No Normal Day

by Richardson, J.

  “Lee, this is Jack. He let me walk with him all the way from the county line”. Jack stuck his hand out and the ex-soldier noticed the gashed arm.

  Lee says, “Nice to meet you. Why don't you come in and let me fix up that arm a bit. You and the genius here, can tell me the story behind that.”

  Jack knew he needed to keep moving but the events of the day had caught up to him. He followed the two into the little house. Not an excess of furniture or decoration, the place was neat and clean. Lee told Jack to sit in the recliner, the best seat in the compact living room and he went to get some first aid supplies. Cody sauntered into the kitchen, came back with a Dr. Pepper and a beer for Jack. Jack said, “No thanks. What I really need is for you to get in that bag again, bring out a bottle of whiskey and pour me about two fingers.”

  Cody pushed his hair behind his ear, “Two fingers?” Jack held out two fingers together to show the kid about how much. The chair felt so amazingly good. He probably shouldn't, it was going to make it hard as hell to get moving again. He needed a shot bad at the moment. Cody came back with a coffee mug, asked Jack to say when. He put the bottle back in the bag and plopped down on the well worn sofa.

  Lee came in, looked at the cup and said, “Looks like you got some medicine”. He cleaned and wrapped the wound and said, “Cut doesn't look very deep, I am sure it will be sore as all get out”.

  Cody with great enthusiasm, told the story of the encounter. He described in great detail and said, “Uncle Lee, you should have seen the look on that A-hole's face when Jack shot him in the foot!”. Jack and Lee exchanged a look.

  Lee said, “Probably not going to get any better up ahead”

  “I think you're right” Jack replied. He forced himself up out of the chair, “I'm not that far now, from home, I have got to get moving. My wife will be so worried.”

  “Just sit for a little longer and rest, we will be sure you get on your way.” Lee and Cody nod to each other.

  Jack eased back into the chair, just couldn't seem to keep his eyes open, soon he was out. He woke up a bit disoriented, Cody shook his shoulder. It had only been an hour but he slept like a dead man. It was dusk, the creeping dark moved in fast and he pushed himself up from the chair. He said, “I've got to go.” Lee stood in the doorway of the tiny kitchen.

  “Hey man, I've got this old four wheel ATV out back. I haven't used it much lately because I don't have a trailer. Not much riding room around this little place. Anyway, I do keep it running. It's not a speedball or anything, I think you can sit on the rack in the back. I have already tied your bag on, got it pulled around front. I can get you home a lot faster than those feet”.

  Jack thinks it sounds better than a cadillac limo at this point. They moved out to the porch, the light was nearly gone and it was eerie to see no lights anywhere in sight. Lee said, “No head lights, so you'll have to hold this flashlight.” Jack climbed on the rack, not real comfy but no complaints. Cody cleared the two front steps, walked over and stuck his hand out to Jack, “Thanks Jack, for getting me home.”

  Jack shook the hand, grinned and said, “It was nice to meet you kid, take care of yourself.”

  The ATV was purring and Lee spoke above the noise, “Cody, I don't think this will take me much more than an hour. You go inside and lock up. Don't open for anybody but me.”

  “Gotcha”, with a wave he turned and went inside. The ATV rumbled it's way toward the road, Jack pointed the flashlight they twisted their way between the cars in the very last glow of daylight.

  ***

  It was completely dark outside now and inside the house, an hour or so earlier the rooms had lost the last hints of daylight. Beth lit the lanterns in the kitchen and bedroom and a candle in the bathroom, off of their bedroom. A large candle burned on the mantle in the living room, which was open to the kitchen and small dining area. On the kitchen stove, covered in foil, sat the grilled pork chops, a pot of vegetable beef soup, and a pot of chili. She had opened a can of beans and warmed them and cut up about half of the tomatoes and fresh vegetables that were left. She even had some cornbread, Jack's favorite, made in a skillet with a lid on the propane burner. A pitcher of tea sat on the counter, although after today there won't be ice. She treated herself to a glass of wine with an ice cube in it. Beth realized that it wasn't classy to have cold wine, she didn't give a rat's ass...she liked her wine cold. She perched on a stool at the kitchen bar, the revolver on the hard surface in front of her. She was really tired from more activity than she was used to and stress. The wine made her even more sleepy. She didn't feel comfortable going to the bedroom and getting in bed or even going to her comfy chair or the sofa. It was so darn quiet and still, every little sound seemed magnified. She could see a few very dim glows like hers, in a window or two.

  The counter top was cold and soon her head rested on her arm. She dozed with her hand on the gun, one slip-on sandal dangled from her foot. Lights flashed across the oven front and there was a noise. Half asleep and not really sure what she saw or heard, she jumped up, gun in her hand. She tried to barely crack the blind and see out in the blackness. Some kind of motorcycle or four wheeler was parked in the drive. She caught a glimpse of two figures moving around to the front of the house. Was that her heart pounding out of her chest or was it pounding on the front door. She eased quietly into the entry of the front door and thought, Maybe it's just someone I know. How can the damn bad guys sniff out the first opportunity for mischief and mayhem! Both hands held the gun down, she stood terrified. She tried to see through the slit in the blinds, the front porch was so dark that she could only make out a couple of sets of feet.

  “Beth, BETH! Are you there? Open up Beth.” Relief flooded over her, “Jack”... she laid the gun on the chair nearby and unlocked. As soon as the door swung back, she pulled him inside, held him tight. Lee stood in the doorway. Jack said, “C'mon in Lee.” Beth let go long enough to lock up again. She turned and placed both hands on the sides of his face. “God, I am glad you're home”.

  “Me too, Honey,” he grabbed one her hands and kissed the palm. “Beth, this is Lee. He got me these last miles home. It's a good thing, I was just about walked out.”

  Beth grabbed Lee with a hug, “Thank you so much”. They moved from the dim entry into the kitchen's soft lantern light, Jack could smell the food on the stove. “I am starved. Hungry, Lee? Lets see what we've got”.

  “No thanks, I really need to get back to Cody, I don't like him being there alone now.”

  “Looks like we got tons of food. Why don't you let Beth fix up some for you to take back home”.

  Lee looked a bit embarrassed, “It sure smells good, that would be great.”

  Beth noticed the wrapped arm and said, “What's this about Jack? You guys get into trouble?”

  “Not me and Lee, but his nephew walked back with me from the county line, where the S--- Hit The Fan.” His eyes locked with hers for a moment, he saw a thousand questions in those familiar brown eyes. “We had a little difficulty along the way. We will talk later, I've got stories to tell.” Beth laughed, that was an old joke between them...stories to tell.

  Beth loaded Lee up with plastic containers of soup and chili, some veggies and a piece of cornbread. She got a Walmart bag from the pantry that he could tie on the ATV and put the containers in it. He said Cody doesn't like cornbread and Jack stood with his mouth hanging open, “Corn-bread, Beth! You never cook me cornbread. It must be the end of the world.” The three people looked from one to the other, grim faced. But then, Beth started to laugh again and they all laughed. It was just too freaking scary to stay serious and Beth was so relieved to have Jack home, she was pretty much giddy.

  Jack walked Lee to the door, “Look man, I really don't know how to thank you.”

  “Thank me? Cody might not have made it without you and I am not ashamed to admit, I love that kid.”

  Jack put his hand on Lee's shoulder, “If things get bad, if you and Cody need anything, you know where we are. You
are welcome here, I could probably use the help. Please don't hesitate to come. I know we just don't have time right now but I would like to hear what you think might have happened and where things are headed.” As Lee started down the sidewalk, Jack noticed for the first time that he had a slight limp. Yeah, that man had seen some bad stuff, he was sure of that. He left the loaded golf bag behind the front hedge, so he walked around to get it. He had found a stretchy bungee cord and they tied the flashlight to the front of the ATV. He watched as Lee's ride crawled away into the dark, making a very small pool of light in front of it. He locked up and leaned against the door for a moment. Damn, what a day.

  Back in the kitchen, he finished the pork chops. They were pretty cold but tasted great to him. Beth took a big insulated mug out of the cabinet, opened the door above the built-in oven and lifted down the nearly empty bourbon bottle. She splashed the brown liquid in the mug, added a few cubes of ice and filled it with 7-Up. When she reached in the freezer, she saw that the ice was still good, not melting much yet. She refilled her wine glass. She placed the drink in front of Jack, pulled a stool up to the bar, sat and placed her hand over Jack's. “So, tell me your story”.

  Jack swallowed a generous taste of the drink. He gave her a slight grin and said, “I got a little more of this in the golf bag. Guess we might have to learn to be stingy with it, huh?” He started to tell her about the day that began at the county line. He told her about Cody, about the old man that blew by everyone with his beat-up old truck and scruffy dog, about meeting Lee. And, he told her about the two jerks that thought they would help themselves to what was his. He included how Cody had been either dumb enough or brave enough to speak up and what the long day had revealed about his life.

  Beth said, “I hate to think that the mean slugs of this world are instantly out there, trying to take advantage. Those two could have really hurt you and the kid. They didn't even know what you had in the bag. Do we need to look at your arm, how bad is it?”

  “No, actually Lee did a pretty good first aid job on it. It's not deep, just long and sore.”

  “Did you have any magic elixir? said Beth.

  “Are you kidding? We've got that stuff everywhere. Remember, we said it is probably the cure for cancer!” They sat quiet for a bit, wanting to enjoy their shared joke and familiar back and forth, both knowing their world has changed in just these last few hours.

  Beth raised her head, “You like the kid, don't you Jack?”

  “Yeah, he's okay.”

  She couldn't stop the tear that slid down her face, her hand brushed it away. “What about Lynn and the girls? What are we going to do? They are in so much danger and I just....”

  Jack said, “You don't have to tell me, honey. I had lot's of time to think while I was walking. I think I might have a plan, a way to go and bring them here. We will talk about it in the morning. Right now, I can only think about showering and laying down in that bed.”

  She sighed and said, “Really, a plan? Good, that's good, a plan. I am sorry though, no shower, the water is off. I did bring in some of the bottles of water and put them in the bath. It's going to be pretty cold. Want me to heat some for you? Joel was here to check on us. He helped me hook up that old fish cooker out on the patio. He also left me a two way radio, he ask me to let him know when you got home.”

  “Old gloom and doom, huh? I will have to try and make contact tomorrow.” Shaking his head, he said,”No, I am way too tired to wait for hot water. I'll manage.”

  While Jack washed up, Beth cleared away the dishes, piled them in the sink and put the leftovers in the fridge. She decided to keep the food in the freezer part, it would stay cooler, longer. I am going to have to do better about using the dishes, she thought. No dishwasher to stick them in, no water to waste.

  Jack flopped back on the bed with a big sigh and pulled up the sheet and blanket. Beth snuffed out all the candles and lanterns. She brushed her teeth, put on some pj's, with the help of small flashlight and slid under the blanket. There was no light shining in the back windows, it was a cloudy night, no moon. Jack reached for her hand and held it tight. She glanced over at the dresser from habit, to check the time on the digital clock. Black, just blackness. Her last thought, before she followed Jack in deep sleep, a plan, we have a plan.

  Chapter Two

  THE PLAN

  Jack's eyes opened, he had slept so hard, that for just a brief moment he thought this was a day like any of the hundreds since he retired, those leisurely days of choosing what would fill his time. He sat up on the side of the bed and the real situation flashed through his mind. His eyes were stinging, he had totally forgot to take out his contacts the night before, he forced himself not to rub them. The arm was feeling tight and achy, he cautiously stretched it out. He moved heavily to the bath. Beth was always thinking ahead, he noticed the bottle of water by the toilet, for flushing. She had not been curled up on the opposite side of the bed. He smelled the wonderful aroma of coffee. He removed the contacts, slipped on his suede house shoes and went to the golf bag that still sat in the hall. He dug around and found his glasses. He didn't see Beth in the kitchen, where is that coffee? On the back patio, Beth stood by the cooker wearing sweat pants, her robe and fuzzy house shoes. The coffee bubbled in what Jack recognized as the camping coffee pot from their little travel trailer.

  Inside, Beth put the coffee pot on the useless electric cooktop, poured each of them a cup and streamed the rest into an old thermos that she dug out from the back of the cabinet. They sat at the dining table. Jack peered out the side of the blinds and sees a few folks moving around the neighborhood. After he got some coffee down, he began to tell her his plan, his idea for getting to Lynn, their oldest daughter and her two twelve year old girls. His grand-daughters were twins. Their dad had dropped dead of a heart attack at the unbelievable age of 42. Lynn and the girls lived on the other side of town, about ten miles from Beth and Jack.

  Jack said, “I was thinking, the riding lawn mower should still be functional, and there is that little trailer that pulls behind it. Remember, when we rode all over these streets in that rig last year for the 4 of July neighborhood parade? Anyway, it will be a slow go but I think I can make it to Lynn's in about two hours. Of course, I will have to go alone. It will take it all, to get the three of them and whatever they have to bring. ”

  Beth's face fell a bit, “That's right. They will have to ride in the trailer with all their stuff. I can send some notes to remind Lynn of the things she needs to bring for her and the girls. I don't suppose there is anyone out there to complain about the mower going down the street, is there?”

  “No, I doubt it,” said Jack. “Anyway, there is sidewalk for a whole lot of the trip. I don't want to sit around and think about it. I am going to see if I can reach Joel on that radio and then I am going to get ready to head out.” As he stood up, Beth touched his arm, “Do you think the other girls will be okay?”

  “I don't know. They both have good partners and they are in fairly good locations. We just have to count on their smarts and wait and see.” Beth knew he was right, it didn't make her feel any better.

  It took several tries, Jack finally heard Joel's voice through the static on the walkie-talkie. He told him his plan and that he would be sure Beth knew how to use the radio. She would call him if she needed help. “Take care of yourself, old man,” said Joel, as they signed off. He was just lacing up his hiking boots when he heard the rolling pop, pop outside. He grabbed his .380 case from the dresser top and put in on his jean's belt. He moved to the front door, someone knocked and a deep voice spoke through the door, “It's me, Jack. It's Lee and Cody”. He unlocked.

  “Get on in here” said Jack, “Are ya'll okay? Did something go wrong?”

  “No, we are fine. Can I talk to you, though?” said Lee.

  Cody stood behind Lee, his hands in his pockets. Beth walked up, still in her robe, smoothing down her curly hair.

  “Beth, this is Cody. I don't even think I in
troduced you to Lee, last night. Lee, this is my wife, Beth”.

  “Hi Cody, nice to meet you. Lee, I've got coffee, do you drink it? Come on in the kitchen.”

  “Boy, that sounds good,” says Lee.

  The sun was out, so the dining area had some nice light even filtered through the closed blinds. The three guys sat at the table. Beth poured coffee for Jack and Lee. “What about you, Cody? Want a warm cola?” She handed the kid a can, a glass and some ice cubes that were much smaller than the night before. “If you guys will excuse me, I'll get myself together a bit”, she said and moved in the direction of the bedroom.

  Lee says, “Jack, you asked me what I thought was going on and what I thought was up ahead. Well, I don't have a clue. I haven't been able to hear anything on the battery radio I've got. I know there's more than one event that can cause this kind of power grid down situation. There's solar flares, EMP...you know, electro magnetic pulse. We might have been hit or it could be a natural thing. Another thing that I think is weird, I haven't seen any local law or military, not a single presence. Hey, I know it went all sideways just yesterday, that still seems strange to me. I am probably not telling you anything that you don't already know. I have been some places and seen some things. One thing I know, not only are some people just plain mean, but even normal folks can become real evil when they are hungry and desperate. You don't have to tell me tales about Zombies or monsters, just plain ole humans can do some real damage.”