Gathering Home

by JEFF MOTES

  Will and Lizzy both stand when Lynn and I walk in, me carrying the shotgun.

  “Didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary,” Will says. “Here’s the NVD.” He hands it to me. “This button turns it on. The other button turns the IR source on. There is plenty of moonlight, so I doubt you’ll need the IR source. Adjust the focus using the front and rear eyepieces.”

  I turn the unit on and hold it up to my face. Hmm…it really does make seeing in the dark much easier.

  “Once you adjust the eyepiece for your eye, use the front lens adjustment to focus objects as you look at different distances.”

  “These work pretty good, Will. How long have you had them?”

  “For a while. Not sure. I’m really tired, Mr. Wright. I need to sleep. Here is my watch. I’ll get up at 4:00 a.m.”

  The hour markers and hands on his watch have a slight glow to them. “Thanks, Will. Are you sleeping upstairs?”

  I sense Lynn’s eyes boring into me, though I don’t look at her.

  “No, sir. I need another place. Where can I sleep down here? I have my sleeping bag.”

  Lynn speaks up before I can respond. “Will, why not sleep on our bed? Just lay out your sleeping bag on the bed, and we won’t have to worry about changing sheets. That will be much better than the hard floor.”

  Wow, Lynn is thinking ahead. “I think that’s a good idea. Go ahead and get some rest. Lynn and I will wake you and Amy at 4:00.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  Will picks up his sleeping bag from beside his pack and follows Lizzy to the stairs. For a minute, I think he’s going to follow her up, but they stop. Lizzy is on the first stair and Will at the foot of the stairs. She gives him a long hug, then runs up the stairs. Will’s gaze follows her until she’s out of sight, then he enters our bedroom and closes the door.

  I’m not so sure I like somebody else sleeping in our bed. Nobody else has since we moved here from Arkansas. Not even Amy. I’m surprised Lynn even thought of it. She grabs me by the arm and guides me out to the front porch.

  “Jimmy, you better be careful.”

  “Shh…the windows are all open.”

  She lowers her voice. “Jimmy, it’s obvious what you’re trying to do. If Will and Lizzy figure it out, they will be leaving here in a heartbeat.”

  “Yes, you’re right. Sorry. I need you to help move this along.”

  “I will, but not like you’re doing it. I don’t want Lizzy getting hurt. What do you think of moving into Pastor Ezell’s community?”

  “I haven’t spent much time thinking about it. I don’t really know anybody there well.”

  “I don’t either, Jimmy. I hate to leave our place only to move a mile or so.”

  “Let’s see what happens tomorrow, but I think it would be better if we could move to Will’s community.”

  “Do you think that would be possible?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s see how things go with Amy and Will.”

  Our conversation drifts from topic to topic, and we keep our voices low in order to not be heard inside. After a while, I glance over at Lynn. Her head is back and her mouth open. She is asleep.

  So much has happened in this past week. How have I become such a desperate person? Our typical upper middle class life seemed normal enough. We did the same things most everybody else did, except I had money in the bank and lots of it. Lynn and I saved as much as we could so I could retire early. We were going to buy a motorhome and travel. Ten years. All I needed was another ten years and we would have been set. All those mutual funds and the money in the bank are useless now unless the banks reopen.

  How did something like this get past our government? How could they let something like this happen? Maybe we are still the typical upper middle class family in America. For now, we have got to find a source of food and our options are limited. Either we move to a community of black people and work like slaves or Amy comes around and gets Will to take us all to Repose. I don’t see another option.

  I’m mentally and physically exhausted. I didn’t sleep any when we went to bed earlier. I check Will’s watch: 1:20 a.m. Three more hours. I close my eyes for only a few minutes.

  ****

  I sit up with a start. It’s still dark outside. I check Will’s watch. It’s too dim to read. I take my flashlight from my pocket and shine it on the light. It’s so bright it blinds me. I turn it back off. The dial is glowing brightly now. It’s 3:30 a.m. I fell asleep. Picking up the NVD, I scan the front yard and to the sides of the porch. I see nothing out of the ordinary.

  It’s going to be another thirty minutes before I can wake Will. He’s probably got an alarm set on his iPhone, so he’ll probably be out here before I can go get him. Unless…I pull the stem out on the watch and change the time to 4:00 a.m. Lynn’s still asleep. Good. I step quietly upstairs to Amy’s bedroom and kneel beside the bed.

  “Amy,” I whisper in her ear, nudging her gently, “it’s time to get up.”

  She doesn’t respond, so I wet my finger and stick it in her ear. She snaps awake.

  “Shh…we don’t want to wake Lizzy. It’s yours and Will’s turn to keep watch. Come on.”

  “Okay.”

  I help her down the stairs in the dim light.

  “Will is in our bed in his sleeping bag. Go wake him up. If you’re both too tired to take watch, don’t worry about it. Your mother and I can stay up a little longer.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask him. Thanks.”

  She quietly opens the door and steps in, closing it behind her.

  I sit in the chair on the porch. This could solve all our problems. A young man early in the morning. A beautiful young woman waking him up. Yes, this could be our ticket to Repose. A week ago and I would have killed any young man who tried anything with Amy, and now here I am, setting the whole thing up.

  Desperation.

  I hear low voices in the great room, then the door is pushed all the way open. Damn!

  Will starts to step through the door yet pauses and turns back. “Amy, it’s kind of cool out here. You might want to put more clothes on.”

  “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking when Dad woke me. Thanks, I’ll be right back.”

  “Did you see or hear anything unusual?” Will asks me.

  “No. I just had Amy wake you for your shift, that’s all.”

  He pushes a button on his iPhone, and a dim green digital clock appears. It’s not bright, but the numerals are large. It’s plain to see it says 3:40 a.m.

  “I thought maybe you had since you woke me up early.”

  “No. Haven’t seen anything all night. Sorry. I thought I was waking you for 4:00 a.m.” I give him the watch so he can see the time.

  He looks at it then shakes the watch and holds it to his ear. “The time is off. It doesn’t really matter. I’m up now. You and Mrs. Wright go get some sleep. I’ve moved my things out of your room already. Thanks for letting me use the bed. It was much better than the floor last night.”

  Damn! Maybe I’m pushing Amy too hard. Maybe she needs a little more time. But we don’t have much more time.

  Chapter 11

  Will

  Amy

  Day 7

  The only things I’ve seen moving around this night have been a few deer and a few hogs far to the back of the property. The NVD picked them up well. The Wrights have a food source right here and don’t even know it. Time is ticking away, and the morning light begins to invade the room. I wish Lizzy was up to enjoy this morning sunrise. Maybe another morning. Tomorrow, perhaps. I glance at Amy lying on the couch. She is very pretty. The air is cool, and she’s wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, a lot more than what she was wearing when she woke me up earlier and a lot more than she was wearing yesterday morning when I went to wake her. I’m going to have to avoid seeing her in the mornings until she gets dressed.

  Dear God, thank You for another day. Please grant me wisdom and courage for this day. Lord protect me and give me strength. Please, heal Gr
andpa. Bring my dad and Ms. Jill home safely. Please be with the Wrights. Help them with the decisions they must make. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  The morning light gradually tints the room with colors. Amy is stirring. She sits up.

  “I’m sorry, Will. I fell asleep.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Amy. It’s all right.”

  “It’s not all right. I’m supposed to be helping you stay awake, and here I am falling asleep.”

  “It’s no big deal, Amy. I’m wide awake.”

  “It is a big deal. I bet Lizzy wouldn’t have fallen asleep.”

  She leans into the corner of the couch with her legs crossed in front of her.

  “Will you teach me the things I need to know? I need to be tough, and I need to be smart, and I need to be brave, like Lizzy. Will you teach me those things?”

  Wow. My dad has been teaching me all those things my whole life, and I still feel inadequate. How am I supposed to teach her in a few days? She’s looking directly at me. She’s in a bad situation, and it places me in a bad situation. She is vulnerable and pretty. Somebody is going to take advantage of her, and I’m not sure Mr. Wright has the wherewithal to stop it.

  “I will try to teach you what I can.”

  “Thanks, Will. I knew you would.”

  She’s looking at me, and her gaze doesn’t falter. It makes me a little uncomfortable.

  “Will, do you love Lizzy?”

  Wow! How can I answer that question? If I love Lizzy, isn’t that between me and her? If I did love her, I would certainly tell her before I’d tell Amy. She senses my hesitation.

  “Lizzy is a dear friend to me. Please don’t hurt her, Will.”

  “I won’t, Amy. I would never hurt her.”

  She lowers her head and her voice. “I don’t want to hurt her, either.” Looking up, she continues in a normal tone. “I’ve always been carefree, doing pretty much anything I’ve wanted. Mom and Dad have been great, and I’ve never really had to worry about anything. Things are changing. I’ve fought the idea in my mind, but after yesterday morning, I know things have changed forever for all of us. What you did was very brave, and I’m sorry about the way I acted.”

  “It’s no big deal.”

  “Will, I’ve got to be a woman for these times. I’ve got to be a capable woman, or somebody like the Hiltons is going to come by here and take me away. I don’t want that.”

  “Your dad won’t let that happen, and I certainly won’t let it happen as long as I’m here.”

  Her head drops again, then she looks up directly into my eyes.

  “But how long are you going to be here? How long are you going to stay and protect me? My dad has a lot to learn. I have a lot to learn. Teach us. Teach me. I know carefree days are gone. I’m ready to learn. I’m ready to toughen up, to do whatever it takes to survive. Please don’t leave before you teach me.”

  I look into her eyes, unable to turn away. I think she’s serious. That’s really good, but she’s putting me in a bad spot. I must leave in a few days.

  “I’ll help you, Amy.”

  Sniffling, she stands, walks over, and sits right next to me. My heart is starting to pound.

  “Will, hold me. Just for minute, please.”

  Before I realize what’s happening, she has placed my arm around her shoulders, and she lays her head on my chest. I need to get up, but I’m frozen in place. She seems so fragile and vulnerable. My heart is pounding like crazy. There is no way she can’t hear it beating in my chest. After a minute or two, she lifts her head, places her hand on my chest, and pushes herself up. My arm falls from around her shoulder, and she rises.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  I shake my head, trying to clear my mind. I don’t need to be alone with her. I need Lizzy here. But I can’t go get her now. Amy’s up there.

  I step outside and look around. In the backyard, I find where the deer were entering. There’s a game trail from the woods, and large acorns still cover the ground from a nearby oak tree. I start counting steps to the back of the house. One hundred and twenty-five steps to the back deck. Thinking of my average pace count, I estimate the distance to be around one hundred and eighteen yards. Far beyond the effective range of my carbine. I need to check Mr. Wright’s rifle out.

  I hear steps behind me and turn. It’s Amy, only she’s changed her sweatshirt for a long-sleeve sports t-shirt. It’s light blue, thinner, and much tighter than the sweatshirt she had on earlier. The air is cool, and I look away.

  “What are you doing?” she asks.

  “I saw some deer back here late last night. I was thinking we might be able to harvest one tonight.”

  She shudders slightly. I don’t know if it’s from the cool air or the thought of killing a deer.

  “It’s all right, Amy. You won’t have to be here when I do.”

  She steps a little closer. “No, it’s okay. I don’t mind. These are some of the things I guess you need to teach me. I’ll help you again tonight if you want. How would we do it? How would we get the deer? What time?”

  “I saw the deer starting to come in a little before midnight and the hogs leaving not long after you woke me up this morning.”

  “You saw hogs, too?”

  I nod. “How is your dad with his rifle? How good of a shot is he?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him shoot it. I don’t think he’s shot it in a long time.”

  “Maybe I should change shifts tonight. Perhaps I can spot them again and get a good shot at one. It’s too far for my carbine. I’d have to use your dad’s rifle.”

  “I don’t mind changing shifts if you want me to. I promise I won’t fall asleep again,” Amy says.

  I chuckle. “We’ll see. Would you mind waking Lizzy?”

  We head back inside. I hold the front door open for her. She steps through, then stops and turns.

  “Thanks, Will. I appreciate you helping me.”

  She gives me a long, tight hug. This can’t keep happening.

  Chapter 12

  Lizzy

  Breakfast

  Day 7

  I open my eyes when someone comes into the room. It’s Amy. She’s pulling a sweatshirt on over a light blue body shirt. It is kind of cool this morning. She sits on the bed with her legs crossed, facing me.

  “Good morning,” she says.

  “Good morning. Anything happen while I was asleep?”

  “No, not really.” She’s staring down, idly picking at the sheets. “Will is a great guy.” She looks up at me. “Do you love him?”

  I consider the question. Do I love him? I like Will a lot. A whole lot. I like being with him and talking to him. He’s like a great friend, only more. Much more. Yesterday I wanted to hold him. The feeling that came over me when he helped me with the carbine is not like anything I’ve experienced before. Is that love?

  “I’m not sure how to describe what I feel,” I answer. “Where did that question come from?”

  She looks down. “Nowhere really. He just seems like a great guy. You’re really lucky, Lizzy.”

  “Yeah, maybe I am.”

  I get out of bed and go to the bathroom. My hair is a mess. I need a bath, and my hair needs washing. I’m thinking of Will when I take a sponge bath and wash my hair despite the chills. I slip one of Amy’s sweatshirts on and put my damp hair in a ponytail, then head down the stairs. Everybody is in the kitchen.

  Will stands and holds a chair out, and I sit next to him.

  “Good morning, Lizzy.”

  I can’t help but smile. Nobody has ever done things like this for me except my grandfather. Mrs. Wright is serving some plain oatmeal. It isn’t the flavored instant type. I take the bowl, then squeeze a little syrup on the oatmeal. We often ate oatmeal at our home. It was usually the instant flavored packs. I always liked the peaches and cream best; my mother’s favorite was strawberries and cream. But there isn’t any peaches and cream oatmeal here, and my mother is far away. What is she eating this morning?


  Dear God, please protect my mother! Give her help for her journey home.

  “Mr. Wright,” Will says, “would you like for me to drive you, Mrs. Wright, and Amy over to talk with Pastor Ezell?”

  Mr. Wright doesn’t answer immediately. After glancing at Mrs. Lynn, he says, “Yes, that would be great. Perhaps you and Lizzy could meet with us too since you seem to know Pastor Ezell.”

  “I’ll introduce you to him. Then I was thinking Lizzy and I would come back here and figure a way to build a smokehouse. I saw some deer and hogs moving around last night. If you’ll let me use your rifle, I might be able to kill one, then we can smoke some of it.”

  “If you’re going to be staying with us for a little while, wouldn’t you like to see what kind of arrangements they might have for us all?” Mr. Wright asks.

  “I won’t be staying that long. I’ll only be here a few more days, then Lizzy and I have to leave for Repose.”

  “Don’t forget your promise from early this morning,” Amy reminds him.

  I wonder what promise she’s talking about. Mr. Wright is smiling.

  “Maybe Amy should stay here with you two. Lynn and I can take your truck and handle the visit with Pastor Ezell.”

  “No, Dad,” Amy says before Will can respond, although he’s shaking his head. “If I’m going to end up living there, I want to see what’s in store for me. Will can help me later.”

  “Lizzy,” Mrs. Lynn says, “would you mind washing the dishes while Will takes us over?”

  “I’ll help Lizzy before we leave or when we come back,” Will says quickly. “She’s going with me. I’m not leaving her here alone.”

  Mrs. Lynn seems annoyed. “I don’t guess it matters either way. Thanks for doing it.”

  “All right, if you’re all ready, let’s go,” Will says. He gives me his carbine. “Would you mind carrying this?”

  “I don’t mind.”

  He shoulders his pack after I take the rifle.