Jon Smith

by Richard Proctor

  “Well that will make a nice meal for a wolf or coyote” said the man.

  “Dad, this is one hell of a buck, are you going to mount the antlers in the house” the boy asked

  “How about we put them over the front door on the inside” replied the man.

  “Hey that would look good” the boy said.

  “Well let’s get going to home so we can get this buck skinned and hung to start cooling” said the man.

  The two tied the buck onto the pole and then began their trek to the vehicle. At the truck the buck was laid into the bed with all the care of a chef preparing a fine fillet.

  The truck began the roughly 20-mile journey toward the homestead which was a journey that was comprised of well-maintained dirt roads through the forest that held place in the valley. After about five miles the two passed the first homestead which was a plot of land with a nice cabin that was spouting smoke out of the chimney.

  “We ought to take some of this meat down to the Johnson’s” said the man.

  “You know the old man broke his leg not too long ago and I bet he is short on meat”

  “You think if we take him some Mrs. Johnson will give us some of her pies” said the boy.

  “Well she might son but we shouldn’t expect something for caring for other folk. We do what we do out of what we believe, not that we expect something in return” said the man.

  The truck was moving along the dirt road of the valley, passing the homesteads of the folks that dwelled there. The truck slowed as it came upon a man out in his yard busy with chores.

  There is Johansen out there splitting up some wood” said the man.

  “Hey Mort, can you cut up a cord for me” yelled the man out the truck.

  “Sure but what you got in exchange” retorted the Swede as he approached the now stopped vehicle.

  “Hey that is one nice buck” the Swede said.

  “Yep, got him this morning, now we are on the way home to get him skinned and hanged”

  “You going out this year for Elk” asked the man.

  “You bet I am” replied the Swede.

  “You going out alone this year again Jon or do you want to join us on a group hunt” asked the Swede.

  “You know I hunt alone, but maybe I might consider going with you guys this year” said the man.

  “Well you let us know ok” said the Swede.

  “You doing ok with the wood or should I send that lazy lot of a son of mine down to help you” said the man.

  “No, I am good but I sure remember last year when Chris helped me with that tree that came down. He ain’t so lazy as you think” said the Swede.

  “Yea he can swing an ax when he gets a hankering” said the man.

  “Well you take care Mort. See you Sunday at the field?” asked the man.

  “You bet I always look forward to the game” replied the Swede.

  With a waive, the journey was back on course. Another ten miles and the truck took a right and down a long drive came to a halt in front of a stately cabin.

  The cabin was of a design best known as Appalachian. A tall gabled roof sat over a multi room dwelling made for just such a location. A porch adorned the front of the abode and was covered by the front end of the roof. Two nice sized windows marked the front with a large oaken door with a blackened door handle and locking mechanism. The front porch sported four comfortable looking wooden rocking chairs that no doubt had been the place of many stories and many libations.

  The two presently parked the truck to the side of the house and promptly stepped up the front stairs onto the wooden porch. With a turn of the key the door opened to the snug cabin.

  The interior of the cabin began with a short hall inside the front door. To the left were pegs that held various coats for all seasons. From heavy winter coats to hunting fatigues to light fleece jackets. To the side of the coats were various cubbies that held hats, gloves and mittens. On the right side of the hall was a small bench that was used to sit when removing muddy boots. On either side were more cubbies that stored various boots and shoes designed for all types of weather and activities.

  The short hall opened to what could best be termed as a great room. The wood floors of the cabin added to the rustic décor which included a collection of deer heads, antlers, and a large mounted elk head over the stone fireplace to one side of the room. To add to the flavor of the home was a various collection of German beer steins and other items one might find in a dwelling ruled by men.

  Toward the back of the great room was a dining area with a large wood table that was surrounded by eight chairs. To the left was a kitchen with adequate room to prepare meals fit for the inhabitants. A large wood burning stove with burners and two ovens served for meal preparation. A large sink stood inside one counter while there was another that had numerous containers lined toward its rear. Cabinets above the counters no doubt held plates, cups, glasses and spices. To one side was also a door that opened to a small pantry where canned goods and necessaries such as rice, oats, cornmeal, flower and such were kept.

  To the left of the great room an open-door lead to a bedroom that was fit for its master. The room contained a queen size bed with warm blankets and comfortable pillows. To either side were bed side tables that sported nice electric lamps. A dresser was beyond the foot of the bed, the reciprocal for clothes. Atop the dresser were a few pictures and a candle lantern. To the left of the dresser was a closet where hung britches, shirts, and other clothing for the life of the master.

  To the other side of the great room was a door that was closed but no doubt lead to another room. The elements of which remained behind the shut portal. To the left of the door was a small desk on which sat a device much akin to what would have been termed a computer and was connected into the wall with cords but remained off.

  To the back of the room was another small hall. The first door to the left was another bedroom somewhat laid out like the master but with a smaller bed and a bit more clutter as it was the domicile of the young man. Across the hall was a similar abode that contained a comfortable double bed that served as a guest bedroom. Not that the two had many guests but one always needed to be prepared.

  The final small room to the left was a utility room that contained a water heater, a large basin for washing, and a contained an area that was used for battery storage for the electric power for the house. While many things in the new world were not that great, there had been some developments that allowed folks to truly move off of the grid. One such invention was very effective and long-lasting solar panels, capable of producing enough electricity to power the needs of the cabin. Also, the batteries could store at least three days of power if the weather did not permit much sunlight.

  “Dad, you want me to switch on the power”

  “No hold off until we get the deer around back and prepare it for hanging”

  The back of the house held a porch with inlaid stones for a floor. To the right was a good sized fireplace with a grill to the left that with properly raked coals could produce a great spit for cooking steaks. The center of the porch was covered with a roof. To the left was another area covered with a roof but had a beam across with two cables with hooks that were used for stringing up game. The floor below had a culvert that was stained red from blood.

  Beyond the porch just into the woods was a small stream that served as the water source. A small electric pump was covered with housing and pipes long ago buried and brought water to the cabin. There was also an out building that contained an area for the hanging and aging of meat. In addition, there were two large freezers that contained ample stores of frozen deer, elk, turkey, hog and small game birds.

  The entire homestead was a self-contained habitat that supported the two men year-round. In a large sunny patch were remains of a well planted garden that no doubt provided ample vegetables in the warmer months. Th
ose same vegetables would be canned and stored to make due for the months of snow.

  The valley in which they lived contained many such settlements. Roughly two hundred people lived in the area and all had left years ago from the life that had become civilization. They moved off the grid per se, to find a life of freedom, a life of self-resilience. It was a life where they made their own decisions about how they would live.

  And so, Jon and Chris Smith lived this life and enjoyed the bounties and the hardships that it brought.

  “Son let’s get that deer and bring it around back.”

  “I’ve got the knives ready”

  The two hoisted the deer out of the truck and carried it around to the back porch. It wasn’t long before they had it hanging by the rear legs, head down and ready to skin. Jon took his knife and began cutting along the legs, peeling back the skin and fur of the deer. He continued to cut through the sides and over the back stopping at the neck. With slight scraping along the remainder Jon was able to detach the rest of the hide which left a shining piece of fine venison hanging from the hooks. The head was removed and the skull cap, with antlers severed from the head.”

  “Set that in the cooler Chris to dry so we can mount it above the front door”

  Afterwards the two unhooked the carcass and carried it to the out building where again on another set of hooks hung it to age. The deer would hang there in the cooler for a couple of days until the meat had a nice glaze on it. Then it would be cut up into various steaks, roasts, and ground up into burger and sausage meat.

  “You hungry boy?”

  “I sure am”

  “Let’s go in and have some lunch”

  “Sounds good dad, how about leftover sausage and biscuits”

  “Yep and I sure need a cup of coffee”

  The two went in and laid some wood in the stove. It wasn’t long before there were sausage and biscuits heating in a Dutch oven with some left-over coffee heating in a pot alongside. Presently the two sat down to enjoy a late lunch.

  “Dad we are going to the game tomorrow aren’t we”

  “Of course, son, I wouldn’t miss our weekly football game for anything” “It is part of what we do, part of who we are”

  “Yea dad I know what you mean” “Aren’t you getting old though for all that abuse”

  “I will show those guys what abuse is tomorrow”

  The two finished their meal and set the dishes in the sink.

  “I think we need to go out and finish splitting up that tree we cut down.” “We can never have enough fire wood”

  “Sounds like a job for the rest of the afternoon huh Dad”

  “Yes, it will take us until dark, but that will sure make the Saturday night steak and taters taste good won’t it?”

  “That it will dad”

  As the sun began to set on the end of a Saturday the two were just finishing stacking up the wood that they had spent the afternoon splitting. Splitting wood is the kind of work that makes a man proud. Using your muscles to cut, split and haul wood for hours builds character and allows a good hearty beverage afterward.

  “Son would you go to the cooler and pull us out two cold ones”

  “Sure dad”

  Shortly after the tools had been cleaned and put away the two were resting on rocking chairs on the front porch drinking a cold well-deserved beer.

  “Well it has been a good day Chris”

  “Yes it has and this is a good beer.” Glad I turned 18 so I could start drinking”

  “Although since there are no restrictions here why did you make me wait dad?”

  “Well, it just seemed like the age where you start becoming a man and can handle it”

  “After dinner can I turn on the I to see what the news is?”

  “Yes, for a little while but I don’t know why you think you get news from it, frankly it is all controlled propaganda”

  “Used to be the information you got through the I or as it was known, the Internet, was more factual and less propaganda. It was the broadcast news that was slanted. Now it is all slanted since they passed that Fairness Doctrine act. All that law did was it allowed the bureaucracy to squelch out any criticism and thus stop people from hearing anything that could sway them against what was happening.”

  “You mean there was a time when the I was not controlled by the government dad?”

  “Yes, in a time when more people had their own mind and beliefs. Fact is you were about 10 when it all changed and the changing is why you and I are here now. We called it going off the grid but I call it keeping your liberty and freedom”

  “Well enough of my philosophizing, let’s just enjoy the end of the day and then go in and fix dinner”

  As the sun set the two made their way to the kitchen and began preparing dinner. Jon pulled out a nice Elk steak and cut up potatoes that he placed into a seasoned pan.

  “Son, go out and get the fire going outside.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Shortly a nice fire was going in the outside fire place and soon it would create the coals necessary to cook the evening meal. In about thirty minutes there were some golden-brown potatoes and a nice seared steak on the platter which the two men sat and readily devoured.

  After the dishes were put away Chris settled down in a chair in front of the desk and turned on the PC. Within minutes the machine had booted up and the programming brought up the screens that were the drivers for the I. Net broadcasting was accomplished through many ways and one of them was satellite. As such the cabin had a southwest facing satellite dish that was used to pull in the transmissions. It was only designed to receive though and not to be able to be used for out communication since the bureaucracy could do reverse searching to determine origin of transmission. There was no sense in taking any chances even though the residents of the valley had never been bothered by the urban dwellers down below.

  All at once the sound was on and pictures were coming across the screen.

  “Ok Chris what is that thing talking about.”

  “Well dad it is going over some key data about how the region and the world are doing.”

  “Productivity is at a high level and it says that population happiness is high as is based on recent polling.”

  “Polling” sneered Jon.

  “Yes I knew they would get to a world where everything is measured by a poll. I wonder if they poll people on enjoyment of going to the bathroom?” joked Jon.

  “Now the regional governor is talking about how there needs to be more economic fairness and that all inhabitants of the world should be a valuable member of the society”

  “I wonder what he means by that dad.”

  “It is probably just more useless political drivel but you never know.”

  “Chris, turn that thing off, as I said there is nothing useful to get from that.”

  “We get better news from the old shortwave that the Doc has than that piece of junk.”

  “Son, don’t you find it strange that they talk about the happy society but fail to mention the ongoing wars in what we used to call Africa and Asia?”

  “We only know about that from shortwave and the free radio.”

  “Yea dad that is true. I guess they only tell people what they need to know.”

  “And now my son you are learning the meaning of propaganda.”

  Chris powered down the machine and stretched and yawned.

  “I think I am going to bed so I can be ready for the game tomorrow.”

  “I am not far behind you son. I want to be ready to whip the Bears tomorrow how but you.”

  “Yea dad, you bet.”

  “Goodnight dad.”

  “Night son, sleep well.”

  Not long the cabin fell into darkness as the two men took to their rooms and shortly were sound asleep.
/>   Another day done.

  Chapter 3

  When one gets outside of the lights and the sound of the city, the senses in a human become more acute. The sleep is deeper and the waking a welcome start to a new day. The pleasures of life become enjoying a cup of coffee on the back porch and watching the world come alive. On this Sunday morning that is where the world finds Jon Smith, sitting on his back porch enjoying the first morning cup of coffee. All one can hear is the sound of the stream trickling by. Slowly the birds begin to wake and welcome the first hint of dawn. The chill of the air lends itself to the turning of the leaves.

  All at once he notices some movement to the left and then two elk cows enter into the small field just to the left of the cabin. A few moments later the senses and smell detect the pungent odor of the elk and out steps a magnificent bull behind his cows. He sports seven large tines on either side and is truly the beast of the woods. Jon begins to get the feel for the elk hunt that is some three weeks away.

  Thus it is a morning in the woods and mountains that is truly living a life of simplicity and freedom. A life where one works hard, hurts, and yet has the time to sit and enjoy the beautiful points of life.

  As the sun rises, the cold air begins its battle with the warming rays of the sun. The frost on the ground reflects the rays of the new day and gives hope to all that view it.

  “Well I guess it is time to get the boy up and get some breakfast on the stove”

  Jon enters the cabin and knocks on Chris’ door.

  “Up to it, a new day has met us and we have a game to play.”

  “Ok dad.”

  “How about hot cakes for breakfast.”

  “Sounds good.”

  With the stove already warm it is not long before the cast iron skillet is greased and hot. A few minutes later produces a plate of the most sumptuous looking hot cakes one has ever seen.

  “Dig in boy, we need our strength today.”