Mike Dillingham - Alaska Dogs and Iditarod Mushers - The Adventures of Balto, Back of the Pack, Honor Bound, Rivers

Anyway, as we were walking, Mike told me that we were passing a bench and there was a young boy sitting on it with a book in his hands. I heard a young boy say, “Hey Mister, can you help me?”

We stopped and I turned toward the voice. Mike asked, “Are you talking to me, son?”

“Yes sir,” said the young boy. “I need help reading this book. I don’t read so well.”

Mike sat down on the bench next to the boy and I sat between Mike’s legs. He asked the boy for the book. “Why son,” Mike said, “this is the Bible.” I could hear Mike thumb through the pages. “And it looks like this version is a very old version and has not been updated to make it easier to read and understand.” Mike continued, “This book would be hard for many people without reading challenges to understand, son. So don’t be too hard on yourself because you have trouble reading it.”

The boy sounded relieved, but he was still tense when he answered Mike. “But I still have to read it”, the boy said softly. “My teacher tells me that I have to read a lot more and this is the only book I own.”

This was becoming very interesting. Here was a young boy and it was apparent that he had some difficulties. Mike asked him where he lived and what school he went to.

Mike’s questions just opened the floodgates for this young boy to talk. Randy was his name and his parents had hurt him a long time ago. Then he went to several temporary homes, but they were always too poor to buy him anything. He had missed a lot of school since he was bounced among so many homes. He said he was 10 or 12 years of age. He was not sure, never had a birthday, he said. I really felt sad for this young boy. He indeed had a rough life and had so little. I wished there were something I could do for him. Maybe Mike would know how we could help him.

“Do you mind if I pet your dog, Mister?” Randy asked.

“My name is Mike, Randy, and my dog’s name is Rivers,” Mike answered. “Yes, son, you may pet him.”

As Randy petted me, Mike told Randy all about me.

“Mister Mike, you mean Rivers is blind but still ran the big race to Nome? How could he do that?” Randy asked.

“It takes courage to do that, and that courage comes from within you,” Mike answered. “If you believe in yourself, you will accomplish amazing things.” Mike continued. “You can overcome all kinds of challenges as long as you want to succeed.”

I guess we sat there for the better part of the afternoon. Randy did a lot of talking. What he said made me more thankful for the many things I have. It also made me more appreciative of the simple things like a warm bed, good friends, and hot chow.

Now I was thinking of what I could do for this young boy, when Mike said, “Randy, it is getting late. Would you mind if Rivers and I walk you home? We can talk some more on the way.”

While Mike and I lived in the country, we do have neighbors around us, and it turned out that Randy lived down the trail from us.

When we got to Randy’s home, I heard Mike talking with Randy’s foster parents. They agreed that Randy could visit us at our home. That would be just great. Mike gave Randy directions to our home.

The next day, we were in the yard when Randy came by. I had told the team about Randy, so Christmas, Lakota, and the rest of the team made a big fuss over him. He was giggling and laughing as we jumped all over him.

Mike was with us in the yard. He was sitting on a bench, and I could hear him laughing as Randy played with the team. Even Sandy was in the yard making a big fuss over this young boy. Mike said, “Hi Randy, how you doing? Come over here, I have something for you”. Lakota told me that Mike had a book in his hand.

When Randy sat next to Mike, Mike gave him the book, Lakota told me.

“Wow, my own Bible!” Randy said very excitedly. As he turned the pages, he started to read the words out of it. Mike helped him with the words that he stumbled over. He asked Mike many questions about what he read. Mike answered each of them. Lakota told me that the entire team, and even Sandy and Christmas were sitting around Mike and Randy listening to them talk.

“You know what, Mister Mike?” Randy said. “I think I want to be a writer.”

“Why?” Mike asked.

“So that I can write books for kids that have a hard time reading like I do. What do you think, Mister Mike? Do you think I can do it?”

“Yep,” Mike said, “And I bet you would be great at it too. Just remember that as long as you believe in yourself and want to succeed, you will accomplish amazing things in your life.”

I heard Mike stand up and say, “Okay team. Trail time.” As we started to scamper around the yard, Randy asked Mike what was trail time. We all stopped playing around when we heard Randy ask this question. He did not know what trail time was! Lakota told me that Ugly and Brownie went over to Randy and nuzzled his hand. I guess we were feeling bad. If Randy did not know what trail time meant, then he never had experienced the fun of sledding on the trails.

“Randy,” it was Mike. “Trail time is the way I tell the team that we are taking the sled out for a run on the trails.”

“Oh,” Randy said sadly. “I guess it is time for me to go then.” Hold on here, I thought. Why does Randy have to go? I think Mike must have read my mind because he asked Randy why he thought he had to go.

“Well Mister Mike,” Randy said, “I don’t have any winter clothing or boots to do that. I figured you would want to be alone with your dogs and didn’t want me around.”

“I think you thought wrong, my friend,” Mike gently said to Randy. “Come with me.” Lakota told me that they headed for the warming shed where Mike keeps our sled and our equipment.

We all followed them. Lakota told me that Mike gave Randy two boxes. “What are these Mister Mike?” Randy asked.

“Well,” Mike answered. “I think they are two boxes that need a young man like you to open and find out what is inside of them.” Now Mike had me wondering. What was in the boxes?

Lakota told me that when Randy opened the big flat box, he gasped. Lakota told me that Randy held up a green and black storm suit, just like the one Mike used when he took us on the trails. Christmas said that one time she curled up in Mike’s storm suit when she was a small pup. It was so soft and warm. “Yeah, I remember that.” It was Nitro. “You snored almost as loud as Mike does.”

“Uncle Nitro!” Christmas shrieked. We all chuckled at the way Nitro was teasing Christmas. Yep, our little Christmas was growing up and her Uncles had the gray hair to prove it!

“I wonder what is in the other box,” Doc said. Lakota told me that Randy opened the other box and pulled out a pair of snow boots, socks, gloves, and a musher’s cap.

“These boots and socks will keep your toes warm, Randy. They are good to 100 below zero.” Mike said. “Now, how about getting that gear on while I get mine on, and let’s harness this team up for a ride!”

“Thank you Mister Mike, I don’t know what to say.”

Mike answered, “You said enough son. You are part of our team now, so shake a stick and get dressed.”

I heard paw steps and Lakota told me that Brownie and Ugly ran over to Randy and started to nuzzle him and lick his face. Yes, Randy was now officially part of our team!

When they were dressed, Mike pulled the sled out of the warming shed and Randy had our harnesses. Lakota told me that Mike laid out the gang and tug lines. Next he showed Randy how to harness us up. Lakota told me that Mike let Randy harness up Ugly and Brownie.

Next, it was my turn. “Paw up, Rivers,” Randy said and I lifted my paw so that he could put the harness around it. He learned quickly and was very good. You could tell he was comfortable working with dogs. His voice told me that he enjoyed working with us. “Okay Randy,” Mike said. “We will have Christmas and Nitro as our lead dogs with Doc running in a solo swing position. Brownie and Ugly will be in the team dog position with Rivers and Lakota in the wheel.” Mike continued. “I will explain all the positions to you as we travel down the trail. It will make more sense then.”