A WILDERNESS WEDDING
by John Burchill

During the second world war Billy Power had a small crew of men cutting pit props up in a camp behind Derby. Because of the war there was a great demand for pit props overseas. Anyway, Billy had a young French fellow from down around Sheila doing the cooking. As a matter of fact most of the crew was from down around that way. Everything went pretty smooth before Christmas and Billy was quite pleased to have such a hard working crew. Those lads from down river are mighty workers. However, the trouble started when the men returned after Christmas and the cook brought a young girl back with him In those days that was absolutely taboo! When Billy asked about the girl the cook said she was going to be the cooke. Naturally Billy voiced his displeasure and told the young lad the girl would have to go. The cook simply stated, ''If she don't stay, I don't stay." Billy tried to change his mind by appealing to his patriotism. He mentioned the fact that a war was on and the pit props were badly needed overseas. Again the cook held his ground and said quite emphatically that, "If she don't stay, I don't stay." To avoid a confrontation Billy said they would deal with the problem the next day. He didn't know what the hell to do Sometime the next day a letter arrived from the girl's parents. They wanted her sent home immediately! Still again the young cook stuck to his guns saying, "If she goes, I go." Billy was still in a pickle. He couldn't run a camp without a cook and good cooks were few and far between. The following day another letter was delivered to the camp.This one came from the village priest and it was quite emphatic that the girl be returned to her parents. Billy showed the letter to the young lad and told him he was sorry but the girl had to go. "Okay", he said, "I'll go too." All at once Billy was in real trouble! However Billy Power was a resourceful man and he got real creative real quick! He said to the young couple,"You know a captain on a ship can marry people and I'm kind of a captain of this camp up here in tile woods. How would it be if I married you? This would solve everyone's problem." The boy asked, "Do you tink dat's as good as being married by da priest?"Billy replied,"No, but it'll hold her until spring!"