No Normal Day (6 page)

“
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.”

Cody
stayed quiet and Jack listened. When Lee paused, he said, “I
agree with everything you are saying, Lee. Hell, it hadn't been four
hours from crisis yesterday, when Cody and I met up with those two
charming fellows. And I can't figure any sure reason for all of this,
I am pretty much on the same page as you.”

Beth
came back into the kitchen, she wore jeans, a button up shirt and her
tennis shoes. Her gray tipped hair was under control, petite gold
hoops swung from her ears. Jack looked up and smiled, his eyebrows
raised and he said to Lee, “We may be going to Hell in a
hand-basket, but Beth is going to look good for the trip.” Cody
turned around and giggled.

Beth
shook the thermos, “One more cup, any takers?” Jack says
he's done.

Lee
said, “Sure”.

Lee
got back to the conversation, “Last night, I woke up to the
sound of voices in the back yard. A couple of guys were trying to
push the four wheeler away and talking too loud about getting it
started. They were just drunk and my AR made them near break their
necks, trying to run. Like I've said, people are going to become more
and more unstable. Things are not going to get better for a very long
time,” he looks sadly at Cody, “Maybe never. So, Jack,
Beth? I was wondering if Cody and I could just camp out in your
garage, for now. I mean, there is safety in numbers and we will help
out all we can. We brought what we have. I don't keep a lot of food
on hand, I had some and I even have some MRE's. I've got three or
four guns and some ammo.”

Jack
looked at Beth and his eyes dropped down to his folded hands. Lee
spoke before Jack had a chance to reply, “Jack, I understand
you have your own family to worry about. I understand if the answer
is no. No matter what, I am not letting you take off on your blasted
lawn mower by yourself, to get that daughter of yours. It's just not
safe out there, I can have your back.”

Beth
walked up behind Cody and placed her hands on his shoulders. Jack
fully recognized the meaning of that look on her face, “I told
you Lee, you and Cody are welcome here. I still mean it.”

Cody
said, “Wow, cool,” and pushed his hair behind his ear.

“
Cody,
you go and get
our
gear off of the ATV and bring
it
inside. I will let Beth tell you where she wants us to roost. Jack
and I have some plans to discuss.”

Jack
watched the kid go. He wondered how much longer they could move
around in the open, without extreme caution. Maybe, it was do-able
today and in this neighborhood, but not for long. He went to get a
paper and pencil, started telling Lee about the mower and trailer. He
made a drawing to show approximately how far it was to Lynn's and the
route they could take.

Lee
looked down at the pencil drawing. “It'll take a half a day or
more, there and back, I can follow you on the ATV. I have about three
quarters of a tank of fuel. I also, have a siphoning pump. I siphoned
what I could haul, out of my old truck, five gallons and brought
that.”

“
Let's
make sure Cody got you unloaded.” said
Jack.
“There's lots of things that I want to do around here, security
and otherwise. Lynn has got to be the priority. Cody can help Beth
get some things done, though. I am glad that he will be here. I am
feeling real pressed to get going. Every day, maybe every hour puts
Lynn and her girls in more danger.” Lee went
to
check on Cody and Jack went out to the back storage building to pull
out the mower and trailer.

Cody
and Lee's gear was piled in the front hall. Jack could see the wheels
turning already in Beth's head about where she would put them up.
That was good, it would keep her mind off of everything else. Jack
had the trailer hooked to the mower. Beth had thrown a couple of
thick blankets down on the red metal floor of the trailer, she gives
Jack some notes she wrote to Lynn. While the guys were loading up the
vehicles, she cooked some breakfast. She made them four sandwiches,
from the left over bacon, egg and some cheese. They put the
sandwiches, some granola bars, two big bottles of water in a small
ice chest. Lee put the ice chest and the gas can on the ATV's rack.
Beth insists on some basic first aid supplies, “Look what
happened yesterday, heaven forbid, you might need it.” Both men
had two guns and extra ammo.

It
was already nearly 11:00. Cody stood beside Beth, Lee and Jack both
punched him on the arm, “See ya, kid”. Jack kissed Beth
and said, “Don't worry, we will be back with Lynn and the girls
before dark.” The small parade pulled out of the drive and
headed towards the main highway. Beth shaded her eyes and watched for
just a minute, “C'mon Cody, we have work to do.” They
went back inside, double locked the door.

The
mower, trailer and ATV had barely made it a few feet, when Mike from
two houses down ran down his drive. “Jack, Jack, wait Jack!”
Jack cursed to himself and shifted the mower into neutral and pulled
up the brake.

“
Hi,
Mike, what's up?” he said.

“
Where
you going, Jack? Would you help me push the truck back in the drive?”
said
Mike.

Jack
didn't see much use in it but he climbed off the mower, Lee followed
and the three of them pushed the truck back up into Mike's driveway.
Mike ran his hand over his spiky hair. “You know, Cindy and
little bit haven't made it home, yet.” Mike's wife taught at an
elementary school about 2 miles away and their eight year old son
attended school there. “Of course, Cindy would never leave as
long as there are kids there. The buses couldn't run and how the heck
would anybody come and get their kids?” He looked really
worried and frustrated. “Anyway, my street bike won't start but
I think I can get that old dirt bike going. I am going over there.”

Jack
already walked backwards, “That sounds good, Mike. You take
care, we gotta go. I've got to try and get across town and get my
daughter and grand babes.”

“
Right,
you be careful, too. Later”.

Jack
and Lee rumbled away again, the highway in site. The few people that
were out seemed to be concerned with whatever they were doing and the
out of place vehicles moved up on the sidewalk beside the highway,
moved on. The highway here was really clogged with silenced machines.
Sometimes several car lengths would be clear, mostly there were long
strings of cars and trucks. Jack didn't see many people amongst the
vehicles, here in the daylight. He saw quite a few broken windows and
some doors that hung open, last night was probably open season for
the no goods. Just as Lee had noted, there was no sign of police or
National Guard, no law around at all. About a mile along, they passed
the big fancy supermarket. There were cars in the parking lot, a few
people stood in front of entrance doors that looked like they were
chained shut. Of course, the nearby gas pumps were still and a cola
machine laid on it's side. The majority of the convenience stores and
fast food places were locked up. At the Chicken Express, the door was
propped open and someone handed out bags of fried chicken.

It
seems
like we are
making pretty good time. We've
been gone about an hour from the house, probably traveled nearly
five miles,
thought
Jack. They s
till traveled along the sidewalk,
they reached what was generally a really busy street. It was going to
take a lot of maneuvering to get the mower and trailer and the ATV
between what had been bumper to bumper traffic. Jack pulled up, Lee
took some water out and they both take a drink. Jack said, “This
is going to be a little tricky.” Lee stayed with the rides and
Jack walked up the sidewalk, searched for a pathway. Finally about
two blocks up, there was a break in the choo-choo of cars. Jack went
back, climbed on. They moved up the walk, crossed at the break and
went back down the other side of the street to where they needed to
be.

Jack
stopped again and said, “Sorry, got to take a leak”. Lee
nodded, “Go ahead and then I'll go, it's all that damn water”.
Jack walked down the steps at the side of the street. There was
actually a tunnel that snaked under, for walkers and bicyclist to
avoid the traffic. The sweet aroma of weed hit him just at the time
he saw three kids, two guys and a girl stood at the opening of the
tunnel. Smoke drifted around their heads and he was much more
startled than they were.

“
Hey,
old dude. We are the trolls of the tunnel. You got to pay a toll to
go through here” All three laughed and coughed. Jack's hand was
on the sidearm but he figured
these
three potheads were a little too mellow to be dangerous.
Still,
can't be stupid.

“
Well,
I am not going through. I was just looking for a place to piss. Since
you have a “lady” with you, I will find another place.”
They all three thought that was also hilarious.

Jack
just moved back and up the steps. “That head is occupied,”
he said to Lee, “We will have to move a ways and find a tree.”

Another
fifteen minutes and Jack was really in a hurt to relieve himself. He
spotted a few bushes that lined the strip of grass next to the
sidewalk. He pulled up again, not even saying anything to Lee and
edged his way behind the bushes.
Whew! That's way better.
He
returns to Lee and the rides. “Sorry man, I was in a bit of a
rush. You go ahead.” Lee just shrugged his shoulders and made
for the bushes. After a drink and a granola bar they were moving
again. Jack was glad that they were not seeing many people along this
stretch and were moving along at a fairly good pace.

Jack
had started to believe, that they had a chance to actually make it to
Lynn's with no incidents and he recognized they were within a few
blocks of her house. As they passed the first of two apartment
complexes that were close to their destination, he began to feel a
little uneasy, however. He had always felt that these big complexes
with such a variety of renters, bred a lot of trouble. Especially,
some of them in this area. More people stood around these units than
they had seen on this whole trip, lot's of loud talk and booze being
passed around. Nobody had messed with them so far but they were
getting plenty of interested looks. They continued to move and had
cleared the second complex, Jack got a real bad feeling. Another two
blocks and Lynn's neat little house was within view. Jack eased over
and Lee swung in behind. Lee walks up to talk to him, “Are we
getting close, Jack?”.

“
That's
her house, right over there on the corner”, said
Jack.
“I've just got a spooky feeling. Lynn is
a
real trusting soul, she rarely draws the blinds and opens her door
too quickly. I have lectured her, if anything ever goes bad, you lock
up tight, close all those blinds and wait for me. I will come and get
you. Darn her independent streak, she pays little attention to me.
Look over there, Lee, those blinds are closed tight. Maybe she
actually got scared enough to think of my warnings, but I've
just
got a gut feeling.”