A Boy Called Slow

 A Boy Called Slow 5-1

    A Boy Called Slow is a true story that begins in 1831, when the family of Returns Again, of the Hunkpapa band of the Lakota Sioux, welcomes the birth of a baby boy, His parents decide to name the baby Slon-he, or Slow, because he never does anything quickly.
    Growing up, Slow does not like his name. But he can only earn a new name by having a powerful dream or by doing something brave. Slow's father, Returns Again, has earned his name for bravery in battle against the Sioux's enemy, the Crow. Returns Again can also understand the speech of animals. He gained four more names after hearing those names spoken to him by a bull buffalo.
    One night, at the age of fourteen, Slow hears that his father and others are going to raid the Crow for horses. Slow goes with them, making his father proud. The men get ready for the fight. They paint their horses and their faces, and take out their coup sticks, lances, and shields. But Slow, armed with only a coup stick, takes off ahead of the others. As one of the Crow warriors is about to shoot an arrow, Slow hits his arm with his coup stick, causing the warrior to miss his target. When the Crow see the other Sioux warriors coming, they flee. None of the Hunkpapa have been hurt. Slow is a hero.
    Slow's father is so proud that he gives the boy a new name, the first name the buffalo bull spoke to him. This name means "Sitting Bull." Sitting Bull grew up to become one of the greatest Lakota warriors in history.