Trapper Boy (5 page)

Chapter 13

“Y
ou mean you'll be doing the same job as Mickey?” Beth asked.

“Yeah, that's what Da said, trapping,” JW said.

“What about school?”

“Oh, I plan to work back shift and go to school during the day and sleep in the afternoon,” he said, sure that the plan would work.

“When would you have time to do your homework? Grade nine is not easy, lots of new courses. I hear the math is really hard. Besides, remember poor Mickey. He couldn't keep up, even with you tutoring him,” Beth said, not realizing that she was dashing his hopes.

JW felt despair steal into his heart but put on a brave face. “I'll just do it somehow. I got to. Ma said the wages might pick up in a year or so and I'd be able to return full time, so if I can make a passing grade, that'll do.”

“When do you start?” Beth asked.

“Just around the time school reopens. I'll work the night before and show up for the first day of classes.” He was no longer sure he'd be able to work and attend school as well, but he planned to try. “I gotta get home soon. Ma and I have to go to town to get my work clothes. I guess it can get pretty cold down there, so I'll need some warm clothes.”

“Yeah, and pretty dark too,” Beth said, and shivered. “I'd be scared to death down there, JW. You are some brave,” Beth said, and kissed his cheek. “We better get back then, so you can get your outfit.”

Chapter 14

M
ary Donaldson talked about their garden, marvelling at the size of some of the plants. “The potatoes grew well, I'm sure there'll be five or more on a stalk, and the corn is taller than your father. He said we should have enough potatoes to do the winter.” She asked about the fort and about Beth, never mentioning school or the pit.

JW smiled and nodded in all the right places. However, his heart sank when they passed the high school on their way to the Co-operative. Since the company stores had closed the previous year, the Co-op had extended credit to many of the miners and their families. He didn't understand the difference between the company-run store and the ones run by the merchants but was told the difference was huge.

“We'll get an account set up for you, and each week a part of your earnings will go to pay for the clothes and supplies you'll need. I'll explain to Mr. Ferneyhough that you'll be starting work next week and that you'll be in as soon as you get your pay,” his mother told him. She pushed open the door, and the clang of the bell announced their arrival.

JW looked across the bins and saw Mrs. Johnson, his grade-eight teacher, picking up supplies. He smiled and nodded his head as she greeted him.

“Oh hi, John Wallace. Did you have a good summer? I hope you're all rested and ready for high school. We're all counting on you to do wonderfully,” she said with obvious pride. “You have a brilliant boy there, Mrs. Donaldson. He should do marvellously this year. Are you in to buy supplies, then?” she asked them.

JW saw the grimace on his mother's face. “Yes, but clothing supplies. John Wallace will be starting in the pit next week. Good day to you, Mrs. Johnson. We have to get along now,” Mary Donaldson said, and hurried toward the clothing bin.

“But, Mrs. Donaldson, John Wallace has so much potential. Surely there must be some way that he can go to school,” Mrs. Johnson said, sadness now present in her voice. “He can't work in the pit and successfully complete his studies,” she added.

Mary Donaldson moved in as close as possible to JW's former teacher. “The pit is filled with boys with lots of potential. We've fallen on hard times and we need the money that John Wallace will be able to bring in. Please don't make this any harder than it already is.”

JW turned and nodded to Mrs. Johnson and noticed she was patting her eyes with her handkerchief. “Bye, Mrs. Johnson,” he said.

Taking Mary aside, Mr. Ferneyhough spoke in a low voice that was more like a stage whisper. “Now, Mrs. Donaldson, you are behind on your payments already.” Holding up his hand, he continued. “I realize it's not your fault and that Mr. Donaldson's hours have been cut back, but–”

“John Wallace will be starting in the pit next week, and he'll be in every week to get us caught up,” Mary Donaldson said, her own whisper low enough not to be overheard.

JW stood beside the bin, trying not to look at his mother, whose face had turned a bright red.

Mr. Ferneyhough did an about-face. “I'll be happy to set up an account for John Wallace.” Turning to JW, he said, “Once you start in the coal mine, you got a job for life.”

The walk home was quiet. Neither JW nor his mother was in the mood to pretend to be upbeat. He hung his new clothes in the closet and closed the door tightly. Thoughts of school came to mind and he picked up the satchel his grandfather had given him so many years before. Picking up the pictures his father had drawn, JW put them inside the empty satchel. He placed a single scribbler and a pencil inside as well and laid the satchel back on his bookshelf. The words of Mr. Ferneyhough came to mind:
Once you start in the coal mine, you got a job for life.
JW said a silent prayer, hoping that Mr. Ferneyhough was wrong, but the words of Mrs. Johnson echoed in his head:
He can't work in the pit and successfully complete his studies.

JW lay on his bed for a long time. He watched through his bedroom window as the sky turned dark. There were no stars and the moon was hiding behind the clouds. A short while later he heard his father moving around in the kitchen below. In less than a week, he would be down there with him getting ready to go to work as well. He sighed loudly as a hopeless feeling came over him. Stories of the pit no longer interested him. Even the books on his bookshelf no longer held intrigue.

Chapter 15

“C
ome on, JW, time to get up,” his father said, as he shook him gently. “Remember I told you we were going to the mine today to get you familiar with the place. We'll drop by the breakers and see where the coal is screened. That's where the youngsters pick the rocks and shale from the coal. That's backbreaking work. A trapper job is easier on the body.”

“Why don't the boys at the breakers do the trapper jobs then?” JW asked.

“They're too young. Some of them are only nine or ten years old and aren't allowed underground.”

“Don't they go to school?”

“Not many. Well, let's get moving. As soon as you have a bite of breakfast, we'll get on the road,” his father said, and rubbed his son's head.

A quick wash, followed by a bowl of porridge, and JW was ready to go. “Bye, Ma. See you in a couple of hours. If Beth comes by, tell her I'll see her later.”

JW ran to the barn and scraped out Lightning's stall. He filled the water bucket and threw some hay in with the horse. “See you, boy. I'll brush you down later.”

The walk to the mine was quiet, with few words exchanged between JW and his father. He still couldn't believe that he was actually going to be working there in a few days.

“Are we going down in the pit today, Da?”

“No, just to the breakers. You'll go in the mine on your first shift. That's how it works. We're coming up to the breakers now.”

JW stood beside his father and watched as coal on conveyor belts sped toward the boys, who deftly picked rocks and shale from the coal. Their blackened faces and hands disguised their ages somewhat, but their slight stature revealed their true age.
Children. They're just children
, he thought.

The rushing coal had no mercy as it struck the tiny hands of the boys who laboured there. JW was shocked to see that some of the boys were missing fingers and others had fingers bent and twisted.

“Look at their hands, Da,” he said.

“I know. Some of them will never be able to go underground as miners. You can't be a pick-miner unless your hands are in good shape. And you can't support a family on a breaker boy wage.”

“How come he's getting to go trapping?” JW heard one of the boys ask.

“Yeah, it don't seem fair. He gets to go to a good job,” another boy said.

“Hey, you!” a boy called out.

JW turned to where the voice had come from.

“You should have to take a breaker job before getting to go down to the trap. Hope the rats don't eat you, or the ghosts.” Several boys broke into laughter. “Yeah, lots of dead miners down there looking for the trap boys that fell asleep on 'em. It's so dark you can't see them coming. Wooo … watch out for the rats.” More laughter followed and JW was glad when his father signalled it was time to leave.

“Pay no attention. They're just trying to scare you.”

And they're doing a good job of it
, JW thought, and felt fear send a shiver down his spine. He wished he could stay on the surface, anything but going down into the darkness.

“Do the rats attack people? Can you see them coming?” JW asked, his fear escalating.

“Like I told you, it's pitch black down there, and you can't see your hand in front of your face. Sometimes your oil lamp burns out before your shift's over. And the rats do come pretty close, but they're just looking for crumbs from your bread.”

His father's explanation did nothing to allay his fears, and JW swallowed several times. No further questions were asked, because each new answer made him more afraid.

Chapter 16

“T
hey were like little men. And angry that I was going to be a trapper boy,” JW said. He watched Beth's eyes open wide. “Some of them only come up to my waist, but they act like they're bigger than me. After we left the breakers, we walked to where the rake goes down to the mine face, the deeps. The rake is also known as the trip. The entrance looks like a gaping hole in the side of a hill. I would have liked to go down to where I'll be working, but Da said that's not allowed.”

JW felt Beth's hand slip into his as they walked along the riverbank. He squeezed her hand and felt it tighten on his. They walked for several minutes without talking.

“If you have to miss some days from school, I'll help you catch up on Sundays.”

“That would be great, but I don't plan on missing too many days.” This time Beth did not remind him of Mickey and his inability to continue in school.

They left the river and walked through a wooded area that came out on a bluff overlooking the ocean. JW's gaze took in a section of shoreline that displayed black sand. A large seam of coal protruded from the water, and he shivered as he thought about going down into the ground and out under the ocean. Beth slipped her arm around his waist, as if sensing his thoughts.

They stood for a time looking at the water and the whitecaps that danced on the ocean's surface. The churning water matched the turmoil that JW felt. He knew he had to go to work but wanted desperately to attend high school as one of the kids. He wondered if his sense of adventure would be lost forever once he entered into the blackness.

The setting sun spread an array of colours across the horizon in stark contrast to the thoughts running through his mind. It would soon be night, so they'd have to hurry to get home before dark.

“The sun looks nice, doesn't it?” JW said, breaking the silence. “We'd better get back soon, or your ma will send a search party.”

“I didn't realize the time. Yeah, we better get on home or Ma just might,” Beth said and once again held his hand.

They made good time heading back the way they'd come. Usually they parted at Donaldson's gate, but tonight JW decided to see her home. It was much darker than usual, and he didn't want her alone on the road after nightfall. They reached the top of the hill above Beth's house, and JW released her hand.

“I'll wait here until you get to your door,” he said. “Goodnight, Beth, and thanks for a great day.” As she smiled, he added, “I enjoyed the whole summer. It was fun fixing up the fort and swimming, but I didn't finish all the books, did you?” JW asked.

“Once I heard you were going in the pit, I stopped reading. I still have several chapters left in the
Count of Monte Cristo
.”

“Me too. I thought about all the digging he'd done and it made me think of the pit, so I put down the book. I plan to finish it though. Perhaps it has a happy ending.”

Beth leaned toward JW and kissed him. “I had a great summer too. I hope the pit isn't too hard and that you'll be at school most days.”

“That's the plan.”

“Goodnight,” Beth said, and started down over the hill. She walked with purpose and made it quickly to her door. She turned and waved. JW returned the gesture.

Buoyed by the kiss, he thought perhaps they were boyfriend and girlfriend or soon would be. He started on his way home but turned to look at Beth's house. He was surprised to see she was still standing outside watching him. He waved again, and after waving back, Beth went indoors. Twilight had turned to darkness, but the crescent moon guided his way. He heard an owl hoot and picked up his step. The thought of the dark woods increased the beating of his heart. He let out a shrill whistle, and moments later he heard the racing of feet coming toward him. Gulliver bounded along the road, head down, as fast as he could run.

“Hello, Gullie. How's my boy, huh?” JW dropped to one knee to pet him, happy to see his loyal friend.

Gulliver's response was his usual full-body shuffle. He wagged his tail, licked JW's face and barked as if to say, “I'm here to protect you” or “nice to see you.” JW wasn't sure which it was, but thought perhaps it was a little of both.