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.