Courage by Joseph G. Udvari Page A

lost duffle bag. Jim ripped it open and found more clothing, Jiffy Pop popcorn, dried foods, a few chocolate bars, canned soups, the camera with extra batteries, flashlight and a journal.
    â€œThis is an awesome find, Lucas,” Jim said.
    â€œDad, can we have popcorn for dessert tonight? I need some salt.”
    â€œThat’s up to your mom, she is the boss!”
    â€œThis may help us to signal,” Jim said as he showed a flash light to Lucas.
    Mary and Jill got there a few minutes later, “Wow dad, can we have one of the chocolate bars, please?” implored Jill.
    â€œJill, you and Lucas can share whichever one you decide on. Note the operative word here is share!”
    The cabin and fuselage were intact with the tail portion. The right wing had been sheared off while the left was badly crumpled. The door was missing and three of the seats were still inside.
    Jim looked at what remained of the plane and said, “This could be our winter home. The only problem I see is that we can’t have a fire inside the cabin, it would have to be outside.”
    Jim checked the fuel and found the fuel tank to be empty.
    â€œThe fuel tank must have been punctured during the crash; it’s empty. We have a lot of work ahead of us; everything will have to be moved from the camp to this location. We need to set up the windshield so it will reflect the sunlight and warn any plane that flies overhead. The cabin of the plane must be cleared of all debris as well as the remaining seats to allow room for all four of us to sleep in it. We’ll fashion a door from the ripped wing over where the windshield was. We’re looking good.”
    Lucas and Jill were unconcerned as they happily savored the Mars bar.
    â€œSo are you saying that we should stay here rather than start down the mountain?” Mary asked.
    â€œI really believe that’s the best choice. Starting tomorrow, we’ll bring the tent and everything else we can carry over here. It will take most of the day, but we can do it. The water will be farther away so we’ll get water every other day using the two fenders, but that should be okay.”
    â€œI was thinking all along that staying right here would be the best thing,” Mary agreed.
    â€œHere, we should be okay, but if we start down, not knowing where we are, it could be a mistake. So we are in agreement then?”
    â€œJim can we melt snow and use it for water?”
    â€œI didn’t think of it, but sure, I don’t see why not.”
    â€œYou know our parents must be really worried about us,” Mary said and her voice quivered with sadness.
    â€œI know, but there’s nothing we can do about that. If only we could get a signal for our cell phone, we could reassure them. ”
    Mary checked out the camera, “It works, Jim; I’ll take some pictures.”
    She peered through the lens and saw with surprise just how the kids looked. They had lost a lot of weight; their clothes were in tatters and their hair was long and unkempt. Tear ran down her face as she turned her back to them and cried softly.
    â€œI wish I had packed a pair of scissors.”
    â€œI have a small one on my knife; what do you want it for?” asked Jim.
    â€œWhen we get back to camp, I’m going to be the family barber.”
    â€œTime to head back to the camp everyone. Mary, bring the camera, but everything else can stay here.”
    â€œMom, dad, look, the wolf’s following us.”
    â€œWhen we get back to the camp, we’ll give him some food.”
    Back at camp everything was just as they had left it. Nothing had been disturbed in the tent and there were no paw prints of any kind other than those of the wolf.
    Arriving at the camp, Mary announced that ‘Mary’s barber shop’ was open for business and that Lucas would be her first customer. Using only the tiny scissors, it was tedious work, but she managed to do a fairly good