Apple said what I was feeling, and what the others probably were, too. “I’m kind of sorry we’re done,” he said. “I mean, that we’re through being together as a construction team. I want . . .” He stopped as a knot traveled up his throat and back down.

Then Nate said, “Apple, your problem is that once the whole company arrives, there’ll be too many guys for Pops’s wife to bake pies for.”

“That’s it,” Apple said, “what I was going to say.”

Chapter 20

As guys began leaving the mess hall, Major Garrett said, “Moss, Sam, you two got a moment?”

I turned back, puzzled, but along with Sam answered, “Sure.”

The major motioned for us to sit down again. Then, elbows on the table, he said, “I apologize for holding you up, but tomorrow’s likely to be so busy, we won’t get a chance to talk.

“As you know, the CCC has several goals—top among them to provide jobs and training while accomplishing important conservation work.”

Sam and I exchanged glances. “Why were we hearing this again, now?

“It’s an ambitious program,” the major went on, “and it works partly because CCC’ers themselves help run it. There are provisions for promoting the best of the enrollees to administrative and leadership positions, and with the main company arriving, I’ve got a couple of slots I need to fill.”

He turned to Sam. “One of them is running the canteen, and I’d like you to take over that.”

“The store, you mean?” Sam asked, referring to a counter and small stockroom we’d built at one end of the rec hall.

“That’s right. It’ll need to be open from seven to nine every evening,” the major answered. “But the job’s more than selling candy bars and soda pops. You’ll have to track inventory, do the ordering, keep the accounts. Not by yourself, of course. You’ll get guidance from my staff, which will be enlarged come tomorrow. And you’ll be assigned another enrollee who’ll help you at the store window and take over on your nights off.”

I nodded, figuring that’s where I would come in.

But then the major turned to me. “And, Moss, I’d like you to take a junior leader slot. You’re young for the job, both agewise and in CCC experience, but I believe you’re up to it.”

I was so surprised I hardly knew what to say. I stammered something like a thank-you. “But I’m not . . . I’ve never . . . What would I have to do?”