Not Dead in the Heart of Dixie

by R Kralik

  Pop ate his supper, anyway. The kids were ordered to sit at the table and eat with him. They were throwing a fit because they wanted to watch baby goats be born. Pop gave them a stern look and calmly said "We are going to sit at this table, and eat this supper that Nana has been working hard to prepare. We aren't going to say a word while we're doing it. Now, eat." They stopped talking and started eating.

  The doe was having a little trouble but I let her try for thirty minutes before I lubed up my hand and went in. Hisa had to hold her around the neck while I was working on the back end of the situation.

  There were two babies trying to come at once. I pushed the one who was farthest back even further back, and that freed up the first one to slip out. The doe didn't like that, but she'll get over it.

  The first baby is a big doeling and the second is a small buckling. His name will be "BBQ2." They're doing fine and they’ve had their supper. Mick cleaned up the icky stuff and I put down fresh straw and checked the water and food situation. We came back in to get near the fire and warm up.

  Marisa and Jason had their dipping turn later, and Mick and I took the turn after that. I can't say it was fun, but we did it anyway.

  I'm totally exhausted, and I don't know who's on dipping duty. I'm going to bed before I fall over.

  Bye for now.

  Tuesday January 21

  We're gonna "work at home" today.

  Marisa and Nana plan to do the rest of the laundry.

  Jeremy and Jason plan to unload the fencing and place it near the area we'll start with. They'll also be digging post holes.

  Mick and Pop will remove the form and take down the temporary dam. We have quite a bit of water in the pool, from all the five-gallon buckets we've dumped in. After they find out if the water plan works, they'll go over to the tractor shed at Caleb’s house and see if the Kubota runs, and determine what they need to do if it doesn't.

  I'm making muffins for breakfast. I wanna clean the cook stove before supper, so I'll let it burn out and take the coals to the laundry crew. We'll have finger foods for lunch.

  I'll clean up the dishes, clean the bathrooms, and strip the beds so the sheets and blankets can be washed. I'll take the dirty linen out to the laundry crew.

  Carisa and Merry will be in the basement, organizing food. They'll have help from the kids for as long as they can stand it.

  I need to give the little kids a bath and wash their hair. Their dirty clothes will be taken out to the laundry crew. They'll have to take turns helping Carisa and Merry because I want each of them to sit in front of the fireplace for a little while to dry their hair before they head back downstairs.

  I'll also carry in wood a little at a time to fill the wood box for the fireplace and the one in the kitchen beside the cook stove. Every surface in the house needs the dust wiped off, and all the things we have lying around need to be put back in their proper places.

  Diane plans to muck out stalls, clean up the barn, and play with baby goats.

  Soo and Hisa will be moving their stuff back up to their motorhome and they'll start roping off an area for a big garden. They plan to scope out the old Stang house and see how much wood it'll take to board up the bottom floor windows. They may want to live there after the fence is built.

  We'll have baked potatoes with home canned chili, shredded cheddar, and chopped onion on top for supper, and we'll cook it on the motorhome stove if I'm not ready with the cook stove.

  Gotta run. I wanna finish everything before supper.

  9:00 PM...

  It was a good day.

  The water plan works! We all danced a little jig when the water started coming out of the pipe and trickling into the pool. We have water! Yay us! Mick and Pop watched it flow as they strutted like roosters around the pool. It was a great moment for the group. We all had a little extra spring in our step for the rest of the day.

  Pop outfitted Soo, Hisa, and Diane with weapons of their own. Soo has a 30-06 and a Sig Saur P938. Both Hisa and Diane have Glock 19's, Diane has a .243 Winchester, and Hisa has a .270 Winchester. I called them the "danger twins," and they both giggled.

  Pop warned us that he only has a few boxes of ammo in each caliber we need. These guns are from his collection, and he didn't collect a whole bunch of the same model and caliber. He says we have many different calibers, so we all can't share ammo though several of us in the "9mm club" and those in the ".45 club" will be able to. When we bought Mick's AR-15, we also bought a box of 1000 .223 rounds to go with it.

  Pop wants Soo, Hisa, and Diane to get some practice with their new weapons, but not too much because of the amount of ammo we have available.

  Supper was delicious. We cooked it in the motorhome and had pear halves for dessert. The cook stove is ready to use for breakfast in the morning. We'll be having real eggs from the truck stop along with sliced bacon, and grits.

  I finished all my chores and I’m tired. All the laundry is done, all the kids are clean, all the bellies are full, and we have water. Mick checked the pool about an hour ago, and it's a third of the way full. I'm happy.

  I'm gonna crawl in my bed and dream about cool, clear, water.

  Bye for now.

  Wednesday, January 22

  10:00 PM...

  Nana and I were ready to start breakfast this morning when we had company of the best kind.

  Mick stuck his head in the door and yelled "two Humvees comin' up the driveway!" Everyone grabbed their guns and headed around to the front of the house for greetin' duty.

  The Humvees stopped at the top of the driveway, and the drivers put 'em in "park." The passenger door on the first Humvee opened and out stepped Rona! Woo Hoo! Nana went down on her knees and thanked God right then and there.

  The Humvees contained my sister, Rona, my brother-law, Kevin, and their friends, Holly, Dennis, Glen, Teri, Cheez, and Sarah.

  After lots of tears and lots of hugs, we brought them inside and Nana and I started pulling out more supplies for breakfast. Rona and her gal pals sat at the table and talked with me, Marisa, and Nana while we made breakfast. The men stayed outside to look at the Humvees and talk.

  The National Guard still has Luke and Larson. They also have Glen and Teri's son, Mitchell, and Cheez's brother, Nathan. Sarah is Nathan's wife. Nathan and Sarah have two young children ages six, and eight. The group left the two young children with Sarah's father and mother. They have a farm way out in the country and Sarah believes they'll be safe there.

  Rona said they'll spend the night tonight but they'll be leaving in the morning to continue looking for their sons and Nathan. Nana and I were both sad, but we agreed. We'd be doing the same thing if we were in Rona and Kevin's shoes.

  Rona drew a map to the place they left their motorhome on Look Out Mountain. She said it'll be hard to find because it's well camouflaged, but if any of us find ourselves there, for any reason, we are welcome to take refuge in her motorhome. She told me that, if I was captured, I had to eat the map. Then, she snorted and laughed.

  The group "looted" the Humvees from a dealership in Chattanooga. They also looted a large gun and ammo shop and have and an AK-47 or AR-15 each. They each have some type of pistol and lots of ammo. They have all kinds of knives and machete's as well.

  They looted a well-known sporting goods store and took heavy clothing along with boots, coats, and hats. They mean serious business and are determined to find their loved ones.

  They've been looting fuel from vehicles abandoned along the highways and back roads. They’ve killed over 200 HDI's along the way.

  They've seen HDI's everywhere, and had to run from a large horde in Huntsville.

  HDI's in the cities are gathering in large groups and devouring any live human that comes within reach. There are military camps in several places. Some of them have strong sturdy fences and tents set up for command centers while others have command centers inside large buildings.

  They've also seen lone survivors and survivor camps. Many are set up in su
bdivisions and neighborhoods, and they're defending themselves. No one knows when this will end, and the HDI's are quickly increasing in number.

  Their group is on the lookout for major radio equipment. Rona told us to grab any we find and get it set up in our home. She gave me a list of three channels they plan to use if they find the right equipment.

  They said that criminal gangs have been attacking small military convoys and using the uniforms and vehicles to gain access to survivor camps and supplies. They kill the people and take all the supplies. I told her what happened to Diane’s camp and her eyes got wide. She shook with anger. She said it was a good thing they didn't see Diane, because she would have probably been raped and taken along until they tired of her and then, traded or killed her.

  She told us that we need to get the fence done in a hurry because unprepared people in the north are already starving and freezing to death in the harsh northern winter. She said we might see only a few this winter, but next winter we'll probably see a lot of those who don't prepare at their own homes this growing season.

  She's traveled many miles and spoken with many people including the military. Many groups calling themselves "national guard" are not true military, and haven't been for several weeks.

  The large group is headed by a very clever, power-hungry, dictator who used to be a high ranking officer and saw HDI as his opportunity for nationwide control. He's running the group very carefully, and some of the units don't even know they're following the wrong man. It's clear that this man wants complete power over any civilian group that has survived and is preparing to continue surviving.

  There was an involuntary draft at the beginning, but no one knows exactly when it started, where people were taken, or if it's ended.

  She doesn't know whether it's good guys, or bad guys, that have her boys. We don't know if it was good guys, or bad guys, that had Jeremy.

  It's almost impossible to determine at first glance whether the National Guard units they run into are acting under US military command, or the command of the dictator.

  The real military doesn't know this his true identity. Some have assumed that he's a foreign spy who was implanted into the US Military 20 years ago. They don't even know where he's operating from!

  The top brass has become so confused by this deception that, last week, they ordered all personnel to assume any person or unit calling themselves "national guard" is working for the dictator until proven otherwise.

  Nothing will go back to normal any time soon, and we're on our own.

  If the wrong people find us, they'll try to take Marisa, Jason, Jeremy, Diane, Carisa, and maybe even Merry. They'll also take our supplies to feed the troops.

  If the right people find us, they'll count heads and render aid if they're able. They'll try to check back with us if they come through the area again. They will not take our children, but they might requisition our supplies.

  She feels terrible that she can't stay to help work on the fence, but she wants her boys back, and she wants them back now.

  She had more news from the real military.

  China has invaded the West Coast of California, and the area is out of control. There is bloody, hand-to-hand, no mercy given, war.

  Fighting is occurring all the way into California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona. Mexican citizens are fighting on the side of the United States. Hawaii is dark, and the military men they spoke with believe the Hawaiian Islands have been overtaken by the Chinese.

  I told Rona that I had a list from Mr. P of all the National Guard camps in the Southeast. The list was sent to him before the power went off. She almost jumped out of her chair and asked to see it. I got it from my computer desk and gave her a pen and notebook so she could copy it to take with her. I told her that, if she was captured, she'd have to eat it.

  Right as we all headed to bed, she told me that her group would be leaving out by 3:30 tomorrow morning so she could avoid a big scene and tearful goodbye with Nana and Pop. She made me promise to take care of them and, of course, I gave that promise. I'm supposed to tell them that she left early because she was not going to say goodbye, and she’ll be back with her boys if they're still alive.

  After supper, we packed a three-day supply of food in the Humvees. They refused to take more than that. She gave me a little package of popcorn seeds and told me to think of her when I harvest and eat it. She hopes to be back in time to share the first bowl. She refuses to say goodbye.

  She and Kevin are sleeping in Marisa's room, and her friends are sleeping at Caleb's house along with Marisa, Jason, Jeremy, and the kids.

  Oh man, I dread tomorrow morning! I will not sleep a wink. I'll probably smoke an entire pack of cigarette's tonight alone.

  Mick's in bed, but I don't think he's actually sleeping. I'm going out to sit by the fire and worry myself crazy over my sister, my nephews, and the world.

  Bye for now.

  Thursday, January 23

  4:00 AM...

  My sister is gone and my heart is hurting so much that I can hardly breathe. The last thing she said to me was "Camouflage! And remember that I love you all. If I don't see you on this earth again, I'll see you in heaven." She went down the driveway and down the road, hopefully only for a little while.

  I'm staying up. I have to tell Nana and Pop but I'm gonna wait 'til they wake up so Pop won't be tempted to go with her.

  I think I'll check the gas in the generator and head to the kitchen to light the stove. I'll mix up some biscuits for breakfast and we can have them with jelly or leftover ham. If I had milk, I'd make gravy.

  I can't even think right now.

  I'm signing off.

  10:00 AM...

  It was not fun. It was not fun at all!

  Pop came in the kitchen door about 6:00 this morning and I froze in my tracks.

  He looked at me like he was surprised to see me and said "mornin' sister." He walked into the living room, warmed his hands at the fire for a minute, and then threw a piece of wood in the fireplace. He used the poker to push it around a little and stood back, looking satisfied. He walked over and opened the front door. I didn't move a muscle.

  He stood there for a minute, then turned around and went straight out the kitchen door without saying a word. He headed back to the motorhome, and he was walkin' fast. I stood, frozen in my spot, at the kitchen counter. I knew the real "S" was about to "HTF."

  Not even two minutes later, I saw the motorhome door fly open and Nana come marching across the yard toward the house. She was doing her "mad marching" and was still in her pajamas. Pop followed right behind her. "They didn't even shut the door," my brain said to me, and then they were in here, yellin' at me.

  It was "how could you this, and how could you that," and "you shoulda this, and you shoulda that," and "we'd never do this, and we'd never do that." Both of them were yelling at the same time. They kept on, and on, blaming it all on me. Finally, I'd had enough. I threw my hands in the air and told them to "sit down at the table and listen to me!"

  I sat down at the table. Nana had her mouth clamped shut, her arms crossed, and one leg crossed over the other. She was flippin' that house shoe up and down to beat the band. If looks could kill, you'd probably be diggin' my eternal resting spot right about now.

  Pop looked the same but he was leaning forward, balancing by his hands on top of his cane, and staring at me. I wanted to take that cane away from him before I started talking, but I didn't.

  "You hear this?" I said "You hear this right here? This is exactly why my stinkin' sister slipped outa here without you two knowin'." My southern accent comes on a little strong when I'm upset or nervous.

  "First of all, it ain't my fault that she did it. She made up her own mind. She was trying to save ya'll and herself from goin' through a rough goodbye! She was scared Pop would try to go with them, or follow them, and she can't watch out for Pop while she's tryin' to find her kids!" I kept sending it back at 'em. "There is no way on this, green,
earth you two coulda stopped her! Those are her babies out there, and she wants them back, and she doesn't want anyone tellin' her to wait or that they was goin' with her, especially her aging parents who are better off to stay here with me so they can be safe and she won't have to worry about them day, and, night."

  They had funny looks on their faces, but I kept letting them have it. "This is in no way my fault. I did what she asked me to do. I didn't drive her down that driveway and outa here. It was her choice, and it was her decision to keep you two in the dark, and you need to stop being selfish about it and keep prayin' that she comes back here safe with both her boys and her husband in tow! Ya'll should be proud you raised her to love her kids so much she'd go to hell, and, back to save them!"

  Okay, Pop had enough of me. He got up and went back to the motorhome. This time he walked slower and closed the door when he got inside. Nana let out a giant sob, laid her head on the table, and cried. With her whole body, she cried.

  I felt like crap. I got up and patted her on the back. I told her I loved her and went back to making biscuits. After a few minutes, she sat up and wiped her face. Then, she just sat there, folding her Kleenex and not saying a word.

  Mick came out to the table and sat down beside her. She took both his hands and patted them before she put her own back on the table in front of her. She kept sighing, and folding that tissue.

  I wondered if that "hand pat" was her way of telling Mick she was sorry he had to put up with me. Grrr!

  Everyone shuffled in for breakfast. The kids tried to ask Nana what was wrong and she just waved them away. They looked up at me and I put my finger to my lips to shush them. They got the message and went to sit by the fire while they ate their biscuits.