by Sioux Dallas
“Whoa, Mark. Why are you blushing? How long have you thought our sister is beautiful and smart?” Tom grinned as he placed an arm across Mark’s shoulders.
“Tom, you may have changed on the outside, but it’s obvious you’re still the same inside. A real stinker.”
“Sorry, Mark. I didn’t mean to embarrass you or make you feel badly. You’d be surprised how much I have changed. You know how I fought leaving here. Well, I learned to love Alaska and the people. It was hard to leave them.”
“Hey guys. Do you want to go for pizza with us?” Anna called as she came out of the house with Janell Morris, Dede Dodd and Michelle Tully.
“Sure.”
“Good deal.”
They all piled in the Dodd van which Dede was driving. “Buckle up everyone. We’re off.” she sang out.
“Do you guys drive yet?” Tim asked.
“Yes, I do,” Mark answered. Jim and Alex said they knew how but only Mark had a license.
“Anna has her license from Alaska. She’ll have to get it transferred or whatever you have to do,” Tim explained.
“Dad lets me drive with him on the back roads, but mom would have a fit if she knew,” Alex confessed.
“Your dad hides things from your mother?!” Jim was shocked as were all the young people.
“Our dad would never do anything like that. He tells us we must respect both of them and be honest with them. They’re honest with us and expect the same in return. Besides, suppose you were involved in an accident. Your mother would sure know then.”
“Aw, nothing’s gonna happen.”
“That’s why they’re called accidents. Things happen that no one plans or expects.”
“Here we are,” Dede called out.
“Last one in pays for all the pizza,” Janell teased.
“Oh, no. Everyone has to agree to it and we didn’t,” Anna declared.
There was a pleasant confusion while they ordered. Anna looked fondly around the group thinking. Dede, Jim, Mark and Michelle have all matured. They used to give each other such grief. The jury is still out on Alex. My brothers have been little brats at time, but all in all, we’ve gotten along well. I’m proud of how they’ve grown.
“Back to driving” Jim said. ’We’re all in the same boat as far as age goes. I’m going to lay a, shall we say, a bet on the rest of you guys. That is if you’re man enough to take it.”
“A bet,” Tim spoke hesitantly. “What kind of bet?”
“No betting,” Anna said pointing a straight finger at him.
“Oh, money won’t be involved,” Jim explained. “What I have in mind is for all of us to practice driving until we go for our driver’s test. But before we take the test, I suggest we have an adult help us set up an obstacle course and drive through it. We’ll compete to see who gets the best score.”
“Super!” Tom was excited. “I’m sure our parents would approve of that. But how come the rest of you guys haven’t gotten your license? Tom and I didn’t need one is the only reason we don’t have one. We walked everywhere or went by dog sled or snowmobile.”
“My folks wouldn’t let me because they thought my grades were too poor.”
“I broke my leg in football practice and have been out of action for some time.”
The excuses were good and the subject was dropped. They did agree that none of them absolutely had to drive. Everything they needed was either in walking distance or someone would drive them. Being an average teen they liked the idea of driving and getting with friends.
“I have another great idea,” Jim continued. “I have an uncle, dad’s brother, that is a Virginia State Trooper. I’m sure he would be glad to set up a course and test us. He could even ask us questions and help us practice for the written part of the driver’s test.”
“Great.” All the boys did a high five. “I’m depending on our beautiful, smart, sweet talented sister to work with Tim and me,” Tom laughed looking at Mark.
“Tom,” Anna snickered, “You really are a stinker. I bet dad will want to be the one teaching you.”
“Well he can help so he and mom will feel better, but we’ll have practice t when he won’t have time or he’ll be at work. Please, please, Anna, promise you’ll help us get a good start before you leave for college.” Tom got on the floor on his knees and begged like a dog.
“Okay, okay. I know when I’m a sucker, but I’ll help.”
“Yea! With your help we’ll be ready for anything,” Tim beamed.
“You might as well crown me now, king of the road,” Alex bragged. “I’ve got a good start.”
Anna thought to herself how much time she had before she left for college and all she had to do. She was also happy that Michelle was also going to Madison.
Alex scooted his chair closer to Anna and placed a penny on the table in front of her.
“What’s that for?”
“I thought it was a penny for them, but maybe the price has escalated with the increase in the economy,” Alex grinned.
“Okay, brain. What are you saying to my sister?” Tim bristled with a brother’s protective attitude.
“Hold your horses. Don’t you talk our language any more? It’s a penny for your thoughts. Remember?” Alex sneered.
“Well don’t get in a sweat, buddy. I was just checking.”
Tom quickly changed the subject asking about former teachers and classmates. He looked puzzled at Tim. What’s wrong with Tim?
“Anna, would you like to drive into D.C. shopping tomorrow?” Dede asked. “We three are going and it would be perfect if you’d come, too. We’ll stop at Seven Corners first. You won’t believe how it has changed and grown.”
“I’d love to. I can’t think of anything that would prevent me from going,” she answered. She was thinking, What’s wrong with Tim? He and Tom appear to have exchanged personalities today.
“It’s been great getting together. I sure missed you folks, but I’m glad you had the experience of living in Alaska.” Jim lightly punched each twin.
“Yeah, we’ve waited impatiently for you to come back so we could do things like old times,” Mark added.
“Even good things must come to an end,” Alex broke in. “I gotta get home before dad does or I’ll be in even more hot water.”
“More?” Tim raised his eyebrows.
Mark drew a breath of disgust. “Alex couldn’t take the car, so he took the riding mower and drove it through his mother’s flower bed and vegetable garden. His dad thought it was funny until he discovered that Alex had wrecked his motorcycle. He’s supposed to be grounded and under home arrest, but he sneaks out.” Mark didn’t smile and neither did the others.
“S’truth,” Alex laughed. “I’m close to my house, so I’ll trot on home. It sure was nice being with all of you.”
He has more nerve than I have, and I got into some doozies when I was younger,” Tom mused.
The young people crawled back into the van and drove back to the Jacksons. They got out with the boys whooping, yelling and teasing as usual.
“Ho ho. That’s too little to be the famous Greatheart. What is it anyway?” Mark teased.
“Hope! Mom must have let her out to meet us. This is Greatheart’s daughter.” Tom proudly introduced her. Tim had written and kept them all up-to-date on all the dogs.
“I think she’s darling,” Dede knelt to pick her up. “Aren’t you precious.”
“Hello, sweetie pie,” Michelle reached to take Hope. “We loved your grandmother, but we never got to meet your mother. I hear she was very special, and you look like a very special girl.”
“Is she part wolf?” Jim asked.
“She’s one-fourth wolf,” Tom explained. “Greatheart is half wolf and we bred her to a champion Malamute. So the tubby lady here is half Malamute, one-fourth wolf and one-fourth German Shepherd. That little wagging plume of a tail is from the malamute.”
“Let me tell you how we got Greatheart bred and got into trouble.” Tim was lau
ghing until he could hardly talk. He told the story amid much laughter and teasing. “And that’s how Hope is a dukes mixture.”
“Boy, are you lucky. You actually broke the law and it turned out well,” Jim observed.
“We paid for it. And the whole town heard about it. We were so embarrassed. It could have turned out bad if Mr. Whitzel had not been such a gentleman.”
“Now we have our hands full trying to housebreak her. Come here, Hope. Go potty like a good girl.” Tim tried to show how she was learning. They got a charge out of it when she obediently squatted and tried to do something. “See she’s learning. She knows the word potty,” he bragged.
“But how many nights have we gotten up every two hours and staggered outside with her to teach her to go outside?” Tom rolled his eyes.
“She really wasn’t hard to work with. Greatheart helped by taking them out, while they were still nursing, with her when she went. The most trouble we’ve had is with her chewing on everything,” Anna sighed. “Shoes, chair legs, table cloths, you name it and she’s tried to make confetti of it.”
The girls got ready to leave. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning at nine-thirty,” Dede reminded Anna. “The stores in Seven Corners open at ten.”
“I’ll be raring to go. I’ve missed big stores, but I had so much fun today. Thanks for making this afternoon special,” Anna told the crowd. “Come on in, Hope. You really are a good girl,” she said as she waved to he girls.
As the three children entered the house, Anna turned to the twins coming in behind her. “Tim, would you come into the den with me, please? I’d like to ask you something.” Tom went on to his room as Tim and Anna walked into the den. Tim waited for her to sit down before he sat. Herb had taught the boys to hold doors for ladies and let them enter first and to wait to sit until a lady has sat down.
“Tim, I guess I’ve been too close to you to be observant. You and Tom are growing so fast and I’m proud of both of you. I’m doubly proud that you’re both gentlemen, thanks to our parents’ teaching.”
Tim tilted his head to one side and smiled waiting for her to continue.
“You’ve always been so kind to people and careful of their feelings that I was surprised this afternoon when you were aggressive to Alex. Would you care to explain that to me?”
Tim sucked in a breath, pursed his lips and hesitated. “Alex was never one of my favorite people. As you say, I hated to hurt his feelings. He was a bully and once I heard two teachers, on the playground, calling him “Little Hitler”. When we were talking about Mom’s books and you illustrating them, Alex smirked when Mark said you were beautiful. I didn’t like his facial expressions. Then in the Pizza Parlor he was playing up to you in a way that an older guy might.”
“I wondered why you were bristling. Never fear, brother dear. I know Alex’s age and for sure he isn’t my type. I’ll be careful, but thank you for being protective of me. I don’t deserve a great brother like you.”
Tim stood up. “I promised Tom I’d beat him in a video game. I have to protect my reputation as the best player. See you later.” He started out of the room, wheeled around and came back to hug Anna. “I’m the one that’s lucky, having you for a sister. I’m sure going to miss you while you’re away in college. Do you realize we’ve been together all our lives and done just about everything together? I’m happy for you, but I can’t help but think how our lives are changing.”
As Tim went out the door, Anna heard him yelp. Running out into the hall she put her hand over her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. Tom came bounding down the stairs and Irene ran in from the kitchen.
“Hope. What have you done?” Irene said slowly. “Where were all of you that not one could see what she was doing? I don’t blame her. She’s little and get bored easily. All of you know to watch her.” She hesitated. “Truthfully, I’m just as guilty. I knew she was in the house and all of us know to watch her.”
Tim squatted down beside the puppy. Hope turned over on her back and whimpered as if she knew she was going to get punished. “Dad is going to have a fit,” he said.
“Fit! He’ll kill Hope and us, too for not keeping an eye on her. Girl, if you had to chew on something why did you choose dad’s golf bag to destroy?”
“Who left the hall closet door open so she could get to the bag?” Irene questioned.
“We didn’t even open the closet, Mom,” Anna answered. “But I bet it had been open a sliver and she worked it open to get in. Oh, Hope. You’ve ruined it. She’s even chewed the glove he had in the bag. And this hand towel can’t even be used for a rag.”
“I’ve got it!” Tim jumped up. “Dad had a promotion and we need to get him something nice to congratulate him. Let’s put our money together and get him a new bag for a gift. How much do we have now? I have sixteen dollars and thirty-one cents.”
“I’ll leave it to you three. Try to get her interested in a chew toy. Better still, put her leash on and take her for a walk. Maybe she’ll wear herself out.” Irene waved her hand and went back to making her grocery list.
“We might as well make this a training session,” Tim told Hope.
“What are you doing?” Tom asked.
“I’m putting her on my left side with the leash behind my hips and holding the end of the leash in my right hand. Heel, Hope.” Each time she tried to run ahead, Tim would pull her back and say “Heel”. When she was again by his left side, he would say, “Walk.”
“Mom, Hope’s really smart. We’ve only been walking her at heel for four days. Today she got on the left side on her own and stayed without pulling.” Tom bragged.
“We all know she’s smart. That’s why she gets into mischief. Galena was unusually intelligent and wolves are very smart. You remember Greatheart learned quickly and did things for us few wolf dogs had been known to do. Koko was very intelligent. He was hyperactive just as Hope is. She has good blood lines and intelligent ancestors.” Irene knelt down to rub the fat tummy that was turned up to be rubbed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Jackson family had become accustomed to the cooler climate in Alaska and now felt the July heat in Virginia was uncomfortable. They went swimming or stayed in air-conditioned places as much as possible.
All of them were relieved to be back in Virginia, safely, but it didn’t feel right. Their beloved Galena would never greet them again and Greatheart belonged to someone else clear across the U.S. However, Hope’s energy and love for them made life easier to bear.
The twins were delighted to find part-time jobs in a sporting goods store and one in a grocery store placing items on the shelves during hours after the store was closed. Herb raised the allowance of the twins to fifteen dollars a week and twenty for Anna because she would need more in college.
The twins still had chores to do. Irene and Herb explained that this home was theirs, also and they lived in it the same as everyone else. Therefore, they were responsible for specific jobs to keep the house running smoothly. Of course Herb would come through where extra money was needed.
“You silly girl. You know you’re showing off,” Tom laughed. He and Tim were walking Hope by a home that had a scrolled iron fence around the property. Two beautiful Alsatian dogs were prancing and barking on their side of the fence. The twins admired the beautiful, long, white coats of the dogs. But Hope’s head was held high, eyes straight ahead as she pranced by. “She’s pretending she doesn’t even see or hear them.”
“They are beautiful dogs,” Tim acknowledged. “Maybe we can get them together to play sometime.”
That night at the dinner table, Tom was overjoyed at Hope’s response to her training. He told Herb about her walking by the dogs and not acting up. “She heels well now. When we start out, she automatically walks on our left side, but is very responsive to a change of commands.”
Not to be outdone, Tim contributed by bragging on his own training abilities. “And when we come to a curb, she stops without being asked and waits to be told that
she can cross. She’s responding to hand signals some now.”
Herb laughed. “I’m remembering what a time you had teaching Greatheart to stay. She wanted to run after you and romp.”
“That’s because Greatheart is smarter than they are,” Anna teased her brothers.
“My dear children,” Herb changed the subject, “I’m pleased with my new golf bag and can hardly wait to use it. It is a nicer one than I’ve ever owned and I’ll be so proud to show it off. Thank you again.”
“Enjoy it, Dad. You deserve it and it’ll be a long time before we have enough money to get something like that again.” Tom sighed with a mock expression of agony. “That old bag was pretty ratty. And haven’t you always told us that pride goes before a fall? Don’t get so full of pride that you have a bad day.” He laughed.
Herb chuckled. “Go ahead, throw it in my face. You know what I meant.”
“Anna, what are you doing in your room so much? We hardly see you except at meals. Do you need our help?” Tim asked.
“You’re a good sport for asking, but you can’t help with what I have to do. I’m going through my clothes washing, mending and seeing what I might need to take with me. I’m also making a list of personal items I’ll need so I won’t forget something, like a toothbrush and deodorant. Once I start classes, I won’t have time to run out to shop. Hi, little Hope. Oh, yes, I’ll need towels, wash cloths, tissues and oh-----. I just know I’ll forget something. Hope, why don’t you come to college with me and take care of me?” Hope wriggled with glee at the soft tone of her beloved human’s voice. Anna set her down and she ran around to the others to see if they needed a doggie kiss or a hug.
The next day, Anna met the twins in the hall. “My dear brothers, why haven’t you been after me for driving lessons? I’m surprised that you’re not more anxious especially after the challenge.”
“I can’t explain it, but I honestly don’t feel as if it’s one of the more important things in my life. I can always walk or ride my bike. By the way, may we use your motor bike while you’re in college?”