To Be Worthy

By Ron Phernetton

The characters in this story are the same boys featured in THE ROCK. Both boys are now twelve, one beginning, and one finishing his journey through the most wonderful and fearful year of their lives.
A twelve-year-old boy is a riddle. He isnt a little kid, but he isnt a big kid either. He is a mixture; partly adult; partly big kid; and partly little kid.
This story centers on the problem of worthiness as experienced by the twelve-year-oldself worth. This is a problem for many boys because they are on their way toward being men, and are expected to be big, tough, and fearless. In reality, boys this age are about two years behind their female counterparts in many respects; physical size, sexual and emotional maturity. For example, seventh grade girls do most things, even boy things, better than boys. Yet, boys vainly suppress their feelings and emotions to try to prove themselves as "men."
Fears of unworthiness tormented Dennis. Throughout his life, Dennis's pride and ego were reinforced by caring for a younger, neighbor boy who suffered from several physical and emotional problems. This made Dennis feel important and needed. The desire to be needed was so intense within Dennis that when his friend grew out of his problems and moved away, his life became empty. His very reason for existence had been taken away.
As he visits his best friend, Dennis finds himself in the midst of a real family tragedy, even facing death, and learns that he doesn't have to do "adult things" to be respected and to be happy with himself.
This story is also about the McDougalls, a close, old-fashioned family with a deep, evangelical, religious faith. The characters in WORTHY run headlong into this life-changing faith as events unfold throughout the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468572445

Ron Phernetton

Ron Phernetton is a forester who has worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for 45 years. He spent his career restoring the disappearing longleaf pine ecosystem, home to a vast array of endangered, threatened or imperiled wildlife species whose home is the open pine forest. As Ron moved from place to place accomplishing his professional goals, his path crossed the lives of many children. Even before he dedicated his professional life to the environment, he became a mentor and source of encouragement to these children, just by giving them a guiding hand where ever they needed it. Ron's children included boys and girls from three years of age to twenty-something. He encountered them in school groups, church groups, organized and unorganized groups, formal and informal situations, including thirteen trips on the Appalachian trail, hiking and camping with boys ranging from eleven to twenty years of age. Ron's association with all these kids, along with his own memories of growing up, led him to single out a small segment of these lives as the subject of this story: The troubles and conflicts experienced by boys around the age of twelve as they try to break through the barriers between childhood and adolescence.

Book preview

To Be

Worthy

Ron Phernetton

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AuthorHouse™

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© 2012 by Ron Phernetton. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/29/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7243-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7245-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7244-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012905491

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROLOGUE

CHARACTERS AND PLACES

GLOSSARY OF JARGON, AND UNFAMILIAR TERMS USED IN THIS STORY

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Kids.jpg

Pictured are the children and teens who helped me with TO BE WORTHY. Many of these same young people helped with my first book, THE ROCK, and also with the construction of the model railroad layout in the background. The layout depicts Table Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain and Cedar Valley, the setting of both stories. Pictured from the left: Steve Lemley, Tiffany Stephens, Katie Lemley, Tim Lemley, Waymen Stephens, Matthew Lemley and Jade Stephens.

Background for cover photo: Carol Spear, Hilliard Florida. Used by permission. Foreground image: Steve Lemley. Photo by author.

Burning Whitehorse Fire Tower, Chapter 29: Painting by Lynne Reed, Cambridge, Minnesota.

Photo editing by Jeff Aicher of Anole Imaging (AnoleImaging.com)

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Jeff Aicher

Anole Imaging

AnoleImaging.com

[e-mail]

912-496-3863

www.anoleimaging.com

TO BE WORTHY

PROLOGUE

Ronald A. Phernetton

While God, in His wisdom, never saw fit to allow me to have children, I seem to have spent most of my life with them, maybe because, even at 73, I have never grown up. These children have been associated with church groups, school groups, classes, clubs, programs, parties, organized camps, unorganized camps, wilderness camp-outs, canoe trips and overnight trail hikes, including thirteen four-day trips along the Appalachian Trail. I would like to take credit for having had the opportunity to influence many children; however, it would be more accurate to say that I have learned more from them. There have been boys and girls—but mostly boys. Ages have ranged fairly evenly from about three to twenty or so—but the ones who have taught me the most seem to be centered around the age of twelve. Probably because I vividly remember the fears, challenges, uncertainties and desires I experienced when I was twelve. I also remember the prideful images of how I wanted others to view this twelve-year-old boy as he tried to fight his way out of the little kid bubble.

I remember one four-day trail trip during the early seventies. Five or six boys and I were following a section of the Appalachian Trail. Back then I used to ask the Lord to give us the challenges, problems and hardships we needed to learn to trust Him, to know that He would take care of us, and help us strengthen our faith. I have since learned that God knows better than I do what we need. Nevertheless, He always answered our prayers and gave us some pretty good problems.

Our group was poor; we didn’t have any of those nice, colorful, nylon tents. We built a huge shelter out of black plastic, using wads of leaves in the plastic with string wrapped around for anchor points, so we could tie parts of the tent to whatever was handy. (It works better than you can imagine.)

One night we were still a long way from our camping spot and it was getting late. What’s more, there was a storm brewing; a big one. We hurried to our proposed campsite and set up our tent, fighting the gusts that we knew preceded the storm. Our supper packs took a long time to prepare, so we decided to use one of our lunch packs instead. We got all of our gear into the tent, rolled out sleeping bags, fixed a very abbreviated supper and had our evening devotions, all by flashlight. Then we got into our sleeping bags to weather out the storm. All the while the wind was threatening to tear away our tent. Lightning flashes would reveal tiny holes in the plastic. When the rain came hard, a fine spray would settle down over us. I instructed the boys to pray, starting with the other end of the tent.

One by one they began praying, each in his turn, asking God to help us through the storm. Meanwhile, I was racking my brain, trying to decide what I should ask God; maybe even trying to apologize to the boys for God getting us get caught in such a storm.

In the middle of the tent this twelve-year-old boy, Billy, prayed like he knew what he was praying for. He began by explaining why we were there, and what we hoped to accomplish. He told God all the reasons the storm needed to stop. He didn’t beg for mercy. He just asked God to PLEASE STOP THIS STORM, AND YOU NEED TO STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

Guess what happened!

Some would say Shame! You can’t bargain with God, demanding favors and miracles. But I knew, that Billy knew that God knew what we needed and what would happen to us if the storm continued. I’m sure God was satisfied to have Billy explain to us, via his prayer, why he knew God was going to answer his prayer.

A coincidence? Maybe. But there have been so many times. Children in their early teens, or tweens, as we now call them, particularly those who have really experienced the joy and power of having Christ in their life, have stood out in my life above many adults, mature Christians and even deacons. Why? Maybe because they are old enough to think for themselves, young enough to have the child-like faith God desires, and not old enough to think they have to make excuses for God not answering prayers when the real reason is our lack of faith.

The primary characters in this story are two boys, the same two boys featured in THE ROCK. These boys represent little bits and pieces of scores of kids I have come to know throughout my life. The time is Christmas week, 1977. Both boys happen to be twelve, one just beginning, and one just finishing his journey through the most wonderful and the most fearful year of his life.

A twelve-year-old boy is a riddle—to himself and to his parents, teachers, counselors, etc. He isn’t a little kid, but he isn’t a big kid either. He is a mixture; partly quite adult; partly big kid; partly just beyond the toddler stage. What’s more, the same part may flip-flop back and forth between adulthood and childhood. One moment he is speaking and conducting himself with an air of confidence and authority; the next moment he is cuddled up in his daddy’s lap. This age has advantages too. The twelve-year-old can run with the big kids at times and even take part in adult activities, but it is still okay to play with the little kids.

He experiences some serious conflicts, however, when he feels he must bear, on his own shoulders, the weight of all his problems, worries and concerns, when he really wants to share his burdens with those he can trust. He often feels that a childlike faith is not an adult or mature characteristic, when we all know that a childlike faith is not wrong, even for adults.

This story centers on the problem of worthiness as seen from different aspects, worldly as well as spiritual, not the least important how the twelve-year-old sees himself—self worth. Twelve-year-old girls may have similar problems involving self worth. The problem is most serious for a boy, however, because he is a boy on his way toward being a man and is expected to be tough, macho and fearless; "a man." In reality we know that he is usually about two years behind his female counterpart in all respects: physical size, sexual and emotional maturity. The girls in his grade do most things, even boy things, better than he does. Yet he vainly suppresses his feelings and emotions to try to prove himself "a man." In another year, or two-or three, the testosterone surging through his veins will propel him through this stage, and he will become much more dominant, even among the girls of his age.

One embarrassing problem for the twelve-year-old is that, just at the time he is trying to make his mind and emotions conform to what he perceives to be mature, or grown up, or at least growing up, some of his body parts insist on lagging behind. Sometimes the fear associated with some of these problems is really the greatest problem.

This story hits upon some very personal and sensitive fears and problems that torment Dennis, the older of the boys.

Throughout THE ROCK, Dennis was always the perfect kid, doing just the right things no matter what happened. Most adults observing this child would consider him "the perfect little gentleman," but this was not the case. His pride and ego were fed and reinforced by ministering to the needs of the younger, very dependent, neighbor boy who suffered from a myriad of physical and emotional problems.

Everyone wants to be needed, but the need to be needed was so intense within Dennis that when his friend began to grow out of his problems, coupled by their separation by several hundred miles, his life became very empty. His very reason for living had been taken away. Several months went by before the two boys were to meet again. By this time the paranoia worms had so eaten away at his soul, that the little friend he used to care for had become a monster in his mind. The boy’s adventures throughout this story, along with the discovery of a new friend, led him to find the real solution to his problems.

Many problems are just challenges that have to be overcome. Unfortunately, society dictates that it is okay to have certain problems. It is all right for others to know about them and help abounds; but other problems are covered with shame and disgrace, and one is expected to deal with them in secret, lest anyone find out. It is hoped that the very mention of the problems the characters in this story experienced will help someone, young or adult, realize that it’s okay to have problems. It is how we deal with them that is important.

It is clear in this story that Jimmy-Luke is the one who has the most serious problems, but because he doesn’t hide them, and trusts those who are willing to help, he is the happier of the two. Jimmy-Luke trusts his best friends to know about his troubles and is pleased if they are willing to help him. Dennis, in contrast, tries to hide his failures and problems from his best friends because he is ashamed of them.

Many might ridicule the personalities of the characters in this story. Jimmy-Luke has this unbelievable, lovable, childlike faith; he is so trusting and willing to place his dependence and well-being on people he loves; and he seems to be able to love just about anyone. His faith in God and willingness to trust Him might be impossible to believe.

Jimmy-Luke might be impossible to believe. After all, I created him, and I made him the way I wanted him. But Dennis and all of his idiosyncrasies—every one of his strange quirks, fears, feelings and hang-ups—is real. Dennis is real. I know him very well. In fact, I have known several Dennises.

So, young man, if the Dennis in this story sounds a lot like you, share your problems with someone you can trust, maybe even if you can handle them yourself. You may end up helping someone else. Besides, it feels good when you work together solving problems with friends.

Parents, if Dennis belongs to you, have patience with him; he is going through more than you can imagine. Praise his mature moments; don’t ridicule his childish swings. Remember, this is also one of his best years. Enjoy and cherish these times. He is about to change—and he will never be the same again.

This story is also about the McDougalls. The McDougalls are a close, old-fashioned family with a deep, evangelical, religious faith. The characters in WORTHY run headlong into this life-changing faith as events unfold throughout the story.

In contrast, readers will discover this story about such spiritually devout characters as the McDougalls, contains a great deal of violence. The McDougalls live a very rewarding but difficult life, and have to battle some very evil characters. Being a Christian does not isolate one from difficulties in life. In fact, God sometimes allows a Christian to experience challenges that test anyone’s faith to the limit.

TO BE WORTHY

CHARACTERS AND PLACES

(Setting: Montana, 1977)

The McDougall Family (1977):

Robert McDougall (1860-1914): Originally a hunter/trapper. Was hired by Abernathy Van Hough to lay out and construct the Van Hough timber and mining empire.

Clarence McDougall (1889-1936): Robert’s son. Began the Table Mountain Company.

Maxine McDougall (85): Clarence McDougall’s wife. Managed the Table Mountain Company (TMC) for Clarence and his family. Spiritual leader of the family.

Homer McDougall (65): Clarence’s oldest son. Managed the trail operations of the TMC.

Cecil McDougall (63): Clarence’s second oldest son. General Manager of the TMC. Managed the Scenic Railway until Jimmy McDougall returned from Canada.

Sally (McDougall) (60): Clarence’s oldest daughter. Managed hotel division of TMC.

Dorothy (McDougall) Ingalls (56): Clarence’s youngest daughter. Reservations Manager for hotel, railway and trail divisions of the TMC. Dorothy Ingalls is Tiffany’s grandmother and Jimmy-Luke’s great aunt.

Jimmy McDougall (52): Clarence’s youngest son. Changed his name to James Douglas while taking refuge in Canada. Returned to Table Mountain this past summer and assumed his original name. Now manages the scenic railway operations.

Kimberly (Van Hough) McDougall (51): Jimmy McDougall’s wife. Daughter of the evil Richard Van Hough, deceased. AKA Kelly Douglas while in Canada. Jimmy-Luke’s Grandmother.

Luke Douglas (1945-1976): Jimmy (James) and Kimberly’s (Kelly) only child. Father of Jimmy-Luke (JL) Douglas. Lived most of his adult life in North Dakota where he served in the Air National Guard. Died in an airplane crash.

Alice Douglas: Luke Douglas’s wife. Jimmy-Luke’s mother.

Jimmy-Luke McDougall (JL Douglas) (12): Luke and Alice Douglas’s son. Changed his name to McDougall in 1977 after the family was reunited.

Tiffany Ingalls (5): John and Mary Ingalls daughter. Jimmy-Luke’s second cousin.

The Van Hough Family:

Abernathy Van Hough (1850-1931): Multimillionaire who moved from Europe to Montana in 1895 to create the Van Hough empire. Loaned Clarence McDougall the money to begin the Table Mountain Company, multiplying his evil son Richard’s jealousy of Clarence.

Richard Van Hough (1889-1969): After inheriting his father’s vast wealth, he created a very corrupt political machine in Gander County, Montana. He literally owned the local sheriff’s department and the local branch district attorney’s office. Richard cheated most of Cedar Valley’s business owners out of their businesses. He spent his whole life trying to cheat the McDougalls out of the Table Mountain Company.

Victoria Van Hough (84): Richard’s wife. A social wannabe in her early life. Faithful to the McDougalls in her last years. Kimberly was their only child.

Olivia (Van Hough) (1892-1976): Richard’s sister, just as evil but more clever than Richard.

Frank and Sam Van Hough (82 & 80): Richard’s younger brothers. Able, fair and honest businessmen, but always subject to Richard’s evil whims. Managed the logging and mining operations, the coal processing plant and the lumber mill.

Thomas Van Hough (57): Frank’s son. Thomas is in jail now as a result of trying to carry on his Uncle Richard’s and Aunt Olivia’s plans to take over the TMC.

Mallory Van Hough (55): Sam’s son.

Lyle Sampson (26): Son of Olivia’s mentally deranged daughter. Lyle’s parents divorced when he was a baby. He was raised by Thomas Van Hough but was influenced by his evil Aunt Olivia.

The Johnson Family:

Michael Johnson (44): Dennis’s father. Michael appeared in THE ROCK when he was ten. He was injured during the 1943 storm.

Mrs. Johnson (Unnamed). Dennis’s mother.

Dennis Johnson (12): Jimmy-Luke’s best friend.

Dennis’s older brother. Unnamed (16)

Others:

Blasting Crew: Gunderson’s Production men.

Collie, Steve: Investigator for the Chessie System. Assigned out west to investigate the disappearance or delay of Chessie cars while in MJCV&P territory.

Crumbie: Sheriff of Gander County. Controlled by Kenneth Thompson.

Edwards: Mr,. Edwards was described in THE ROCK. He was the boys’ Boy Scout leader in Minot, North Dakota, and accompanied them to Montana each summer.

Gunderson, Reuben: Kingpin of the international underworld organization, Gunderson and Associates, deals with manufacture and distribution of drugs, counterfeit money, stolen goods, etc. Uses local corrupt gangs like Kenneth Thompson’s to carry out his operations.

Gonzo; Boomer; Squeaky Jones: Some of Reuben Gunderson’s underworld gang.

Groggins; Spud; Maury: Kenneth Thompson’s underworld gang.

Hopkins, Charlie: One of Jimmy-Luke’s captors; works for Kenneth Thompson’s underworld organization.

Morgan, Clint: Deputy Sheriff of Gander County. New, honest and uncorrupted.

Phelps, Troy (16): Lives across Whitehorse Creek from the Whitehorse Fire Tower.

Phelps, Dotty: Troy’s mother.

Phillips, Samuel, Captain: Captain in the Graniteville, Montana, police department. He is planning to run against the corrupt Gander County Sheriff.

Spikes, Carol: Lyle Sampson’s fiancée; works for Kenneth Thompson in the branch district attorney’s office.

Stokes, Bradley: Commander of a regional mine rescue crew.

Thompson, Kenneth: Branch office District Attorney; kingpin of the corrupt political organization that runs Gander County, Montana. Inherited his underworld position from Richard and Thomas Van Hough, but without the backing of the Van Hough fortune.

Places:

Gander County, Montana: Fictional setting of the story.

Cedar Valley: County seat of Gander County, and name of the region between Table Mountain and the next mountain range.

Table Mountain Village: Community in Gander County. Location of most of the McDougalls’ operations.

Tater Junction: Community in Gander County; Junction of Tater Junction Trail with State Road 645.

Moose Junction: Village in Gander County. Has hospital and other emergency facilities.

Granite County, Montana: Fictional county east of Gander County.

Graniteville: Major city in Granite County.

Fairmont, Montana: Fictional small town, located 130 miles east of Cedar Valley.

Jeremiah’s Cow Pasture: Cattle farm, dairy, butcher shop, meat packing plant, meat and dairy store. Lyle Sampson works and lives here.

Table Mountain: Uplifted ridge adjacent to Cedar Valley.

Sugarloaf Mountain: Once considered to be part of Table Mountain but re-named because of its shape.

Skull Knob: Rock outcrop in Granite County.

Whitehorse Creek: Creek dividing Gander and Granite Counties.

Several actual cities along Flathead Lake are mentioned in the story.

GLOSSARY OF JARGON, AND UNFAMILIAR TERMS USED IN THIS STORY

Aircraft Identification—During radio communication in this story, most aircraft are identified by tail numbers. Helicopter N 6246 X may be identified as November 6246 Xray or sometimes by the last two numbers 46 Xray Two of the helicopters used on the fire were identified by parts of their tail numbers (674 Romeo—USFS contract helicopter with the Operations Chief and Jimmy McDougall aboard; and 027 Alpha—Contract fire suppression ship with a 500—gallon bucket). The other, Granite County One, with Homer aboard is the sheriff’s official helicopter and is identified by the sheriff’s official call

Ballast—Bed of crushed rock used to stabilize rail and ties. The railroad ties are imbedded in the ballast.

Consist—The scheduled set of engines and cars making up a train. Sometimes called train-sets.

Dinner—To Table Mountain/Cedar Valley folks, the noon meal is dinner.

Dorm car—Living quarters for a train crew or work crew. May be a modified passenger car or box car.

ETA—Estimated time of arrival.

Fan jet—Jet-prop. Propeller-driven aircraft powered by a jet engine.

Heisler engine—One of several geared steam engines designed to negotiate steep, rough, crooked track. Commonly used for logging.

Henchman—An attendant; political follower; one serving for political advantage. In this case, some pretty shady characters.

International Harvester Vehicles—Also known as: International, IHC, Corn Binder, and other names.

Passing track—A siding, usually on a single track line, to allow trains to meet or pass.

Saddle—A ridge connecting two higher elevations.

Slash—In the story, refers to limbs, tops and debris left after logging.

Staging area—Locations set up at an incident where resources can be placed while awaiting a tactical assignment on a very short available basis. Supplies and equipment may be stored in staging areas. Transition between forms of transportation may occur at staging areas. As a verb, staged means a resource is assigned to a staging area.

Star drill—A rod-like tool used for drilling holes in rock. The tool is turned while hitting it with a hammer.

Sterno—Jellied alcohol, commercially available in small cans, used by campers and hikers for cooking.

Switches—Moveable mechanisms where two tracks join allowing the train to move from one track to another.

Switch alignment, align the switches, or Switches are lined up for Table Mountain—All the switches are positioned so the train will pass through all the switches necessary to end up on the Table Mountain track. Sometimes, The train is all lined up for Table Mountain, meaning the switches are properly aligned so the train can go to Table Mountain.

Switchback—A road which turns back upon itself to zigzag up a steep hill.

—A railroad which zigzags up a steep grade. The train alternately moves forward and backward through the series of switches.

Switchback tail—The length of track extending beyond the switch at a switchback. The maximum length of train that can negotiate a switchback is limited by the switchback tail.

Switch point—The moveable part of a switch that moves against the rail, guiding the train’s wheels onto the other track.

Trail head—Where a trail begins at a pick-up or drop-off point. In the story, The Rock, several Table Mountain trail heads were located along the Table Mountain Railway.

VIA Rail—Canada’s passenger rail system.

Yew brush—A low sprawling shrub with persistent, hemlock-like leaves. Can form a very dense, difficult to travel understory. In the story site, probably Pacific yew.

Author’s notes:

Spelling and word usage—Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) was used as the standard for this story for spelling and word useage.

Hell—The word Hell is not usually capitalized in most works, not even in the Bible. As used in this story, Hell is used by one of the primary characters, Charlie Hopkins, as the proper name of a real place, created by God, for a specific purpose. Charlie would want Hell capitalized.

Mainmap.jpg

Table Mountain / Cedar Valley Area

Table Mountain Village, Cedar Valley, Tater Junction, Moose Junction, Van Hough Knob, Table Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain and Whitehorse Mountain are all fictional locations where parts of the story take place. Jimmy-Luke McDougall lives with his mother and grandparents in the mansion on Van Hough Knob. Homer McDougall and other McDougalls live in Table Mountain Village. The abandoned coal mine and Sugarloaf Cavern are in Sugarloaf Mountain. Lyle’s shack is located next to the dairy and meat packing plant in Cedar Valley.

sugarloaf.jpg

Upper opening of Sugarloaf Cavern

Cutaway view of Sugarloaf Cavern. A small creek flowing down Sugarloaf Mountain created a small pond or swamp in a saddle. Water seeping from the swamp into limestone cracks in the mountain formed the cavern which emerges almost a mile farther down the mountain. Homer McDougall’s moonshine cache was located by an old dead tree next to the cavern opening.

Sugarloaf_cutaway.jpg

Lower Opening of Sugarloaf Cavern

Cutaway view of the main coal mine chamber. The rail entrance to the old abandoned coal mine is on the left, about 300 feet below the upper cavern entrance. Gunderson hid the rail cars used in his operation in the main chamber of the mine. The connector tunnel and first aid station where Jimmy-Luke was held captive is about one-half mile to the right.

Sugarloaf_cutaway_large.jpg

Cutaway view of the lower outlet of sugarloaf Cavern, the connector tunnel and the main coal mine chamber. The first aid station is located is located in this end of the coal mine chamber. Gunderson constructed the new ground level entrance to the coal mine at this location.

. . . To be Worthy

CHAPTER 1

THE EMPIRE BUILDER

~December 16, 1977—Amtrak Station – Minot, North Dakota~

Dennis Johnson, along with his mother and father, were packed in the midst of a crowd at the boarding gate waiting for the morning train out of Minot, North Dakota, en route to Cedar Valley, Montana. It was early in the morning, Friday, December 16, 1977.

As a Christmas present for Jimmy-Luke McDougall and Dennis Johnson, the McDougall and Van Hough families had purchased train tickets for Dennis, so the two best friends could spend the Christmas vacation together. Christmas fell on Sunday in 1977, so both schools gave the week before Christmas and the week after Christmas off. Since New Year’s Day was also on Sunday, Monday was a legal holiday so most schools didn’t reopen until January 3, 1978, giving Dennis an extra day to travel.

Dennis’s father thought reservations might be more easily obtained on Friday than Saturday, so he asked that Dennis be excused for that day. They only had a half-day of school on that Friday anyway.

In Cedar Valley, Montana, school also let out at noon. Dennis’s friend, Jimmy-Luke McDougall, was picked up at noon by his mother, Alice Douglas, and his great-grandmother, Maxine McDougall, so they could take Jimmy-Luke to Graniteville for a Christmas shopping trip. Jimmy-Luke wanted to get some presents for Dennis before his arrival, since they would be constantly together afterward. Jimmy-Luke’s mother also wanted to get him some new clothes to finish out the school year. The boy, who had been about three years behind his age in physical size, had suddenly put on a little growth spurt and had grown out of some of his clothes.

Dennis’s father was right about making reservations for Friday. Every seat was sold out for Saturday and he got one of the last seats available for Friday. The train station was very crowded Friday morning and they had to be there very early. Because Dennis was only twelve, and traveling alone, they had to get special permission from the Amtrak agent, and give him a list of people authorized to pick Dennis up at the other end of the trip. Dennis was annoyed and somewhat embarrassed that they made him wear an arm band with all his vital information on it.

It seemed to Dennis that they had to mill around in the packed room for a long time. He hardly slept at all last night. But now, the excitement generated, hyper-energy that kept him awake during the night, was failing him and he was very tired. His mother was worried about him too, and made him promise to try to get some sleep when he got settled in the coach. Finally, the train arrived about 9:00, almost a half-hour late.

As they began loading, the crush of the crowd made it difficult for Dennis and his parents to say a proper good-bye. As he boarded the train, his mother shouted one last reminder to try to get some sleep. Call me when you get to JL’s house, she pleaded, using Jimmy-Luke’s childhood name that was used by everyone until last summer.

I’ll try, Mama, Dennis shouted back, if it isn’t too late when I get there.

I don’t care how late it is, she replied, call.

As Dennis entered the coach, the conductor glared at his arm band. Son, he explained, we’re terribly heavily loaded this morning. I usually try to seat unaccompanied children alone, so no one tries to bother them and so we can keep an eye on them, but there simply isn’t an extra seat. When I saw on the list that you were riding alone, I reserved a seat for you next to a gentleman who often rides with us. His name is Steve Collie and you will be safe with him.

I don’t need anybody to take care of me, Dennis growled.

You are in Seat 14C, said the conductor; I’ll take you there.

Dennis followed the conductor up the coach aisle until he stopped next to a man sitting next to a vacant seat.

Hello, Steve, this is the young man I told you about. Would you keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble? His name is Dennis, and he gets off a couple stops after you.

Dennis didn’t say anything; his first remark about not needing anyone to take care of him didn’t seem to register with the conductor.

Sure, Jake. Hello Dennis. Jake, could you switch our seats on your record? I think Dennis would rather sit by the window.

It’s okay, Dennis said; almost all my life I have taken care of a little boy, and I have always let him have the window seat whenever we traveled, so I am used to sitting in the aisle seat.

Well—do you want the window seat or not? snapped the conductor.

Yes, sir, admitted Dennis sheepishly.

Steve got up and the man and the boy changed seats.

I’ll watch over him, Steve told the conductor.

Dennis just sat back and stared at the seat in front of him. Usually well behaved and mannerly, this just wasn’t starting out to be a good day for Dennis, and it was going to get a lot worse.

Steve wanted to respect the boy’s privacy, yet he desired to be friendly and gain Dennis’s confidence, since he was going to be responsible for him for the next few hours. Sensing that Dennis’s feelings and countenance were badly troubled, and not wanting to make things worse, Steve decided to tread lightly with the simple and obvious question, Where are you heading?

To Table Mountain, near Cedar Valley, Montana. I’m visiting the little boy I used to take care of. He used to live right next to me. I sure miss him.

Well, you don’t seem to be too happy, getting to visit the friend you miss so much.

He has grown up a lot and I am afraid he doesn’t need me anymore.

Oh—I understand, Steve said, mentally noting that being needed isn’t necessary for being a friend. How long since you’ve seen him last?

Oh—about four months.

Four months!! Steve exclaimed. How could he go from being a little boy you used to have to take care of, to someone who no longer needs you in four months?

Steve realized that he had touched a very sore spot, but Dennis looked like he wanted to talk about it.

Dennis looked down at his feet. JL used to be my best friend and I used to be his best friend. He is almost as old as I am; we are both twelve, but he just turned twelve a couple of months ago and I am almost thirteen. He was real little and had a lot of problems. He had real bad dreams; he imagined things that weren’t real; and he had a lot of panic fits. And I was the only one who could take care of him. But now he is over it, and is growing up and he doesn’t need me anymore. Besides that, I am almost thirteen and I used to be about the right size for my age, but for some reason I stopped growing and I’m falling behind all of my friends. By now, JL is probably taller than I am.

The boy seemed to run out of words, so Steve continued on: It is interesting, Dennis, that you are going to Cedar Valley. I am going first to Browning, near East Glacier. I’m an investigator for the Chessie System and I’m trying to find out why some of our hopper cars are getting delayed or missing. A dispatcher there thinks he may have some leads for me. Tuesday, I have to go to Cedar Valley myself, to be interviewed by a lady who is an investigative reporter and is interested in this case. She herself was involved in a very interesting search for one of her relatives earlier this year. Then I will spend Christmas with some friends near West Glacier.

Dennis was too tired to make any connection between the lady Steve was talking about, and Jimmy-Luke’s mother. He tried to tell his new friend about JL and the things they used to do, but he started slurring his words and he kept dozing off in the middle of his sentences. Soon he just let his head fall on Steve’s shoulder and fell asleep. As the train sped around a curve, Dennis’s head slid off Steve’s shoulder and he slumped into his lap. Steve reached over and pulled Dennis’s legs up into the seat to keep him from sliding all the way onto the floor between the seats.

About this time the conductor came by again and said, So much for the boy who didn’t need anybody to take care of him.

The boy seemed to be exhausted, I wonder what he’s been through the last few days, answered Steve. Maybe he’ll wake up enough to eat some lunch.

Dennis was, at first, anxious to see Jimmy-Luke and the rest of the McDougalls again. He was excited when he found out that the McDougalls and Van Houghs had purchased train tickets for his Christmas present. He knew he should be very happy about this, but his mind was so full of manufactured fears and doubts that it completely buried his joy.

Dennis is still working on a problem that surfaced just before he returned home from Table Mountain last August. Dennis enjoyed the responsibility of constantly taking care of JL. He liked to imagine himself as an adult, and JL’s dependence upon him made him feel more mature. It made him feel important to have JL come to him for every problem, to be able to help JL when he had his panic attacks or when his imagination took control of him. He liked it when JL looked up to him and accepted, as fact, everything Dennis told him. Dennis actually liked playing detective, cops and robbers, cowboy and Indians, and taking part in boyhood adventures, just as much as JL. But he would have you believe that he was just entertaining JL. His life seems empty now, and he really misses JL.

Dennis recognizes these feelings as a problem, but with his obsession to try to act like an adult, his pride does not allow him to discuss it with anyone. He feels he should be able to solve his problems himself. Conversely, anything that happens that requires him to get help, or when he does something that he feels an adult wouldn’t do, it makes him feel inadequate or disappointed in himself.

To make matters worse, the lapse he was experiencing in his growth rate really had caused him to fall behind some of the boys of his age. Several of his friends were now taller than Dennis. Jimmy-Luke, on the other hand, had begun a growth spurt during the summer, and was pleased as punch about it. In Jimmy-Luke’s regular letters to Dennis, he often bragged about how big he was getting. The fact is, Jimmy-Luke is still very small for his age, just a little bigger than when Dennis last saw him. In Dennis’s mind though, Jimmy-Luke must be at least six inches taller than himself.

~Dennis’s Dream~

The next thing Dennis knew they were arriving at the Cedar Valley Depot. He looked for familiar faces. Then he saw a youth, well over five feet tall, and sure enough it was Jimmy-Luke. Jimmy-Luke immediately recognized him.

Hello, Short-Stuff! Boy, you really did stop growing didn’t you? Come on. Get in the car; it’s late and we have to get home. I’m expecting a call from my girl friend.

Dennis was bewildered. Girl friend, Dennis thought. When did JL get a girl friend? Dennis couldn’t even imagine having a girl friend yet.

Aren’t we going to take the little train? Dennis asked.

No. Just get into the car, Jimmy-Luke answered smartly.

To Dennis’s surprise, Jimmy-Luke got behind the wheel and started driving. He couldn’t believe his eyes; he was so tired, upset and bewildered. He knew they couldn’t drive to the mansion, but in his confused condition, he just did what he was told. They were soon at the mansion. Jimmy-Luke led Dennis up to the room they had shared the last week Dennis spent at Table Mountain last summer.

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