Can You Help Me Build A Tent?

Gonyaul woke early to a tent that was slanting sharply to the left and would have probably collapsed on top of him if not for the outer tarp catching in between two shifted wooden struts. He crawled out and put the tent out of its misery, with one sweeping kick down it went. Today he would definitely find time to study the Odsier tents.

He heard Tiponi’s familiar voice behind him. It surprised him, because he expected to be up before most anyone else. He took note of the half-sun peeking over the horizon and realized he must have overslept past his normal morning meditation time. He actually recognized the word as a greeting, he figured it meant something like hello or in this context, good morning. He turned and bowed, signing a greeting in vauxian, but trying on the Odsier tongue.

“Rimaykullayki” he smiled.

Tiponi was already smiling, but she bit her bottom lip to hide her smirk at his pronunciation. Composed once more she crossed a leg behind and bended a back knee to dip lower, the way Odsier women did, and her expression encouraged his attempt.

She began speaking playfully to him about the state of his tent. Gonyaul struggled to understand. It wouldn’t have mattered, because he was distracted by noticing that Tiponi had watered, fed and was still in the process of grooming his horse Amu.

Gonyaul was stupefied by this gesture of generosity. Normally it was him doing such things and not the other way around. And she managed it all alone and with one working arm. Amu seemed pleased and gave Gonyaul a look that might have said ‘I like her. Oh and she does a much better job at this than you.’

Gonyaul was already thanking her and in the back of his mind wondering how he could pay it forward. He went back and forth to discover how to say thank you in her language and was taught.

“Riqsikuyki” he moved over to her and at the very least could help her finish tending to his own horse.

As they worked together on grooming Amu, Tiponi began talking with much enthusiasm. Gonyaul did not understand a word of it; however, he did enjoy observing her mannerisms, lively expressions, and personality in action.

Vauxians were very good listeners, their default was not to talk. They were also very keen at paying attention and eye contact, because they primarily used sign language. In other words, she had his undivided attention. So much so, that she was doing more of the grooming than he; his brushing slowing down to process everything.

His behavior did not go unnoticed by Tiponi; however, she said nothing and instead cherished the unspoken compliment.

When they finished with Amu she made her way over to his tent and shook her head at the mess.

Gonyaul stood next to her and tried to explain what went wrong structurally based on last night’s weather conditions. It was her turn not to know what he was saying; however, it was worth the confusion in order to admire how he said it.

Gonyaul gestured to the Odsier tent nearest his and tried to express how he wanted to inspect, reverse engineer and try and construct one of his own. Tiponi began to realize what he was asking when he started trying to make his tent pieces resemble the Odsier tent exterior. She lit up inside. For a single Odsier woman to be asked to make a home with a single male, both marrying age meant something grand. Gonyaul didn’t know of this cultural difference, merely asking because he needed a better sleeping arrangement.

Tiponi beamed him a smile and gestured that she would assist him in this. The Odsier women were primarily responsible for putting up, maintaining and taking down the homes. She knew exactly what they would need and how to do it.

Gonyaul took note how delighted this made her. ‘They must really enjoy constructing tents’ he thought.