The Singing Scoutmaster: Iktomi and the Buffalo Skull

One blistering hot summer day, the prairie stretched out endlessly before Iktomi like a giant ocean of dry grass and dust. The sun blazed down from a cloudless sky, making the air shimmer with heat. Iktomi, the ever-scheming trickster, trudged along the barren landscape, his feet kicking up small puffs of dust with each step. His mouth felt parched, and beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. "What a miserable place," he grumbled, swatting at a stray fly that buzzed around his head. "There's nothing here but sun and dust. No water, no food—nothing!"

As Iktomi continued his aimless wandering, cursing the relentless heat, his eyes caught a glimpse of something white and bleached lying in the tall, dry grass. Curious, he pushed his way through the grass and found himself staring at the sun-bleached remains of a large buffalo skull. The once-mighty animal's hollow eye sockets stared back at him, and its horns jutted out menacingly, casting long shadows on the ground. Iktomi's frown slowly melted into a grin as a new idea sparked in his mind.

"Well, well, what have we here?" Iktomi muttered, his grin spreading wider. "This could be just the thing to liven up this dull day." He bent down, picked up the skull, and turned it over in his hands, examining it thoughtfully. Suddenly, he laughed aloud, the sound echoing across the empty prairie. "Yes! I'll use this skull to play a little trick!"

With a flourish, Iktomi placed the skull on top of his head, adjusting it until it fit snugly over his face. The horns curved upward like the crown of some ancient, fearsome spirit. "Now I am a great buffalo!" Iktomi declared, his voice echoing oddly through the hollow skull. He puffed out his chest and began to prance around, his arms swinging and his feet stomping heavily on the ground. He practiced lowering his head and pawing at the earth, just like he imagined a powerful buffalo spirit might do.

Feeling proud of his new disguise, Iktomi strutted through the prairie, his head held high. He moved slowly, trying to look as majestic and intimidating as possible. After a while, he came across a small meadow where a group of young deer were grazing quietly. Their delicate heads lifted as they noticed the strange figure approaching. The deer's eyes widened in confusion and fear at the sight of what appeared to be a buffalo spirit wandering toward them.

Iktomi stopped at the edge of the meadow and bellowed in his deepest voice, "Bow before me, little deer! I am the Great Buffalo Spirit, and you must do as I say!" His voice was slightly muffled by the skull, but it still sounded loud and commanding.

The young deer blinked in surprise, their legs trembling. They had heard tales of the Great Buffalo Spirit, a powerful entity who could summon storms and command the creatures of the plains. Unsure of what to do, they hesitated, casting nervous glances at one another. Iktomi smirked behind the skull, enjoying their fear and confusion. "Yes, that's right!" he boomed, raising his arms dramatically. "Obey me, or I'll bring my wrath down upon you!"

But just as Iktomi thought his trick was working, one of the older deer—a wise doe with sharp eyes and a steady gaze—stepped forward. She looked closely at the figure before her, tilting her head slightly. Something didn't seem right. The Great Buffalo Spirit was supposed to be majestic and awe-inspiring, yet this creature looked awkward and clumsy, its movements stiff and unnatural.

"If you're truly the Great Buffalo Spirit," the wise doe said slowly, "then show us your power. Bring rain to the dry land!" She gestured with her nose toward the endless stretch of parched earth. The other deer nodded eagerly, looking up at Iktomi expectantly. They had been suffering from the heat and dryness just like every other creature on the plains, and if this buffalo spirit could bring rain, they would gladly bow to it.

Iktomi's confidence faltered. His heart began to race beneath the heavy skull. "Uh, well, you see…" he stammered, his mind racing to come up with an answer. He hadn't expected to be challenged like this! He waved his arms around vaguely, trying to look mystical and powerful, but the deer just watched him with growing suspicion.

After a long, awkward moment, a quiet giggle broke the silence. One of the younger deer, no longer afraid, let out a soft snicker. Then another deer joined in, and soon the whole group was laughing and giggling uncontrollably. "It's just Iktomi!" they cried, their laughter ringing through the meadow. "It's not the Great Buffalo Spirit—it's only Iktomi with a skull on his head!"

Realizing the jig was up, Iktomi sighed and slowly removed the skull, his face flushed with embarrassment. He tossed the skull to the ground, its hollow eyes now staring mockingly up at him. The deer bounded away, their laughter echoing in his ears as they disappeared into the trees, leaving Iktomi standing alone in the middle of the empty meadow.

"Bah!" Iktomi grumbled, kicking at a tuft of grass. "No one appreciates a good trick anymore." He looked down at the skull, then back at the spot where the deer had stood. He felt a mixture of frustration and disappointment. He had been so sure his disguise would work. "Maybe I should try being myself for a change," he muttered, shaking his head.

But even as he said the words, Iktomi knew that being himself was no fun at all. What was the point of wandering through life without a little mischief, a little excitement? He glanced back at the skull one last time, then shrugged and turned away, already thinking of his next scheme. As he walked off into the distance, the prairie wind whispered through the grass, and Iktomi's faint laughter mingled with the rustling reeds.

And so, Iktomi moved on, leaving the buffalo skull behind as a reminder of yet another failed trick. But one thing was certain: it wouldn't be long before the trickster found himself caught up in another wild plan, for Iktomi's nature was like the wind—always shifting, always changing, and never content to be still for long.