Dangerous Hilarity

by Sioux Dallas

  Galena rushed out so quickly that Irene stepped out on the porch to see Galena down at the water’s edge still howling and looking out over the water. Several men ran from the store when they recognized the fright and urgency in Galena’s voice. With a sinking heart Irene could see faintly in the distance what she knew were her boys.

  A man ran by her into her house to grab the phone and call for help. None of them saw the brave, faithful dog plunge into the icy water and strike out swimming to her beloved boys. Men were running to get power boats.

  Galena reached the ice island and pushed Tim up on the ice with her head. Tim was numb and almost unconscious. Galena tried to push the now unconscious Tom up but she was too numb. The men reached them just in time to get all three to safety. Five minutes more and all three would have been dead from hypothermia.

  Anna briskly rubbed Galena dry and wrapped her in heated blankets. She was fed warm milk and warm wet food and placed on a bed with a hot water bottle beside her. That corner of the kitchen belonged to Galena. Anna insisted on staying up until midnight that night to keep Galena company. She whined a lot but finally went to sleep.

  In the meantime the twins had been lowered into warm water by the paramedics and the heat was gradually increased. Dry and wrapped in heated blankets, they were given hot soup and tucked into bed.

  The next morning the twins awakened to hear Anna sobbing loudly. They got up and made their wobbly way to the kitchen. Anna was cuddling the puppy and sobbing as if her heart would break.

  Irene and Herb stood with arms around each other and both were crying.

  They each reached to hug one of the boys. Fearfully the boys looked in the corner to see the still form of Galena lying peacefully on her favorite quilt. Brave, faithful Galena had given her life in her efforts to save the boys she loved.

  “It’s all your fault, Tom,” Tim sobbed in anguish. “You killed her and almost killed both of us.”

  Herb spoke quietly, “No, Tim. You’ll both have to take equal blame since the episode yesterday caused her death. Be kind to each other. We’re all suffering the loss of a dear friend. Being cruel to each other will not bring Galena back.”

  “Children,” Irene spoke softly. “Galena was old and we’ve had her for a long time. Having babies weakened her and then the swim in the icy water was too much for her weakened condition. We’ll hold on to the beautiful memories and be thankful she was a part of our family. Too, she left us something of herself in this precious little girl.”

  The community grieved with the family. Galena had won a place in each of their hearts with her gentleness, her bravery and her love for people. All of the children insisted on a people type funeral for Galena. The ground was still too frozen to dig a grave, so, she was cremated and her ashes kept in a beautiful urn. A Royal Canadian Mounted Patrolman played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes while the children held hands and cried.

  Two days later the house was still dark with grief. “Tim, do you till blame me?” Tom asked, his head hanging down with a miserable expression on his face.

  Tim thought a moment. “No. Not really. I’m sorry that I made you feel worse. All of us have been heartbroken. I know you loved her as much as I did. Friends, back in Virginia, are going to be sad, also. We need to write and tell them.”

  The four boys, who were close friends of the twins, had a color picture of Galena enlarged and framed. By special request the picture was hung in a place of honor in the Community Center for a few weeks.

  In April, for Anna’s sixteenth birthday, Irene got permission to have a pajama party on a Saturday evening in the Community Center. She learned that three other girls had birthdays during the same week.

  “Darling, I have something to ask you.” Irene spoke to Anna after school one day. “I learned today that Judy Wampus, Deena Leminus and Shoopo Gormas also have birthdays this week. Would you be agreeable to include them in the party? Their families will have gifts for them, but I think it would be nice to share.”

  “What a super idea, Mom. I think it would be colossal. Have you talked to their parents?”

  “No. I wanted to talk to you first. Maybe you would like to call them and invite them to share with you.”

  ‘Sure, Mom.” Anna excitedly made the calls and was delighted that each of the girls was surprised and pleased to be included.

  On Saturday morning, Anna, Shoopo, Deena and Judy met in the Jackson kitchen to cook delicious food and great desserts. They talked and giggled and shared memories of previous parties.

  Fourteen teen girls and five mothers spent the night in the Center. They ate, line danced, sang, played games and had a fantastic time. Others had provided a variety of snacks, so, there was no shortage of food. Each girl had brought a sleeping bag and a pillow. Needless to say, there was little sleeping. They all rushed the next morning to get to church on time.

  “Poor Baby.” People continued to call her as they petted the puppy. Not realizing what had happened, she was thrilled with the attention. Pretending to growl fiercely, she chewed on shoes, clothing and even fingers.

  “Poor wee one,” a neighbor sighed as she cuddled the puppy.

  Anna kissed the top of the fuzzy little head and said, “Call her Greatheart. Her mother was so brave and had such a great heart. I just know she’s going to be as dear to us as her mother was.”

  At last the puppy had a name. Would she be a family member and be as faithful as her mother had been? After all, she was half wolf. Would she be loving and brave?

  Part II

  Greatheart

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Oh, don’t stop. That feels so good. I am so happy. I do love you.” Greatheart seemed to be saying a she wriggled and whined with pleasure, looking at Tim with eyes full of love. He was rubbing her tummy and tickling in just the right spots. He then gave her neck and back a massage.

  In May, the twins had their fourteenth birthday. Greatheart was almost six months old. While the twins were happily planning what they wanted to do, Herb was planning a surprise for them.

  “I would love to do so many things, I can’t decide which is the most important,” Tim spoke thoughtfully.

  “Dad can’t top the one last year when he took twenty of us on a bus trip around Washington, D.C.” Tom slumped in a lounge chair and began to daydream about that wonderful trip.

  “Hey, Anna,” Tim called as she came down the hall preparing to leave the house. She hurried into the living room. “Anna, do you know what dad and mom are planning for our birthday?”

  “Sorry, dear brothers of mine. I haven’t a clue. What makes you think they’re planning anything? After all, we’ve had a lot of expense with our trip out here and it took a lot of money to buy this house and two cars and all that we have needed. They might just think all you need is a special dinner and a cake,” she turned and smiled as she went on out.

  “Bad news,” Tom worried. “Do you think that’s all it’ll be? Dad has always done special things for all of us.”

  “Look at it this way, “Tim answered. “We need to count our blessings. We’re getting big enough that we don’t need a treat of any kind. Just be thankful we have the family we do. We have lots of good friends and, above all, we have the best dog in the world.” Tim wrestled Greatheart on the floor.

  “Boys,” Irene called, “please come help me. I’m going to clean house thoroughly today and I need muscle.”

  Tom was ready to complain, but Tim reminded him that they should be thankful for the family they have. The twins worked industriously, if not eagerly, and before long the house looked as if it could be in a magazine.

  The four of them worked hard with only a small break for sandwiches and hot chocolate at lunch.

  When Herb came home that night, Irene met him with a hug and a big smile. “I want you to know that we have the best children in the world,” she bragged.

  “Tell me something I don’t know. I’ve known that for many years.” Herb grinned as he hung up his coat and prepared
to settle down after a long day of exhausting work. “Is there something special I missed?” Irene explained how they had helped her all day, she and Anna cleaning and the twins moving furniture.

  As Herb hugged each of his children, he said with a solemn face, “I guess they’ve earned their trip.”

  “Trip! What trip?” As usual Tom was the one shouting.

  “Ooooo, lower the volume,” Anna giggled with hands over her ears.

  “I’m not sure you’d be interested. Nah. I don’t think you’d care to know,” Herb teased as he placed an arm around Irene and walked into the dining room.

  Tom was on his heels, full of questions, but Tim held him back. “Cool it, man,” Tim whispered. “We’ll know soon enough. Dad’s teasing. Let’s don’t play his game and pretend that we don’t care to know what he’s talking about. We can be as good as he can about this.”

  “If I can,” Tom hissed. “Pinch me if I start to say something I shouldn’t.”

  “I shall be delighted to do that,” Tim laughed as they took their seats at the dining table and bowed for the blessing.

  Herb looked at Irene with a quizzical expression. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Dinner was eaten with less than usual conversation. As they left the table, each child thanked their mother for preparing a good meal. Herb had taught them to do so at an early age. Each one took dirty dishes to the kitchen and cleared the table. It was the twins turn to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. Anna took out the garbage.

  Later in their bedroom Herb chuckled. “I know they’re dying to know what I’m talking about, but the rascals are determined to make me think they don’t care.”

  “Good for them,” Irene smiled. “Maybe they’re maturing at last. At least they’re mature enough to make you squirm.”

  “Me? Why am I squirming?”

  “Because they won’t play your little game and beg you to tell them what you’re talking about.”

  “Ha! Well, I can hold out as long as they can,” Herb grunted as he crawled into bed. He punched his pillow and flopped back.

  A few days later several boys asked the twins if they were coming to the party at the Community Center on the following Saturday. They were whispering in church so more than one adult frowned at them and shook their head. The twins could hardly wait until after church to ask about the party.

  “Is it for anyone special?” Tom grinned hopefully.

  “Not really. Old man, Garrith, found some gold and said he wanted to give a party to all those who had supported him. He had tried, to quote him, for over forty years and now that he’s almost too old to enjoy it, he finds it.” Sam laughed. “He’s a likeable old fellow though.”

  The twins left their friends at the gate and walked slowly in the front door. “You thought the party was for us, didn’t you?” Tim questioned Tom.

  “Yeah, I guess I was hoping. I sure would like to know dad’s secret.”

  “Aw, Tom. Don’t you dare let him know you’re curious.”

  The boys walked on into the house and went to their room to change their clothes. After lunch they ran out of the house without thanking their mother as they had been taught.

  “Let them go,” Irene cautioned Herb. “They’re at the age when friends are more important. They haven’t forgotten. We’ve taught them well.”

  The week passed slowly for the children. The twins were amazed to see so many people coming together to help Mr. Garrith celebrate. Boisterous children, toys that whirred making strange noises, and bursting balloons made Greatheart so excited that she caused more than one person to trip over her as she ran around barking and jumping in so many directions that it was impossible to dodge her.

  The children naturally thought she was lots of fun, but the adults were far from thrilled. Poor Greatheart was finally banished to a tool shed at one end of the building.

  The twins, and their friends, were so sad to hear Greatheart howl her displeasure, that they decided to stage a sit -down. After whispering among themselves, there were soon twenty-nine children sitting silently in the middle of the room. Anna was embarrassed at her brothers. Some of the mothers reminded them they were only hurting themselves. They were missing great desserts sitting in the floor.

  The women gathered at one end of the room and ignored the children. They were anxious to hear about the book Irene was writing and to ask if they were in it. Irene was pleased to talk about her hobby. The women laughed heartily when Irene told them of some of Tom’s escapades.

  Herb, and some of the fathers, were annoyed with the children. Herb was especially embarrassed at his sons. After all, he was the boss and most of these men worked for him. To keep from having an unpleasant situation between the men and children, Irene agreed to let Greatheart out of the shed.

  After a half hour in the shed she was still howling forlornly. She happily bounced out to immediately knock down some laughing children and to cause a couple of the adults to teeter and totter to keep from falling. “From now on, she stays home,” Irene ordered.

  Greatheart was fed a disgusting amount of food hidden from the adults. Cake, candy and even soft drinks. Anna was angry when she found the young dog, in the corner, groaning and trying to lay so that her extremely full stomach would not be more uncomfortable than it was. The dog was in agony.

  Irene was furious. “Take Greatheart home and make sure she can’t get out and follow you back. Put her on the mud porch in case she throws up. And come straight back,” she ordered the twins.

  Greatheart was hugged, petted and promised a lot of good things for the next day. Frankly she didn’t care; she was too full and miserable.

  The following week was a school break. Herb called the family together on Saturday night to tell them his secret. He sat silently and grinned at them until the twins landed on him to tickle him and make him talk.

  “Okay. Okay. I surrender. Sit down and I’ll tell you. Your mother and you three children will be going on a combination vacation trip.”

  “Combination vacation! What in the world is that?” Tom blurted.

  “If you’ll be quiet, mush brain, he’ll tell us,” Tim answered.

  “Don’t start, boys. I want to know what your dad is telling us. I don’t know all of his plans either,” Irene told them.

  Herb settled back on the couch with an arm around Irene’s shoulders. “First, how do you feel about each of you asking one friend to go with you?”

  The twins looked startled at each other and then at Anna. “Just one each?” Tom asked anxiously. “That’s it?”

  “Excuse us a few minutes. Anna would you please come into the kitchen with us?” Tim asked.

  Irene and Herb looked puzzled at each other, but waited patiently until their children returned. Meanwhile they watched news, especially the weather. Herb turned the TV off as the children came back and sat on the floor in front of their parents.

  “Dad,” Anna started, “we’ve talked it over and decided that we have too many friends to choose just one without hurting other’s feelings. We’ve decided that we get along well and would love to go on a trip with mom. But, aren’t you coming?”

  “I have to stay and work. Besides I need to stay with our dog.”

  “Fine. No more interruptions. Speak, O lord and master,” Anna giggled.

  “Great. Here it is. First you’ll fly from Nome to Anchorage. Then you’ll board the McKinley Explorer with glass-domed railcars. You’ll go through Mt. McKinley National Park and see animals you’ve only seen in pictures.

  Then you’ll go through Denali National Park and maybe see a real gold mine. You’ll go on north to Fairbanks. There you’ll sightsee, stay overnight, and then go west to the Yukon River. You’ll board a boat and travel south for a short way on the Yukon and see historic sights. Before you get to the white water, and the big falls, you’ll get off and fly back to Nome. That will cover five days unless you decide to stay over somewhere. How does that sound?” He looked at them with a big grin.

&nbs
p; “For once I’m speechless,” Tom gulped. “Is that to be our birthday present?”

  “Good grief.” Tim groaned, “Can’t you just for once accept the trip, enjoy going to new places and see things we would never see in Virginia? I’m going to take my camera and plenty of film; take my tape recorder so I can record everything without forgetting interesting facts and I’m going to eat all kinds of new foods.” Anna put her hand over Tim’s mouth or he would have rattled on in his excitement.

  “I can’t top that and I’m getting sleepy. Good night one and all,” Tom yawned hugely. “Oh are we taking Greatheart?”

  “Boy, you are sleepy. Dad told us he was staying here with her.”

  “Tomorrow we do things we never do on Sunday. We’ll wash clothes, pack and check on everything we’ll need. Please don’t be running off and goofing off,” Irene said.

  “I’ll be too excited to sleep,” Tim was jumping around the room whooping like he thought an Indian sounded on the warpath.

  “You’d better try to sleep,” Anna advised. ‘We don’t want to waste time sleeping on the trip because there’ll be too much to see and do.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next afternoon Herb drove his family to the Nome Airport. He flew to Anchorage with them to spend the night and do some sightseeing. Tim was writing as fast as he could in his journal. The Eskise family had agreed to take care of Greatheart while Herb was away.

  Tom looked at Tim writing in his journal. “Why are you wasting time with such foolishness?” he snickered.

  “Are you going to remember everything we see and do? Are you going to remember all the people we’ve met and what they said; the odors in the markets and your feelings? Five years from now, or sooner, are you going to remember all of this?” Tim answered calmly. Tom shrugged his shoulders and walked off.

  There were mixed feeling the next morning when Herb had to see his family aboard the train and leave them.