Journey With the Comet

by Dana Wayne Haley

  “Those awful boys may have taken Jill’s life,” Leona thought, “but they couldn’t take her spirit.”

  Then she reached for the locket she kept around her neck and smiled when she found that it was no longer there.

  —2—

  In addition to her reassuring dream, Leona was thankful for one other thing that helped keep her mind occupied that summer. It was the telescope that Charlie Berry had given to her. With that telescope and the astronomy book given to her by Miss Hutchinson as a guide, she eagerly searched the heavens every night, spending most of the time viewing the Moon. Even though it was an inexpensive amateur telescope, Charlie Berry’s gift allowed her to see things that she could not have even imagined. The first time she saw a crater on the Moon was amazing to her young mind, and she had her old friend Charlie to thank for that. Not only did he give Leona his telescope, he took the time to show her how best to use it, just as he had promised.

  “I think I need more help, Mr. Berry. Will you show me how you search for stars?” Leona asked after walking to his cabin in late July, more than a month after Jill’s death.

  “You betcha, Leona. You come back tonight at eight and I’ll take you somewhere special, so you can see the stars better than you ever thought possible.”

  “Where’s that, Mr. Berry?”

  “You’ll see. Now scoot along home before your mom gets worried.”

  Leona arrived back at Charlie’s cabin right on time, with her telescope tucked safely in her arms. He was in the process of gathering his gear.

  “Are you ready to go, Leona?”

  “Sure am. How far is it?”

  “About a mile. Down by the stream.”

  The two walked briskly down the Stream Road until they came to the Kenduskeag Stream. Then Charlie turned left and walked along the stream for about a half-mile, with Leona at his side. Before long the woods beside the river became so thick that they had to veer to the left and walk in an adjacent field. As a result, Leona could not tell if they were still following the river or not.

  “See that tall pine up ahead, Leona?” he asked.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well, that’s where we turn off to get to my favorite spot. There’s a secret path that leads to a clearing by the stream and it’s a perfect spot for a picnic, or for swimming, or even for fishing. But most of all it’s the ideal place for viewing stars. Now don’t you tell anyone else about this place, okay?”

  “You don’t have to worry, Mr. Berry. I’ll keep your secret. But isn’t this Mr. Tyler’s land?”

  “Yup. But don’t you worry your little head about that. He told me to use it whenever I wanted to, for whatever reason. In fact, he agreed to let me buy a couple of acres here whenever I wanted; and I plan on doing just that.”

  “You mean he doesn’t think you’re crazy?”

  “Nope, but he’s only one of a handful around here that don’t. Actually, he and I get along real well. His son took one of my classes at Maine. By the way, Leona, a couple of weeks ago you said your Aunt Maude was almost due; did she give birth yet?”

  “Yup, last week; a boy. That’s seven now.”

  “Wow! How many cousins do you have now?”

  “Let’s see, there’s Margaret, Hazel, Woodrow, and Edward; those are Aunt Mae’s. And Marion, Olga, Pauline, Paul, Lloyd, Raymond, and baby Norman are Maude’s. And who could forget Uncle Bill’s son. I’m not sure if I should count Cousin Bill or not; he’s adopted. Anyway, I guess that’s twelve cousins in total.”

  “A dozen cousins, huh?” Charlie joked. Then he saw what he was looking for and said: “We’re here, Leona.”

  They had come to a large pine tree that marked Charlie’s secret path. They turned right and made their way for about a quarter-mile through heavy forest vegetation until they came to an opening near the south bank of the stream. The clearing was about ten square feet and contained nothing but green grass, surrounded by evergreens on three sides and the stream on the other. Along the way Charlie pointed to natural landmarks that he used to find the way along a barely visible path worn into the ground. Leona doubted that she would have recognized it as a path if she had stumbled upon it by chance. Even if she had, walking it wouldn’t have been much fun, because every so often they had to crawl on hands and knees to duck under the branches of trees. Leona realized that most people would perceive it to be an animal path anyway, so Charlie’s secret spot was undoubtedly safe from prying eyes.

  “Believe it or not, this here is where I watched Halley’s Comet in 1910,” Charlie said. “I knew enough back then to look for a site near a river where there would be no lights to obscure my view; and this is the place I found. It took me a while though. And, believe it or not, this spot is the real reason I decided to move to Glenburn when I retired from the University. I just happened to stumble upon it when I took my class on a field trip. Of course, back then the vegetation wasn’t nearly this thick. It didn’t take me long to realize that it was the perfect place to gaze at the stars. The river runs almost exactly west to east here, so if you look straight across the river you have an unobstructed view looking due north. See those seven stars up there, Leona? They’re called the Big Dipper.”

  “Yes, I know, Mr. Berry. My Papa taught me all about it when I was little.”

  “When you were little, eh. Then, I suppose you know about the Little Dipper too,” he joked.

  “Yeah,” Leona said softly, raising her eyebrows.

  “How about the North Star?” Charlie asked.

  “I remember Papa telling me about it, but I’ve forgotten exactly where it is.”

  “Well then, let me show you. See that really bright star at the very tip of the Little Dipper’s handle. That’s Polaris: the North Star.”

  “You mean, that one?” Leona pointed and asked.

  “Yes, that’s it. It’s almost exactly in line with the North Pole, so sailors often use it to navigate.”

  “That rings a bell. Papa must’ah told me about it too. But I didn’t remember that it’s part of the Little Dipper. Maybe that’s why I always had trouble finding it all these years.”

  “If you have trouble I have an aide that will help you find the North Star; and then, finding the Little Dipper will be a piece of cake. All you have to do to find Polaris is to extend the two stars at the front of the Big Dipper’s pan. They’re almost exactly in line with the North Star. See how far those two stars are separated? The North Star is about four times that distance from the dipper.”

  “Now I see it! You’re right; that’s real easy,” Leona said. “And, son of a gun, there’s the Little Dipper.”

  “And over there is Venus,” Charlie said while pointing toward the western sky.

  “That one, right?” Leona asked, pointing just above the horizon in the direction Charlie was looking.

  “Yep, that’s the one all right,” he said.

  “Since it’s always so bright, that’s one star I have no trouble finding. I see it out my bedroom window almost every night, before I go to bed,” Leona told her old friend.

  “Yeah, some call it the brightest star in the sky, Leona; but it isn’t, because I’m sure you know that it’s a planet, not a star. Now, let’s set up your telescope and look at Venus and the North Star up close. Bring it over here and set the legs of the tripod on these three rocks. The front one has been here for a long, long time; maybe since time began. But the two in the back were set there by me when I first moved to Glenburn, just so I could have a nice solid platform for my telescope. It took me a while to find two big rocks with flat enough surfaces. And it took forever to dig the holes, and even longer to get the rocks leveled. It was worth it though, ‘cause having a good solid platform to sit a telescope on is the key to watching stars.”

  “Did you make that chair too?” Leona asked when she saw Charlie place a short eighteen-inch diameter log on the gr
ound, one that he kept hidden just inside the woods.

  “Yup. I cut it to be just the right height for looking through the telescope. It may be a little low for you, but it should do the job.”

  Leona set her telescope’s tripod on the three level rocks and then watched as Charlie looked for the North Star through its eyepiece.

  “Here, take a look,” he said to the 14-year-old.

  “Wow! It’s so bright,” she said after peering at the North Star through her telescope.

  —3—

  Although Leona had used her telescope hundreds of times before that night, Charlie showed her how to properly set it up to get the most out of it. She spent over three hours with him learning the ins-and-outs of astronomy and marveling at the wonder of it all, especially when she was finally able to view the rings around Saturn. As hard as it was locating stars with the small telescope, it was even more difficult keeping it steady enough to see their details when she did find them, even with the tripod sitting on the hard rock surface. But a trick Charlie showed her made that much easier, and from then on using the little telescope only added to Leona’s excitement and heightened her desire to be an astronomer.

  “I can’t wait ‘til I can explore the heavens using a huge telescope,” she told her father when she returned home that night. “And I can’t wait until 1986 when Halley’s Comet returns.”

  “Hold on there, young lady,” he said, “1986 will be here soon enough as it is; you don’t need to wish it here any sooner. Let your mother and I enjoy a few more years on this Earth.”

  When her father said that, Leona was forced once again to acknowledge that her parents wouldn’t be around forever.

  “You’re right, Papa. I’ll stop wishing for time to go so fast. In fact, I think I’ll start wishing for it to go by a tad slower from now on, so I’ll have you and Mama around for as long as possible. I wouldn’t want to miss out on any of your tall tales.”

  “Thanks, sweetheart. That makes me feel ah heckofalot better,” he teased. “And that should make you feel much better too, ‘cause you’ll get to enjoy your youth for a mite longer. Believe me, there’s no need to rush into adulthood. You’ll find that it comes soon enough as it is.”

  Chapter 51

  The Freshman

  At the end of the summer Leona was almost back to normal, thanks mainly to her dream about Jill and the comet. But she could also thank her cherished telescope and the time she spent viewing the stars and talking about astronomy with Professor Berry, typically three to four nights each week; the viewing part, of course, being dependent upon the weather. Whenever Charlie wasn’t up to making the trek to his favorite spot, Leona often went alone, so many times that she was convinced she would be able to make her way there in the dark, or at least on moonlit nights. But even if she chose to just stay in Charlie’s cabin listening to him talk about the wonders of the Universe, she enjoyed herself immensely. Those treasured sessions increased Leona’s interest in astronomy, making her want to learn even more and greatly enhancing her desire to attend college.

  Although she had the choice of going to high school in either Bangor or nearby Hermon, Leona chose Bangor High School, not just because Lillian and Arlene went there, but because she thought that by attending a larger school she would have a better chance to earn a college scholarship: her ultimate goal. Indeed, with her family being so poor it was the only realistic way she could afford to pay for a college education.

  “Grades will not be my problem,” she told her mother the day before she started high school. “I remember what Papa told me about working hard, and I intend to do just that. I won’t be satisfied with anything but A’s. Money will be the only thing that keeps me from going to college. But if I don’t get a scholarship, it won’t be from a lack of effort on my part.”

  “I’m sure it won’t, dear. I can see that in your eyes and I can hear the determination in your voice. I have no doubt but what you’ll achieve your dream. And, although we can’t afford your college tuition, you can count on me and your pa to help you out as much as we can.”

  “Thanks, Mama. I know you will.”

  When Charlie learned of Leona’s concerns he too offered encouragement.

  “Don’t you fret, Leona. I’ll use my contacts at the University and do my best to help you get a scholarship. And if by chance you can’t, then you can count on me to help with your tuition.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t let you do that, Mr. Berry.”

  “Why not, Leona? I have more money than I know what to do with; and I’m sure you know you’re like a daughter to me. It would make me so happy and proud to see you achieve your goals. Besides, I wasn’t joking when I told you I wanted you to name a comet after me, and there’s no chance of that happening if you don’t become a professional astronomer.”

  “I really don’t know what to say, Mr. Berry. I can’t believe that you would do that for me. It only makes me more determined now to work as hard as I can in high school so I can qualify for an academic scholarship.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, Leona. But remember, if a scholarship isn’t in the cards, I’ll help you out one way or the other. If you have too much pride to accept my first offer then I’ll be more than happy to loan you the money and you can pay me back after you start your career. How’s that sound?”

  “It sounds great. I still can’t believe you would do that for me though.”

  “Like I said, Leona, you’re like one of my own now. I’d do anything for you, and don’t you forget that.”

  When she heard Charlie say that, tears welled up in her eyes.

  “I guess Mama was wrong,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” Charlie asked.

  “She once told me that there’s good and bad in everyone. But so far I’ve only found good in you.”

  Charlie laughed: “Well, you must not be looking hard enough.”

  “Oh, yes. I’ve been looking real hard—real hard. There’s just no bad to be found.”

  Charlie laughed again and then his eyes began to tear. While walking home that day Leona was so thrilled by Charlie’s generous offer, she danced and sang all the way.

  —1—

  Leona’s first year of high school was rather uneventful, except for a special friendship she developed, one almost as special as her friendship with Jill. During her elementary school graduation ceremony at Glenburn Center, Leona met Ann Kolter, a girl from the other side of town. She learned that Ann was also going to Bangor High and that she too wanted to attend the University of Maine. Although Ann did not share Leona’s interest in astronomy, she shared her love of science and, as a result, they would likely be taking many of the same courses when and if they went to college. Ann’s intent was to major in biology, so she too had to get good grades in high school; however, unlike Leona’s parents, hers could afford the college tuition.

  After the Great Fire of 1911 a new high school was built on Harlow Street, a good quarter-mile from State Street and East Market Square. So every morning during the school year Ann and Leona took the trolley from Glenburn to the corner of State and Broadway. From there they walked down Purgatory Hill to Harlow Street, turned right and completed the walk to Bangor High.

  After school, while waiting to catch the 4:15pm trolley to Glenburn, they were inseparable, spending most of their time frequenting shops and soda fountains in Bangor, most often talking about one shared interest: boys. At the end of the day the two girls had to walk up Purgatory Hill to catch the Broadway Trolley. Ann was more of a city-girl than country-girl Leona, so there never was a time when she didn’t complain about that exhausting walk. Each time she did, Leona was reminded of her mother’s story about the first time she ran into the impetuous Canadian: Murdock Campbell Haley. Most of all, Ann’s complaints gave Leona the opportunity to pull her friend’s leg.

  “Do you want me to carry you up that hill, Ann? I wouldn�
��t want you to get too tired on the long ride to Glenburn,” she mocked.

  “No, that’s all right, Leona,” Ann joked, “I’ll tough it out.”

  Leona got off the trolley first, at the corner of the Winter Fun Road, while Ann rode the trolley for another mile before having to get off. Both girls had to walk a considerable distance before they were home: Ann, a half-mile, and Leona, almost a mile. Because Ann had always been given a ride to her east-side grammar school, she was spoiled and often complained to Leona about the long walk she had to now endure. On the other hand, Leona didn’t mind her long walk the least little bit, because she was used to walking that distance when she attended grammar school; and she frequently teased Ann about being such a wimp.

  “It takes me almost a half-hour to walk home, so what are you complaining about. Heck, I can walk a half-mile in my sleep.”

  “Well if you’re so tough why don’t you ride with me to my stop, then you can carry me home from there,” Ann joked.

  “Okay, I’ll do that. Starting as soon as you lose fifteen pounds.”

  “Fifteen pounds? Leona, if I lost fifteen pounds you could pick me up with one hand and carry me around in your pocket.”

  “Well, Ann, if that’s the case, the first place I’d carry you is to an insane asylum, because you’re crazier than a coot.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Heck yes! Have you read Anne of Green Gables?” Leona asked. “It’s the first novel I ever read, and, take my word, the Anne in it would have the same opinion of you that I do. In fact, I know she’d think you were missing a few marbles since you don’t spell Ann with an E.”

  “Huh? Leona, I swear you’re nuttier than a fruitcake. What’s that got to do with anything?”

  “Read it and you’ll see,” is all Leona said.

  That’s the way it was between the two new friends. They shared secrets and joked with each other, as if they had been friends for years.