Fifty Falling Stars

by Wesley Higginbotham

  “What do you mean by not honoring our contracts?” Meyers cut in.

  “Exactly that, Mr. Meyers. We’re quite seriously looking at a choice between honoring those contracts or going out of business altogether.”

  “Yes, but wouldn’t that open us up for a breach of contract suit?” The CEO asked.

  “Yes, just as everyone else will be open to the same suits. We may be looking at initiating our own with the companies that provide our fuel. There’s no guarantee that they will be able to meet their contracts. I’ll be honest, this will be a huge legal quagmire. From a financial point of view, we’re looking at adjusting our prices and maybe staying afloat or closing up shop. Given the problems Garry has already lined out with operations and the financial issues we’re facing, uncertainty is going to paralyze us. We need to make sure the company can survive.”

  Bartley decided to chime back in. “You talk about people raising prices to meet our corporate needs. What will this mean to the end consumer?” And there it is. Thought Meyers. That’s why we have the old guy around. While we get bogged down in the financials and business of the corporation, he always kept an eye out for the consumer.

  “Sir, let’s use an example of a two dollar can of soup. By our estimates, and we can’t be very certain of anything right now, that two dollar soup could cost upwards of forty-five dollars by the end of the week.”

  To hell with the sixty cents on peanut butter! Meyers thought to himself. People would freak out over that big of a jump, and rightly so. “Can people even afford that? Hell, I can’t afford that.” Bartley said.

  “Again, it’s another piece of uncertainty.” Finch said. “We do have one other option, although it’s not without its own risk. We could suspend operations until the situation calms down. We wait it out with our assets in hand and hope inflation doesn’t eat us alive. When things even out again in a week or so and we can get our drivers back to full delivery strength, we can start operations again. We could put workers on unpaid leave for a few days, layoff the unnecessary, and remove the uncertainty of the fuel situation. We would have enough cash to barely cover our expenses. In short, it would get us to next month. If things don’t improve, we probably wouldn’t have made it anyway.”

  “We can’t do that!” Meyers burst.

  “Why not?” the CEO asked.

  Meyers thought about the question and the thoughts led him back into the ‘80s when he had just gotten out of college and began his career in the industry. It had been at another firm and seemed a lifetime removed from where he now sat, but he remembered his first manager at the distribution center, a grizzled old bastard named Gus. He remembered the day when Gus relayed why he was so passionate about the food business. “Hey, Willie, get over here. I want to show you something.” The old man had said. When Meyers arrived, Gus looked at a shipment of beef that he had gotten a good deal on and was shipping out at a discount. “Sure, I’m not making as much as possible, but we’re still making our margin. You know why I’m doing this, son?” Meyers shook his head. “Because we are in the best business in the world. We provide people with the raw materials to make one of the two most valuable products on earth, and we make the second possible. Know what that is?” Again, Meyers shook his head. “Turds!” The old man laughed. He could see Meyers didn’t understand. “From our beginnings, mankind has done two things to get us where we are today. That’s making turds and babies! Without lots of food, people don’t get neither.”

  Finch jerked Meyers back out of his nostalgia. “We can, and I think we must, Mr. Meyers. I think this is the only way the company can survive.”

  “We’re not talking about LCD TV’s or furniture, Mr. Finch.” Meyers said.

  “I can guarantee you, Mr. Meyers, that those companies are having this exact discussion right now, if they haven’t already had them.”

  “But those products aren’t food, Mr. Finch. This is food. We can’t just stop delivering food. People will be impacted in a significant way.” Meyers said.

  “Going out of business will help them?” The CEO asked.

  The discussion dragged on for several hours. When the meeting ended around midnight, the board had decided to save the company, along with shareholder value, by suspending operations until the crisis passed and the uncertainty cleared. Meyers didn’t sleep well that night. He was too ramped up from the fight he had given the rest of the board. By the time it was all said and done, only he and Bartley had voted against the suspension. When sleep took him shortly before dawn, it found him deep in prayer, prayer for forgiveness and for the thousands of people that would go hungry in the next few weeks. Unbeknownst to him, dozens of other companies also made decisions according to their own situations. Decisions that would make turds and babies harder to make.

  Chapter 7

  JJ looked at the clock. It was eight fifteen PM. He had spoken to Sherry over an hour and a half ago. She usually took only forty-five minutes to travel from her apartment to the house. He wondered what could be taking her so long. He had talked for three hours to convince her to bring the kids over and stay until things calmed down. Downtown Chicago had deteriorated since the unrest yesterday. With the terrorist attacks that had taken place earlier in the day, the rioting had spiraled out of control. Sherry lived much closer to downtown. Getting her and the kids further out of town could only be for the best.

  JJ glanced back at the news. The entire world seemed to be falling apart. It was Monday night. How the hell had everything come to this in just under a week? He had no answers. All he knew was that he was scared and thankful to soon have his family back together under one roof again. He needed something to tear his thoughts away from worrying about Sherry and the kids. Had something happened to them? Had they not gotten out in time? Had the mobs gone through their neighborhood? “Stop it!” He chastised himself. Rocks ran up to lie down at his feet and started to whine. He reached down to scratch the dog’s belly and remembered that he had forgotten to feed him. He walked back to the kitchen and pulled down a can of dog food, opened, it and put it in Rocks’ bowl.

  After he fed Rocks, JJ paced in his living room. He looked back at the clock. Two hours since he had talked to Sherry. He was reaching into his pocket to call her cell again when the doorbell rang. He rushed to the door. Sherry, the kids, and her parents rushed through the door. He noticed the tears and running mascara on his wife and daughter’s faces. “What the hell happened?” JJ asked as he noticed Tara, Sherry’s mom, holding a blood soaked rag to Sherry’s father’s head. Jimmy was pale with shock. Even Rocks running up to greet him had no effect.

  “I’m so sorry we’re late.” Sherry said as she ran into his arms. This was a different reaction than he expected from his estranged wife. She started sobbing into his chest. “I went by to pick up mom and dad when we heard on the news that there were people rioting a couple of blocks away from them. We got them in the car and decided that we needed to stop by the grocery store to pick up some things for our stay here and get mom and dad’s meds. Oh, it was horrible, Jan. There were people everywhere yelling and fighting over what little food that was there.”

  “JJ, the store was empty.” Tara said as Sherry buried her face in JJ’s chest, too shaken continue. His daughter came up to bury herself alongside her mother.

  JJ hugged them both as close as he could, as close as only fear and threat of loss can make someone cling to another person. JJ to his mother-in-law. “What happened to Scott’s head? There’s ice in the freezer if we you need it.” Sherry and Lucy released JJ and the family went into the kitchen and began getting clean rags, band aids, and an ice pack for Scott.

  Tara finished the story while she wiped Scott’s head and applied a fresh bandage. “We got past the crowd outside and we were finally able to get in. They had a clerk yelling at people to keep calm and explaining that the store was short on several items because they had only received about half of the supply trucks they normally received. With all of the terrorist attacks and the
riots getting out of control downtown, people had rushed to the stores and bought up everything. It was bare bones on everything by the time we got in.

  “We looked around for a while and could barely find anything, so we went up to the pharmacy to see if we could get our meds filled. There were people lined up, yelling at the pharmacists. He was trying to tell everyone to stay back because he was about out of a lot of regular prescriptions. One old man started yelling above the others that he had to get his heart medication refilled or he wouldn’t make it through the next couple of days. Things kept heating up as the pharmacists tried to explain that he couldn’t help the man. A young fellow, looked like he could have been with the old man, but who knows, took up one of the waiting area chairs and threw it through the glass on the pharmacy area door. It was one of those metal wired reinforced windows, so it didn’t break all the way through. After that, everyone just started brawling right there on the floor. Several people tried to break down the door before we left. We got out of there as soon as we could.”

  “That’s horrible.” JJ said. “Where were the cops or the security guards?”

  “They’re just spread too thin.” Scott said holding a towel packed with ice to the lump on his forehead.

  “So, what happened to your head?” JJ asked.

  “My grandson has a hero’s spirit.” Scott said.

  JJ looked over to where his son sat leaning against the counter. He looked a little better. “What happened?” JJ asked.

  Sherry, having composed herself a little more during Tara’s explanation, picked up the tale. “When we got outside, there was a delivery truck pulling up to the store. The people in the parking lot surrounded it, offering the driver stupid amounts of money for whatever he was carrying. It was like something out of a bad zombie movie. Unfortunately, the crowd made the truck stop between the store and where we parked. We tried to go around the crowd and had made it to the back side when I heard Lucy scream.”

  “Some asshole grabbed her.” Scott said. “I went up to the guy and told him to let go of my granddaughter. Well, the son of a bitch did, just long enough to punch me in the face, or tried to anyway. I almost ducked, but as you can see, he got me on the forehead. Nothing too bad, but the jerk was wearing a ring that cut me, and you know, head wounds bleed like a bitch, especially being on the blood thinner and all. I don’t need stitches or anything.”

  “Scott!” Tara chastised. “Watch the language. Your grandchildren are in the room.”

  Scott continued. “Grandchildren. That’s where James came in as the hero. When the guy punched at me, Jimmy ran in and pushed him down. Knocked him flat on his ass. The girls took off running for the car. It didn’t take us long to catch up with them and get in the car. The jackass that hit me got up and ran after us. Sherry almost ran over the bast…” Scott, noticing the impending look of disapproval from his wife, continued. “uh… uncouth young man as we drove off. Probably better off if we had hit him.”

  “Holy shit.” JJ said, now garnering the reproachful look from Tara. He turned to his daughter. “I’m so glad you are ok.” He embraced her again. He let her go and walked over to his son. “James, I’m so proud of you for taking care of your sister and grandpa. That is exactly what you should have done.” He finished as hugged his son.

  “So,” Scott said. “You’ve heard our tale. What’s been going on around here? Any more excitement going on in the world?”

  “Not much. The news reports have mostly been about the riots in most of America’s big cities. The cops are stretched pretty thin like you said, Scott. Flash mobs and looting are happening in New York, DC, Boston, Chicago, you name it. Europe is having pretty much the same thing. Several states have called in the National Guard to calm things down. Ever since New York went crazy this morning, almost all of the protest in the big cities turned into riots.

  “Israel and Iran are tearing at each other pretty bad. Iran has invaded Iraq and Israel has invaded Jordan in order to get at Iran. Things over there keep getting worse. The news hasn’t been covering it that much since they have their hands full with everything going on here. Several states are without power. They haven’t given an ‘official’ explanation, but I think it’s related to everything that’s going on.”

  “How about the bank and your job?” Tara asked.

  “Friday was insane. Everything was pretty quiet until mid-morning when the crowd started to show up. After the market closed early, people started pouring in to withdraw their money. It was like a scene out an old movie about the Depression. You know, a good, old-fashioned run on the banks. We finally had to close up shop a little after noon. My boss called me yesterday and told me they weren’t going to open today because they couldn’t work out any security arrangements on such short notice. After the last two days of trading last week, they made the announcement on the news that the stock markets would be closed until at least Wednesday. I haven’t heard anything from my boss on what’s supposed to happen tomorrow, but after what happened on Friday and with all of the riots springing up, I’m not going back in until I know it’s safe.”

  “I think that’s a good idea, dad.” Lucy said. “Does that also mean we don’t have to go to school?”

  “No,” Sherry said. “You won’t be going back to school until all of this is cleared up.”

  “When do you think that will be, mom?” Jimmy asked.

  “I’m sure it’ll just be a few days, sweetheart. They’ll have everything settled by this weekend. Next week will be back to normal.” Sherry said.

  JJ wanted to contradict her but found the false hope comforting as well. One look at Scott told him that the old man didn’t believe a bit of it, but he held his silence just the same. “I think we should get some food and check the news to see if anything has changed. Have you eaten already, Jan?” Tara asked.

  “No, I just fed Rocks and have been worried sick about Sherry and the kids. I had no idea you were coming. I take it you weren’t able to get any food at the store?”

  “We got a couple of items but not much.” Tara said. “Let’s see what you have in the cupboard.” Tara said.

  “There’s not much.” JJ conceded. “I’ve pretty much gone back to bachelor life these last few months.” An uncomfortable silence settled over the kitchen. “Anyway, I think there is some mac and cheese in the pantry, some cereal, and some canned soup.”

  “That’s ok, Jan. You guys go check the latest news and let us girls see what we can come up with.” Tara said.

  JJ, Scott, and Jimmy went into the living room. They sat down and Jan turned on the news. The man reported on the scene from downtown Chicago. Police officers in riot gear tried to control the crowd. Protestors threw whatever they had at hand at the police. Rocks, glass bottles, and the occasional Molotov cocktail flew into the police lines as tear gas and rubber bullets answered back. The three men watched in silence as the reporter talked on about how the protest had been sparked by the violent reaction to the protest in New York where protestors had clashed with police and National Guard members. The camera panned to show several buildings on fire. The reporter stated that fire departments were having difficulty getting to the burning buildings because of the mass of protestors blocking their way. Chicago looked like the pictures of Athens, Greece over the last couple of years. Now the devastation had come home, to their backyard, to their doorstep. After showing scenes of Chicago burning, the report went on to show similar scenarios playing out in several other US cities.

  Just when they had seen enough of America destroying itself, the report changed. Another reporter covered the screen. “We have just learned of two new terrorist attacks that have taken place this Monday evening. This brings the total terrorist attacks on America since Saturday to eleven. We have confirmed reports from our affiliate station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that at seven thirty PM Central time, a U-Haul truck packed with explosives penetrated the security of the Baton Rouge Oil Refinery and exploded. No word on casualties; but as the video
in the bottom of your screen shows, the fires are raging out of control. Authorities have not been able to give an estimate on how long it will take to contain the blaze or the approximate damage done to the refinery. All we know for certain is that this refinery produces somewhere on the order of five hundred thousand barrels of oil a day.

  “The other attack happened just moments ago. Another car-based explosive detonated along an oil pipeline in central Arkansas. We have no report of any casualties or damage. This pipeline supplies crude oil for further refining. We don’t have much more detail to report but will bring that…”

  Scott reached over, grabbed the remote, and turned off the TV as Tara, Sherry, and Lucy brought in dinner. Somehow the ladies had found more food than Jan remembered having. It was by no means a feast, but it was a filling mix of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and soup. Scott filled the ladies in on the latest news. Lucy went to turn the TV back on but JJ stopped her. “Not while we’re eating. Ok, sweetheart? I would like us to just sit down and have a family meal and forget about the craziness for just a minute.”

  “I’m not sure that’s…” Sherry started, but Scott stopped her with a glare and a slight shake of his head. They ate their meal and tried to talk about normal life but found it almost impossible. Their thoughts and words kept coming back to the recent events. After dinner, Tara began cleaning up and asked Jimmy, Lucy, and JJ to gather their luggage from Sherry’s car. They complied as Tara and Sherry put away the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and gathered the remaining food for breakfast. When the bags had been put away and the sleeping arrangements had been made, Sherry hugged the kids and sent them off to share one of the guest rooms. The excitement of the confrontation at the grocery store had worn off, leaving everyone incredibly tired. Sherry and Tara left soon after the kids. Tara asked Scott, “You coming to bed, hun?”