Chapter 14.1 - Loyalty

“Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.”

Mark Twain

“You fucking bitch!  How many times do I have to ask you to keep these damn children from using more than three sheets of toilet paper?”  Jack’s father was a ruthless mathematician, precise about every aspect of his life, and morbidly bereft of compassion.

“They only use three sheets.”  Ruth was frantically trying to disarm his fury.

The screaming could never be avoided.  Len tried to hide from the battle of voices amidst the rocks behind his house.  He hummed to himself.  He shattered tree limbs against trees.  Yet, the sound of battle like answering machine guns landed like blows to his soul.  Jack would be out soon with his head held low.

When Jack did come, he wouldn’t look Len in the eye.  Len knew Jack was embarrassed and so did what any good friend would do, constructed a challenge that would take Jack’s mind off the subject.

“You know what we’re going to do today Jack?” Len said.

“No, what?”  Jack said sullenly.

“We’re going to do something no one has ever done.  We’re going to make a rope out of vines and swing across the canyon.  Come on, I’ll show you.”  Len started running towards the canyon wall where there was a way down to the canyon floor.

Jack followed along happy to be doing something away from his parent’s arguing.  When he got to the canyon bottom Len was already ripping vines away from the canyon walls. They were fifty foot ¼ to ½ thick vines.  Jack started ripping vines from the wall and placing them in the pile next to Lens.  Soon Len started braiding the vines.  Jack started to get excited.  Originally he didn’t believe Len was serious.  As he helped Len braid the vines he started to believe that Len’s plan might work.  Within a couple of hours they had constructed a 3 inch thick vine rope.

“This is so cool.”  Jack said with a big smile.

“Where do you think we should try this out?” Len said.

Jack looked around and pointed to a strong tree overhanging the cliff face a little ways down the canyon.
“Looks good to me.” Len said.

They both picked up the front end of the vine and started dragging it along the canyon floor.

“How do we get this to the top, Jack?”  Len asked.  He had an idea but wanted Jack to be proud of his efforts.

“I’ll go get another vine, climb up to the top over there, and throw the end down to you.” Jack said.
“Great idea.”

Jack ran off and within 15 minutes a vine was cast to the canyon floor next to where Len stood.  He tied it the bigger vine and screamed, “Pull it up Jack.”

Jack started pulling.  When the big vine was half way up the cliff Jack screamed, “I can’t do it Len.  I need you help.”

Len ran along the canyon floor to where he could climb to the top of the cliff.  Five minutes later he was running towards Jack who was struggling to hang on.  Len grabbed the little vine and help Jack pull the big vine to the top.  It was a huge job for 6 year olds.  They both tied the vine off around the tree making sure it was secure.

“Do you really think this will hold us?” Jack said.

“Of course it will hold us.  We made it didn’t we?  Let’s go test it at the bottom.”

They started by holding onto the vine and running along the canyon floor.  Then Len stood on a small rock and jumped off.  It held him fine.  Jack went to a bigger rock and jumped. It held him fine.  Both of them grew progressively bolder pursuing the Len’s earlier dream slowly working their way up the cliff face higher and higher until they were swinging from one side of the canyon to the other.

Jack made his first swing from one cliff face to the other screaming in delight.  “Len, Len, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”

“Me too.” Len said.

Jack put his arm around Len and said, “Thanks.”