by Janette Oke
Mr. T. jest nodded, his face not seemin' to know if it should be white or red.
He didn't even say thank you, but jest moved the team off, lookin' a bit uncertain at first as to what to expect of them. He had to retrace his trip around the field and pick up the scattered bundles.
I walked along with Cullum toward his waitin' team.
"Want a lift?" he asked.
I nodded.
We climbed up onto the load together and he handed me the reins. We both sat solemnly for a while, and then as if drawn by some outside force, we both turned to each other in the same instant. As soon as our eyes met, we couldn't control ourselves any longer. We laughed all of the way back to the threshin' machine.
CHAPTER 14
Patches
Monday morning my feet seemed to drag a little; at the same time something within me said "Hurry, hurry." It was the first day back at school. I hated goin' back. The thing that bothered me the most was leaving Gramps. I wasn't sure what he'd find to fill his day with me gone. Of course there was Auntie Lou. Her work would be slowing down now and she would have time for my great-grandfather.
I suppose there were other reasons why I hated to go back. One was the shoes. I had to wear them all day for school and after bein' turned loose all summer, my feet sure did hate to be all shut in. The mornings could be rather cool at times now, and I didn't suppose that I'd fuss much about shoes from now on anyway.
Then there was Auntie Lou. I still missed her when I was away from her, and I had the feeling that with harvest over, Grandpa and Uncle Charlie would take up the "man hunt" again. I didn't like leaving Auntie Lou unguarded.
I suppose the final reason was jest the simple fact that boys are supposed to hate school. School and fancy clothes, sissy games and girls, that's what boys my age didn't go for.
Still, on the other hand, I had to admit that I kinda liked school. It was fun to be with the other boys and play ball or tag or prisoner's base. I didn't have much to play with around the farm.
I would never have admitted it for the world, but I liked the teacher, too. Her name was Martha Peterson. She was the youngest of the Petersons' houseful of girls. She was tall for a woman, but slim as a sapling, and her voice had a soft liltin' sound. I loved to hear her read. During part of each school day she would read us a chapter from a book that she had chosen. We had gone through several books together, and I could never get enough of them.
The truth was I jest plain liked my studies. I know, a boy is supposed to shy away from book learnin: I didn't. Books held so many interesting facts and figures that I found it awful hard to hide my enthusiasm. Arithmetic was my best subject. I always led the class with no trouble at all, but I also liked spellin' and geography and jest about everything we studied. Didn't care much for the music. Miss Peterson would trill up the scale and we were supposed to follow along behind her. We never could give a decent imitation and it embarrassed and discouraged me. All in all, even though I felt like a traitor to my sex, I liked school.
I think Gramps caught on. His eyes took on a twinkle as if he'd like to scrub up good, slick down his hair, and join me.
It was good to be back. There was a lot of shovin' and Yellin' and slappin' one another on the back as we met in the school yard. The bell that I'd been waiting for finally rang and we all trooped noisily in. There was Miss Peterson, smilin' softly, lookin' prettier than ever. I had to keep starin' at my feet to stop the deep red from flushin' up into my face.
The day went quickly and before we knew it we were dismissed. I hated to leave, yet I could hardly wait to get home and tell Gramps and Auntie Lou about my day.
As soon as I got over the rise and out of sight of the school, I whipped off my shoes and stuffed my socks down in the toe of one. I tied the laces together and dangled the shoes over my shoulder jest in case I needed my hands free for throwin' rocks or anything. Then I hitched up my pant legs a couple of rolls to keep them from draggin' in the dust, and set out for home. I ran most of the way. When I finally got in the door I was puffin' so hard that I had to sit down and catch my breath before I could speak. Auntie Lou laughed at my excitement and brought me a big glass of cool milk and some cookies fresh from the oven. Gramps had some too, and finally I was ready to tell about all of my adventures of that first day back at school.
When I had finished eating and talking, I went to change into my chorin' overalls before going out to slop the pigs. Gramps was waiting for me when I came down and we went out together.
"Joshua;' he said as we walked along, "I understand that Lou has an eighteenth birthday coming up:'
I hadn't thought about it, but now that I did I realized that it was true.
"Yeah-I guess so:"
Anything that you can think of to help make it `special'?"
I thought for a minute. "She likes parties-but she don't get to go to very many," I finally said.
Gramps thought on it.
"I hardly see how three old men and one young one could come up with much of a party."
"Maybe SueAnn and Nellie Halliday or some of the other girls could help us"
Gramps chewed on his mustache as he thought about that.
"Maybe. Maybe something could be arranged. How could one get in touch with these girls?"
"You could write a note and I'd take it to school and give it to Willie to take home to SueAnn"
"That's good thinking, Joshua:"
I beamed at the compliment from Gramps. He abruptly changed the subject.
"Now then we'd best get those chores done"
We finished up the chores. We were even a little ahead of time. The men weren't in from stacking greenfeed yet and supper was not quite ready when I dropped my last load of chopped wood into the wood box. Gramps deposited his load, too, and we stood there brushin' our clothes a bit to get rid of wood chips, grass, and bark.
"Got something to show you, Joshua. Come with me:"
Gramps led the way to the small shed that stood in the yard. It held our rakes, hoes, wheelbarrow, and such like, so I wasn't sure that I was that much interested in seein' anything in there, but I followed. Maybe Gramps had found a mouse nest or something.
Gramps opened the door; as he did so a funny bit of black and white fur came flyin' at my feet. I jumped like lightnin' had jest warmed my boots, and stepped back a pace. Gramps was chucklin' and scoopin' up the wiggly thing, tryin' to get it under control.
"Didn't expect such an overwhelming welcome;' he laughed.
I took a better look then and my breath caught in my throat. It was a pup! I reached my hands out for it, my head full of questions.
"Where'd he come from?"
"From some people in town."
"When?"
"Well, I found him awhile back, but they didn't want me to pick him up until today."
"You were in town today?"
"That's right"
"How?"
"Partly walked, partly hitched a ride."
I blinked in wonder. Gramps had walked and hitched a ride to town! He must have wanted to get there awfully bad.
"Why didn't you ask Grandpa or Uncle Charlie if you needed to get to town that bad?"
"Didn't need to-just wanted to-to pick this fellow up. They didn't get him weaned until last week"
I jerked my attention back to the pup.
"Is he yours?"
Gramps smiled real wide.
"No, Joshua-he's yours."
"Mine?"
My mind couldn't comprehend it, but my arms were already claimin' possession. I pushed my face down against the ball of fur, and had my face licked as a thank you for noticin' him. I laughed and got licked again. I put him down on the ground to get a better look at him. It was hard to do because he wouldn't hold still.
He was still plump with baby fat but looked like he would soon leave that behind and begin to really grow. His hair was mostly black and sort of curly. There were a few white spots here and there and that gave him a comical appearance.
"My dog! My very own dog!" I kept sayin' over and over to myself, hardly able to believe my good fortune.
Gramps stood by-jest smilin'.
"Hey," I said, "I didn't say `thanks: "
"I think you did, Joshua."
"He's beautiful, Gramps, really beautiful. I'm gonna train him to do tricks-sit up, and beg, and play dead, and roll over-and everything!"
"What are you going to call him?"
I thought for a few minutes as I looked at my dog. Every name that I ever heard a dog called began to pour through my mind; I rejected each one until I came to Patches. Patches seemed to fit.
"Patches;' I said.
"Patches;' repeated Gramps. "I think that Patches is a very fitting name.
Gramps chose himself a wood block and turned it up to sit on, so that he could sit and watch me and my dog. I rolled on the grass, he growlin' in a little dog voice and chasin' my pant leg, my sleeve, or even the top of my hair, nippin' and tusslin' and rollin' with me.
We were still playin' our crazy games when Grandpa and Uncle Charlie came home. I hadn't paid much attention until I was somehow aware that I was being looked at. There stood Grandpa and Uncle Charlie both starin' at me and the dog with puzzled looks on their faces. For one terrifyin' minute I was afraid that they wouldn't let me keep him-my arms automatically tightened on him.
"Where'd-" started Grandpa.
Gramps stood up from the wood block he'd been restin' on; it toppled over as though to take its rightful place back in the pile.
"Got him in town. Every boy needs a dog," said Gramps. His keen blue eyes held Grandpa's.
"Reckon so. Shoulda thought myself to get him one-sooner" Grandpa nodded. "Let's see 'im, Boy."
I brought Patches over and introduced him to Grandpa and Uncle Charlie. Grandpa rubbed his head a bit and tugged gently on his ear.
"Looks bright enough"
Then it was Uncle Charlie's turn. He patted the puppy and stroked him under the chin.
"Bet yer gonna be one small piece of nuisance;' he said, "but yer bound to liven things up 'round here:' His voice held teasin.
Auntie Lou came out then and I suddenly realized that I had been so preoccupied I hadn't even shown her Patches yet.
"Look!" I cried. "Look what Gramps brought me!"
She smiled and stepped forward to rub the puppy's soft fur with the back of her finger.
"Now, who do you s'pose has been fillip' his tummy with warm milk and holdin' him when he got lonesome for most of the afternoon? But now it's suppertime. How 'bout if you put him back in the shed and come and get washed up:'
I did, though it was awfully hard to do.
After supper I took some meat scraps and a saucer of milk to Patches. I begged an old jacket off Uncle Charlie and fixed Patches a comfortable bed in a box low enough for him to come and go as he wanted.
I was called for bed way too soon. It was already 9:00. Reluctantly I left Patches and went in to bed, promisin' him that I'd be down first thing in the mornin'. I went to bed, my mind boggled with plans for my dog-the doghouse that I'd build, the collar that I'd make him, the tricks that I'd teach him. There was a whole new world waitin' for me now-and all because of Gramps.
I hadn't been talkin' much to God lately. Auntie Lou would have been shocked and hurt had she known.
I was a little hesitant now about prayin' after ignorin' Him for so long, but I finally put aside my pride, crawled out of bed, and got down on my knees.
"Dear God, I wanna say thank you for a few things. I know sometimes I don't think you're doin' much special-like for me, but I do wanna thank you for bringin' Gramps here-even iffen I didn't want him at first. I really love him now, God. And thank you for Patches, too. Help me to make him a good dog so that he won't be too much of a nuisance. Amen."
I climbed back into bed and pulled the quilt up to my chin. I went to sleep with my mind full of pictures of me and my dog.
CHAPTER 15
Hurtin'
The next mornin' I was nearly torn in two with desire. I wanted to get to school as fast as I could to tell all of the boys about my new dog. At the same time I didn't want to leave him. If only I could have gathered him up and taken him to school with me-but even I understood that that was out of the question.
I finally tore myself away from him at the last possible minute, promising that I'd be home again jest as quickly as I could. I asked Gramps if he'd let Patches out of the shed as soon as I'd gone and he couldn't follow, so that he could get acquainted with the farm and not be locked up and bored all day.
I got to school, puffin' and pantin' because I had run so hard; before the bell rang I was only able to blurt out that I had a new dog. The boys were full of questions and I answered as many as I could while we hurried to line up for salutin' the flag and prayin' the Lord's Prayer. Avery and Willie promised to come over to see Patches the first chance that they got.
At recess and noon break we talked about my dog. I described him over and over, and some of the boys got almost as excited as I was. The news even got to the girls, and Sarah Smith and Mary Turley worked up enough nerve to come over to the boys' side to question me about him. I really felt important.
Miss Peterson had scarcely said "Class dismissed" when I was gone. I had so much to do. I didn't know whether to start on the collar and lead rope first, or work on the doghouse. Patches needed both.
I was callin' him as I ran down the lane, but I didn't notice him around anywhere.
Auntie Lou came out.
"Josh, come in the house a minute-will you?"
"Sure;' I called back. "Soon's I find Patches:"
"Right now, josh."
I went. Maybe they had Patches with them.
A glass of milk and a piece of cake sat at my place at the table. Gramps sat there, too, but he wasn't Navin' anything. Auntie Lou looked rather pale and her eyes looked suspiciously like she'd been cryin: My mind jumped to Grandpa and Uncle Charlie, and I felt a scare hit me smack in my stomach.
"Sit down, Josh."
I sat. I jest sat like a lump and stared first at Auntie Lou and then at Gramps.
Auntie Lou swallowed hard and she bit her lip to fight back tears. Finally she was able to talk, in a soft quivery voice.
"A bad thing happened today, josh"
I knew that much. I could tell by jest lookin:
"Your puppy was killed:"
I fought it. I fought it with all my strength. It couldn't be true, it jest couldn't. But a look at Gramps' white face and a quick glance at Auntie Lou, who was liftin' a damp handkerchief to her eyes, told me that I had to believe it.
I didn't wait to even say anything. I jest jumped up from the table, spillin' my milk, and ran for the door.
"Josh!" I heard Auntie Lou's voice.
"Let him go;' said Gramps softly. His voice sounded old and tired.
I ran all the way to the crik. I wished that I could jest throw myself right into the cold water and let it wash all the feelin' from me. I threw myself on the grassy bank instead. Boys weren't supposed to cry-but I cried. I cried until my eyes ran dry, and then I jest laid and groaned.
It was gettin' dark when I finally lifted myself from the bank. It was gettin' cold, too. I hadn't noticed before, but now I realized that I was shiverin' I knelt down by the stream and sloshed cold water over my face again and again. It nearly froze me but it sharpened things back into focus, too. Here it was dark and I hadn't done one bit of my chores. Grandpa and Uncle Charlie would be in from stackin' the greenfeed and I wouldn't have my work done. I started home at a trot.
As my mind began to clear, I found myself wonderin' how it had happened. What had gone wrong? The pup I had wanted for so long had been mine for such a short time-hardly long enough to even get the feel that he was mine.
When I got to the house, I found t
hat Gramps had done all of my chores. It had taken him longer than it took me. It was a big and difficult job for an old man like Gramps. Auntie Lou had milked Bossie and helped to split the wood. It made me feel shame-but a great deal of love and gratitude, too. I wanted to start cryin' all over again, but I held myself in check.
Uncle Charlie and Grandpa had returned and supper had been served. Auntie Lou had a plateful of food saved for me in the warmin' oven. I tried to eat it but it was tough to get it past the lump in my throat.
For the first time in my life I didn't wait for Grandpa to say, "Bedtime, Boy"; I went up on my own, glad to get to my room and shut the door.
I wouldn't cry anymore. I was through with that now. I laid there quietly and let anger and disappointment seep from every pore. Why? Why? Why?
Gramps came up. He opened my door softly and hesitated at my door.
"Joshua?"
I couldn't say "go away"-not to Gramps.
"Yeah."
"Do you mind?"
"It's okay."
He came forward and sat on my bed. He sat there quietly for a while and then reached out an old hand that was soft, not calloused and rough from work like Grandpa's or Uncle Charlie's, though I knew that for most of his life it had been. He touched my arm.
"I know how you hurt, Joshua."
I didn't even think, "No you don't, no you don't:" Somehow I knew that he did.
"It's not easy to lose someone you love"
I gulped. If he wasn't careful I'd be cryin' again.
"I thought that you might like to know what happened."
I waited. I did want to know and I didn't.
"Patches was a busy little dog-and a smart one. But I guess he just figured that he knew a little more than he really did."
I waited.
"The range cattle were pasturing just across the fence from the garden, and I guess Patches decided that he'd be a cattle dog. Anyway, Lou and I heard the ruckus, but by the time that we got there he'd been kicked. We tried to save him but-"
He stopped there. In my mind I could see Auntie Lou with tears runnin' down her face, and my grey-haired Gramps workin' over the broken body of my little dog. Tears came again and I swallowed them away.