by Reed, N. C.
“You two go and get some rest,” he ordered the youngsters. “We’ll start eating about one I'm told, assuming the bread is done,” he chuckled, remembering Angela's fussing as he'd wakened her before heading out himself.
“What do we need to do now?” Ronny asked.
“For the moment, nothing,” Gordon replied. “We’ll let it keep smoldering until around eleven, I guess, and then start carving pieces off for the table. That will give it enough time to cool so that we can eat it.”
“Well, meantime we can help set things up, I guess,” Robert mused. “We need to set up the tables and chairs, plus the yard games and what have you. All of that takes time. We should be done about the time we need to start the carving. But we need to have the tables ready for the food as they bring it out.”
“Makes sense,” Ronny nodded. “We’ll go and get started on that. Let us know if you need anything,” he told his father-in-law.
“Will do.”
-
Slowly, but surely, the crowd began gathering about ten o'clock that morning. Children clutching toys and games followed mothers carrying dishes and fathers carrying whatever lawn chairs and blankets they had for use in such instances.
The idea was to have simple foods so that no one had to labor too much. That didn't apply to Angela, her daughter and prospective daughter-in-law, of course, as they had labored for two days trying to prepare enough bread for everyone.
Perhaps the greatest challenge would be the children who had no parents to watch over them or assist in food preparation. The four young women who ran the orphanage simply couldn't handle that all alone so everyone who could began helping as soon as their own preparations were made. Gordon's estimate was correct and he and Robert began carving slabs of beef from the finished cow right at eleven o'clock, with Ronny soon joining them to assist in carrying the heavy platters to the tables.
Leon arrived at noon, Brick driving him down on his golf cart and helping him into a chair beneath a canopy that would help keep the worst of the heat at bay. Janice made sure Leon was comfortable before going to help with the children while Brick asked if there was anything that he could do. He was immediately pressed into service ferrying bread loaves from the Sanders' home to the area behind the three large buildings on the Troy farm selected for the luau.
Leon noted as he watched the goings on that the plan appeared to be working. People from all three 'groups' were interacting with each other, talking and working alongside each other in the exact way he had hoped would happen. Gordon and Franklin had hit upon a good idea and put it into action. There should be both a short-term payoff as well as long term benefits for something on this scale.
None of the security personnel were taking part in the preparations. While this would be a celebration of sorts, it would also be a time of weakness with everyone out in the open and vulnerable. As a result, almost all of the security team would be on watch or on call, ready to respond to any emergency. It was a sad testament on conditions that it was necessary, but there was no help for it.
At roughly one o'clock Franklin George began ringing an old-fashioned dinner triangle, calling attention to himself at the center of the gathering.
“It's not Thanksgiving,” he began, “but we have a lot to be thankful for despite how bad things are. We have enough to eat, we have shelter and we have our daily needs met. In this new world that's nothing to sneeze at.” He paused as several people applauded and all nodded their agreement.
“What we don't have, at least not enough of, is togetherness,” he continued after a few seconds. “We have essentially become isolated right here on this farm into three separate groups. Almost three communities. We've allowed the events of the last few weeks to divide us. That has to end, and it may as well end now. Too much depends on it.”
“The facts are simple, people. We hang together, or we hang separately. We merge together into the one solid group we intended to be from the start, or we continue fracturing into smaller and smaller groups until one day all of us are swamped by the evil that surrounds us and no one is left. If that doesn't bother you, then I guess you can eat your fill and go on home or back to what you were doing, but it bothers me and I aim to try and do something about it.”
“So, start getting to know others, people. Start talking to people you don't know and get to know them. We're all going to be neighbors for the foreseeable future, good Lord willing and the natives don't get restless. So, we need to be neighborly. We need to be friends, people, because strangers won't fight for each other. Friends will. And the only way we keep the home fires burning is to fight for one another. Be there for one another in times of need. Become friends and stay that way. Act that way. Be that way.”
“So, I invite you to what I hope will be the first of many opportunities to eat hearty and visit with your neighbors. We’ll try and do this on a regular basis, but for today we’ll worry just about today. So, gather around and let’s say grace over our food, giving thanks not only for our food and our circumstances, but for one another as well.”
Everyone closed up around him and Franklin bowed his head, giving thanks for the food and for everything else they had to be thankful for. He asked for God's blessing on them as individuals and as a group, asked forgiveness of their sins and for His strength to make the best of their situation. When his heartfelt prayer was finished there were tears in more than one eye and several people exchanged hugs with the people on either side of them.
“Let’s eat!” Gordon called suddenly and people lined up to get a plate full of deliciousness.
-
Jody heard the sound of someone below him and waited. There was a light knock at the trap door that led to the cupola and he lifted it to reveal the last thing he expected to see.
Abigail Sanders juggling two plates of food, two cups and a small Thermos bottle.
“A little help?” she asked, a weak smile on her face. He reached down and took the bottle and one of the plates, set them down and then took the other plate and the glasses, leaving her hands free to climb up into the cupola with him.
Abigail had thought long and hard about this before making the trip. Before she had showed her ass so badly and made her ill-fated trip into Peabody that resulted in John Barnes being killed, she had been trying to get to know the quiet sniper and thought she had been making headway. Her actions and their result had killed that headway completely.
Recently however she had been engaging him in conversation once more, and after a few awkward moments he had started responding. While it wasn't exactly picking up where they had left off, it was a start. She'd take it.
“You aren't getting to know everyone?” he asked her as she settled in beside him.
“I know almost every person down there,” she replied calmly. “You, I barely know at all. So, I'm following the spirit of the day and getting to know someone I don't know that well. Assuming you don't mind, of course,” she added.
“No, I don't mind,” he admitted. “Are things going well below?”
“Looks like it,” she nodded as she poured both of them a glass of tea from the jug. “Everyone is talking and visiting, which was the point. Kids are running around squealing and laughing and playing. I expect soon there’ll be dominoes and Rook cards coming out. Along with the knives,” she laughed.
“I take it that's a serious thing, then?” he asked, picking up the plate she had brought him.
“Oh yes,” she assured him. “You never saw them playing cards down there?” she asked.
“Only in passing,” he shook his head before taking a bite from the hunk of beef on his plate.
“Still using your table manners, I see,” she teased and was rewarded with a glance from him and what might have been the slightest hint of a blush.
“I warned you I didn't have much in the way of people skills,” he reminded her.
“I don't mind,” she said truthfully. “Doesn't bother me any.” That earned her a look of surprise but not
hing else.
“Anyway. Rook, checks and dominoes are almost a second religion around here,” she continued.
“Checks?” Jody asked.
“Checkers,” she clarified. “Never played checkers?” she asked when there was no look of recognition on his face.
“Not that I recall,” he admitted with a shrug. “What does it involve?”
“Seriously?” she looked surprised. “A checkerboard layout with twelve discs on each side, usually black and red. Each side moves one at a time, trying to reach the far side and at the same time capturing the opposing player's pieces. When one or the other runs out of pieces or moves, that's the loser.”
“Sounds like Damath,” Jody said absently. “Or Alquerque.”
“Who now?” Abby looked up from her plate. “What was that?”
“Damath,” Jody repeated. “It's a math game played in the Philippines. Actually, it's a teaching tool that has become a game would be more accurate I guess. Philippine kids play it all the time.”
“Oh,” Abby looked back at her plate. Every so often she forgot that Jody, like her Uncle Clay, had been all over the world. She glanced at the rifle setting in the corner in a small rack made for that purpose. It had been his skill with that rifle that had taken him around the world. It didn't take a great deal of imagination to figure out what he'd been doing with it.
“What's the other thing?”
“Alquerque,” Jody replied, not missing her gaze falling on the rifle, or what it probably meant. “Something I learned to play as a child. It's very popular in the Southwest. Mostly among First Nations.”
First Nations. Native Americans. Suddenly a lot became clear to Abby.
“It's similar to what you described, but still different,” Jody continued. “The general idea sounds the same, though.” He stopped eating and took a look around him, lifting a powerful pair of binoculars to scan the area around the farm.
“Tell me about it,” Abby prompted when Jody returned to his food. He stopped and looked at her for a moment.
“I am so sorry,” she said suddenly, looking at the floor. “I'm sorry for what I did and for your friend being killed. I... my oldest and best friend was in trouble and I... I really thought I could help her. I was wrong, but I honestly thought I could do it. I never should have gone off that way.”
“I did the same thing,” he said after a brief silence and her head came up at that. “What?”
“I wasn't supposed to go to the Webb farm, Tandi and I,” he shrugged, looking at the outside as he spoke. “We did it anyway because we thought we were helping. Took Zach with us without telling him we weren't supposed to be going. We let your Uncle Clay down doing that. Wasn't what we planned to do, but it happened anyway. I do understand. I didn't at first, because I was angry about John Bear,” he admitted. “You must understand that how we. . .what we did, how we lived, we were dependent on each other. The loss of one is a hard blow when there are so few and you are so dependent on each other. Emotions are not something I'm good with. I didn't deal well.”
She'd never heard him say so much since she had known him.
“You didn't do anything that any of us haven't done,” he finished. “Your Uncle Clay included. Yours just ended poorer than most, that's all. And it was John Bear's idea that we go. We didn't have to.”
“I don't think I've heard you speak so much in all the time I've known you,” Abby said softly.
“Might never again,” he nodded seriously. “I don't often have so much to say.”
“I'm glad you did,” she told him.
“So am I.”
-
Gordy heard a sound behind him and turned to see Samantha entering the tunnel into the OP behind him. She was short enough that she barely had to duck, but he decided that mentioning that would be a bad move and didn't. Gawain was right on her heels.
“Hungry?” she asked, lifting the small basket in her hands.
“I am,” he nodded. “I thought you'd be back there with everyone else.”
“I know most all of those people,” she shrugged easily. “And there's plenty of help for the children. I do my share and a little more, so today I'm doing something for me. Well, us,” she added with a faint blush. “Voila,” she added as she opened the basket.
“Boy, that looks good,” Gordy said at once. “I knew that beef was cooking up just fine.”
“It's delicious,” she nodded. “I snuck a little piece,” she grinned. “You can really taste the hickory, too.”
“Great!” Gordy rubbed his hands together. “I don't have to share with your other guy, do I?” he reached down and rubbed Gawain's head, scratching behind his ears.
“He's already had his,” she laughed. “This is all for you,” she said without thinking, then blushed deeply at the implication. Gordy laughed softly.
“I'm glad to hear that,” was all he said, letting the normally shy Samantha off the hook. “So, what all did we end up with?”
-
“This is quite a shindig,” Lainie said as she looked around. Clay nodded, not bothering to look up from the food he was devouring.
“Are you that hungry?” she asked teasing.
“Well, it's good food,” he said around a mouthful of bread. “And the bread is really good, too,” he added with a wink.
“Smart move, complimenting the bread,” she snorted. “It is good though, isn't it?”
“Very,” he nodded. “Makes you think that everything is normal just for a little while,” he added.
“Well, that was the point, right?” she noted.
“Indeed, it was,” he agreed. “Looks like it's working, too. People are moving around and visiting with each other just fine. Even the Webbs are taking part, other than those still in the clinic.”
“Shame that Sammy and Lucas can't be here,” Lainie said. “But at least Daisy and Jasmine are out here with Lila, John and Seth. Angela says the two of them are thinking about taking responsibility for the Jessup kids.”
“Really?” Clay raised an eyebrow. “That might be good for them and the kids too.”
“That was her thinking as well,” Lainie nodded. “They would be able to ease back into things, watching after the kids, helping with Sammy and Luke until they're back on their feet, and maybe working in the hill garden when the kids were in school. Things like that. It would limit the amount of time they have to spend around so many people and also reduce the amount of physical strain on them.”
“Sounds like a winner,” Clay agreed. “Meanwhile, what else is going on?” he asked. “I see Leon just sitting there, watching. Wonder what he's thinking?”
-
“This is working out pretty good,” Leon said to no one in particular.
“Does seem to be,” Brick agreed.
“Leon, you need anything?” Marla Jones asked as she passed by.
“No, I'm alright, thanks,” Leon actually smiled. “Having a good time?”
“I am, actually,” she smiled back at him. “This was a good idea, I think.”
“Be sure and tell Franklin and Gordon that, then,” Leon nodded. “Their idea.”
“Okay, I will,” she agreed and then moved on. Leon chuckled and Brick looked at him.
“What's so funny?” the big man asked.
“Everyone thinks this was my idea,” Leon replied. “Just a year or two ago, I'd have let them think that, too.”
“Yeah?”
“You know I would have,” Leon snorted. “I must be mellowing in my old age.”
“Just trying to get into Heaven is more like it,” Brick shot back.
Everyone looked at the sound of Leon laughing so hard he had a coughing fit.
-
Around six o'clock everyone began to eat again, making an early supper from leftovers that pretty much finished off the food left on the tables. Dishes were washed as they were emptied so they'd be dry enough to take home and older children begin to take down chairs and tables as they emptied, placing th
em back into storage. By seven a large group of people were helping heard the children from the Orphanage toward home and prepare them for bed. Many were so tired from a day of play that they had to be carried.
Ground watch was doubled that night to make sure nothing was out of place. Two people were also on duty in the towers and the cupola to make sure no one fell asleep. They would return to the regular watches the following day, but only those who would work the morning after would be off during the night. Someone had to get some sleep sooner or later.
Despite the heavy watch, all of the security detail had managed to at least have a short time at the luau, sharing in the food and good times if only for an hour or so. For the first time, many of the people on the farm realized just how much those who were protecting them missed out on because of their own jobs. It was a sobering realization for many.
All in all, the event accomplished all that Gordon and Franklin had imagined and then some. By the end of the day, several 'groups' had been organized to meet and interact with one another. As Beverly had mentioned, there would now be sewing circles, game nights and other 'normal' things to add to the day-to-day struggle of survival. A little social time and entertainment to break the grinding oppression of the situation they were now living in. It might not be perfect, but it was a fine start.
Everyone would take it and be happy with it. Not a bad day's work at all.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
-
Knowing something is coming, expecting it in fact, isn't the same thing as being prepared for it. One can expect a tornado for instance, but there is no preparing for such a force of nature other than to hide until it passes. But some things can't be hidden from. Some things must be faced head on, regardless of the desire to do so or not.