No Normal Day II (Unity)

by Richardson, J.

  No Normal Day II

  Unity

  By J. Richardson

  COPYWRIGHT

  All Rights Reserved

  Copyright © 2013 by J. Richardson

  The author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  No Normal Day II

  By J. Richardson

  Chapter One

  DIANNE'S JOURNAL

  Chapter Two

  ADVENTURES AT WALMART

  Chapter Three

  CIRCLE THE WAGONS

  Chapter Four

  THE MOBILE MILITIA

  Chapter Five

  UNITY

  Chapter Six

  THE UNITY MOTOR COMPANY

  Chapter Seven

  BARRICADES, BAND-AIDS, and BEANS

  Chapter Eight

  THE BAD SEED

  Chapter Nine

  SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

  Chapter Ten

  ON THE WIND

  Chapter Eleven

  WAR ON THE BORDER

  Chapter Twelve

  PEACE

  Chapter One

  DIANNE'S JOURNAL

  The journal was a daily account of Dianne's family's struggle to survive, she had detailed that over a year before, an unexplained event happened. This event caused the failure of the power grid, all electrical and computer systems, at least 90 percent of transportation, planes, trains and automobiles were instantly still and dead. Even after all these months there was little information that she and her family had been able to gather. They had some sketchy communications on short wave radios, best guess it was an EMP, an electro magnetic pulse. It was possibly a very high altitude explosion that did not nuke the whole planet but caused electrical failures world wide. What or who had been responsible for that possibility was not evident. Certainly, America had enemies and the world had leaders that were crazy enough to carry out activities without concern for the consequences.

  Within a week of the mysterious happening, Dianne's whole family had been able to come together at the home of her parents, Jack and Beth. As a year had slid by with no change, they had taken in the abandoned house next door. They had fortified and secured the back yards with six foot privacy fencing and barb wire, the windows and doors that were outside of the fence perimeter were boarded up. From dusk to dawn every night, a trio of them in four hour shifts guarded those boundaries. They all referred to the combined enclosure as the compound and eventually the second house was called Casa Dos. The good thing was that once they were all united, they made a great team and the compound became a small fortress. The family would discover strengths and sometimes courage, they did not know they possessed.

  The women of the family had not only learned to be competent with weapons and contribute to the security of the compound, they all worked together to keep up the daily routine. Beth had years of practice at being a mother and wife and now the grandmother. She was loving and organized and a bit obsessive about clean. In this After world, with all manner of threats, that was a good thing. Life had taught her a little bit about a multitude of things. Lynn, the oldest daughter, an artist and a seamstress, had became the confidant of all of the residents. She had known adversity in her own life and had great empathy for the troubles of others. Dianne was the middle daughter, she kept the journal. She was nurturing and a very good cook and accustomed to feeding her large family on a small budget. She was a big help with stretching their stores and making them taste good. Trish, the youngest daughter was great with numbers and logistics, she kept the compound running smoothly. She worked out the watch schedules and kept up with the inventory of their stores.

  Trish was a blonde, Lynn, a brunette and Dianne's hair was nearly black, each daughter had their own unique beauty. In this new world however, looks would get you nothing. Though they were three very different personalities, it was necessary for them to rise above any past differences and count on their sister's bond. All the smarts and determination that they could muster was needed, they would all be tested in this After world and each would prove that they could be tough when it was needed. Dianne had one daughter, Kathryn (Kat). She had some basic nursing training and that was an appreciated and needed skill. Kat had the toddler, BJ. Lynn had twins, Michelle and Mindy. They were only 13 but they made great companions and care takers to Trish's little girls, Nicky and Brook, and also the toddler, BJ.

  Dianne went to the shelves in her and Jason's bedroom and looked for a new empty notebook. The window in their bedroom was boarded up, she used a small flashlight to locate what she was searching for. Thank the heavens, her mother had stocked up dozens and dozens of batteries of various sizes. She sat for a moment, let the beam of light flow around the room. It's not that anyone really thought that Beth was a nut case, it was just that everything in you does not want to think about or believe that your world can change in a flash.

  The bedrooms of the daughters and their husbands had become their sanctuary, in a communal style living environment even a small private space was appreciated. When Dianne and her family were forced to leave their home she only had a short time, she had managed to throw some treasured things in a large trash bag, things such as family pictures and albums. There was a long shelf on one wall and the pictures lined up there. One of her sister Lynn's drawings was framed and hung above the bed. It was a longhorn steer, with a Texas flag in the background, Bluebonnets dotting the ground. She and Jason had pushed their two roll away beds together and tied the legs, that actually created a king size bed. A navy and white comforter was thrown across the bed and red pillow cases covered their pillows. Two mismatched, but comfortable upholstered chairs, sat beside a small round table, an oil lantern and candles were on the table. A shaggy red area rug spread between the bed and the small sitting area. The younger men had rigged up a battery operated fan for each of the sleeping rooms, the weather would soon demand it's use. For the time being, it sat silent. There was a generous closet in the room and a shelving unit stretched down one side, the shelves held bins and baskets of clothing and everything else that they possessed.

  It was getting close to a year since they came to the family compound, it seemed like time to start a new journal. She chose a pad from the small stack on the shelf. In the common room, her parent's former living area, she could sit by an uncovered window and have the light. There was a desk by the double window with an oil lantern at the corner. It was wet and windy morning, so everyone had finished a minimum of chores. The men would be hanging out in the shop, doing maintenance on the old station wagon or just loitering. Mostly, just the children and women would be in the common room and kitchen, she could catch up her writing.

  With this number of people living together, of course, there were some small dramas. Jack and Beth's family were no different from most. There were disagreements and jealousies and some days tempers were short, they snipped and barked at each other. Survival made it necessary, however, to get over petty grievances. At these times, everyone just backed off and gave others their space. They truly needed the strength of the group, it was important to keep priorities straight. The rainy day was a chance to retreat to more private spaces and thoughts.

  ***

  The men had been discussing current projects, such as the small solar and battery set-up that the younger men built. It would run a radio or fans, some small appliances. They had also been planning to dig a root cellar to help preserve some of their food supplies. Jason said, “What do you think we can line it with, so it won't be so dirty and will not collaps
e.” Suggestions were tossed around. It would not work to seal it with something plastic like a tarp. You were trying to create a cool spot, but not a completely air tight enclosure. It needed to have some air movement and stay dry in the very humid climate of their area. They would continue to ponder on this project. They were learning to can some of the produce from the garden and they needed cool storage for those stores. They were still able to keep some refrigeration from the generator, this was important for their food storage and for some medicines.

  They agreed that three of them would go to the nearby woods early in the morning to do some hunting. Fresh meat such as venison was a real treat for the family. They had discussed before, about going farther out into the country and possibly finding some chickens and a rooster. That would require some chicken wire and lumber to build a pen in the far corner of their enclosure. Chickens, in the After, were all free range, locating and catching them would be a job for another day. They kept discussing and postponing that endeavor. Most likely because no one really looked forward to chickens or chicken poop being in their near vicinity.

  Each of the men of the compound contributed their various skills and experience. Jack had been a marine and in the fire service. He had some emergency medical training, was a good carpenter and a good mechanic. Particularly, he was knowledgeable about the older cars. The ones before the computerized new models, autos from the mid twentieth century like the old station wagon that got Dianne and her family to safety. It had become their main mode of transportation and had been nicknamed the War Wagon. The year's adventures had been hard on the heavy “tank” of a vehicle but it was still running. A riding mower with a small trailer, two four wheelers and an old motorcycle that needed a tire completed their fleet.

  Jason, Dianne's husband had military and weapons training. He was very fit and he was smart. Dianne and Jason's young sons, Dane, Matt and David, became very proficient with the guns. They took their turns in the security of the compound and in scavenging trips to acquire supplies. They learned the skills that kept the vehicles and compound running. Tate, Kat's young husband was a good mechanic and like the boys, a necessary member of the team. Eric, Trish's husband was a good carpenter and a very sure shot. He was quick to pick up and fill in anywhere he was needed.

  The very day of the unexplainable event, Jack had a chance meeting with a young man, Cody and his uncle, Lee. Lee was instrumental in getting Jack the last few miles home. He and Cody were invited to join the family. Lee had received a leg injury while serving in Afghanistan but this did not diminish one bit, the invaluable asset that he became. He had stood with Jack and helped him get two of the sisters and their families to the compound. Cody, like the other young men, learned the skills of survival and fit right in. At Christmas, Lee had become a partner to the oldest sister, Lynn. They made their commitment and vows to each other, in the eyes of the family they were man and wife.

  After the first Christmas in the compound there was a bit of trouble. The military that had not been seen for the previous several months, made it's way around to their suburban neighborhood. It was on a rescue and clean up mission. Offering, without option, rescue to all surviving citizens. They would be transported to a government camp where shelter and food would be provided. All guns and useable items were being confiscated for the greater good. Bodies were being removed. All of the family had previously agreed that they would not be removed from their home. They were prepared to fight to stay. Fortunately, the Staff Sergeant's stripes on Jason's shirt and some clever bribing with liquor and cigarettes got both houses of the compound marked with a red X. To the relief of all, that was done without a shot being fired. It meant that the houses had been cleared, with the limited resources of the government and military there was small chance that they would be returning.

  During the military rescue mission, the teenage girl, Shawna and her brother who lived down the street had hid in the woods while the soldiers cleared their house. They were welcomed into the compound family. Shawna was bright and tough, she was the reason her and her brother had survived. They would not be a burden to the group. The compound now had 21 residents, age two and half to sixty five. Nine of these residents were not blood relatives to the other twelve. The compound was like a small city.

  ***

  It was a favorite part of the family's shared time to hear and tell stories, they often read from Dianne's recollections of life in the compound. Sometimes, the younger ones said, “Read that one again, about when Poppa and Lee rescued Aunt Lynn... about when Aunt Dianne shot the guy, coming over the back fence... when Aunt Trish faced those guys in the warehouse.” Lynn sometimes drew an illustration to go with a story and Trish was often the reader, she was so accustomed to public speaking in her job. Since the military marked them as “clear”, it had been fairly mundane around the compound. For the most part lately, Dianne wrote of the daily routine of survival.

  Later in the afternoon there was a family meeting, they needed to discuss a recent development. Through their limited network of survivors a rumor was growing and spreading. A quite large and menacing gang was said to be ruling the far northern part of the city. Naturally, such a gang would be very dangerous. A group like that had not survived by self sufficiency, their own preparedness, growing gardens, etc. There was only one way for sociopath evil-doers to survive, that was by terrorizing and taking from the weaker. Dianne's dad and the men knew that plagues like the gang grow and spread, the compound would not be guaranteed immunity.

  They agreed they would not venture into the city except out of dire need. Truth was, they had quit going to the city long ago, it was far from free of death and disease. The military had removed many bodies and many survivors from the city but human and animal remains still peppered the deserted city. Perishable foods had decayed and rotted away. This meant disease, if they felt they had to go into the city for something, they always wore masks and often chemical protection suits. Another danger, even in their suburbia boundaries, were packs of dogs. These animals had gone wild to survive. This was a threat that anyone outside of the compound had to be aware of. In the city, much of what was not looted by the straggling survivors was confiscated by the military. The family tried to venture out to smaller surrounding towns and rural communities to look for supplies, it was safer and often more productive.

  As Dianne finished the notes in the journal, she looked out the window. The rain had slowed now, it had been so welcome. The garden that they had started to plant would greatly benefit from the moisture and that garden was of supreme importance. They had done a good job of managing their stored supplies and replenishing them, however, the plunder that was out there would eventually be non existent. They had three rain collectors around the grounds. Earlier the water was pouring down the tarps that formed funnels to catch the rain, into the large plastic trash cans, only a trickle was running now. She saw her youngest step-son David and Shawna huddled up on the loveseat, on the patio. They were laughing and talking. “Um-m,” she said to herself, “those two are young but obviously in love”. This made her think of the limitations and difficulties of being a young person in this After world.

  Her mom and Lynn walked by, taking food to the patio to begin supper. Things didn't get cooked in a jiffy or microwaved these days, meals for twenty had to be started early. She shouted out to the kitchen, “Hey, I am coming Trish. What can I do?”

  The day finished with the shared supper and the watches were started. It was decided that Eric, Lee and Tate would go on the hunting trip the next morning. Eric was a good shot and had brought them a deer or rabbit, on more than one occasion. Once during the past year the hunters even brought home a small calf. The women were a bit upset but the domesticated livestock would not all survive indefinitely. With some refrigeration for a short time each day, they wasted very little of their kills. Everyone went to their private spaces early, they had all learned to catch some sleep when they had a chance.

  ***

  The dawn
broke cool and damp. Eric, Trish and one of the young boys had walked the first guard duty the night before so that Eric could get some sleep for the early hunting. One or two of the girls always got up early to make coffee. After some coffee and a strip of jerky, the three men shouldered their rifles, pocketed the walkie-talkies and water. They moved quietly across the church parking lot, behind the compound perimeter to the stand of woods. They separated in different direction after agreeing on a time to meet back at the edge of the forest. Each hunter walked as straight a line as possible, in their chosen direction for at least five minutes. That was for safety, to get them out of firing range of each other. It was early and there was just a touch of sun beginning to show through the thick overhead canopy of leaves.

  Tate moved as silently as the woods and undergrowth allowed him. He found a tree to lean against. He shifted, sometimes the scar on his side still ached a bit. He knew that he had been lucky. Last winter, when the bullet had whizzed through the fence it had given him a through and through wound. It could have missed him but if it had been a little in another direction, it could have killed him. I would really like to bag a deer, he thought. He liked the family and though everyone made their individual contributions, sometimes he felt like he could do more. No doubt, the old War Wagon that his grandmother passed down to him had been an indispensable asset to their survival. He knew his mechanic skills were important. Still, he sure would like to be the one to bring home the meat today.

  Lee moved forward. The damp made his war injury in his leg ache but he was strong and he knew how to concentrate, move straight and silent. He found a place to stop and listen. His thoughts went to how different his life was from a year ago. It was not just that the whole world fell apart. In a odd twist, that was the best thing that ever happened to him, the catastrophe brought him a family. And the best of all, he found Lynn and the twins. As he watched the light filter around him he thought, life is funny.