by Ron Foster
Thankfully Roland and crew came back before we started trying to evaluate how much our bodies were worth for science and who had the rights to them before they got back.
“What the hell or you all buying and selling now? We waited outside before you all quieted down before coming in. David I thought you were big on security, I could of infiltrated your perimeter a 100 times while you were picking on Bernie” Roland said putting me in my place and getting each others frowns turned up the right way.
Sarah come to my rescue unexpectedly and told Roland that we were not happy unless we were trying to sell ice Cream to an Eskimo or installing a freezer in the Antarctic and for Roland to check his pockets for residuals which caused us all to laugh heartily.
Sarah showed off her treasures that Mary had lent her in the form of beautiful bottles for the medicine show biz we had agreed on and Fred thanked me superfluously for not targeting their domain on a foraging expedition.
“I am glad as hell I know who the BORROWERS are, that cul-de-sac except for our place looks like I don’t know what with those signs everywhere he said laughing about our cardboard graffiti.
‘Keep a sign up my friend, you notice we all got one, it’s better than a no trespass sign these days for the well intentioned. What’s the old saying, my friends? A lock is only good to keep honest people out? Well the signs if they are ignored tells you that person has bad intentions and to respond in kind” I said and must have been looking too seriously, since the ladies winced at my war face.
“ It is time to go down to the dock and grab our shuttle craft to the party, I am going to nudge Jack to get moving on the radio if he is not already on his way.” I said telling everyone to refreshen their drinks and to enjoy such a glorious day of our first Thanksgiving celebration that would be held on this day for possibly the rest of our lives in addition to the customary one.
Jack and I had not got that shutter over the photovoltaic lens set quite right as the light come on a bit early as the sun started to set and the lake light winked on across from the ladies dock where we all awaited our ride from the easiest dock to navigate.
John the engineer spoke first as we all noticed that alien green light emitting from the depths turned on and began its circle of illumination of a bygone era.
“David that is a symbol, just like the Statue of Liberty, it has a meaning and a purpose. In a country without lights and hope it shows that American innovation and resourcefulness will always exist and guide you to the shore where there is hope and a welcome. Good Job! Buddy, lets keep that thing burning forever!” John said committed to my dreams of patriotism and humanity.
“Well said, well said” everyone murmured until getting out of our funk to see Jack rooster tailing a wake with my mom and Lois on board rounding the point and headed in our direction
7
BE AT PEACE WITH YOUR SELF
Jack slowed the boat farther than necessary and came into the dock giving his two smiling passengers time to adjust their streaming hair before meeting us on the pier.
“We got to do this again and again “A cherry Jack hollered out as Lois cast the transom line to Roland and giving us all a laugh as it smacked his cowboy hat almost knocking it off.
“ I kind of thought you would have had Boudreaux on water skis in back of that thing “ I said to Jack while hugging my my mom and helping her out.
“You know that crazy S,O.B. thought about the same thing before your mom told him it ain’t going to happen” Lois said reaching for my hand and damn near wrenching my shoulder or pulling me in the boat as I helped her to hoist herself out.
“That dog of his can dance by the way, it gets up on his legs like he thinks he is a poodle or something and sings in a howl with Roland when he does Cotton Eyed Joe” Jack said getting out of the boat and shaking hands and greeting everyone.
“You left before he had it doing the Bunny Hop with old Bear leading and Beverly getting him to do it chasing a biscuit” Rolland laughed as he slung a bag of what I assumed was beef meant for me into the boat.
“Are you talking about that crazy old hunter and gatherer from across the lake? He attached a big catfish tail to my shirt tail one night in the marina bar as a joke and threatened to kick my ass because I had a problem with his joke a long time ago,” Fred said looking worried.
“One in the same, he is harmless, but he could have kicked your butt if he had a notion to or you crossed some unknown line only known to Boudreaux he calls stepping on his feet” Bernie said laughing at a comical sight of someone standing up with a huge fish tail hanging on their ass, that was probably done to remind someone to remember money means nothing in Boudreaux’s Bayou as he had money in that bar.
“He just likes to play, he can play rough but he is a good fella” Roland said but clenched his fist as if he had a tumble with that wily character before.
“Betty, are you still ok with having me as house guest tonight?” Bernie said to my Mom even though in actual sense those were the terms he had given her his home for him to be able to lay his head down if he ever visited the lake again.
“I live in the guest bedroom, your place is untouched except my dusting. “ Mom said not putting him off but not pleased to share a house overnight with a man who was basically a stranger, even a nice stranger.
“You should have taken that room for you own, but that was awful nice you kept it for me” Bernie said trying to be the total gentleman.
“I might just stay with David, if that would be better” he offered and tried to hold her hand nicely.
“You’re always welcome Bernie. We agreed all of us considered staying in a vacant house at the party; you might want to hurrah a little so David’s place, my place, or over across the lake is fine. I will always be grateful and honor our deal on this cottage; you decide what might be best. Mom advised Bernie.
Hot damn I had not considered Bernie might be sweet on the Old Lady, I don’t think I mind, but that is just too much to think about right now, I considered.
“Stay with me and Roland tonight there is a lot to discuss or cuss about” I told him and gathered whatever was going with us as fast as I could to get underway.
“Want some music for our entrance?” I heard and looked up from securing our baggage to John and his Harmonica and Roland posing with that fiddle.
“Looks like I got me a band instead of a radio, you two know City Of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie for something soft before you crank up good at the party?’
“We can play that’ as John fired up his harmonica and Roland softly picked up the notes and sang.
“Outstanding choice!” Mary said and I settled the boat into a quarter throttle so we could hear with our ears good but it didn’t last long as they started doing the Willie Nelson - Freight Train Boogie when we got closer to the dock and Boudreaux must of heard us coming, because low and behold his band wandered up to greet us playing the same notes as we bailed out of the boat and they stepped to a tune as they escorted us to the party with the kids playing pots and pans the best they could along the way as if we were marching in a parade.
We all laughed and applauded the band and ate a bit of good food and reminisced of what was only an hour or two ago a semblance of what we had not experienced while we were gone from the gathering. The cicadas serenaded the band that was on a break as a musical interlude to the fate of man in the silence of post EMP.
A weary old hound lay down next to me, the fireflies danced before I had a chance too. I thought to myself Life is good today, may it always be so, I am blessed.
And if you ever have to do the Preppers march and end up on some lake side retreat. Let a light be shining to greet you and feed you. From my clan to yours we wish you well, and maybe, just maybe, we will leave a light in the lake on for you. Blessed be to all and to all a goodnight.
I got an old style Coca Cola glass in the mail a long time back from the Tennessee Squires which is a Jack Daniels association I belong to that, and it said on it in b
eautiful black bold script a toast. Actually I got several glasses from them over the years but I will leave you with a couple sayings I picked up from reading these great promotionals.
“May you always ride an easy walking horse, sleep beneath a rain tight roof and eat high on the hog every day of the year.”
May your sons be brave and your daughter’s be marriageable and have the good sense not to argue with your wife”
I bid you ado my Prepper clan of future wanderers of wastelands; I thank you for buying my books. I hope I entertained you and taught you something worthy of thinking about. Pass it on and teach others as that is, who we are or try to be, but beyond that be good to yourself.
The Displaced Prepper
“Stay Functional”
The End of Book Three and My Little Story of The Prepper Trilogy Which Has Finished for Now.
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