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As the days unfolded into weeks Seamus tried to learn more and more about his new home in California. He had plenty of time to walk all over what he discovered was locally known as Bull Valley. He thought that this was a particularly odd name for the area until one morning when he was hiking up a hill overlooking the Carquinez Strait. As he was admiring the view of Mount Diablo in distance, he heard a curious sound just over the next knoll. He headed over to investigate and was confronted with the sight of several rather sizable cows. They generally seemed to be ignoring him, but Seamus was not going to take any chances. After saying to himself, "Oh dear, cows!" he quickly hopped over a fence and headed back to town. They may not have been bulls, but Seamus decided that they were not worth agitating

As he headed back into the main area of Port Costa, Mrs. Martin, Beatrice's mother, saw him coming down the street. She had been heading for the Port Office down by the railroad tracks. She called out to him,

"Seamus, you look as white as a ghost! What's going on?"

"Ah, Mrs. Martin, you wouldn't believer what I've just seen. I was waking up in the hills and while admiring the beauty of it all, all of a sudden there were these cows. I thought for sure that they were going to attack me, but I hopped over the fence and now I am here."

Seamus did not appreciate it too much when Mrs. Martin laughed at his story. He was trying so hard to fit into his new home and he was worried that she thought he was some ignorant country boy from Ireland. Mrs. Martin could see that Seamus was not amused with her reaction, so she put her hand on his shoulder and said,

"Listen to me now, Seamus. You've just met some of the other residents of this valley. A lot of farmers graze their cattle on these hills. Now you know where our beef for dinner comes from and where the milk that you drink comes from. But they won't hurt you, I know that for sure. Just like they startled you, they were most likely startled by you. Just don't make any sudden moves. Talk to them like we are talking right now and you can continue to walk all through the hills. The bulls are way over on the other side of the road leading down to Crockett. You do not need to worry about them!"

Seamus smiled at Mrs. Martin,

"Yeah, well I guess it must have been something of a sight! Here I am with my bright red hair looking at a very black cow! I wonder what she must have thought! Well, next time I just have to be a little more careful. But, Mrs. Martin, can I ask you a question, do you know where I can get a job? Paul goes into Oakland every day and sometimes it gets pretty boring. I want to do something and start to make some money. I must take care of myself and see what I can do to help my Ma and family back home in Ireland."

Mrs. Martin thought for a moment and then asked,

"Seamus, what did you do in Ireland? What job did you have there?"

Knowing that Beatrice was still going to school every day at Port Costa School, Seamus was very embarrassed to say that he did not have a job back home. He told Mrs. Martin that shortly after his father died the previous November he dropped out of school as he began to prepare for his journey to America. He told Mrs. Martin that his sister Yvonne had not approved of his leaving school and had told him many times that he needed to finish his education. He told her that he was glad to see a fine school so clase to his home with Paul, but he just did not know what to do.

Mrs. Martin smiled at him and told him,

"Seamus, right now you must not worry about school. I agree with your sisters that you need to finish your education, but right now it is too late. School will be finished in a couple of weeks. Maybe next year you can do to school, but we can think about that later. Right now, what can you do?"

Seamus' face lit up as he told Mrs. Martin that his father had been a carpenter in Ireland. He continued,

"In fact, he was one of the best. We weren't wealthy like the fancy people in First Class on the Baltic, but we were ok. Da used to teach me some things about being a carpenter. One time he built a shed for Mr. Walsh before he came to America and I went over a few times to be with my Da. I just tried to help and bring my Da nails and whatever he needed. But Paul was so funny because he used to tell people that I built the shed and my Da just helped me."

"Anyway, he taught be some things about being a carpenter. I can't build a house by myself, but I can help build one. Or maybe I could help people fix things that are broken at their places. Something like that maybe."

"So you are a carpenter, are you? Well, come with me. Outside of the Post Office there is a board where people put notices and sometimes they ask for help with some kind of handyman job. Or sometimes people like you leave notes up if they are looking for some kind of job or another. Come on with me right now."

So Seamus walked with Mrs. Martin down to the Post Office. On the way he told her more about his family back in Ireland and how he had dug his father's grave. When he had had breakfast with the Martins that first Sunday that he was in Port Costa, he had told them all about his voyage. Now, Seamus figured, he needed to tell her more about his family. Maybe, he thought, this would help her know him better so that she could help him get some jobs from the people in Port Costa.

When they arrive arrived at the Post Office Mrs. Martin showed Seamus the bulletin board and helped him write a note that he proudly posted.

Mrs. Martin felt that this was a perfect note and she promised to make sure her friends knew that Seamus could be trusted. With that she left him to complete her business. Since he was at the Post Office he asked the man behind the desk if it was possible for him to write a letter and send it to his family in Ireland.

"Young man, this is the place! Write your letter and bring it to me and we'll get it going."

Seamus had been in America for almost a month and he had not yet written to his family and friends back home. He did feel very guilty about this so he immediately went back to his room and Paul's house and found some paper and a pencil and began to write his first note back.

Seamus read his note several times and finally went back down to the Post Office.

The man behind the counter helped him address the letter back to his family in Ireland. He gave the man 25¢ to buy the stamp and proudly licked the stamp and affixed it to an envelope. Hoping that the man would not notice him, Seamus kissed the envelope and handed it to him. He then told that man that he had just put a note on the board and if he heard of anyone who needed help at their home, he would be much obliged if he would tell them that he, Seamus Gilchrist, was the man they needed to help them. The Post Office man promised Seamus that if he heard of anything he would send them up to Paul Walsh's house.

That evening, after Paul returned from the train station in Oakland, Seamus was very excited, almost as excited as he had been when he first arrived in Port Costa. Seamus told Paul how he was looking for work around town and how he hoped that this might mean that he could help Paul buy food and other things and become independent.

Paul smiled and said,

"Seamus, don't worry about food and things. I have a good salary from the railroads and I have nobody else to take care of. My dear Clare and I were never blessed with any children so I guess you can say I'm all alone. I just want you to take care of yourself and like your mother told you after your father died, have a good life. Whatever you do, don't worry money and things. I will be happy when you take care of yourself."

Now Seamus was not sure what to think. He had thought that Paul would be as excited as he was about looking for work, but he almost seemed to be unimpressed about what Seamus was trying to do. Paul noticed Seamus staring blankly at him and so he hastened to reassure him,

"Seamus, my boy, you are doing a great thing. If you work all of the time and earn lots of money, nobody would be happier than me. I just do not want you to think that you have to pay me anything. I knew your mother and father back home and that makes me feel almost like family. Just do the best you can and let the Good God take care of everything else. Ok?"

Seamus smiled and said, "Ok!" Even though he was still not too sure how Paul was really feeling about his finding a job and earning some money, Seamus resolved that he would earn some money and give him some rent, if he could afford it.

As it turned out, Seamus' ad at the Post Office, and the word that Mrs. Martin spread about him, was very successful. People asked Seamus to come and help with all kinds of small jobs around Port Costa. He repaired fences and built small sheds for firewood. He helped several families prepare their gardens so that vegetables could be grown to feed their families. Seamus was told several times that he was a very reliable young man and they were glad to have him in town. They always wished him well and promised to call him again. Naturally, this pleased Seamus and before long he had some money saved up. One evening, after dinner, Paul said to Seamus,

"Seamus, tomorrow I have to go into Martinez and you need to come with me. I will take you to California Savings Bank and you have to put your money in the bank. It will be much safer there than it is at home. You can get money any time you need, but at least you will not need to worry about loosing it. All right?"

Seamus had heard his father talk about the bank in Cahirciveen, so he knew that this was a good thing to do. He wanted to send some money over to Ireland immediately, but he also knew that he did not have enough to do that yet. If he were to send money so soon, maybe his mother would worry that he had stolen it and he did not want thoughts like that to worry his mother.

The next morning after breakfast Seamus and Paul set off for Martinez along what the local people called the Snake Road since it twisted around and around on its way to Martinez. The view was wonderful and Seamus enjoyed the trip. As they entered Martinez, Seamus noticed that they were passing through a cemetery. Paul told him that the cemetery on the left side was called Alhambra Cemetery and it was for Protestant people. The Catholic Cemetery was called Saint Catherine's after the name of the church in town. Seamus was worried that this was a much harder place to have a cemetery. Old Dromid Cemetery was flat and easy to get in so that he could take care of his father's grave. Saint Catherine's, on the other hand, seemed to be built up the side of a very steep hill. There was a small path that led to the upper sections of the cemetery, but it just did not look like a nice place.

After Seamus put his money in California Savings Bank Paul got themselves something to eat. After all, he said,
"We've got along trip ahead of ourselves and we need fuel if we're going to get home in one piece!"

Seamus laughed, knowing that he could never refuse something to eat. He missed his mother's cooking and dared to hope that some day she might tell him how to cook some of his favorite things. He also wondered if the girl that he would marry would know how to cook as well as his mother.

As they were coming back into Port Costa, Seamus met Beatrice Martin just as school was getting out for the day. She told him that the school was going to have a party for the end of the year and she wondered if he would like to come with her.

"But I don't go to school. I don't think that they would want me to come."

"No," Beatrice tried to assure him, "They told us that we could invite anyone we wanted and I think you might like to come. Some of the kids in the school do not go to Saint Patrick's and so maybe you haven't met them yet. I'll introduce you to everyone. Will you please come?"

Seamus wanted to come to the school's party, but he was feeling funny that he was being asked by a girl to go to a party. He did not know a lot about things like this. In fact, he really knew nothing about things like this, but he know, so he thought, that he should be asking Beatrice, not the other way around. But what could he do? He wanted to go to the party and since he was not a student at Port Costa School all he could do was to say,

"Sure, I'd like to come with you, I guess. I mean, will people be angry if I come with you?"

"And why should they be angry? You live here in Port Costa and I want you to come. So don't worry about this, ok?"

During the next week Seamus was able to work at a number of small jobs around Port Costa. As his reputation spread, more and more people were calling for his services. Seamus knew that his father would be proud of him if he could see him now in America.

One evening, as he was waiting for Paul to return on the train from Oakland, he sat on a bench at the waterfront in Port Costa and prayed,

"Da, can you hear me all the way from America? I am excited because I am earning some money and making a good life here in America. I'm not rich yet, but I'm not worried about. I just want you to be proud of me. Are you proud of me, Da? I wish that I could take care of your grave back home, but right now I can't. Please forgive me, will you? You know that I think about you often and will you please pray for me. Like I said before, you are a little closer to God than I am! Ok, Da?"

Seamus was so lost in his prayers and thoughts that he almost missed Paul as he walked over to the bench.

"Seamus, my boy, what's wrong with you? Didn't you hear the train come in? Are you all right?"

Seamus just looked up and smiled at Paul.

"Please forgive me, will ya! I was thinking about things and I got lost. Sorry!"

Paul laughed and said,

"Thinking about things, were you? I bet you were thinking about going to that party with Beatrice Martin. You can't fool me!"

Seamus blushed a deep red. He had not been thinking about the party the very next night, but he also did not think that Paul would believe him if he tried to deny it so he let Paul think whatever he wanted. He knew, however, what the truth was.

The net evening Paul walked up the street to Port Costa School for the end of t he year party. Beatrice was waiting at the gate of the school. She seemed very happy to welcome him to the school and as she led him inside, she said,

"I hope that you enjoy yourself tonight."

As a matter of fact, Seamus did enjoy himself that evening. He wasn't sure that this was the "courting" that people had talked about back home, but he decided that this was not going to bother him. He liked meeting some of Beatrice's friends though there was one boy that seemed not to like Seamus just because he was a Catholic and from Ireland. Seamus could never understand people who were unkind for no good reason. Thankfully, Seamus thought to himself, "That's their problem and not mine!"

Throughout his first summer in America, Seamus continued to work at odd jobs. He was so busy with his work that he forgot his birthday at the end of June. It wasn't until they were cleaning up after dinner on June twenty-seventh that Seamus suddenly remembered what day it was and said,

"Damn! I almost forgot something!"

"What did you almost forget?"

"Do you know what day it is?"

Seamus nodded his head and said,

"But what day is it?"

"June 27^th. Is there something else that I am not remembering?"

Seamus started to laugh and said,

"Today I am seventeen! Today is my birthday!"

Paul looked at Seamus with eyes that were wide open.

"You're birthday! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I almost forgot it myself, but it is my birthday!"

"Well, then, my boy, a happy birthday to you! I didn't know and so I don't have a present for you."

Seamus waved Paul off as if telling him that this really did not matter, that there were more important things in life.

"Well," Paul said, "that might be true, but still a birthday is a reason to celebrate and we'll be doing that tomorrow night"

Seamus smiled and continued to clean the kitchen. Here he was in America on his seventeenth birthday. A year ago he was back in Ireland and everything seemed bright and hopeful and then November twentieth dawned and his life changed forever. As he thought about his father's death he started to feel sorrow that his father died and he did not have a chance to say good-bye. He felt bad for his family that he had abandoned them. So many thoughts were swirling around his mind that he decided he needed to go for a walk.

As soon as his cleaning was finished, Seamus headed out the door and climbed a nearby hill. From there he could see in the distance to Mount Diablo. He looked across the Carquinez Strait and saw some buildings of the small town of Benicia. He knew that this was where the priests who took care of Saint Patrick's came from. He looked towards the west and thought of the great city of San Francisco that he had first sighted as the Baltic pulled into San Francisco Bay. He thought of his roommates from Room 104 and wondered what they were doing. He thought about Pat Mahon and wondered how he was getting along. Maybe, Seamus thought, some day I will go with Paul into Oakland and see if I can find him. He thought about is friends Brian and Harry McGinty, Liam Crosby and Pat Fitzgerald. Had they forgotten him already? And what about his family? How was his mother doing? He still thought that it would be good if she would marry Constable Ryan. He hoped that this would be all right with his brothers and sisters.

What Seamus did not know was that this very day his mother gathered the family together for dinner and asked them what they were thinking that day. Of course, they wondered what Seamus was doing on his birthday. Was he having some kind of special celebration with some new friends in America? Had he forgotten them? What was this place in California like that he was now living in? To the Gilchrists Port Costa seemed to be an eternity away. Finally, Margaret broke in and said,

"Ok, all of you, we don't know what Seamus is up to right now, but let's kneel down and say an Our Father and Hail Mary for his special intention and that the angels would protect him in his new home."

Kneeling by the side of the table they began,

"Our Father..."

As Seamus stood on the hill overlooking Port Costa and the Carquinez Strait he smiled, knowing for sure that some how his family was still there for him and with him. After looking around at the grand vista that surrounded him, Seamus made the Sign of the Cross and prayed,

"God, here I am over here and they are all back home. Dear God, please take care of them and let them know that I am thinking about them."

With that he headed down the hill and back to Paul's house.

Throughout the summer Seamus was kept busy with doing jobs for many different families in Port Costa. Not only was he earning some money, but he was also meeting many people and beginning to make some new friends, especially Bob Jones and Carlos Diaz. Once in awhile he and some of the boys would go for longer hikes in the hills surrounding Port Costa. Several times they went swimming in the Carquinez Strait. One day Seamus announced to Bob and Carlos that some day he wanted to swim all the way across the Strait to Benicia. None of the boys had ever done that and they all thought that Seamus was crazy to even think of an idea like that.

"Well, you just listen to me. Some day I am going to swim over there and take a rest and then I am going to swim back here and you guys are then going to buy me the biggest glass of beer that the Bull Valley Inn serves!"

Bob and Carlos laughed and said, "You're on! When are you going to accomplish this feat?"

"I don't know, but when I do know, I promise that you two are going to be there and just make sure you have your money ready because even though I am skinny, my stomach is big and I can drink lots of beer!"

The three of them laughed as they put their clothes on and headed back to town.

One morning in early August, Seamus asked Paul when he would be going into Martinez again. He thought that he had better put more of his money in the bank.

"Seamus, you're a man now. You don't need me to take you into Martinez. You know the way. Just follow the Snake Road and you'll be there in no time."

This both excited Seamus and frightened him. He had hiked all over the hills around Port Costa, but he had never gone into Martinez alone before.

Paul patted Seamus on the back as he said,

"Go and find a friend to go with you and have a good day! I'll be fine and you are going to enjoy yourself. Get going now!"

With this encouragement, Seamus gathered his money together and went out the door and headed towards Port Costa School. From there he would go to the left up the street and turn left onto the Snake Road. Maybe it would take him about ninety minutes to get to Martinez. At least, he thought, it isn't raining!

As he turned onto the street in front of Port Costa School, Seamus met Maria, Carlos' sister. She was sixteen, just a year younger than he was. She told him that she was going to walk to Martinez and see her grandmother, her abuela, who was sick. Carlos had gone with their father to Oakland while her mother was staying home to take care of her little sister who was sick. Hearing that she was headed the same way he was brought a big smile to Seamus' face.

"Well, if this isn't a bit of good luck I don't know what is. I am going to Martinez too. Shall we go together?"

Maria smiled back at Seamus and said,

"Vamanos!"

Seamus looked at her blankly and said,

"Huh?"

Maria laughed and said,

"Oh dear, I'm sorry, Seamus. In my language that means "Let's go!" Say it, will you? Vamanos!"

Seamus repeated vamanos several times as Maria listened to how funny Spanish sounded being spoken with an Irish accent. On the other hand, Seamus was pleased that he was learning so many new things here in America and meeting some people that would be his friends just like his friends back in Ireland.

Finally Seamus stomped his foot and said to Maria,

"Vamanos, then, let's get moving. Times a wasting!"

With that Seamus and Maria headed to the Snake Road and on into Martinez. After Seamus went to the California Savings Bank on Front Street, he and Maria headed over to her grandmother's house. It was even smaller than Paul Walsh's house in Port Costa, but he felt welcome in Mrs. Diaz's home. Maria's grandmother only spoke Spanish and so Maria had to translate every thing for him. That was a little awkward at first, but soon enough he almost didn't even notice. As friendly as Mrs. Diaz was, Seamus was not too convinced that he would enjoy the food he was served. Of course, he had never seen tamales before and the green sauce that was served over them looked very funny to Seamus. He knew, however, that he had to be polite and so he simply said, "Thank you" when a plate was set before him.

Maria's eyes brightened as she said,

"Now there is some more Spanish that you must learn. Say "Gracias!"

With hesitation Seamus repeated "Gracias" and then asked Maria what that meant.

"In my language it means "Thank you!" Say it again, Gracias!"

Seamus smiled and looked at Mrs. Diaz and said, "Gracias!"

Mrs. Diaz shuffled over to Seamus and kissed him on the cheek and said,

"De Nada!"

Seamus looked to Maria with a questioning look and she told him,

"You're welcome or It's nothing!"

When Mrs. Diaz made the Sign of the Cross she said some words Spanish that made Seamus think back to Ireland and all of the words in Latin that Father Kennedy used to say at Mass and when he blessed his father's gravestone. He too made the Sign of the Cross and repeated amen when Mrs. Diaz's prayer was finished. With that he began to eat his first Mexican meal in America. While he wasn't sure if he liked it too much, he cleaned his plate, looked at Mrs. Diaz and smiled,

"Gracias?"

"Si, hijo, si! Usted esta un chico bueno!"

Seamus had no idea what he had been told, but since Mrs. Diaz was smiling he thought it must have been something good. He stood and said to Maria,

"We had better get going back to Port Costa or else your mother will worry about you."

"No, she knows where I am and so it's all right. But I guess we had better go home. Adios, Mama!"

With that She went over and kissed her grandmother, Seamus smiled, and out the door they went. As they headed back to Port Costa Maria asked Seamus what he thought of his first Mexican meal.

"Well, I do not know what to think really. It was pretty spicy and tasted different from anything I have eaten before. I really had to drink a lot of water and now maybe you'll excuse me for a moment."

With that Seamus hurried into the grove of trees. A few moments later he came out and smiled and said,

"Sorry about that, but I did drink a lot of water!"

Maria just smiled and continued down the Snake Road towards Port Costa. As they went along the road they were laughing and telling stories about their lives before they came to Port Costa. Seamus had not felt this relaxed in a long time and for that he was grateful. At one point when Maria seemed to trip over a rock in the road, Seamus helped her steady her feet. As they continued down the road Seamus held her hand telling her,

"I don't want you to fall and hurt yourself."

Maria smiled at him and said nothing. She too was enjoying being with this Irish boy. When they reached her home Seamus did not really know what to do so he shook her hand and said,

"Well, maybe I'll see you again soon, ok?"

"Thank you, my friend. I hope so! Adios! Good-bye"

"Gracias!"

Together Maria and Seamus laughed and Seamus headed back to the downtown area and towards his home. At this time life in America was not bad. Seamus still missed his family and friends back in Ireland, but he never could have imagined that he would have a wonderful day like today last year. Maybe, he thought, the angels are watching over him like Ma always prayed.