While listening to Kat, I can’t believe that the bank tellers were giving out only 500 dollars, and Mom and I were able to get 800 at the ATMs. I think Mom and I got lucky.
“So, then all these other people start saying that they need more than 500 dollars, and they want their money. The woman in front of me turned around and started pointing her finger at everyone around her. She said really loud, ‘Oh, they’re gonna pay. One way or another, I’m gettin’ my money!’ ”
Kat pauses a minute to take a sip of her juice and then resumes. “Well, Dad’s still in uniform, so he walks over to the counter and asks the teller to open up another lane. He says that everyone who’s willing to take the 500 dollar limit should stand in line behind him, and a lot of people moved. A man who was working the drive through window came over and started processing the withdrawals, and after that, the line moved pretty quickly. Dad and I stayed for another fifteen minutes to see how things were gonna play out, and then we left to get the blankets.”
We all look over at Mr. Miller. I’m sure that Kat is proud of her dad for helping some of those people get out of the bank fairly quickly.
“When we got back to the car,” Kat says seriously, “Dad told me that those people who got the 500 dollars each will clean out the bank before any of the other greedy people get anything. He said he’s glad none of our family works at the bank.”
We all nod our heads in agreement. Eric reaches for his drink and points it toward Kat as he speaks. “Other than today and maybe a few more days, I doubt that money will be very important.”
“Why is that?” I ask.
“If the flare knocks out all of the electrical systems for a long time, I suspect it’ll be more important to have items to barter, rather than money.”
◌◌◌
Raul is nodding his head and is anxious to share the details of his day. He begins his tale by sitting up on his knees to get everyone’s attention. “Have to tell you; I decided to make a trip out to Schuster’s Rifle Range this afternoon and grab some extra ammo; this morning was an eye opener – like a sign from God,” he says. “With everything that I’ve seen so far, if this flare is as bad as they’re predicting, it’s going to be a world where only the prepared will survive.”
Motioning over his shoulder at his father, Raul continues, “My Pa had already been by the bank before he picked me up this morning, so we headed straight over to MacNelly’s Drug Store to see if there was any water. I was looking up and down the aisles and had just picked up a twenty-four pack, when I heard the bell on the door ring that someone else had come in.”
As he talks, Raul is moving around and acting out the scene before us. He bends over, lifts an imaginary pack of water and continues, “Pa came over to me after he’d gotten some of the other stuff on the list, and he grabbed another water pack. Then this guy comes over and sticks a gun in my face!”
With his hand holding an invisible weapon, Raul turns toward Matthew. I’m so engrossed in the story that I let out a small gasp.
Raul looks at me and says, “Yeah, that’s exactly what I did!”
He continues, “Pa turned around and did some super quick karate chop thing on the guy, and the next thing I know, my Pa is holding the gun! It was so freakin’ awesome! After that, Pa told the guy to get the hell outta the store! Oh man! You should’a seen it. Pa just walked up to the counter and paid the man, like it’s all in a day’s work, and then we left. Pa still has the gun!...I can’t get over it. My Pa was like a guy on Xanax. He was so calm.”
Everyone is openmouthed as we listen. Raul leans backward onto his heels and says, “Pa won’t let me tell Ma all the details. He thinks it might scare her to know that people are pulling guns out there, but I just had to tell you guys! It was super tense, but my Pa’s unbelievable.”
“Oh man,” says Kat, “that’s so scary! I’m glad nobody was hurt. I wonder what the employee did after you left. I would’ve been afraid that the guy would come back.”
Swinging his head back and forth, he replies, “Actually, I think the employee locked up the store. When we were driving off, I saw him heading out to his car with keys in his hand. I guess he might have stayed, but really, you can’t blame him if he did leave.”
Matthew’s face is noticeably pale. He’s only three years younger than Kat, but his stunted height makes him look like he’s still in grade school. “I don’t ever want to work at a mini-mart,” he says. “I don’t ever want a gun stuck in my face either.”
The conversation is turning a bit too depressing, and I find myself disengaging. Raul notices and changes the subject by saying that he’d like to play ‘Call of Duty’ one more time before his Xbox stops working. He suggests going to his home and hanging out for a while.
◌◌◌
The six of us walk to Raul’s main house by cutting across the property, down a much-used dirt path. There are a lot of mesquite trees on this part of the land, and the grass and brush are dense. I imagine all sorts of vile creatures lying in wait, and I wish I were wearing a pair of boots.
“You think there are snakes out here?”
Raul looks at me and rolls his eyes. “Of course there are snakes out here, Mya. This is Texas, not New York.”
Emily squeals and leaps to the middle of the path. Kat grabs Matthew and pulls him in close.
I stop mid-stride, and my eyes dart from side to side. “Thanks for putting us at ease, Raul,” I reply sarcastically.
“You’ll be alright,” says Eric. “With six of us walking, the vibrations will scare away any snakes. They don’t want to see you, just as much as you don’t want to see them.”
I nod and scowl at Raul. “There. You see? Eric knows how to lie. You could take some lessons from him.”
“We could all take lessons from him,” Raul states. “Eric knows something about everything. Pick a topic, and he can teach you a thing or two.”
“I don’t profess to know everything…”
Giving a little shake of his head, Raul explains, “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I just meant that you’re smart. I like that you’re smart.”
Eric looks a little ill at ease, but continues walking. “Ok…I suppose.”
◌◌◌
Raul is the first one into the house; he walks directly to the living room and turns on the TV. The video feed cuts between various cities and confirms there’s pandemonium everywhere. Riots have begun in Miami, Detroit, and Atlanta. Our eyes are glued to the screen when the local broadcast interrupts to show downtown San Antonio.
Store front windows along the Riverwalk are smashed, and glass is everywhere. Looters run in and out of shops without any care for the cameras.
“I don’t understand why people are bothering with those places,” says Kat. “How do stealing T-shirts and San Antonio souvenirs help prepare for a crisis?”
“It’s just the mob mentality,” says Eric. “They gain momentum from each other…It’s more of a stimulation that they feel. You know, it’s like…other people are out smashing and stealing things, so I will too.”
As if the thought never crossed her mind, Kat indignantly replies, “They should be helping each other.”
“Of course,” agrees Eric. “I’m sure there are a lot of those people too. Unfortunately, the media tend to broadcast the sensational more than the sensible.”
The newscast changes to Dulles International Airport and zooms in on a reporter surrounded by standby passengers: “Since solar flares have the ability to disrupt flight control systems, all air travel has been delayed. Those vacationers who were set to begin their journey have returned to their homes, while thousands upon thousands who are in the midst of their travels crowd both the passenger and public areas within the terminals. The scene is the same in every airport worldwide – desperate people worried about what to do next.”
Suddenly a ticker tape with local news updates begins scrolling across the bottom of the television screen. “The body of Maisy Cuthbertson has been located outside t
he Harrow Civic Center. The girl has been strangled, and her body left upon the large sundial in the neighboring park.”
“How terrible,” says Kat. “Who would do such a thing?”
“People are acting insane right now,” says Eric. “Who knows what goes through someone’s mind when they think the world may end.”
We watch a few more minutes of the news, then Raul sets up the game, and we take turns with the controllers. An hour later, Emily, Kat, and I head to the upstairs bathroom. The staircase has windows that look out onto the backyard, and I can see the in-ground pool and surrounding deck. I pause, and images of past parties come to mind.
Kat notices my hesitation and jumps down to the split landing next to me. “I love that pool,” she says, as she looks at the sun glistening off the blue water. “I guess we won’t be able to swim this summer, if there’s a water shortage.”
“And I just found the cutest swim suit,” I pout. “I wanted to show it to you before I placed the order.”
Emily joins us at the window, and as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she says, “I’m not a big fan of swimming. I burn really easily, and the chlorine is so destructive. Besides, it’s still too cold for swimming; I’d bet that water isn’t even 70 degrees.”
“You’d lose that bet,” I glumly say, while shaking my head and looking longingly outside. “We’ve been in that pool at the beginning of April some years, and the water is fantastic.”
“I wish we could go swimming today,” says Kat. “It’s going to be a long, hot summer. I hope everybody’s wrong about this flare-thing.”
◌◌◌
Returning downstairs, I help the girls tidy up the living room, while the boys pick up trash from the snacks we ate. I step into the hallway and notice Raul exiting the kitchen with a large backpack.
“What’s in the bag?” I ask, using my chin to point in its direction.
He gives me a little smirk and adjusts the strap on his shoulder. “Just some stuff I thought we might want later.”
I stare at him and wait silently, but he doesn’t elaborate. So I prod, “You have a portable charging station for your Xbox One?”
Again, he smiles. Then, with a twinkle in his eyes, he turns and walks past me.
“Ok, people!” he yells as he flips on the outside lights out of habit, “Let’s go. We need to lock up and head out.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Returning from the main house, we experience a different type of storm. A conflict is forming on the Eisenbeis’ side of the barn, and the conversation is getting loud. Emily wants to spend time with her group of friends, but her father wants to keep the family together. Begging and pleading ensues, but the final decree is announced, and Emily gets a firm, “no.” With a great huff, she stomps off into a corner, sits down, and begins to text.
Maybe I’m a little abnormal, but in a situation where I’m surrounded by a bunch of adults, I usually try to be on my best behavior. It’s fake, I know, but I prefer they think I’m quiet and complacent, rather than pouty and headstrong. I suggest as much to Kat.
“Let her be,” she says. “Her brother is the only reason why any of us are here right now. If we want to keep the peace, we all need to get along. So be nice.”
“I’m nice,” I say, in a mockingly defensive manner. “I’m always nice.” I glance around and see that everyone is sitting in little clusters looking tired. I give a brief smile to Kat and lightly whisper, “Come. Watch me be nice.”
I pick up two small blankets from the surplus pile and hand a couple of large towels to Kat. As I head toward the door, I ask the others if they’d like to star gaze. The grassy area behind the barn has a perfect view of the sky, so I tug on Kat’s arm, and we head outside. All three of the boys follow, and even Emily tags along.
The outdoor temperature is dropping, and there’s a slight breeze. “It’s so nice out here,” says Matthew. “It feels like any other night.”
Emily looks up at the sky and grumbles. “I don’t understand why we have to stay here. Even if the electricity does go out, what’s the big deal? It’s gone out lots of times before, and we’ve never had to sleep in a barn.”
“I tried to explain earlier,” says Eric, “but you don’t listen…it’s not the fact that that power is going out…it’s the surge of energy that’s coming in. With all the electrical lines and transformers, it’s just not as safe in town. The reporters are saying that numerous fires are expected.”
Emily crosses her arms and rolls her eyes. “I heard you telling Mom and Dad earlier, Eric. Still, it seems like we should have been able to stay at home in our own beds. I didn’t see anybody else heading out into the fields to sleep.”
We walk out of sight of the barn and near the path leading back to the main house. Kat and I begin spreading the bedding and towels across the soft grass, when Raul pipes up. “We’re not out in the fields to sleep, Emily,” he says. “We’re out in the fields for one final night of fun.”
Grabbing his backpack and unzipping the center compartment, Raul surprises us all when he reaches inside and pulls out several cans of Shiner Bock. “Now, let’s all relax and make the most of this evening.”
Ever the party pooper, Eric responds, “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Oh Eric, we’re stuck out here because of you,” huffs Emily. Turning away from her brother, she reaches out her hand. “Gi’me a beer, Raul.”
Kat and I look at each other and grimace. We don’t want to be killjoys, but neither of us is thrilled with the idea of drinking.
Raul pops the tabs of a couple of cans and passes them to us. I take a mouthful and decide that if this is the last night we have with life as we’ve always known it, then I want to celebrate the end with everyone. Kat must have come to the same conclusion, for when I glance over at her, she’s chugging her beer.
Matthew scoots over by Raul and puts out a hand. “Nah, man, you’re too young,” says Raul. “You can stay out here with us, but I got you a soda instead…” When Matthew grumbles and begins to make his case for getting the beer, Raul refuses to cave. “This or nothing,” he says and holds out the can.
We all sit or lie down, while sipping our drinks and sharing mundane thoughts. Everyone seems to be relaxing now. The call of the cicada is loud, and the night sky is twinkling.
After a bit, I direct everyone’s attention upward. “Do you see that bright, reddish glow there?” I ask, before taking another gulp of the brew. “That’s Jupiter. The circle is slightly larger than the others. And over there, that white one is Mars.”
I try to locate a few of the constellations, but I’m not the best at finding them. I know the easy ones, like the Big and Little Dippers and Orion’s Belt, but those aren’t visible right now. So, I point out what I think is Cancer.
“That’s supposed to be a crab?” asks Matthew. “It doesn’t look like one.”
I use my finger to draw an invisible line to connect the stars. “I don’t think it’s a representation of the zodiac animal,” I say. “I think the constellation is supposed to be more like an upside down Y.”
Emily watches my fingers and then looks upward. “It reminds me of a science fair project last year that used a dowsing rod. It’s one of those sticks that people carry around while they look for water.”
“That’s what it is,” says Matthew as he jumps to his feet and points down the path toward the main house, “and it works too…’cause we’ve found an entire pool full of water.”
It’s nearly ten o’clock, most of us are a little tipsy, and the sudden mention of the pool brings a burst of energy to the group. “Let’s go swimming,” says Raul. “It may be our last chance for a while.”
“Not a good idea,” says Eric, rapidly shaking his head.
Throwing his arm across Eric’s shoulder, Raul flexes and pulls his friend in close, “Ah, come on Eric, it’s just a little swim, and we promise to keep our shorts on. You can be the lifeguard and watch out for everyone.”
Matthew laughs and starts walking backward toward the path. “I’m going swimming,” he says. “Since Kat and I have to stay together, she has to go too…and if Kat goes, Mya goes…Raul wants to go, so you two might as well join in.” Then he turns and takes off down the path.
The rest of us hop up, grab the towels and backpack, and chase after Matthew. Just as we reach the deck, Matthew holds his nose and performs a perfect cannonball into the deep end of the pool.
I put my can, phone, and blanket down on one of the chairs and glance up at the sky. It’s hard to believe that a burst from the sun is heading toward us. The sky looks so calm and beautiful.
Raul comes to stand beside me and glances upward. “The lights are so small,” he says.
“Yeah, it seems that way,” I say. “Did you know that the closest star is actually 4.2 light years away from us? When we look up and see the stars, we’re actually seeing what they looked like years ago; isn’t that interesting?”
Raul turns his head toward me and smiles. “You know a lot about astronomy.”
I roll my head to the side, so that I can look him in the eye. “My mom has a pretty powerful telescope. I like to go out with her and look sometimes…Saturn is the best. You can see the rings, and Jupiter has stripes going across it. It’s pretty cool…my mom even has an app on her phone that points to where the different constellations are. I’ll show you sometime.”
I stop talking for a second and give Raul a little lopsided grin, as I remember that our phones won’t work much longer, “Oh, well, maybe I won’t show you the app anytime soon.”
He looks away and observes aloud that the moon is nearly full, so I suggest that everyone try to find the “man in the moon.” “You really have to look at it just right,” I explain. “That long, dark area is his nose, and his lips are pretty small.”
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