by Lamb, Lynn
When we got to the building, we spread out and looked inside the open windows. Some of the furniture seemed to have made it through with minimal damage and the kitchen looked great, considering.
We carefully passed the broken glass and went inside. On the left of the entry was one of those rolling metal chair racks, with around 30 folding chairs still hanging on. We each took a corner and rolled it outside toward where Joseph waited.
“This is a good start,” I said. “I think everyone will be happy to have the meeting out here, anyway. We’ll get a group together to clean up inside right away.”
We proceeded to set up the chairs facing away from the warming sun. Mark went back inside and emerged with a rolling, wooden platform that functioned like a stage. I ran over and helped him move it to rest in front of the chairs. Next, he brought out a dry wipe board with some markers. This place was perfect for meetings. I guess I knew that when I went to talk to Ed No-Last Name that day.
I went inside to scope out what else we could use. I came to an office, and on the heavy desk still stood a wooden name plaque. Ed Smith. Smith, it figures. “You will always be Ed No-Last-Name to me,” I said out loud.
I rejoined the growing group, and sat in a chair that had been placed on the stage. Hershey, who had followed us the whole way, took his place beside me, but rather than lying down at my feet, he sat and watched as the people filed in. He acted like all of these people were coming together to see him; that he was in charge. Part of me wishes he were.
I watched each face as it came down the hill and toward the crowd. And even though there was so much destruction in our midst, almost everyone had a smile on their face when they viewed the gathering of their living neighbors.
At 9:00 AM on the dot we started our first in-person meeting
“Hello,” I stood and spoke in the loudest voice I could muster. As I did, I saw the Colonel make his way down the hill. He was the last to join us, of course.
I was surprised that he was actually rather good looking. I had only seen him once, while he drove by. He shook Mark’s hand as he politely stood to greet him. And when he stood by Mark, I was surprised at how short he was, too.
“For those of you who recognize the voice, but not the face, I’m Laura Balous and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see every single one of you.”
An unexpected cheer rose from over forty of our neighbors. They came in all different shapes, colors, sizes and ages, and every single one of them was a beautiful survivor. I had to stop and compose myself before going on.
“Sorry, just a little farklempt,” I said with a smile, my hand to my throat. A little cautious laughter came from my audience.
“Most of us probably never thought that we would make it to this day. We have all been released from our tombs,” I waited while they let out a bigger, knowing cheer. “I know that things don’t look the same anymore. As much as we tried, we could not have prepared ourselves for this.” I felt the mood change as my words became serious.
I continued, “And although we have not been able to look each other in the eye during this time, we have surely pulled each other through our darkest hours until this moment. We have been each other’s support, teachers, friends, and family. I can’t wait to get to know each one of you personally.” Again, the loud cheers came, this time with a roar.
I had been practicing the speech nervously in front of the mirror all week, but as I stood there, my stage fright disappeared. The faces looking up at me were warm and understanding. They were also the faces of people who were desperately looking for someone to lead them. Simply put, they wanted to trust me, so they did.
“As I look out over the scorched and broken landscape that used to be our beautiful home, I hurt. And I know you do, too. As far as the big picture, I am not sure where exactly we go from here. I can’t tell you that we can clean this all up and make it just the way it was. You know that, too.
“What I can tell you is that if we work together, we might survive for a while. And I can only hope that we might even find a way to continue to do so into the future,” I looked at the faces that now wore a hint of disappointment. They wanted me to tell them that we will do more than just survive; they wanted me to tell them that everything is going to be just as it once was; I wouldn’t lie to them.
“I don’t need to tell you to not give up hope. If you had, you wouldn’t be sitting here today. We all survived our first test. But I suspect that is just one of many more. But just because we made it through the dark and back into the light, it does not mean that we are destined to continue. All we can do is work hard, and work smart.
“So, today we will be breaking into smaller groups so that we can get right down to business. Liz and I compiled a bio of each member of the neighborhood, and from that we placed you all into groups where it made sense. These lists will be taped to the wall of the building. I know that this has been called ‘The Lodge,’ but now it will be called ‘Town Hall,’” I handed the lists in my hand to Liz.
“I would like to now introduce you to Colonel Phillip Jackson. He has been an important part of us all coming together,” I said. Jackson walked up on stage, shook my hand and gave me a strange look. Do I look different than he thought I would? I thought he said he had seen Mark and I before.
Just before he began to speak, he turned and stared into the distance. I followed his gaze until I saw what looked like a small parade of ants in the distance. As if on cue, our audience craned their necks and gasped.
It was people, more survivors.
They had heard our noise, the noises of life, and had begun to come out of their homes and make their way toward us. They were dirty, disheveled and bewildered.
“Come,” I screamed out. And they did.
Now, in front of an audience of at least eighty five people, I stood. I was dumbfounded; unable to speak.
“Hello, neighbors,” said the Colonel. He seemed unfazed by the large number of people who had joined us. Had he expected them?
“I am Phillip Jackson, and this is Laura Balous. She has been leading a group of us using walkie talkie channels from our homes. Please join us.” I don’t think that the fact that he left out that he was a Colonel in the Army was an oversight.
Mark had already started to bring out some more folding chairs with some of our others. He beckoned them to sit down, and with startled glances at our group, they did.
I composed myself and continued on. “Welcome, neighbors and friends. Please have a seat. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”
And I was.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Part I of the Survivor’s Diaries, Monte Vista Village (Book I). I hope you have enjoyed the novel so far and that you will download the entire book when it comes out. It is due for release in January, 2014.
So, what is next for our survivors?
In Part II and Part III, our friends find that coming out of their homes isn’t as easy as they had thought; their real work is just beginning! Now that our characters come face to face with their neighbors, they find more action than they could have thought possible. And the Colonel and Laura are about to butt heads even harder as their visions for beginning a new world don’t quite mesh.
Are our friends ready for a non-stop ride of ups and downs? Please read on and find out. Trust me, you don’t want to miss the surprises, twists and turns that are to come. So, don’t leave Laura and the gang hanging…
Please stay updated on future release dates of the series by signing up for email updates (don’t worry; you won’t be spammed to death):
Website: http://www.thesurvivor-diaries.com/
And please “like” the Survivor Diaries Facebook Page, where you can chat with fans of the series, find release updates, and much more:
https://www.facebook.com/thesurvivordiariestalkpage
Thank you again,
Lynn Lamb
Vista Village, Toxic Soup (The Survivor Diaries)
