Trapper Boy (12 page)

Chapter 32

“Y
ou seem to be pretty comfortable with the trap now,” Red said from the darkness.

JW jumped and turned to face Red. “Yes, sir, but I don't think I'll ever get used to voices in the dark. If I keep the hinges greased like you showed me, it seems to open easily.”

“I noticed Patty sat right behind you and Mickey tonight,” Red said. “I also heard a little squeal out of him. It's not so funny when the shoe's on the other foot. Well, at least with him on the schedule, you'll be able to have a couple days off. I'll make sure Patty gets put on your door when he's ready. How's school going? You'd probably make a good teacher. Patty sure seemed to learn a lesson after the ‘wrestling' match the other night. He's a lot less talkative.”

JW looked at Red and realized that he knew it had been more than a wrestling match. “Yes, well, it's good if someone can learn. He seems like a pretty good fellow. Have you decided when you'll be leaving?” he asked.

“No, they still haven't hired anyone, so I guess it could be another month. Are you still in school?”

“Yes, but I mostly only go for half days. I stayed all day today, so I didn't get as much sleep.”

“It's hard to burn the candle at both ends. You gotta get enough sleep. Good luck with your studies,” Red said and headed through the door. “I'm going to drop in on Mickey and Patty to see how Patty's getting on.”

As soon as Red left, JW heard the bells from Smitty's tram.

“I didn't want to sneak up on you tonight, so I put the bells back on,” Smitty said. “I'm going on days for the next couple of weeks, so I won't see you for a while.”

“At least the bells would keep me awake. If you're going to be on days, do you think you could feed Tennyson?” JW asked and then reached for his satchel to get some oats.

“I got lots of oats, and I'd be happy to feed the old boy,” Smitty said. “Well, if I don't see you for a while, take care.”

“Bye, Smitty, and thanks.” The chiming of the bells made JW think of Christmas, which wasn't that far off. He knew that exams weren't that far off either.

The rest of the night was quiet, and JW felt sleep overtake him on several occasions. He awoke with a start only to find Red standing next to him.

“I'm sorry, Red. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I just nodded off for a minute. It won't happen again,” he said, hoping he wasn't about to be fired.

“The nights are long. You woke as soon as I got near you, so I know you would have heard a tram. I was watching Patty, and I think he's ready to go. So you can go to school today and take tonight off and Patty'll work the trap for you. I'll give Mickey tomorrow night off, and Patty can work for him.”

“Thanks, Red. I won't close my eyes for the rest of the shift.”

“It's just about quitting time anyway, so you might as well pack up. I'll see you at the rake,” Red said, and went on his way.

JW reached for his satchel and pulled out some oats to feed Tennyson. He threw a crust of bread up the tracks and the rats scurried after the crumbs. Tennyson made his way over and sat by JW's boot waiting for the oats. JW dropped a small amount and watched as Tennyson devoured it.

“You'll have to hide tonight, because Patty'll be scared of you.” JW realized that Tennyson would probably come over to Patty thinking he would feed him. He heard Mickey and Patty talking on the other side of the door and quickly laid open his satchel and watched as Tennyson climbed in searching for more food. JW closed the satchel and felt the slight bulge move inside. He was glad there were lots of oats in there. Tennyson quickly settled in and began to eat.

“Hiya, JW,” Mickey and Patty said in unison.

“Hi. Well, let's get going,” JW said and pulled the satchel to his side. He held it close as they walked to the trip.

“Whaddaya got in there?” Patty asked.

“Mostly school books, and I use it as my lunch box,” JW answered.

“He's got other treasures in there too,” Mickey said. “His grandfather made it for him, didn't he, JW?”

“Yes, he did.” JW thought of the treasure
he had in there now. He saw Red standing by the rake. Red sat beside Patty on the way to the surface. JW watched as Patty nodded his head up and down in response to Red's questions. He was glad to have the night off. He hung the satchel on a hook where he could see it and, entering the wash area, quickly scrubbed the dirt away. He dressed and retrieved the satchel. Tennyson was quiet.

“Thanks, JW,” Patty said.

“What for?”

“Red said you didn't mind me having one of your shifts to get started,” Patty said.

“You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow night. Oh, and the rats won't bother you if you throw a piece of bread up the tracks.”

“If they come near me, I'll hit 'em with the shovel,” Patty said. JW believed he meant it.

Feeling Tennyson move, JW said goodbye to Patty and hurried toward home. Gulliver met him part way, and JW petted his head, keeping the satchel lifted in the air. Gulliver sniffed the bottom of the satchel and whined, curious at what was in there. As they neared the house, JW told Gulliver to stay and went to the barn. He glanced behind to make sure Gulliver stayed by the house.

The musty smell of the barn struck him as he pulled open the door. He heard a soft whinny from Lightning and then a thump as the horse pulled a hoof across the planked floor. JW walked to a corner and knelt down. He opened his satchel, and Tennyson crawled out onto the dry hay. JW watched as Tennyson shuffled forward, his limp much better. He stopped and turned back toward JW.

“Go on, Tennyson. This is your new home. You're free.”

Tennyson seemed to pause for a moment then was off again, vanishing into the hay. JW hoped he'd adjust to his new surroundings. He picked up the satchel, petted Lightning's withers, left the barn and walked toward Gulliver, who looked anxious.

“Come on, boy,” JW said, slapping his hand against his leg. Gulliver bounded over to his master. JW squatted down and hugged Gulliver to him; for Gulliver, all was right with the world.

—

Andrew Donaldson watched in silence as JW knelt on the floor of the barn. He was about to call out to him when he saw the rat crawl from the satchel. His listened to the soft words spoken to the rat, and was overwhelmed by his son's tenderness. He stayed in the shadows until JW left the barn.

Chapter 33

M
ary Donaldson watched John Wallace's head bob toward his porridge. Every few seconds, he would snap his head back and sit up straight in his chair again.

“Are you ready to go? You better hurry or you'll be late. I'm sure Beth is waiting for you,” she said.

At the mention of Beth's name, JW stood up and walked to the kitchen sink. He splashed a small amount of water on his face and shook off the sleep that was threatening to overtake him. He brushed off the knees of his pants and ran his fingers through his hair. “I'm ready, Ma. I'll see you later. I plan to sleep all day and night after I get home. See you, Da. I'll get some coal in when I get home.”

“Don't fret about that. I'll have the coal and kindling in. I'm sure I can even get ole Lightning's stall cleaned out. All you gotta do when you get home is sleep.” Andrew Donaldson saw the relieved look on his son's face. “Run along and catch up to Beth. You don't want to keep a lady waiting.”

JW blushed and saw his parents smiling at him. He couldn't keep from laughing. “You're right, Da, mustn't keep a lady waiting,” he said, and hurried out the door.

Chapter 34

T
he wind had picked up, and JW thought he felt some droplets of rain. He hoped it was only rain, but he had seen snow in late September before. He broke into a slow trot. When he got to the hill overlooking Beth's house, he saw her waiting. She raised her hand and he waved back.

“I thought you weren't coming, but I'm happy to see you,” she said.

“I wasn't sure if I could make it today, but Ma said you might be waiting for me, and Da said I mustn't keep a lady waiting. Thanks for waiting. I'm happy to see you too,” JW said and felt himself blush again.

“Anything new?” Beth asked.

“Nothing new. Oh, yes there is. I took Tennyson home this morning.”

“What did people say when they saw you with a rat?” Beth asked.

“No one knows,” JW said and noticed the bewildered expression on Beth's face. “I took him out in my satchel,” he said and tapped the leather case.

Beth moved away and asked, “Is he in there now?”

“No. I let him go in the barn. He turned back to look at me when I let him go. I'm not sure if he was saying thanks or was angry that I took him from his home.”

“I thought you said he was getting better. Why did you take him home?”

JW explained to Beth that he had the night off and that Patty would be working his trap. “I was afraid he'd hit him with his shovel.”

“I'm glad you took him out. Do you really think Patty would kill him?”

“Yes. Many of the men would do the same thing, but some see the rats, like the canaries, as a warning sign of a gas build-up. If they're leaving the mine, so are the men. Still, rats have been feared since the Middle Ages. Remember where the plague came from?”

“The fleas that infested the rats. Yes, I remember. But that's last year's history, and we've got to learn this year's,” Beth said.

“Yes, I know. I'm going to try to stay for the day, but I'm pretty tired. I told Ma I'm going to sleep for the rest of the day and all night too,” JW said and tried to stifle a big yawn.

The school came into view, and they hurried to get inside before the bell rang.

JW was surprised when at the end of first class Mr. Cantwell asked him some questions about the coal mine. He was more surprised when he was asked to go to the front of the class and tell his classmates what happens underground. He pulled the pictures from his satchel and told everyone that his father had drawn them. His classmates asked many questions. One of the new boys seemed particularly interested and JW spent his recess telling Davey Brown details his father had told him.

“You're not thinking about working in the pit, are you?” JW asked. “It's not where I'd be if I didn't have to be.”

“No, but I probably will end up involved in the coal mines, nonetheless,” Davey said. “My father is the mine manager.”

JW looked at Davey, but before he could respond, the bell rang, and they rushed back inside. Before long, JW knew he was done for the day. He packed up his satchel and quietly left the room. He didn't see the looks from Mr. Cantwell and Davey Brown, but he did see Beth smile, and he smiled back just as he pulled the door closed.

Chapter 35

“H
i, Ma,” JW said as he entered the house. “I got the morning in. Well, most of it anyway.” He started to tell her about school, but the thought of his bed won out, and he told her he would see her tomorrow morning. He climbed the stairs, and after placing the satchel on his dresser, he crawled under the blankets and was asleep almost immediately. Hours later, he woke up and looked out at the moon. Sleep overtook him again and, if he dreamed, he couldn't remember any of it in the morning.

Although it was early, he wasn't surprised to see his parents at the kitchen table having a cup of tea. He hurried outside to the toilet and then washed up in the small basin. After combing his hair, JW walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, JW. You'll be on time for school today,” his father said. “It's only six o'clock.”

“Morning, Da. I have to do some homework before I go. Morning, Ma. Can I study in the dining room?”

“Sure, dear. Go right in and I'll bring in a bite of breakfast for you. Do you want some eggs?” his mother asked. “Beth was here last night and left some papers for you. I put them on the table.”

“Thanks, Ma. I'd rather porridge, if that's okay,” JW said settling at the dining room table. He went over what he'd done the day before and read the homework he'd been given. Next, he went over the notes that Beth had left for him. The math was getting increasingly difficult. He'd have to stay for that class today; he was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep up otherwise.

He heard the clock's chimes announce it was eight o'clock and put his books and scribblers in the satchel, along with the lunch his mother had prepared for him, and hurried outside. Gulliver was there to greet him and walked with him to the hill overlooking Beth's house.

“Run on home, boy. I'll see you after school,” JW said, petting him. He watched for a moment as Gulliver bounded toward home. Turning, he saw Beth come out of her house and he ran down to meet her. As they walked along, he felt Beth's hand slip into his. He turned to look at her and realized that this was the time to kiss her again. Afterwards, they laughed and ran hand in hand to school.

If JW had ever had a better day, he couldn't remember it. He stayed for every class and walked home with Beth.

He ate supper with his parents and heeded their words about going upstairs to get some sleep before his shift. Try as he might, he couldn't fall asleep. All he could think about was Beth. Finally, he fell asleep, but it seemed like only minutes before his mother's voice carried from the bottom of the stairs.

“Be right down, Ma,” he called. The moon was full in the sky, and he gazed at it through his bedroom window as he drifted back to sleep.

“Hurry now. I thought you were up. It's past ten. You'll have to run part of the way,” his mother said.

“Sorry, Ma. I fell asleep looking at the moon.” He dressed quickly and was on his way in minutes.

—

Arriving at the mine, he saw Patty standing off on his own.

“Hi, Patty. How was your first night?”

“Hi, JW. The door stuck a few times, and Mickey's pa hollered at me, but Red was on the other side of the trap and told him to go easy on me. He don't seem so tough when he's talking to other full-grown men.”

“He did the same thing to me, and the door wasn't even stuck,” JW said. “Don't let it bother you.”

“It's not as easy as I thought it'd be. I wish I hadda stayed at the breakers. I wonder if Red'd let me go back.”

“He might,” JW said, “but is that what you really want? The money's better at the trap, and once you get used to it, the only hard part is staying awake.”

“I didn't sleep last night. I kept an eye out for the ghosts and rats. I jumped at every noise.”

“Yeah, it can be spooky down there. What I do is think about my most favourite place I want to be and then pretend I'm off on some adventure.”

“Whaddaya mean?” Patty asked.

“What do you like to do?”

“Fish, but playing baseball's my favourite,” Patty said.

“Well then, think about the best game you ever played and close your eyes and try to remember everyone who was there that day. Who struck out? Who hit the home runs? And who won?” JW watched as Patty closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he saw a smile come over Patty's face and couldn't help smiling himself.

Patty opened his eyes, and his smile remained. “Holy gee, JW. I could see the field and even feel the sun on my face. I hit three homers that day.”

“It'll work for your fishing trips too,” JW said. As much as he felt the pit was the wrong place for him, he figured working underground was better for Patty than at the breakers.

He watched the rake start to fill up, and he and Patty made their way over and sat together. He missed Mickey and was glad that Patty was there.

“I'm getting used to the rake. How about you?” JW asked. It seemed that it was always travelling faster than it should.

“I'm getting used to it. I sat with Mickey last night, and he hollered all the way down, so no one could've heard me if I hadda made any noise,” Patty said.

When the rake started its descent, JW hollered as loud as he could for as long as he could. Patty laughed beside him.