THE JOURNEY NORTH

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

It was cold in the mornin an I was sharing my blanket with Rowe who had Lou in her arms as we waited for Mamma. She was makin sure we had everything we needed and all our money. Mamma had come back out and put Lou’s new shoes on her feet. She was grow’n fast. Faster than Lou and I had so she had ta get newer things. I didn’t care about new things, just so long as she ain’t cry’n all the time.

“Come on now. We’ve got a long ways up North from here.” Mamma had told us and threw her and Lou’s bag over her shoulder. Rowe and I had done the same and walked after Mamma. I knew it was gonna be a long trip and that was why I had Gold carry’n some of my stuff. Mamma had me take it off him though.

The sky grew dark and the rain started come’n down hard. Mamma had bought us two parasols. I thought it was just a waste of money but Mamma said it would be more wasteful on medicine when I catch a fever. I had stayed quiet after that. Hours of walk’n and Lou cried out, “I’m tired Mamma, when we gonna stop?”

I usually don’t like it when Lou complains but I was grow’n tired to and feet were hurt’n. No doubt Rowe felt the same and Gold. He was do’in what he does best, being him. He ran around us many times and jumped in the air walk’n with us. It was fun to watch and the ache in my feet was less thought about. Around dusk, when the sun was still set’n, Mamma let us stop and set up our camp ‘bout  fifteen feet from the path. Rowe and I had gone out collecting twigs for the fire with Gold when there was a snap. We froze and there was another snap, this time on the other side.

Gold had crouched down low and started growl’n real low. Then louder and started bark’n. I was scared, real scared. The only other time Gold had done this was when there was something bad near by. We later learned that a wolf had gotten ahold of some cattle. I had only hoped it was a bunny or a fox or somethin other than a wolf. I had never seen one but I did know they were real big and real hungry.

Somethin big dashed out from behind us and Gold had jumped on it. I couldn't see that well but I knew, I knew that whatever it was fighting Gold that it would kill him. I picked up two long big sticks and handed one to Rowe and had her run back to Mamma. I could see the thing was darker than Gold so I had whacked it with the stick. I wacked it real good and hard, so hard that my whole body shook from the force. It yelped and ran off. Gold was about to follow it but I grabbed him and made him come with me back to Mamma, Rowe, ‘n Lou.

“Louise! Are you alright? Rowe just came runn’n here say'n all sorts of things.” I had took Mamma’s hands ‘n told her I was just fine but Gold wasn't. He was limp’n and yelped every now and then. Later that night, he had died. We dug up a little grave and Mamma had carried him to it to lay him down in. Mr. Tom was passin by and gave Mamma something then helped us bury him in the ground. Then we left. Just like that we left everything behind but the memories and the stuff we brought with us.

It twas a week before we reached another town. I didn't like it there, everyone kept staring at us weirdly and whisperin. We stayed a few hours and left when Mamma got some more stuff we needed. It went on like that for a while, stoppin at towns or sleepin at a camp until we joined with this other group we met on the road. There were many kids with them but my favorite was little Timmy,

Little Timmy always had on a straw hat. So I called him, ‘straw hat Tim’. He was a summer older than me and said since we were friends he'd be my big brother when needed. I didn't really know what he meant but I didn't care. It was fine so long we were together.

“Hey Louise? Why did ya Mamma name ya baby sister Lou?” Timmy had asked me one day,

“That's just her nickname, her real name tis Rolowesie. I don't know why she named her that but at the time I couldn't say her name right so I just started callin her Lou.”

“That's real nice. I don't have no brother or sisters of mine own. That's why you're my baby sis.” I still didn't get why havin a brother or sister was so nice. All they did was bother you or steal your stuff or food, mostly food though, but to Timmy it meant the world.

Later that evenin, we all sat around this big camp fire that touched the stars and warmed us like the sun. I was joking with Rowe about something Timmy had said ‘n Lou was already asleep in Mamma’s lap when we first heard the shot. Then another one and one more after that. Mamma had us pack up real quick ‘n fast and hightailed us out ta there.

Timmy and his family was goin the same way as us so they let us ride with them. Mamma had gave them some food for letting us ride with them. I had asked Mamma why everyone was so scared of the shots when someone was prob'ly hunt’n. She said those shots in the dead of night when there's no light to hunt brought back bad memories for everyone. I didn't really believe her bit I let it pass.no light left to hunt with  only meant bad things.

Later that night we stopped an slept in the wagon. Mamma had said it was to dangerous to sleep out at night. I like see’n the stars above my head at night so I waited for everyone ta sleep so I could go out. Wasn’t long before they were all asleep. I was about to go outside when I fell on Timmy. I covered his mouth so he wouldn’t wake the others.

“Be quite ya idiot! You're gonna wake them!” He stopped moving and I uncovered his mouth then jumped down from the wagon and saw the stars. There were millions no, billions, no even more! They twinkled all around the quarter moon like a protector makin sure nothing would touch the moon. Of course Timmy would follow me out. He stood there lookin at them with me. When the stars started to disappear we went back inside the wagon. It was our little secret. All those stars in the sky at night. I slept good that night, better than I did in a long time.