***
Tuesday, I didn’t get up until after ten. There’d be no school for me all week, the time allotted for acclimation into a new environment. As the family relaxed around me that morning, I heard the buzz words; trite acronyms and euphemisms the government and its members used that were supposed to unify them in a single cause; honoring the leadership above all. CFA, Coalition First, Always was one of the most annoying. Jackie repeated it constantly. If he made a faux pau, usually something negative that seemed unrelated to anything, he’d sing in everything give thanks…to the Coalition.
“I think we’ll go downtown,” Darleen said. “Jackie has the day off to spend with us. We can go to Greektown and have a Coney dog for lunch. Would you like that?”
“What’s a Coney dog?” I asked.
“I thought you were Greek,” Jackie said. “It’s a hot dog with chili on top.”
“I am Greek, but I never heard of a hot dog,” I said. “Is that a Greek food?”
“You never heard of a hot dog? You’re freakin’ kidding me, right?” Jackie said, losing patience.
“Jackie,” Darleen warned in a low voice.
“Oh, right! In everything give thanks…to the Coalition!”
I thought whatever dude. The reason behind Jackie’s deescalating behavior was becoming apparent, even to a twelve-year-old. He was jealous of the attention Darleen gave me. Used to two women doting over his every need, now he had to share them with me. I didn’t think that bode well for the future since we hadn’t even been together twenty-four hours.
“I’d like to go,” I finally answered. Anything to get out of sitting and conversing with these two. “Will Miri and John come with us?” I’d failed at hiding the anxiety in my voice.
“Would you feel better if they did?” Darleen asked.
“Well, I guess,” I said. Having the old people tag along would temper Jackie’s growing hostility.
“Let’s go!” Darleen said.
We tromped out to the car, John sitting in front this time and me squashed between Miri and Darleen.
John gave a geography lesson on the streets of Detroit as we drove downtown. “The city planned by Woodard in perfect geometry, with rectangles and triangles intersecting, their points cut off to form the parks around the city.”
“It’s confusing,” Darleen said. “I can’t drive because all I do is go around in circles.”
John pointed to a street sign. “This is Michigan Avenue. You can take that across the entire state. It was named for the state…”
“Dad, careful,” Jackie warned.
“What’s Michigan?” I asked, acting innocent but aware Jackie was trying to shut his father up. I’d stir the pot a little bit. Darleen had mentioned Michigan just the day before.
“This is Michigan! We’re in it right now. It was a portion of land that along with forty-seven other portions made up the United States of America.”
“Is this something I was going to learn in school once I turned thirteen?” I asked.
“I don’t think so,” Darleen said. “So best not to say it out loud to anyone but us.”
“Next thing you know, they’ll teach the kids the earth is flat,” Miri said.
Jackie turned off the street into an alley. “I have to run into the office for a bit. Traffic sucks and I don’t think we’ll get any closer to Greektown than this. We’ll park in the garage and take the elevator,” Jackie said.
“Have you ever been to City Hall?” John asked, looking over the back of the seat at me.
“Dad, how would that have come about?” Jackie asked, annoyed. It appeared no one was safe from Jackie’s mood today.
“Right,” John answered. “We should take him inside.”
“Not this trip,” Jackie replied. “All the leadership converged for a meeting last night right next door. There’s probably another event there today. I don’t want to risk running into Razor.”
“Does he live here?” I asked.
“Nope. This is Coalition headquarters, no one lives here.”
From my center seat, I couldn’t see the building until he was right next to it, and then it was just a concrete slab of the parking garage. It looked like the same garage where Billy parked his government car.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve been in this garage before,” I said.
“When you arrived yesterday and came to see me?” Darleen asked and I nodded my head. “No dear, that was the apartment garage. You’ll find lots of garages in the city.”
“He sure will. This town used to be called Motor City,” John said. “The birth of the auto industry started right here.”
“What’s the auto industry?” I asked, remembering the rusted out hulks piled up along the route to Detroit when I was in the car with Billy and Connie.
“Why, it’s the manufacturing of cars! It used to be that every household had two or more cars.”
The idea was unfathomable to me. “No one has a car in Europe Town.” But then I remembered something. “But my uncle has the stick shift from a ’67 Chevy Two.”
“No way!” John said.
“Dad, didn’t you have a Nova?” Jackie said, parking the car.
“I did,” he said, sighing. “It was a fine car.”
“Bright yellow!” Mira said. “We looked so good in it, didn’t we dear?”
“Let’s get out,” Jackie said. “Take the elevator down and wait across the street. We’ll catch a bus over to the restaurant.”
“Mira, John, you take Steve,” Darleen said. “I’m going to go up with John. I just remembered I need to sign my leave of absence form.”
“Why do you need to do it now?” Jackie asked, whining.
“Because I won’t get paid if I don’t meet the deadline,” she answered.
That was enough for him. “Yes, by all means you’d better come up!”
They walked toward the staircase and Miri led us to the elevator. “Jackie told me you liked riding down in the car.”
“It’s okay,” I said, feeling foolish over something a five-year-old would like.
We climbed on but the ride down wasn’t as exciting the second time. The door opened onto the street packed with people. I noticed the clothing worn right away; although I saw uniforms like what Darleen and Connie wore, most people wore regular clothes, similar to what we wore at home but not as raggedy.
Rose and her few dresses came to mind, the care she took maintaining them, her nylon stockings mended with flesh-colored silk threads my grandmother had saved from some forgotten time, washed out carefully and hung in her bedroom so to not expose the rest of the family to her laundry.
Miri reached for my hand as we crossed the street.
“Wow, look at the building!” Across the street, to the south the majestic towers of the Renaissance Center stood. “What’s that place?”
John opened his mouth to speak when a whizz of gun fire could be heard behind us, followed by screaming.
“What was that?” Mira said as she swirled back around toward City Hall.
“That’s machine gun fire,” John shouted, grabbing her hand. “Come, let’s get out of here.”
“We have to wait for Jackie,” Miri screamed.
“No! We’ll catch up with him later,” John said, dragging us along. We reached the next street and crossed against the red light with a mass of people pushing and shoving,
The screaming intensified as more machine gun fire echoed throughout the streets, and people started pouring out of City Hall, running west.
“Where should we go?” Miri cried. “Where is it safe? Maybe we should turn around and go home.”
“Trust me, Miri. The west gates are the evacuation gates. They’re the exit gates.”
She pulled back, not wanting to go too far from her son, worried they’d get smashed in the stampeded of people. Suddenly, a blast shook the ground so violently; those on unsteady feet fell to the ground.
John grabbed us in bear hugs as we waited for the tremors to s
top.
“Don’t look!” he screamed.
Others continued running, but a few looked back and reported what they were seeing.
“Oh God! The Renaissance Center!”
A second blast, this one closer, set everyone in motion again, this time running as fast as we could toward the westside gates on Michigan Avenue. Miri started crying, worried about her only son, Jackie.
We were all out of breath, but I had to hand it to John, he didn’t slow down for a man his age, he was probably only sixty but at the time, but he seemed ancient to me. Almost sprinting, dragging us slower two behind him, his fear was palpable.
“We’ll talk when we get out of town,” John said. “It’s imperative that we get the hell out of town.”
“Is it terrorists?” Miri said.
“No,” John gasped, out of breath. “Not like the terrorists we had back in Oklahoma, or later, in New York and Washington. These will be home grown, you mark my word.”
“Where’s that?” I asked, the places he rattled off foreign to me.
“I’ll tell you later,” John said, pulling me to him with Miri on his other side. “We’re almost there.”
The crowds had thinned out, people walking instead of running now that the west gate was in sight. I saw people sitting on the curb, crying. There was a man laying on his side in the street, his back to me.
“I think that guy is dead,” I said.
“He could be,” Miri said. “God rest his soul.”
“I know about Tiresias,” I retorted, getting their attention. It suddenly felt important that I tell them.
As soon as we had left the house for our hot dog lunch that never was, I thought of Penelope. When the blast hit, I thought of her again, glad that she was safe behind the fences.
“We know you know. That’s why you’re living with us. Or were going to live with us. It looks like we might be leaving the city for good.”
We turned around just in time to see an enormous fireball that appeared to zip from across the river and hit what was left of the riverfront downtown. The roar of humanity, those terrified, like we were, grabbing onto each other and crying out, and those at ground zero, who were murdered in the bombing, echoed across the city.
“Oh no!” voices screamed.
“Jesus, it came from Windsor,” someone sobbed.
“No! It came from a boat on the river,” another shouted.
“Come on,” John cried out. “Let’s go.”
We started running again. At the gate, a makeshift message board was set up at the guard house. “We need to leave a message for Jackie,” John said. “We need to leave him an address. Do you think your folks would mind if we dropped by?”
They waited for my answer, looking at me with expectation while I considered their request. I could see the irony of the situation. “No. I think they would be happy.”
I’d be seeing my mom and dad in a few hours. The knowledge energized me.
Someone had retrieved notepads of paper from the guard house and John took a piece and wrote a note to Jackie, giving him my street name only. “We don’t want hundreds of people to show up on their door step.”
Taping it on the window, I didn’t see how Jackie would find it among the hundreds of others. Then I had an idea. “John, you should stick this bandage on the note. No one will touch it because it’s so gross and Jackie might remember it’s mine.”
“That’s a great idea,” John said.
Miri helped me peel it off my finger, the character with the ears distorted now from all the pulling. Teasing me, John took it at the edge, grimacing.
“Ew! Gross!”
In the midst of death and destruction, we were able to find some levity. It would be a defining moment for me.
Stay Tuned for Parts Six Thru Ten
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#1 Pam of Babylon Long Island housewife Pam Smith is called to the hospital after her husband Jack suffers a heart attack on the train from Manhattan. It is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery and sadness, growth and regrets, as she realizes a wife and mother’s worst nightmare.
#2 Don’t You Forget About Me Jack’s wife and two lovers discover secrets and lies, and each other. The family begins to sift through the evidence of a life of deceit, putting together the pieces left behind by Jack.
#3 Dream Lover A gritty, realistic portrait of the aftermath of deceit, more pieces of the puzzle come together as the women each attempt to go on living in the wake of despair. Jack’s lovers scatter as Cindy tries to move forward, Blythe discovers a way to live without him, and other make their way to the beach for an audience with Pam.
#4 Prayers for the Dying Pam makes startling revelations about herself, while Sandra hopes for a future with exciting expectations. Marie is in a most unlikely place, with the happiest news in the bleakest circumstances. Ashton’s story of a lifetime love affair with Jack is finally told, with his heartache revealed.
#5 Family Dynamics Heartbreak and devastation move toward triumph in the fifth installation of the Pam of Babylon series. Pam is at last able to overcome the pain of Jack’s rejection, and her own role in perpetuating his deviance, when she meets Dan and falls in love. Her children move on with their lives in ways Pam would have never believed. Sandra fulfills her dreams with Tom, and a gift from Marie helps to complete their life together. Ashton and Ted build a beautiful life, and new discoveries make it richer than they thought possible, but with a twist. But don’t be deceived; what you hope for is not what you may get.
#6 The Tao of Pam Pam is at a crossroad which will take her to the next phase of her life, if she chooses the right path. Brent and Lisa move on, dealing with their own life choices and Pam pays the cost. But does what she has to do to maintain a life of harmony.
#7 In Memoriam In Memoriam begins with the birth of a baby boy to Pam’s former boyfriend, Dan and daughter, Lisa as the journey of Pam of Babylon continues in this seventh volume. Still reeling from the death of her beloved son Brent, Pam endures life at the beach with remarkable strength. Sandra tries to balance several versions of her life while striving to be part of the Smith legacy. Lisa rises above circumstances that would destroy most, with determination. But don't be too impressed; history does have a way of repeating itself.
We’re Just Friends: Short Story Prequel to #8 A short story meant to fill in details after Book #7 In Memoriam and before Book #8 Soulmates. Events occur that the reader may want to know about, but Jason and Sandra do their best to keep hidden.
#8 Soulmates Pam faces new challenges with glamour and poise, while Sandra doesn't disappoint, and Lisa discovers new strengths. "Women's fiction with a touch of noir."
#9 Save the Date Pam and John plan their wedding, while love and healing grow around the couple. Lisa and Dan split up, and the day he leaves, she finds peace. Sandra and Dan make a commitment to each other, but for how long? John’s daughter, Violet makes major life changes and the grandmothers find adventure…and love. An old friend from Pam’s childhood returns with troublemaking in mind, but Karma is on Pam’s side, at last.
Julie Hsu: Short Story Prequel to #10 Julie Hsu comes back on the scene at the end of Save the Date, Book #9. Brent Smith was the love of her life from the age of 16, but their relationship couldn't survive the damage which surfaced after Jack died. Julie has one goal now-can you guess? Contains spoilers for those who haven't read Book #9.
#10 I’ll Always Love You The women; Bernice, Nelda, Pam, Lisa, Violet, Cara and little Miranda rise up in power in this tale of triumph and love. But there are a few proverbial flies in the ointment. Can you guess whom?
A Good Beach Day: a FREE Pam of Babylon Short Story – While John’s away on a business trip, Pam faces the truth about her marriage. To John, not Jack!
#11 Beach Spirits Pam wrestles with spirits, living and dead as the past haunt
s her.
#12 South Shore Romance At last, with everything aligned perfectly, and her family occupied, Pam finds romance, love, excitement and joy with Senator Charlie Monroe and his rescued Greyhound, Margaret. But swirling around her are the antics of Dan and Julie and their exciting but exasperating relationship, the elders living a riotous life jet-setting between Babylon, Great Neck, and Florida, Alison and Diana spending more and more time with Miranda, Lisa and Ryan Maddox discovering bonds they never thought possible, Sandra finding true love, and last but not least, Sister Mary Joseph, settling in to a life of comfort and privilege at the beach. What could possibly go wrong?
#13 Meet Me at the Beach Pam, Lisa, Nelda, Sister Mary and Sandra seek hints of their destiny in the next installment of Pam of Babylon, available exclusively at suzannejenkins.net, Summer 2016
Pam of Babylon Video
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Perfect for Him Romance in the time of death, Perfect for Him skims the surface of a marriage before plunging into the abyss of heartbreak. Perfect for Him is a tale of two lovers whose lifetime romance sustains them, as an unwanted ending looms in the near future. Pathos and heartbreak intermingles with expectation and the comedy that only a close-knit family can generate. At the end, joy and hope reign, thanks to Harley’s unselfish love.
Perfect for Him Video
Memory of the Color Yellow 1-5 Page 17