Breaker Boy

by Joan Hiatt Harlow

  Corey wondered if the baby would arrive while they were gone.

  The three brothers continued on their way around the carnival and soon came to a fun house with the name the Genie’s Castle. Corey bought three tickets. The entrance was built to look like a magic lamp with smoke curling up from its chimney. Once inside, the first obstacle was a huge barrel that rotated in full circles.

  Sammy, always the daring one, hopped right inside, but as the great cask turned, he fell onto the whirling floor, laughing as he tried to stand. Corey grabbed Jack’s hand, and the two of them tried to get through the barrel but kept falling. After a while, the boys moved quickly enough to escape the rotation and enter the first room of the fun house.

  Mirrors covered every wall of the large chamber. One mirror stretched Jack out as tall as the giant he’d seen earlier. In the reflection, his legs were as thin as clotheslines. His face and chin were skinny and twice as long. Jack doubled up with laughter and then ran to the other mirrors.

  Sammy was worried when he first looked into one of the mirrors and saw himself with a chubby round belly and eyes peering out from a face like a fat balloon. “Will I look like this forever?”

  Corey laughed. “No, of course not.”

  After they’d moved from mirror to mirror and howled at every reflected image, they decided to move on. However, there was no door. Every wall was mounted with mirrors.

  Jack was puzzled. “How did we get in, and how do we get out?”

  Corey went to each mirror until he finally found the door that led them to a hallway. As they stepped onto the floor, Corey felt the floor jiggle and slant in every direction. The boys could barely stand. But then, as they reached a closed door, wham! The entire passageway plunged.

  “Coreeeeey!” Jack screamed.

  “Help!” Sammy yelled.

  When Corey lost his balance and fell to the floor, he thought they had fallen into a chasm. Then he realized the floor had only dropped a few inches. Feeling foolish, Corey picked himself up. “You’re both okay. It’s a trick floor.”

  By the time they left the Genie’s Castle, it was raining, and they were hungry. Corey asked someone the time, and he realized it was afternoon already. “Let’s have our hot dogs now, before we use up any more of our money,” Corey suggested. Farther down the walkway, a vendor was selling hot potatoes and zapiekanki—kielbasa sandwiches—for only ten cents each. He ordered two, instead of the hot dogs. One he’d cut in half for his brothers.

  The boys sat at a red-painted wooden table under an awning and waited until the waiter brought their lunch. When it finally came, the French bread was crusty and loaded with slices of kielbasa, mushrooms, and melted cheese that dripped in strings from the meat. As Corey cut a sandwich in two, he realized how hungry he was.

  Corey grabbed extra napkins from the counter and tucked a napkin under each of his brothers’ necks.

  “No! We don’t want bibs, Corey,” Jack said, pulling the napkin away.

  Corey stuffed another napkin under his brother’s chin. “You will need them with all that melted cheese and mushrooms.”

  “We’ll just have water to drink,” Corey told the waiter. There were other rides and sights he wanted to see.

  As they were eating, Corey heard familiar voices and looked up to see Charlie, Frank, and Paddy heading their way. They wore backpacks, and Corey could see their bats sticking out.

  “Well, look who’s here,” Charlie said. “If you’re comin’ to play tomorrow, you’ll have to try out for the team first, you know.”

  “When can I try out?” Corey asked.

  “Now.”

  “In the rain?”

  “A little rain won’t hurt you.”

  “There’s goin’ to be flooding, and we have to walk home.”

  “Maybe those kids over there might want to try out,” Frank said, pointing to a group of boys hovering near a shed to stay dry. “They work in our breaker.”

  “Ask them,” Paddy said.

  Corey recognized three brothers, Ivan, Benes, and Karol. The other two were their cousins, Danin and Tank. They lived with their families in Anthony’s patch. They were all breaker boys but seldom mixed with the other kids.

  “Do they play ball?” Corey asked. “I’ve never seen them play.”

  “Naw. They’re not good at bat,” Charlie said.

  “Have they ever tried out?” Corey inquired.

  “We don’t let those kids try out. They don’t even speak English,” Frank said. “How do you explain the game, when they’re so stupid they don’t understand a word you’re saying?”

  “They’re not stupid just because they don’t speak English,” Corey said. “I’ll bet they understand more than they let on. Do you know how to speak any other language?”

  “No, my folks won’t let me speak anything but English at home,” Charlie said, “even though they do speak German when they don’t want me to understand what they’re sayin’.”

  “Does anyone know those kids, really?” Paddy asked.

  “Nope. They’re Slavic and they go to that onion church up on the hill. The orthopedic church,” Frank said.

  “That church with the dome is the Orthodox church, you dummy,” Corey said. “And you call them stupid?”

  “What Frank means is they don’t go to our church,” Charlie explained. “So we don’t know much about them. Even their writing looks weird. They don’t use our alphabet.”

  “What difference if they go to the onion church? What difference if they have a different alphabet?” Corey asked. “They might be great ballplayers.”

  “Well, I suppose we could give them a try,” Charlie said after a moment’s thought. “If we want to play for the championship, we need players.” He called to one of the boys. “Hey, Ivan! Come here!”

  Ivan looked up and around, then, seeing Charlie, he turned away.

  “You too, Benny and Karol,” Charlie called. “Come over here.”

  Frank whispered, “How do ya like Karol for a name? It’s a girls’ name, for Pete’s sake.”

  “Maybe we could call him Karl,” Corey suggested.

  The five boys across the walkway whispered to one another, then came cautiously over to the picnic area where Corey and the others were waiting.

  “Hey, you guys,” Frank bellowed. “How would you like to play baseball with us tomorrow? But first you need to try out this afternoon in the park over there.” He pointed to the other side of the field where the game was to be held on Sunday.

  Benes—whom everyone called Benny—used his hands to talk. “Ball?” he asked Frank, pitching an imaginary ball and then batting it. He seemed to understand what Frank was saying.

  “Yeah. Baseball,” Charlie yelled.

  “They’re not deaf,” Corey muttered. “Why are you shouting?”

  “You . . . kids.” Charlie ignored Corey and continued to speak loudly as he pointed to each of the boys. “Now.”

  The boys talked with one another in their own language, then nodded, and the five Slavic boys went off with Charlie, Frank, and Paddy toward the empty field where the game would be held on Sunday—if the field wasn’t flooded by then.

  “Are you comin’, Corey?” Charlie called. “You haven’t tried out yet.”

  Corey shook his head. “I’ve got to get the kids home before it starts pouring. I’ll try out tomorrow, before the game, if the field isn’t flooded.”

  The clouds were low and black, and by the time the boys headed home, the driving rain had made the walks and the main roads all mud and deep puddles.

  Corey thought about how his day at the park had helped him get a new view on his life. He knew it would take more time, but after his adventure in the House of Horrors, he was sure he had the power to conquer his phobia. If he could do it once—like on the ride—then he could do it again, couldn’t he? He could get better in time. Who would have thought a carnival ride could do all that?

  He was eager to see Mrs. Chudzik and tell her what had happ
ened. She has a special understanding of things that ordinary people don’t have. Perhaps it was her education in Europe. It seems like lots of famous, intelligent people come from Europe. That would include Ivan, Benny, and Karol. They may be real smart, if we could only understand what they were saying.

  Corey walked home at a fast pace, thinking his own thoughts, hardly noticing he and his brothers were soaked.

  “Slow down, Corey,” Jack yelled.

  “I’m tired,” Sammy complained.

  “Come on. We may have a new brother or sister,” Corey told them. “Don’t you want to find out?”

  “I don’t want a sister,” Jack said. “Girls are dumb.”

  “No, they are not,” Corey said.

  “Mom is a girl, but she’s not dumb,” Sammy said. “She’s just tired a lot.”

  It was dark when they reached their patch, and the smell of kerosene lanterns drifted through the neighborhood. As they turned down to their own house, Corey broke into a run. He could hardly wait to hear if the baby had come and to tell Dad and Mom what a good time they had at Sans Souci Park.

  Then he stopped abruptly. What was going on at his house? Lights glared from every window—and parked out front was a bright red touring car.

  33

  Emergency!

  Corey reached the front steps ahead of his brothers and stomped up onto the porch. “Mom! Dad!” he yelled as he burst through the door.

  Dad met him, his finger to his lips. “Quiet! No noise.”

  “Is Mom all right?” Corey asked. “Has she had the baby?”

  “She’s having trouble, Corey. We hoped to get her to a hospital. Mr. Balaski went to the police to get help and an ambulance, but was told the river had flooded and the roads to Scranton were impassible.”

  “A hospital? Why?” Then Corey had a terrible thought. “Is Mom goin’ to—”

  “Shh! Corey, don’t frighten your brothers,” Dad whispered as the boys came into the house. “When I couldn’t get any help or doctor, I thought of Mrs. Chudzik. So Mr. Balaski hitched up his horse and took me to her house. She came right away in her auto, but she said the roads were dangerous to go to a hospital anywhere.”

  For the first time in his life, Corey saw fear in his father’s eyes. “What’s going to happen?” Corey whispered.

  “Mrs. Chudzik examined Mom and said she’d take Mom to her house. She’ll keep a close watch, and if Mom needs surgery, she has everything there that they will need.”

  “What’s wrong? Where’s Mom?” Sammy pleaded, pulling at Dad’s shirt.

  “Yeah, what’s goin’ on?” Jack asked.

  “Mrs. Chudzik is going to help Mom,” Dad said in a calm voice. “Everything will be all right.”

  “Do we have a new brother?” Sammy asked.

  “Not yet,” Dad answered. “But pretty soon.” He put his arm on Corey’s shoulder. “Corey, take the boys into the kitchen and find something to eat. Then they should go to bed. I’m counting on you to handle things here while I go with Mom to Mrs. Chudzik’s.”

  Mrs. Brady, one of the women who’d come to help, stood nearby shaking her head. “You cannot let that woman take Annie to her house,” she said in a loud whisper. “Who knows what will happen to her. You’ve heard all the stories. . . .”

  Corey swung around. “Mrs. Chudzik is a doctor, and she’s my friend. Don’t say another word against her!”

  Mrs. Brady stood back, her mouth open. “Well, I never. . . .” She scurried into the kitchen, crossing herself and muttering.

  Corey turned to his father. “We’ll be fine, Dad. Get Mom to Mrs. Chudzik’s before the roads get any worse.”

  “Thanks, son,” Dad said, heading to the bedroom where Mom was resting. He came out in a few minutes, cradling Mom in his arms, with Mrs. Chudzik close behind them.

  Corey went to his mother and squeezed her hand. “Everything is going to be fine, Mom. Mrs. Chudzik will take good care of you . . . and the baby.”

  Mom nodded and half smiled as Dad carried her out to the waiting car.

  Mrs. Balaski brought over a supper and set it in the still-hot oven. “First, get out of those wet clothes. What were you doing? Swimming in the river?”

  “The river was coming up onto the roads and into the park,” Corey told her. “Then it poured, too.”

  The boys went upstairs and got into dry pajamas, then took their wet clothes and brought them down to Mrs. Balaski, who shoved them into a basket.

  “Why did Mom go away?” Sammy whispered to Corey. “Is she sick?”

  “She’s gone to Mrs. Chudzik’s to have the baby,” Corey said. “She needs help and Mrs. Chudzik knows how to help her.”

  “Why did Mrs. Brady say those mean things about Mrs. Chudzik?” Jack asked. “Doesn’t she like her?”

  “Do you like her?” Corey asked, suddenly curious. Has the neighborhood gossip reached Jack and Sammy yet?

  “Kids say she’s bad,” Jack said.

  “Like the wicked witch in fairy tales,” Sammy added. “But I like her.”

  “Me too,” Jack agreed. “She’s like having a grandma again.”

  Mrs. Balaski came into the room. “Have you boys eaten? There’s a hot dinner in the oven.”

  “I don’t want to go into the kitchen with Mrs. Brady,” Sammy grumbled.

  Mrs. Balaski went back to the kitchen. Corey could hear Mrs. Brady’s angry voice. “Do you know where they took Annie? They took her to the Chudzik mansion. Can you imagine?”

  “Don’t get in a lather,” Mrs. Balaski said. “Annie was happy and relieved when she saw Mrs. Chudzik come into the room. She said, ‘Everything will be all right now.’ ”

  “She must have been feverish.”

  “You certainly don’t believe those stories about Mrs. Chudzik, do you?” Mrs. Balaski asked. “I thought you were an intelligent woman, Colleen.”

  “Well, I am, but—”

  “Mrs. Chudzik is a professional nurse and Annie is in good hands.”

  Mrs. Balaski took all three boys and her hot casserole to her house. Her husband, who was also a miner, had gone to bed. After a bowl of hunter’s stew and homemade bread, Jack and Sammy fell asleep together on the couch in the parlor. Corey, though, squirmed restlessly in an armchair, wondering if his mom was all right and when she’d be home. Both Mrs. Chudzik and Mom say that women were made to have babies. So everything will be fine, won’t it? he asked himself over and over.

  Eventually, the tiring day, the sound of rain tapping against the windows, and the quiet, even breathing of his brothers slowly lured Corey into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  34

  Making Plans

  It was late when Corey woke on Sunday morning and realized where he was. The Balaskis were sleeping. The boys were still curled up together on the sofa. Corey tiptoed to the window, looking to see if there were any signs of his parents at his house, but everything was quiet. The rain was pelting and sweeping in gusts of wind. The baseball game must have been called off, Corey decided.

  Corey slipped on his shoes and went quietly out of the neighbors’ house and across the yard to the back porch of his house. He went into the open back door and into the kitchen, where Dad was seated at the table.

  “When did you get back? Did Mom have the baby?”

  “No, the baby has decided it’s not time yet.”

  Corey noticed how red and weary Dad’s eyes were, and a shiver of fear passed over him. “How is Mom? Is she all right?”

  “Mom will be all right once she has the baby,” Dad answered. “Mrs. Chudzik thinks the baby might come by surgery. If that happens, it will be a while before she can be up and around. You see, if she were here alone, there would be no one here to take care of her. You and I will be working—and God knows we need the money more than ever.”

  “So where’s Mom now?” Corey asked.

  “Mrs. Chudzik is keeping Mom at her house until she has the baby and is well enough to come home. That lady has turned out to be a godsend,
Corey.” Dad rested his head in his hands. “I don’t know what might have happened if Mrs. Chudzik hadn’t come over and taken Mom to her house. She was a baby doctor in Poland. She knows all about having babies.”

  Corey sat at the table across from his father. “Jack and Sammy had a good time with me yesterday at the park. We’ll be fine, so why don’t you go back to Mrs. Chudzik’s to stay with Mom.”

  Dad folded his hands. “Here’s the plan. I will stay with Mom at Mrs. Chudzik’s tonight—maybe even longer, depending on whether Mom needs surgery. A Cesarean, they call it. Mrs. Balaski will see the boys off to school in the mornings, and she’ll keep an eye on them after school until you get home.” Dad got up, poured two cups of coffee, and handed one to Corey. “You’ll need this,” Dad said, sitting down again. He faced Corey with grave eyes. “You’re only twelve, son, but we’re counting on you.”

  “I know, Dad.”

  “I’ve got to open up that new vein of anthracite at the North Star working. It’s deep in the mine—almost a half mile or so back from the gangway. I’ve been busy shoring up the roof, but the bosses are badgering me to get the chamber working.” He took a sip of coffee. “I’d like you to go to the mine boss early tomorrow to see if I’ve signed in. I may be working tomorrow when you get there,” Dad said. “But if I’m not, the boss will want to know why I’m not at work on North Star. Then you need to tell him that I’m with Mom and that I’ll start blasting the new vein on Tuesday. It’s only one day later. It would be too dangerous for me to use dynamite tomorrow, when I’m tired. Besides, the roof of that North Star needs more support. I’m not sure it would hold up if I dynamite. Another day will give Ken a chance to reinforce the ceiling. So it won’t be a wasted day. But I sure hope the boss will get more timbers for Ken to use.”

  “I’ll go first thing in the morning before I go to work to explain everything, if you’re not there. I wish we had a telephone. It would save a lot of time, wouldn’t it?”

  “Someday, I suppose, everyone will have a telephone,” Dad said.

  “Go back and be with Mom,” Corey said. “Everything will be fine here.”