Pictures and drawings of the 1965 Yosemite Chapel Restoration

How The Cannonball Travels Faster Than An Airplane

An ocean of water was found 620 miles below Earth's surface!!

Several months ago I completed hand writing John Henry & Me in the Grand Canyon, but I was left with a dilemma in how the Cannonball would travel unnoticed, and faster than flight.  I did not want to turn it into an airplane because it is a train.  Something no one could change, even in fiction stories.  It would never make sense.  

One of my youngest children and I began discussing possible forms of moving between National Parks unnoticed.  She told me of a story her teacher mentioned in school a few weeks earlier.  

An ocean of water that was found below the Earth's surface.  Bingo!!

The first chapter of John Henry will begin with a very exciting trip through the center of the Earth, allowing Lucy and Lucas Fern experience anxiety while witnessing the different layers of the planet. It will be the beginning of a very educational and exciting journey, preparing readers for an experience in the Grand Canyon.  

The Grand Canyon is such a massive National Park, readers will learn a little about the geology of the Earth's structure before diving deep into Native American culture, giving the reader a greater understanding of why the first Americans were so spiritually connected to this amazing planet. 

Some scientists say the ocean below the Earth's surface was only 400 miles below, then others think it was 620.  Here are a few Getty Images explaining a few of the theories. 

Dr Mookherjee was one of the leading scientists who assisted the research.  

He said: 'Water in the Earth's interior is crucial since it helps in mantle convection - a process by which solid rocks move from hotter to colder regions over geological time scales.  If there was no water in the Earth's interior, mantle convection would be inefficient and would eventually cease.  The surface expression of the mantle convection is plate motion (the process by which volcanoes are created).'

The Story of Lucas Fern Right Here

Here is a link to my other blog including The tiny Life of Lucas Fern, I began writing this in the 12th Grade going to Moorpark High School.  

I finally published it early last year. It is very short compared to over 6,000 pages I have written (over 450,000 typed words) of the life and back story of Lucy and her twin brother Lucas Fern.  

I will post the Spanish books ASAP.

https://thetinylifeoflucasfern.blogspot.com/

 

From Yosemite National Park to The Grand Canyon National Park

The next book in our series is complete.  John Henry & Me in The Grand Canyon follows Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite as John Henry and the Ferns travel on the very fast and modern train "The Cannonball."  

The Cannonball is the famous train driven by Casey Jones, and it is much faster and travels underground to any destination within this Universe. 

Totally fiction but in a way very exciting facts about the Earth and the layers of the planet as they all travel through the amazing tunnels and inside the underground oceans.  The details are secret but the first chapter will explain this exciting new form of transportation.

Once they arrive at the Grand Canyon they will begin a journey into the world and universe of Native Americans and Native American beliefs, including amazing Native American folklore. 

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Fourteen) Casey Jones

Casey Jones

        The traffic leaving Yosemite was endless. All the visitors made the drive to Sugar Pine very difficult. It was slow enough that Lucas did not get car sick, and when they finally arrived the sun was already down.

        “Where’s the train?” asked Lucas.

        “It’s called the Cannonball,” Lucy explained.

        Lucas looked back at Lucy making a weird face.

        “That a cool name,” he replied cheerfully.

“Why do they call it that?”     

        “Because it is faster than an airplane,” Lucy replied.

        Lucas began to feel worried.

        “Are you sure?” he asked.

        Paul Jr. was sitting in the front, in- between Tali and John Henry.

        “It is quite a bit faster, and it travels under the ground,” he explained.

        Lucas looked out the window to see if it was out there.

        “I can’t see it,” he protested.

        “Hold on Lucas,” John insisted. “We always leave at night to avoid being seen.”

        As soon as John pulled the truck into a loading dock inside a very small train station, everyone finally saw the train. It was pitch black making it almost impossible to see.

        “It was here all the time,” Lucas said cheerfully. “I have never been on a train.”

        John looked back at Lucas in the mirror. “There is no other train like the Cannonball,” he explained.

        Lucas was really beginning to get excited.         “What are we waiting for, let’s get on the Cannonball,” he stated. “It’s a beauty!”

        Lucy sat up in her seat and took off her seatbelt.

        “I’m ready!” she announced.

        Unexpectedly, all of the train lights turned on and the sound of the horn exploded full blast.

        Everyone except John was forced to plug their ears.

        “What was that for? Can’t he see us here?” she asked.

        “Casey is just running tests in there to make sure the Cannonball will run smoothly,” John explained.

        “Who made it go so fast?” asked Lucas.

        John was happy to tell.

        “I helped set up the tracks and dug the underground passages. It was Granville Woods and Elijah McCoy who worked with Casey Jones to bring the Cannonball to life,” he explained.

        “Do we get to meet them also?” asked Lucas.

        John gave the question some thought before giving his reply.

        “Probably not on this trip, but soon,” he replied happily. “They will show you things they invented that will make you proud.”

        After a few minutes, everyone was out of the truck and waiting for Casey Jones to welcome them on the train.

        “Who do we have here?” a friendly voice called from inside.

        A man almost as tall as John Henry came out of the train door to welcome everyone. He was wearing a tall blue hat that matched a pair of perfectly clean blue overalls.  His shirt looked like it had been made by the same tailor as Paul Bunyan.

        John was the first to step forward giving him a big hug.

        “It has been a long time old friend,” he said patting him on the back.

        “It sure has,” Casey replied, looking around at the rest of the group. “Who did you bring with you?”

        Paul Jr. immediately took Casey’s hand and began shaking it.  Casey was amused.

        “Paul Jr. here, reporting for my trip to Ireland,” he explained.

        Lucas interrupted.

        “We're not going to Ireland. We are going to find Kokopelli in the Grand Canyon,” he said firmly.

        Lucy smiled.

        “Don’t mind my brother Lucas, he gets excited about the strangest things,” she explained.

        “You both must be the ESP twins that were adopted by John and Talitha,” Casey said greeting them onto the train. 

        “I hear Paul Bunyan will meet us there,” he said looking at John.

        “That is correct,” John replied.

        “Then welcome aboard, one and all!” Casey shouted.

        Ranger Pam was standing in the corner of the room.

        “I don’t think we have met before,” Casey said in his romantic voice.

        Lucy covered her mouth almost blushing.

        “Someone has a crush,” she whispered to Paul Jr. and Lucas.

        Ranger Pam held her grandmother’s basket in her arms.

        “I am Pamahas, and stop acting like we have never met,” she replied.

        “Are you coming with us?” Casey asked.

        It was the first time Lucy had ever seen someone make Ranger Pam blush.

        Ranger Pam lifted the basket so that he could see it.

        “I am the only person who can work the basket that will hold Kokopelli,” she explained.         

        “That sounds like a great reason to have you with us,” Casey replied, looking ready to take off. 

        “Enough fun for today,” he said with an Irish accent. “Allllll aboard!”

        It only took a few minutes until Casey Jones and John Henry had everyone loaded in the beautiful caboose of the Cannonball.  Each sitting in the most comfortable velvet chairs.

        The truck full of camping gear was loaded soon after.

        Casey found Lucas with something important to tell him.

        “Hi Casey, are we leaving now?” Lucas asked.

        “Are you ready to see some dinosaurs?” Casey asked suspiciously.

        Lucas immediately felt nervous, looking over at John to see how far away he was.

        “No,” Lucas replied nervously. “I did not come to see dinosaurs.”

        Casey began to laugh.

        “Good, because the Cannonball can’t time travel yet,” he explained with a grin.

        “That’s good,” Lucas replied. 

        Everyone put on their seatbelt, sitting back in the chairs as Casey Jones took the Cannonball to full speed. The Cannonball immediately entered a tunnel that went deep into the Earth’s crust, beginning their journey to the Grand Canyon.

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Thirteen) Jr. Ranger Celebration

Jr. Ranger Celebration

        Paul Bunyan was anxious after the President finished his speech and announced his name as the new director of National Jr. Ranger Committee.

        Reporters from all over the world were in attendance as hundreds sat in chairs placed in front of the Yosemite Chapel near the meadow.  Many children were just waiting to see what Paul Bunyan really looked like.

        Paul Bunyan was still hiding, feeling nervous about this moment.

        “Dad, get up,” Paul Jr. demanded. “We need to get out there!”

        Paul Jr. was sitting on his left shoulder next to Lucy holding tightly to his hair. 

        The President thought it was extremely important that Paul Jr. and the others were seen on his shoulders as he came out from the trees.  They would avoid feeling too frightened.

        Paul Bunyan finally took a deep breath and walked out from the trees.

        “Here we go!” he said.

        “They will love you!” Lucas told him right in his ear.

        As Paul took a few long steps in-between the trees, he could hear the gasps from the people and children.

        Many people stood up to get a better look at him, and several children even screamed, running to sit with their parents.

        A video camera zoomed in on Lucas, Lucy, and Paul Jr. to help people feel calm, causing everyone to stand up and cheer.

        “You see, they love you, dad!” Paul Jr. said proudly.

        “Is that a tear in your eye?” Lucy teased.

        Paul Jr. quickly wiped away any evidence.

        “No, it’s just the wind up here,” he replied.

        The President spoke into a microphone as he stepped into the middle of Paul Bunyan’s hand. 

        “I present to you, Paul Bunyan, a wonderful man who is going to help lead this country as our Jr. Ranger Director.”

        Paul Bunyan was comfortable enough to smile and wave to the people.

        “Where is Babe?” someone shouted.

        Paul began to laugh sending his thunderous voice out into the public for the first time.

        Some people ran for cover, but the majority sat still in their chairs enjoying the greatest moment in Jr. Ranger history.

        Paul cleared his voice as the people fell totally silent.

        “I am grateful for the opportunity the President has given me to be of service, and I am grateful to be with the people once more, after so many years,” he said with a smile.

        Many people were clapping for him as he lowered the kids to the ground.

        “What do I do next?” he asked the President.

        The President smiled.

        “I got this!” he replied.

        The President walked over to the kids.

        “Who wants to go to the river with Paul Bunyan and work on a Jr. Ranger badge?” he called out cheerfully.

        Once again, the people began to cheer.  Parents began to send their children running towards Paul to follow him to the river.

        The President ended the ceremony by calling loudly into the microphone.

        “Let the festivities begin!”

        Paul led the children and many parents to the Merced river, only a short walk away. Many kids went swimming while others went fishing. The greatest part of all was when Paul Bunyan would lift the kids and let them jump from his hand like a diving board.

        Babe just fell asleep, happy to see his old friend Paul Bunyan with people once more.

        After swimming in the river with the Jr. Rangers, the President, and his family said goodbye and climbed into the helicopter.

        Before going up the stairs, the President turned back to find Lucy, lifting a bag of trash into the air.

        “Hey Lucy,” he called. “We are the first ones to show the Love. Taking our trash with us.”

        Lucy waved goodbye as the President and his family each had a large trash bag to take with them.

        Tali and John stood next to Lucy as they watched the helicopter fly away.

        “It doesn’t get any cooler than this!” Lucy said proudly.

        “You did great,” Tali told her, giving her a big hug.  "Now it’s our turn to say goodbye.”

        Ranger Pam was standing behind Tali holding a large basket from the Yosemite museum.  Lucy and Lucas both walked over to say goodbye. Lucy had tears in her eyes.

        “I’m going to miss you,” she said sadly.

        Ranger Pam held up the basket.

        “I am going with you,” Ranger Pam replied.

        Lucy looked up at her, surprised.

        “That’s great!” Lucy said, immediately cheering up. “What is the basket for?”

        “My grandmother made this basket, and we need it for our trip to the Grand Canyon,” she replied.

        Lucy was thinking of why she would bring such an important basket.

        “What do you use it for?” Lucy asked.

        Ranger Pam lowered the basket for Lucy to look inside.

        “Put your hand inside.” Ranger Pam suggested.

        Lucy carefully lowered her hand inside, trying to feel what might be inside. She could not even feel the bottom.

        “It feels magical,” she said. “Why can’t I feel the bottom?”

        “My Grandmother created this basket to hold the great Kokopelli,” she replied.

        “Who is the great Kokopelli?” asked Lucy.

        “Nowadays we call her Mother Nature,” replied Ranger Pam.

        Lucy was feeling confused as Lucas interrupted.

        “How does Mother Nature fit inside the basket?” he asked. “And how do you plan on catching her?”

        Ranger Pam set the basket on the meadow floor, for Lucas to feel inside.

        “My ancestors believed that Kokopelli is an actual person, sent by the Great Spirit,” she explained. “She has been provoked and was last seen in the Grand Canyon after causing the Colorado river to dry up.

        “She can fit in this basket?” asked Lucas.

        “If your father and Pecos Bill can round her up, she will fit inside,” Ranger Pam explained.

        “Let’s go find her,” Lucas commanded.

        Paul Bunyan looked down at Lucas and Lucy standing next to Ranger Pam and the others.  

        “I guess we will see you in a few days,” he said in a sad voice.

        Paul Jr. had the first hug and goodbye, then John tapped Paul on the side of the leg.

        “Try and get to the Grand Canyon as fast as you can,” he ordered.

        “I will see you there,” Paul Bunyan replied.

        Talitha just blew him a kiss and walked toward the truck with John.

        Lucas was like Paul Jr. and hated saying goodbye, even if he knew that he would see Paul Bunyan in just a few days.

        “How do you hug a giant?” Lucas asked.

        Paul Bunyan smiled and carefully lifted both Lucas and Lucy up to his heart, pressing them gently against it.

        “This is the best I can do,” Paul Bunyan replied.

        Lucas and Lucy could both feel the love booming from the world’s biggest heart, and it was amazing.

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Twelve) Meet the President

Meet the President

        The arrival of the President in the Yosemite Valley was an event to be remembered. The sound of several large helicopters thundering through the air unexpectedly sent many unsuspecting tourists running for cover.

        Returning from Glacier Point, the First Lady and the President landed in a meadow right across from Yosemite Falls.

        Helping his wife and children step out of the helicopter, the President took them on a short hike to see the beautiful waterfall.

        Paul Bunyan waited near the waterfall, protected by the President’s security team, while John Henry joined the President with his family. 

        After seeing the falls, they would all return to a meadow in front of the Yosemite Chapel for the President’s speech and announcements.

        Lucas was full of energy, hiking next to Lucy towards lower Yosemite Falls. 

        “I can’t wait to meet the President,” he said to Lucy excitedly.

        The President was just ahead of them on the trail, hiking next to his family.

        “I doubt he will have time to meet us,” Lucy replied.

        John and Tali were both listening, right behind them.

        “You better think of a question!” Tali said from behind.

        “Why?” asked Lucy. “He’s too busy.”

        Tali smiled as she noticed the President on his way over to talk to them.

        “This morning he told me that he wanted to meet the both of you in person,” Tali explained.  

        Lucas stopped walking and turned to face his Mom. The group of people behind them all stopped and watched the President sneaking up from behind.

        “What could I possibly ask him?” Lucas asked.

        Lucy looked at her mom doubtfully.

        “Are you serious?” she asked.

        Tali ignored her question.      

        “Try asking him something intelligent,” suggested Tali.

        Lucy turned around to see where the President was, without seeing him standing right at her side.

        “I can’t even see him anymore.” she said.

        “That’s because I am right here,” the President replied from right next to her.

        Lucy laughed thinking it was her dad trying to tease her. She continued walking without even looking at who it was.

        “Great impression dad,” she said sarcastically.

        She was the only one walking.

        “How’s it going John?” the President said loud enough for Lucy to hear.

        “You are still not fooling me,” Lucy called back.

        Lucas was right in front of the President. “How do you do, Mister President?” he asked politely.

        Lucy stopped walking when she noticed the crowd was all turning to watch the President talk to Lucas. She quickly closed her eyes feeling like a dork, wishing she could disappear.

        “I am great!” The President replied, shaking Lucas’s hand. “I’m surrounded by wonderful people in a beautiful place.”

        The President was wearing a white button up long sleeve shirt, rolled up to the elbows, and blue jean pants.  Not the usual suit and tie a President normally wears.

        “Happy Father’s Day!” Lucas said, still catching his breath. He was having a hard time keeping up with the crowd.

        The President was impressed at the way Lucas knew exactly what to say, and he was aware of how tired Lucas looked.  

        “Do you mind if I give you a lift on my shoulders?” the President asked politely.

        Lucas gave him a funny look.

        “I didn’t think a President could do stuff like that,” he replied 

        The President reached down and lifted Lucas up to his shoulders, just like his dad does.

        “I do this all the time with my own family.” He explained.

        Lucas noticed all the guards holding guns and even some had machine guns.

        “Why do they have so many guns?” he asked.

        The President laughed.

        “It’s for protection. Many people would try to hurt me or my friends if they could,” he explained.

        Lucas looked ahead to see a group of kids waiting for the President. Most of them had matching t-shirts.

        Someone came over to the President and handed him a stack of plastic cards.

        “These are the passes that will allow any fourth grader and their family into a National Park this year,” she explained.

        The President carefully lifted Lucas back to the ground, holding out the cards to show Lucas.

        “These are going to help a lot of families feel welcome in Yosemite, and other parks,” he explained.  “I will be right back.”

        The President left Lucas and went straight towards the group of kids, waiting for him. He said a few things and then began handing a card to each of the kids. 

        His wife came over to help him.

        Lucy was now holding John’s hand as they came over to Lucas.

        “Why doesn’t the President have someone else hand out the cards?” Lucy asked her dad.

        John smiled.

        “He knows that each one of those children is going to remember this moment their entire life. He loves them enough to make sure they feel special,” he explained.

        “I know I’m going to remember,” Lucas said proudly.  “He makes me feel like a friend, and we just met.”

        Lucy was feeling left out a little and was dying to meet him.

        “Can we go over there?” she asked.

        John held her hand a little tighter.

        “You are going to have plenty of time to talk to him. Those kids will only have these few moments to be with him,” he explained.

        As soon as the President finished, he went right back over to Lucas and Lucy.

        “You must be Lucy,” he declared.

        Lucy’s mind went blank and she began to blush.

        “Yes I am,” she replied. “Are you the President?”

        Everyone started to laugh at her question, helping her realize how silly her question was.

        “I mean, it’s nice to meet you,” she clarified.

        “I was told you have great ideas,” he told Lucy. “What idea do you have to help Yosemite?”

        Lucy took a deep breath and thought of the best idea she could give him.

        “I think we need to have people take their trash with them when they go home,” she suggested.

        The President was a little surprised at her amazing suggestion.

        “I think we do too!” he replied.

        The President called one of his helpers and had him take notes.

        When he was finished, he turned back towards Lucy.

        “How can we get them to do that?” he asked her.

        “Easy," Lucy replied. I bet if you told everyone how cool it is to take the trash with them, they would,” she explained.

        “I think we can make it cool to take home your trash,” he replied.

        The President called Lucas over to stand next to Lucy.

        “Are you Jr. Ranger’s yet?” he asked.

        Lucas frowned a little.

        “I have been a little busy lately, but all I have left is to pick up trash,” he replied.

        The President put his finger to his chin.

        “That what I’m missing too,” he explained.

        “Are you trying to become a Jr. ranger?” Lucy asked.

        “Of course, I have been working on it all day with my kids,” he replied. 

        He waived for assistance.

        “Can we get some trash bags up here!” he shouted.

        Suddenly an army of people started moving around trying to find trash bags.

        “That will keep them busy until we take a good picture of the waterfall together!” the President said with a smile.

        Lucas was excited as he was invited to stand next to the President as the President took a selfie next to Lucas and Lucy.

        Tali and John followed as the President spent the next hour walking around with Lucas and Lucy picking up trash, talking about many new ideas needed to help the National Parks.

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Eleven) Paul Bunyan & Me

Paul Bunyan & Me

        Lucas was relaxing in the hammock before it was time to meet the President.  Right now, the President was finishing breakfast with Paul Bunyan and probably watching him eat a thousand pancakes.  Every kid’s dream.

        It had been a few days since he saw the Grizzly Giant tree, and he missed the peace he felt when he was there.  

        He closed his eyes with the sound of the river and the scent of the trees around him.  He tried to relax and remember that moment.

        Abruptly, Lucas felt himself being absorbed into the trees around him. 

        “What is happening?” he called out kicking his legs as if they were being held down.

        The memory of the Grizzly Giant returned, calming Lucas until he was pulled inside the light of a thousand trees. They were under the direction of the Grizzly Giant.

        “Where am I?” he asked.

        The sound of water and wind filled his mind until he floated into the air without his body. He was pulled to the tops of the trees and could see his body below, lying in the hammock as if he were asleep.

        He felt just as peaceful as he was with the Grizzly Giant, as he looked around and saw John and his Mom packing up some clothes. 

        “This is amazing!” he thought.

        “Where is Lucy?” he questioned.

        The branches of the trees began to move, and with the help of a breeze, he was pushed towards her. 

        Lucy was right below him reading a book next to the river.

        “There she is!” he said cheerfully.

        Lucas called out to her trying to get her to look up.

        “LUCY!” he called as loud as he could.

         Lucy looked around hearing his voice, but could not see him. She continued to read her book.

        “Where is Paul Bunyan?” Lucas thought, hoping to see what he was doing with the President.

        After another gentle push of the wind, and trees, Lucas appeared directly over the breakfast table where Paul was sitting with the President. 

        It was almost over and Paul Bunyan was laughing at something the President said.  

        “This is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me,” Lucas said to himself.

        Paul Bunyan heard Lucas but thought it was the President. 

        “What’s strange?” Paul Bunyan asked the President.

        The President looked up at Paul Bunyan feeling confused about his question.

        “What do you mean?” he asked.

        Paul Bunyan suddenly realized that it was the voice of Lucas, so he looked around the forest for his little friend.

        Lucas snickered causing Paul to hear him and look directly at him.

        Lucas realized that Paul could hear him but the President could not.

        “Can you hear me?” he asked.

        Paul squinted his eyes to get a better look.

        “Is that you Lucas Fern?” he asked.

        Lucas panicked and thought of the hammock where his body was sleeping.

        “Lucas, wake up!” John called from inside the tent.

        Lucas opened his eyes and looked for his father.

        “What happened?” he asked.

        Lucy and Tali were walking towards him.

        “Did you have a good nap?” Tali asked.

        Lucas sat up in the hammock.

        “I’m fine!” replied Lucas. “I was floating.”

        Lucy giggled.

        “Of course, you’re in a hammock,” she teased.

        “Not just in the hammock,” he replied. “I was taken by a bunch of trees to different places I wanted to go,” he clarified.

        Lucy giggled again.

        “What did you have for breakfast?” she asked.

        “The same cereal as you,” he replied, feeling frustrated. “I’m serious! Something took me and only Paul Bunyan could see me.”

        Tali came over and handed Lucas some water to drink. 

        “Take it easy. You have been through enough this week,” she replied calmly.

        A few seconds later, Paul Bunyan came tip-toeing carefully through the camp, acting like a two-hundred-foot-tall ninja.

        Most campers were out trying to see the President, and no one else even noticed.

        Lucas was surprised at how good Paul Bunyan was at moving around unnoticed.  

        “I saw you!” Paul interrupted, kneeling over the top of a large motor home to get a closer look at Lucas.

        Lucy was speechless after finally seeing Paul Bunyan for the first time.

        “I saw your shadow and heard your voice.  How did you do that?” Paul Bunyan asked.

        Lucas smiled as he thought of how he impressed the great Paul Bunyan.

        “I don’t know,” Lucas replied. “The trees did all of the work.”

        Paul Bunyan reached down and gave Lucas a light push in the hammock with his giant finger.

        “You are amazing!” he said proudly. “I need you to teach me how to do that.”

        Lucas smiled up at him.

        “Anytime,” he replied.

        “How about right now?” asked Paul Bunyan.

        “That’s fine with me,” John Henry interrupted. “We have a few hours before the President returns from Glacier Point.”

        Paul Bunyan smiled. 

        “Why don’t I give Lucas a quick tour of Yosemite?” Paul suggested.

         “Great idea!” Lucas quickly replied. “Can I go?”

        Tali moved over so Paul Bunyan could put his hand out to pick Lucas up. Lucy was just standing there in shock, with her mouth open.

        “That’s a great idea,” Tali replied looking up to wink at the friendly giant. “Just take care of my baby.”

        “Lucy!” Lucas called out, breaking the spell that was over her as she studied the giant man.

        “Do you want to come?” Lucas asked.

        “I will be just fine right here on the ground,” Lucy replied nervously.

        Paul Bunyan reached down allowing Lucas to jump into his hand.

        “He will be in good hands,” Paul said, standing up.

        “Wooaahh!” giggled Lucas as the lift into the air tickled his tummy.

        Paul Bunyan quickly disappeared across the river past an old hotel.  He did not seem worried about being seen.

        “Where we going?” asked Lucas.

        Paul set Lucas on his shoulder and stood in front of a mountain wall.     

        “Hold on tight. We need to tell Babe about our meeting by the river, for the Jr. Ranger Celebration,” he explained.

        “What celebration?” asked Lucas.

        “The President has given me a new job as Chief Jr. Ranger, and asked me to accept the job in front of the world as he wants to present me to the world,” he explained.

        Paul Bunyan took only a couple of minutes to make it to the top of the mountain wall.  He started walking towards the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir where Babe, the giant ox was grazing.

        “Can I go to the celebration?” Lucas asked.

        “Of course, you can. It’s right before your family leaves for the Grand Canyon,” Paul explained.

        Paul took Lucas to the highest point on the mountain, trying to see Babe in the distance.

        “Plug your ears little buddy,” he warned.

        Lucas plugged his ears right before Paul gave one of the loudest whistles ever.

        Out in the distance, Lucas heard a faint reply. Babe was letting Paul that he was coming.

        It took less than a minute for Lucas to feel the tremble of Babe’s footsteps. 

        “Here he comes,” Paul said cheerfully. 

        It was obvious that he and Babe were best friends. 

        Lucas spent about an hour showing Paul Bunyan how to connect with the trees. 

        Paul Bunyan was able to connect, but his connection was limited. It was obvious that Lucas had been chosen to speak for the trees.