Dangerous Hilarity: The Great Adventures of the Jackson Twins, Their Family and the Dogs in Their Lives, A Novel for Teens and Young Adults and All Those Who are Young at Heart. Sioux Dallas

the day. Tom complained the most. Galena looked at Irene and comically rolled her eyes as if she understood the conversation. She gave a big sigh and collapsed on the floor between the beds.

      As they walked to breakfast the next morning, Tom scowled. “Why are my thighs so sore? My seat’s even sore.”

      “Because, bird brain, you don’t ride a horse every day. If we rode often, our muscles would toughen.” Tim winced as he walked with legs wide apart.

      “Mom. He’s calling me names again,” Tom tattled.

      “No one is to call anyone names. We must be considerate of each other’s feelings or our trip will be miserable.” Irene walked between the boys.

      Later, on the road, Tom suddenly yelped loudly causing Galena to jump up and bark. “We were right by --right by the Navajo Reservation and didn’t even stick our noses in.”

      Anna, sitting on the back seat with Tim, reached forward and patted Tom’s shoulder. “Just think how much more fun it will be to see the Grand Canyon. Besides you wouldn’t see anything but small houses and poor animals.”

       Chapter Eight

      Around one thirty they arrived at the Grand Canyon. “Stay together, please. This is a big area and there are a lot of people milling around. I don’t want to be worried about any of you.” Irene looked sternly at them. “We’ll save the gift shop for the last.”

      Men were on mules riding around answering questions and acting as guides.

      “Mom, may we ride a mule? We know how now.”

      “Tom, how often have I told you that it isn’t becoming to whine and it doesn’t get you anywhere? Those mules are only for the people riding down into the canyon. Didn’t you hear the guide say the last group had gone down for the day? We’re leaving in the morning.”

      Irene turned around to continue taking pictures. When she turned back around, Tim was beside her and Anna was slightly behind her. “Where’s Tom? Where’s Galena?” she asked anxiously. Tim shrugged his shoulders. Anna called Tom’s name aloud and then called for Galena. Irene gazed down into the canyon and began to fear the worst.

      “Tom!” she called loudly. People turned to look hearing the panic in her voice. “Has anyone seen a boy who looks just like this one” And a German Shepherd?” By now she was babbling, fighting to keep from crying. Minutes went by while she hunted frantically dragging Tim and Anna along.

      A Park police roared up on a motorcycle. “Ma’am. I got a call that someone needed help. How can I help you?”

      “Yes, sir,” she gulped on a sob. My son is missing along with our dog.

      He looks just like his twin here except he was wearing jeans, a red and white striped shirt and sneakers. You can see this one has a blue shirt on. She was trembling and crying by now. Anna hugged her mother and tried to comfort her even though she, too, was crying. Tim was silent with a white face and a grim mouth.

      “Ma’am, we have plenty of officers to look for lost people. We’re experienced in this. You’d be surprised at the number of people who are thought to be lost and have just wandered away from their party. Why don’t you wait in that building so I’ll know where to find you. We can’t have all of you running in different directions. When we locate your son we need to know where to bring him.”

      Reluctantly Irene, Anna and Tim went to the building adjacent to the gift shop. Constantly looking back, Irene, with a heavy heart, led the way through a glass door and into a room about thirty by forty feet. Four desks with telephones and a computer on each one and a large wall map of the area proved to be the command area for the officers. A couch, four lounge chairs and restrooms were available.

      Two officers soon came in and tried to comfort them with soft drinks, tea or coffee and showing them a water fountain back by the rest rooms. They also assured Irene that her son would be found and well. They soon realized that Irene was not interested in small talk and went to their desks to work.

      For once Tim was so frightened, he was speechless. He and Anna sat on either side of Irene and held her hands. Tim’s heart melted as he felt his mother’s hands shaking and knew how worried she was. He told himself that he would give Tom what for when he returned. At the moment he forgot all the times he had caused a worry. “Mom, I hope Tom’s all right.”

      Anna shook her head at Tim. “Apparently Galena is with Tom. She’ll take care of him. The policeman did say there were loads of people ready and willing to search. They’ve had training and experience.”

      After about half an hour, Tim had shredded tissues around where he was sitting and Anna had silent tears streaking down her cheeks. Irene was rocking her body back and forth. Every few minutes she would moan aloud, but she wasn’t conscious she had made a sound. Tears had dried in gray streaks on her face that had lost color.

      The door opened and a joyful bark penetrated their sadness. “Galena!” Tim and Anna both cried out at once.

      “Did you find Tom? Did you find my son?” Irene asked anxiously as an officer entered with Galena.

      “Well, ma’am, here’s your wandering son.” An officer answered as he came in with a hand on Tom’s shoulder.

      “Oh, Tom,” Irene sobbed as she hugged him tightly. “I don’t know whether to beat you or hug you. Where were you? I told everyone to stay together. We’ll discuss this later after I’ve had time to calm down.” She turned to the officers. “Forgive me. I do thank you with my whole heart. I’m so sorry a child of mine caused you trouble. Thank you for finding him. Where did you find him?” She was shaking and babbling with tears streaming down her face. The officers smiled.

      “We had a radio call from the guides that went with the last riders in line. By the way, that group is staying overnight. The guide said he thought he saw someone trying to walk down. They turned a bend and he didn’t get a good look, but he radioed us to check it out,” one officer said.

      “When we got to him, this young man was on a narrow part of the trail, backed up against the cliff and looking down into the canyon as if he were frozen in time. The dog wouldn’t let us near him. We had to stand back and keep talking until he responded and could reassure the dog that we were friendly,” the second officer laughed.

      Tom looked at Irene with a trembling lip and a catch in his voice. “Mom, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t think how far down it was. I thought I could go down and be back before you’d miss me. It’s only a mile.”

      Tim snorted. “Goofy. It’s a mile straight down. The trail curves around so that mules can walk without falling off. I don’t know how far down it really is. You’re not indispensable, you know. Why did you take Galena with you and risk her life?”

      “I didn’t take her,” Tom sputtered with tears in his eyes. “She followed me. Boy, you should have seen her. She wouldn’t let the officer close and she stood in front of me for fear I’d fall off. She’s a real good guard dog.” Tom fell to his knees hugging Galena, but truthfully, he wanted to hide his red face and tear-filled eyes against her fur. She wriggled in happiness.

      “You’re fortunate to have her,” an officer said. “It’s true, she wouldn’t let us near the boy until he roused enough to talk to her. He was a little green around the gills. I hope this young man has learned a valuable lesson that things aren’t always as appealing as they seem.” He put an affectionate hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Promise me you’ll stay with your family from now on and let your mother know where you’re going if you do separate from them. Your family loves you and your mother’s heart was in great pain when she lost track of you. They didn’t know whether you were badly hurt or abducted by a dangerous person.”

      “Oh, yes, sir. I promise. I’ve learned my lesson.”

      “For how long?” Tim muttered as he knelt to hug Galena.