two gin and tonics, so apparently he intended to stay a while. I pointed to the two glasses Angie and I had nearly emptied. The waitress nodded and went to fetch a round.
Angie was shaking her head, and reached to squeeze Jeannine’s hand. “Arkansas to Stevens Village? What have they told you?”
“Well, it’s a one-room school with eight grades, but only twelve students. What else do I need to know?”
I jumped in. “One thing you need to know is the school is heated with a wood stove, and your contract better specify that someone in the village will cut the wood and light the fire every morning. Where are you going to stay?”
“I have my own room in the storekeeper’s house. His wife does the cooking, so it will be like boarding.”
“That’s appropriate. Six of the kids belong to them, but having your own room may mean you’re only sharing with the girls. Anyhow, they’re good people.”
“Freddy has just been telling me that I need to wear a wedding ring, and he’s volunteered to pretend to be my husband.” Jeannine looked up at Angie, then me. She was hoping we’d contradict that bit of advice, and I was sorry to disappoint her.
“Well, the wedding ring is a must. If you show up as single, the men in the village will not understand why you don’t pick one of them. You’ll be the most beautiful girl they’ve ever seen, so the competition could get ugly and the women won’t like it much, either. You pretend to have a husband and talk about him all the time. A single woman who wants to stay that way simply won’t make sense to them.”
Jeannine blushed, but I hadn’t intended a compliment; I was telling her the unvarnished truth. “You’re scaring me. Am I really in for an ordeal?”
Angie took over. “That depends on your attitude. If you came for an adventure, you’ll love it. Watching the Yukon freeze up, stop, and become a highway is fascinating. I promise you, if you make it to spring breakup, you’ll never want to leave. The power and grandeur of the Yukon waking up in the spring might be the most exciting thing on the planet. If you just came here for the money, you’re in trouble.”
Jeannine seemed to be considering. She picked up a fresh towelette and shredded it, stacking the strips on my plate of bones. “I’ve read Robert Service and Jack London, and all of that, and I’ve always dreamed of coming to Alaska, but they are paying me over twice what I was earning in Arkansas.”
Freddy piped up. “They darn sure should, and believe me, you’re going to earn every penny of it.”
Angie stood and reached for Jeannine’s hand. “Come on, you and I need to powder our noses.” She led Jeannine past the dance floor toward the facilities.
Freddy leaned back and got comfortable. “Well, you old dog, where have you been hiding Angie, and how much am I bid not to tell Celeste about her?”
“Sorry, not up for blackmail. Why do you think I care what you tell Celeste?” I thought Freddy frowned when I said blackmail, but it was his idea.
“You think I’m blind? I’m surprised the two of you haven’t got it on right on the counter.”
“Okay, I guess I did notice Celeste, but Angie’s my sister-in-law, and our relationship is as pure as the driven snow. Tell you what. I’ll buy the next round, just on general principles, and you keep your mouth shut to save me some explaining. Fair enough?” He nodded. The waitress appeared and dealt out the drinks. I dropped a twenty and a five on her tray. The five was a tip, and it did earn me a half smile, but the poor kid appeared almost too tired to smile. She squared her shoulders and dove back into the fray.
Freddy sampled his drink. “Sister-in-law, huh? Funny, I disremember you having a brother.”
“Don’t get too technical, I’m telling you the truth. In the Yupik Eskimo Nation where her husband and I worked together, we were called Eelooks , partners to the death. You don’t have to share genes to be brothers.
Angie was shaking her head, and reached to squeeze Jeannine’s hand. “Arkansas to Stevens Village? What have they told you?”
“Well, it’s a one-room school with eight grades, but only twelve students. What else do I need to know?”
I jumped in. “One thing you need to know is the school is heated with a wood stove, and your contract better specify that someone in the village will cut the wood and light the fire every morning. Where are you going to stay?”
“I have my own room in the storekeeper’s house. His wife does the cooking, so it will be like boarding.”
“That’s appropriate. Six of the kids belong to them, but having your own room may mean you’re only sharing with the girls. Anyhow, they’re good people.”
“Freddy has just been telling me that I need to wear a wedding ring, and he’s volunteered to pretend to be my husband.” Jeannine looked up at Angie, then me. She was hoping we’d contradict that bit of advice, and I was sorry to disappoint her.
“Well, the wedding ring is a must. If you show up as single, the men in the village will not understand why you don’t pick one of them. You’ll be the most beautiful girl they’ve ever seen, so the competition could get ugly and the women won’t like it much, either. You pretend to have a husband and talk about him all the time. A single woman who wants to stay that way simply won’t make sense to them.”
Jeannine blushed, but I hadn’t intended a compliment; I was telling her the unvarnished truth. “You’re scaring me. Am I really in for an ordeal?”
Angie took over. “That depends on your attitude. If you came for an adventure, you’ll love it. Watching the Yukon freeze up, stop, and become a highway is fascinating. I promise you, if you make it to spring breakup, you’ll never want to leave. The power and grandeur of the Yukon waking up in the spring might be the most exciting thing on the planet. If you just came here for the money, you’re in trouble.”
Jeannine seemed to be considering. She picked up a fresh towelette and shredded it, stacking the strips on my plate of bones. “I’ve read Robert Service and Jack London, and all of that, and I’ve always dreamed of coming to Alaska, but they are paying me over twice what I was earning in Arkansas.”
Freddy piped up. “They darn sure should, and believe me, you’re going to earn every penny of it.”
Angie stood and reached for Jeannine’s hand. “Come on, you and I need to powder our noses.” She led Jeannine past the dance floor toward the facilities.
Freddy leaned back and got comfortable. “Well, you old dog, where have you been hiding Angie, and how much am I bid not to tell Celeste about her?”
“Sorry, not up for blackmail. Why do you think I care what you tell Celeste?” I thought Freddy frowned when I said blackmail, but it was his idea.
“You think I’m blind? I’m surprised the two of you haven’t got it on right on the counter.”
“Okay, I guess I did notice Celeste, but Angie’s my sister-in-law, and our relationship is as pure as the driven snow. Tell you what. I’ll buy the next round, just on general principles, and you keep your mouth shut to save me some explaining. Fair enough?” He nodded. The waitress appeared and dealt out the drinks. I dropped a twenty and a five on her tray. The five was a tip, and it did earn me a half smile, but the poor kid appeared almost too tired to smile. She squared her shoulders and dove back into the fray.
Freddy sampled his drink. “Sister-in-law, huh? Funny, I disremember you having a brother.”
“Don’t get too technical, I’m telling you the truth. In the Yupik Eskimo Nation where her husband and I worked together, we were called Eelooks , partners to the death. You don’t have to share genes to be brothers.
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