There was a stunned silence so sharp it almost hurt the ears. “Don’t everyone speak at once,” Herb joked. “I know I’m hitting you with unexpected news, and it will take time for us to think about it and talk it over.” He began to look uneasy as the silence grew and he looked from one stunned face to another. “It’s a great honor to be chosen for this special assignment.” He looked worriedly at his silent family. “Well, someone say something.”
“B-b-b but, Dad,” Tim wailed, “it would mean leaving our friends and our home and our school and ---”
“Everything,” Anna finished weakly.
Tom looked as if he had been punched in the stomach. “No!” he shrieked. “I want to go to winter camp with our scout troop. We’re going to learn how to survive in winter weather and how to find directions with a compass.”
“My French class is planning a trip to Paris and it’ll be during my birthday. We’re doing fund raising activities to help pay for the trip. Oh, I have my heart set on going and I’ve been working hard to earn money for it.” Anna moaned.
Irene began speaking so low they could hardly hear her. “I’m working with my Sunday School class to adopt a family for Christmas. I also promised to work with the Chamber of Commerce for our Main Street Art Festival next March.”
“Well, we’re not leaving tomorrow,” Herb snapped, disappointed that his family didn’t feel as he did. “I’ll have to leave in a couple of months, but all of you can wait until the school year is over and then join me in Alaska.” He looked imploringly at them.
Everyone was silent, looking at each other and absent-mindedly petting Galena as she went whining from one to another sensing the distress in the atmosphere.
Herb dropped to one knee in front of Irene, taking her hand and imploring. “Honey, just think about it. Our children will have an opportunity to see a lot of their own country and meet a variety of people. I’m sure you’ll find ladies doing interesting, worth while things in Nome.” Herb was beginning to worry that his family could not be persuaded to join him in what he considered a fabulous opportunity. He jumped up and continued pacing.
Irene took a deep breath and spoke haltingly. “I don’t -- really know. Part of me is as excited as you are and part of me is --- cringing at the idea of such a move and all that it involves. We’ve lived here for sixteen years and have so many friends.
“What about Galena?” Tom knelt by the dog hugging her against his side.
“What about Galena? Well, I guess she’ll have to stay here with someone we trust if they’re willing to keep her for us. She’s lived here all of her life and, I’m not sure, at her age, that she could make the adjustment.” Herb answered without thinking.
“Oh, no!”
“No way!”
“Absolutely not!”
The three children spoke as one.
“Honey, you might as well suggest leaving one of the children behind. You know they will not go off and leave Galena behind. I don’t like the idea either.” Irene spoke firmly. “She’s been with us since she was three months old and the boys were two years old.”
“Yeah, Dad. She’s one of the family,” Tim choked out.
“What kind of work would you be doing, Dad?” Tom questioned with a disturbed expression.
“I’ll have a team and we’re supposed to investigate to see if there is natural gas under the tundra and maybe coal. There’s no oil on the western side of Alaska, but scientists feel they’ve found evidence to support the theory of natural gas. I’ll be working with the environment in many ways for the Department of Interior. There are no roads into Nome because of the snow and constant freezing. We would have to drive to Fairbanks and fly into Nome. Once we get there, we’ll find many good roads in the city.”
“Is it a done deal?” Tom frowned
“I won’t be fired if I don’t accept the assignment, if that’s what you’re asking. I repeat, it’s an honor that they considered me. The job will mean a promotion and a much better retirement fund. That’ll come in handy with three of you going to college.” He gave a nervous little laugh. “I have to be honest. I’m very excited about the opportunity.”
“Nah. No kidding. You could have fooled me,” Tom spoke facetiously.
Irene got up and started toward the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready. Cheeseburgers and potato soup. Why don’t we eat and have another talk later.”
Anna asked the blessing and ended with, “and give us the wisdom to know what is the best thing for us to do.” The meal was eaten quickly with a lot of excited babble, sometimes all trying to talk at once. The children finally agreed to learn more about Alaska and make a decision later--but only if Galena was included. Everyone carried their own dirty dishes into the kitchen. Anna and Irene quickly had dishes done and the room cleaned while the boys carried the trash out. The family then gathered in the den to watch a National Geographic special.
“Let’s go to bed and sleep on this. There’ll be time to do more talking after we’ve absorbed information about where our home would be.” Irene fluttered around like a disturbed bird as she encouraged her family to go to bed.
Chapter Two
The next day, in their homeroom at school, the students were eager for the holiday and too excited to think of lessons.
“Mrs. Berry,” Tim kept waving his hand in the air and even half way standing up. “Tom and I have something to share with you and the class.”
“Make it quick, Tim. We have much to cover today.”
“Our dad has been requested --” Tim started.
“You know he works for the Federal Government,” Tom butted in. “We may have to move --”
“to Alaska.” Both boys finished together. “For two or three years,” Tim bounced as he talked.
A lot of the students began talking at once with surprise and excitement. Most of them thought it was great and told the twins that they envied them. Hearing the excitement in the voices of their classmates, the twins began to feel that it might not be such a calamity after all, still they were not totally convinced that it would be a good move.
The bell rang to leave the homeroom and go to other classes. The children were clattering about the news and telling others that they met in the hall. The twins were momentarily pleased at the attention.
Herb had been giving each child ten dollars a week for an allowance which they earned by doing chores around the house. Anna earned extra money by babysitting. The twins mowed laws, shoveled snow and ran errands for people to earn extra money according to the time of the year.
Christmas at last and snow. The children loved it, but the people who had to drive to work were not pleased. The twins each got skis and Anna got a motor bike for their main presents. The twins also received a complete set of ‘Harry Potter’ books. Herb got books he enjoyed written by John Grisham, Ken Follett and Frank Patterson. Irene got a hundred dollar gift certificate to a local spa for a day of relaxation and pampering. The three children had pooled their money and purchased tickets for a stage play and a dinner for their parents. Everyone received smaller gifts.
The twins went to friends’ houses to compare gifts. Anna left with two girlfriends to go to another friend’s house. She could hardly wait to get their reaction to the possible move to Alaska.
The new year came with a lot of celebrating. The Jacksons celebrated with friends at the Emerald Greens Country Club, and had a great time. The thought often ran through their minds that this might be the last time they’d do this for a long time. The Fairfax Fire Department put on a display of fireworks and ended with a giant