by Steven Smith
In the evenings, they all gathered for supper on the veranda with the happy, satisfied weariness that came from hard, productive work. They would cover what they had done that day, tell stories, and watch the kids run around with the dogs, expending even more of their seemingly endless energy. After supper, some stayed at the table to talk or just relax, while others went off to other things.
Jim had declared Sunday to be a day of rest. It had always been a day for church, Sunday dinner with family and relaxation when he was growing up, and he knew that it served a valuable purpose for recharging physically and mentally. As he had gotten older, he began to see a greater purpose.
As a Christian, he had read the Old Testament extensively and realized that, while he was not bound by the laws given to the Hebrews, many of them had a purpose, indeed a blessing, attached to them that transcended denominational religion. A day of rest was one of those. God had demanded that the Hebrews work only six days and rest on the seventh as an act of faith that God would provide for their needs. Having seen God provide for him many times throughout his life, often in miraculous ways, he felt that observing a day of rest, a Sabbath, was appropriate. He had established such a day on Sunday at Stonemont, letting everyone know that they could observe it however they wished, but were welcome to join his family after breakfast for Bible reading and discussion.
.
Jim still rose early on Sunday and was having his first cup of coffee on the veranda when the kitchen door opened. He turned with a smile, expecting to see Kelly, but was surprised to see it was Tracy.
Tracy smiled. "Hi. I hope I'm not bothering you."
Jim shook his head. "Not a bit. Want some coffee?"
Tracy nodded, poured herself a cup from the percolator and sat down. She looked out over the compound for a minute, then at Jim. "I wanted to thank you, and to apologize."
Jim looked at her. "For what?"
"Well, first I want to apologize for being such a snark last week with that 'women are as good as men' stuff."
Jim smiled at her but said nothing.
She looked down at her coffee cup, then back up. "And I want to thank you for letting me try. I had expected you to argue, or to knuckle under like so many men do. Instead, you gave me a chance to prove what I claimed, and to learn something about myself, and about others."
Jim remained silent, sipping his coffee and watching her.
Tracy took a drink of her coffee and continued. "I enjoyed working with you guys, but I know I didn't keep up and you all had to slow down to let me stay with you.” She hesitated for a moment. “Can I ask you how old you are?"
Jim smiled. "Sixty-two."
Tracy shook her head. "You're almost forty years older than I am and you still worked rings around me."
She looked out at the field again, then back. "This week made me realize that I've lived a life that didn't really call for a difference of the sexes. Most of my life has been about the mental, not the physical, at least not about anything really physically hard. In sports, we accepted, even demanded, lower standards, just like in the military, without admitting to ourselves or anyone else that it was because we couldn't keep up with men physically. Even when I'd ask a guy to do something for me I told myself it was just for convenience and not because I couldn't do it myself.”
She took another sip of her coffee and continued. "I've learned a lot this week. I learned that men can do things women can't. I've learned that men should be appreciated for what they can do. And I've learned I don't make a very good man."
Jim started to say something, but Tracy held up her hand. "Please, I'm almost done."
She looked down at her coffee, then back at Jim. "I also learned that I missed being around the other women, talking about the things we talk about and doing the things we do. And I think the biggest thing I learned, something that surprised me and for which I will always be grateful to you for letting me learn, is how much you men really respect and appreciate the women for who they are and what they do. I never knew that."
Jim smiled and nodded. "Yes, we do."
Tracy nodded back and smiled. "I see that now." She took a deep breath. "Well, if you think you can do without me, I think I'd rather go back to where I'm appreciated for what I am rather than tolerated for what I'm not."
Smiling, Jim leaned forward and took her hand in his. "Tracy, there are male lions and female lions. Neither is better than the other. Each is unique and perfect for what it is. And no matter how hard they might try, they can never be the other. You're a good woman. Your husband and children are going to be very lucky, just like we're lucky to have you with us now."
Tracy's eyes welled up with tears and she was about to say something when they heard the kitchen door open and Christian's voice.
"Jim, every time I come out here you're holding hands with somebody else. I'm telling Kelly."
The day was beautiful. Breakfast was about an hour later than usual because it was Sunday, but was as good as ever, and Aedan, Brody and Morgan were excited that the eggs were ones they had gathered themselves. After the table was cleared and the dishes done, Jim sat down at the table and opened up the family bible, surprised that everyone else joined him.
He started with a prayer, thanking God for his protection and providence, then asking for guidance and continued blessings in the days ahead. The chorus of "Amen"s also surprised him.
"This last couple of weeks has brought a few particular biblical principles to my mind," he began. "Among those are, of course, the Ten Commandments, which give us the basics of God's laws for a righteous life. In addition to those are his rules for preparedness as exhibited by Joseph in Egypt and, of course, the entire wisdom of the book of Proverbs. Next is Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan, in which we are told to care for our neighbor."
He shuffled through the bible to a page he had marked. "And finally, this verse from James 1:27, 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.'"
He closed the Bible and looked around the table. "I won't bore you with my personal story, except to say that God brought me out of a destructive life many years ago, and, as a result of my listening and trusting in him instead of trying to fight for everything myself, he has given me a life which I can only describe as unbelievably happy and fulfilling.”
He looked around the table. “I also believe that he brings certain people into our lives for his own purpose, and I believe he has brought you all into our lives, and perhaps us into yours, for a purpose he will reveal and assist us in."
He paused again, letting the right words come to him. "Our forefathers came to this country in order to escape religious persecution and to establish a new community in which people could worship as they chose, was founded on God's principles, and would spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter how many people have tried to deny that over the past fifty years, that's the way it was. Those who decided it was necessary to create a new nation put their faith in God and petitioned him for his guidance and blessings in their endeavors.
“Based upon the principles and worship of God, our nation and its people prospered and became greater than any other in history. Then we, as a nation, lost our way. Our society turned away from God, even making mention of him in our schools illegal. Society celebrated consumption over production, celebrity over ability and the government collective over the family."
He looked at each of his children, then out across the compound and surrounding fields, then back at those at the table. "The Bible tells us that God promised not to send another flood, but I don't remember it saying anything about something like this. I'm not necessarily saying that this is from God, but what I am saying is that this is a reset point from which a renewal of proper values and principles may be able to be established."
He hesitated for a moment, then rose to his feet, looking at Kelly before continuing. "I've said before that
we have been blessed, and that's certainly true. But with blessing comes responsibility, which is a blessing in itself, to pass on that blessing to others."
He walked to the edge of the terrace, looking toward the city he couldn't see.
"Every morning I come out here and think about the children in the cities and suburbs who, even now, are starting to suffer unbelievably. I think about their hunger and their fear. I think about their mothers and fathers, who I hope are doing their best to keep them safe, and who are undoubtedly experiencing fear and despair themselves."
He turned back to the group. "I know we can't save, or even help, everyone. But that doesn't mean we can't help some, and that's what we're going to do. Stonemont is going to help everyone we possibly can, starting this week, because some people can't wait any longer."
He looked at Mike and the Garners. "I know this isn't what you all necessarily expected when you came here, so if you feel this isn't for you, I fully understand. We will enjoy having you with us for as long as you want to stay, and when you feel it's time for you to leave Stonemont we will equip you to the very best of our ability. We will consider you extended family wherever you go."
He paused for a moment to let that sink in. "If, on the other hand, you feel that the mission of Stonemont as I've described it is something you also believe in and would like to be a part of, we welcome you to join us in it. I can't promise what will happen, but I promise that we will do our best in the endeavor."
He stopped, sitting back down at the head of the table and looking at those around him.
Kelly smiled and nodded her head.
Christian was the first to speak. "I'm with you all the way, Jim."
Mike nodded his head slowly. "Me too."
No one spoke for a moment, then Bill leaned forward, looking at Ann, Tracy and then at Jim. "For years, I've made my living talking. First, as a lawyer trying to convince people my client was right, and then as a judge trying to explain the law and the justice of my decisions. But I don't think I could have said it any better than you just did, Jim."
He looked at his wife and daughter again, who both nodded, then turned back to Jim. "Ann, Tracy and I have been talking about this very thing for the last few days. In fact, what you said so closely approximates what we have said ourselves, it was amazing to hear you say it. So, without making a big speech, I'll just say that we are with you, and are proud to be with you."
Jim smiled and looked around the table. "We'll start tomorrow. Let's enjoy the day, and then I want to talk more after dinner."
The rest of the day was spent relaxing and playing with the kids. For supper, Jim built a fire in the patio fire pit and everyone roasted their own hotdogs and brats. Bowls of corn, baked beans and coleslaw were placed on the self-service table along with iced pitchers of tea and lemonade. It was the most relaxed and happy Jim had seen the group since it had all started, and he knew it was because they now felt like a group and had a purpose ahead of them.
Kelly came up beside him and put her arm around his waist. "We're going to need everything."
He draped his arm over her shoulders and nodded. "I know."
After supper, everyone returned to the table after the dishes had been cleared. Jim could feel a new energy in the group, one of belonging and purpose. He remembered that energy from the units he had served in years ago, and knew the importance of it in unit cohesion and mission success.
"I want to lay out the general parameters of what we will be trying to accomplish and how we will try to accomplish it," he began. "We will have several tasks tomorrow, all of equal importance because they are intertwined.
"First, we want to recon the suburban area and make contact with groups or individuals there. If they are self-sufficient, we want to establish relationships with them. If they are having a hard time or unable to take care of themselves, we want to give them the help they need, if we are able to, up to and including bringing them back to Stonemont. We will take some supplies with us, including food, water and some basic medical supplies.”
He looked around the group. Seeing that they all seemed receptive, he continued. "Our top priority will be children without parents, whether orphaned, abandoned or lost. Next will be families with children. After that, adults without children. This final group we can offer some limited immediate assistance to, but we don't want to use up resources that will be needed by the groups with children. We will offer adults assistance only if they want to come and contribute at Stonemont. Reliance on government or someone else is what put many of these people in their current situation, and we're not going to just start that all over again. Any adult who won't work for their own food isn't worth helping. Even the Bible tells us that those who don't work shall not eat, unless they're sick.”
“Jamestown came to the same conclusion after their experiment with collectivism failed and a lot of them starved,” said Bill.
Jim nodded. “Exactly. In order to do this, we are going to need some supplies. Here's what we need most - everything. I can't imagine anything we won't need. However, let's first concentrate on food, medicine, cleaning supplies, tents, blankets and sleeping bags, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, vitamins, well, anything that can keep a person warm, clean and healthy."
Christian put a hand up. "Are we going to break into businesses?"
Jim nodded. "If we have to, but I doubt we'll have to break into any. I imagine most will have been broken into already if they weren't guarded. We won't go into any independently owned businesses yet, though, since some may have local owners who just haven't gone back to them yet. We'll focus on the large chain stores."
Bill raised a hand. "What if they've already been cleared out?"
Jim shrugged. "I doubt if they will be, except maybe for the food. And if people have taken things to help them survive, good. That means they're taking care of themselves. But I don't think most people will be looking for the things we are, at least not yet. And we won't empty any place of anything. We need to leave things for individual scavengers. Taking everything could amount to killing them."
He paused for a moment. "There is one exception. Firearms and ammunition. We will take all we find. Those who know how to use guns probably already have them. Those who don't won't be looking for them. And we can't take the chance of them getting into the wrong hands."
A murmur of agreement went around the table.
"Now vehicles. Although all the TEOTWAWKI books had cars going kaput after an EMP, most of the scientific literature maintained that vehicles would be generally unaffected. Of course, this is the same scientific community that warned us of a coming ice age until they changed their mind to global warming until it was discovered that all their data was faked. So here we are with a big 'Who knows?'. Our experience, however, has been that newer vehicles aren't running.”
"What's teotwawki? " asked Bill.
"It's an acronym for 'the end of the world as we know it'," replied Jim. "There are a lot of people who have thought about, written about and prepared for something like this for years. Some thought the economy was going to collapse, some thought a civil or third world war was coming, and some expected an EMP. Collectively, they were called 'preppers'. Some were kind of nutty, but most were just regular people who realized that if something bad happened they had better be able to take care of themselves, and they prepared to be able to do so."
"Like you," said Bill.
Jim nodded. “Yep.”
"And the rest were like us. I mean me."
Jim shrugged. "Well, to be honest, most people who did well in the system tended to trust the system. After all, it had always worked pretty well, and most people were too busy doing other things to really pay attention to what was going on in the world. For some, it was job or family responsibilities, for others, bread and circuses."
Ann nodded. "Panel et circenses."
"What's that?" asked Tracy.
Ann turned to her daughter. "When Rome was in decline, it kept its citizens, particula
rly its newer citizens, distracted with games and satisfied with food it provided to them. It kept them from paying attention to the growing corruption that lead to Rome's fall. Today we do it, or did it, with sports, entertainment and reality shows."
Kelly nodded. "Three weeks ago, most men could tell you all about other grown men they had never met playing a game with a ball, and most women could tell you all about who was dancing with a star, getting a rose from some momma's boy or the latest diet craze."
Jim nodded. "Those who were really paying attention to what was happening here and around the world knew it couldn't keep going the way it was. Anyway, we need to find more vehicles that will run. That probably means older cars and trucks, but the most useful to us will be diesel trucks. Gas engines will be okay for a year or so, but then the stored gasoline will be so bad the engines won't run well, if at all. Diesel has a much longer shelf life.
"That brings us to people. While we will help everyone we can, according to the categories and parameters I laid out, there are certain skills we should look for to add to our community, or at least to our mutual assistance contacts. The ones that immediately come to mind are doctors, nurses, dentists, engineers, builders, carpenters and, referring back to our previous subject, mechanics – especially diesel mechanics. This isn't meant to be a comprehensive list, and we'll all have plenty of ideas and questions, so we'll have to make decisions as we go. Are there any questions or suggestions now?"
"Where are we going to put the people we bring back?" asked Tracy.
"Tents, for now." answered Jim. "So, just like before all this started, our first stop is Wal-Mart."
9
They left right after breakfast. Jim had explained that their first task would be to scout area stores, particularly the large box stores, to see whether they had been looted and what supplies remained.