Dangerous Hilarity

by Sioux Dallas

  “Oh. So Tim is the goody-goody and I’m always the bad guy,” Tom said with hurt in his voice.

  “This conversation is getting out of hand,” Herb said. “In fact, it’s no conversation at all. Let’s go into the kitchen, sit down at the table, and have a discussion as we’ve always done. Come on, Anna,” he said as the twins stalked out of the yard and into the house.

  Anna had been standing with tears in her eyes and saying nothing. None of the children had eve thought of arguing with their parents and, even though she felt as her brothers did, she didn’t approve of them responding to their parents in that surly tone of voice. She turned as if in a trance and slowly walked into the house.

  Herb thanked the Eskise family and Allan and his daddy. “I apologize for my sons and hope that you’ll understand our family must discuss this.”

  “Of course,” Mr. Eskise assured him, looking a little ashamed. “I’m truly sorry, but it was my thoughtless son who instigated the trouble.”

  “Please accept my apologizes,” Robert said, putting his arm around Alan. “I think we all have to discuss this with our children.”

  “Neither of you need to apologize. We value the friendship of all of you and don’t want you to feel badly. My concern is my sons’ attitude toward the Chief. I must talk to them and remind them how to be gentlemen. Please excuse me.” Herb walked into the house with a straight back and a determined expression.

  He found them sitting around the kitchen table--silent. Anna fought to keep the tears from pouring out. The twins sat with clenched jaws and red faces. It was obvious that Irene’s heart was aching. Herb breathed a silent prayer that he would be able to reason with his sons. I don’t fully agree with Chief Houmay either, but there are times that it’s better to remain silent and stay away from the person who is causing the anger.

  “Boys, first I want you to remember how much you are loved and how proud we are to have you as our children. I’m not saying that your feelings are wrong, or that you don’t have a right to your opinion. You know your mother and I have always encouraged all of you to have an equal say in family discussions. What I am saying is that you have been taught the meaning of self-respect, to use good manners, to keep control of your temper and to try to understand the person with whom you are disagreeing. Quarreling doesn’t settle anything; it only aggravates the situation. I do feel that the Chief acted rashly. We don’t know why. Did it ever occur to you that deep down he is afraid of dogs for some reason? Maybe he thinks it isn’t manly to admit his fear, therefore, he pretends to be angry and bluffs his way with threats.”

  The twins looked astonished, then thoughtful, but neither spoke.

  “I don’t know that he is afraid, “Herb continued. “It’s just a thought. You think he was wrong to yell and threaten? Isn’t that what you planned to do to him? How would your actions be any different than his? What makes your actions right and his wrong? Remember the Indian saying, “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his moccasins. We need to try to get to know him better.”

  After a short silence, Tim spoke. “What do you want us to do?”

  “I’m only going to make a suggestion. I don’t believe that a forced apology has any merit. I’m suggesting that you think about all that has happened. Remember the unwise decisions of Ben and Alan. After you come to a decision, let your mother and me know what you’ve decided to do. Consider the fact that the Chief might be afraid of losing his job and is trying to convince the public that he’s on top of any situation. I don’t know that any of my suppositions are true. I just want you to think it through and then act as gentlemen. I am asking one binding promise. Please do not tell anyone outside of this family what our discussion has been. It isn’t nice to talk about another person when they’re not present to defend themselves. Do I have your promise?”

  “Yes, sir,” Tim answered first.

  “Yes, Dad,” Tom finally said.

  The twins motioned for Anna to join them. As the three left the room, Irene and Herb shared a comforting hug.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Two days passed as the twins asked Ben and Alan to again tell them all that had happened. They even asked Ben Gregory to give his part of the situation. With all the talking, they did keep their promise to not tell what the family discussed. They talked to everyone they could find who witnessed the incident of Greatheart’s run-away.

  On the third day, Herb looked up from his newspaper as the three children entered the living room. Irene had a sock stretched over a light bulb so she could mend a hole in the toe.

  “Dad. Mom. May we talk to you?” Tom asked.

  Irene immediately put her mending down and gave them her complete attention. Herb folded the newspaper and laid it on a table by his chair. Anna, Tom and Tim sat on the couch. The looked at each other.

  “I’ll start,” Tim said. “We’ve talked to a lot of people to ascertain the facts of Greatheart’s great run-away. Then we talked it over among us three. We’ve decided that we can try to win Chief Houmay’s friendship and do as you suggested. We will apologize as tactfully as possible and let the talks end there. Is that okay?”

  “In other words, we’re going to kill him with kindness,” Tom grinned. Anna turned to glare at Tom. “Okay,” Tom said throwing his hands up. “I’ll let Tim do the talking and I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

  “I’m truly proud of you,” Herb smiled. “But don’t do something just to please me. Do it because you know it’s the decent thing to do.” Irene nodded and smiled to show how proud she was of them.

  The next day the twins arranged to meet Chief Houmay on the street. “Good morning, sir. If you have the time, we’d like to talk to you, Chief.” Tim stated politely while Tom, wonders of wonders, did keep quiet.

  “Sure, kids. Fire away,” he answered.

  “I’d like to,” Tom mumbled.

  “What’s that?” the Chief asked.

  Tim hurriedly began. He apologized for Greatheart’s behavior, not blaming the two friends, and promised that nothing like that would happen again. To his credit, the Chief was nice to the twins, but couldn’t keep from warning them again about the dangers of having a wolf dog.

  That night, at the dinner table, the twins proudly told what they had accomplished during the day. Anna smiled with pride with them. “I have to admit that I feel much better,” Tim stated.

  “Me, too. I’m not as mad as I was, and can see all sides of the happening,” Tom supplied.

  “Well, that’s a relief,” Tim spoke with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m glad you’re not mad. Remember what dad said that animals with rabies are mad, but humans are angry?” The laugh that followed helped them to relax.

  “Just do me, and yourselves, a favor,” Irene said. “Make sure that Greatheart is not out alone for any reason. I think Ben and Alan learned an important lesson, also. They meant well, but they just didn’t stop to think.”

  The last week of July Sam and Charlie were both home. Herb took his family, a friend of Anna’s, and the four boys that were the twins’ friends to White Horse in the Yukon Territory.

  “Dad, what are we going to do with Greatheart?” Tom worried.

  “We can’t take her with us and we can’t go off and leave her again,” Tim chewed on his lower lip as he worried.

  “Dad and I talked it over,” Irene answered, “and I’m going to stay here.”

  “But, Mom,” Anna wailed, “that’s not fair. You could enjoy this trip as much as any of us. It’s the first pow wow and Indian celebration we’ve seen. You’ve got to go.”

  “Shhh. It’s all right. I went on the train trip with you while your dad stayed here. Now it’s his turn to go and I’ll stay with our girl,” Greatheart came for a hug just as if she understood. “I want all of you to go and have a fantabulous time. Take lots of pictures so I’ll have an idea what you saw.”

  When they recognized that she was serious, the three children pitched in to help a lot before they left. They packed all
they would need for the five days. Paul Grigsby flew them to Fairbanks where they boarded another plane for White Horse.

  The twins were so excited to see so many Indian (First People) tribes from all over North America. Anna and her friend were more interested in the booth making jewelry, bead purses and even dresses. Charlie and Alan were thrilled because it was the only chance they had to visit with so many Indians.

  There were large arrangements of wigwams as well as slab buildings and other buildings to show the residences of the people. All wigwams are built so that the opening is facing east to honor the rising sun. Flags of many Indian groups flew over their particular area. One drew their attention that said Sault St. Marie-- tribe of the Chippewa.

  Walking on, they saw a sign, maruawe numuukahni which meant welcome to the Comanche Lodge. The flag read Comanche Nation, Lords of the Southern Plains. This flag showed an Indian on horseback carrying a lance with feathers on it. Another sign said that the Shoshone tribe from eastern Wyoming was part of this group.

  The Cherokee had a program telling about Sequoyah, an Indian that developed the first written Cherokee language. An older Cherokee teen demonstrated the Eagle Dance with a beautiful costume.

  The Choctaw had a sign, Ant Chukoa, which meant come in. they learned that this was the largest group of the Muskogean language. They were the first U.S. Indians to adopt a flag of their own and fought on the side of the Confederacy during the War Between the States. The Chickawaw, Creek and Seminole were also part of this language group. The children were interested to learn that Roy Rogers was part Choctaw.

  There were so many Indian groups that it was impossible to see all of them in one day. Too, there were loads of booths and animals.

  Herb had a lot of sympathy for the problems the Indians face, diabetes, heart, alcoholism and many others. He was pleased to learn he could work with a group to help them get better education, better medical attention and homes for orphans and the sick and elderly.

  The Pawnee sign, As-Say-Taw-Ka meant White Horse. Chief War Eagle taught the children some dance steps so they could participate in a dance later in the day.

  Each of them did a sand painting at one booth. There was so much to see that it was difficult to make choices. Each day there would be a different special game. This day a group of Indian women played a game called shinny.

  “Wow! They’re good,” Tom exclaimed. “That’s almost like our game of field hockey.”

  A tall, dignified Indian, standing by them, was amused. “Where do you think you got the idea to play your games? The game of shinny started among the Indians of the northeastern part of the United States and Canada.”

  “Did we really copy your games?” Tim asked wide-eyed and respectful.

  “I was teasing you,” the man laughed. “I don’t really know who started them. I do know that a lot of gymkhana games you play were started by Indians from the western part of the U.S. They were meant to keep in practice for their daily living. All of us have learned from each other, from the early Aztec to people all over the world.”

  Herb joined them to check on the six boys. “Hello. My name is Herb Jackson, and I’m responsible for these hooligans. I hope they’re not being a nuisance. They’re just so excited to be here, as I am, also.”

  “No. I’ve enjoyed talking to them. I’m Andrew Bloodraven. I’m an attorney in Saskatchewan. This is the first chance I’ve had in too many years to attend a pow wow.”

  “Excuse me,” Tom interrupted. “Dad, we’re going to that booth over there to get something to drink. We’ll stay in sight of you. Anna and Rebecca are on the other side.”

  “Okay, son. You boys stay together.” The entire group loved trying new foods. Later, the boys with Anna and Rebecca, joined Herb. “Dad, these people keep talking about gymkhana games. What does that mean?”

  Andrew had walked with Herb and now answered Tom. “Gymkhana means games on horseback. In early days the purpose of the games was to keep the warriors’ skills sharp for hunting and protecting the tribe.”

  The next morning they were up early and had a good breakfast. When they arrived on the show grounds, they saw ten tall poles lined up, in a straight line, about twelve feet apart. The thin, swaying poles were about eight feet tall.

  “What are they doing with those?” Tom asked.

  A young Indian girl standing near them spoke. “Is it okay if I explain to you? My name is Jennifer Two Crows.” All six boys welcomed her in almost one voice and stumbled over each other to tell their names.

  “When early Indians rode to battle, they carried a pogganmmogan in one hand. The weapon was made from one strong, solid piece of wood with a ball left on one end. The other end had a hole drilled in it and piece of rawhide through it to fit around the wrist. Riding fast the Indian would hold the weapon so that he could swing the pogganmmogan and hit the enemy with the hard ball. It would either kill the enemy or knock him off his horse and often broke bones if he lived.”

  “They aren’t going to try to kill each other now are they?” Tom gasped.

  “No.” She laughed. “They’ll ride fast and try to knock something off the top of the poles. They’ll be judged on accuracy of hitting and timed to see who can go the whole way the fastest.”

  “That sounds like fun,” Tim was delighted.

  The girl went on. “Yes, it is fun. They ride bareback, as their ancestors did, with only a war bridle and no bit in the horse’s mouth. A good rider guides the horse with body movements and legs.”

  As a name was called, that Indian would ride as fast as he could to hit the things that looked like small pumpkins on the tops of the poles no bigger than a fishing pole. The poles whipped and swayed so that it took a lot of skill to hit the target.

  The girl jumped with glee. “My brother won!” They all told her to congratulate her brother and tell him they enjoyed watching.

  Anna and Rebecca were standing behind the boys. Anna showed them jewelry she purchased and a lovely hand-made beaded purse for her mother. They all then went into a building that showed pictures and artists’ drawings of past famous Indians. There was also a display of early clothing and weapons.

  Outside there were a lot of people singing and dancing. Indian men made a large circle dancing clockwise. The women made a circle inside dancing counter clockwise. Four older men played a large, broad drum while a man explained about the history of the dance. It demonstrated the appreciation of the Creator for giving them a good life.

  The next days were filled with a rodeo. The time came too soon to leave.

  “Tom, don’t you want to write something to Mrs. Berry? I’ve done all the writing. Come to think of it, you haven’t taken a single picture or made notes to share with our friends in Virginia.” Tim scowled at Tom

  “Aw, you know I don’t like to write. Besides you’ve done a good job, so why spoil it?”

  “But Tom, you made a promise, too.”

  “Okay. Okay. Let me get this piece of paper. I’ll use it. I’ll write something and put it in your letter. Hey! You won’t believe this.”

  “What? What is it?”

  “Listen to what’s on this paper. Hi Anna, I know that you know my name, but we’ve never talked much. I’ve been watching you and think you are real neat. A lot of kids don’t feel comfortable around intelligent girls like you, but I admire you and would like to get better acquainted. Could we eat lunch together at school or maybe meet in the library? Just give me a chance. I’d like to be your friend. Regards, Daniel Morgan.” Tom read aloud and burst out laughing. “Isn’t that a riot? Old brainy Anna has a guy sweet on her.”

  “Don’t show your ignorance, Tom. I’m not surprised. Our sister is very pretty and she does make top honor roll. Besides, she’s a sweet, caring person. She’s growing up. I mean she’s very mature. Do you even know what that means? Naturally she’ll be dating and some day she’ll get married.”

  “Blah. That won’t happen, or if it does, it’ll be a long time yet,” Tom smirked.
/>
  “I guess you can’t help being stupid. Of course it’ll happen and it’ll happen to you and me. Then again, maybe the girls will be smart enough to see through you.” Tom and Tim began to wrestle on the floor.

  Irene hurried into the room. “Stop right this minute. You know what always happens. You start out joking and thinking you’re being funny, and it ends up with one of you getting hurt and tempers flying out of control. Aren’t you supposed to be working on a history assignment?”

  The twins scrambled up punching each other lightly. Anna came in and plopped down, “What is it now, Mom?”

  “Just your brothers and their usual shenanigans. Look at this mess. Pictures scattered over the table and floor, papers all over the place and -- what is this?” Irene held a paper out to Anna.

  Anna took the paper and then out a strangled squawk. “Why those little rats have been in my personal papers. Just wait ‘till I get hold of them.” She turned stomping toward the twins’ bedroom.

  “Don’t make another step,” Irene ordered. “I want to know what this is about. The boys don’t usually bother other people’s property. There must be more to it.”

  “You’re right,” Anna said embarrassed. “I carelessly left it on top of my books. Did you read it, Mom?”

  “No. It isn’t mine to read. I just saw that it was a letter from some boy. I’ll be glad to listen if you want to tell me about it.”

  Anna read the letter to Irene and explained about the possible friendship.

  “Do you like this young man as more than a friend?”

  “He has been a very good friend. He was one of the first to welcome me and show me over the building so I could find my classes. I’m not interested in having a special boy friend, but I like having a lot of friends.”

  Irene smiled. “Honey, you will have several boy friends before you settle for the one special man in your life. Be nice to Daniel and talk to him as you would any friend. He didn’t ask to date you; just to talk. Your father and I trust you to stay with a group and not go off with a boy alone. Enjoy being young while you can. A person is young for such a few short years. Then you’re an adult with responsibilities and lots of stress. Bring Daniel and any of your friends home whenever you like. I’ll talk to your brothers.”