He smiled at her youthful curiosity, at how her senses were fully engaged. There’s something different about my niece, he decided. It’s her intensity: t۱o′o′ bahastiígo (toe-ba-ha-zid-go), he said to himself in Navajo.

  Time teaches those that are open to learning and curious about our world. When she is older, she will learn our Navajo way. In learning our way, she will discover who she is. Mary will distinguish herself some day, but for now, it’s okay for her to be where she is.