by Mary Griggs
"What do you bring to the table?"
Piper tilted her head. "Excuse me?"
"Can you hunt, fish, farm?"
"I'm a good hunter. I've never farmed and fishing is boring."
"True but oh, so tasty." She punched down the rising dough and molded it into two loaves before sliding them to side to rise again before their trip into the oven. Jay checked the large pot of water and saw that it was boiling. She tossed in two boxes of pasta. "You ready for a new task?" she asked Piper.
"Whatever you need."
"In the fridge should be a paper bag of mushrooms. Get a couple handfuls and chop them up."
"Done." Piper took the mushrooms to the sink for a quick rub down. "What shall I do with the stems?"
"Put them in the bowl with the ends of the beans. When you go down to the garden tomorrow, you'll see the compost area."
"I can hardly wait," she said dryly.
Carol and Eva stepped into the kitchen. Carol hugged Jay. "It is wonderful to have a hot water for a shower."
"Glad you enjoyed it. I'm proud to offer all the comforts of home."
Eva shook her head. "Better than home or at least what was left after the crazy Christians were done," she said angrily.
"Well, you're safe here now. Make yourself comfortable."
"Do you need us to do anything?"
"Would you set the table? There are plates in the sideboard and utensils in the drawer."
"No problem."
Jay smiled her thanks as she slid the sliced and cored tomatoes under the broiler for a quick roasting. When they were done, she put the loaves of bread in the oven. Pulling out a skillet, she drizzled in some olive oil, some minced garlic and the green beans. She sautéed the ingredients before tossing in the tomatoes and adding them and the chopped olives to the skillet.
The group of refugees were milling about so she had them pour water and ice tea for those that wanted and red wine for the adults. She strained the pasta and put it back in the pot and poured the contents of the skillet into the mix. Jay had Susan stir everything together and take it to the table while she pulled the bread out of the oven.
Taking the empty pasta pot, she filled it with water and put it back on the stove for the water to heat during the meal for them to have to wash dishes afterwards.
Once everyone was seated and served, Jay raised her glass. "I'd like to propose a toast." The lifted glasses of the diners sparkled and refracted the rich, red wine. "To new beginnings."
"Hear, hear."
Susan lifted her glass again. "To prior planning. You're a life saver."
Inclining her head, Jay accepted the accolade. "I'm glad you all finally made it up here."
"Better late than never."
"Too true. I hope your sojourn here is peaceful and you all find what you need to flourish."
"Just looking at the meal before us and I can tell you that we're already so much better off," responded Martha.
"Good. Why don't we all dig in?"
For a while, the house was quiet except for the sound of silverware on plates and appreciative moans. Once the first hunger pangs were assuaged, Jay asked the group, "So, what's new to report?"
"Do you have any idea where we're coming from?" Doris asked.
"I've heard stories. After the attacks, I went down to Sacramento to see if I could help." She shuddered. "Things were bad but there was still stuff available. I made a couple of trips to bring more supplies up and I haven't been more than fifty miles from here since."
Martha nodded her head. "Sacramento was hit pretty bad but nothing like San Francisco. The militia targeted it as the new Sodom and basically wiped it off the map."
"I haven't heard anyone making it past Daly City since the bombing and, with all the bridges out, there is no other way in."
"How about your area?"
"We were pretty lucky. Oakland only took a couple of hits. The problem was that the port received the brunt of the bombing."
"Even without the trade sanctions imposed by Japan, there was no way for supplies get ashore."
"Japan?" Jay asked. "I heard about Canada and Mexico closing their borders but I didn't know that anyone else was against us."
Doris' voice was strident. "Everyone is against us."
"Yeah, seems Japan didn't take particularly kindly to a tidal wave destroying Kyoto." Wiping her mouth, Martha added, "But it's not like they're alone. The international community is not well pleased about the UN building taking a direct hit."
"How could they tell? I thought New York City was carpet bombed."
"It was pretty much leveled but I understand that those who know can tell. It wasn't an accident what was targeted."
"The fact that we've been isolated is why there's been no significant recovery." Susan drained her wine glass. "The Confederacy managed to alienate the entire world. There was a lot of non-governmental aid in the first years but you know that much of humanitarian assistance had been financed by US dollars. Without cash, there's no help."
Piper added, "The world economy may never recover from the financial market crash."
"So, I can finally get rid of my paper stocks?"
"It's not a joke." Doris replied tartly. "The New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the American Stock Exchange are all gone."
"A lot of world-wide banks were based in US cities. I guess the lessons of 9/11 didn't sink in so well because when the bombs fell, the banks collapsed."
"Do you know how many regimes around the world depended on our money for survival? We heard stories that most of Africa and South America have fallen into conflict."
"Of course, it doesn't help that Fort Knox is under Confederacy control." Carol spoke up for the first time since the conversation turned serious.
Cody burped, looked apologetic and interjected. "Yeah, who knew they'd be stupid enough to try and link their new currency to the gold standard."
"What do you know of monetary policy, cub?" Jay asked.
"Enough to know that William Jennings Bryant was right not to tie us to an impossible standard."
Martha interrupted, "In any event, we haven't even gotten to the human cost of the war."
"I never expected that Doctors with Borders would ever be needed in our country," Piper said in a low voice. "And then they had to withdraw when the Confederacy threatened to extend their targets outside of the country."
"Can they do that?"
"You bet. They've got more than just what the bases had." Martha looked disgusted. "They've got control of the ICBM's and you know that no-one wants to take on maniacs with nuclear weapons at their fingertips."
"We're a rogue country now. No-one wants anything to do with us."
"Frankly, I always wondered why we're not occupied."
"What do you mean?"
Jay shrugged. "Why haven't Confederacy troops appeared on the horizon? We've got no way to stop them, no outside allies, nothing at all to even slow them down."
"I heard that they accomplished what they wanted." Piper played with the salt and peppershaker. "They wanted to create a pure, Christian land. The bombings weren't to soften us up for their missionaries. They were to form a moat along each coast. A boundary for their complete and total isolation from the mud people and degenerates of the world."
"That does make a certain, perverted sense." Jay nodded as she drained her glass of wine.
"But why?" Eva was nearly in tears. "What did we do to them?"
"Our very being threatened them, honey." Martha opened her arms and allowed her niece to climb onto to her lap and into her embrace. "They wanted so badly to have right on their side and when we wouldn't accept that or their vengeful God, they decided that we shouldn't be allowed to live."
"But we wouldn't have done anything to them."
"That's the downside of tolerance, Eva. When your opponent isn't bound by the same sense of fairness and acceptance, you are at a decided disadvantage. For all their talk, they certainly
didn't do what Jesus would have done."
"Why can't it be like it was?" Carol cried out. "Why did Cheryl and Mr. Matlan and all the others have to die?"
"I can't explain it because even I don't understand it. We just have to go on from here." Susan spoke soothingly to her daughter.
"Maybe we should find something else to talk about," Doris said. "It's too upsetting."
Susan looked around the table of clean plates and empty bowls. "That was a great meal. Sorry we ruined it with all the depressing talk."
"Yeah, thanks for what you're doing for us," Piper added.
"You're welcome. I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. I have to say that I don't think open discussion is a bad thing." Jay rubbed her eyes. "When I was growing up, we used to come close to blows at meals. It might not have been the best thing for our digestion but I'm better for having been a part of it."
Piper nodded. "I agree. We've got a chance here to start our own traditions. I'd like for meal time to be a place to share anything."
"Well, I don't want my daughter in tears at every meal."
"Mom," whined Eva. "It's hardly likely that every meal will make me cry."
"I think that everyone is tired and emotional after the journey. Why don't we table the discussion until everyone has had a chance to regain some equilibrium?" asked Martha.
All around the table, heads nodded in agreement. Jay smiled. "Excellent. Now, why don't the kids take the first turn at dish washing?"
"I second that motion," Martha quickly said.
"And how about the adults follow me outside. I want to show you another perk of this place."
Intrigued, the four women trailed behind Jay through the French doors to the patio. She walked to the side of the building and pointed at a large shape.
Piper was the first to speak. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yep." Jay walked over and lifted the lid. "One genuine California hot tub, at your service."
"Unbelievable."
"I've got a special enzyme concoction that keeps the water soft and clean naturally and lasts for a super long time. Those solar panels over there collect enough energy to power the heater and the air pump." She turned and faced the group. "The big rule is that you have to shower before getting in. The system works better if no body soil makes it into the water." Cocking her head at the kitchen window. "I also think we need to have a clothing rule with the youths around."
"Agreed. There are some things that Cody doesn't need to see."
"What are we to wear?"
"T-shirts and shorts should do it." Jay set the lid back down. "I'm going to turn in but feel free to use it before y'all head to bed."
With a smile and a wave, she walked back inside to a chorus of "Goodnights."
Chapter Six - O Day of Light and Gladness
Earth feels the season's joyance,
From mountain range to sea
The tides of life are flowing
Fresh, manifold and free.
In valley and on upland,
By forest pathways dim,
All nature lifts in chorus
The resurrection hymn.
Words: Frederick L. Hosmer, 1903. Music: "Lancashire," Henry T. Smart, 1836
The household woke in the morning to the scent of fresh baked bread. Almost as one, the travelers crawled out of their beds and made their way to the dining room.
Turning the corner out of the kitchen, Jay smiled at the tousled hair and sleepy eyes of her new household. She held out a jar of blackberry jam and a jar of honey. "Here are the spreads to go with the biscuits I made," she said, pointing at a towel covered wicker basket.
"Wow." Cody enthused as he threw himself into a chair. With gusto, he smeared jam on the still warm bread and stuffed more than half of it into his mouth. "Dude, this is really good," he said, spraying crumbs.
The women acted less like starving wolverines but were no less eager to eat the hot biscuits. Moaning in pleasure, the group inhaled the contents of the basket in record time. Jay laughed at the worried looks that were shot her way when the basket was empty.
Walking back into the kitchen, she pulled out a second tray of biscuits and slid them off into the basket. She put it on the table and quickly stepped back. Obtrusively counting her fingers to make sure they were all still attached, she invited, "Try the honey. It's from very local bees."
"How local?"
"Over on the other side of the pond."
"You've got bee hives?" Eva asked.
"Yup. At the end of the month would you like help me prepare the hives for winter?"
"Sure. That would be so cool."
"Where did you get the jam?"
"There's a guy further up the mountain who puts it up. I never had the patience to stand out there collect enough berries to make jam." Jay ate a biscuit. "Though, to be honest, if I didn't eat so much while I'm picking, I'd probably have plenty."
Jay was sitting at the head of the table and she looked out over her new household. "How did everyone sleep?" Following the positive chorus, she stuck her finger in the honey pot and licked it off. "Feel free to switch around, there are a plenty of places to crash."
"Having a bed at all is wonderful," replied Susan. "We've been on the road a month and, before that, living out of the two stable rooms in our old house. We are used to sleeping on floors and the ground."
"Well, I'd be happy to scrounge up some rocks to toss between the sheets."
"No thanks."
Martha pursed her lips. "The luxury of it all is delightful after all we've been through."
"I think you might be amazed at how quickly you fall back into the habits of civilized life."
Piper nodded, "We'll be spoiled in no time."
"We deserve some spoiling after the last few years." Doris set her mug down, sharply. "You might have been living rather well up here but it's been horrible for us."
"At least you have your health." Jay smiled to take the sting out of her words. "Millions lost their lives, you didn't. You've made it safely here, enjoy the peace."
"I don't appreciate you making jokes of our suffering."
"I'm just saying that things have been tough all over."
"Not here."
"I'd be the first person to call our isolation a blessing." She raised a hand against Doris' interruption. "I also would defend my level of existence just because I was smart enough to plan for disaster."
"Well, forgive us for not predicting the future."
"In any event," interjected Martha. "We're here now." She looked around the table. "You said something last night about what we need to do. Why don't we discuss a plan?"
Susan agreed. "Good idea. We need to know what to do first."
"Well, as I see it we've got a couple of priorities. The first one is getting more wood chopped. I had more than enough for me to make it through next year. But now, we'll need a lot more just to make it through the winter."
Doris asked, "Why?"
"The stove is a wood hog. Cooking and heating for an additional seven people takes more than doing the same for one."
"How much more?"
"Two or three cords."
"That's a lot." Martha scratched her chin. "Will it have time to season?"
"I took down a couple of trees that I was planning to leave for another month or two. They won't be completely dry but it's what we've got to work with."
"How do we get it down here?" Carolyn asked.
"Working together we can just go up and fetch them down. Teamwork and all that jazz will make quick work of getting a log from point A to point B. Once it's in the yard, we'll have a good old fashioned chopping party." She pushed her plate back. "How are y'all with an axe?"
Susan looked around. "I think everyone should take a turn. This is all fairly new to us."
Flexing his bicep, Cody declared, "I was born to wield an axe."
"That's fine, sweetheart. It will be good for everyone to give it a try. While I think we should find our own comf
ort level, we all need to learn the basics."
"Everyone agree to that?" There are nods around the table. "That brings me to the second point. Food."
Doris crossed her arms over her chest. She asked, "Don't you have plenty downstairs?"
"Not if you want well balanced nutrition. Most of what's stored is staples and vegetables. We need protein in the form of meat and that means hunting and fishing."