Next World Series (Vol. 1): Families First

by Ewing, Lance K.

  “Bullet went right through and near as I can tell didn’t hit anything vital. Missed your femur bone too. It will take some mending, though. James also brought his old crutches over. They will help you get around for the next week or so.”

  They came from the back of the trailer and the smell of cooking meat was unmistakable. James and Lauren had cooked up a huge spaghetti dinner on two portable Coleman stoves that James brought with him, complete with meat sauce and a large garden salad.

  “Good timing,” chimed in Lauren. “Dinner is about to be served.”

  “It smells incredible,” reported Jason. “The girls love spaghetti!”

  The garden salad was full of fresh vegetables, including cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, several types of lettuce, and an Italian-style dressing that was clearly homemade.

  “Look, Mommy! Yummy carrots and lots of other stuff,” giggled Candice.

  “Not a lot of kids like vegetables!” declared Janice.

  “All three girls do. We used to have a little garden at our last home,” Lauren added. “We always had fresh produce, at least when the season allowed.”

  “Our ranch is just down the road a few miles,” said Janice, giving James a wink, “and we have two large greenhouses.”

  “So you can grow year ’round?” asked Jason.

  “Exactly,” stated James, “but it takes a lot of hard work to keep them running properly and producing,” winking back at Janice. “There’s a lot of work with the cows and chickens as well.”

  “If you ever need any help, I would be more than happy to try and pay you back for helping us out today and reminding me of what’s truly important in this next world.”

  “We will stop back by tomorrow, if it’s OK,” replied James, “and we can maybe talk a bit. Sound good?”

  “Absolutely,” agreed Jason. “Let’s pray.”

  Dear Lord, thank you for this most special of days. I was blind, but I am seeing clearly once again. Thank you for these two special people, who cared enough to bring me home and share this bountiful meal with our family.

  Please watch over us all. It is in your name we pray. Amen.

  “Amen” came from around the table.

  “Can we pleeeaase have some basquetti?” asked Jenna. Everybody laughed and had a great meal just talking about the girls, their favorite movies and children’s books.

  “This is my favorite book,” said Jenna, crawling up into Janice’s lap. “I know what it’s called. It’s The Super Great Adventures of Rico the Monkey-Tailed Skink. It’s about a funny lizard called Rico. Can you please read it to me?”

  “That’s up to your mother, honey.”

  “Sure, but please don’t feel obligated,” suggested Lauren. “Not at all,” replied Janice, and began to read aloud.

  James felt content. It was time to be going but he wasn’t about to rush his wife of 35 years, looking as happy right now as he could ever remember.

  “There’s plenty more food and bottled water in the bags,” James told Jason. “I’ll leave you one of the stoves and some fuel. We should be back by later tomorrow morning, after morning chores, if that works.”

  “Sure,” replied Jason. “Any time; we are up early.”

  James and Janice said their good-byes and rode down the road. “Oh James,” whispered Janice in his ear on their way back home… “I know, honey…I know,” he replied.

  * * * * * * *

  Chapter Twenty-four ~ McKinney, Texas

  I was on the radio, pulling the 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. shift. Hopefully I would be talking to David today. I spent the first hour just listening to conversations across the country. I didn’t feel like engaging anyone with the limited time I had this morning.

  It was clear that things were getting worse. I figured the steady migration out of the cities would be in full force in the next two weeks.

  I tuned in to channel 1455 at 9:15, according to Jake’s pocket watch. He, Lonnie and I were taking bets as to whether David would actually come online. I was 50/50 myself.

  At 9:28 a familiar voice called, “You there, old buddy?”

  “That I am,” I responded, “and a couple of my friends are on also.”

  “Lonnie and Jake here,” they added.

  “Hey guys. I’m David, and only half of what Lance has told you about me is true.”

  “Ha!” I replied. “I only told them the good stuff, so it was quick!”

  “My smart-ass brother from another mother. It’s been too long, Lance.”

  “Yes! I guess James made it by.”

  “He did. Rode up with his wife, Janice. He’s not too far away. I may be able to do some work with him down the road.”

  “I figured there was a good chance you got out of town recently and headed to your parents. I guess I owe James some guns,” I added.

  “Yep, he’ll be happy to have them, I’m sure. So what’s the plan, old friend?” asked David. “You know I’m happy to help in any way.”

  “Thanks man. Well, we’ve got a group of just over 30 headed right through your area to Northern Colorado in a couple days,” I told him. “We could really use a good pit stop half way, in Raton.”

  “Sure. We’re just getting organized up here but we’re glad to help. You remember how to get to my parents, Lance?”

  “Yep. How are the roads up there this time of year?”

  “Well, the main highway is always pretty good, but the bridge down the road we used to hunt near can get a little dicey, depending on the weight crossing,” replied David.

  “We’ll be with trailers, so we’ll just have to see,” I offered.

  “Once I have an idea when you’ll be getting here, I’ll meet you down there and we’ll figure it out.”

  “Sounds good, David. I’ll reach back out on this channel before we head out. It could be four days to a week until we make it over to you. I’m just not sure how it’s going to go.”

  “I understand, brother,” stated David. “We’ll take it a day at a time. You still making those pantyhose sprouts?” David asked.

  “You know it,” I replied. Growing up on the Ranch, I learned how to make sprouts in quart-sized jars. We used cheese cloth for the tops. David had a girlfriend when we were roommates in college that had an idea to use a part of her pantyhose for the lid parts of the jars. It worked perfectly and I used the pantyhose option from then on. We made sprouts every other week for years. When you can turn four tablespoons of seeds into two pounds of food in four days with just water, it’s always a good idea to practice.

  * * * * *

  Jake and I got Gigi from her former owners, who were eager for a change.

  We headed down the road to secure the cars. We brought a .30-06 rifle and a 9mm pistol with 100 rounds of ammo for each. Gigi was in tow, along with her collar, leash and ten pounds of dog food.

  The trade for the cars was quick and we were agreed on both sides. I wasn’t upset about getting rid of Gigi if I was being honest, and the old man was happy to have her.

  We now stood at five vehicles and two trailers, just two days from heading to Colorado. I stood out on the back porch with Lonnie. Jake and Mike, who were playing nice lately, were also there and pointed towards Dallas and the pillars of smoke in all directions.

  “That’s happening right now,” I commented, “and it will drive the masses out in all directions over the next days and weeks. This house, my house, will have a new owner in the next week and will likely be burned a week after that.”

  It was a sad thought, but I had been there before. “A house is just that,” I said to the small group. “It is shelter and convenience, but it is not a true home. Home, our home, is where we lay our heads with our families—be it a house, a tent or a car. Our group will need a good pep talk before we head out… It’s going to get rough and we’re not all going to make it to the other side.” We agreed to gather the adults in the early afternoon.

  It was decided by the ladies that the kids would provide the lunch today.
“This should be interesting,” quipped Lonnie. “Ice cream and cotton candy!” replied Mike.

  Thankfully the hotdogs were fairly easy to keep in the cooler. “We made hotdogs,” said Jax in a five-year-old’s singing voice. “And tater tots too!” exclaimed Veronica. “Don’t forget the Mac and Cheese!” added Suzie.

  “Where’s my steak?” asked Lonnie in a serious voice. “It’s a kids’ lunch,” replied Hudson. “It’s just fun stuff that we like.”

  “I’m good as long as there’s ketchup,” I interjected.

  Just a couple weeks ago, while listening to an audiobook called Sex Money Kiss, by the frontman for the ’80s rock band Kiss, Gene Simmons, I heard him say he put ketchup on everything. I feel you, man, I thought. Everything is better with ketchup.

  Before the next world started, I was actively trying to lose weight, using a combination of a lipo laser at my office and better meal habits. Now, I thought, it’s not much of a concern. I’ll be more worried about putting on calories in the next few months!

  Everyone was having fun with the always-patriotic hotdog-with-mac-and-cheese lunch. “The kids are getting along good,” Lonnie pointed out to me.

  “Yeah, I’m sure they sense what’s going on in a certain way,” I suggested. “I really think it brings them together. Look at all the toys my boys have upstairs... It’s crazy. They don’t have a clue of how many there are; neither do I. That’s not including the Kindles, Leap Pads and other electronics they used to have. And now we have Veronica and Suzie, who came here with not one toy, and they are thriving. Once we’re on the road, there won’t be more than a couple toys, books or stuffed animals for any one child. They will be forced to bond even more.”

  “It’s not a bad thing,” said Lonnie. “Agreed,” I replied.

  We gathered the group after lunch, including the children. They were, after all, a big part of the reason we were leaving and deserved to have a child’s version of what was about to happen.

  The kids were all excited to go on “a great adventure,” as Nancy put it. To them we were heading out on a caravan of fun and adventure. The adults knew better. And those like myself, who have been through the mountains, were at least glad it was May and not December.

  We started inventorying our supplies, including the full carts from Central Market, CVS and Lowe’s, as well as what I had stored previously in freeze-dried food containers and everything donated by each family in the group. Tina and Kelly logged everything in a spiral notebook, down to the ounce.

  We had more than enough to get to Saddle Ranch, but didn’t want to show up empty-handed either. “And who knows what may happen on the way?” questioned Jake. “It probably won’t all be roses and fucking sunshine,” added Mike.

  Vlad and Lonnie agreed to inventory all of the weapons and ammunition, including the ones from his shop and all personal ones.

  We had a quick meeting with just the adults. “This trip is going to be the hardest thing most of us have ever done,” I stated bluntly. “There is a good chance not everyone in our group will make it to Colorado. We are a large, diverse group with a lot of firepower. That is both a blessing and a curse, depending on the situation and who’s involved. We don’t want to give any secrets away and we are not looking to add to the group along the way.”

  “We will only divulge our firepower if it’s absolutely necessary, and it may be,” added Jake.

  I continued: “Every man and women will be armed at all times. No child under the age of 14 will carry a weapon. Tomorrow we will have an introduction to firearms safety for any man or woman who is unfamiliar with this or just wants to brush up on the proper use and firing of their carried weapon.”

  “Won’t that just draw unwanted attention?” asked one of the men. “Yes, it certainly could,” answered Lonnie, “but right now not a lot of people are going to be running towards gunfire. And we’ll be gone the next day anyway. We don’t want any friendly fire accidents on this trip,” he added.

  The men decided to give the ladies in the group one last night to relax and enjoy each other’s company. All of the ladies gathered in the master bedroom with bottles of wine, while the men cooked dinner and watched all of the children.

  Lonnie and Mike worked up some dinner magic on the grill, using the last of the freezer meat before it went bad. “We’ve got a hodgepodge of food all thrown together,” announced Mike.

  I smiled, reminded of occasional dinners I would have with my mom on Saddle Ranch when I didn’t want to go up to the main eating Pavilion. I would ask if we could have “that kind of supper,” meaning whatever we could throw together that looked good.

  “It’s called ‘that kind of supper,’” I told Mike, “and I’m sure the kiddos will be happy. And the ladies have enough wine to be good with whatever you boys come up with!”

  Jake and I had all of the kids corralled upstairs in what used to be the boys’ playroom and was now sleeping quarters for about eight people. Every child now had two toys they could call their own, and the rest were shared equally among all of them. I was proud of my boys when Veronica and Suzie first showed up. They told the girls they could each pick two toys for their own and nothing was off limits. Little Suzie ended up with one of Hendrix’s favorite stuffed bears and an old-school slinky. Veronica opted for a kids’ Bible and a large dolphin from Sea World. All the other kids had brought their favorites from home.

  “Wait until we tell the ladies about the suitcase weight limits!” joked Jake, laughing. “That’ll be fun,” I added. Joy bought me one of those handheld suitcase-weighing scales a couple years ago, but I never used it because all of her bags were over the 50-pound limit anyway. I was always the poor guy transferring things from one suitcase to another at the airport ticket counter. “Well, there won’t be much use for high heels or fancy clothes where we’re headed,” added Steve.

  Lonnie and Mike had whipped up a hobo’s meal fit for a king. Hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, and pork shoulder with ranch-style beans and canned corn. The gunshots in the distance were now at seemingly regular intervals every five minutes or so. “Things are heating up out there,” reported Lonnie, “and every day there are more fires.” “Exactly why we can’t stay,” I added.

  * * * * * * *

  Chapter Twenty-five ~ Weston, Colorado

  James and Janice finished the morning’s chores after a good night’s sleep.

  “I told Jason we would be back later this morning to talk about things,” said James. “It’s always just been you and me, Mama, but these are different times. I guess what I’m saying is that, after yesterday, what do you want to do? What will make you happy, my dear?”

  “We always wanted a big family,” replied Janice. “We prayed on it so many times. It just wasn’t in the cards or the right time, I guess. Now we’re older and probably grandparent aged. I know we just met that family yesterday, and under the worst of circumstances, but I feel a connection with Lauren and the girls that I can’t explain. Jason is growing on me too, although much slower.”

  “I saw that,” echoed James. “They are in a bind for sure, especially when the food runs out. Jason and Lauren are able-bodied—once Jason recovers, that is—and seem motivated to take care of one another. Let me talk to Jason today, and then you make the final decision in what we do next.”

  “That sounds good,” she agreed. “James, you’re a stubborn but humble, good man, and I love you for that. I know they will too.”

  At about 11 a.m. James and Janice headed to the Jason homestead. They rode the horse today they named Ranch Hand. When they arrived Lauren was with the girls, who were playing with dolls, out in front of the trailer.

  “Hello!” yelled James, as they entered the driveway.

  The girls screamed, “Mommy, they’re back, and they have a horsey! Can we have a ride, pleeeaaase, Mommy?” asked Jenna.

  “You would have to ask our new friends,” Lauren told her.

  “I would be happy to take them for a ride,” declared Janice. “
Ranch Hand is a sweet old gal and would love to give each of you girls a ride.”

  “Is Jason around?” asked James, as he dismounted the horse.

  “Yes he’s waiting for you just inside.”

  “Hey, Jason. How are you doing?” asked James as he entered the trailer. “I’m great, James. Couldn’t be better. We had a hearty breakfast this morning, thanks to you and Janice.”

  “Well, that’s good to hear. What’s the next step?” asked James.

  “I’m not sure,” replied Jason, “but from this point on I’m going to support and defend my family with honor and dignity.”

  “I’ve got a couple spots on my ranch for the right folks,” offered James. “We have a lot of work to be done and could use some help. I’ve got to vet it by Janice but here are my thoughts.