The Skagway Kids: Alaska Snowstorm

By Carl Nord

The snowstorm raging through the little town of Skagway is the least of Andy Seaberg's worries. He is more concerned about the big basketball game he and his fellow fifth graders will be playing against the tough sixth graders. But before this event can even take place, Andy's father is called away to Seattle, and his mother is rushed to the hospital with a severe case of the flu. This leaves Andy at home with his two younger sisters and a pesky little brother and a handful of other problems to solve before he can even get to his basketball practices. The Skagway Kids: Alaska Snowstorm continues where Alaska Christmas left off, Christmas day of 1946, and rushes with howling North Wind into January 1947. Can Andy get everything back to normal before the day of the big game?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781098000585

Book preview

Chapter 1

Basketball Fantasy

Wednesday, December 25, 1946

The basketball bounced right into Andy Seaberg’s hands. There was no one around him. He was all by himself, the basket only ten feet away. All he had to do was score, and he would win the game.

The ball felt light in his hands, too light. It was starting to float away. He tried to bounce it, but it bounded high over his head. His legs seemed to be weighted down. He could not move toward the basket.

The enemy was attacking him from behind. Perry Mills, the sixth-grade bully, was laughing and waving his arms at Andy and pointing at him and then at the basket. Right behind Perry was his pal, Oliver Kendall, imitating Perry’s every motion.

The ball drifted high above Andy’s head. He had to drag his feet to catch up to it. The basket was still just ahead of him. If he could only shoot a layin, the game would be won.

Oliver and Perry were now all around him, waving their arms in his face so he couldn’t see the basket or any teammates coming to help him. But they weren’t touching him.

They were grabbing for the ball, but it seemed to float away from all of them. Andy grabbed for it again, grasping it tightly. He had to shoot now. There was no time to wait.

He threw the ball. It flew past the basket and kept floating up to the ceiling of the gymnasium, where it stuck. Oliver was still jumping in his face. Perry had him around the neck and was dragging him down very slowly.

Andy pulled at Perry’s arms, trying to pry them loose. He suddenly felt cold, freezing. They were falling into a huge snowbank, Perry still gripping his neck.

Andy opened his eyes. It was dark, and he was still freezing. He reached for Perry’s arms but grasped his bedcovers instead. They were wrapped around his neck. He untangled himself and pulled them up over his head to get warm again.

Andy felt a great relief. It had just been a dream, a nightmare. That basketball game with the sixth graders, coming up after New Year’s Day, was really on his mind. His fifth-grade team wouldn’t even have its first practice until after Christmas.

And today was Christmas.

He felt warm again, cozy, lying in bed, thinking about Christmas and the game. Maybe they could win it. Those sixth graders didn’t know that much more about basketball than his team. And they had some awful players, like Perry and Oliver, to mess them up.

Andy and his teammates would beat those sixth graders. Perry and Oliver would have to quit bothering him after that. They would be too embarrassed to show their ugly faces around him if they lost the game. Andy’s team would show those older kids a thing or two.

After some good practices with their coach, Stan Brown, they could do it. Good old Nick and Kit. Good old Will and Jay. Jay was a real player. He could beat them by himself. Even those clowns, Mickey and Donald, would be better than Perry and Oliver. And good old Andy would win the game.

Chapter 2

Christmas Morn, 1946

North Wind roared through the little town of Skagway. It rattled the bedroom storm windows as it howled around the house. But Andy could still hear the faint ticking of the clock on the table by his bed.

A thick layer of blankets and an eiderdown comforter were still pulled up over his head so only his nose stuck out. He was surprised North Wind had stormed in so quickly and without warning. The air had been calm and peaceful on Christmas Eve. But the name Skagway did mean home of the North Wind in Indian.

Andy, a small voice called in a loud whisper.

It came from the darkness on the other side of the room.

Andy, are you awake? It was his little brother Teddy.

I’m awake, he whispered back. Listen to North Wind.

It sounds like it’s trying to get into the house.

I hoped it would be nice weather again today so we could go outside, Andy said, his voice low.

Why do you want to go outside? Teddy asked.

Because I’m getting— Andy stopped suddenly.

Hey! Teddy said, forgetting to be quiet.

Shh.

Do you already know what you’re getting?

Andy tried to think of a good answer. Kind of, he finally whispered.

How did you find out? I searched the whole house. I couldn’t find anything anywhere.

I wonder what time it is, Andy said to change the subject.

Turn on your flashlight, Teddy said. I want to get up. I can’t sleep anymore.

Neither can I.

Andy extended a hand into the frigid air, then his whole arm. He grabbed the flashlight next to the clock and fumbled it before getting a good grasp and pulling it under his covers. He turned it on, got a faint flickering glow, and aimed it at the clock.

What time is it? Teddy demanded, forgetting again to whisper.

Shh. Andy had to squint to get the clock in focus. I think it’s seven thirty, or maybe it’s six thirty-five. The light continued to flicker.

I think it’s seven thirty, Teddy said. That’s not too early.

Andy finally grabbed the clock to get a closer look.

Nope, it’s only six thirty-five.

Let’s get up anyway, Teddy replied.

It’s too early. Dad’ll chase us back to bed.

Let’s be real quiet and just go take a quick peek. Then we can jump back in bed.

I don’t know. Dad warned us last night not to get up too early.

But he didn’t say when was too early.

Last year six thirty was too early.

We’re bigger now. We don’t have to sleep as much. Let’s get up, please, please, please. Teddy’s voice got louder with each word.

Andy wanted to get up too. He heard Teddy’s feet hit the floor and dance about.

I’ll turn on the lamp, Andy said.

No, Teddy whispered. Don’t do that. If we see the clock, then we’ll really know what time it is.

That’s not a very good excuse.

Sure it is. Daddy knows your flashlight doesn’t work very well.

Andy turned his flickering light on Teddy. He had already put on his robe and slippers and was tiptoeing toward their bedroom door. Andy quickly joined him, and they silently started down the hallway.

Hearing a slight click to his left, Andy turned his flashlight. He gazed at a doorknob, slowly twisting. Teddy turned to see what was happening. The door slowly opened.

It was their sister Cathy, her long golden braids hanging over her shoulders. Little sister Rebecca peeked out from behind, clinging to Cathy’s red robe.

Isn’t it too early? Cathy whispered.

We don’t know what time it is, Teddy said innocently.

I do, Cathy replied. It’s only six thirty.

Six thirty-five, Teddy corrected. Almost seven o’clock by now.

Teddy was already up, Andy said. We’re just going to take a peek and go back to bed.

All right. Come on, Rebecca.

Will we get a licking? Rebecca asked, her big brown eyes sparkling in the dim glow of Andy’s flashlight.

Of course not, Andy said confidently.

He remembered that he and Teddy had already just gotten one a few days earlier for fighting and breaking their bedroom window.

The four crept silently in the direction of the living room. It was a lot warmer here than in their bedrooms. The oilstove purred quietly, sending out waves of heat to greet them.

There’s something big under the tree, Teddy whispered.

Andy swung his flashlight beam all about the tree area. There was the bicycle he was expecting and wanted to ride today.

Wow, Teddy whispered.

Let’s go back, Rebecca said, pulling on Cathy’s robe.

It’s all right, Rebecca, Teddy said, taking her hand and leading