The weather was too bad for outdoor play and everyone couldn’t use the gym at the same time. Tim asked the teacher if they could teach spelling baseball. She agreed and Tom decided to pitch while Tim kept score.
“I’ll explain the game,” Tom started. “The class will divide into two teams. I guess the fair way is for everyone to write their name on a scrap of paper. First choose two captains. The captains can then take turns drawing names. That way no one will feel that they were chosen, or not chosen, for personal reasons. We’ll set certain parts of the room as bases.”
Tim continued the instructions. “One team at a time will play. Tom will pitch a word to the first player. If the player spells the word correctly, he or she will then go to stand on first base and the second player steps up to the plate. If the word is spelled correctly, that player will go to first and the one on first goes to the second base. If the word is misspelled, the player sits down and that’s one out. Three outs and the team sits down and gives the next team a turn. To score, a player must advance all the way around and back to home plate. Any questions?” After both teams have a turn, that’s an inning.”
“What happens if a speller doesn’t get a chance to spell in the first inning?” Jimmy Lone Eagle asked.
“The same in real baseball. The next player, whose turn it is to spell, would step up to the plate and proceed as those before. We can decide on three innings.”
The teacher enjoyed the game as much as her students did. She clapped and thanked them. “That was delightful. How would you like to teach other rooms to play and then we can challenge each other. Two strong teams can be selected to demonstrate for the parents at the next parent day.”
“Can we play it every day?” Anita Cumberland was enthused.
“I’m afraid you’d get bored and not like it if you played too often. How about once a week? Maybe on Fridays.” The teacher suggested. The class grumbled but agreed.
Snow fell heavily all morning. By noon the sky was dark and the thick snow made it difficult to see more than a couple of feet. School was dismissed early. Anna came to walk home with her brothers.
“Jim Garrison gave me a rope,” she explained. I’m to tie it around my waist and around you boys. That way we won’t get separated and lost. It’s dangerous to not stay together.” She looked at the four friends of her brothers. “I’m sorry. There’s not enough rope, but if each of you will hold on to one of us, we should all right.” Struggling through the snow and screaming wind, made it difficult to even breathe. Their scarves were wrapped around their faces except for their eyes.
The group was grateful to finally reach their homes. They were all tired and hungry. “Galena, we’re home,” Tim called as soon as he could get out of his heavy clothes. “Galena, where are you?” No dear dog. Why hadn’t she run to meet them as she usually did?
“I bet she’s under the bed asleep,” Tom reasoned. “I’m so glad she’s in where she’s safe and warm.” He shivered as he took the last of his cold, damp outdoor clothing off.
Irene was in the kitchen. She placed a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup in front of her three children. A plate of fresh-baked cookies waited at the end of the table.
“Thanks loads, Mom,” Anna sighed.
“Mom, you’re the greatest.” Tim hugged her thankfully.
“Words have not been invented that say how marvelous and how appreciated you are,” Tom didn’t want Tim to outdo him. “I sure am glad you didn’t let ole Galena out. The snow and cold are murder. Where is she? Here, girl. We’re home, Galena.”
There was a strange silence as Irene turned slowly from the sink to face them. Icy tingles ran up their spines when they saw the expression on her face. “I hoped she was with you since she ran out of here.” She spoke softly in the stunned silence.
“Galena demanded to be let out when she heard some younger children outside. I kept her in, but when Mrs. Parsons came in, a little before twelve, she was slow getting in. Galena took advantage of it and charged out before I could stop her. I thought she’d come to meet you.”
Four pairs of eyes turned to the kitchen clock showing five minutes before two. The twins sat with tear-filled eyes while Anna ran to the door to call for the dog. The cold fury of the biting wind drove her voice back forcing her to give up and shut the door.
“Don’t even think of putting on those clothes,” Irene ordered as the twins ran to their outdoor wear. “You absolutely will not go out again.”
They were all feeling miserable and wondering what could be done when Herb stumbled in frozen and hungry. He had to lean firmly against the door to get it shut.
“Dad,” Anna ran to him sobbing. “Galena is out there and we don’t know where she is. She’s been gone all afternoon. Dad! Do something.”
“Mom won’t let us go out and look for her,” Tom wailed. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Irene put her arm around Anna. “Honey, dad has to get some hot food in him and warm up. We can’t risk a human life out there even for Galena.”
“Mom!” all three children shrieked.
“Galena is one of the family. We brought her all these thousands of miles away from the comfort and security of the only home she’s ever known and now something horrible has happened to her. Don’t you care?” Tom cried.
“Would you be this calm and say all that stuff if Tom or Anna, or me, were lost out there?” Tim choked.
“Children, don’t you dare talk to your mother like that. Of course she’s as worried as you are.” Herb stood up and hugged his wife. “Sweetheart. They’re upset. Let me finish eating and warm up a little and I’ll see what can be done.”
Herb called other families in his work crew. “Galena is missing. Please watch for her and pass the word along so others will be on the alert, also. She’ll need shelter for sure. Let me know as soon as you see her or even if someone thinks they’ve seen her. Thanks a lot. I’m going out to look as much as I can.”
Eleven men braved the storm to help in the search, but it was too cold and dangerous to be out long. Each called for Galena, but the cold wind swallowed their voices. Word quickly spread through the entire town.
Two miserable days passed slowly. The third morning Anna opened her eyes to darkness. She knew the sun would not peep through until nearly noon. Thankfully it had stopped snowing, but was still bitter cold. There was an eerie stillness in the air. The twins bounded out of bed eager to search for their dog. Several days turned into weeks while friends and classmates helped search. A couple of bush planes went over the area as much as they could safely fly.
Chief Houmay growled. “It’s stupid to go to all this trouble for a no account dog. She’s probably been killed and eaten by now by a wolf pack or a polar bear.” All of the children thought he was cruel and insensitive.
“Stupid jerk,” Tom snarled.
“Ignorant heathen,” Tim followed Tom to go to the Chief. Herb saw them and immediately ordered them to come to him.
“Come here this instant. You’re not going to help the situation by being rude to the Chief. No one agrees with him, so just ignore it and go home.”
The twins reluctantly struggled home, weary, heart-broken and unable to eat or sleep. Listlessly they showered, brushed their teeth and prayed.
“Dear Lord, protect Galena. Keep her safe and help her find a warm place to go and something to eat. Bring her back home to us soon.”
So many weeks went by, the Jacksons almost lost hope. Anna, Tom and Tim went to school with heavy hearts and didn’t feel like doing the excellent work they usually did.