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Cubmaster’s Minute
Time must be going quicker than in previous years as everyone seems to be so busy, over scheduled, and hurried. 24/7 will soon be 25/8.
BLUE AND GOLD? I don't know if I could attend, let alone help. It was no different for your Cubmaster. I didn't think I was even going to make the event on time. Somehow, miraculously, some time opened up, and I was able to bring our Pack Colors over to St. Francis. I opened the hall doors and WOW!!! It was truly set for a banquet. I had the privilege to spend TIME alone looking around and anticipating the evenings festivities, but my imagination came up short; reality was better. Ann Lindsey did a fantastic job. I know that she wants to thank all who gave their time, effort, and donations. Way to go 225, it was a special evening that was non-stop. I am so glad I had those few moments of peace before the hurricane. Congratulations to Fox Patrol as they have now bridged into Boy Scouts. PINEWOOD DERBY is right on us SCOUTS. Design those cars, get them cut, sanded, painted, balanced and ready to race. There will be more than one design category, so be neat and or colorful in styling your car. Parents please remember: FOLLOW THE RULES THAT ARE FOR PACK 225 INCLUDED IN YOUR SON'S PINEWOOD DERBY CAR KIT. INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE INTERNET MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO OUR PACK RULES. IF FOR SOME REASON YOUR CAR DOESN'T MEET SPECS, THE CAR WILL BE PLACED IN THE OPEN DIVISION.
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RESPONSIBILITY is this months theme, and I am directing this portion to the parents. As this year is quickly coming to an end, we are in need of some key
leadership roles for the upcoming year, which begins in a few months (doesn't get busy until just before school starts). Our current leaders that are staying on need YOUR help, not the person next to you, but YOU!!! Your children will definitely benefit from your involvement, and the community will as well, thus you will help create a better world. Please step forward and donate whatever time and talent you can to your kids, and our Pack. I assure you, you will have fun because of the other people involved. Even a small job will help our Pack. Please don't be shy, Volunteer! What is RESPONSIBILITY? Is it an awareness? Is it seeing something that needs to be done and you RESPOND? If you see your mom struggling to get in the house with groceries and do not help, or respond to her need, is it IRRESPONSIBLE? If you do help her, or respond to her need, are you being RESPONSIBLE?
What is the better choice? What makes the better you? What makes the better world?
"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness."
- Chinese Proverb
Joe Marinelli
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Wyatt had worked up a sweat by the time he finished digging out the snow cave just wide enough for Trudy to lie flat and high enough so that he could sit inside. He paused to rest a bit and noticed that the avalanche had caused the cabin roof to disintegrate and now there were wood slats scattered all over. He gathered an armful of slats and tiled the cave floor with them so that their bottoms wouldn't get wet and cold. During this time Trudy had become silent and still and it was as if she had forgotten all about her broken leg. When Trudy caught him looking worriedly at her she began howling. Wyatt figured that if she could howl, then she was alright for the time being.
It was early evening and as the winter sun retired, the cold mountain air swept through the valley turning their faces a bright scarlet. Not without some difficulty, Wyatt dragged his little sister into the snow cave and propped her broken leg on a cedar bough and covered her with his coat.
He sat next to her for a long time and shivered.
"Where was you at when the avalanche hit?" Wyatt asked her.
"Warmin' myself next to the coal stove," Trudy said.
Wyatt thought about that old stove.
It had been around ever since he could remember. Every day it squatted in the kitchen corner, fire in its belly, watching everyone fuss at each other. It had witnessed the birth of two babies, and held silent as those babies grew and wound around the house breaching the peace from sunrise to sunset. It was as if Wyatt
had killed and buried one of his own.
He hung his head.
"I did it, Trudy," Wyatt confessed. "I shot Pa's gun and it brought down the snow."
"We're gonna die, ain't we," Trudy said bleakly.
"That's a dern lie," he admonished her.
"Well, if we do, it's all your fault."
"Why're you talkin' like that. Like Pa and Ma ain't never comin' home . . ."
Wyatt's voice trailed while he clenched and unclenched his hands. "My fingers are cold."
"You knew you wasn't 'sposed to get into Pa's gun closet," Trudy bitterly accused him.
"You better shush, girl. You was in on it too."
Night came without the moon and it draped the forest in black. Even huddled inside her brother's coat, Trudy's teeth chattered and she took to complaining again. "My leg hurts so bad. Wyatt, take my pain away," she begged him. "I won't tell Pa what you did." When her brother didn't respond, Trudy complained a little louder but still no response.
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She peered out from beneath the coat and gasped-her brother was gone.
Wyatt had already set out into the gloom on a mission which would likely fail. He held a metal pail in one hand and he stood over the place where the remains of the cabin were buried beneath the snow. He carefully slipped into the hole where Trudy had been when the avalanche had struck. The old stove had to be nearby. Blinded by darkness he patted around a bit until he felt the latch on the stove. He opened it up and quickly scooped the coals into the pail and
coughed when he inhaled a small cloud of ash.
He went back to the front of the snow cave and dumped the coals out onto handful of dead leaves and gently blew until they ignited. He piled on more tender, then some small kindling, and finally dead branchwood until the fire was hot enough to warm the cave. Trudy propped herself up on her elbows and watched the flames dance about. Wyatt walked to the edge of a frozen gully where the sumac bushes thrived and harvested a half-bucketful of the dried purple berries. He returned to the snow cave and filled the remainder of the bucket with fresh snow and set it in the center of the fire until a sour tea had brewed. After it cooled some, they took turns sipping and making faces at each other with their puckered lips.
The day had been hard and somehow the night had brought a measured relief. They were exhausted. Brother and sister finally drifted into a peaceful sleep in the warmth of the snow cave at the foot of Sugar mountain.
In the morning Wyatt opened his eyes to find his Pa jostling him. Trudy awoke and immediately told Pa that Wyatt had fired his gun and that this had caused the avalanche and that her leg was broken because of what Wyatt had done. Pa looked sternly at Wyatt who realized that there was to be a heavy price to pay. But Wyatt nonetheless helped his Pa find a long plank of wood and they laid Trudy on it and loaded her onto the back of the sleigh. Ma tended to Trudy while Pa surveyed the few remnants of what used to be their cabin home. He rubbed his forearms, the size of logs, and proclaimed, "We ain't got nothin' but tomorrow." Ma nodded while fetching a cast-iron
skillet from the sleigh. She scooped out some cornmeal and cooked up a batch of Johnny cakes and a pot of hot apple cider. With their guts full, they set off down the snowy path towards the town of Riverdell. Pa began whistling, and Ma sang to his whistling, and Wyatt and Trudy joined in.
- TO BE CONTINUED |
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