TWENTY – THINK ABOUT IT
Some religions called it a sacristy, some called it a vestry, since I was born and raised Catholic and I was healing in a Baptist church, I didn’t know what it was called. It was this room behind the altar and a strange place to hang out and get better.
When I was an altar boy for all of four months, it was the place we’d get ready. This room was a bit different. A white cross with no Jesus on it hung on the wall, other than that it could have been for storage. It was hard to tell because things were moved around to make way for two narrow twin beds.
It was better than the veterinary clinic, warm and soothing.
I wasn’t sure if it was the room or the fact that I knew I was in a house of worship that made me feel calm.
“Good?” Jon asked, adjusting my covers.
“Yep. I feel like I am some sort of summer bible camp.”
“Oh, yeah?” Jon said. “Did you go to those?”
“No, I was Catholic, we didn’t do the bible thing.”
Jon smiled. “Now, I’m not gonna hook you up to an IV unless you aren’t getting enough fluids.”
“I appreciate this. I actually feel pretty good.”
“I’m sure. Tomorrow we’ll walk from this room to the entrance of the church and you tell me how you feel.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you think that. You haven’t had to really exert yourself.”
“I don’t see how driving or riding in a car is exerting yourself.”
“It’s not exertion,” Jon said. “As much as what if there is trouble? A few hours in a car is a long time. Now, Angie is gonna come in with your lunch, check your vitals for me. Believe it or not, I actually have some patients to see.”
“Do they know you do that Eastern Western Medicine?” I asked.
Jon laughed. “Eastern Medicine or Traditional Chinese, and yes, but I know the other stuff too.”
“Did you use that on me? The Traditional Chinese medicine?”
“I … I did. For what I could, the bruising, the broken bones.”
“Well, heck that must work magic because I feel really good.”
“Again, because you’re not exerting yourself. Travis, you fractured your skull.”
“I suppose I did. You know this town probably would love to have you stay, being a doctor and all.”
“They mentioned it.”
“And those hubs. Bet if you went there, you’d get prime everything,” I said.
“Do you want to go to one of those hubs? I mean there’s a list of places.”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You know Travis,” he sat down on the bed next to mine. “When they told me they had a severely injured man, I didn’t recognize you at first. You were so badly beaten and bloody. Then when I did figure out I knew you, I thought you had a death wish and that was what happened. You tried to die. Is that true?”
“You mean did I get beat that bad on purpose? Did I piss someone off so they’d do that? No.” I shook my head.
“Okay, I was just curious because you didn’t and haven’t mentioned about going back to High Water.”
“That’s because I’m not real sure I am welcome back there.”
“What do you mean?” he asked. “Did something happen?”
“You can say I sort of burned the place.”
“What? What do you mean you burned the place?”
“They had been storing the dead in two buildings and every day it was the same thing. Take out a few bodies, bury them. We weren’t making progress and every day it got harder, the bodies smelled more and they were just sticky, disgusting messes of people we knew.”
“So you burned down the two buildings?”
I nodded.
“Why didn’t you just say you weren’t going to help?”
“Because they already thought I was some sort of louse for not lifting a finger when my family was sick. So I helped after my family passed.”
“And you don’t think they think you’re an even bigger louse now?” he asked.
“Wow, that was harsh.”
“Look, what you did, they’re doing all over the country. Maybe,” Jon said. “They’re more grateful than angry. Maybe they’re glad you had the balls to do something they didn’t. They weren’t moving forward until the dead were buried.”
“Somehow, I don’t know, they aren’t those type of people. I’ve known them my whole life.”
“And they have known you.” Jon stood. “We’ll go to the hub if you want. But you have to go home. At least to your home. I’m sure there are things you need and want to take.”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good. I actually haven’t been back in my house since Daisy died.”
“When did Daisy pass?”
“When I left town it was three weeks.”
“So a month?” Jon asked. “You haven’t stepped foot in your own home for a month? Can I ask why?”
“It’s painful, Doc,” I replied. “Going home, going in there, it’s filled with memories.”
“Exactly. And that’s why you need to go home.”
“The memories are too hard,” I said.
“The memories are all you got. What is the first thing that went for them? For everyone? Their ability to think and remember.” Jon shook his head. “I have to go, I’ll be back. But ponder this, what a tragedy and disservice it is to those we loved not to honor them every day with the one thing they lost and we still have... the one thing that keeps them alive …. memories. Think about it,” he said. “Because you still can.”
<><><><>
I had met some genuinely nice people in my life, but Angie surely had to be one of the nicest. Although when I looked at her, she didn’t have that broken look like so many of us had, even Duncan had that look. Angie, like Jon Yee, didn’t really lose anyone. Which was a blessing because they are able to help people without feeling a bitterness.
Maybe it’s just me who felt the bitterness.
I really did feel stronger and better, but Jon was right. I wasn’t really exerting myself as any test. Until I had to search out the restroom. It was close, but because I didn’t know the building, I walked around a bit.
By the time I got there, I was dizzy and had to hold on to the sink for support. That’s when I saw my face, I barely recognized myself.
Half my face was swollen and distorted, my top lip was split and a few sutures held it together. I looked like a purple and blue monster, the whites of my eyes were beyond bloodshot they were red.
I couldn’t believe I took that bad of a beating. Lifting my shirt showed me how much more punishment my body endured. By the time I stumbled my way to a stall and did my business, I was done. I made it out of the restroom, held on to the wall and slid down to the floor. My energy was gone, head hurt, and I was too dizzy to go on.
Angie found me.
She was looking for me and had brought me some pain medication and a late lunch. She helped me to my feet then back to my bed.
Propping the pillow behind me, Angie aided me in sitting up. Next to my bed was a plate with some bread and a mug with a spoon.
“Do you need me to feed you?” she asked.
“No, I’ll manage.”
“You need to eat.”
“I will. Especially since I just found out how difficult it is to get food.”
“Well, we have food. Just getting more from what’s out there is the problem.” She handed me the mug. “It’s canned stew so it’s not some gourmet meal.”
“I appreciate it.” I took the mug. “Food and gas. Anything else people are being territorial over?”
“Medicine, weapons,” she stated. “There are about four or five groups in the Nashville area.”
“Gangs, you mean,” I said.
“I think people are confused and scared. Just scared that they won’t have anything tomorrow or next week.”
“What about the hubs?” I asked. “Have you thought abou
t going?”
“I have. I mean we have the five children. I know Duncan thought about sending some people to check them out, you know for those who may want to go.”
“So she’d let you go?”
Angie snickered. “This isn’t a prison, silly. Duncan has a plan. Protect the commodities in this town, have bartering power with the Hubs. That still doesn’t mean I’m staying. I’m just thinking of what’s best for the kids. What about you? I’m sure once you woke up you just wanted to go home.”
I shrugged, not knowing how to respond to that.
“What were you doing in Nashville? Was it just to get food?” she asked.
“I was running.”
“From?”
“Life. Death. Mistakes.”
“I got news for you Travis, you can run from here to California,” she said. “You can’t ever run from any of those things. Because they are right here.” She reached out and touched my chest. “Right there. Sometimes the answer isn’t running, sometimes it’s just staying put and facing it.”
She stayed and chatted awhile. We spoke about life and family, then I took a nap.
I woke for a little more and then took another nap. I couldn’t believe how tired I was. I also couldn’t believe how much time had passed since my daughter died and I left High Water.
My head was spinning and not just from the head injury.
I was still filled with such intense grief, and now I was also in immense physical pain, as well. I looked like a bad stand for Rocky after the Creed fight.
I was a sorry excuse for a person.
But I was like so many people. They may not have gotten their asses kicked physically, but emotionally they were all in the same boat.
I didn’t know what to make of my awakening and all that I learned during the course of the day.
I did know one thing.
After my morning talk with Jon and afternoon conversation with Angie, it was time.
It was no ‘one’ thing that was said, it was just a realization that I made.
When I was physically ready it truly was time. Even if my final decision was to find one of the hubs, before I did that, it was time to face the consequences of my actions, my losses and go home.
TWENTY-ONE – THE RETURN
April 9
Someone said it was Easter. I didn’t know how they would know that or even why. I was certain when we arrived back in High Water Pastor Monroe would know.
I had a few setbacks in Franklin. Jon being a doctor was my godsend, the headaches, the brain bleed. It was a good thing that the last scan he did of my head was clear because the power went down the next day.
There was a warning, a three-day warning. It came over the radio and all working cell phones.
An annoying buzzing and the message flashed like an Amber Alert.
As of April first, all power will be diverted to the hubs. Residents not within a hundred miles of a hub will no longer have access to cell towers.
It was a blatant attempt to get people to the hubs.
I didn’t get it at first, then Jon, on the drive explained to me why it was or in his opinion why he thought it was.
“Civilization, obviously, is not dead,” Jon said. “However, the more people they have organized, under one government, the more they can cultivate a society. There will be leaders within each division, but if Duncan and the others don’t join a hub, they’ll be like, I don’t know, their own countries and they don’t have what it takes to survive. Sure they have food, gas, but you need other things.”
“I get it. I just … why do they have to have these hubs? Why can’t they just let people be where they are?”
“Dude, you got beat up outside a Costco distribution center in East Franklin, right now, do you think that’s gonna work? Do you think the pilgrims were like, ‘hey, here’s the land go anywhere you want’.”
“I’m not sure I want to live in a hub whatever that is,” I told him.
“We’ll find out, won’t we?”
“Did you bring that list?”
“It came as an alert on the phone,” Jon replied, then turned his head to look out his window.
I knew why.
It happened again, the fifth or sixth time on our three hour drive. Another car drove by us.
I hadn’t seen another car sharing the highway with me in a long time, nor had I seen a plane, yet two of them flew overhead. Both low flying and both twin engines.
The car that passed us had to be doing ninety, Jon was cruising at a good speed.
The planes, the cars, the people were signs of life. Life moving on.
I still didn’t understand how people could do that. I was nowhere near gaining any ambition to live, to keep going.
I was thinking about that when the Amber Alert sounding buzz came from Jon’s phone. I hurriedly reached for mine from the bag at my feet. I had shut it off when signals were lost and now I immediately powered it back up.
“I have a signal,” I said looking at my phone. “We must be within a hundred miles.”
“What does the alert say?”
“It’s a warning,” I read. “Lists areas to avoid as dangerous zones and highways not to take.”
“Don’t tell me High Water is one of them?”
“No.” I shook my head. “But Nashville is.”
“You heard Duncan. There are four big groups out there,” Jon said.
“You spent more time with them than I did. Does Franklin have a leg to stand on against these guys?”
“Sadly,” Jon shook his head. “No.”
“I hope Duncan and the others find a hub. There were some nice people in that town.”
“From what we saw.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, Travis, you were beaten as a warning to them. Violence invokes violence. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say the folks in Franklin aren’t all that innocent. But hey …” He reached over and tapped my hand that held the phone. “We’re close to a hub and High Water. Who knows maybe High Water is the hub?”
I wanted to tell him that I doubted that very much. High Water wasn’t big enough nor near any farming or industrial areas to be a hub.
A part of me wondered though when we drove by Reilly’s and I saw the front door was boarded up. Not the way I remembered leaving it. Reilly’s was my daily pit stop. Maybe the government had gone in. But I soon learned that was not the case. All that nervous energy that stirred in my belly in anticipation of returning home was for naught.
High Water was a ghost town.
Not a person that we could see. The sight of Reilly’s made me sad. If it really was Easter, it was evident by the church, Pastor Monroe had that locked up tight.
Jon slowed down and stopped at the edge of town when we arrived at the Municipal Building.
“You weren’t kidding, were you?” he opened up the car door and stepped out. “You set it aflame, someone else finished the job.”
Only the Municipal Building sign remained. It perched on the small patch of grass before the walkway that led to the building.
The white brick building was a heap of rubble. Some of the bricks were soot covered and was the only indication that it had caught fire and not just demolished.
But someone had knocked the building down.
I wondered if they did it after or to put out the flames and smother it.
We got back in the car and drove a little farther just past the grocery store, before we stopped again.
I likened the town to renters leaving an apartment. There were two types, that ones that made things look tidy and the others that left a mess.
Chief Fisher and the others tidied the town, readied it for the next tenant.
That told me they weren’t dead or anything, would thugs and marauders leave a town cleaned up?
Every single store front window on the main street was boarded up with fresh plywood. It was exceptionally neat. Nothing looked busted or vandalized.
&nbs
p; “Wow,” I exhaled the word staring at Terri’s boarded up bookstore. “They sure had enough initiative to do this in three weeks but couldn’t for the dead.”
“Maybe they didn’t do this alone,” Jon suggested. “You said there were what? Twelve?’
“Ten, after the two suicides. But twelve people didn’t do this. I mean, they could have gotten some help from Sweet Water.”
“Or the hub.” Jon pulled out his phone. “There are two hub cities in Tennessee, Jackson and Marysville. Which one is nearer?”
“Marysville is about thirty miles away,” I answered. “Maybe that’s where they went.”
“Maybe this is what they do when you agree to join. Or … your town just wants to come back home one day. Looks like they prepared for a hurricane. So …” He put away his phone. “Let’s head to your street.”
“This is my street.”
“You live on the main drag?”
“I live …” I turned and pointed to the building behind me.
Almost in shock, Jon looked at my home. “Maranda’s Magic.”
“My wife’s gallery,” I said. “We bought this building and redid the whole thing. We lived above. It is a kick ass apartment.”
“Must have cost you a fortune.”
“Every cent we had ... but at least we didn’t pay for labor. I did all the work myself.”
“That’s pretty impressive and …” Jon pointed. “They boarded the windows. They can’t hate you that much.”
“Which leads me to believe maybe the hub people did do it.”
“You ready to go in?”
“No. But …” I looked at my building. “It’s time.”
It was baby steps back into my life, back into everything that showed me what I had lost. It was so hard to believe my entire family had died six weeks earlier, all within days of each other.
I truly wasn’t ready for it and was happy Jon was with me. It wasn’t a step I wanted to take alone.
When Daisy died, I was done.
For those weeks before being beaten to a pulp I questioned my existence, why would I want to live in a world without my family?
Last Dance at the End of the World Page 14