Dangerous Hilarity

by Sioux Dallas

  After they had been there two days, the Jackson family visited Jon and Marie Kalvinchaki who had a large vegetable garden on the coast. Herb wanted his family to see the size of the vegetables.

  “Holy cow! Look at this!” Tim yelled. “This head of cabbage is bigger than my head.”

  ‘Sure, pinhead. Anything is bigger than your head; your brain that is,” Tom couldn’t keep from teasing. “You’re right though. All the vegetables are much bigger than we’re used to seeing. Hey. What is this?”

  “Rhubarb,” Jon chuckled. “Where you come from rhubarb is about eight or ten inches long with little green leaves. Here they are almost two feet long and over a foot broad.” He then explained about the warm water currents that ran by the coastline and helped vegetation grow well. The Jacksons enjoyed meeting the Kalvinchakis and seeing their home and garden. They drove around sightseeing.

  Summer in Nome was not too different than spring in Virginia. The average temperature was from 55 to 70. The family quickly met most of the people in town and liked everyone. Even though they met many children from several states, the biggest thrill was in meeting real Eskimo and a few Indian children known as First People.

  They were shocked to discover that there were over one hundred different tribes represented in Alaska, the major one being Inupiat. Their research had shown lots of Indians on the eastern part of Alaska around Fairbanks, but few in or around Nome.

  One day Anna was lethargically cleaning house and day dreaming. Irene bustled into the room arranging flowers. “Are you okay, darling?”

  “Sure, Mom. Why do you ask?”

  “When I came in you were so wrapped in your thoughts that you appeared to be -- kind of sad.”

  “Oh, no, Mom. Not sad. Just thinking of school, new friends and well--”

  “Are you still worrying about all that?”

  “Not really. Well, yes, some. The kids here already have friends, know the teachers and are secure in their life.”

  “That’s enough, Anna,” Irene said firmly. “We’ve been over this adnauseam. You are a top honor roll student and you’ve always been popular and well liked by teachers and lots of friends. I have a lot of faith that you’ll do well and be happy. Just wait and see.”

  “You’re prejudiced, Mom,” she laughed. “I know I’ll have stiff competition. The ones I’ve met are intelligent and popular.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Irene chuckled. “I’ve heard you say many times that stiff competition drives you to do better and it’s stimulating to you. A good challenge is right up your alley.”

  “Okay, okay, Mom,” she laughed. “Would it be better if I whistled while I work?”

  “Ho, ho. Remember what your grandmother Morrison used to say. “A whistling women and a crowing hen never come to a good end.”

  “That’s nonsense,” Anna giggled. “I always wondered what she meant by that. A crowing hen,” she said with a huff.

  “The old folks were superstitious. Sometimes, no one knows why, a hen would crow. They believed she was announcing bad luck, so, they hurriedly twisted her neck and made chicken and dumplings, thinking that would eliminate any bad luck. Too, in those days, a young lady would never think of whistling. That was too mannish.”

  Putting their arms around each other’s waist, they laughed and walked into the kitchen to start dinner.

  The remainder of the summer passed too quickly for the twins and Anna. Time for school. August twenty-eighth was the first day for students. Eighth grade for the twins and tenth for Anna. It was slightly cooler than it would be in Virginia.

  During the summer the twins were delighted to learn how the natives used to hunt and fish. A few still hunted in the old ways. Both boys had become skilled in paddling kayaks and canoes. Anna had loved learning to cook with native foods and to decorate with natural items. The three children learned that people are basically the same wherever they are.

  Tom and Tim met lots of children that they liked. Four boys had become their best friends and the six of them were inseparable. Two Eskimo boys, Benjamin Oakno Eskise and Samuel Motado Cramus lived near the Jacksons. Two Indian boys, Alan Brave Bear Tormas and Charles Running Horse Berrea lived near enough so that it was no trouble to get together.

  Benjamin, Samuel, Alan and Charles were all pretty much the same height (five-three) and weight. All had coal-black hair and black eyes. Benjamin was a couple of inches taller but no heavier. Samuel had a small scar on his forehead from a sled accident. They were all pure boy, full of vim and vigor. They were all a few months younger than the twins, but the six boys had built a solid friendship.

  One day, while walking around town together, Tom stopped and pointed excitedly. “Hey! Will you look at that! Someone is building a house out of wood and in the shape of an igloo on stilts. The house is round.”

  Ben turned to see what Tom had seen. “Yes, you’ll want to see this for sure, but we can’t get too close. We might get in the way and the workers have such a short time they can work outside that time does count. They work many hours when they can.”

  Charlie took up the explanation. “Don’t forget that everything has to be shipped in which makes materials very expensive. Our climate doesn’t allow trees to grow so we don’t have natural wood for building. Shipping adds to the cost and construction crews have to charge what their service is worth. A house like this will cost a minimum of three hundred thousand.”

  “Gee, I just didn’t think about it.” Tim was impressed. “Is that why food is so expensive because a lot of it has to be shipped in.”

  “That’s true,” San answered. “Six dollars for a gallon of milk, five dollars for a loaf of bread, five dollars for a dozen eggs and fruit is very, very expensive.”

  “You have to remember that we were born here and have lived here all our lives, so, it nothing unusual to us,” Alan added.

  “We’d better get home,” Tom interrupted, looking at his watch. “Galena was upset that we left without her and she’ll need to go for a run.”

  “Your family takes better care of that dog than a lot of people do their children,” Ben observed. “I don’t blame you. She is a sweetheart, and, you’ll have to admit, a little spoiled.”

  “Race you,” Alan yelled and took off running with five boys close on his heels.

  The weather gradually became colder. There was now about six hours of sunlight during the day. Icy ground and snow made it difficult to get around except for short distances on foot. Dog sleds were used daily. School, work, worship services and community gatherings were the only places people could be found.

  Anna and the twins walked together to school. Anna left the twins in one wing and went to another side of the building for her classes.

  The four best friends got a charge out of Tom and Tim learning to walk on snowshoes and waddle along in heavy clothes without tipping over. The six boys began to walk together with Galena herding them along and then returning home after she saw them safely in school. She was waiting outside every afternoon for them to walk them home. All the children learned to love Galena. She seemed to be more “in tune” with humans than the average dog.

  The people in the community were drawing closer together in friendship and in caring about what happened to each other.

  Police Chief Causuc Houmay really took getting used to. He was not unfriendly, but was not friendly to the majority of people. It was clearly evident that he didn’t care for animals, especially pets. He was about five-eleven, stocky build, with black hair and black eyes. He rarely smiled. Tom told his family that the way the Chief look at him made it look as if the Chief had X-ray vision. “Dad, he’s the biggest grouch. Galena only walked toward him to greet him, like she does everyone, and he actually screamed.”

  “He jumped back as if she were a snake striking,” Tim laughed.

  “Yeah,” Tom laughed loudly, “we couldn’t keep from laughing and he chased us.”

  “Boys, I’m ashamed of you. Didn’t you stop to think that maybe,
when he was little, a dog bit him and that makes him afraid?”

  “We thought of it on the way home, but it was too late then to say anything to him,” Tim explained.

  “Well, it would be nice if you would apologize to the Chief. At least don’t take Galena near him again,” Herb reasoned with them. “Do be respectfully to the Chief. Try to be compassionate and friendly with him, and maybe you’ll win his trust. He might have personal problems that people don’t know about. Never be quick to judge people until you know more about them. Remember the Indian saying, “Never judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.”

  “What does that mean, Dad?”

  “Just what I said. You need to get to know a person and what their life is really like and try to understand them.”

  Irene opened her day care center and thoroughly enjoyed the younger children. They loved her, not only because she was kind to them and played with them, but she made up stories putting their names in as characters and encouraged them to make up and write their own stories. She also taught them to appreciate art.

  One day they would pull fresh cooked taffy. After rubbing their hands with butter so the candy would not stick, they would pair up and laugh and pull; then eat and enjoy. Another day they would make salt maps, wait for them to thoroughly dry, then color them. At another time a child would lie down on a big sheet of butcher paper and a buddy would draw all around their form. The buddy would then draw in the face and clothing. They made snow ice cream and snow angels as well as snow people. Irene took notes to write a book for children and Anna drew whimsical pictures.

  One morning in October, the clouds were heavy and threatening. Big, soft flakes of snow began to fall on what was already there as the children got ready for school.

  Irene called to the twins, “Boys, bring Galena back to the house. It’s too dangerous for her to be out in this storm. She’s still not accustomed to being out in this weather. I know she’ll be disappointed, but it’s safer for her to remain inside.”

  “Aw, Mom. She’ll think we don’t love her anymore,” Tom grumbled.

  “She’ll be all right after you leave. Bring her back in and go.”

  Galena protested, but they brought her back inside. She howled loudly as the boys shut the door and left. Ben and Sam were waiting for them in front of the house. The twins ran to join their friends. Alan and Charlie joined them at the end of the street. The six boys ran joyously and enjoyed the falling snow in spite of the fact that it meant problems for adult workers.

  Irene put Galena in the twins’ room until she could stop wailing. She howled and threw herself against the door until Irene finally let her out for fear she would injure herself.

  “Heigh ho!” Tom proclaimed while trying to turn flips while wearing his snowshoes. He landed on his back with a thud which was hysterical for the others. “Now we can learn to drive a dogsled. Do you think Galena can learn to pull us? She used to pull us on our skateboard in Virginia.”

  “I don’t think so,” Tim said slowly. “She hasn’t been trained to pull weight and the weather is much colder here which makes it more difficult for the lungs to breathe. Besides, she’s too old.”

  “Hey, listen. I know something we can do and you’ll like it,” Ben attempted to console Tom. “We’ll teach you ice fishing.”

  “Wow! Cool!” Tom was excited. “When can we go? What equipment do we need? What do you mean, ice fishing?”

  “It isn’t hard,” Sam spoke. “First you dress warmly. Then you get a fishing pole and a bucket.”

  “Okay, old man,” Charlie teased. “You’re taking too long. What you do is cut a hole in the ice, sit down and prepare to have a cold seat, drop your line through the hole and wait --- and wait.”

  “You wanta know the truth?” Tim frowned. “It sounds boring and very cold.”

  “Well, we can go walrus hunting on the ice flows,” Ben boasted.

  “No way,” Sam said quickly. “That’s too dangerous. My dad is a grown man and he’d never go after walrus without several adults with him. Grown men go together and carry guns to protect each other. The bull walrus is aggressive and dangerous. It doesn’t take much to cause him to attack. They are very strong. Just hope one doesn’t fall on you. Too, they have those big tusks.”

  “Yeah,” Alan added. “The males, bulls, can weigh over three thousand pounds and be ten to twelve feet long. A cow can weigh a little over two thousand pounds and are eight to nine feet long. A calf usually weighs one hundred eighty-seven pounds when born. So you see how dangerous they can be. Let’s plan things to do that we know we’ll be given permission to do. That way we won’t get in trouble with our parents and we’ll enjoy it more.”

  The twins grew tired fighting their way through the rapidly falling snow and strong winds. It took them longer to walk to school. Hearing a strange noise behind them they whirled with their hearts in their throats. What was it? Was it something attacking them? Was it a wolf? A polar bear? What? They were so frightened they could hardly breathe.

  Squinting through the darkening snow, they saw a shape jumping high through the deep snow and running toward them.

  “Galena!” All six boys bellowed as one with relief.

  “Oh, no. Now we’re in trouble with mom,” Tom groaned.

  “It’s not our fault,” Tim protested. “We did take her back to the house. How in the blue blazes did she get out?” their friends thought it was funny and all hugged Galena praising her with, “Good girl.”

  Tim tried to sound stern while pointing to the house. “Go home, Galena.” She looked as if she were grinning at them, but she turned to trot away, looking back over her shoulder in hopes they would call her back. The last they saw of Galena was her tail wagging like a conquering banner as she bounded through the snow.

  Chapter Twelve

  The weather was too bad for outdoor play and everyone couldn’t use the gym at the same time. Tim asked the teacher if they could teach spelling baseball. She agreed and Tom decided to pitch while Tim kept score.

  “I’ll explain the game,” Tom started. “The class will divide into two teams. I guess the fair way is for everyone to write their name on a scrap of paper. First choose two captains. The captains can then take turns drawing names. That way no one will feel that they were chosen, or not chosen, for personal reasons. We’ll set certain parts of the room as bases.”

  Tim continued the instructions. “One team at a time will play. Tom will pitch a word to the first player. If the player spells the word correctly, he or she will then go to stand on first base and the second player steps up to the plate. If the word is spelled correctly, that player will go to first and the one on first goes to the second base. If the word is misspelled, the player sits down and that’s one out. Three outs and the team sits down and gives the next team a turn. To score, a player must advance all the way around and back to home plate. Any questions?” After both teams have a turn, that’s an inning.”

  “What happens if a speller doesn’t get a chance to spell in the first inning?” Jimmy Lone Eagle asked.

  “The same in real baseball. The next player, whose turn it is to spell, would step up to the plate and proceed as those before. We can decide on three innings.”

  The teacher enjoyed the game as much as her students did. She clapped and thanked them. “That was delightful. How would you like to teach other rooms to play and then we can challenge each other. Two strong teams can be selected to demonstrate for the parents at the next parent day.”

  “Can we play it every day?” Anita Cumberland was enthused.

  “I’m afraid you’d get bored and not like it if you played too often. How about once a week? Maybe on Fridays.” The teacher suggested. The class grumbled but agreed.

  Snow fell heavily all morning. By noon the sky was dark and the thick snow made it difficult to see more than a couple of feet. School was dismissed early. Anna came to walk home with her brothers.

  “Jim Garrison gave me a rope,
” she explained. I’m to tie it around my waist and around you boys. That way we won’t get separated and lost. It’s dangerous to not stay together.” She looked at the four friends of her brothers. “I’m sorry. There’s not enough rope, but if each of you will hold on to one of us, we should all right.” Struggling through the snow and screaming wind, made it difficult to even breathe. Their scarves were wrapped around their faces except for their eyes.

  The group was grateful to finally reach their homes. They were all tired and hungry. “Galena, we’re home,” Tim called as soon as he could get out of his heavy clothes. “Galena, where are you?” No dear dog. Why hadn’t she run to meet them as she usually did?

  “I bet she’s under the bed asleep,” Tom reasoned. “I’m so glad she’s in where she’s safe and warm.” He shivered as he took the last of his cold, damp outdoor clothing off.

  Irene was in the kitchen. She placed a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup in front of her three children. A plate of fresh-baked cookies waited at the end of the table.

  “Thanks loads, Mom,” Anna sighed.

  “Mom, you’re the greatest.” Tim hugged her thankfully.

  “Words have not been invented that say how marvelous and how appreciated you are,” Tom didn’t want Tim to outdo him. “I sure am glad you didn’t let ole Galena out. The snow and cold are murder. Where is she? Here, girl. We’re home, Galena.”

  There was a strange silence as Irene turned slowly from the sink to face them. Icy tingles ran up their spines when they saw the expression on her face. “I hoped she was with you since she ran out of here.” She spoke softly in the stunned silence.

  “Galena demanded to be let out when she heard some younger children outside. I kept her in, but when Mrs. Parsons came in, a little before twelve, she was slow getting in. Galena took advantage of it and charged out before I could stop her. I thought she’d come to meet you.”

  Four pairs of eyes turned to the kitchen clock showing five minutes before two. The twins sat with tear-filled eyes while Anna ran to the door to call for the dog. The cold fury of the biting wind drove her voice back forcing her to give up and shut the door.