elbows. In the afternoon the boys filled small comhusk pouches with com meal, a little com pollen and a drop of honey. Chua knew these small food baskets were fir c\() *• symbolic of nourishment for the spiritual body. Y ^ Other young boys gathered the turkey feathers and the wool string. Mongwi brought the eagle feathers to finish the pahos. \& Each day Chua learned more about the spiritual nature of the Hopi and his gods. This was a time of beginning in his life. ft When Ahote was gone, Chua could feel himself letting go of fear and feeling peace. When he thought of Ahote, the fear came back. Each day Chua watched the skies for Chosovi, but the bird did not come to him. Each day his mother was safe. Each day she was glad to see him when he returned home. 1 J „ ^ < Chua listened to his mother's heavy breathing as her head lay on the old ^[u?o>p> O u t f i t LO$h KJ^, ragged sheepskin sho had carried with her from her childhood. He could see his little brother's heel kick his mother's belly. |