Gathering Home

by JEFF MOTES

  Of course, there aren’t any clean clothes in my pack. I used them yesterday after washing my others at the creek. Oh crud! I forgot to check on them before going to bed last night. They’ll be wet from dew for sure. For now, I put the same clothes on from yesterday.

  The food supplies I brought and the food from my pack are almost gone. I’m glad we’re leaving tomorrow. I should have been more forceful and left the first day. That’s what Dad would have done. He wouldn’t have let himself get talked into staying.

  I’m sorry, Dad. I’ve made another mistake! I hope to see you soon.

  It’s still dark as I make it to the front door. I pause and listen. From outside, I hear the low snores of someone asleep. Must be Mr. Wright. So much for keeping watch. I start making a bit of noise in the great room to alert him of my presence. I don’t want to step outside and startle him awake. I might get shot. His snoring stops, and I hear rapid body movements as if he’s sitting up straighter.

  “Mr. Wright, I’m coming out. It’s time to change shifts,” I call from inside the door.

  “Thanks. I thought it might be about that time,” he replies.

  I open the door and step out. He’s now standing and handing the NVD to me. It’s still on. He should have switched it off to conserve the battery.

  “I didn’t see anything all night. I’m tired and glad you showed up. I almost fell asleep.”

  “Get some rest, Mr. Wright. I got it.”

  I scan the front yard using the NVD and see nothing out of the ordinary. From the porch table, I pick up my radio. The battery is almost dead, and I’ll need to charge it today. Clipping it on my belt, I go down into the yard. I should have brought a second radio. I didn’t think I would need two. I was only supposed to come out here and get Lizzy. I didn’t have any plans on staying at all. I guess it was a good thing, though. Me being here kept Amy safe. The images of the dead man in the yard play back in my mind. A man dead by my hand. An involuntary shudder runs through me.

  Dear God, help me to be strong. Help me to be like my father.

  At least my hand has stopped trembling. Is my dad encountering people like the Hiltons on his way home? What about Ms. Jill?

  Dear God, please protect my dad. Send help to Ms. Jill. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

  I walk around the house, scanning the yard and tree line. Nothing amiss. Not even a deer at this hour. I walk up the drive to the highway, my carbine in hand, and scan both directions. Nothing stirring. Everything is asleep, like I want to be. Maybe when we get to Repose, I can get back on a normal sleep schedule again.

  As I near my truck, I see a flash of light from inside the house. Immediately, I step behind my truck and study the house. It’s probably Mrs. Wright or one of the girls up and moving around. I hope it’s not Amy.

  Whoever it is opens the door and steps outside. They shine the bright light around, and my NVD whites out. I switch it off and flip it up.

  “Will?”

  It’s Amy. I didn’t want to see her this morning.

  “Over here,” I answer resignedly.

  She swings the light, and it hits me in the face.

  “Hey, don’t shine it in my eyes!”

  “Sorry.” She aims the light to the ground and comes over to the truck. “I couldn’t sleep. I’ve had too much on my mind.”

  “Okay,” I reply, not knowing really what I should say.

  She turns the light out, and I see her outlines in the starlight. I can’t tell for certain, but I think she’s wearing regular clothes, which is a relief to me. She crosses her arms and runs her hands up and down her upper arms. “It’s cool out here.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Will, about yesterday, I’m sorry about how I acted. You know…after we came back from the creek and all.”

  “It’s no big deal, Amy.”

  “Yes, it is. You’ve been so good to me and all of us, staying here and helping us. I appreciate it.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  “And yesterday morning…I’m sorry about that, too. It’s just you’re a great guy, and I’m not sure what we will do when you’re gone.”

  “It’ll work out, Amy. Your dad will come around, and I’m going to try and find a place for all of you in Repose.”

  She gives me a hug. Unsure how to respond, I refrain from returning the embrace.

  “I’m going back inside,” she says. “It’s cool out here. And thanks for not being mad at me.”

  She starts walking to the house, pauses briefly, and glances back over her shoulder. “Lizzy is lucky.”

  I’m glad that is all over with. I’m going to try to find a place for them in Repose. However, I’m going to be honest with the men when I get there. Mr. Wright is going to be of little help to the community and will probably be a drain on the community resources.

  ****

  The break of day is here, my dad’s favorite part of the day. I like it too, but I’d rather the sun be a little higher before I get up. My thoughts turn toward Dad.

  Where are you? What is happening around you? Are you awake, viewing the same morning sky? Oh, Dad, I need you. We all do.

  Dear God, bring my father home. Give him strength and courage. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

  When I talked with Grandpa last night before going to bed, he said he was doing fine. Ms. Sheila and Jammer were helping him. If I know Grandpa, he’s not going to be asking for much help.

  Charlie said the guys went out and took care of the looters who shot Grandpa. Whatever that means. He wouldn’t give me any details over the radio.

  I’ll be home tomorrow to see things for myself. I would go today, since I really don’t want to stay here any longer, but Charlie said Mike wanted me to wait one more day because they had to deal with some folks trying to get into the community from the Jackson side, and he didn’t want us caught up in it. That made me want to go home all the more and take my place with the men. Still, I trust Mike’s judgement even more than I trust my own, and I need to protect Lizzy.

  I hear the sounds of a 4-wheeler on the highway traveling this way. It comes down our drive, and I take cover behind my truck. There is only one guy, and it looks like he’s one of the guys that came with Pastor Ezell the other day. He drives right past the truck and stops about twenty feet away. He hasn’t spotted me, and I move around the truck, putting the engine block between me and him.

  Using vehicles for cover was part of the training Dad and I did with the guys. Actually, a vehicle offers more concealment than cover, since bullets can go right through most cars and trucks. The best place for cover is behind the engine block and the wheels.

  The guy kills the engine to the 4-wheeler. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the men from the other day, though I can’t remember his name.

  With my carbine resting across the hood of the truck, I call out, “Can I help you, sir?”

  My voice startles him, and he turns quickly in my direction, yet he doesn’t pull a weapon. His voice tense, he calls out, “Is that you, Jimmy?”

  “No. It’s Will Carter. What can I do for you?”

  He appears to relax a bit. “Boy, you scared me there for a minute. I’m here to see Mr. Jimmy. Can you get him for me?”

  I sling my carbine before approaching the 4-wheeler. “Yes, sir. I can do that, but I’m sorry, I can’t remember your name.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Will. I sometimes forget myself.” He chuckles. “I’m James Harris.”

  I shake his hand. “Okay, Mr. Harris. I’ll go get him for you.”

  I go inside the house and to the Wrights’ bedroom. The door is open, but I remain outside and knock on the wall. Mr. Wright and Mrs. Wright both sit up with a start. I look away when I see Mrs. Wright is dressed much like Amy has been these past few days.

  “What is it?” Mr. Wright asks.

  “There’s a guy out here to see you. His name is James Harris.”

  “James Harris? I wonder what he wants.”

  “He didn’t say. He
just asked for you.”

  Mr. Wright rises and puts his pants on, and Mrs. Wright reaches for a robe next to the bed. She puts it on before getting out of the bed, which is a relief to me. I head down the hall, and Mr. Wright follows, heading for the door.

  “Do you want me to go with you?” I ask.

  “Uh…no. I’ll see what he wants. Wait here and keep a watch.”

  I watch through an open window. Their voices are low, and I can’t tell what they are saying. Shortly, Mr. Harris leaves, and Mr. Wright comes inside.

  “What did he want?” I ask.

  “Oh, nothing really. He wanted to see if we killed another deer.”

  That doesn’t make any sense at all.

  Chapter 24

  Jimmy

  Let’s Make a Deal

  Day 9

  I step out the door. At the bottom of the steps, I pause and glance back to make sure Will didn’t follow me out. Seeing he has remained inside, I continue on to James. He’s leaning against his 4-wheeler with his arms crossed.

  “Well, Mr. Jimmy, I’m here. Now tell me what was so important you felt the need to wake me at 1:30 this morning.”

  “Sorry about that, James. I wasn’t thinking about the time. I won’t do it again. I’ve got some things I might be able to trade with you.”

  “Yeah? What?”

  “Gasoline. I’ve got gas in our vehicles.”

  “How much gas?”

  “Don’t know for sure. Maybe fifteen gallons between my truck and Lynn’s car. What can I get for fifteen gallons of gas?”

  “What are you wanting?”

  “Food, a good pistol, and some ammunition.”

  “Let me see the gas.”

  “It’s still in my truck and Lynn’s car. The Hiltons stole my gas cans. I don’t have anything to put the gas in.”

  James’ long stare is uncomfortable. Finally, he says, “I’ll bring you three empty gas cans a little later and return during the night with some food and a pistol.”

  “How much can I get for the gas? You said it was the most valuable item.”

  He shrugs. “A couple of weeks’ worth of vegetables, a gallon of milk, and a few dozen eggs. Let me see what all I can put together. I’ll treat you right.”

  “The pistol?”

  “I’ll find you something good and get you some ammo, too.”

  “Don’t come for the gas until I call you. It’ll be after midnight when everybody is asleep.”

  “All right, Jimmy. There better be fifteen gallons of gas for me when I come back. Don’t disappoint me.”

  His stare is hard, and I know he’s serious. “I won’t, James. It’ll be ready for you.”

  He gets on his 4-wheeler and heads to the pavement.

  This trading business is going to be okay. Maybe it’ll be enough to help us through until things get back to some kind of normal.

  The threat from the Hiltons is over. Will took care of that. We have a meat source in our backyard and a means of preserving it. Both thanks to Will. With our ability to trade, we will have other resources. Things are going to be all right. Crap. I should have asked for some seeds. We need seeds to grow some food! Maybe on the next trade, we can get some. I can’t believe I didn’t think about it to start with.

  Still, for the first time since the EMP, I feel some relief. Maybe we don’t actually need Will anymore. I’ve grown weary of trying to make him open his eyes to Amy. What’s wrong with him? She would be perfect for him, yet for some reason he’s settling for Lizzy. I don’t understand why. Maybe it won’t matter now anyway. Perhaps he can help us bag another deer tonight. If so and we can preserve it, we should be set up for a while. Maybe a month.

  When I go inside, I see Will near one of the windows.

  “What did he want?” Will asks.

  “Oh, nothing really. He wanted to see if we killed another deer.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. That’s all he wanted. Guess he thought we might have more meat for them. Let’s see if Lynn has some breakfast ready.”

  Chapter 25

  Lizzy

  We’re Staying Here

  Day 9

  Amy is still asleep. Voices from below drift up the stairs to the bedroom. The Wrights and Will must be awake. I go to the bathroom. There’s only enough water in the buckets for today. We’ll need more tomorrow. Will says he has running water at his house. Hot water, too. I’m glad we’re leaving. I feel for Amy and what she’s going through, but we can’t stay here forever. I want to see my grandmother and go to Repose with Will, and oh, how I want to see my mother.

  Dear God, thank You for another day. Please be with my mother and grandmother. Please be with Mr. Carter and Will’s grandfather. Bring us all home soon. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  I consider my prayer. I asked God to bring us home. Is Will’s house really going to be our new home? Will it be home for my mother and my grandmother? Will somebody be able to help my mom make it home? Will Mr. Carter make it home?

  Oh, dear God, there is so much uncertainty. Yet my trust remains in You. Please provide.

  I pour a cup of water from one of the soda bottles and brush my teeth. Will showed the Wrights how to filter the water and treat it with bleach. For me and Amy, he did something more. Before we went to bed, he came upstairs with a pouch containing a small water filter pump. He said it was a Katadyn unit like the one his dad uses. He took a tube and dropped it in one of the buckets then started pumping a handle, and the water came out of another tube crystal clear. It tasted better too. Amy and I both helped with the pumping, and it took a while to get it all done. In all, we filtered four two-liter soda bottles full of water. That’s all the bottles the Wrights had, and two of those were from what Will brought rice and beans in. My arms were tired before we got finished.

  Amy is up getting dressed when I return to the bedroom. She pulls her shirt on and turns around for my inspection.

  “See? No problems, right?” she asks with a smile.

  “No problems.”

  “Good. I’m going downstairs. I’m hungry.”

  “Okay, I’ll be down in a minute.”

  She goes out the door. She forgot to brush her teeth.

  I remove my night clothes and start dressing for the day. I’m glad I have all my own clothes to wear now. That makes me feel better. I really didn’t like borrowing Amy’s. Thankfully, my bra is dry. I put it on and then my khaki pants and blue pullover shirt.

  Standing in front of the mirror, I brush my hair and put it in a ponytail. I hope Will likes it. It’s the best I can do. I thought he was going to tell me how he feels yesterday, but he didn’t.

  I look into the mirror, studying myself. How can I possibly describe what has happened to me these past ten days? Wait, has it really been ten days since the EMP? I start counting. I was here for six days before Will came, and he’s been here three days. Nine days.

  The magnitude of the terrible consequences of what has happened is heavy on my mind. Will my mother make it home? Will I be able to be a woman for this new time? My mother taught me to never give up and to always respect myself. My grandfather taught me to be strong and not to fear. Maybe it’s been God’s plan to send Will into my life to teach me things I need to know. I think of the encounter with Cole a few days ago. I was able to defend myself, Amy, and her mother. I think of Will and his resolute stand against those evil men. Yes, it must be God’s plan.

  There is no more time to be a girl. I will be a woman for these times. I will not shirk from my responsibilities. I’ll take my place beside my mother and grandmother and…yes, Will.

  With renewed confidence in myself, I head down the stairs and into the kitchen.

  “Lizzy, we’re out of oatmeal,” Mrs. Lynn states. “We have a few packets of grits left. Pick out one and add some hot water.”

  While I’m emptying the packet of grits into the bowl, Will brings the hot water and pours it over my grits. He’s smiling again.

  “Good morning, Lizz
y.”

  I smile. “Thanks. It is going to be a good morning.”

  “Mr. Wright,” Will says, “have you decided if you’re going to move into Pastor Ezell’s community? This is the last day I’ll be able to help you move. I think it would be wise to move. A strong community has a better chance of making it than an exposed family alone.”

  “Will, I don’t appreciate you trying to scare Amy and Lynn. Please be careful with your remarks. I have made my decision, and it’s not going to change.”

  “Jimmy,” Mrs. Lynn says, “you and I haven’t talked enough about it. I want to be in on this decision. It affects us all.”

  Mr. Jimmy looks hard at Mrs. Lynn. “I’ve already made the decision for us all. We aren’t moving.”

  “Are you sure that’s wise?” Mrs. Lynn asks nervously. “Seems to me like it would be a lot safer there, like Will said.”

  “Thanks to Will here, I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about the Hiltons anymore. We now know how to treat water, and we have the swimming pool and creek to get our water from. We can shoot deer from our backyard and now have a means of preserving it.”

  “Jimmy, we can’t live on deer alone,” Mrs. Wright states.

  “I’ve made arrangements for the other things we will need. I see no reason for us to move into that trailer park.”

  “Mr. Wright,” Will says, “I wouldn’t be too sure about there being no more trouble with the Hiltons. I wish you would reconsider. It’ll be difficult to keep watch at night once Lizzy and I leave.”

  “Unless you’re going to allow us to move to Repose with you, we aren’t leaving this place.”

  All eyes move toward Will. He steals a glance at Amy, then me. “Mr. Wright, I’ve told you I can’t do that without talking with the folks in Repose. I’ll try to find a place for y’all, but I can’t promise they’ll agree.”

  “Yeah, right. I’m sure you will,” Mr. Wright sneers. “We’re staying here, and that’s final.”

  Chapter 26

  Will