The moment Billy was born the whole herd knew about it. Even the nearby Indians came to ooh and aah at the wonderful birth. Pretty soon the whole colony of bison knew of the birth.

Billy was too busy learning how to walk and eat to notice all the attention, at least at first. Soon the attention especially from the Indians was beginning to get to Billy. He couldn't go anywhere without some pesky indian following him around and hanging all kinds of stuff around his neck.

One evening when Billy went back to his mother to sleep he asked her, Mother, why do all these Indians keep following me around? Everyone else gets to play and have fun. You know, they scare the other bison away, so I am always alone. It's not fair.

His mother realized, Billy does not know who he is, I think it's time to let him know. Billy, she said, Have you noticed anything different about you? No, Mother, said Billy, I'm like everyone else. No dear, she said, You are a very special bison. You are a different color that everyone else and it is said that you bring peace, love, prosperity and good fortune to everyone on the plain.

Golly gee!!!, said Billy, Is that true? How can that be? I don't feel different. Tell me Mother, How can I know that I am different? Well, his mother said, tomorrow when the sun rises we will go drink some water and you can see for yourself, now go to sleep for tomorrow is a big day for you.

But Billy couldn't sleep, he was too busy trying to understand why he was so special. He kept asking over and over again, Why me? He couldn't wait until the sun appeared in the sky. As soon as it was beginning to get light he kept nudging him mother to wake up. Finally she awoke and they started for the water.

When we get there, said his mother, look into the water and you will see your reflection, then you will know for sure that you are so special. Billy couldn't wait so he ran ahead to see himself in the water, but it still was too early. There wasn't enough light for him to see this reflection, so what he saw was a dark figure in the water. He looked around and saw other bison and they were dark just like the reflection.

Mother, he said, There's no difference. I look just the same as everyone else, except for these dumb beads the indians hang around my neck. Why did you tell me I was different when I'm not? I don't understand. His mother just said, Billy look in the water again. So he did.

Oh there must be some mistake, he said. I look white. I must be covered with dust or those indians put some stuff on me. that's it. But try as hard as he could, Billy could not change his color, he was white. What am I going to do? My life is ruined, no one will ever want to be with me and those silly indians will never leave me alone.

So Billy decided to make the indians pay for his situation. He would not do anything for himself, after all the indians were always around doing it for him anyway. Every chance he got he would butt them with his head and knock them down. He really became a spoiled brat. After all he was special.

One day Billy discovered the mysteries of the mating season and he fell in love. She was beautiful. Her name was Stella. And most importantly, she wasn't intimidated by Billy, in fact, she bullied him whenever they got together. So he decided to ask her to become his mate.

Are you crazy or what?, she said. I could never mate with you. Think Billy, for once in your life, what kind of bison would we have? I certainly don't want my kids to grow up to be freaks like you. Look at you, you're so spoiled and you smell funny. And those indians, won't they give you a break?

Billy said, They are waiting for a sign. I wish they would tell me about it so I could do it and then they will leave me alone. Well, said Stella, why don't you ask them, here they come again. The indians seemed particularly excited today and they kept pointing at Stella instead of Billy. Billy realized what they were waiting for. They want him to mate and have offspring.

He told Stella and she said, Oh Billy there are strong urges within me to mate with you, but what if the kids come out like you? My life would be ruined and I would be shunned, just like your mother was and those poor kids, growing up like you, it breaks my heart.

If I promise you that our kids will be normal will you mate with me?, said Billy. How can you promise that?, she said, Are you special or something? That's right. he said, I am special. So trust me. Well ok, she said.

When the time came for Stella to give birth. Billy got real scared so he did what he never did - he prayed. Oh Great Spirit, help me, make my offspring normal. If you do I will accept my position in life and stop being such a brat. I know I don't have to, but somehow it feels right to change. Will you help me?

That night the Great Spirit spoke to Billy in his dreams. Listen to me Billy, You are not different or special in my eyes, for I only see your heart and your soul. To me they are all the same. Others see you different because they will not see their own greatness. Hopefully they will try to be like you really are. Not spoiled or nasty, but wonderful and unique and accepting of everyone and yourself. This I promise

As a reminder of my promise, your offspring will be born healthy and whole. Their light will be in the inside instead of on the outside like yours. They will grow up and make your people prosperous and abundant. Behold my gift to you.

As good as his world the offspring were born easily with no problems. They all were perfect and both bison were pleased. The indians were disappointed because the new bison were normal, so they continued to follow Billy around.

Billy no longer cared, He knew he was just like everyone else and the indians could do whatever they wanted. If it made them feel better and let their light shine, Billy had done his job. He lived for a very long time and had many bison. His first born became leader of the herd and led them to new fields of grass where they all lived in peace, love, prosperity and good fortune.