Trapper Boy (10 page)

JW looked down at the dirt road and kicked at a stone, watching as it rose into the air before falling into the field. He didn't bother complaining, because he knew the money was needed.

“Did you hear Red is retiring? He said he's gonna take his nephews fishing a little more often. Maybe do some travelling. You know, he spent close to fifty years in the pit. That's longer than I am old,” his father said.

“Yeah, if I stay underground that long, I'll be sixty-three,” JW said.

They walked the rest of the way home in silence. JW picked at his food, then left the table to go upstairs.

“Do you want me to pack you a sandwich for school?” his mother asked.

“I'm not going today. I think I'm going to get some rest if I've got to work the rest of the week. I just want to sleep all day. Goodnight, Ma, Da. I'll see you tonight.”

—

Mary Donaldson watched her son trudge up the stairs and turned to her husband. “It's tearing the spirit from him, Andrew. Like he's lost or something. I can hardly bear to watch him looking that way.”

“It was only a matter of time before he'd hafta give up on school. It just came sooner than later. If he don't work the extra shifts this week, they'll get rid of him,” Andrew said. “I'm gonna lie down for a few hours, then I'll see if there's things that need fixing.”

Mary sat at the kitchen table and wondered what would become of her son. His dreams, she knew, had never included the coal mines. The only tunnels he'd have imagined would have hidden treasures in them.

Chapter 26

JW
awoke. It was bright outside. He listened for a moment and heard a light hammering and assumed that was what had awakened him. Turning to face the wall, he felt sleep's embrace welcome him again and soon his chest rose and fell rhythmically. He dreamed of the pit but not of being chased by rats or being lost in tunnels....

“Hello, John Wallace,” Red said.

“Hi, Red. Most everybody calls me JW. I heard you'd retired.”

“Not yet. Soon. They're still waiting to replace me.”

“Da said you'll be hard to replace.”

“I don't know about that, but they need a man who knows the workin's of the entire mine,” Red said, and walked through the door, light swinging at his side as he disappeared around a bend in the tunnel.

—

JW awoke and sat up in his bed, remembering Red. The dream was already fading from his memory, but JW wrestled with it and was able to remember the essence. Someone knowledgeable was needed to replace Red.

Getting up from his bed, JW pulled open his satchel. A light dusting of coal covered the pictures his father had drawn. He opened his bedroom window and blew on the pictures, sending the dust outside. Once they were clean, he laid them out on his bed. The pictures showed every facet of the working coal mine, including the trapper boys. He looked at the trapper boy in the picture and looked into Mickey's haunted eyes. JW wondered if his father had meant to capture that expression on Mickey's face.

It was twilight and he realized he must have slept close to ten hours. The thought of going alone to work filled him with dread. He dressed quickly and headed downstairs. The clock's chimes tolled six times – he had more than three hours before he had to go to work. JW listened to his mother singing in the kitchen. It was a beautiful Irish song, and the lilt in her voice amazed him. He wondered what her dreams had been as a child and planned to ask her that very thing, but when he entered the kitchen, she turned quickly toward him.

“Supper's ready on the stove. The kindling and coal is in for the night. Lightning's stall has been mucked out and he's fed, so you have almost four hours before you have to head off to work. I know you might not be able to keep going, but I want you to at least give it your best attempt before quitting,” his mother said. “At least finish out the week.”

“I missed today's classes, so I don't know what to do,” JW said. “But I guess I could read a couple of chapters in my science book.”

“Your father had to go into town to pick up supplies at the Co-operative, and on his way back stopped into the Jessomes.' Beth wrote out what you missed today. Your lessons are on the table.”

Seeing the smile in his mother's eyes, he was overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness. “Thanks, Ma, that's a big help. I might as well finish out the week like you say.” The meal was dished up before him and JW was surprised to see it was rabbit stew, his favourite. “Gee, Da must have been really busy. He even took time to get a rabbit for supper.”

“That was me, dear. I have a couple of snares set behind the barn. The weather's getting colder and there was some frost on the ground yesterday morning, and I saw some tracks, so I set two snares. There was a rabbit in one of them this morning.”

“Wow! Not only the cook but the hunter too.” They both laughed at this.

The next few hours flew by, and JW managed to do some algebra, science and English, glancing as well at a few passages of French. Once nine o'clock came, his mind began to wander and he could no longer focus on his school work. The thought of going underground without his father was almost paralyzing. Pacing between the kitchen and dining room, he felt his fear heighten.

He walked outside and noticed a chill in the air. It was early for it to be this cold. Indian summer was a ways off yet. He couldn't imagine what it would be like once winter came, walking through banks of snow twice daily if he wanted to stay in school. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind. There was no use worrying about winter, because he still had to get through the next couple of days. If he made it through and continued on, he would worry about it when the time came. JW walked to the barn and petted Lightning, then slipped a handful of oats into his pocket. He hurried to the outdoor toilet and heard the door to the house open and close.

“Where's Da?” JW asked his mother as he washed up, readying himself for the coming walk to the mine.

“I just heard him go outside. He never sleeps much the first night after back shift. Red told him he'll be going days the next couple of weeks.”

“Days! I won't be able to go to school if I have to work days.”

“Not you, dear. Just your father. You'll be making the walk by yourself most nights, I'm afraid. I can walk part way with you if you want.”

JW felt his face flush with embarrassment. His mother was willing to walk him part way to the mine because she knew he was afraid. “No, that's not necessary. Thanks, Ma, but I'm not afraid. I might bring Gulliver along for company, but I'm not afraid,” he said, hearing himself repeat it for the second time.

“I know your father plans to walk part way with you tonight,” his mother said.

“No, he doesn't have to. I might as well get used to it on my own. Like I said, Gulliver will keep me company. Da can get some rest.” JW looked at the clock and made ready to leave. After putting his lunch inside, he slipped the strap of his satchel over his shoulder. “I'll see you in the morning. Porridge will be great. I don't really like eggs all that much, so you can save the eggs for Da or yourself.”

“Be careful, and make sure to stay awake. Are you sure you don't want me or your father to walk with you?”

“I'm positive, Ma, thanks. Goodnight.”

The moon was almost full, lending a welcome light to the night. JW looked up and noticed there were several clouds overhead. He hoped they didn't drift in and cover the moon. He startled at his father's voice.

“Ready to head into work, JW?”

“Yeah, I guess it's time. The moon's nice and bright. Goodnight, Da,” he said and began his walk.

“Hold up. I said I would walk in with you the next couple of nights.”

“Thanks, Da, but I might as well do it on my own right from the start. I'll take Gulliver with me part way,” he said. “Thanks for getting in the coal and kindling.”

“It's only right with me being off the next few nights. Are you sure you don't want me to walk in with you?”

“Pretty sure. Come on, Gullie. You got a long walk ahead of you.” JW waved to his father and picked up his pace. With Gulliver at his side he felt unafraid, but that quickly changed when he neared the graveyard. There had been an old church on the property; it had burned down years ago. No one seemed to care for the cemetery anymore, but the trees had not encroached on the graves, which left the markers clearly visible in the moonlit night. Many were lopsided, but a lot were upright. There was a light breeze moving through the leaves and JW's imagination began working overtime. It sounded as if someone was whispering, then he heard a toneless whistling sound. He pulled his satchel to his chest, and briefly considered running home. Instead, he began walking faster toward the mine. He was ready to run when he felt a hand on his shoulder and, for the third time in a week, a short shriek of fear escapes his lips.

“Whoa, JW. It's only me,” his father said. “You dropped your lunch. I tried to catch you, but you were moving like a deer. Didn't you hear me whistling at you?”

“Oh gee, Da, you frightened the life out of me. I heard whistling, but it was just when I reached the graveyard, and I figured the ghosts were out to get me.”

Both he and his father burst out laughing at the seriousness of the statement.

“I might as well walk the rest of the way with you.”

“You better, 'cause it'll take the rest of the way before my heart'll stop racing.” JW took his lunch and put it in his satchel, noticing that he hadn't fastened the latch earlier. The black, gaping hole of the mine soon came into view and JW and his father stopped walking. There were several men milling about and their voices carried on the breeze. Girls and dances seemed to dominate the conversations.

“I better walk the rest of the way by myself, or it will only give them something to tease me about,” JW said.

“If you think it best,” his father said.

“Yeah, I do. Night, Da. Take Gulliver along with you too.”

“Night, son. Try to stay awake. Here, Gulliver!”

JW watched for a moment as Gulliver and his father headed toward home. He turned and went to meet up with the other men. He was glad to see Mickey was already there, but he was surprised to see another boy there as well. JW recognized him as one who had been working as a breaker boy. He was the one who had done all the talking, trying to scare him about ghosts.

“Hi, Mick,” JW said.

“Nice night, JW,” Mickey answered. “This here's Patty. His da signed papers for him to start in as a trap boy beginning next week. He's so anxious he wants to go down tonight for free. Looks like we may not have to work six days a week after all.”

“That sounds good. I thought you weren't allowed to go in the mine until your first night underground?” JW said.

Patty moved closer to JW. “Mind your own business. I been working around here for four years and I'm the same age as you.”

JW saw that the men had suddenly taken an interest in the three boys. “I just thought it was some kind of rule that you couldn't go underground until your first shift,” JW said in a low voice.

“I told you, it's none of your business,” Patty said loud enough for all to hear. “If you keep talking …” Patty raised his fists. “I heard you screeched like a banshee the other night, calling out for your mama.”

“Stop it, Patty,” Mickey said.

“It was your pa that told me, Mick,” Patty said. “Do you have to protect him? Can't fight his own battles?”

JW watched in amazement as Patty continued to shout. The men were drawing closer. JW knew there would be trouble.
Perhaps Patty thinks I don't want him working in the mine
, he thought. He watched as Patty pushed past Mickey with his fists raised. He saw the punch coming but reacted too slowly. JW rubbed his cheek where Patty's blow had landed.

“Aren't you gonna fight back, or are you a coward too?” Patty said, smiling for all the men who cheered him on.

Patty's smile changed when JW raised his own fists. He was tired of the laughing from the men, and he surely wasn't about to let a boy his own size laugh at him. As JW moved forward, Patty moved back, suddenly unsure of what to do next. JW's punch to the stomach doubled Patty over, and the one that followed to his cheek knocked him to the ground. The men were no longer cheering. A few pointed at Patty, and some started to laugh. Patty rose to his feet and ran toward JW. After a brief struggle, JW put Patty in a headlock and they went together to the ground.

“I'm willing to call it a draw,” JW whispered in Patty's ear. “We'll just get up and shake hands and that'll be the end of it.”

Patty continued to struggle, trying to get free. JW squeezed harder, and Patty stopped moving about.

“Okay, let's call it a draw,” Patty said.

“What's going on here?” Red shouted as he approached the boys, who were now standing. “I'm not gonna stand for any foolishness. What are you doing here anyway, Patty? You don't start until next week. Get on your way home.”

JW watched as Patty shuffled his feet in the dirt, embarrassed at losing a fight he had started, and then further embarrassed by Red.

“It's my fault, Red. I was showing him some wrestling moves,” JW said. “Patty was telling me he's been working here for the last four years. He said he's anxious to learn the ropes on the trap job, so he'll be ready to go next week.”

“Yeah, Red, I'll take him with me if that's alright,” Mickey said. “He knows most of the stuff anyway. I'll just show him how to grease the hinges and how to open and close the door.”

“Okay then. But keep an eye on him, Mick. I wouldn't let this happen normally, but I got so much to do.... And no more wrestling.”