Time for Meditation (Sarissa tag Any)

[Sarissa Zouvelekis]

Sarissa decided to bring her lunch. She usually did. There was no way she would trust mystery meat. Forget it. Sarissa decided once again to sit outside under a shaded tree. She had a blanket to sit on. The wind was fierce, but she found a spot that seemed to semi block the wind. It was still very fierce but she had nothing that would blow away anyway. She had left over pasta from the night before and a soda, plus a bag of cookies.

Sari laid out the blanket and sat down Indian style. She decided to do a little meditation before she ate. It was always good for stress relief. This time she was using a Cherokee prayer blessing. So Sarissa began to speak in the native tongue, it was called Iroquoian.

"May the warm winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your moccasins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the rainbow
Always touch your shoulder."

Sarissa took in a deep breath when she was done. She always did things like this. Took time to basically just say a prayer and relax. It always worked. When Sarissa opened her eyes she found she was no longer alone, but someone had decided to join her, "And just how long have you been standing there?" Sarissa said with a laugh, "If you are going to watch me you might as well take a seat." Sarissa patted her blanket to motion for the person to join her.

Tag Any

[christophe]

Having had a bad experience in the school cafeteria yesterday Christophe had opted to bring in his own lunch today. The weather was far too balmy to eat it indoors and so he headed outside in search of an appropriate place to sit. All of the benches were already occupied and so he scanned the grassy area a little further from the main building. A tree. That would be nice.

He wandered over, belatedly noticing someone was already using its shade. A girl. Cross legged, eyes closed. Speaking in a language he'd never heard before.

It was beautiful.

He held his breath, not daring to move for fear of breaking the spell.

Finally she opened her eyes... and laughed slightly. "And just how long have you been standing there?" He went to reply but the girl spoke again. "If you are going to watch me you might as well take a seat." Sarissa patted her blanket to motion for the person to join her.

"As long as I'm not intruding," he said with a wry smile. "And I wasn't there for all that long. Just enough to hear you speaking. What language was that? I didn't recognise it. I am Christophe, by the way. Christophe Broussard."

[Sarissa Zouvelekis]

"You are never intruding. I am just sorry I have not met you sooner." Sarissa said laughing a little as she scooted over a little to make room. "Care for some food. My mother packed way to much pasta for me. Apparently she thinks I need to eat more." Sarissa pointed to herself. "I think I am just fine." She commented. Her mother always said either she was too fat or too skinny. Yet Sarissa only either lost or gained a pound now and then. She was very good about what she ate. This week her mother was on a Sarissa was too skinny trip.

If anyone had seen the show Sarissa had been on, they would have noticed that every interaction with her mother usually turned to weight. It was no wonder Sarissa was not anorexic or bulimic with all the criticisms of her mother. "Pleasure to meet you Christophe. My name is Sarissa." She offered her hand. "The language is called Iroquoian, its used among the Cherokee Indians. I am very big into Native American Culture. I was just saying a prayer before I eat." She told Christophe.

"I go to this reservation for the Apache sometimes and there they call me Mohini, it means enchantress. But Sarissa is fine for you, cause not many people can pronounce Mohini." She told him. "Are you knew, cause I have never met you before. Which is a real shame cause your kind of cute." Sarissa was a tad bit forward. Her voice rang out in laughter as she offered him a spare fork to share her food, if he wanted.

[christophe]

Christophe dropped down next to the girl when she made some space and he threw her a friendly smile. "I would have to agree with your estimation of yourself," he replied. "You do indeed look... just fine." He peered at the bowl of pasta. It did indeed look tempting and as Evan had eaten part of what had been meant to be his lunch Christophe wasn't about to decline. "Thank you," he said. "And it is an honour and a pleasure to meet you Sarissa. An unusual name. Is it of a Cherokee nature?" To him it didn't really sound all that Native American though... nor did she look of that race but then again, he was far from an expert in that department.

He shook her hand in return. "Ah so it was a prayer. It sounded fascinating I have to admit." He settled back more comfortably and listened as Sarissa told him about the reservation. "Mohini..." He made a decent enough attempt and thankfully didn't butcher her name too much. Enchantress. That's really lovely. I have been here for a few days only," he told her. "And yet already I seem to have made more friends than I ever did in either Paris or Whistler. Canada. I was in Canada before I came here but I was born in France." His accent had probably already given him away - at least where France was concerned.

He shot her a look of surprise when she referred to him as cute. Christophe had never thought of himself in that sort of light and he smiled back at her. Please? Perhaps but it came closer to gratitude.

He took the fork and speared a spiral of pasta, expressing his thanks once more. "I have to admit I know nothing about the Cherokee people or any other tribal races. It's not something we cover in Parisian schools but we did learn a little about the Inuit and the Haida people when I lived in British Columbia. Are they connected in any way to the Cherokee? And please forgive me for any ignorance. Can I blame it on being a European?" He laughed as he spoke, telling Sarissa - he hoped - that he was joking... At least, in part.

[Sarissa Zouvelekis]

"I wish...no. I am not Native American. I am Caucasian. I am just a big lover of Native American culture. i use to want to be an Indian princess when I was younger. I would read books on all the different Indian tribes, Cherokee and Apache are just a few I know about. There is an Apache reservation about an hour from here. I found one day when I was searching the web. I have been visiting for the past few years. It was hard getting a ride there, but now that I can drive makes it easier. They gave me the name Mohini."

Sarissa applauded his attempt, "Very close. It took me a while to learn pronunciation as well. Thank you. The chief who gave me the name said it was because I have such a passion for being an outside. Although I am no longer considered an outsider. i go there one, maybe two weekends each month to visit." Sarissa told Christophe. "I am glad you are finding friends. I know moving can be hard on anyone. So France and Canada, what were they like?" Sarissa was always curious about people. She loved to learn more.

Sarissa laughed, "If only you were a blond then you could use that excuse instead. But I guess I will accept European as an excuse" Sarissa said with a laugh. She smiled at him as she took a tiny bite and chewed, then swallowed before continuing on. "I could tell you so much about the Cherokee, Apache, Sioux, and there are many more to name. It is not something you learn in school, just something I found to be my own personal thing to enjoy. Everyone has a hobby." She shrugged and continued to smile at him. "What about you...what are your hobbies?"

[christophe]

"France is as different to Canada as would be cheese to chalk," he replied and he could maybe be forgiven for getting the term a little wrong as English wasn't his first language. "In Paris I lived in the shadows of the Sacre Coeur. Montmartre. The views across the city from the butte are breath-taking. You can asee all the way across the Seine, past the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame. All the landmarks normally associated with Paris but from Montmartre they all seem like miniature toys. Even the great river herself resembles more closely a silver-hued snake writhing across the entire width of the city. But Canada. So many open spaces. So many mountains. I spent most of my spare time out on the water at Nanaimo. My job there was to track a local orca pod. Alpha-3. They always used the Sound and so I got to know all the whales well enough to be able to recognise them by their tail flukes and dorsal fins." He threw Sarissa a wry smile. "I am not sure which place I miss the most as I love them both for different reasons."

"Your hobby sounds an admirable one," Christophe stated. "KNowing of indigenous people can only be a benefit in life. It shows an inborn respect for those around you. As for me... if it is to do with the sea then it will be called my hobby. I love the water. Being on it or in it. My passion is orcas and anything to do with them. One day I hope to be a marine biologist but..." He lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. "... that day is a long way off but after school today it could be one step closer. I have an interview. For a job. It is at the aquarium and working with the orcas they look after there. Perhaps you could say a small Cherokee prayer for me to bring me good fortune!" He'd take any help he could get.

[Sarissa Zouvelekis]

Sarissa smiled as Christophe talked. He had a way with words. Cheese and chalk, it almost made Sarissa laugh. But then he went in the views he saw and wanting to be a marine biologist. Sarissa liked to hear it all. He seemed very interesting. "Just the way you describe it sounds breath taking. I would love to visit France. Heck I would like to visit anywhere over seas." Sarissa loved the idea of traveling. "I have always imagined taking a cross country road trip over the US after graduation and visiting different Indian reservations. I want to be a historian specializing in Native American culture. I have teased with the idea of basically ending my career as a Professor, but I am not so sure." She explained.

"I am just looking forward to planning the summer. I will plan my future when my future gets here." She said to him. "A marine biologist...interesting. Have you even been snorkeling. I am sure they have that around here some where with Us being close to the beach. Or even para sailing. Now that would be fun." Sarissa would love to go that. She liked adventurous stunts like that.

"I promise to say a prayer, only if you come find me tomorrow and tell me how you did. Cause I would love to know about it." Sarissa would, she hoped he got the job. Christophe seemed so passionate about Marine biology she could see why the aquarium would be a good fit. "If you like the water so much does that mean you were a fish in a previous life?" Sarissa said laughing. "So what else besides being a sea animal whisperer do you enjoy?" She figured since he was a foreigner he might not get the sea animal whisperer part. Sarissa thought it was cute to see him looked confused.

[christophe]

"A cross country road trip... now that would be an adventure indeed." Christophe turned to face Sarissa so that he could watch her speaking. She was so animated. So devoted to her chosen future path. It was a pleasure to witness. "I have snorkelled yes," he replied. "But not tried para-sailing. That wasn't available up in British Columbia. The water is so cold. I have seen photographs of the activity and agree it looks very exciting. Perhaps we could try it together one day?"

"I thank you in advance for your prayer and of course I will find you tomorrow and tell you how it went." He frowned in bemusement when she went on to suggest he might ince have been a fish. "I would like to think so," he admitted. "The idea appeals to me. My maman keeps telling me that I don't have blood in my veins but instead there is salt water in them so perhaps you are right in that I was s fish before this." He laughed as he spoke, quite taken with that thought.

Her next comment, though, really threw Christophe for a loop and his forehead creased once more, this time in true confusion. A sea animal whisperer? "I don't think I have heard that term before. It doesn't mean really whispering to sea creatures... does it?" Maybe it did? "I am sure they can understand humans, though. Particularly the mammalian varieties. Dolphins and porpoises in particular are extremely intelligent. But other than that I really like to rock climb. It is a hobby I discovered since I arrived in Canada. There aren't a lot of rock faces in Paris... well, other than those ones you can find inside sports halls. I am hoping to take that up again here but haven't had a chance yet to look for a suitable place or club to join. Tell me, Sarissa. What do you do in you free time when you aren't helping at the reservation? Do you horse ride? I also like that but am afraid I am not very good at it!"

[Sarissa Zouvelekis]

"I have a feeling that the US has many things that you will enjoy, both indoors and outdoors." Sarissa said kind of cryptically. "I am up for para sailing, as long as the weather is beautiful outside. I cannot go this weekend, cause I am going to the reservation, but if you want to go one day after school, just let me know." Sarissa pulled out a piece of paper and wrote her number on it, and then pressed it into Christophe's hand. "That's my number. Please call, or text anytime...I am always up to have fun."

She nodded, "The good thing about being a fish, is at least you are never alone. Since you have said you made a few friends here since you moved, I would say a fish is an accurate assessment." She told him. Sarissa liked to believe in past lives and the next life. "I like to think we all have at least one past live, and that it plays a role in our present life, just like our present life will play a role in a future life."

She started laughing at the obvious confusion on his face, "It is a term for someone who is really good with training, and working with animals. Like Dog whisperer and Horse whisperer. Since you want to be a marine biologist, i figured sea animal whisperer, was a good fit. Or maybe I should just call you Flipper, or Willy." Sarissa liked Christophe. He was probably one of the first actually nice guys, who did not try and hit on her. it was nice.

"Besides emerging myself in Native American culture. I like adventure. I cannot stay still for long. I play volleyball, and I love to debate things. Its nice to have someone to talk about two different sides of an issue with. If you like rock climbing, I believe they have a rock climbing club here at school. As far as horse back riding goes, I love it. Horses are wonderful animals. I would never say no to attempting to rock climb or horse back ride. What else is there...i love art. I have two tattoos that I designed, I could spend all day drawing. I could name a lot more." Sarissa stretched her legs out and crossed one over the other. "So tell me are you always Mr. Nice guy...or is there a bad side to you as well?"

[christophe]

"D'accord," Christophe stated with a satisfied smile. "Then one afternoon we shall try this para-sailing together." He pocketed Sarissa's phone number and patted it to make sure it was safe. "And what you say is true as it is very rare to see a fish travelling alone. They are nearly always in shoals. So what is your past life, Sarissa? Do you know?"

He listened as she explained what 'whisperer' meant and he nodded in understanding. He dipped his head slightly. "You may call me whatever you wish," he replied with a gleam in his eyes. "I would be honoured by any name you see fit to give me."

"A rock climbing club right here? C'est merveilleux! I will make enquiries later today without a doubt. Thank you for that information. And another time we could venture out on horseback perhaps. It would be good to be with someone who knew the area better than I... That said, anyone knows the area better than I!" he said with a laugh.

"So tell me are you always Mr. Nice guy...or is there a bad side to you as well?"

Christophe thought about that question for a moment or two. "I'm sure everyone has a good side and a bad side. It wouldn't be an equal balance otherwise. Ying and yang. Left and right. Good and bad." He lifted his shoulders in a slightl shrug. "I think I have yet to discover that side of me but rest assured, it is there... lying in wait for the right moment! And you, Sarissa... Cherokee enchantress... Are you enchanting me right now? Is that your bad side?" he asked in a teasing tone.