The children were fed and put to bed by six o’clock. The old dog had chewed happily on a meaty bone and now snored on his blanket. One candle had been set in the window, but the rest of the house was in darkness, lit only by the fireplace flame.
“I know it’s a waste of wood, but it cheers things up,” Tony said defensively as he added another log. He peered anxiously out the window.
Sam’s eyes were closed and he rocked gently. “They won’t come any faster if you keep watching.” He observed wryly.
“I know.” Tony shuffled the worn deck of cards mindlessly.
Finally, they heard voices and stamping feet on the porch.
“Oh, thank God.” Monica jumped to her feet and rushed to the door.
“Don’t open it!” Tony was right behind her. “Look through the peephole first and make sure it’s them.”
Obediently she peeked through the glass, then eagerly flung the door open. The men pushed in, and she threw her arms around her husband. Melanie grasped George’s hand and pulled him towards her. For a moment all was confusion as they tried to remove coats and boots, hug the greeters and talk all at once.
Finally, they were seated around the table. The candle had been moved to the middle of the table and Irma had placed steaming bowls in front of the travellers.
“Eat first.” Tony raised his hand when Jason started to speak. “Then we can all hear the story.”
When they had finished the meal and were sipping cups of hot water, Jason began.
“We followed the tracks,” he said. “They were pretty clear. Then we found the sleigh they had used. It’s an old wagon with the wheels removed and boards nailed on for runners. We could see there were four or five of them, but obviously, the sled was hard to move, so they abandoned it and took off in three directions. George,” and he nodded in his friend’s direction,” thought it would be better to stay together so we chose the tracks in the middle to follow.”
Tom and Adnan squirmed in their chairs, eager to share their part of the adventure.
“We wanted the boys to come back and tell you where we were.” Jason continued. “But they were pretty adamant about staying with us.”
“Did they leave anything at all in the wagon?” asked Irma, but all four shook their heads.
“Not so much as an empty jar.” Jason smiled ruefully. “Anyway, we kept going and it wasn’t long before we knew exactly where we were going.”
His Dad looked at him and raised one eyebrow. “The Dennis’s?”
“Yep. Right to their back door. Their kid is a teenager, about the same age as these guys, and he and some of his friends came up with the idea. They knew about the root cellar because you told Mrs. Dennis back in the fall that you hoped to dig one. And of course, they knew you had a garden.”
He shook his head sadly. “They are in bad shape over there. They have five kids and they all look like skeletons. The baby died about a month ago. The poor thing was wasting away and they had no milk to give her. I don’t blame their boy for trying to help, but I wish he had just asked instead of feeling like he had to steal.”
George interjected. “The Dad was mortified and he offered to return the stuff that his boy had brought home, but we told him he was welcome to it.”
“What about the other boys? Who are they?” Monica asked.
“Well, apparently these kids have been hanging around the school. Their families are all in dire straits so just like Tom and Adnan here, they have left home. Unfortunately, instead of finding a nice place like these two did, they have formed a gang of sorts and are raiding around the area. The Dennis boy met up with them and since he knows the neighbours he tells them about likely places.”
Irma’s eyes filled. “Those poor people.” She clasped her hands together. “We should have checked on them. Losing a baby….” Her voice trailed off.
Tony put his arm around her shoulder. To an inquiring look from his wife, Jason whispered to her. “Mom and Dad lost a baby girl to crib death before I was born.”
“Oh!” Monica stood up and came around the table to where her in-laws sat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”
Irma sat up straighter in her chair. “It was a long time ago.” She brushed a tear away. “But I know how poor Flora must feel. We need to go over there when the weather warms up a bit.”
Sam spoke up from his seat by the fire. “We have been pretty lucky. We are warm and still have beef on the hoof to get us through the winter. We should tell the guys at the farm to butcher two or three more and take the meat over to the Dennis’s.”
“What about the other kids?” Melanie asked. “We can’t have a gang running around breaking into homes. Somebody is bound to get hurt.”
George nodded thoughtfully. “She’s right. They’re just a disaster waiting to happen.”
Tom leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “What about,” he began, then hesitated.
“What about if me and Tom went over to the school?” Adnan continued. “Nobody knows us and we can find out what’s going on.”
The adults all looked doubtful. “It could be dangerous,” Jason said.
“There would be two of us,” Adnan argued. “They’re just looking for food, not trouble. We can find out how many there are, and what they have planned.”
George nodded thoughtfully. “It might work. The Dennis boy didn’t see you when we were there, so you’ll be strangers, and just like them, you’ve left home and are looking for a safe place.”
“I don’t like it,” Monica spoke up. “Who knows what they might run into over there.”
“You need to take something with you,” Jason said. “Something they would value so they don’t see you as just two more mouths to feed.”
Monica glared at him. “You talk like it’s a done deal. I don’t think we should send these boys out into the cold. In case you didn’t notice, it's winter. If a snowstorm comes up they could get lost or worse.”
Irma and Stella both nodded in agreement, but the men looked thoughtful and eyed the two boys with respect.
“I think they should do it,” Sam spoke up decisively. “We can’t just sit and wait for another raid. As they get hungrier and colder, those boys will get braver. I vote we find out who they are and what they are up to before they come knocking down the door.”
“I don’t know what we can take to give them,” Tom said. “They already have all the food, except what Sam brought from the farm.”
“How about matches? Or a flashlight?” Tony suggested.
“No, they probably have a fire going in this weather.” Jason shook his head. Then his eyes brightened. “I know, how about a gun?”
“A gun!” The others looked at him in astonishment. “Do you WANT us to be killed?”
“Not a working gun,” he clarified. “And we won’t include ammunition.” He turned to his father. “What about that old pistol you had in the attic? I think it’s one step above a musket it’s so old.”
“My grandfather’s gun.” Tony nodded. “The one I brought down from the attic today. I think it would still shoot, but not without bullets.”
“Yep, that could work.” He looked at the two teenagers who were getting excited about having a new adventure. “But you couldn’t take your own rifles with you. That’s just asking for trouble.”
“Wait a minute.” Irma stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Number one, how can we send these boys out into danger? And number two,” she looked at her husband. “That gun is a family heirloom. Your Grandfather used it. And number three,” she glared at her son. “How come Jason knew it was up there when you told ME you had thrown it away?”
Tears came to her eyes as she resumed her seat at the table. “No, I won’t have it. We’ll find another way.”
The others looked down at their hands, avoiding her eyes. An uncomfortable silence hung over the room. The grandmother seldom made such adamant statements.
Tony reached over and patted her trembling shoulder. “There, the
re. You are probably right. We should look at other options.”
She raised her eyes and glared at him. “Don’t ‘there there’ me! I have just as much say in this house as anyone else.”
“Of course you do.” He pulled his hand back as if burned. “I didn’t mean….” his voice trailed off.
“I know exactly what you meant.” Her fiery gaze matched the candle burning in the centre of the table. “We’ll just appease the old girl and do what the MEN decide.”
She pointed her finger at Adnan and Tom. “You will NOT go over to that school!” she told them. “It’s getting colder outside; it’s probably going to snow and I don’t want to explain to your mothers someday how we let you get yourselves hurt or killed.”
They nodded meekly. Monica covered a smile with her hand.
“Way to go, Mom.” She said. “Sometimes it’s better to be careful and not go rushing out to save the world.”
Jason glared at her, but she only smiled back.
Sam stood up from his seat by the fire and stretched. “It’s been a long strenuous day,” he announced. “I’m going to bed. Come on, Mother. I need you to keep me warm up there.”
Slowly, and by twos, they all left the central room leaving George and Melanie to unfold their mattress and move their sleeping son closer to the fire.
When they were safely snuggled under the pile of blankets, George pulled his wife to him and she tucked her head onto his shoulder.
“What do you think?” he asked her. “Should we just leave those kids at the school alone?”
“No,” she answered. “But I think we should be more concerned about feeding them than shooting them. They’re like us, wandering around looking for a safe place, but not as lucky as we are right now.”
“You’re right.” He agreed. “I’m ashamed that I came in here and threatened poor Irma. She’s tough though.” He chuckled. “Those two old ladies got the best of me. When she makes up her mind everybody better listen.” He lifted himself up onto one arm. “We’ll need to do something. As those boys get more desperate they might come back.”
“Well, we have a few days.” His wife turned her back and settled down to sleep. “They have all our food so they’re better off than we are. It’s your turn to put wood on the fire.” Her eyes closed and she left him alone with his thoughts.
The old house creaked around him and the only sound was the crackling of the fire. Soon, George too was snoring.
Only Rufus heard the stairs creak and the back door open. He raised his head, but soon relaxed as he recognized Tom and Adnan. He didn’t see them slip on their heavy boots and coats and creep stealthily across the yard, each grasping their Christmas present.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It was snowing heavily when George got up to put another log in the stove. He peered out into the early morning light, but couldn’t see more than a few feet. He shrugged and crawled back into bed, pulling the blanket over his head he drifted back into sleep.
He was brought back to awareness by Ty jumping onto his back. “Morning, Daddy.” He crowed. “what can we do today? It’s snowing. Can we build a snow fort?”
George rolled over and grabbed his son, pulling him under the blanket with him.
“Easy, Sport.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “It might be a bit cold to play outside today. We’ll have to see.”
“Okay, Dad.” Ty could be not be held for long. He jumped up and sat at the table. “I’m hungry.” He announced.
George and Melanie crawled from under the blankets and quickly dressed in the jeans and shirts they had left close by the fire. They had barely finished folding up the mattress when the rest of the family began drifting into the room.
Irma glanced at her watch. “It’s late.” She said. Past ten. We must have all been exhausted.” She bustled into the kitchen and returned with a full kettle. “I’ll get some stew heated for breakfast,” she promised the waiting boy.
Ty wrinkled his nose. “Stew again!”
His mother gave him a gentle slap on the wrist. “It’s what we have.” She admonished him. “Remember how hungry you were when there was nothing?”
“We’re all sick of stew.” Sam agreed. “Why don’t we try something different?” He grinned at their astonished stares. “You know...like steak! Or pot roast.” It’s all beef and we don’t need to always boil it.”
Stella and the rest nodded. “You’re right, Sam. We’ve been stewing it because that seemed the best way to cook on this old heater. But we could get the fire burning really hot and fry steaks in the cast iron frying pan.”
“I think we should go hunting too,” Jason added. “The boys could learn how to shoot those rifles we gave them and even deer meat would be a change at this point.”
“I remember setting rabbit and pheasant snares when I was a boy.” Said Tony. “They could be roasted on a spit in the fireplace.”
Sam nodded. “Yep, I did that too. Boys learned that kind of thing when we grew up.”
“Okay then.” Jason stood up. “I’ll get those boys out with their new guns as soon as this storm is over.” He left the room and they heard his footsteps ascending the stairs.
Irma called up the stairs to him. “Let them sleep.” She told him. “They can’t go outside in this weather, and as long as they’re sleeping they’re not hungry. I wonder if he heard me?” She added to herself, then smiled at the thought of the two teenage boys and how much they could eat if left to it.
“Can I have an apple?” Ty asked innocently.
“Now, you know there are no apples or cookies or bread.” His mother admonished him. “We have pretend hot chocolate and meat, and we’re very lucky to have that. Or” and she grinned mischievously, “you could have sauerkraut.”
Irma laughed at the look on the boy’s face. “Yes, we are lucky. But now I’m even more worried about the Dennis family. Apparently, they are much worse off than us.” She looked out at the blowing snow. “At least they are warm and have water.”
“They have some food now too,” George said glumly. “Ours.” A sheepish look crossed his face. “I mean, yours. We are just lucky enough to be able to share the product of your work.”
Monica put Jack into his playpen, then stood looking down at him. “I’m worried too. This is no diet for a baby. He should have milk.”
Suddenly she looked at Sam, her eyes bright. “What about your cows, Sam? Aren’t they dairy cows? Don’t dairy cows give milk?”
“They do,” he said slowly. “But first they need to have a calf, and there won’t be any calves this year.” He looked around the table. “We don’t have a bull on the farm,” he explained. “Too much trouble. All our cows are bred by artificial insemination and of course, there was none of that last fall.”
“Besides,” he added. “We’ve turned them all out in the pasture so they are half wild. Trying to catch one to milk would be a nightmare, and most of them will have dried up by now. They have to be milked regularly to keep producing.”
“They’re catching them to butcher,” Monica argued. “Can we at least try? Jack and the Dennis kids need more than meat.”
Sam and Tony glanced at each other and shrugged.
‘We can try.” Sam acceded. “But I don’t want to give you false hope. It’s one thing to butcher, it’s quite another to try to touch them. And remember, they are milked by machine, so wouldn’t be accustomed to the hand method.” He flexed his fingers thoughtfully. “I don’t even know if these old hands would be strong enough anymore.”
Tony laughed. “I’m told it’s like riding a bike,” he said. “All we have to do is find a cow with a calf, who hasn’t dried up, tie her up and pull on her teats. Easy as pie.” He smiled at Monica. “I know Jack needs this.” He assured her. “We’ll try, Honey.”
While they were talking, they heard footsteps rapidly descending from upstairs. Jason almost ran into the living room, red-faced and breathing hard.
“They’re gone!” He shouted at their shocked fac
es. “Those kids packed up their stuff and sneaked out in the night. And worst of all, they took their guns.”
“Why would they do that?” Stella asked. “Where do you think they went?”
“Trying to be heroes.” Jason sat down heavily. “We should never have mentioned going to the school.” He waved towards the snow beating against the window. “And to go out in this. It’s not only dangerous, it's also foolhardy!”
George pounded his fist on the table, causing the others to jump. “Damn kids. Now we have to go find them and all of us are in danger!”
“You are not going out in this.” His wife said firmly.
“I agree,” Monica said. “They will have to take their chances until the storm passes.”
Jason stood up and began to pace in the small space between the table and the heater. He scowled, failing to notice his baby son watching him with quivering lips. Ty too, watched him, eyes round with astonishment and fear.
Jack began to whimper and Monica scooped him up. “Sit down, Jase. You’re upsetting the babies.”
“I’m not a baby!” Ty protested as he moved closer to his mother’s side. “Is Tom and Adnan in trouble?”
Melanie gave him a quick hug. “Yes, they are.” She answered. “But you are not. They are being very silly and Daddy and Uncle Jason are angry at them.”
“As are we all.” Tony agreed. “But we simply can’t do anything right now. All we can hope is that they find shelter and don’t do something stupid.” A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “More stupid.”
Jason stopped pacing and pulled a chair closer to the heater. “Give me the baby,” he told Monica. “We’ll wait until the storm passes, then decide what to do.” He began to play with a stuffed toy, holding it up for his son to see. Soon they were both giggling, while the rest of the family settled into their various pursuits.
Irma poured more water into the kettle for dishwashing. Monica and Melanie read and Stella took up her knitting. The men and Ty took out the battered deck of cards and a crib board. The wind howled outside the doors, but they were snug inside. All of their thoughts were with the two boys and what they might be facing in the next few hours.
The Incident | Book 1 | They Called It The Incident Page 10