Hello!

My name is Bradley Red Lightning.  I am 13 years old and live with my family on the Rose Bud Indian Reservation in North Dakota.  I am of the Sioux Nation and am very proud of my Native American heritage.

I have four brothers (two older, two younger) and three sisters (one older, two younger); I am stuck in the middle.  My brothers are named Charlie  (Chaz), Raymond, Scottie, and Heath; as for my sisters, they are Rose Petal, Dominique, and Mona Kay.

I am in the fifth grade at Rose Bud Primary Indian School; next year, in 2014, I'll be moving to the middle school building.  I will start sixth grade in September, the day after Labor Day, and then next year, I will start middle school.  This year will mark the end of my career as an elementary school student.

I like to do many things for fun, including playing games like baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer, hackeysack, and freeze tag with my friends, dance, sing, write stories, ride my horse Thunderbolt, going to the Great Sioiux Indian Fair every August with my family, making crafts, and bowling.  I have a very happy, active life.

When I grow older, I want to be a Marine and make the military my career.  My daddy was a Marine, and my oldest brother, Raymond, is currently in the Marines; he is in Korea for 18 months.  I miss Raymond terribly, even though we do hear from him from time to time.  It is always exciting whenever we hear from Raymond.

Well, I hate to go, but I don't want to be late; today's the day I go to town with Daddy to get groceries; maybe beforehand I can talk him into taking me to Cracker Barrel for lunch!  That is my very favorite place to eat!  Take care; may the Great Spirit bless you always; I'll write in here another day!

~Your new friend, Bradley Red Lightning.  :)