Hell Happened

by Stenzelbarton, Terry

  “One – medical supplies. And I don’t mean just first aid kits. We need drugs and stuff that we can’t even imagine right now. Monica will be in charge of that because I think she has the most medical knowledge of all of us. The women also need stuff that women need,” no one laughed although Jerry expected Eddie to, “so one of our priorities will be a pharmacy.

  “Two – walkie-talkies of some sort so everyone can have one. We need to be able to communicate in some other way than just the CB. We need to find an electronics store. Randy will be in charge of that. He’ll also be looking for batteries for as long as we can find them. Duracell said their batteries last seven years on the shelf, but we can’t depend on that so we need to get what we can while we can. If he can find rechargeable batteries, we need to get as many as we can.

  “Three – Survival books. Monica showed us today how little most of us know of survival. We don’t have internet anymore, but we can all read. Mike, I’d like you to keep this mind.

  “One other thing Mike, you seem to be the smartest of all of us, I’d like you to think of yourself as the general manager of our group. If you see something we need or see something we’re doing wrong or whatever, I want you to speak up. And don’t think you’re going to be ratting out Randy to me if you see him wasting gas, because Randy and I have already talked about it.”

  “You want me to be your lieutenant, is what I hear you saying,” Mike clarified.

  “Yes. And it’s because you obviously have 40 years more experience than Randy.”

  “I was a lieutenant in the Marines and I think I can remember how to do that,” he said, giving them all another piece of his history. Jerry realized he’d thought the old bank executive was a soft, pampered man. Now he found out the man used to be a Marine and he knew from the TV show NCIS that a Marine was always a Marine. He’d underestimated the man and the man had let him so as not to undercut Jerry’s authority.

  Putting fingers back up, Jerry continued. “Fourth – weapons, more than we have, but nothing we don’t know how to use. We found out today that there are people with hand grenades and they aren’t afraid to use them. Mike, I hope you’ll help us in that respect as well.

  “Fifth – scavenging, we need to do a better job of it. Today we let opportunities pass where we could have picked up stuff at no risk to ourselves and we didn’t. When we see something we can use, we need to get it. If we see something we need, we get it because if we don’t and we need it we’re going to kick ourselves for being stupid. And if we don’t get it, someone else, like those sons of bitches today, will. We need to all start being smarter and that means me as well.

  “Kellie, I’d like you to take control of the house and what’s in it and figure out what we need most so we don’t start looking for stuff we don’t need right away, like how we need more clothes for everyone, but not more beer, even though one would taste good right now.”

  Kellie’s eyebrows shot up. “Me? Why me?”

  “Because you’re the most organized of all of us, even more than Mike. I need someone who is smart and organized to make sure we’re not wasting resources chasing after stuff we don’t need. Also, everyone here knows you have the least amount of experience in survival, but you do know something about organization,” he explained in such a way so the woman was not insulted. He wasn’t being sexist by asking her to organize the shelter, he was just using the people he had in a way that helped the whole group.

  “Will I get to be called Lieutenant Kellie?” she asked with a wink to Mike and to lighten up what could have been a tense moment.

  Before Jerry could respond it was Eddie who spoke up. “Hey, yeah, Lt. Stone, though. You go by your last name. I like that.” Mimicking her higher pitched voice he added, “Lt. Stone has the bridge. Bring all weapons to bear and let’s go kick some alien assholes.” The little bit of comedic relief was welcomed by everyone. Eddie had changed a lot today, but the core of him was still the little wiseass with the smart mouth.

  Bringing everyone back to the purpose of the meeting Jerry put up one last finger. The last item, but possibly one of the most important is fuel. We’re running out and we need some. Every time we’re out, we’re going to have to look for fuel. Randy will be in charge of making sure all the vehicles are always full and ready to go when we need them. Nothing would be as bad as having to pump 20 gallons of diesel into the truck by hand while someone else is waiting for back up 10 miles down the road.”

  He looked around the room at everyone. “That’s what I have, anyone want to say anything?”

  Eddie opened his mouth and Randy stopped him. He knew his friend well enough to know when he was about to make some inappropriate smart ass remark. “Shut up, Eddie.” Eddie smiled and closed his mouth.

  It was Mike who spoke the sage advice. “You’ve given us a lot to think about, Jerry. I like your ideas, personally, but before we talk about it more, why don’t we all take the rest of the evening to think about it and in the morning we’ll hash out any issues we have.”

  Everyone seemed to agree with Mike’s idea so Jerry stood up from his chair. “Good thinking, Mike. I’m a little tired and need a shower.”

  Tony spoke up before Jerry could leave the room. “Thanks again, Jerry. I won’t let you down again.”

  Jerry looked at the man. “You didn’t let me down, Tony. We all make some poor decisions and Jeff made some, you made some and I made some. All we can do is move on from here.”

  With his good hand, Tony reached out from under the blanket and offered it to Jerry. Jerry took it gently and shook it solemnly the released it. “I need that shower then I’m off to bed. I’ll see you all at breakfast.”

  ~ ~ ~

  When he got to his room, he started stripping off his dirty clothes and tossed them into the white basket he kept in the corner. Tomorrow he’d collect up all of Jeff’s stuff that was in the room and clear a spot so Mike could move into this room.

  Tomorrow things were going change, but the smell of his own sweat was enough for him to think more about right now than tomorrow. He put on the old robe he’d been given by his ex-wife eight or nine years earlier and went back down stairs, showered and brushed his teeth and put on clean shorts and tee shirt. Just before he retired for the evening, he tussled his son’s hair and told him good night and checked on Tony.

  Monica would stay beside him tonight and there was nothing anyone could say to dissuade her.

  In his room, he pulled a book from the shelf, a good science fiction novel that’d help him lose himself in someone else’s narrative before sleep. He was tired of thinking about today and even though he knew he’d never forget what happened, or stop second guessing himself, he knew he needed to sleep because he’d put forth some real plans for tomorrow and they were going to depend on him.

  He hung up the robe on the back of the door to his room and climbed into the single bed, propped himself up so he could read comfortably. He just started the first paragraph when there was a knock at the door.

  He assumed it was either Randy or Mike with a question. He was surprised it was Kellie.

  Jerry was over 50 and had survived raising two kids, including a daughter whose teenage years were a roller coaster of emotions. His marriage had fallen apart, like half the other marriages in the USA and he survived that as well. By all accounts, as lives in the United States went, Jerry’s had been typical, without a lot of drama or stress. He had flirted with bankruptcy, but selling one quarter of his farm to a developer who had planned on building a housing development kept him solvent.

  It had been difficult for him when his dad died, but he carried on in the stoic way his dad would have wanted. His mom passing three years later had been difficult as well, but his friends and relatives helped him through that too.

  When he met Andrea and fell in love, life was good. Then their kids were born, Randy followed two years later by Amanda. They grew up and graduated high school. Randy went to the community college part time and helped on the far
m and played video games. Amanda went into the Army to be a helicopter mechanic. Jerry thought about her every day and never stopped believing she’d survived the virus.

  Six months after Amanda had joined the Army, Andrea was gone and six months after that, the divorce was final. Jerry’s life moved on.

  By anyone’s measure, Jerry’s life had been boring. He didn’t participate in politics or sports, he attended church regularly, but not the bible study programs. He watched TV and farmed his fields, milked his cows every morning and every evening, tended the fields during the day and drank beer at the local Lions Club once in a while.

  He wasn’t a handsome man, barely reaching six foot in height, his hair was leaving him quickly, his eyebrows a mix of brown and a strand to two of grey, an unspectacular jaw line, teeth that were just a little crooked and one was chipped. Despite working the farm his entire life, he never developed into a muscular man, taking after his mother rather than his dad. He was slender and had a wiry strength, but wasn’t a brute of a man.

  He’d tried dating after Andrea divorced him and failed miserably so he quit trying. He didn’t have the inclination nor wanted to expend the effort. The drama was too much for the man who was used to an orderly, simple and drama-free life. He could live without hearing about some woman’s problems with her ex and her children and her job and her boss and her mother and her car and her etcetera, etcetera. The first date he had after Andrea had divorced him killed any desire for him to date again.

  Were it not for Remi, his Cajun friend from high school, he’d’ve never met Sissy the week before the fall of the world and he probably would have gone to the grave having not given more than just a passing thought to enjoying the companionship of a woman again. He’d thought of her often in the weeks that followed, but knew she had died from the virus. The flame that had been rekindled died again.

  When he first saw Kellie and her dog in his field, he thought she was probably insane. He, Randy and Mike were careful when approaching her. She was dirty with hallowed cheeks and had scratches on her hands and face; her clothes were torn, shoes muddy, hair a mess and had eyes that looked as if they’d died already.

  Her voice however, was firm, if a little shaky and he could tell she was very close to breaking down. They told her she was welcome to come with them to shelter. Her dog growled a little but she shushed the little mutt she called Molly. It had taken 10 minutes to convince her they were not going to hurt her. He thinks the dog was the key when he knelt down and Molly timidly came up to him and licked his outstretched hand.

  Kellie agreed to follow them back to the shelter, still obviously scared. She started crying in gushes and leaned on the gentle Mike. Mike was the one who comforted her led her back to the shelter and Jerry called for Monica. Monica came out and led Kellie inside. She heated some soup and biscuits Terrill had made that morning while Kellie composed herself.

  She ate and watched the men and Monica carefully, looking for anything that might be a ruse. There was none. She finished eating and fell asleep, a peaceful sleep right there on the table. Monica woke her after an hour, suggested she take a shower and then showed her the extra inflatable bed in her room that was hers for as long as she wanted it.

  Monica took Molly outside and fed the mutt some leftovers while Kellie showered. The little dog was hungry and finished them before Kellie finally felt she’d gotten all the dirt off. She came out wearing a pair of Jerry’s jeans, held onto her narrow hips by an old belt, and one of Randy’s tee shirts. It wasn’t much, but she wore it without complaint.

  Over the next week she got to know the people in the house and they got to know her and the struggles she had getting to where they found her. She was a dainty woman who had obviously led an easy life up until the fall. She spoke with an educated voice and used words Jerry could tell she’d learned from a good school and college. She told them her version of what had happened to the world and it paralleled what they had heard and experienced.

  Randy filled her in on how fortunate she’d been the previous night, sleeping in the factory building, and not having met any of the not-dead zombies. She stared at him in disbelief, but Mike and Jerry confirmed the young man wasn’t kidding. She’d not encountered any zombies, and after what Jerry and Randy said, she could go the rest of her life without meeting them.

  She chipped in with the chores and found a way to fit in with the vastly different personalities and people.

  After hearing Jerry talk tonight, explaining to them his vision and willingness to lead, Kellie felt she was where she belonged for the first time in years. She missed her sister and her family terribly, she missed her school kids and her friends, but of all the bad things that had happened, she was glad she was here with these people. It made the sorrow and pain less tormenting to her dreams.

  Chapter 4

  J erry had climbed into bed with a book, intent on reading until his mind was full of sci-fi and not reality. It was cool, but not cold, in his room so he pulled the single blanket up and put on his reading glasses.

  Then there was a knock at his door. “Can I come in?” she asked, peeking through the door. She wanted to tell him how much it meant to her to feel like part of something so special.

  “Sure,” he said pulling the blanket up to cover more of himself. He laid the book down and took his glasses off. “What’s up? Something wrong?”

  “No, not wrong,” she said, staying by the door. “I don’t want to be a bother, just wanted to let you know how much confidence you instill in those people.”

  “You’re not a bother, Kellie,” he said. “And thank you. They are really good people and don’t need me to give them confidence.” She really liked his self-deprecating manner. He was never too proud and always willing to listen to others. She again counted herself fortunate to have stumbled upon this man and this shelter.

  “May I sit down?” she asked. It was probably the first time a woman had ever been so forward to him. She knew what this must look like to him, but he hadn’t made any move which might even be vaguely considered inappropriate or threatening to her. She felt safe with him.

  Jerry stuttered something that sounded like “please” and moved his feet to the side of the narrow bed.

  She took the offered seat and she sat with her hands clasped together in her lap. She looked uncomfortable to Jerry, like she wanted to say something but didn’t know if he’d understand what she was going to say.

  “What is it, Kellie?”

  There was a long pause. Jerry was never the type push someone into talking about something they didn’t want to.

  “Terrill was a tortured soul,” Kellie began. “He told me what happened to him in Afghanistan and it was terrible. He was always afraid growing up and he joined the Army to try to get the confidence to not be afraid. When his Army truck was blown up, he was afraid again and he just wanted to get away from the Army and the heroes there who faced terror every day.

  The death of Terrill weighed heavily on Jerry. He replayed it in his mind at least a hundred times already.

  “He started drinking to forget the horrors he saw and when the end of the world came, he thought he wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore, but the vigilantes and the zombies continued to make him afraid every day and every night. At one point he tried to drink himself to death, but he stopped before he did. He was too afraid to even die.

  “When he came here, after he came to know you and your son and the others, for the first time in his life he wasn’t afraid all the time. When you asked him his opinion on the wisdom of going to look for Tony and Jeff, Terrill felt you listened to him. It made him feel like a part of something…something important. He told me this the night before you guys left.

  She paused for a minute to stifle back the tears she was fighting. “I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but I think Terrill’s sacrifice today was his way of facing the terrors and the fears he’d been carrying with him all his life.

  “I think because he died saving
you and Tony, you’re going to be afraid to make difficult decisions and you’ll second guess yourself. You might even start thinking of quitting and let someone else do it so you don’t have to.”

  Jerry’s eyebrows went up high on his forehead because he’d been thinking just that, back when she and Jerry were talking in the garden and then again earlier today. She was perceptive if nothing else.

  “Big decisions will always weigh heavy on you and I hope they always do because then you’ll never take someone’s life for granted.

  “But I hope you never become afraid to lead like you did tonight. I don’t pretend to know what tomorrow or the next day will be like, but I know I wouldn’t want to have anyone but you to follow.”

  Jerry’s rubbed his face and then his head. He didn’t know what to say or if he should say anything at all. He was blushing like a teen after a first kiss.

  “I just thought you should know how much you mean to everyone.”

  “Uh,” Jerry stuttered. “Thanks.”

  She got up from the foot of his bed and kissed him. It was a kiss that was more than a friendly kiss, but not a kiss that would lead him to believe she was offering more than just a warm kiss right now.

  “Good night, Jerry. Sleep well.” She winked and smiled at him, just enough to let him know there was interest but not so much as to make him feel uncomfortable.

  She closed the door.

  Jerry sat for five minutes thinking not about what she’d said, although it did mean a lot that she came to tell him, rather thinking about the feel of her warm kiss on his lips and the feeling of her hand on his cheek.

  It was a good feeling.

  He put the book on the floor beside him and turned the light off.

  For the first time in longer than he could remember, he fell asleep with a smile on his lips.

  ~ ~ ~

  Jerry, as always, was up before the rest of the shelter the following morning. He dressed and started a pot of coffee. He saw Monica sleeping on the floor beside Tony and both looked like they were at peace.