EMP Causality

by Michael Kravitz

  In the sitcom of The Odd Couple, one scene has Felix (a neat freak) going into Oscar’s room (a total slob). Oscar was under his covers. A pile of clothes and debris was on his bed. Felix was trying to wake him. Thinking that he was shaking his head to wake him, Felix was shocked to realize that he was touching his feet. So he left the room just to breathe. Oscar got up in his baggy shorts and went to the bathroom. Oscar then brushed his teeth and gargled with a can of beer. Although it was funny as heck, it showed how opposites can coexist. William knew enough not to be a controlling person. In William’s heart, he knew Fred and his wife were not evil. William had enough evil in his life. Now he was very concerned with Fred’s health. As Ben approached William, he knew there would be answers. Hopefully, answers that would help solve William’s concerns.

  “Morning, William,” Ben remarked

  “Morning, Ben,” William replied with an air of caution.

  “I see Fred is still yelling at the squirrels,” Ben said with an air of amusement.

  “It’s the never-ending story,” William said as he smiled.

  “You’re doing a great job with him,” Ben responded.

  “Thanks,” William kept it short, hoping to get rid of the opening salutations.

  “Well, William, I did not see Officer Ryan. But I did talk at length with his wife.”

  At this point, William decided not to ask questions. Ben was going to tell him the important info without asking.

  “It seems that Officer Ryan is pulling duty at the prison. They lack staff there and use a few state troopers to fill in. I decided to talk with Ann. Being both his wife and a state trooper would give me a good start. The two of them really work well with each other,” Ben stated as William just listened. “It seems a road trip is in the works. She commented that she would talk to her husband about Fred. I do want to warn you, William, this next road trip is not going to Maine,” Ben replied with a little trepidation.

  “Maine is the only tent city I know of . . . north of here?” William asked with curiosity.

  “Yes, north of here. There is one in upper Michigan, but the one she is talking about, is Southwest near the Mississippi River.” Ben said, as to just put it out there.

  “Southwest? William asked. “Besides, having to go on a long trip, I heard it was dangerous.”

  “Yes, William, I heard the same report on the survival radio as you,” Ben replied in a serious tenor.

  “Fred really needs to see a doctor. I will await Officer Ryan’s visit. Hopefully, it will be soon,” William commented. “Thank you, Ben.”

  “No problem, you have a tough decision to make,” Ben said with sadness.

  At this point, any further discussion with Ben was useless. Ben understood William perfectly. With his mission accomplished, he continued his journey home. Arriving at his house, he found several of the neighbors near the fire pit. He approached the area with caution. Hopefully, he would not be tarred and feathered. Salutations were given to Ben from many of his neighbors. To his shock, he received a “Good morning” from his wife, Alice. She said it without looking at Ben. She also continued to prepare the morning chores. The war is not over, but at least there is a truce, a step in the right direction.

  Over the next several days, there was an uneasy peace. As long as no one bought up the family feud, there was coexistence. Instead of following the yellow brick path, everyone needed to avoid the land mines. That said, it still remained a step up from no communications. Like any storm, being in the eye provides only a brief calm. Soon a few leaves fluttered with a new and gentle breeze. One could feel the change.

  While William and Ben awaited Officer Ryan, Jessica was hoping to receive some word from Joshua. Alice’s point of view was dramatically different. She saw Humpty Dumpty completely shattered (her family’s structure). She wanted to cement the pieces back together very carefully. Even though she sided with her daughter Jessica, Alice knew there would be no family without Ben. Hence, the cool salutation when Ben returned from Officer Ryan’s house.

  The only smart one was Randy. He took the right attitude: “I know nothing.” He made no deep conversations with any of his family.

  “If I were Randy, I would walk to the house that look like in Wuthering Heights. Then I asked the drunk if I could visit him for a while. Say about, I don’t know, maybe three weeks.” The drunk would hand him his own bottle of whiskey. Next he would tell Randy where the bathroom is. You know, where he can crawl to so he won’t fall. As they say in Canada, “pretty dismal, eh?”

  The second half of the storm had begun. It was more bark than a bite. First, Jessica was getting restless. Several days without Joshua was like going through withdrawal. She needed Joshua to be whole again. Family is family, but to her, Joshua was the future. She wondered countless times how Joshua was feeling “right now.” As the lyrics in the Meatloaf song go: “What is it going to be boy, yes or no?”

  And he better not say, “Let me sleep on it.” Without cell phones, it is really torture.

  Jessica was pacing in her bedroom. She had to go to the rock that was just past William’s house. How can she walk there by herself? It would start another flare-up with her family. Who can she walk with? Hmmm . . . her mother? Corny.

  How about her brother Randy? Awkward. She could walk with Mr. Henderson’s son. After all, he really liked her. But no, that would be using him. She had been down that road before. How about the drunk? It would have to be before noon. After noon, he would be crawling. Maybe she could put a leash on him. She could be practicing walking a dog. There has to be an answer.

  Sometimes the Lord answers in mysterious ways. She went to the fire pit to get some coffee and eggs. Seeing her dad gave her the chills. She was not in an accepting state of mind toward her dad, at least not yet. She sat some fifty feet away. Poor Ben, he must feel like a man with a contagious disease. When she sat down, she found herself next to the union man and the divorcee’s daughter. Jessica was now emotionally attached to Joshua. It seems the divorcee’s daughter is in her own predicament.

  Mr. Henderson’s son, Steven, being turned down by Jessica, has turned his hopes toward the divorcee’s daughter. But she, due to her own mother’s social steering, was interested in Randy. Randy is Jessica’s brother. Gads, I know what you’re thinking. You think this is complicated and turning into a daytime soap opera. Trust me, it’s not.

  Feeling a little awkward at first, the divorcee’s daughter started to talk to Jessica. At first, Jessica seemed annoyed with her. She let Jessica know that Steven was sending out vibes to her. She has feelings for someone else. Hmmm, Jessica thought, there is no else in this concentration camp (at least that’s how she now views her living conditions).

  “Someone else?” Jessica said. (She thought it better that it not be her dad. She would definitely leave this concentration camp.)

  “Yes, Randy,” the divorcee’s daughter said.

  “Randy, my brother,” Jessica spurted out as she gagged on her coffee.

  “Yes, he is polite, caring, and highly intelligent. I think about him a lot.

  Jessica was now totally distracted from her own sorrows. She wanted to tell her that Randy was in love with his Buick. After they get married, Randy better sleep on top. If he slept on the bottom, his new bride (the Buick) would crush him. Like her dad, Jessica composed herself. Crap! she thought. Her dad is messing up her life; she does not want to mess up her brother’s life. After all, her brother has always been kind to everyone.

  Poof! A light went off. No, strike that. A whole gaggle of lights went off—enough lights to light up a ball field.

  “Let’s go for a walk,” Jessica said to the divorcee’s daughter. “I don’t want to talk in front of other people. Just one minute. I will tell my mom, so no one will be nervous.”

  “Okay,” the divorcee’s daughter explained.

  Damn, Jessica thought as she pinched herself while they walked toward William’s house. It’s a triple play. She can help the divorcee’s d
aughter, her brother Randy, and herself all at the same time.

  Meantime at Joshua’s collaborative, it was a different situation. The only one who had an issue with Joshua was his father, Daniel. He feels Joshua did not use common sense, going on a road trip with an underage girl. Now Daniel feels his son has caused a real problem. Not only is there tension between Daniel and Ben, but this is a reflection on Daniel himself. Being a father of both a girl and a boy, Daniel understands how Ben felt. Still, Ben had no right to confront Daniel.

  Fact is, Joshua being twenty-two, is of legal age. The bottom line: Joshua did secure a gas generator for their collaborative. And the whole collaborative is grateful to Joshua.

  What is really strange is Joshua’s mom likes Jessica, and she is a hard lady to please. She has her PhD in psychology. Most of her friends live in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She did attend a university in Cambridge and set up a practice nearby. There are well-renowned colleges and universities in Cambridge. It is a highly liberal city; perhaps more liberal than San Francisco. Her friends are on the same mind-set as she is. It is the reason she will not make friends in her local community. It is Jessica’s beauty and charm that impresses her.

  Oftentimes, she is at odds with her husband, Daniel. Both have a strong personality. One might say that two type A personalities do not mix well. Jessica approached her on that day. Jessica took an interest in Joshua’s mom’s books and her writings. It is something that no one in the community, or one of Daniel’s friends, has done. Jessica did try and smooth out a trying time. She hopes that her son and Jessica can have a lasting relationship.

  It is tiresome to see her son with so many different woman. She blames her husband, Daniel, for this atrocious habit. Joshua did explain to his mom what happened on their road trip. But Joshua did leave out the encounter in the hot tub. Both Joshua and Jessica will keep that a secret. What would there to be gain by telling anyone? It was a beautiful moment for the both of them. It was the first time that Jessica spent a night with any man. They had encountered danger on the trip. Jessica and Joshua depended on each other. There were no cell phones or police to protect them. Here on the East Coast, the place resembled the early Wild West during the 1800s.

  Being in the hot tub with Jessica was different than all the other women in Joshua’s life. After all, Joshua was at the top of his game: tall, good-looking, and spoke a number of languages. These qualities made him appealing to women. He really enjoyed his popularity. Even his father was proud of his son.

  It was that particular road trip that really affected Joshua. It was to be a quick trip down and back. If they did not engage in those firefights, perhaps it would be just a day trip. When Jessica was sitting next to him, he felt good. The EMP strike really has affected everyone. Staying inside of a home all the time, one can get cabin fever. With cars littering the roads everywhere, Joshua was blessed to be driving a jeep that works.

  Like in a Mad Max movie, Joshua and Jessica went on that road trip together. Joshua could see that she really looked up to him. She needed Joshua to protect her. Staying at his friend’s house that night will live in both their minds forever. Making love in the hot tub was emotional and special for both of them. Although she did not conceive that night, Joshua cannot stop thinking about her. She is a few months short of legal age. That thought haunts him. He never asked her, but deep in his soul he knew.

  The EMP strike is both a curse and a blessing. If the EMP strike did not happen, he would not of meet Jessica. If the EMP strike did not happen, and he did an overnight with Jessica, he would be in a jail cell with some unsavory characters. Joshua has not really interacted with his other collaborative members. They only know Joshua has helped them. Not only did he produce the gas generator, but he takes them to the armory for food and medicines. It is only his father that is giving Joshua a hard time. He has told Joshua to stay away from Jessica. Trying to reason or talk to him would be useless. Joshua is of legal age and his own person. Discretion is the better part of valor.

  Both the physical and emotional bonding with Jessica was strong. He does care for her. In his mind, he wants to do the right thing. Joshua has been around making a good living and dating females when it suits him. He understands that Jessica has not had that experience. Would Joshua be robbing her of her youth? How disappointed would her father (Ben) be? He promised Jessica that he would leave a note under the rock near William’s house. Not to leave the note would cause even more pain to Jessica, perhaps even death. She has lost some serious weight. If anything happened to her, he would not forgive himself. I am also sure neither will a lot of other people.

  Stress, too damn young to have all this stress. What a paradox. Joshua’s dad hopes he never sees her again. His mom is already planning for the wedding. As Joshua paces back and forth, indecision is eating at his soul. Too young to have wrinkles (Botox anyone?), time to get off the pot. He will write a note. He has to have some honor, or what kind of a man would he be?

  With his father by their fire pit, Joshua headed for the house. Seeing his mom, is always a pleasant encounter. Walking in the front door, he noticed his mother on the sofa reading a novel. As long as his mom was in the living room, his father would stay away. It’s kind of like putting garlic and a few crosses to create a safe zone. Not that his father is a vampire, but at least there would be a temporary truce.

  Joshua went to the desk. He grabbed a pen and paper. His head was spinning. Dear . . . Nope, maybe that is too impersonal. My dearest Je—damn! How to start? Joshua clasped his hands behind his head and rocked back and forth. At that moment, his mother glanced up. She looked at Joshua and uttered.

  “Truth dear, just the truth,” His mother decried in a soft but deliberate voice.

  “Huh?” Joshua said in a puzzled tone.

  His mother just looked at Joshua with a half-smile, but a smile just the same. She then went back to reading. Joshua was stunned. How could his mother possibly know what he is doing? Holy crap! Joshua thought. Maybe females are more in touch with their emotions than men. Maybe it’s time for him to grow up. Now Joshua unclasped his hands. With paper and pen in hand, he says to himself. “Truth, I will just write the truth.” With emotions running high, Joshua’s words started to flow like Niagara Falls:

  My Dearest Jessica, to say that I don’t think about you every waking moment would be a colossal lie. During the trip we took, no matter how much danger we were in, you were my guardian angel. I did not plan to spend the night with you. Perhaps the Gods intervened in my master plan. The time I spent with you was precious. Sometimes it is hard to face reality or the truth. I kept my feelings about your age, in a denying state of mind. Your family, your upbringing, it is of a purity that is hard to find. From this point of view, I understand your dad’s anger (my dad’s also). In my short few years of working, I have experienced a lot. To say that I do not want you for the rest of my life would also be a colossal lie. Yet I do not want to rob you of your youth and future, to experience a world outside of your home and family, mostly of you having a chance to meet other men. The EMP strike has certainly changed our lives. We both saw the power lines being put in the State of Maine. It is a matter of time before they come to us. To be with you always, is really screaming from my heart! I know you are living in a tense and fluid situation. It is only a few months before your magical birthday. Selfishly, I would like to run off with you. Where would we run to? How would we survive? To save your honor, I would like to approach your dad. I am not asking for his forgiveness or blessing, but just explain the dangers we went through. You are the first woman I have ever fallen in love with. I will write once a week. As strongly as I feel for you, I also feel strongly that I must confront your father.

  —Love Joshua

  With a sigh, Joshua put the letter in an envelope. He went into the kitchen and got a plastic baggy. With the letter sealed, he put it into the plastic bag. Without even looking up, his mother did another half-smile. Holy crap, thought Joshua, it’s like he was followi
ng his own mother’s playbook. Joshua walked outside, his hands on the plastic bag. He then put it in his back pocket. Looking at the sun, he knew it was getting on to late afternoon.

  The army jeep that was on loan is for trips to the armory. The armory is the only place where anyone can get supplies. Since the EMP strike, all pharmacies, stores, even churches have been looted; many of them set on fire. It is a sad state of affairs that those who possess evil in their hearts cause so much pain for the rest. Cargo planes that were equipped with a Faraday shield are flying in supplies. They have also bought in some planes from the unaffected areas, mainly anything west of the Mississippi.

  Joshua knew his father was watching. What? Am I under house arrest? There are two cardinal rules for the jeep: one, someone has to ride shotgun; two, there has to be a least one firearm inside the jeep. The jeep was old, long before electronic ignitions. They have tried to bring in a few more jeeps on the cargo planes. Trouble is, it takes so much room and weight. The space and weight is needed for food, water, and medical supplies. When the jeeps do come in, there is a priority list. Military, police, and hospitals usually grab them first.

  Joshua’s dad (Daniel) has taken the keys. Daniel usually asks another collaborative member to accompany him. Like a forward scout on patrol, Joshua was taking in his options. Being grounded was his father’s motive. No sense to show anger; it will accomplish nothing. Not wanting to show his hand, Joshua kept his cool.

  Today was not the right time to do anything. After all, he just came back from Tent City. As he was milling around near the fire pit, he grabbed some food and water.

  As Joshua was sitting and eating his supper, other neighbors approached him.

  Everyone wanted to know about his trip to Tent City. Mostly, they were all hungry for information. As Joshua started to tell his tale, many more of the collaborative neighbors gathered around Joshua. He was in his element.