Home Sweet Home
Paul Bunyan’s home was in a giant cave
set up with furniture and other really big things. Paul Jr. even had a little
bedroom in a smaller cave to sleep in on weekends or during school breaks.
Lucas was beginning to feel like Jack
after climbing up the beanstalk into the giant land. Paul Jr. saw Lucas feeling nervous and knew exactly where to take
him.
“Follow me,” he invited
Lucas followed him to see what his
bedroom was like, and as they were walking Lucas noticed the corral for Babe,
the giant blue ox. It was in a darker part of the giant cave, only it was
empty. The only thing inside was some fresh food that lined Babe’s feeding box.
“Where’s Babe?” Lucas whispered to Paul
Jr., quietly, hoping Paul Bunyan did not hear him.
Paul Bunyan was talking to John Henry in
the main room, explaining the situation with Babe at the Hetch Hetchy dam.
“They are talking about him right now,
let’s go listen,” suggested Paul Jr.
Paul Bunyan seemed worried about Babe,
and was wondering if the government decides he is too dangerous, what would
they do.
“Babe left yesterday to find some apple
trees to snack on,” Paul Bunyan explained to John
Lucas could not resist.
“Do you just let him wonder?” asked
Lucas. “Aren’t you afraid he might be seen?”
Paul Bunyan reached down and picked up
Lucas and Paul Jr., setting them next to John Henry.
They all sat on a large table in front
of Paul Bunyan. His deep voice caused
the table to rumble, startling Lucas a little.
“Babe is old and wise,” Paul Bunyan
explained. “He’s probably grazing near the Hetch Hetchy lake.”
“Why did he crack the dam?” Lucas asked.
Paul Bunyan smiled and moved a little
closer to Lucas. Close enough Lucas could smell his peanut butter breath again.
“We have both been a little upset about
the damage the dam has caused to the Hetch Hetchy valley,” he explained. “Babe
is a creature of Nature and he wanted to do the right thing, only he did it
without thinking of the dangerous consequences it would have.”
“Did anyone get hurt?” asked Lucas.
“No, just a few feelings,” Paul Bunyan
replied. “If Babe had really taken out the dam, thousands of lives may have
been lost.”
John interrupted.
“Babe understands the danger now and
will help fix his mistake,” he explained.
“Does he talk?” asked Lucas.
“No, but he understands,” John
explained.
“The
Hetch Hetchy dam is a touchy subject that affects the lives of millions, so
millions need to decide its fate. It’s not up to us.”
Just then the smaller door leading to
the top of the cave stairs opened and Ranger Pam walked in.
“Hey everyone!” she shouted.
She looked like she was a mile away, but
for Paul Bunyan she was no farther than two large steps.
“Ranger Pamahas! It’s great to see you,”
Paul Bunyan said welcoming her into his home.
He carefully allowed her to climb into
his hand as he brought her down to sit next to us.
“What a treat to have so many visitors,”
Paul Bunyan said joyfully.
“I come with a request from Talitha and
the President,” she explained.
“The President of what?” asked Lucas.
Even Paul Jr, was a little confused.
Ranger Pam removed her Ranger hat and
read from a letter that was found rolled up inside.
“That’s tomorrow morning!” Paul Jr.
protested.
“It sure is!” John Henry replied. “The path
to Yosemite Falls is always full of people in the mornings, but I am sure
security will make sure the area is clear.”
Ranger Pam put her Ranger hat back on
her head and looked up at Paul Bunyan.
“Talitha thinks you may no longer be
required to keep your life a secret,” she explained.
Paul’s face immediately lit up with
happiness.
“You mean I would be free?” he asked.
John cleared his throat.
“Don’t get your hopes up too much,” he
explained. “There is usually fine print to read before you get too excited.”
Paul Bunyan walked around the room and
sat in a chair next to the large fireplace.
“I just am ready to stop hiding and live
in a normal place,” he explained.
“No more secrets!” added Lucas.
“That’s right!” Paul Bunyan replied.
John stood up and waived for Paul’s
attention.
“After learning about this Presidential
visit, I think we need to get back to camp and prepare. Do you mind taking
Lucas and I back to the spot you picked us up?” he asked politely.
Lucas began feeling a little sad. It’s not every day a kid is able to spend
time with a giant.
“Can’t we stay a little longer?” Lucas
asked. “Paul Jr. was going to show me how they get electricity all the way up
here.”
“It will have to wait,” John replied. “I
need to talk to mom and I can’t get a signal way up here.”
“Mr. Paul Bunyan, can I ask you a
question,” Lucas shouted as Paul was putting his massive feet into socks and
boots.
“Yes, little buddy,” Paul replied.
Lucas hesitated a little before asking
his question. He wanted to spend so much more time with Paul Bunyan.
“I saw a cartoon once where you took the
kids swimming. I know cartoons are not real, but I wanted to know if that ever
happened?” he asked.
“It did, a long time ago!” Paul replied.
“I take Paul Jr. swimming all the time, but no children have seen me publicly
in over a hundred years.”
“I am not sure if we will have time to
swim here in Yosemite, but I promise to go swimming with you and your dad in
the Grand Canyon, as soon as the dam is repaired,” Paul Bunyan explained.
John looked up at Paul.
“Let’s get going back to camp before we
lose any more sunlight.”
Lucas tapped Paul Jr. on the shoulder.
“How did Ranger Pam get here so fast?”
he asked. “She was just with my mom.”
Paul Jr. chuckled.
“Search and Rescue are always making
trips up here, so we usually just ask for a ride,” he explained.
After everyone was securely sitting on
Paul Bunyan’s shoulders, Paul left his home to hike down the mountain to drop
them off.
“Hey John,” Paul Bunyan called as he
continued to walk.
“Yes,” John replied.
“When do you leave for the Grand
Canyon?” he asked.
“Probably tomorrow after the President
leaves,” John replied.
“I probably will not make it for another
few days, not until the crack in the dam is fixed,” Paul Bunyan explained.
“We are going to need your help,” John
insisted. “Kokopelli is not easy to find, and if we find her, we will need your
help to get her into the basket.”
“Did we find the basket yet?” asked Paul
Bunyan.
“My grandmother’s basket is in my living
room,” Ranger Pam interrupted. “Safe and sound.”
Lucas was completely lost.
“I thought we were going to the Grand
Canyon to go camping,” he told his dad. “And who is Kokopelli?”
John smiled at Lucas calmly.
“We are going camping there as promised.
We just need to pick up Kokopelli to help us solve this climate problem we have
been facing,” John explained.
“Yes, but who is Kokopelli?” Lucas
repeated.
John continued to explain.
“Kokopelli is very powerful and is
usually resting between seasons. She
controls most of the elements that give us wind, rain, and snow.”
“So, is Kokopelli the name of Mother
Nature?” Lucas asked.
“It is the name she has been called for
over five thousand years,” John replied.
Lucas finally understood a little
better. He was still frustrated having
to leave Yosemite so soon.
“Why do we leave tomorrow?” he asked.
John was expecting this question all
day.
“We will be back next year,” John said
joyfully, “And tomorrow you get to ride on a train called the Cannonball.”
Lucas instantly felt better.
“With Casey Jones?” he asked.
“The one and only,” John replied.
