Jon Smith

by Richard Proctor

  This was the beginning of what transformed the world into the Urbanites and the Outliers. The people who lived in the valley all left for generally the same reason: they left to preserve the ideals that they believed in and to form a community that would preserve these ideals. Trade, commerce, and economy existed in this valley and between other outlier communities. While the bureaucracy had thought that it had control of all things economic and social, the outliers proved that it was not possible to squelch all freedom and freedom of thought.

  Many in the valley had often wondered how long they would be left alone. Would the government allow them to continue the life they wanted without being bothered? Of course, the question that lingered in their minds was if the government would not allow them to do so would the folks in the valley rise up in arms against that government. For the past ten years it had never become an issue and many hoped it never would be.

  Chris was soon out the door and down the road while coming in the opposite direction were 9 young boys and girls headed for Jon’s and their economics lessons. Presently the students were seated around the large stone fireplace as Jon dragged out a white grease board and began to write out the day’s lesson.

  “Folks, always remember the most basic of economic rules” as Jon wrote.

  Price equals Supply divided by Demand.

  For the next several hours Jon gave quite a lecture on the basic laws of capital and implored the students to study Adam Smith and The Wealth of Nations. By early afternoon the class wrapped up and the students thanked Jon for not only the day’s studies but the most wonderful lunch as he had prepared ham sandwiches for the students. With the house empty again, Jon headed outside to pull the last of the potatoes and onions that were still left in the garden. During the short growing season at elevation, Jon was able to produce large amounts of squash, onions, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, and broccoli. Many of these he canned or froze and the remainder he used for trade for eggs, chicken, and needed help. Many folks in the valley did as Jon and during the summer months of harvest the festival field, also where the men played football, became an open market on Saturdays.

  Late in the afternoon Chris came home, tired from too much Calculus and just sitting around. Noticing that most of the chores had been done, as evidenced by 4 large baskets filled with onions and potatoes, Chris asked his dad

  “Hey, you want to throw the football?”

  “Sure, son go inside and get it.”

  As the mid October daylight began to fade the two, father and son were out in the front passing an old worn football. Dreaming of next Sunday’s match and conversing about the past.

  “Dad you remember watching those great football games on Saturday?”

  “Yes, I do son, and I really miss it. I grew up going to those games and cheering on the team. As I got older it became a real social event. Yes, that was a time when things were all in their proper order.”

  “What do you mean dad?”

  ‘What I mean was that things just seemed right. You worked hard all week and on Saturday in the fall you watched football and cheered your team. You enjoyed life and all it had to give, not worrying about if you were doing the right thing. You just lived your life how you thought you wanted to live it.”

  “I think I understand dad; it was a time when you had a break from all the things around you.”

  “Exactly son, for those hours that you were tailgating, as we called it, and watching the game, that was all there was, and it was great.”

  “Chris, don’t you remember going, I took you when you were younger.”

  “Yes, I remember, but not like you do dad.”

  “That was just a part of you what defined you. To some extent you lost a piece of you when all that went away.”

  “Yes, it did son, yes it did.”

  As the sun slipped behind the ridge to the west evening reached out with her long fingers to bring the quiet of night upon the valley. Jon and Chris headed inside to prepare the evening meal and settle in for the evening. With the stove fired up, ground venison patties were soon sizzling in a pan. The side dish was to be some of the potatoes that had been harvested mixed with one of the onions. A half hour later the two were at the table eating their dinner, quiet in their thoughts.

  After the dishes and pans were washed and put away Chris retired to his room with a cheerful goodnight to his father. Jon had lit a small fire in the fireplace and stretched his legs out to enjoy the warmth while he enjoyed a cool glass of wine. His thoughts turned toward the past, of growing up in a different time and a different place. Thoughts of all his life had been and the things he regretted not doing. He had lived a life that at times was adventurous and at times had been mundane. Thinking at fifty-eight, what more could life be. He had no regrets for what he had done and that he and Chris had left the life that they did. He realized he could not have survived in a world that limited his testosterone and that of his son.

  But beyond all his thoughts remained the ever-nagging memories and concern for the two they had left behind. Decisions made where made and that was that. Could it have been different, maybe, but not if it meant staying in what that world and life had become. Jon was an independent man with independent thoughts and had always had trouble conforming. Being highly intelligent he found that the dumbing down of the world he lived in was something that he could not abide. He wouldn’t abide with it for himself or his son. His roots, having come from the South of the country, always defined his interior strength and independence. Then again that same heritage also made him moody at times and sometimes left him a bit melancholy. When those times arrived, he found resolution in physical activity, whether splitting wood or going for a long run followed by a good dose of several glasses of wine.

  This was his life and from now on this is how he would enjoy it.

  Chapter 5

  There are many smells in the world that are wonderful to the senses. One might think apple pie baking or maybe the smell of a Christmas tree. But up in the woods there is no better combination than the smell of a wood burning fireplace, a fresh pot of coffee brewing, and bacon cooking on the stove. Just the thought of those three mixed with a cold morning makes the testosterone bubble up. It was Thursday of the week, the weekend approaching and Jon was thinking of just such a smell.

  He arose early as always and stepped out of doors to a cold, clear, crisp morning. A dawn that also had brought an inch of fresh dry snow that had fallen overnight. It was a snow that was the precursor to the oncoming winter that was telling folks to start thinking about winter preparation. Several good weeks of fall still remained but it would not be long before the valley would be busy hunting elk, canning vegetables, and drying meat for the long cold winter.

  In the mountains, away from the city noises and sound carries a long way. On a clear morning with little stirring one can hear noises from miles away. Add to this the natural tendency of the human body to clear the senses when removed from noise, bright lights, and other unnatural creations. It was this morning that Jon, holding a warm mug of coffee stepped out the front to brush the snow from his truck. As he brushed the first pile from the windshield, he thought he heard a human voice from a distance. Cocking his head, he listened more intently and heard a human cry for help mixed with the yapping of what he was certain was a pack of coyotes.

  Wasting no time, he ran inside and grabbed his 30-30 rifle from the rifle case and grabbed a box of bullets. Placing both in the front seat of the truck he ignited the motor and was soon heading down the driveway. Out the driveway and on to the valley road he poked his head out the window and listened. The sounds of the cries for help were closer and clearer. Rounding a turn Jon looked down off the side of the road into a holler and saw the reason for the noise. Two hundred feet away he spied someone up in a tree, just beyond the reach of five large and yapping coyotes. While the person seemed safe Jon knew he had to take care of this.
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  Jon grabbed his rifle and loaded it with four bullets. He then levered the first bullet into the chamber and headed down the hill. Twenty feet away he raised the rifle and called out to the person

  “Hang on and I will get you out of this”

  “Ok” said the person in a young feminine voice.

  Jon then spoke to what looked to be the leader of this pack of coyotes

  “Yawl git” he shouted

  The coyotes now assessing Jon turned and growled, no doubt thinking this also might be a meal for them. If a coyote had reasoning though they would have considered the size of Jon as compared to the meal they had trapped in the tree. As with many of the animals that had inhabited the wild places of the state, the coyotes had been impacted by the changes in human living in 2020 as well as the lack of hunting. Coyotes had learned to become ultra-predators where before much of their forage was human pets and rabbits. They had adapted quickly in size and cunning to learn to bring down deer and young elk. Humans in the wilder places always needed to be aware and take precautions due to the changed nature of coyotes, bears, and wolves. You did not dare to stray into the woods unless you were armed or with armed folk.

  Jon made one more command to the coyotes, which they did not heed, and as such he leveled his rifle at the lead. A slight inhale and the squeeze of the trigger brought a loud report that sent a bullet speeding toward the growling beast. The bullet hit its mark, passing through the vitals and dropping the beast immediately. Seeing their leader down and cringing from the sound of the rifle the rest of the pack gave up their quest for an easy meal and took off.

  Now that that the threat was gone Jon looked up into the tree and called to the girl,

  “I think it is safe to come down. Give me your hand.”

  The young girl climbed down to a point where Jon could reach her and help her traverse the final five feet to the ground. Jon noted the grey green outfit of the girl. It was soiled and a bit damp, not adequate for the climate. Nor was the short jacket that the girl wore. No doubt she was cold and quite out of place as she was dressed as one of those that lived in the urban areas and to such Jon said,

  “What are you doing here so far away from the city?”

  The young girl raised her head and looked into the man’s eyes and for the moment all recognition fled back into her.

  “Father?”

  Jon in amazement returned the point and had no doubt who he was addressing.

  “Amanda, what in the world are you doing here?”

  It is said that neither time nor distance can erase the bonds that exist between a parent and child. Jon had not seen his daughter in almost ten years. When he and Chris left, Amanda was but six years old. Her mother had decided that the life that Jon was heading for would not suit her young daughter and she felt that the life in the urban world would always be a better place for all children. In that moment the very conversation that they had with each other came flooding back to Jon’s memory.

  “You two men go ahead and head out into your prehistoric world but Amanda is too young to live like a cave man.”

  “We are not off to live like cave men. Chris and I are going to try to maintain a life that the people who created this country wanted to maintain.”

  “Yes, and you are going to live like it is the 1700s.”

  “Not exactly my dear, we are going to take the technology that we need. What we are not going to take is the bull shit world that you choose to live in and have supported. We are going to take our minds and use them.”

  At that moment the present came speeding back to Jon as he looked into the face of his daughter.

  “Amanda, what brings you here? It must be a four-day trip to come up here.”

  “Actually, five father”

  “You are cold, here”

  Jon removed his field coat and draped it around the shivering girl.

  “Let’s get you up to the truck so I can get you home.”

  Jon helped the girl up the side of the ravine and promptly placed her in the front seat of the truck. Reaching in the back he brought out a blanket which he draped around her and produced a canteen. The girl opened the bottle and took a good long drink.

  “I will be back in a few minutes and then we can get going” said Jon.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Back to get that coyote and put it in the truck”

  “Don’t tell me you eat those things?”

  “No but the fur will make a good hat for someone and I am not going to let it go to waste”

  “Mother was right; I have gone back to the primitive”

  Jon laughed as he walked back down the ravine toward the carcass that was the coyote. Shortly he returned with the beast slung over his shoulder and promptly dropped it into the back of the pickup. Jumping into the driver’s seat he turned toward Amanda,

  “Ready”

  “I am warming up, let’s go”

  Jon started the truck and made the trek back to the cabin. After making their way back down the road the truck came to a halt in front of the house.

  “Well what do you think?” asked Jon.

  “It is actually nice, I expected you to be living in a shack but this looks like a homely home.”

  “Not like those disinfected condo’s you live in back in the city huh?”

  “No it definitely isn’t.’

  The two got out of the truck, walked up the stairs to the front porch and entered into the front door. Jon promptly placed Amanda, all wrapped up in the blanket, in front of the fire place where he soon had a cheerful fire going.

  “Would you like some coffee honey” asked Jon.

  “You mean you have that here; you know it has been banned in the city.”

  “Oh, I bet it has.” said John.

  “You still like it with sweetener and milk.”

  “That would be great”

  After a few minutes Jon gave her a steaming cup of coffee which she gladly accepted and took a large sip.

  “I forgot how good this tasted.” said Amanda.

  “Just wait till I make you eggs, bacon and toast” said Jon.

  “I haven’t had that in years, you know it is.”

  Jon cut her short before she could get out the words.

  “It is banned as well; I know I know. What the hell kind of life do you people live down there?”

  “We live a life that is all about the social good.”

  “Stop” said Jon.

  “I don’t want to hear about it.’

  A moment later the back-bedroom door opened and out walked Chris looking quite in question as to the scene.

  “Dad, what was that noise about and who is our visitor?”

  “Chris say hello to your”

  Before he could finish the word, Amanda jumped up and shouted

  “Chris”

  “Your sister Amanda” finished Jon.

  Amanda ran towards Chris and wrapped him in her arms. They had always been close when they were small children and the love that they had for each other had never left, even in the years of separation. Presently Amanda stepped back from Chris and looked at him.

  “Wow you are tall and really strong looking.”

  “That’s what living our life will do to you.’

  “What scraping off the land?” quipped Amanda?

  “When I fix you breakfast you won’t be making that remark.” said Jon.

  “You think you can still eat real food or do we need to go dig you up some of that processed food that you all eat in the urban world.” asked Chris.

  “No actually I would like to eat something real.” said Amanda.

  “Ok I will get those bacon and eggs I promised you going.” said Jon.

  Amanda began to take in the scene of the cabin. She studied the wood pane
led walls and marveled at the stone fireplace. She also took note of the PC as well as the lighting.

  “Father, how do you power the PC and the lights? I wouldn’t think you get electricity up here since you are not on the super grid.”

  “Well we have solar panels on the roof and they keep batteries we have stored charged up. But the fact is we rarely use the electricity except to charge up the tablet PCs and keep the ice boxes cold. Most of our light we have through candles and we heat the place as you can see with the fireplace and the wood burning stove that also cooks our food when we cook inside.”

  “Inside?” You mean you cook outside as well? What about all the smoke you put into the air, that can’t be healthy?”

  “It is much healthier than the stale inside air that you all must live in back at your city of towers.” said Chris.

  “Ok guys, let’s not get into all that, Amanda will have to see what kind of a life we live and decide if she likes it. Food is ready so let’s sit down and eat.”

  Presently they all took a seat at the large wooden table and began to take portions of eggs, bacon, and bread all served with more hot coffee. A few minutes into the meal Jon decided to get right to the point.

  “So Amanda, what brings you out here to our primitive world? Getting bored there in the city?”

  Amanda, finished her bite off eggs, took a sip of coffee and began her reply.

  “Father I came to find you and Chris. I came to bring you back so we could all be together.”

  “Was this your idea or your Mother’s?” asked Jon.

  “It is mom’s idea.” said Amanda.

  “Well you know Chris and I have no intention of going back to your world to live.”

  “I know that father. Mother wants you to come with me to the city so that you can bring both of us back here to live.”