Previously I do not own Molly of Denali, or any of the characters contained within this story. Molly of Denali is the property of Kathy Waugh and Dorothea Gillim.
I look forward to the reviews and criticisms (I know there will be some). I hope you enjoy the story, and just like the cartoon on PBS Kids, I am trying to stay true to the characters as shown each and every day. I am also including real elements like they've done on the show (racism, environmental, life, and death, etc..). I hope you like this when I start to repost the chapters.
Please review all of my stories. Feedback would give me ideas I can use for not only this story but for future ones. Thank you for your time and happy reading.
My story takes place in 2021 when Molly is twelve, Tooey is twelve and Trini is nine.
Homecoming
Trini didn't want to open her eyes. She moved her arms around and didn't touch anything furry that was usually in her bed. Alarmed, she threw the blanket off herself. She looked around and realized she was not in her bed in Qyah. She was in her bed at the Regional Hospital in Anchorage.
Thinking about Qyah for the umpteenth time, she noticed that she was fairly homesick and really missed her friends and her animals. Especially her dog, Four-Spots. Saddened she reached for the blanket and recovered herself.
Looking over to the recliner, she saw her father was still asleep and "covered" by a blanket. The blanket was almost on the floor. It was only covering his right leg.
She slid off the bed touching the floor before putting on her slippers, the floor was cold. She then walked over as quietly as she could. She picked up the blanket and draped it onto his shoulders and tucked it in on each of his sides.
As she did this, she smiled and thought, "See dad, I get to tuck you in sometimes too." When finished she returned to bed, got in and covered her head. "I am glad I get to go home later on. I like the hospital, but I like home better. It has more than just oatmeal and applesauce. I also have more things I like and want closer than they are here." She thought as she got more comfortable.
"Darn it, now that I am comfortable, I need to use the bathroom." She uncovered her head again. She ruefully looked at the door leading to the area in the middle of the ward where the nurses' station was. Sighing, she scooted to the edge and put her slippers on again.
She walked out of the room quietly and looked to the station. A couple of nurses were seated and waved to her as she walked past them. Smiling she returned their waves. Seeing the bathroom door, she knocked and waited. Receiving no answer, she walked in, and into a stall.
When she finished, she walked to the sink and washed her hands. Looking at the mirror, she observed her hair. Holding one of the braids in her hand. "I really need to redo these braids." She remarked tossing it back behind her head
Exiting the bathroom, she walked back to her assigned room. She climbed into the bed and replaced the blanket over herself like she had it before she went to the bathroom.
Looking up and out of the window, she saw that the sky was the same way it usually was this time of year, dark. She looked around the room as she laid on the bed.
She saw the closet. She knew her clothes were inside there waiting for her when she was discharged. "I wonder when Atsaq will get here. Does she need to be here for me to be discharged?" She thought to herself.
As she was thinking, she looked at her father again and saw him moving around in the chair. He squirmed for a few and then opened his eyes. Noticing Trini was awake, he stretched, yawned, and waved. She returned the wave from under the covers not wanting to lose the warmth., smirking as she watched him. "Morning Texas, did you sleep well?"
She nodded as she was smiling. "Are you ready to go home? He watched as she emphatically shook her head. Smiling, he shook his own head. "I also miss home, Texas. I am not happy you had to get hurt to visit your first hospital, but I am glad you got to experience it with your friends."
"Speaking of friends," Trini interjected. I am sure you also miss your friends as well." Daniel nodded almost as enthusiastically as she did. "You are right. I have a few people that I have been missing while we've been here the last few days."
Looking around the room, she looked from her dad to the closet. "Should I start getting dressed in my regular clothes? Or should I wait until Atsaq gets here and discharges me?" Trini asked wondering to herself and aloud.
Daniel smiled, "You can get dressed, Texas. However, don't put on your parka until we are about to leave the hospital. I don't want you to catch a cold from being too warm before we went outside to the plane, okay?"
"Sure thing, dad." She threw the cover off of herself and put on her slippers. She walked to the closet and pulled out her clothes. Both winter and her regular ones.
Gathering the clothes together, she walked out to the center of the ward and by the burses station, "Are you ready to go home Trini?" Nurse Wanda asked. "Sure am, I can't wait to get back home to Qyah"
* Denali Trading Post, Qyah Alaska *
"Atsaq, the plane is fueled, is there anything we need to bring back to the hospital for Trini and Daniel?" Atsaq placed her duffel / medical bag into the plane before looking up for a few seconds.
"No, I think I have everything. We shouldn't be there for too long. I just need to make a few rounds and then transfer some patients before returning with a very homesick Trini." Atsaq smiled belting in her medical bag, so it didn't fly around.
"Layla, did Molly ever ask to go to the hospital to pick up Trini? Layla quickly shook her head. "Why" She asked.
"I was just wondering because Tooey hadn't asked me either." She frowned. "They knew we were going to get Trini?" Layla asked as she removed the chock blocks from the plane.
Atsaq shook her head as she walked back into the trading post. Once Layla stowed the chock blocks back into the plane she looked up at the window where Molly's window was. She smiled because she knew the answer as to why they didn't want to go.
* Ookami Residence, A Little Earlier *
Molly looked at the skylight like she always did whenever she visited the Ookami residence and spent the night. She saw the same thing each and every time, at least during the winter, darkness.
She turned her head and looked down. The clock radio had the time of 6:30am. Knowing she had to get up to go to Trini's place and get the dog and the chickens taken care of. Looking down to the lower bunk she saw that Tooey was still asleep.
Seeing him snoozing she smiled and laid back down and thought about the last couple of times she had been here and helped Tooey. She smiled as she thought about what they had done and how it had brought them closer. "I really like having a boyfriend, and none better than Tooey." She thought to herself.
"I really need to get going if I'm going to get back and help him since he'll be needing me." She whispered to no one in particular. Tooey made a sound that Molly could not recognize. She leaned over the bed and looked down at him.
He was laying on his side and moving his lips, talking to himself. Molly smiled, "I wonder what he's thinking or dreaming about." A few minutes passed as she observed him as he shifted and then got comfortable again.
Molly laid back and looked at the skylight and just watched the darkness. Turning back to the clock, she saw that it was 6:37am. "Gotta go, I heard Atsaq moving around earlier. She'll be leaving to pick up Trini in a bit."
Throwing her covers aside, she shimmied to the end of the bed and descended the little ladder. As she reached the bottom, Tooey stirred, opened his eyes, and looked around. He saw that Molly was coming off the little ladder. "Morning Shaeeyaa." He greeted her smiling, yawning, and stretching and sitting up.
"Hey Teekkone, I'm getting ready to leave for Trini's." Tooey finished his stretching, "I know. That's usually the main reason you leave here. At least, it has been for the last few days."
Molly reached for her clothes that were on a chair next to his desk. "Do you need anything. I'll be gone for at least 45 minutes to an hour depending on how long it takes to walk Four Spots. She asked removing her pajamas and putting on her regular clothes.
Pulling the covers over himself as she was moving towards the door. "I'm good, Shaeeyaa, I'll wait until you come back." Tooey told her smiling. Without hesitation Molly walked over and kissed Tooey. He returned the kiss and smiled again. They both noticed that they both blushed but not as badly as the first time it happened. "I won't be long Teekkone."
Returning the smile, Molly turned and left the room. As she walked down the stairs, she thought to herself, "I am actually liking where this is going." She walked over to the door, picked up her parka and left the house on her way to Trini's house.
Trini paced around the room, every few minutes she looked towards the door that pointed to the middle of the ward where the nurse's station was. Feeling a little restless, she walked to the table next to the bed. She picked up her phone and noticed it was 8:30am.
"Did Atsaq say when they would be here?" Daniel looked up from packing Trini's few belongings into her bag. "Trini, they'll be here soon. You know Atsaq and Layla can't wait to make sure you are good before they bring you home."
"I know, I was just missing Four-Spots, Dolores, Mr. Cluck, and the others. I also miss Tooey and Molly. Trini said with her eyes glistening. Seeing and hearing her distress Daniel walked over and engulfed her in a hug. "Texas, they haven't forgotten you. Believe me, they can't wait for all of you to get together again."
"Hii, gno, ifts guft goow Hii gfell gritw nhow." Daniel looked down and saw that her face was buried in his chest. "What did you say Texas?" Pulling her face after rubbing her eyes and drying them, she said, "I said I know, it's just how I feel right now. I miss them."
"I'll bet you that Atsaq will be here as soon as they land." Trini looked at the window and saw nothing but darkness. As he was talking, a nurse came in and was carrying a small tray that had a cup of water and a cup holding a couple of pills for Trini.
Seeing the nurse, she walked over and took the cup and immediately downed the pills and drank the water she was being offered. As Trini was taking her medication, the nurse sidled up to Daniel. "Watch her for the next few moments, she will be out momentarily." Daniel nodded.
Trini replaced the cups onto the tray. She smiled as the nurse walked back over and took the tray. "We're all glad you are going to go home, Trini." Trini smiled, "I can't wait. I miss my dog, chickens, friends, and my bed." Turning and looking at the unmade bed in the room.
"If we see you again, hopefully it is not because of you getting hurt. Check-ups are okay, but not under an emergency basis okay young lady." Trini smiled again, "Yeesh ma'uum." She slurred.
"I frreaggy reel tiiirred grall owwf a sudgen. I fan't grait thoo flug by moggy." Trini said swaying a little bit. Watching her, the nurse led her to the bed. Trini slowly climbed onto the bed and immediately flopped onto the mattress asleep. The nurse placed her legs onto the bed, "Those pills work fast, don't they?" Daniel asked.
"Yes sir, when you give a child that weighs hardly anything, 15mg of morphine. It can knock them out fairly quickly." She moved the blanket over her and removed her shoes and placed them on the floor beside the bed. "Has Atsaq arrived yet?" He asked.
"Dr. Ookami, called earlier and mentioned she'd be here at about 8:45 or 9:00am. Trini will be discharged around lunchtime. From what the doctor had told me," The nurse assured him.
"How long will Trini be out?" As they both looked at her sleeping form, "About 3 hours, Since she still has her IV line on her hand, I'll administer some more about that time so she can continue to rest without pain." Danile smiled as Trini slept.
"Once she's back in Qyah, Doctor Ookami, will manage her pain medications. We've been keeping her pain free through her I.V., but she won't have one in Qyah. She will be taking pills just as strong as the ones I just gave her."
Daniel nodded. "How long will she still have pain in her chest?" He asked. Looking at her chart, "Doctor Ookami can better answer that question. Yet from what I have seen on other patients that have had a similar procedure. Pain and discomfort usually lasted about 4-6 weeks."
Daniel whistled. "Will she be needing help during her recovery time?" The nurse again looked at the chart, "Mr. Mumford, I wish I could answer that, but Doctor Ookami will be here in a few minutes. She'll be more informative concerning Trini's particular condition than I am. I am sorry I couldn't be more helpful." The nurse apologized replacing the chart and leaving the room.
As he waited for Atsaq, he pulled out his phone and dialed his wife's phone. "Chief Mumford, how may I help you?" She answered smiling. "It's me honey." Daniel said also smiling. "I know, I just wanted to mess with you. How's Trini?"
"Knocked out, they gave her some more pain medication and she's out like a light. Before we leave for Qyah they're going to sedate her further. When we arrive in Qyah, we'll have a time for when she should wake up." He informed her.
"Are you home, or still on your way? He asked. "No, I'm at the house waiting for both of you to get here. Molly was just here taking care of the chickens and Four-Spots. I thanked her for helping out. She just left." Joy told him.
"Ok honey, according to what the nurse has told me. We should be home by about one or two this afternoon. We'll see you then, honey. Trini will definitely be surprised." Daniel smiled. "See you in a bit then. I'll have lunch ready for you when you get here." Joy responded as she hung up the phone.
Molly walked back towards the Ookami residence. "Mom, that really surprised me. I didn't know Joy was going to be here." Molly nearly sang into the phone. "I know, Daniel and Joy planned it since she wasn't able to be here when we found you guys last week."
"I was going to go over when she arrived, but I think she'll want some time with her parents, dog, and chickens. We'll see her later on tonight or tomorrow." Molly stated seeing the Ookami residence coming closer. Looking down she noticed that the snow was not as bad as it had been when they had taken the trip to Nenana.
"I wonder if what happened to us was the last of the bad weather for this year." Molly thought. "I'm almost to Tooey's place, bye mom." Knowing that Atsaq was already at the hospital, she looked at her phone. She saw that the time was 8:47. Looking up she saw that it was a bit lighter but still dark.
Pulling her phone to eye level she glanced at the screen and pressed the button to turn the phone off. She started, she brought the phone back up and pressed the button turning it back on. Noticing the date, her smile broadened. "This is going to be a homecoming she won't soon forget." Molly thought to herself.
Reaching the door, she opened it without knocking knowing Tooey would not be able to open the door without having trouble with the chair. She saw him sitting at the dining room table. "Welcome back my Shaeeyaa." Tooey said smiling.
"Thank you, Teekkone. Did you miss me?" Molly asked smiling shyly. Tooey rolled his eyes and just turned his chair and opened his arms. Molly walked over and leaned down without sitting in his lap knowing it would hurt him. Tooey hugged and kissed Molly on her forehead. Feeling his lips touching her skin, her heart started the familiar pitter-patter of a motor being started.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" She asked. Tooey nodded, "Mom made some pancakes, she also made you a plate. It's in the fridge." He remarked pointing to the fridge. She walked over to the fridge and retrieved the plate. Turning she saw Tooey watching her. "I wonder if he was checking me out." She blushed slightly.
"I think I can find out if he was." She thought to herself. "Have you seen my phone Teekkone.? Without thinking, "It's in your back pocket, I saw it when you bent over to reach into the fridge." "Thank you Teekkone." She answered pulling the phone out and placing it and the pancakes onto the table,
"Checking me out, Teekkone?" She smiled watching his reaction. "Not at all, I was just observing the things around me, and the main thing I was observing was you." He told her smiling. "Really, what did you observe?" she asked, again watching him.
He looked around like he was embarrassed, she took that time to observe him as well. She saw that he was definitely noticing her. Just like her heart rate increasing, she noticed he really liked her. "Just observing a Mabray that is very beautiful and as off yesterday, not just a friend but a girlfriend."
Molly walked over and kissed his forehead again. Sidestepping him, she pulled out the chair and sat beside him. Tooey moved his chair closer to the table and picked up the syrup and handed it to Molly. Smiling brighter, she poured some onto the short stack on the plate.
For the next few minutes, she explained what she had found at the Mumford residence. "Trini's going to freak when she sees her mother." Molly nodded her agreement as she was chewing. "I thought we could go over there, but since her mother's there we should give them time alone." Molly said after swallowing her mouthful.
"How are we going to get the chair over to Trini's?" he asked, looking down at the chair. "I checked the weather for the next few days, no snow, and Mr. Rowley and Mr. Patak, have mowed most of the snow, so there are paths we can take that have no snow, or very little snow to impede us."
"Oh, that's good. I have a question, and can I ask a favor Shaeeyaa? he asked coyly. Intrigued, she nodded while she continued chewing her next bite of pancake. "Does it embarrass you helping me? He asked watching her.
"At first it did because I know you are kind of shy, and I didn't want to put you into any bad situations. Right now, though I am over it." Molly countered. "Why are you over it.? Tooey wondered aloud. "Think about it Teekkone, we grew up together, we've known each other since we were toddlers. We've bathed together, just because we're more grown, this is no reason to be embarrassed."
Tooey listened as she explained how she felt about their relationship. "You had a favor you wanted to ask?" Tooey took a deep breath, "I need to take a bath, and the braces need to be cleaned since I have been sweating with them on." Molly smiled, "Sure, how do you clean them? Can they go into a washing machine, or do they have to be washed by hand?"
"I'll call mom and ask her." Tooey said, picking up the phone and dialing Atsaq's number. A few seconds later, "Dr. Ookami speaking."
"Mom, it's Tooey, can the braces be put into the washing machine, or do they have to be hand washed?" "Hand washed, a machine would remove the protective coating of the braces."
"Thanks mom, we'll hand wash them, bye." "Teekkone, you can't use the dryer to dry them, they have to be hung up to air dry." Atsaq said into the phone raising her voice. A moment later, Molly intercepted the phone. "Got it Atsaq, no dryer. We'll see you after you return with Trini, bye."
Getting up from the table, Molly placed her plate into the sink. "Ready Tooey, Let's get you upstairs." Molly told him as she pushed the chair closer to the stairs. Once there, Tooey stood and waited as Molly helped him upstairs. Molly noticed he had a smile on his face. "Are you enjoying this Teekkone?" Molly asked smiling.
"Of course, I am, I am hugging my Shaeeyaa." He told her also smiling. Molly just shook her head "Just like I am hugging/carrying my Teekkone." Both smiled as they took each step one at a time.
Daniel watched as Atsaq checked her vitals as the plane reached its cruising altitude. "This is going to be a good time for her. Joy wished she could have been here when we were trying to find and rescue them. She felt helpless just watching from the sidelines." Daniel mentioned as Atsaq put her instruments away.
"How long until we reach Qyah?" Daniel asked looking around the dark landscape. "About another four hours, and ten minutes." Layla mentioned looking at the instruments. "How can you tell where we are without Big Sulky? How are you able to navigate? Everything looks the same from up here?" Daniel asked again looking down into the darkness.
"Years of repetition make this trip easier and easier each time I fly." Layla said laughing slightly. "Daniel, I have watched Layla go from the young girl I grew up with, to one of the most important people from Qyah. Her contributions are what keeps Qyah on the map."
"I am just grateful for you and Layla's and everyone else's help dealing with this situation." Daniel mentioned. "We are a family. Despite the names, we are all family. Qyah is a family of people that work, play, help, and need each other. You came to the right place when you, Trini and Joy came to our small community." Atsaq told him beaming with pride.
"Niner, Niner, Victor, Alpha, clear sailing to Qyah." They all heard coming over the radio. "Niner, Niner, Victor, Alpha, roger." Layla replied. A few hours later Layla expertly guided the plane towards a cleared runway.
The plane touched down with hardly a bump. Daniel was relieved since he feared that a hard landing would jostle Trini. Layla, however, brought the plane down as smoothly as humanly possible. Once stopped, everyone disembarked, and Walter appeared from the trading post and helped move Trini from the plane into the storage room of the Trading Post.
Daniel and Walter place the gurney against the wall. A few minutes later, Atsaq and Layla entered the Trading Post from the back entrance. "Daniel here's a blanket, place this over Trini, the trip to your place will leave her in the cold for a few minutes."
Daniel placed the blanket over Trini, taking a few moments to tuck it in so none of the cold air could affect her. Once Trini was safely covered, they rolled the gurney out of the front of the Trading Post.
Joy looked out of the window every few minutes once she had seen the plane landing behind the Trading Post. Glancing at her watch, she sees that they had arrived just a few minutes after the time she had been told.
Watching the Trading Post, Joy noticed the movement inside the building, and her heart jumped when she saw Daniel, and Walter guiding a gurney containing her daughter on it. As they drew closer, she saw that Trini was bundled up almost like she was when she was born nine years earlier. "Oh, my babies." She said aloud as they approached the door.
Getting up quickly, she opened the door for them as they wheeled in their precious cargo. Walter and Daniel directed the gurney into the living room.
Joy watched as they unbuckled her, and Daniel lifted her up and carried her towards her room. Joy followed and opened the door and turned down the covers as he placed her onto her bed. Joy replaced the covers, placing them just below her chin.
Joy then turned and walked over to the desk and placed her chair right beside her bed. Before she could sit down, Daniel tapped her on the shoulder and motioned for her to come with him. Looking back at Trini she reluctantly followed him.
"Welcome home Joy. We're back." he told her, opening his arms as she ran into his embrace. "I missed you two very much. I really wished I could have been here to help," Daniel smiled as he hugged her harder. "We had it under control, you know the old saying "It takes a village," well it took almost the whole village to get them back here."
"I am sorry she had to go through this. I talked to Molly earlier and I know that Tooey and her are okay. The only one I had not seen is in her room right now. Should we have lunch or wait for Trini to come to.?"
Atsaq told me she would wake at about three." Daniel stated looking at his watch. "We have about twenty minutes before she would start to come around. So, we can have lunch while we wait, since I don't think she'll be hungry when she wakes once she sees you." Daniel advised her leading her to the dining room.
Joy returned to the refrigerator and removed the platter she had prepared for simple sandwiches since she had no idea if they would want something light or heavy coming from the hospital.
Placing it onto the table Daniel and Joy made a sandwich for each of them and Joy prepared another one for Trini, placing it onto a plate and covering it with a towel.
After they had eaten, Joy walked back to Trini's bedroom and Daniel carried an extra chair so they both could wait for her to wake up. Entering the room, they noticed that Four-Spots had snuggled up to Trini. Smiling, they caught up and talked about what they each had to deal with during the recent ordeal the kids had to endure.
"Now that she's home, she has to take a few medications both for pain, swelling and potential infections." Daniel said holding her hand. "How big of a scar is she going to have?" Joy asked looking at Trini. "The staples are from below her sternum up to about half-way up her ribs."
Joy sucked air in through her teeth. "That high, can it be seen?" She asked looking at her daughter. "It's a fairly big surgical site, hopefully not once it heals. I'll ask Atsaq when I see her next." Daniel reassured her.
Trini pulled in some air loudly halting any further conversation. Her next breath was not as loud but just as deep. She fidgeted a few moments, not opening her eyes. She instinctively moved her arms and pulled her dog up to her face. Feeling his fur on her face she immediately opened her eyes and sat up.
Having moved so quickly, she fell back onto the bed since she had a headrush that left her very dizzy. Four-Spots not missing a beat, climbed onto her chest, and started licking any place on her face not covered by blankets and sheet or clothes.
Smiling, she wrapped him in a stronger hug. "Four-Spots, I missed you so much." She remarked looking up and seeing her father and mother. Her mouth fell open, and she almost threw Four-Spots off of the bed as she tried to move to the edge and get to her mother.
She was stopped as her mother met her at the bed. She was wrapped in a hug of her own as both Daniel and Joy wrapped her up. "Trini, don't move so quickly, you might get dizzy." Joy admonished her. Ignoring her mother, "Moooooommmmmm!" She tried to scream but couldn't because of her face being on her mother's chest.
"Trini bear, I missed you too. I am glad you and your friends are all home and healing." Joy told her through her tears. "When did you get here?" Trini asked, once she was able to lift her head from her mother's chest. "I arrived here a little while ago. Layla flew me in from Fairbanks. She offered to take me to the hospital, but I told her I wanted to surprise you here at home."
"You did," still holding her mother. Four-Spots started barking, "I think someone feels they may need more attention." Daniel said, pointing at Four-Spots. Looking down, she reached for him and again pulled him into another hug. "I am sorry Four-Spots I could never forget you, but this is mom, and I have to show her I missed her too. So don't get jealous."
"Hungry Trini?" Her stomach growled as her mother asked her. "Yes, I am but holding Four-Spots while you two hold me is good for a little while longer." Trini mentioned smiling. "Okay Texas but then you need to eat something." Daniel smiled reaching for her sandwich.
Yupik Dictionary
Waquaa! – Hello
Aana – Mother
Tua-I-Ngunrituq – Goodbye
Tuntuvak – Moose
Quyana – Thank you
Gwich'in Dictionary
Shgguya – My grandchild
Ti'yaa – My father
Dak Niighit – "She rises into the air" Layla Mabray's Native name.
Shchada'a – My grandfather
Dinjik – Moose
Khoh t'án - Rose
Shahnyaa – One who informs us – Molly's native name
Shaeeyaa = Shimmering Stars, comic book hero created by Molly.