Ashburton was the typical elementary school located in a small suburban neighborhood of Bethesda, Maryland. Cold winds swaying naked trees marked the beginning of the holiday season. To get all the children in the festive spirit, Ashburton would hold it's traditional tree decorating gala. But, things have changed over the years, and Christmas is no longer the only holiday celebrated. Ashburton is composed of children of many different beliefs and each of them had their own way of celebrating this special time of year.

One Holiday season not too long ago.... Mrs. Mahoney, Asburton's third grade English teacher, decided to have all her students create a ornament that would represent their own particular belief. The ornament would then be placed on a tall green plastic tree standing in front of the class. Children made figures of Santa, Jesus, Mohammed, Angels, and The Star of David to name a few. On one of the branches hung a strange doll made of cotton wood. This doll was a strangely frightening figure, wearing a black mask with white hand prints all over its sides. Mrs. Mahoney had never seen anything like this doll in all her days of teaching, or in her life. She looked at her students and softly asked, "Which one of you made this black doll hanging from the tree?"

In the back of the classroom a brown skinned arm raised up in the air. Mrs. Mahoney recognized who it was and inquired, "Keithan, you made this doll?"

Keithan stood up and stared at all the focused eyes. What had he done wrong to create such a spectacle? He felt like running for the door and straight out of this foreign school. He would have done it, but Mrs. Mahoney's small tight smile made him hold his ground.

"Yes ma'am, I made the doll," he replied.

Mrs. Mahoney thought to herself. Keithan was new to Ashburton and she did not know much about him. She did know he was from somewhere in Arizona. The boy was probably of Mexican origin by the looks of his features; brown eyes, shiny black hair, and brown skin. The boy, in a sense, was as mysterious as the black doll he made.

"Keithan, can you tell the class what this doll is?"

White people ask a lot of questions the boy thought to himself. This was definitely not like life in third mesa. Everything was simple there, and everyone knew what was to be expected. Good weather and plenty of corn were the important things in life. But it was different here. This was the land of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This land had no concept of mush on piki bread. Keithan would have not answered the question had it not come from Mrs. Mahoney's gentle voice. The boy trusted her because she seemed to always have a smile on her face.

"Mastop, the doll is Mastop," Keithan answered.

Some of the children began to laugh out loud. It had been nervous laughter, but the boy was to young to know this. He looked sternly at each of the culprits, but said nothing. This must have been the experience his ancestors felt when the Spanish set foot on their land.

Mrs. Mahoney addressed the children, "Calm down class. Anyone who laughs again will have to stay after school and have a talk with me. Now, Keithan, I am at a loss. Who is Mastop? I have never heard this name before."

Mrs. Mahoney is a beautiful woman, Keithan thought to himself. Her fine golden hair was pulled back and interwoven into a long vertical pattern that draped over the back of her shoulders. The boy wondered if this meant his teacher was still single. Women of his tribe would braid their hair into the shape of butterfly wings. This was a signal to the men of the tribe that they were eligible for marriage. Maybe, when Keithan became a man, he would ask her mother if he could speak to her.

"Mastop is a Kachina," replied Keithan.

"What is a Kachina?" asked Deborah, the red haired girl in front of him.

Keithan looked at Deborah and replied, "A Kachina is a great spirit that travels throughout space. There are many kachinas, and Mastop is the second Kachina to appear to my people when the sun reaches the southern end of it's great journey. He comes following the Soyal Kachina, who wears a turquoise helmet and a white robe. Soyal and Mastop begin what is called the Soyal ceremony."

"When you say the sun reaches the southern part of it's journey, you mean when the sun is at it's lowest point," suggested Mrs. Mahoney.

"I guess you could look at it this way," Keithan responded.

Mrs. Mahoney then explained, "When the sun reaches it's lowest point it is called Soyal by your people. Here we call Soyal the winter solstice."

"Why does Mastop look so scary?" Tiffany, the African American girl in front of the class, shuddered.

"He is not supposed to be scary looking. Rather his black body represents all the earth, while the white hands on his sides represents the touch man has on the earth," Keithan exclaimed defensively.

"Is a Kachina kinda like an angel?" exclaimed Eric, the oriental boy wearing thick glasses beside him.

"I guess so," answered Keithan merrily.

"So did Mastop come down to see baby Jesus in the manger?" asked Deborah.

Keithan began to laugh.

"I don't know anything about that. For my people, Mastop comes down from space to bless all who perform the Soyal ceremony."

"Keithan, can you tell us anything about the Soyal ceremony," asked Mrs. Mahoney.

Keithan stared in his teacher's eyes. Her pools of turquoise reminded him of Soyal's mask. He did not think even the notorious coyote could refuse her wishes.

" My father knows more about how it is performed than I do. He is chief of the Bear clan and leads the Soyal Society to perform our sacred rituals. But I do know that Soyal is considered to be the most important ceremony of our people. Soyal gives direction and aid in giving life all over the world another chance."

Mrs. Mahoney walked over and placed her hands over his shoulders.

"Keithan, Soyal sounds like a beautiful ceremony and Mastop definitely belongs on our Holiday tree. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Now class, can we all wish Keithan Happy Soyal!"

All the children stood up and cheered, "Happy Soyal Keithan!!!"

From that day on Keithan beliefs were respected by all the children. In return, Keithan learned to respect people with different beliefs as his friends. Every year Mastop was placed on the class tree; even long after the Hopi boy had left Ashburton Elementary school.