Not Dead in the Heart of Dixie

by R Kralik

  Mick has gone back down the hill to work on the fence. He made us promise to holler at him in time to make the 5:30 supper deadline. I'll bet his mouth has been watering all day. Nana says she'll put the sweet potatoes on while he's cooking the burgers.

  We've decided to have a country style strawberry shortcake for dessert. I found the recipe in one of my old depression era cookbooks. Carisa and Merry are making biscuits and we'll pour condensed milk over them and add a small handful of my dehydrated strawberries to each. We'll sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar. I think my mouth's starting to water.

  I've graduated to a walking cane, so I'm gonna get myself back out there and see if there's anything else I can do to help. I don't need my strong pain pills now. Advil is getting me by for the time being.

  9:30 PM...

  My tummy feels like it's sticking out six inches from where it normally is. Supper was scrumptious and I over ate. I think everyone did. Mick is so full that he hasn't hauled himself out of the recliner to come in the bedroom. He's dozing on and off. He may just sleep there.

  Hisa said that Valerie wolfed her burger down. I'm happy to hear that.

  Mick and Soo finished the fence along the entire front of the property. Tomorrow, they'll start working on the sides. Jason and Mr. Hobbs will be here tomorrow, and since they'll mostly be using the existing trees as posts, they can move at a faster pace.

  Jeremy handed the crutches to Jesse after supper and told him to put them in the basement. He was finished with them. He's limping a bit, and you can tell that his leg aches when he stretches it out, but he's doing great. That makes me happy because Mick now has another hand on the fence building crew.

  Carisa says she and Merry are almost finished taking inventory of food and supplies. We added quite a bit of venison to the list today.

  She says the shelves are pretty full with the stuff I already had and the stuff from the restaurant haul. She'll need more shelving when the garden starts producing and we start canning the bounty. I'm praying there will be a "bounty."

  I didn't know it, but Pop and Jesse have quite an assortment of veggie seedlings growing in the greenhouse.

  I don't like not knowing who's living in the big house across the road. I can't recall seeing any smoke coming from the chimney. I wonder how they're eating and staying warm.

  I'm going to carry myself over to my bed and sleep alone again.

  Bye for now.

  Tuesday, February 4

  We have two new goat kids.

  When Jesse went out to feed this morning, he found two new doelings hopping around. They were born sometime last night. They're already running around and nursing well. He says they are cute little boogers and colored like their dam.

  I believe we'll have more new kids by the end of the day. Jesse said another of the does is standing off by herself, nibbling at her sides and rear legs and won't come in to eat. Those are pretty good signs that labor is imminent. We'll be keeping an eye on her.

  After the second doe delivers today, we'll have only one left waiting. She'll kid sometime in the next two weeks.

  Mick put off the feed lootin' run until Monday. He wants to work on the fence.

  We're getting a total of one-and-a-half gallons of milk from the first three does. The milk situation is looking good around here. I hope we'll be able to keep it cool this summer. I figure we’ll get around three gallons a day when all is said and done. Elaine has the cheese making books out and has plans for some of the milk.

  I'm planning to visit Valerie after breakfast. Hisa said she gave her a sketch pad and colored pencils, and she's been doodling constantly. There hasn't been any sketches to reveal what she went through with the tobacco juice man, or any other clues about who she is and how she got there. In fact, there are no sketches at all, just doodles and sometimes letters and numbers. I hope she'll be okay with my visit.

  I had Marisa dig out a pregnancy test from one of my coupon queen totes. I'll give it to Hisa and she can decide when to test Valerie. She'll probably wait 'til Valerie's been here a month, and test her only if there's no sign of her period by that time.

  I'm also going out to see the new baby goats. So far, we have three new doelings to add to our herd for breeding and milking, and we have several BBQ candidates. I'll have to do some studying and find out how to prepare goat meat since we've never had it before.

  I'm on my way to sit at the table and roll up cinnamon buns for breakfast. We'll have them with fresh milk. Yummy!

  2:00 PM...

  Valerie looks a lot different than she did when we found her. For one thing, she's clean and wearing clothes. She's still toothpick skinny but there's color in her face. She seems to be aware of where she is.

  I chit-chatted at her for a little while. I think I found out her age. I asked how old she is and she wrote the number 14 on her doodle pad. I'm not sure if that's her age or just a number she felt like writing, but she did it in response to my question and didn't write any numbers after that.

  I took cinnamon buns for each of them and a thermos of milk for them to share. They gobbled everything down and Valerie made the "mmm" sound while she was eating. Hisa says there have been no signs of bowel problems, or worms and lice. I was glad to hear that because I was sitting pretty close to Valerie.

  Clinic Diane looks pretty darn good. Hisa has most of the medications all lined up and organized inside the cabinets. There are canisters of alcohol wipes, cotton balls, band aids, and cotton swabs sitting on the counter top. There are sheets on the beds and a curtain across the area where the couch sits in case Hisa wants to examine one of us for some reason. It actually smells like a medical clinic.

  She said I did a good job picking out the medications we got at Walgreens. I told her I didn't pick them out, I just swept them into containers. She got a laugh out of that.

  She wants to get college level medical books. She needs to study them and have information on hand for the many medical procedures and diseases she hasn't learned about yet. I told her I don't know of any place close, but I'll ask Mick about it.

  Walking to Clinic Diane didn't bother my back too much. I took it slow and easy, I don't wanna have a relapse. When I got back inside, Nana and Elaine were working on lunch plans. I sat in the recliner and threw suggestions at them as I dozed on and off.

  The kids came in like a herd of wild animals and that put an end to my dozing. I read a couple of books to them while Nana and Elaine made lunch.

  We had pinto bean burgers with homemade buns. It was Elaine's recipe, and it was good! Elaine just laughed and blushed from all the compliments she got.

  Elaine is such a prize. She's been a huge help to Nana since I've been off my feet.

  The men say they have fencing up about ten percent of the way on the right side. Mick says the perimeter fence may be finished in three or four weeks if we can get enough fencing. Sounds good to me.

  11:00 PM...

  I can't sit here and write.

  We've lost Caleb. The kids were playing in the back yard and he was attacked. We are all in agony.

  Saturday, February 8

  I apologize that it's taken so many days for me to get back on track, but I'm sure you understand.

  It's been four days since we lost our cherub.

  I'm going to sit here and write this out, and then I'm going to put this horrible event out of my mind forever. I'm only going to remember all the wonderful times we had with Caleb.

  It was close to 3:30 PM.

  Several of us were standing around the barn, watching the second doe of the day laboring and waiting for new babies to hit the ground.

  Mick, Jeremy, and Soo were working on the fence and Jason was splitting wood near the barn. Hisa was at Clinic Diane with Valerie.

  Carisa and Merry were playing cards in Carisa's room.

  The kids were running and playing in the yard. They were full off themselves and had enough energy to turn on the lights in a football stadium.

  The doe
was about to start her serious pushing when we heard a scream come from the side of Nana and Pop's motorhome.

  It was the scream of a truly terrified child who's in fear for their life.

  If you've never heard the scream of a truly terrified child who's in fear for their life, then you don't know that the sound strikes immediate, explosive fear in your heart. Your legs begin to move on their own, heading in the direction of the scream. It's completely different than the scream of a child who's injured, or excited, or angry. Every parent who's heard it knows something unimaginable is happening.

  This was the first time I've heard the scream of a truly terrified child in fear for their life. I've raised one child to adulthood, and a second one who's almost there, but they've never screamed like that.

  Jason was the first to get there. The rest of us were only a few steps behind him.

  Amber and Michael were standing in the little clearing where the laundry troughs sit. They were both frozen in place and staring into the trees beside the motorhome. They weren't speaking and they weren't moving. They were both as pale as cotton and in shock.

  Caleb was standing behind a large rock and between two small trees. He was being pulled into the trees by a small, rotting hand.

  He went down behind the rock and we couldn't see him anymore. Jason ran at full speed toward the spot where Caleb had disappeared. He had his pistol drawn and when he got there, he raised the gun and shot. The whole incident happened within seconds

  The rest of us arrived a moment later and we saw Caleb on the ground. Beside him lay a half rotted body of a young boy. It was Frankie, the remaining brother that we hadn't been able to find over a month ago. We recognized Frankie from Caleb's photo album.

  .

  Jason was crouched over Caleb's tiny body, cursing, sobbing, crying, and apologizing over and over to the little blonde angel laying still and quiet on the ground.

  The side of Caleb's face had been bitten and a large piece of his cheek was missing. His neck had also been bitten and blood was pouring from the artery. He was looking up toward heaven when the light faded from his eyes and then, he was gone.

  Jason stood, raised his arms toward the sky, screamed in agony, and sent several gunshots into the air.

  Caleb's body began to sit up. Elaine pointed her pistol and shot him. Then, she turned and headed down the hill as Marisa and Jason collapsed to the ground, holding one another, sobbing and shaking with heart-wrenching sobs, completely out of control from their pain.

  Soo picked up Caleb's little body, wrapped him in a sheet that had been hanging on the line, and carried him back to the new little house in the woods.

  We buried him near the flower gardens at the rear of the house.

  Goodbye beautiful little "Cab." We love you and will miss terribly. I know that you're with your brothers, playing cowboy and catching salamanders in heaven.

  I went back to check on the doe, and there were two little doelings beside her. No one else wanted to see new life coming into the world. Not at that point in time.

  Writing this has taken every ounce of energy I have.

  Bye for now.

  Sunday, February 9

  It's pouring rain.

  Mick's stuck inside and doesn't like it at all. He says he needs to keep himself busy, so he's down in the basement, measuring. He wants to find out how many shelves we have room for.

  When he's tired of measuring, he's gonna take Jesse and head to the feed store.

  They'll take anything they can find and load it into the enclosed goat trailer so it stays dry. He can back the trailer into the barn when he needs to unload.

  They're taking Jason's Dodge. If they find more than enough feed to fill the goat trailer they'll load the extra into the bed of the Dodge and cover it with a tarp to keep it dry. I told him that I didn't think there was enough feed kept in stock at the feed store to fill the goat trailer, even on a good day

  If they don't find anything there, they'll head to the milling company. Mick says he actually feels better about going on a rainy day instead of a sunny day. He's hoping that any gangs who might attack will be hunkered down inside their hidey-holes, waiting for the rain to stop.

  He wants to take enough food to last three days in case they get stuck somewhere and can't get home. I pray that doesn't happen, but going forty-five miles away from home these days comes with a lot more risk than it did a few months ago.

  He wants to complete the fence before focusing on anything else, but the goats have to eat so we can continue getting milk.

  Mick says he'll send Jason and Jeremy back to TSC to take apart more shelving and bring it home. He wants to get shelves up before we start canning and preserving whatever the garden gives. We still have a little while before we need to concern ourselves with that.

  Pop says that we can plant the seedlings he has in the greenhouse after the last frost date. That's around the second week in April. The seedlings are growing nicely in Pop's little greenhouse. He wants to get another one set up and plant more seeds by the end of the week. Jeremy told him he would help as soon as he has the chance.

  Mick's kept everyone busy working on the fence from dawn 'til dusk the last few days. They take turns breaking for lunch, so there's always someone working on the fence. He says they have about twenty-five percent done on the left side of the compound. He'll need to get more fencing soon, but he thinks we have enough to finish the left side.

  Marisa's been coming here to eat. Other than that, she stays inside with Amber and Michael. She panics if they get out of her sight.

  Loosing Caleb has taken a toll on her. I've gone over to sit with her a few times. It hurts my heart when my babies are hurting.

  We're giving her all the time she needs to get back into the daily dregs of surviving. Jason hasn't stopped working since it happened. He works fast and constantly. It's his way of dealing with the pain.

  I'm heading out to help Nana make lunch. We're having homemade bread with chicken patties and mayo. The bread needs to rise a couple times, so we better start working on it now. I also need to make sure Jesse and Mick have plenty of supplies in their backpacks before they leave.

  Mick just stuck his head in and told me that he and Jesse are getting ready to leave. I told him to make sure he has a good supply of ammo and that I'll be out in a minute to check the food in the backpacks.

  3:00 PM...

  It's still raining.

  Thunderstorms, lightning, and high winds have added themselves to the mix. Mick and Jesse aren't back yet. I'm guessing that means they went to the milling company.

  The water in the pool is close to overflowing. Mr. Hobbs and the girls have been filtering water like crazy. They've filled almost every empty container we have, even the horse troughs we use for laundry are full. I told them to start filling all the five-gallon buckets and all the bathtubs so we can use the water for flushing toilets.

  I wish Mick and Jesse would get back. Elaine is as worried as I am.

  11:00 PM...

  Mick and Jesse still aren't back. It's dark and stormy outside. I'm very worried and won't sleep a wink 'til they return. I know Mick can take care of himself, but I'm still on edge.

  Elaine's beside herself with worry. She's near the fireplace, rubbing her hands together. Every little sound causes her to jump and stare at the door.

  I hope they haven't been hurt or kidnapped. This waiting is gonna make me a nervous wreck. Lord, please bring them back home!

  Jason just about drove us crazy today. He couldn't go out and work on the fence in the storm, and he couldn't think of any other way to occupy himself. He finally went home to work on the kitchen and windows.

  Mr. Hobbs and Jason put one of our huge tarps in the bed of Pop's F350. It's filling up with water and makes me think of those "redneck hot tub" jokes. I can't believe it's actually holding water. They say they may start filling every truck bed we have if it doesn't stop raining soon.

  Man! I wish Mick and Jesse were bac
k. I'm going to lie down and worry about them.

  Bye for now.

  Monday, February 10

  No, they aren't home. I'm about to lose my mind.

  Jason and Mr. Hobbs are discussing headin' out to look for them. I don't know if that would be a good idea. Marisa's having a fit and doesn't want them to go. I don't blame her. I'm afraid something might happen to them as well.

  I'm gonna need one of my nerve pills if they don't get back soon.

  I'm focused on my worry and can't think of anything to write about. So, I’m headed out to help Nana with breakfast. I need to keep myself busy.

  1:30 PM...

  They're back and doing fine!

  They got back about 11:45 and sat down to eat lunch while they told us what happened.

  They arrived at the feed store and it was gone.... I mean, literally. It was burned to the ground and there was nothing left but ashes. It looked like it had burned weeks ago. They decided to head to the milling company.

  They passed through a small town that only exists because of fishermen and vacationers who visit the lake. There were HDI's there, and the HDI's wanted to eat them but they didn't give 'em time enough to get close. They drove to the other side of the lake and headed straight to the industrial warehouse area.

  They pulled into the milling company parking lot.

  The building has six loading docks and there were no vehicles there. The place looked abandoned but not destroyed. The windows on the second and third floors were still intact. There were several large silo's attached to the building that extended well above the roof.

  There was a steel staircase leading up to the second floor and a sign on the building near the bottom of the staircase that said "Office" with an arrow pointing up. Mick and Jesse went up the staircase, tried the office door, and found it locked. They employed the pry-bar and Mr. Colt to get it open. Mick figured there would be access to the warehouse and loading docks through the office area.