Write On!

              step. Luck was with us as Mr. Thompson was driving out to his
farm home close to the airport and stopped beside us. I called him
by name and he said, " You know me but I don't recognize you
and what are you two kids doing out on a night like this?" We
quickly identified ourselves plus where we were going and he knew
Dad well. He told us to get in and he would drive us home. We
were so grateful as we had only walked about half way and were
really tiring. Now we were concerned that he might get stuck
getting back to the highway, he took it in his stride anyway. Dad
was so pleased to see us and quite frantic when the storm blew up
and didn't really know what to do. Needless to say we didn't
attempt to walk in to another show that winter.
As time went by I was married and lived in town. Charles
now had to attend high school in here, biked back and forth on a
gravel road in fair weather and stayed with us when necessary. He
adored Margaret, our first daughter, and loved to look after her
every chance he could. He enjoyed high school, social life and was
really growing up with after school jobs. In summer holidays he
had employment cutting brush on the road allowances and helping
Dad on the farm. He was really interested in joining the R. C. M. P.
He submitted his application, had several interviews, passed his
medical and personality test required then. However, he was 1/ 2
inch too short and the doctor who performed his medical suggested
he go out to a lumber camp for the winter to work. He was just
eighteen and being outdoors working in the bush, living and eating
in a bunkhouse would add to his height. He was with the Ross
Lumber Co. out towards Nose Mountain, home over the Christmas
and not again till spring break- up. Worse luck as he hadn't grown
at all and was so disappointed.
Off he went to Edmonton and found employment with the
Journal, working nights. Housing was scarce and he had a tiny
room on the third floor of an old house. It was hot and
uncomfortable trying to sleep during the day plus ' batching' which
he had never done.
He wasn't happy at all there and joined the Navy as an
electrician apprentice. His comments were, " They don't care how
tall I am." He was stationed in Cornwallis, N. S. for basic training
and later on in Halifax. He really enjoyed the military life and also
his electrician's training. He was posted to the " Ontario" and had
some wonderful trips while learning the trade at sea. One three
month excursion right from Halifax down the east coast of the
U. S. though the Panama Canal and all around S. America with