Fourteen
Carrie wasn’t able to go back to sleep but she did feel somewhat better after her shower so she wandered back into the kitchen after she got dressed in clean clothes. She could hear Nick and Naomi talking to Roger “I don’t want you going to sleep for awhile. I don’t think you have a concussion, but I don’t want to take any chances. With all that is going on in our town; taking you to the city would be even more dangerous and it’s a long drive.” Naomi was saying.
“I’ll stay up with him.” Carrie volunteered “I don’t think I could go back to sleep anyways.”
Naomi nodded her head “That would be fine” she said and she got up hugged Carrie warmly and gently and her and Nick went back to bed.
Roger turned the TV on low to one of the news stations that were on all day and night. Then he turned to Carrie “now that all the excitement is over, thank you for not listening and saving my life. Dad said that he found a van parked down the road a bit so he put the guy in it. There was no sign of anyone else. He thinks the guy was from Mollie’s school. She had been having some trouble with a guy who was coming on to her pretty hard. I didn’t get a look at the guy, so I’m not sure if it’s the same one. And dad doesn’t want to have Mollie ID him.” Roger sighed heavily. The TV caught their attention with news of all the riots.
“…rolling brown outs will begin today in an effort to conserve energy as the coal plants that failed to meet the new standards are being shut down. As we know, the new standards were passed unanimously after the coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee during the Holiday Season of last year. The effects of the spill are still being evaluated and the company has declared bankruptcy due to the tremendous number of libel and civil suits that are being filed against them.
Only a fraction of the coal plants have been able to comply with the new standards. There are also the hopes of the lack of electricity will help to quell all the riots.
The President has canceled his press conference that was scheduled today at 2pm. No word of any rescheduling.
In other news, the major of New York City has declared a curfew that will extend as long as it takes to quell the rioting. Anyone on the streets from 6pm to 7am will be arrested. If any resistance is given or if someone attempts to flee, officers have been told to use lethal force. The governor of New York has given his support for this action and is expected to expand marital law for the whole state later today. Many other states are also expected to declare a curfew. This has many wondering if the President will declare martial law. ..”
Carrie sighed heavily. This would really affect her ability to travel since she didn’t know if she would always be able to find a safe place to sleep before 6pm. Sometimes she had to walk through the night.
Roger heard her sigh and asked “What’s wrong?”
Carrie looked at Roger and explained “well, if the curfew goes into effect nationwide, it’s going to really mess up my trip. I don’t know if I will be able to find a place to stay each night that is safe, by 6pm.”
Roger looked thoughtful “you said before you were headed to Arkansas; how much further do you have to go?”
“I’ll have to go get my maps to get the exact miles but I figure I’ve got about 900 miles left to go. Although I’m really not sure since I’m trying to stay on smaller roads.”
“Well, maybe you should think about staying put for a few days and wait for the authorities to get these riots under control.”
Carrie cocked an eyebrow and quipped “you sure you don’t want me around so I can save your butt again?”
Roger smiled and said “well, there IS that.” Then he added “was that unearthly scream that I thought I heard, really you?”
“Oh yeah it was. My Gramma taught me that if you are going to step into trouble, announce yourself in a way that takes the enemy by surprise. Plus, I’ve learned that it gets the blood running in me but can freeze the blood in others.”
Roger got a silly grin on his face and said “could you get me something to drink? Please?”
“Sure, what do you want?”
“Actually some coffee, it might help me stay awake.”
“You mean my charming personality is putting you to sleep?” Carrie returned.
Roger almost managed to look horrified and Carrie laughed as she got up and began to fix the coffee maker for coffee. “How do you like your coffee?” she asked.
“Like my women, strong and sweet.”
Carrie laughed as she pulled creamer out of the fridge and got the sugar bowl down from the cabinet above the coffee maker. She liked how things were in the kitchen, right where one would think to look first. Coffee cups were hanging on small hooks under the cabinet next to the coffee maker. While she waited for it to finish up, she couldn’t help me watch Roger as he was watching the news.
If only I was a few years older, my my he is hot! Even with the lump on his head. Oh well, maybe it’s a good thing I’m too young for him, especially since I hope to be living almost 1000 miles away soon. Carrie’s mind wandered as she thought about Roger and her Gramma.
For the next three hours, before the rest of the house woke up; Carrie and Roger talked and drank coffee. Roger told Carrie about his dreams getting into medical school and become a top surgeon. One who takes into consideration the spiritual aspects of the patients and not just view them as paycheck. Carrie thought that admirable and so confided in him about how she hoped her Gramma was still alive and would take her in. She told him how she never really set any dreams or goals for herself but now that she had listened to him and seen what joy they gave him, she would think about setting some.
“Everyone has to have dreams, Carrie. They are what give us hope for a better future. They help to shape our lives so we can stay focused on the important things. “
“I’m beginning to see that. I just never really had time to think or plan on anything except getting to my Gramma’s. I always figured that I would figure out what to do next after I got there and seen if she was there or not.”
Roger took Carrie’s hand and looked deep into her eyes, “you will come up with some great dreams and goals, I’m sure. And I hope that you don’t forget me…I mean us.” He smiled.
“Hey now, you need to quit looking at me like that, I’m too young for you.” Carrie said as she tried to remove her hand.
Roger just grinned and then before she could say another thing, he reached over with his other hand and gently placed it at the back of her head and pulled her to him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Carrie was momentarily stunned. Is it the fourth of July, cause I’m seeing and feeling some fireworks!
Roger himself was surprised with the amount of heat he felt. He pulled away and said softly “I don’t think you are too young, I think you are an amazing woman. Thank you for saving my life.”
Carrie was blushing with embarrassment and emotions that she never had felt before. Both were saved by the entrance of Naomi.
“Oh that coffee smells wonderful!” She declared as she swept into the kitchen and poured herself a big mug. “Ah, tastes wonderful too. Roger I know you can’t boil water, so Carrie must have made it. Thank you Carrie.” If she noticed the discomfort of her son and guest, Naomi didn’t comment on it.
“You’re welcome, can I help you with getting breakfast ready?” asked Carrie, hoping for the distraction from what had just happened between her and Roger.
All morning she was kept busy so she really didn’t have time or energy to think about the kiss or the guy she had killed.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Place to Call Home - Thirteen
warning: extreme violence
Thirteen
Later that night, Carrie was still feeling overwhelmed. So that is what it’s like to have siblings. She thought. All evening, Naomi had been trying to feed her, Roger’s sisters: Molly and Renee had been talking almost non-stop asking her all kinds of questions for which they never seemed to wait for the answers. Molly the oldest, was 14 and Carrie immediately liked her. Molly insisted that they would forever be dear friends no matter who went where. Carrie couldn’t find any reason to not like her or disagree with her.
Roger and his dad, whose name she found out was Nick; mostly stayed in the living room watching the news and talking about the store. With all the females in the kitchen, the guys felt outnumbered anyways and mostly wanted to stay out of the way.
Now Carrie was in the bottom bunk of Molly’s bunk beds listening to Molly slightly snore. Renee had given up her bed to Carrie and was sound asleep on a pallet on the floor. They simply didn’t listen as Carrie had protested and tried to sleep on the pallet herself.
Carrie prayed and gave thanks for again being protected and privileged to meet another such wonderful family. She asked that someday she would be able to invite them all to her home and asked for wisdom in deciding how to proceed to what she was hoping would be her new home. She also asked for blessings on all the wonderful people (and dogs) she had met, again twins for Sam and Rhonda, and her Gramma alive and well and wanting her. And a special thanks for allowing her to live another year. She hadn’t told anyone but it was this day that she was now 14.
Sleep came quickly and easy after that.
Carrie abruptly woke up. Her heart was pounding hard. Did she hear something? What was it that had woke her up? She could still hear Mollie and Renee breathing. But Carrie just had an awful feeling something was wrong.
There! There it was again!
She slid out of bed and pulled on some pants and shoes. Her bag was packed and ready to go but she left it there. She did strap on her knife and pull the sweat shirt sleeve back over it. She eased her way out of the bedroom and relying on her memory of the house, made her way to the kitchen and den. She didn’t see anything but could hear something. It sounded like it was coming from outside.
Making her way around the island that separated the kitchen and den, she eased to the door that led to backyard. She peeked through the curtains, still not seeing anything; but the night was dark with no moon. She could see stars so either the moon had set or it was a new moon.
I guess I should be keeping track of those kinds of things. She thought.
The sound was between a creaking and grinding. Like someone was opening a door with rusty hinges that rubbed against the doorframe. She couldn’t see any out buildings except part of the garage.
Wait! Was that someone in the yard? She saw a shadow ripple across the back of the yard. A shadow among shadows; but it was movement. She looked up at the trees; they were barely swaying so she could rule out the wind.
She checked the door, it was locked up tight. She was just beginning to unlock the door when a hand touched her shoulder.
Gasping, she whirled around and pulled her knife.
Roger jumped back and just missed being sliced!
“Hey” he whispered loudly “it’s me.”
Carrie sighed in relief and apologized as she put her knife away.
“Someone’s out there, I heard them.” She began “At least I think there is. Some noise woke me up.”
“Me too.” Roger said as he moved to the window and peeked out.
Just then they both heard the noise again.
“Look, it’s not safe for either of us to go out there half cocked. Let me go wake up my dad and then we’ll go check it out.”
Carrie nodded her head and kept watch out the window as Roger silently ran through the house to get his dad.
She felt pretty good that he had said “we’ll” because she figured he was including her in it. She found out she was wrong as soon as Roger and his dad came back into the den. Both had shotguns and with a firm “stay here”, they slid out the door.
“Well! If that don’t beat all” she whispered while she frowned. She then slid out the door herself.
She had watched Roger and his dad split up and each go one way around the house. She briefly wondered if she should wake up Naomi; but decided it would take too much time. She went the same way Roger had gone since that is where the noises were coming from.
Hearing a grunt, she hurried to catch up. As she came around the corner, she saw Roger laying on the ground and a figure standing above about to swing a baseball bat down on him.
With a loud shriek of fury, Carrie again for the second time in 10 minutes whipped out her knife and but this time she plunged into the back of the attacker.
Pulling it out just as fast as she had plunged it, she jumped on the back of the attacker and grabbed his hair with one hand and went for his throat with her knife. All her anger came out and went through that knife. A primal instinct of a woman who was protecting someone she cared about. Carrie didn’t know it but she became a woman that day, not just a 14 year old.
Roger was trying to get up or roll over and not succeeding very well. Carrie jumped to the side as the attacker fell to the ground holding his throat, trying to gasp for breath.
Nick came around the corner to see Carrie bent over trying to help Roger up and the last breathes of the man who had hit him over the head. Roger was bleeding from the head also.
Carrie saw Nick and said “hurry, Roger is hurt bad. That guy hit him at least twice and I can’t hold him up.” Tears began to fall from Carries eyes. Nick grabbed up his son and carried him into the house. Carrie followed.
Nick was hollering as he came into the house for Naomi, who he failed to see was already in the kitchen. Moving quickly, she grabbed a first aid kit out of one of the cabinets and began to minister to her son. Her face was white but her hands were steady.
Nick went back outside with Carrie on his heels and together they finished looking over the place but didn’t find any more intruders. Carrie kicked the corpse as they went by it. They did notice that the intruder had been attempting to pry one of the bedroom windows open. It was one that was in Mollie and Renee’s room. That is what had woke Carrie up.
Nick sent Carrie back into the house to get cleaned up. “I’ll take care of things out here. No one else needs to see this” he said as he gestured to the dead man.
Carrie nodded and looked down at herself and realized that she had blood all over her. When she went back into the house, Roger was more awake and aware and softly talking to his mom.
“Well, all I can say is that I’m glad you have a hard head Roger!” Naomi said “otherwise those blows would have knocked your brains out.” She sighed heavily then gently kissed his cheek. “I swear your sisters will sleep through world war III.” Naomi then looked over at Carrie, “Honey, thank you for saving my son’s life tonight but maybe you should go get a shower and change. Come on with ya, I want to get those clothes in the washer before all that blood sets.” And with those words, Carrie was ushered into the bathroom and as soon as she had her clothes off, Naomi whisked them away with a promise of bringing her a robe just as soon as she got those soaking.
Carrie ran the water as hot as she could stand it and then stayed under the soothing spray until the shaking and the tears stopped. She didn’t even hear Naomi come in and leave a long warm robe on the back of the door.
Thirteen
Later that night, Carrie was still feeling overwhelmed. So that is what it’s like to have siblings. She thought. All evening, Naomi had been trying to feed her, Roger’s sisters: Molly and Renee had been talking almost non-stop asking her all kinds of questions for which they never seemed to wait for the answers. Molly the oldest, was 14 and Carrie immediately liked her. Molly insisted that they would forever be dear friends no matter who went where. Carrie couldn’t find any reason to not like her or disagree with her.
Roger and his dad, whose name she found out was Nick; mostly stayed in the living room watching the news and talking about the store. With all the females in the kitchen, the guys felt outnumbered anyways and mostly wanted to stay out of the way.
Now Carrie was in the bottom bunk of Molly’s bunk beds listening to Molly slightly snore. Renee had given up her bed to Carrie and was sound asleep on a pallet on the floor. They simply didn’t listen as Carrie had protested and tried to sleep on the pallet herself.
Carrie prayed and gave thanks for again being protected and privileged to meet another such wonderful family. She asked that someday she would be able to invite them all to her home and asked for wisdom in deciding how to proceed to what she was hoping would be her new home. She also asked for blessings on all the wonderful people (and dogs) she had met, again twins for Sam and Rhonda, and her Gramma alive and well and wanting her. And a special thanks for allowing her to live another year. She hadn’t told anyone but it was this day that she was now 14.
Sleep came quickly and easy after that.
Carrie abruptly woke up. Her heart was pounding hard. Did she hear something? What was it that had woke her up? She could still hear Mollie and Renee breathing. But Carrie just had an awful feeling something was wrong.
There! There it was again!
She slid out of bed and pulled on some pants and shoes. Her bag was packed and ready to go but she left it there. She did strap on her knife and pull the sweat shirt sleeve back over it. She eased her way out of the bedroom and relying on her memory of the house, made her way to the kitchen and den. She didn’t see anything but could hear something. It sounded like it was coming from outside.
Making her way around the island that separated the kitchen and den, she eased to the door that led to backyard. She peeked through the curtains, still not seeing anything; but the night was dark with no moon. She could see stars so either the moon had set or it was a new moon.
I guess I should be keeping track of those kinds of things. She thought.
The sound was between a creaking and grinding. Like someone was opening a door with rusty hinges that rubbed against the doorframe. She couldn’t see any out buildings except part of the garage.
Wait! Was that someone in the yard? She saw a shadow ripple across the back of the yard. A shadow among shadows; but it was movement. She looked up at the trees; they were barely swaying so she could rule out the wind.
She checked the door, it was locked up tight. She was just beginning to unlock the door when a hand touched her shoulder.
Gasping, she whirled around and pulled her knife.
Roger jumped back and just missed being sliced!
“Hey” he whispered loudly “it’s me.”
Carrie sighed in relief and apologized as she put her knife away.
“Someone’s out there, I heard them.” She began “At least I think there is. Some noise woke me up.”
“Me too.” Roger said as he moved to the window and peeked out.
Just then they both heard the noise again.
“Look, it’s not safe for either of us to go out there half cocked. Let me go wake up my dad and then we’ll go check it out.”
Carrie nodded her head and kept watch out the window as Roger silently ran through the house to get his dad.
She felt pretty good that he had said “we’ll” because she figured he was including her in it. She found out she was wrong as soon as Roger and his dad came back into the den. Both had shotguns and with a firm “stay here”, they slid out the door.
“Well! If that don’t beat all” she whispered while she frowned. She then slid out the door herself.
She had watched Roger and his dad split up and each go one way around the house. She briefly wondered if she should wake up Naomi; but decided it would take too much time. She went the same way Roger had gone since that is where the noises were coming from.
Hearing a grunt, she hurried to catch up. As she came around the corner, she saw Roger laying on the ground and a figure standing above about to swing a baseball bat down on him.
With a loud shriek of fury, Carrie again for the second time in 10 minutes whipped out her knife and but this time she plunged into the back of the attacker.
Pulling it out just as fast as she had plunged it, she jumped on the back of the attacker and grabbed his hair with one hand and went for his throat with her knife. All her anger came out and went through that knife. A primal instinct of a woman who was protecting someone she cared about. Carrie didn’t know it but she became a woman that day, not just a 14 year old.
Roger was trying to get up or roll over and not succeeding very well. Carrie jumped to the side as the attacker fell to the ground holding his throat, trying to gasp for breath.
Nick came around the corner to see Carrie bent over trying to help Roger up and the last breathes of the man who had hit him over the head. Roger was bleeding from the head also.
Carrie saw Nick and said “hurry, Roger is hurt bad. That guy hit him at least twice and I can’t hold him up.” Tears began to fall from Carries eyes. Nick grabbed up his son and carried him into the house. Carrie followed.
Nick was hollering as he came into the house for Naomi, who he failed to see was already in the kitchen. Moving quickly, she grabbed a first aid kit out of one of the cabinets and began to minister to her son. Her face was white but her hands were steady.
Nick went back outside with Carrie on his heels and together they finished looking over the place but didn’t find any more intruders. Carrie kicked the corpse as they went by it. They did notice that the intruder had been attempting to pry one of the bedroom windows open. It was one that was in Mollie and Renee’s room. That is what had woke Carrie up.
Nick sent Carrie back into the house to get cleaned up. “I’ll take care of things out here. No one else needs to see this” he said as he gestured to the dead man.
Carrie nodded and looked down at herself and realized that she had blood all over her. When she went back into the house, Roger was more awake and aware and softly talking to his mom.
“Well, all I can say is that I’m glad you have a hard head Roger!” Naomi said “otherwise those blows would have knocked your brains out.” She sighed heavily then gently kissed his cheek. “I swear your sisters will sleep through world war III.” Naomi then looked over at Carrie, “Honey, thank you for saving my son’s life tonight but maybe you should go get a shower and change. Come on with ya, I want to get those clothes in the washer before all that blood sets.” And with those words, Carrie was ushered into the bathroom and as soon as she had her clothes off, Naomi whisked them away with a promise of bringing her a robe just as soon as she got those soaking.
Carrie ran the water as hot as she could stand it and then stayed under the soothing spray until the shaking and the tears stopped. She didn’t even hear Naomi come in and leave a long warm robe on the back of the door.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A Place to Call Home - Twelve
Twelve
The bathroom door was thick, but if she pressed her ear to it, she could just make out the confusion and yelling outside. Once some tried the door but gave up when it didn’t open and they banging got no response from inside.
Totally baffled by all the goings on, she wondered if it was rush hour or something. Then she remembered the speech the president was giving when she turned off the radio. She pulled out the radio and wound it up, slipping the ear piece into her ear.
Static was all she heard. She spent a good half hour trying to get a station to come in but finally gave up. She figured that the radio waves couldn’t get through the walls of the bathroom. The bathrooms were sandwiched in between a large walk in cooler that held all the “coldest beer in town” and what might have been the office.
Carrie pressed her ear once again to the door and didn’t hear anything. Thinking that maybe it might be safe to venture out, she sent a prayer up asking for protection and wisdom and quickness if she needed to lock herself in again. Then she turned the bolt and stepped out of the bathroom. She didn’t see anyone, but the place was a mess. She made her way to the front counter and noticed that the closed sign had been flipped to the outside. She tried the door, it was locked and it needed a key to unlock it.
Well, maybe there is a back door. She thought. And so she started to make her way to the back and thinking that no one was there, she didn’t know who was startled more, herself or the guy who had his head in a closet and was bringing out a broom and dust pan.
They both shrieked at the same time and the guy almost lost his grip on the broom. The dust pan went flying and landed on the wall. He stuck the broom out in a defensive position and pretty much yelled “who are you? How did you get in here?”
Before he could swing the broom at her, Carrie spoke up “I’m sorry, I was in the bathroom and then there were so many people, I’m sorry, I kinda freaked out and so locked myself back in there. I’m sorry, I’ll leave…really, I’m so so sorry….I don’t mean any harm.”
The guy could see that the young ….was it a girl? Yeah, it was a girl…was shaken. He felt a twinge of guilt for scaring her.
“Ok, ok. Look, I got to get this mess cleaned up and there is no way I’m unlocking that door right now. I’m thankful that the glass is bullet proof. That was a mean crowd; I thought for sure they were going to tear me apart. This isn’t your fault. Heck I wish I could have hid.”
“What happened?” Carrie asked.
“It was that stupid announcement by the president that has all the folks riled up. They are out spending like fools so they can hide in their homes and …as one guy said…hold out against them ...well excuse me, I won’t repeat what he called them…the UN forces and that new NSA. It ain’t right them trying to take away guns from folks, it’s our constitutional right to bear arms and the real people of this country are not taking the threat lightly.”
Carrie didn’t know what to think. She had never really had any kinds of guns in her life and now that she thought about it, she was glad her mom didn’t have one.
Carrie decided that since she really didn’t want to go back outside until she figured out what to do, she would make nice with this guy. Sticking her hand out, she said “My name is Carrie.”
The guy shook her hand “mine is Roger.”
“I don’t suppose you could use some help? Could you?” Carrie asked.
“May as well, I don’t think it would be in the best interest of either of us to go out there. They didn’t really mad until I turned the pumps off. They were just filling up and driving off! Lord knows just how much gas was stolen.” Roger shook his head sadly.
They worked steadily for two hours cleaning up the mess that the people had made. There was a lot of waste but a surprising amount of things that had just been knocked around or off a shelf.
“Thank the Lord they didn’t get into the back store room.” Roger said “Then we would have had a bigger mess.” The store had just received a delivery about two hours before the president had made his announcements but Roger hadn’t had time to begin to stock anything, so he had just locked up the store room and worked the counter. Mornings were pretty brisk anyways since many stopped in for morning coffee and gas. He usually did the stocking in the slower afternoons.
“How long have you had this place?” Carrie asked.
Roger scratched his chin, which was in need of a shave. “Well, my dad really owns it. I’m working here during the mornings and afternoons and then take online college courses. Man, dad is really gonna be mad.” He looked thoughtful for a moment and then said “I wonder why he hasn’t called?” He walked over to the counter and turned on the small TV that was up on a small shelf. “It don’t have cable but the local news should be covering something about all this.”
“….has grounded to a halt with all the riots.
Well Bill, things are even worse in the bigger cities. UN forces have combined with the new NSA to control the swelling protestors.”
A pretty young woman was speaking to a man who looked like he was in a war zone.
“You’re right Olivia, but these protestors have quickly turned into looters and there are no UN forces here to help control the crowds. Local authorities are doing their best but these are their friends and families and so are hesitant to use force. Most shop owners have locked up and quite a few are pulling out their now illegal firearms to protect their property. So far no arrests have been made that we know of but I’ve heard a few gunshots.”
“Bill you be careful out there. What is happening behind you?”
Bill turned from the camera as Roger and Carrie watched horrified as a pickup was seen speeding towards Bill and the camera. Well it looked like it but the truck was really headed for the store next to where the reporter was standing. The camera turned and followed the truck as it plowed into the store front. Above Carrie could read the sign that said “Allen’s Gun Shop”.
Roger turned down the TV and pulled the phone over; he hit the numbers but then frowned. He clicked the hang up button a couple times and then said “It’s dead”.
Digging under the counter, he pulled out a cell phone and hit a couple numbers, “I have my Dad on speed dial, but don’t ever tell him that.” He said. His attempt at humor didn’t quite work. Carrie gave a sick half smile.
“Dad….yes yes, I’m fine…no … the shop is all locked up……yes, I’m fine, I swear…..what? …oh, ok….. but dad…….DAD! There is this girl here, she got locked in by mistake……………no, well, now I know who she is….ok ok…geeze……………..well, I don’t think she has anywhere to go really……..” Roger moved the phone from his mouth and asked Carrie “do you have somewhere to be?”
“Nowhere that I can get to fast or easy. I’m on my way to Arkansas.”
Roger put the phone back to his mouth, “Dad…..Dad! what’s going on? She is? Well, we both know how mom is……………….ok, that’s good I’m glad they made it home from school…….ok. If she will, I will. Ok dad, yeah yeah, I love you too…………………..yes I heard her, tell mom I’ll be careful……and yes, I love her too…..ok, see ya soon.”
Roger closed the small phone and looked at Carrie “Well, my dad thinks I that I should drag you home with me like some Neanderthal and not give you a say in the matter. He thinks things are going to get really bad and wants me to lock this place up tight and head home. But I’m not your boss and from the looks of things, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders. But you are welcome to come with me. I do have a couple bratty sisters who love to bug me. They are 12 and 14 but basically they are pretty cool. Don’t tell them that I said that, I’ll never live it down.” He said with a grin.
Carrie didn’t know what to do. She had already taken two chances with strangers and while so far, Roger had been very nice; she didn’t want to kid herself and think that she would be blessed by every stranger she met.
“I’ll tell you what,” Roger began “there still is some clean up to do and I have to close the shutters across the windows. They are from before we had the bullet proof glass and are a pain in the butt to close. But if I don’t, my dad will have my hide.” He looked at her and could see that she was hesitant to go with him, so he continued “and you can just think about it while we finish up. Besides you’ve helped me and so my family and I really owe you at least dinner or something.” He flashed her his most honorable grin.
Carrie rolled her eyes and laughed at him. “You are really silly. I can see why your sisters love to torment you. Ok, let’s finish up and I’ll think about it.”
Roger was right, the shutters were a pain in the butt and it took both of them to get them locked down properly. Carrie was plum tuckered out when they finished up. They were back in the back room where all the cleaning supplies and a small break area were. This is also where the back door was and Roger’s truck was parked right outside.
“I’m not sure what Dad is going to do about this place and what’s left in it. Maybe things will die down and we’ll be able to open again in a day or two. If not, I’m sure we’ll come back and clean it all out.” He looked at Carrie “Well, have you decided? I promise I don’t bite. And don’t forget, we owe you.”
Carrie replied “If you would let me borrow your phone for a minute, I really need to make a call. And then we’ll be even and if I could buy just a few things for my trip, I’d be much appreciative. But I really don’t want to be a bother to you and your family. So I’ll be on my way.”
Even Roger could tell that the girl was exhausted. “Ok, I understand. I’ll tell you what. Here’s my phone and while you make your call, I gather up what you need. Just tell me what you are looking for. You pretty much know what we have left here but we do have a bunch of stuff in the back, here follow me.”
They both walked back out and down towards the bathrooms. At the last door, Roger found a key on his key ring and unlocked the door. Inside were two pallets of goods still saran wrapped. Using a box cutter off of a nearby table, Roger cut the saran.
“Look, even if you left right now, you would have to go through town and it’s still a mess out there. Not really a good place to be right now.” Roger began, as an idea formed in his head “if you don’t feel comfortable going with me to my home, what if you were to stay here? Would you feel safe here?”
Carrie looked shocked, “No, I don’t want to be here by myself if someone wanted to break in. If they want in bad enough, they’ll get in.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. So actually you’re only choice …your safest choice…is to come with me. But we’ll get you stocked up first.”
Carrie felt like she had just been somehow bamboozled into going with him. She laughed, shook her head, and said “ok, I’ll go with you.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist my charm.”
Carrie picked out the few things she knew would fit in her pack and tried to pay for them, but Roger insisted that it was nothing compared to the help she had given him that afternoon.
She then remembered that she still had his phone in her hand and while he set the alarm, she sat in his truck and dialed Lady Jane.
“Hello?”
“Hi Lady Jane, it’s me Carrie.”
“Oh Carrie thank God you are ok, where are you? We’ve been so worried.”
“I’m in a little town, and don’t worry; I’m fine.”
They chatted for a few minutes and Carrie got her all caught up on what had happened since she had last talked to her. Roger had gotten into the truck and they were on the road. He listened to Carrie’s side of the conversation and didn’t feel a bit guilty eavesdropping.
“Yes, Lady Jane I’m being careful; although I am right now riding in a truck with an almost complete stranger, he seems nice enough.”
“You give him the phone right this minute, I want a word with him.”
“Ok, sure” Carrie smiled as she handed the phone to Roger “she would like to speak with you.”
Carrie could hear every word that Lady Jane said to Roger, she was speaking so loud. All Roger was able to get in was a “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” and “of course not ma’am” every once in a while. He was almost pasty looking when he handed the phone back to Carrie.
Carrie looked at the phone like it was a snake, Roger shoved it in her hand. “Hello?” Carrie began.
“Carrie dear, I know it’s none of my business but honey you really have to be less trusting of strangers. This Roger though does seem to be an ok guy. Just please promise me you’ll be careful, ok? Duke and Beautiful DO want to see you again someday and so do I.”
“Yes ma’am. I would love to see you guys too. I’ll be careful. I promise. Please give Duke and Beautiful lot’s of hugs and rubs for me, ok?”
“You’ve got it. And Carrie, I know about Sam and Rhonda, do you mind if I give them a call and let them know you are ok?”
“Oh, I don’t have their number. Could you please? I would appreciate it.” Carrie wondered how she had found out about them but didn’t really want to ask. Adults seemed to just know things sometimes.
“Of course dear. Now you call me again as soon as you can ok?”
“Ok, I will. Thank you Lady Jane. Bye for now.”
“Bye bye sweet heart.”
Carrie closed the phone and handed it back to Roger. “Thank you” she said.
“No problem, it’s the least I can do.”
The rest of the ride was quiet and both were deep in thought wondering what tomorrow would bring.
Roger and his family lived outside of town so they didn’t run into anyone causing trouble and made it there in about 15 minutes. It would have taken longer, but Roger was a little heavy on the gas pedal.
As soon as he pulled into the driveway, the front door was thrown open and what looked like a small army poured out into the yard head for the truck. Carrie didn’t get out. Roger hopped out and was smothered by someone who had to be his mother. She was the picture of what Carrie had always thought a real mother would look like. Apron around her amble waist, hair swept up into a bun on top of her head and a bosom big enough to smother someone…kinda like she was now doing with her son. Just when she thought Roger was a goner, he was released and two girls began to pull on him from both sides like they were trying to tear him in half.
Carrie could hear him insist that he was fine and then before she knew it, his mom was at her door and opening it. Immediately she began to cluck over Carrie like a hen with a chick and before Carrie could even defend herself, she was gently pulled out of the cab of the truck and being smothered herself. Roger’s mom must know exactly how long to hug because just when she thought she was going to die, she was released.
“Why you are just a young one! Poor thing, you look like you’d blow away in a good stiff wind. You just must come into the house, I’ve got supper ready. No, I’m not going to take no for an answer, you just come with me, I’ll make sure you are taken care of….” Carrie was carried away in the whorl-wind who insisted she call her Naomi.
The bathroom door was thick, but if she pressed her ear to it, she could just make out the confusion and yelling outside. Once some tried the door but gave up when it didn’t open and they banging got no response from inside.
Totally baffled by all the goings on, she wondered if it was rush hour or something. Then she remembered the speech the president was giving when she turned off the radio. She pulled out the radio and wound it up, slipping the ear piece into her ear.
Static was all she heard. She spent a good half hour trying to get a station to come in but finally gave up. She figured that the radio waves couldn’t get through the walls of the bathroom. The bathrooms were sandwiched in between a large walk in cooler that held all the “coldest beer in town” and what might have been the office.
Carrie pressed her ear once again to the door and didn’t hear anything. Thinking that maybe it might be safe to venture out, she sent a prayer up asking for protection and wisdom and quickness if she needed to lock herself in again. Then she turned the bolt and stepped out of the bathroom. She didn’t see anyone, but the place was a mess. She made her way to the front counter and noticed that the closed sign had been flipped to the outside. She tried the door, it was locked and it needed a key to unlock it.
Well, maybe there is a back door. She thought. And so she started to make her way to the back and thinking that no one was there, she didn’t know who was startled more, herself or the guy who had his head in a closet and was bringing out a broom and dust pan.
They both shrieked at the same time and the guy almost lost his grip on the broom. The dust pan went flying and landed on the wall. He stuck the broom out in a defensive position and pretty much yelled “who are you? How did you get in here?”
Before he could swing the broom at her, Carrie spoke up “I’m sorry, I was in the bathroom and then there were so many people, I’m sorry, I kinda freaked out and so locked myself back in there. I’m sorry, I’ll leave…really, I’m so so sorry….I don’t mean any harm.”
The guy could see that the young ….was it a girl? Yeah, it was a girl…was shaken. He felt a twinge of guilt for scaring her.
“Ok, ok. Look, I got to get this mess cleaned up and there is no way I’m unlocking that door right now. I’m thankful that the glass is bullet proof. That was a mean crowd; I thought for sure they were going to tear me apart. This isn’t your fault. Heck I wish I could have hid.”
“What happened?” Carrie asked.
“It was that stupid announcement by the president that has all the folks riled up. They are out spending like fools so they can hide in their homes and …as one guy said…hold out against them ...well excuse me, I won’t repeat what he called them…the UN forces and that new NSA. It ain’t right them trying to take away guns from folks, it’s our constitutional right to bear arms and the real people of this country are not taking the threat lightly.”
Carrie didn’t know what to think. She had never really had any kinds of guns in her life and now that she thought about it, she was glad her mom didn’t have one.
Carrie decided that since she really didn’t want to go back outside until she figured out what to do, she would make nice with this guy. Sticking her hand out, she said “My name is Carrie.”
The guy shook her hand “mine is Roger.”
“I don’t suppose you could use some help? Could you?” Carrie asked.
“May as well, I don’t think it would be in the best interest of either of us to go out there. They didn’t really mad until I turned the pumps off. They were just filling up and driving off! Lord knows just how much gas was stolen.” Roger shook his head sadly.
They worked steadily for two hours cleaning up the mess that the people had made. There was a lot of waste but a surprising amount of things that had just been knocked around or off a shelf.
“Thank the Lord they didn’t get into the back store room.” Roger said “Then we would have had a bigger mess.” The store had just received a delivery about two hours before the president had made his announcements but Roger hadn’t had time to begin to stock anything, so he had just locked up the store room and worked the counter. Mornings were pretty brisk anyways since many stopped in for morning coffee and gas. He usually did the stocking in the slower afternoons.
“How long have you had this place?” Carrie asked.
Roger scratched his chin, which was in need of a shave. “Well, my dad really owns it. I’m working here during the mornings and afternoons and then take online college courses. Man, dad is really gonna be mad.” He looked thoughtful for a moment and then said “I wonder why he hasn’t called?” He walked over to the counter and turned on the small TV that was up on a small shelf. “It don’t have cable but the local news should be covering something about all this.”
“….has grounded to a halt with all the riots.
Well Bill, things are even worse in the bigger cities. UN forces have combined with the new NSA to control the swelling protestors.”
A pretty young woman was speaking to a man who looked like he was in a war zone.
“You’re right Olivia, but these protestors have quickly turned into looters and there are no UN forces here to help control the crowds. Local authorities are doing their best but these are their friends and families and so are hesitant to use force. Most shop owners have locked up and quite a few are pulling out their now illegal firearms to protect their property. So far no arrests have been made that we know of but I’ve heard a few gunshots.”
“Bill you be careful out there. What is happening behind you?”
Bill turned from the camera as Roger and Carrie watched horrified as a pickup was seen speeding towards Bill and the camera. Well it looked like it but the truck was really headed for the store next to where the reporter was standing. The camera turned and followed the truck as it plowed into the store front. Above Carrie could read the sign that said “Allen’s Gun Shop”.
Roger turned down the TV and pulled the phone over; he hit the numbers but then frowned. He clicked the hang up button a couple times and then said “It’s dead”.
Digging under the counter, he pulled out a cell phone and hit a couple numbers, “I have my Dad on speed dial, but don’t ever tell him that.” He said. His attempt at humor didn’t quite work. Carrie gave a sick half smile.
“Dad….yes yes, I’m fine…no … the shop is all locked up……yes, I’m fine, I swear…..what? …oh, ok….. but dad…….DAD! There is this girl here, she got locked in by mistake……………no, well, now I know who she is….ok ok…geeze……………..well, I don’t think she has anywhere to go really……..” Roger moved the phone from his mouth and asked Carrie “do you have somewhere to be?”
“Nowhere that I can get to fast or easy. I’m on my way to Arkansas.”
Roger put the phone back to his mouth, “Dad…..Dad! what’s going on? She is? Well, we both know how mom is……………….ok, that’s good I’m glad they made it home from school…….ok. If she will, I will. Ok dad, yeah yeah, I love you too…………………..yes I heard her, tell mom I’ll be careful……and yes, I love her too…..ok, see ya soon.”
Roger closed the small phone and looked at Carrie “Well, my dad thinks I that I should drag you home with me like some Neanderthal and not give you a say in the matter. He thinks things are going to get really bad and wants me to lock this place up tight and head home. But I’m not your boss and from the looks of things, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders. But you are welcome to come with me. I do have a couple bratty sisters who love to bug me. They are 12 and 14 but basically they are pretty cool. Don’t tell them that I said that, I’ll never live it down.” He said with a grin.
Carrie didn’t know what to do. She had already taken two chances with strangers and while so far, Roger had been very nice; she didn’t want to kid herself and think that she would be blessed by every stranger she met.
“I’ll tell you what,” Roger began “there still is some clean up to do and I have to close the shutters across the windows. They are from before we had the bullet proof glass and are a pain in the butt to close. But if I don’t, my dad will have my hide.” He looked at her and could see that she was hesitant to go with him, so he continued “and you can just think about it while we finish up. Besides you’ve helped me and so my family and I really owe you at least dinner or something.” He flashed her his most honorable grin.
Carrie rolled her eyes and laughed at him. “You are really silly. I can see why your sisters love to torment you. Ok, let’s finish up and I’ll think about it.”
Roger was right, the shutters were a pain in the butt and it took both of them to get them locked down properly. Carrie was plum tuckered out when they finished up. They were back in the back room where all the cleaning supplies and a small break area were. This is also where the back door was and Roger’s truck was parked right outside.
“I’m not sure what Dad is going to do about this place and what’s left in it. Maybe things will die down and we’ll be able to open again in a day or two. If not, I’m sure we’ll come back and clean it all out.” He looked at Carrie “Well, have you decided? I promise I don’t bite. And don’t forget, we owe you.”
Carrie replied “If you would let me borrow your phone for a minute, I really need to make a call. And then we’ll be even and if I could buy just a few things for my trip, I’d be much appreciative. But I really don’t want to be a bother to you and your family. So I’ll be on my way.”
Even Roger could tell that the girl was exhausted. “Ok, I understand. I’ll tell you what. Here’s my phone and while you make your call, I gather up what you need. Just tell me what you are looking for. You pretty much know what we have left here but we do have a bunch of stuff in the back, here follow me.”
They both walked back out and down towards the bathrooms. At the last door, Roger found a key on his key ring and unlocked the door. Inside were two pallets of goods still saran wrapped. Using a box cutter off of a nearby table, Roger cut the saran.
“Look, even if you left right now, you would have to go through town and it’s still a mess out there. Not really a good place to be right now.” Roger began, as an idea formed in his head “if you don’t feel comfortable going with me to my home, what if you were to stay here? Would you feel safe here?”
Carrie looked shocked, “No, I don’t want to be here by myself if someone wanted to break in. If they want in bad enough, they’ll get in.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. So actually you’re only choice …your safest choice…is to come with me. But we’ll get you stocked up first.”
Carrie felt like she had just been somehow bamboozled into going with him. She laughed, shook her head, and said “ok, I’ll go with you.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist my charm.”
Carrie picked out the few things she knew would fit in her pack and tried to pay for them, but Roger insisted that it was nothing compared to the help she had given him that afternoon.
She then remembered that she still had his phone in her hand and while he set the alarm, she sat in his truck and dialed Lady Jane.
“Hello?”
“Hi Lady Jane, it’s me Carrie.”
“Oh Carrie thank God you are ok, where are you? We’ve been so worried.”
“I’m in a little town, and don’t worry; I’m fine.”
They chatted for a few minutes and Carrie got her all caught up on what had happened since she had last talked to her. Roger had gotten into the truck and they were on the road. He listened to Carrie’s side of the conversation and didn’t feel a bit guilty eavesdropping.
“Yes, Lady Jane I’m being careful; although I am right now riding in a truck with an almost complete stranger, he seems nice enough.”
“You give him the phone right this minute, I want a word with him.”
“Ok, sure” Carrie smiled as she handed the phone to Roger “she would like to speak with you.”
Carrie could hear every word that Lady Jane said to Roger, she was speaking so loud. All Roger was able to get in was a “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” and “of course not ma’am” every once in a while. He was almost pasty looking when he handed the phone back to Carrie.
Carrie looked at the phone like it was a snake, Roger shoved it in her hand. “Hello?” Carrie began.
“Carrie dear, I know it’s none of my business but honey you really have to be less trusting of strangers. This Roger though does seem to be an ok guy. Just please promise me you’ll be careful, ok? Duke and Beautiful DO want to see you again someday and so do I.”
“Yes ma’am. I would love to see you guys too. I’ll be careful. I promise. Please give Duke and Beautiful lot’s of hugs and rubs for me, ok?”
“You’ve got it. And Carrie, I know about Sam and Rhonda, do you mind if I give them a call and let them know you are ok?”
“Oh, I don’t have their number. Could you please? I would appreciate it.” Carrie wondered how she had found out about them but didn’t really want to ask. Adults seemed to just know things sometimes.
“Of course dear. Now you call me again as soon as you can ok?”
“Ok, I will. Thank you Lady Jane. Bye for now.”
“Bye bye sweet heart.”
Carrie closed the phone and handed it back to Roger. “Thank you” she said.
“No problem, it’s the least I can do.”
The rest of the ride was quiet and both were deep in thought wondering what tomorrow would bring.
Roger and his family lived outside of town so they didn’t run into anyone causing trouble and made it there in about 15 minutes. It would have taken longer, but Roger was a little heavy on the gas pedal.
As soon as he pulled into the driveway, the front door was thrown open and what looked like a small army poured out into the yard head for the truck. Carrie didn’t get out. Roger hopped out and was smothered by someone who had to be his mother. She was the picture of what Carrie had always thought a real mother would look like. Apron around her amble waist, hair swept up into a bun on top of her head and a bosom big enough to smother someone…kinda like she was now doing with her son. Just when she thought Roger was a goner, he was released and two girls began to pull on him from both sides like they were trying to tear him in half.
Carrie could hear him insist that he was fine and then before she knew it, his mom was at her door and opening it. Immediately she began to cluck over Carrie like a hen with a chick and before Carrie could even defend herself, she was gently pulled out of the cab of the truck and being smothered herself. Roger’s mom must know exactly how long to hug because just when she thought she was going to die, she was released.
“Why you are just a young one! Poor thing, you look like you’d blow away in a good stiff wind. You just must come into the house, I’ve got supper ready. No, I’m not going to take no for an answer, you just come with me, I’ll make sure you are taken care of….” Carrie was carried away in the whorl-wind who insisted she call her Naomi.
Monday, December 6, 2010
A Place to Call Home - Eleven
Eleven
Carrie woke up as the sun was barely peeking over the horizon but she wasn’t sure what had woke her up. She laid very still and tried to figure it out. She didn’t hear anything…no wait she did hear something. She thought it was her own breathing but it was still low and slow; like someone was still sleeping.
And now that she was more awake, she was very warm on her left side. She slowly turned her head and looked down.
Snuggled up on top of her blanket was a ball of fur.
That would be black fur.
Black fur with a distinctive white stripe.
Carrie froze. Make that two bundles of black fur with distinctive white stripes.
Oh crap! What am I going to do? If I jump up, I’ll scare them and they will spray me for sure. Maybe I can slowly slid out of my bedroll. Man, I sure hope they don’t stink it up.
Very slowly, Carrie began to move to the opposite side of the skunks.
So far so good. She finally extracted herself from the bedroll and slowly got to her feet and backed away from the whole shed. Poor things probably were cold last night. No wonder I slept so good, they kept me warm also.
She stood a good ways away from the shed and her bed roll waiting not too patiently for her guests to wake up and leave. It didn’t look like they were in any hurry. So now she had to make a decision. Should she attempt to go back and get her shoes and back pack so she can at least change her now wet socks and put on her shoes or should she try to wake them from where she was….?
Carrie finally decided to make a grab for her shoes but leave her bag since it was up in the feed box and seemed to be safe anyways. She would just change her socks later. The slow grab she made for her shoes went well. So she hopped over the gate and ‘took care of business’ and then began to gather some more wood. She was hoping that the noise of her tossing the wood over the fence would wake her bed-mates and send them on their way.
But noooooo….. they slept on. So she tossed a couple small marble sized pebbles at the wood of the shed. Did that work? Nope!
She was getting exasperated! So she decided to sing. For some reason the song “the Old Grey Goose” popped into her head.
“go tell aunt Rhody
the old grey goose is dead
grandpa found her dying
in the millpond on her head
the gander won't eat now
gander won't eat now
because his wife is dead
let's pray for the babies
pray for the babies
because their mama's dead
Carrie was watching the small bundles and they looked like they were finally stirring, so she sung a bit louder:
“somebody go tell aunt Rhody
go tell aunt Rhody
the old grey goose is dead
somebody go tell aunt Rhody
i want you to go tell aunt Rhody
go tell aunt Rhody
tell her that the old
grey goose is dead
lord, now go tell aunt Rhody
children, go tell aunt Rhody
want you to go tell aunt Rhody
tell her that the old
grey goose is dead
The finally began to wiggle around and yawn and stretch, so Carrie finished up the song:
“everybody go tell aunt Rhody
now, now, go tell aunt Rhody
now, now, go tell aunt Rhody
go tell aunt Rhody - tell her
that the old grey goose is dead
As she finished up the last chorus, they scurried away and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t waste any time packing up and hitting the road. She wound up the radio again and slid it into the fanny pack with the headphones coming out. She only put in one ear piece though, remembering what Rhonda had said. She nibbled on a granola bar and sipped out of a bottle of water as she made her way back to the highway.
Carrie figured she was about five miles from the next town and this was supposed to be a fair sized town. The map said it had about 5000 people in it so she figured that there should be a grocery store where she could get some more travel food. She was going to keep it simple but had two twenty’s stuck in her front pocket for her purchases.
…mounting tensions. The UN has again issued a statement that no tolerance would be given for failure to turn in firearms.
….is this correct? Really? ok… ladies and gentlemen please stand by for just one moment…it seems the president is going to speak…one minute? Ok. It will be just one minute. We do not yet know what the president is going to say… he’s …what? Ok, ladies and gentlemen it seems the president …ok, here is the president…
Good morning my fellow Americans. I come before you this morning to discuss several serious matters.
I’ll be brief. First of all, let me be clear and let me be specific; this country is in dire economic straits. I also promised you change and now that change is happening. I signed two executive orders this morning at 8am. Therefore, first due to the resistance the UN is having with the collection of firearms and due to the fact that we all know that firearms promote violence, I’ve combined all United States law enforcement agencies into one agency. This new agency, the National Security Agency, will fully cooperate with the UN it this grand endeavor to rid our great country of these vile weapons of death. In light of the NSA, all state laws and constitutions have been suspended in order for one set of laws to be enforced, thereby lessening the confusion and any conflictions. The UN has issued a mandate that all resistance to this weapons retrieval will be met with deadly force since only those wishing to harm others will want to keep their firearms.
I’ve also signed another executive order which deals with the redistribution of the wealth, just as I promised in my campaign. As you know, there are those in this country who have taken from the middle class and poor, they have ridden in their private jets and gone on their vacations that have cost thousands of dollars. We’ve had CEO’s who went and partied when their company was bailed out by YOU the people. It’s time that YOU the people, got your money back. Therefore, as of 8am this morning, all bank accounts of citizens with more than $100,000 have been frozen. All excess funds over this amount have been seized and will be redirected into a general fund which will provide for those who have had problems with paying for their housing and buying food. These funds will allow the poorest of us to be able to provide for their families and then we will all be truly equal!
Rest assured that your government is working hard and earning its pay to shape these great changes and make our country even greater! Let me be clear, this action will pull our economy out of the rut we’ve been left in by the previous administration, to an even higher and better standing.
Finally my fellow Americans, it is my sad duty to infor ….”
Carrie turned the radio off. She didn’t understand what he was talking about with his fancy words but it didn’t sound right to her. And there was nothing she could do about it anyways. She was on the outskirts of a town and she pulled her maps out in order to see the best way to proceed. There was a small convenience store/gas station just up at the next corner so she headed that way. As she approached the door a car whipped into the parking lot by the gas tanks, squealing their tires by slamming on the brakes.
Carrie slipped into the store and made her way back to the sign that said “restrooms”. When she came out, the small store was packed with people buying all kinds of stuff and complaining about the gas lines.
She felt like she had stepped into another world and it scared her so bad she stepped back into the bathroom and bolted the door.
Carrie woke up as the sun was barely peeking over the horizon but she wasn’t sure what had woke her up. She laid very still and tried to figure it out. She didn’t hear anything…no wait she did hear something. She thought it was her own breathing but it was still low and slow; like someone was still sleeping.
And now that she was more awake, she was very warm on her left side. She slowly turned her head and looked down.
Snuggled up on top of her blanket was a ball of fur.
That would be black fur.
Black fur with a distinctive white stripe.
Carrie froze. Make that two bundles of black fur with distinctive white stripes.
Oh crap! What am I going to do? If I jump up, I’ll scare them and they will spray me for sure. Maybe I can slowly slid out of my bedroll. Man, I sure hope they don’t stink it up.
Very slowly, Carrie began to move to the opposite side of the skunks.
So far so good. She finally extracted herself from the bedroll and slowly got to her feet and backed away from the whole shed. Poor things probably were cold last night. No wonder I slept so good, they kept me warm also.
She stood a good ways away from the shed and her bed roll waiting not too patiently for her guests to wake up and leave. It didn’t look like they were in any hurry. So now she had to make a decision. Should she attempt to go back and get her shoes and back pack so she can at least change her now wet socks and put on her shoes or should she try to wake them from where she was….?
Carrie finally decided to make a grab for her shoes but leave her bag since it was up in the feed box and seemed to be safe anyways. She would just change her socks later. The slow grab she made for her shoes went well. So she hopped over the gate and ‘took care of business’ and then began to gather some more wood. She was hoping that the noise of her tossing the wood over the fence would wake her bed-mates and send them on their way.
But noooooo….. they slept on. So she tossed a couple small marble sized pebbles at the wood of the shed. Did that work? Nope!
She was getting exasperated! So she decided to sing. For some reason the song “the Old Grey Goose” popped into her head.
“go tell aunt Rhody
the old grey goose is dead
grandpa found her dying
in the millpond on her head
the gander won't eat now
gander won't eat now
because his wife is dead
let's pray for the babies
pray for the babies
because their mama's dead
Carrie was watching the small bundles and they looked like they were finally stirring, so she sung a bit louder:
“somebody go tell aunt Rhody
go tell aunt Rhody
the old grey goose is dead
somebody go tell aunt Rhody
i want you to go tell aunt Rhody
go tell aunt Rhody
tell her that the old
grey goose is dead
lord, now go tell aunt Rhody
children, go tell aunt Rhody
want you to go tell aunt Rhody
tell her that the old
grey goose is dead
The finally began to wiggle around and yawn and stretch, so Carrie finished up the song:
“everybody go tell aunt Rhody
now, now, go tell aunt Rhody
now, now, go tell aunt Rhody
go tell aunt Rhody - tell her
that the old grey goose is dead
As she finished up the last chorus, they scurried away and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t waste any time packing up and hitting the road. She wound up the radio again and slid it into the fanny pack with the headphones coming out. She only put in one ear piece though, remembering what Rhonda had said. She nibbled on a granola bar and sipped out of a bottle of water as she made her way back to the highway.
Carrie figured she was about five miles from the next town and this was supposed to be a fair sized town. The map said it had about 5000 people in it so she figured that there should be a grocery store where she could get some more travel food. She was going to keep it simple but had two twenty’s stuck in her front pocket for her purchases.
…mounting tensions. The UN has again issued a statement that no tolerance would be given for failure to turn in firearms.
….is this correct? Really? ok… ladies and gentlemen please stand by for just one moment…it seems the president is going to speak…one minute? Ok. It will be just one minute. We do not yet know what the president is going to say… he’s …what? Ok, ladies and gentlemen it seems the president …ok, here is the president…
Good morning my fellow Americans. I come before you this morning to discuss several serious matters.
I’ll be brief. First of all, let me be clear and let me be specific; this country is in dire economic straits. I also promised you change and now that change is happening. I signed two executive orders this morning at 8am. Therefore, first due to the resistance the UN is having with the collection of firearms and due to the fact that we all know that firearms promote violence, I’ve combined all United States law enforcement agencies into one agency. This new agency, the National Security Agency, will fully cooperate with the UN it this grand endeavor to rid our great country of these vile weapons of death. In light of the NSA, all state laws and constitutions have been suspended in order for one set of laws to be enforced, thereby lessening the confusion and any conflictions. The UN has issued a mandate that all resistance to this weapons retrieval will be met with deadly force since only those wishing to harm others will want to keep their firearms.
I’ve also signed another executive order which deals with the redistribution of the wealth, just as I promised in my campaign. As you know, there are those in this country who have taken from the middle class and poor, they have ridden in their private jets and gone on their vacations that have cost thousands of dollars. We’ve had CEO’s who went and partied when their company was bailed out by YOU the people. It’s time that YOU the people, got your money back. Therefore, as of 8am this morning, all bank accounts of citizens with more than $100,000 have been frozen. All excess funds over this amount have been seized and will be redirected into a general fund which will provide for those who have had problems with paying for their housing and buying food. These funds will allow the poorest of us to be able to provide for their families and then we will all be truly equal!
Rest assured that your government is working hard and earning its pay to shape these great changes and make our country even greater! Let me be clear, this action will pull our economy out of the rut we’ve been left in by the previous administration, to an even higher and better standing.
Finally my fellow Americans, it is my sad duty to infor ….”
Carrie turned the radio off. She didn’t understand what he was talking about with his fancy words but it didn’t sound right to her. And there was nothing she could do about it anyways. She was on the outskirts of a town and she pulled her maps out in order to see the best way to proceed. There was a small convenience store/gas station just up at the next corner so she headed that way. As she approached the door a car whipped into the parking lot by the gas tanks, squealing their tires by slamming on the brakes.
Carrie slipped into the store and made her way back to the sign that said “restrooms”. When she came out, the small store was packed with people buying all kinds of stuff and complaining about the gas lines.
She felt like she had stepped into another world and it scared her so bad she stepped back into the bathroom and bolted the door.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A Place to Call Home - Ten
Ten
Was it just five days ago that I was warm and well fed? Wondered Carrie as she sat under a large pine tree with one of her rain ponchos on her and one wrapping up her backpack as the rain fell and the wind blew.
She was miles from a town and cold and hungry and wishing she had taken a bus after all!
Ok Carrie, get ahold of yourself! You have food in your bag, you even have some tea bags that Miss Rhonda had stuck in that bag when you left her house…… yeah, and no way to have a fire that I can see, no dry wood, no dry area, the rain will just put it out… OK, so no fire, big whoopee, let’s just snack on a granola bar and eat some raisins, drink some water and we’ll be fine….that’s easy for you to say, you’re just a voice in my head!
Carrie couldn’t help it, she began to giggle. Here she was off of the side of the highway so no one would hit her due to not being able to see her because of the rain and actually arguing with herself. It wasn’t like staying at home had really been a better option. No, she would much rather be here, right now; then back home!
Her “pity party” over, she decided that if she was gonna be wet, she may as well be moving and wet. So she slung her backpack on her pack under her poncho, slid the other poncho over her as well, so now she had two layers of rain protection and two hoods. Her pack was still dry, so she was grateful for that but she was glad that she had thought to keep her computer with its case in gallon Ziploc bag and that it was small enough to fit in one.
For late afternoon, it was getting dark and Carrie knew she really needed to find somewhere to camp for the night that was hopefully a tad dryer than it was walking down the side of the road at the edge of the wooded area. She knew she wasn’t too far from civilization but didn’t want to get her map out because of the rain.
Note to self: Self, when traveling, remember to get maps that have some sort of plastic on them so that they can be viewed in the rain.
Carrie kept walking along the edge of the woods for another hour and thankfully the wind and rain let up. It had been a cold spring shower but she had figured that she was going to run into foul weather anyways. It would be too much to ask for sunny days and warm nights every day.
After another hour of walking, she came to a dirt road that looked like it hadn’t had anything drive on it for months, it was almost grown over. Carrie decided to follow it a ways to see if she could find a place to make camp.
The old road curved around so the highway was soon out of her line of sight when she looked back. She didn’t have to go too far and she came to an old gate that looked like it hadn’t been open since the 50’s. Carrie looked around and saw a small shed, which looked more like a small barn with only two walls.
Perfect. IF it didn’t fall on her. She quickly hopped the gate and walked over to the shed. It was old but she could tell it was well made. It looked like horses may have once used it for a wind break and a place to eat but there was no sign of horses now. There was no hay or grain in the feeding box that was about half way up the side of one of the walls.
The decision made, Carrie went about trying to make herself comfortable. She first wound up her small radio and found a station that was all news. As she listened, she went about clearing a small area for a fire. The grass hadn’t grown up into the small shed but it was quite high all around. Carrie didn’t want any fire to get out of control, although with all the rain that day, she didn’t really think there was a chance of that. Leaving her things under the shelter, she hopped over the gate again and began gathering what sticks she could. She was surprised at how many fairly dry ones she found. She just tossed them over the barbed wire that seemed to encircle the whole small field. She also found a few good sized rocks that she figured would make a fairly decent fire ring. She then hopped back over and gathered them all up, stacking them inside the shelter. She made her fire ring and using some inner bark off of one of the sticks she had got, she shredded the bark real fine and then added one of her alcohol soaked cotton balls to it, making sure to fluff it out well. She then decided to try to make a fire with her fire-stick, as she called it. Carefully, she scrapped some of the soft magnesium off the small rod onto the cotton ball. Striking firmly and hard, she smacked the scrapper across the flint part and sparks flew. It only took a couple strikes and she had a very small fire burst into life.
She grinned. Very gently she blew on it. Then as the fire took hold, she added small sticks and then finally a couple bigger ones. She had put one rather flat rock inside of the fire ring so she could heat up some water. Something hot to drink really sounded great.
The radio caught her attention.
“…harder to come by. It seems that with the signing of the Global Poverty bill into new law by the President, the U.N. is now in charge of all enforcement of the United States gun laws. A spokesman for the United Nations has made a statement that beginning tomorrow a committee will be formed that will handle just how to disarm America. They are expected to have a plan of action no later than two months from now. Until then, they have declared that all firearms must be turned in to local authorities and that there will be no questions asked for the first four weeks. However, they also said that they have begun reviewing all Federal and State lists of firearm ownership. They have also suspended all concealed weapons carrying permits. They envision a country that soon won’t even need its police force to have to have firearms.
In unrelated news, another shipment of supplies that was headed to the Super Walmart in San Antonio Texas was high-jacked and its whereabouts is still unknown. It is believed to be the work of domestic terrorists. This makes the 15th shipment to a Walmart store in less than two months. The Texas Rangers are refusing to get involved with the case.
Our local weather: tonight the rain should let up and southern winds will bring some warmth tomorrow. We’ll have a high of 55 tomorrow but it will still be chilly tonight with a low of 38. No more rain in the forecast until later next week".
Carrie changed the station and found some soft rock station. During Journey’s “Faithful” she made herself some hot cocoa and warmed up a small can of beanie weanies. After eating and cleaning up her small mess, making sure to rinse the empty can out thoroughly and drying it before she put it back in her bag. She opened another of her Gramma’s letters.
Dear Carrie,
These old bones are aching with the cold this year so I won’t be writing too much today. I just wanted to let you know that your beautiful gift came in the mail yesterday. I will be drinking my morning coffee in that cup every morning.
I’m sorry to hear that your daddy is sick, you take good care of him and he’ll be better in no time.
I hear the mailman coming; it will be a race to see if I can get this in the mail today.
Don’t forget to say your prayers and no matter what happens, remember that God knows best for us.
Love Gramma
Carrie thoughtfully folded the letter back up and placed it back with the others and zipped the plastic bag closed. Her Gramma had always encouraged her to have a relationship with God. But she didn’t have that encouragement anymore after her dad died.
Well something must have stuck from Gramma, thought Carrie, because even after all the crap my mother put me through, I still believe there is a God and I will continue to pray to Him. Which reminds me…
And Carrie sent up another prayer asking for protection for her and a safe trip, twins for Sam and Rhonda, and extra blessings for Lady Jane.
Just before she bedded down for the night, Carrie tucked her bag up into the feed box to keep it off the ground. She let the fire burn down, wound up the radio once more but turned the volume down until she barely heard it, then rolled up in her bed roll and fell asleep to Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration.”
Was it just five days ago that I was warm and well fed? Wondered Carrie as she sat under a large pine tree with one of her rain ponchos on her and one wrapping up her backpack as the rain fell and the wind blew.
She was miles from a town and cold and hungry and wishing she had taken a bus after all!
Ok Carrie, get ahold of yourself! You have food in your bag, you even have some tea bags that Miss Rhonda had stuck in that bag when you left her house…… yeah, and no way to have a fire that I can see, no dry wood, no dry area, the rain will just put it out… OK, so no fire, big whoopee, let’s just snack on a granola bar and eat some raisins, drink some water and we’ll be fine….that’s easy for you to say, you’re just a voice in my head!
Carrie couldn’t help it, she began to giggle. Here she was off of the side of the highway so no one would hit her due to not being able to see her because of the rain and actually arguing with herself. It wasn’t like staying at home had really been a better option. No, she would much rather be here, right now; then back home!
Her “pity party” over, she decided that if she was gonna be wet, she may as well be moving and wet. So she slung her backpack on her pack under her poncho, slid the other poncho over her as well, so now she had two layers of rain protection and two hoods. Her pack was still dry, so she was grateful for that but she was glad that she had thought to keep her computer with its case in gallon Ziploc bag and that it was small enough to fit in one.
For late afternoon, it was getting dark and Carrie knew she really needed to find somewhere to camp for the night that was hopefully a tad dryer than it was walking down the side of the road at the edge of the wooded area. She knew she wasn’t too far from civilization but didn’t want to get her map out because of the rain.
Note to self: Self, when traveling, remember to get maps that have some sort of plastic on them so that they can be viewed in the rain.
Carrie kept walking along the edge of the woods for another hour and thankfully the wind and rain let up. It had been a cold spring shower but she had figured that she was going to run into foul weather anyways. It would be too much to ask for sunny days and warm nights every day.
After another hour of walking, she came to a dirt road that looked like it hadn’t had anything drive on it for months, it was almost grown over. Carrie decided to follow it a ways to see if she could find a place to make camp.
The old road curved around so the highway was soon out of her line of sight when she looked back. She didn’t have to go too far and she came to an old gate that looked like it hadn’t been open since the 50’s. Carrie looked around and saw a small shed, which looked more like a small barn with only two walls.
Perfect. IF it didn’t fall on her. She quickly hopped the gate and walked over to the shed. It was old but she could tell it was well made. It looked like horses may have once used it for a wind break and a place to eat but there was no sign of horses now. There was no hay or grain in the feeding box that was about half way up the side of one of the walls.
The decision made, Carrie went about trying to make herself comfortable. She first wound up her small radio and found a station that was all news. As she listened, she went about clearing a small area for a fire. The grass hadn’t grown up into the small shed but it was quite high all around. Carrie didn’t want any fire to get out of control, although with all the rain that day, she didn’t really think there was a chance of that. Leaving her things under the shelter, she hopped over the gate again and began gathering what sticks she could. She was surprised at how many fairly dry ones she found. She just tossed them over the barbed wire that seemed to encircle the whole small field. She also found a few good sized rocks that she figured would make a fairly decent fire ring. She then hopped back over and gathered them all up, stacking them inside the shelter. She made her fire ring and using some inner bark off of one of the sticks she had got, she shredded the bark real fine and then added one of her alcohol soaked cotton balls to it, making sure to fluff it out well. She then decided to try to make a fire with her fire-stick, as she called it. Carefully, she scrapped some of the soft magnesium off the small rod onto the cotton ball. Striking firmly and hard, she smacked the scrapper across the flint part and sparks flew. It only took a couple strikes and she had a very small fire burst into life.
She grinned. Very gently she blew on it. Then as the fire took hold, she added small sticks and then finally a couple bigger ones. She had put one rather flat rock inside of the fire ring so she could heat up some water. Something hot to drink really sounded great.
The radio caught her attention.
“…harder to come by. It seems that with the signing of the Global Poverty bill into new law by the President, the U.N. is now in charge of all enforcement of the United States gun laws. A spokesman for the United Nations has made a statement that beginning tomorrow a committee will be formed that will handle just how to disarm America. They are expected to have a plan of action no later than two months from now. Until then, they have declared that all firearms must be turned in to local authorities and that there will be no questions asked for the first four weeks. However, they also said that they have begun reviewing all Federal and State lists of firearm ownership. They have also suspended all concealed weapons carrying permits. They envision a country that soon won’t even need its police force to have to have firearms.
In unrelated news, another shipment of supplies that was headed to the Super Walmart in San Antonio Texas was high-jacked and its whereabouts is still unknown. It is believed to be the work of domestic terrorists. This makes the 15th shipment to a Walmart store in less than two months. The Texas Rangers are refusing to get involved with the case.
Our local weather: tonight the rain should let up and southern winds will bring some warmth tomorrow. We’ll have a high of 55 tomorrow but it will still be chilly tonight with a low of 38. No more rain in the forecast until later next week".
Carrie changed the station and found some soft rock station. During Journey’s “Faithful” she made herself some hot cocoa and warmed up a small can of beanie weanies. After eating and cleaning up her small mess, making sure to rinse the empty can out thoroughly and drying it before she put it back in her bag. She opened another of her Gramma’s letters.
Dear Carrie,
These old bones are aching with the cold this year so I won’t be writing too much today. I just wanted to let you know that your beautiful gift came in the mail yesterday. I will be drinking my morning coffee in that cup every morning.
I’m sorry to hear that your daddy is sick, you take good care of him and he’ll be better in no time.
I hear the mailman coming; it will be a race to see if I can get this in the mail today.
Don’t forget to say your prayers and no matter what happens, remember that God knows best for us.
Love Gramma
Carrie thoughtfully folded the letter back up and placed it back with the others and zipped the plastic bag closed. Her Gramma had always encouraged her to have a relationship with God. But she didn’t have that encouragement anymore after her dad died.
Well something must have stuck from Gramma, thought Carrie, because even after all the crap my mother put me through, I still believe there is a God and I will continue to pray to Him. Which reminds me…
And Carrie sent up another prayer asking for protection for her and a safe trip, twins for Sam and Rhonda, and extra blessings for Lady Jane.
Just before she bedded down for the night, Carrie tucked her bag up into the feed box to keep it off the ground. She let the fire burn down, wound up the radio once more but turned the volume down until she barely heard it, then rolled up in her bed roll and fell asleep to Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration.”
Friday, December 3, 2010
A Place to Call Home - Nine
Nine
Rhonda kept bringing small things to Carrie to take, like packs of crackers, Vienna sausages, some dried fruit and berries from the farm, and even a small round of homemade cheese. She also brought her a nice coffee cup, one of those camping ones, cram packed full with packets of tea and hot chocolate.
“I think this will fit in your fanny pack. Sometimes we need something hot to warm us up and comfort us.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate all you are doing but really this is enough. I won’t be able to carry any more.”
“Well, I also want to talk to you about that. Sam and I have a couple of bikes and wanted to offer you the use of one. It will make your trip go by quicker.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I respectfully have to say no. You’ve been very nice but I can’t do that. I would have to worry about it and I really don’t want to have to worry about anything else but myself.”
Rhonda sighed heavily “ok, I understand. But I will still hope you will reconsider, ok?”
Carrie smiled and said “ok, I’ll think about it but I won’t promise anything”.
The next morning Sam and Rhonda woke up early hoping to convince Carrie to use the bike. At 7 o’clock, Rhonda went to Carrie’s room and found it empty except for a note on the pillow wrapped around a ten dollar bill.
She called to Sam who came running in and handed him the note. He read it out loud:
Dear Sam and Rhonda, I want to thank you so much for care and love you’ve shown me these past couple days. I especially appreciate you allowing me to help with the animals; it brought me closer to the time I use to spend with my Gramma.
I know I’m being a chicken by leaving before you get up, but I really did not want to say goodbye. And I knew it would be a mushy tear jerker good bye. YUCK!
Please know that I will be very- very careful.
I also want to pay for my part of the gas and some of the other things, but I know it’s not enough.
I’ve said a prayer for you two because I really think God needs to get His act together and bless you two with some kids, so don’t be surprised if this time next year there is someone keeping you awake all through the night. I hope you don’t mind, but I prayed for twins for you. Don’t worry, you’ll be the best of parents.
I also took one of the small loaves of banana nut bread because it was very delicious and I’m going to eat it for breakfast.
Since I feel you are safe people, I’m adding all I know about my Gramma and her address. She doesn’t live in town but about 30 or so minutes of driving time outside of town. From what I remember, I wish she had put her address on her letters to me, but all I have is the postal town.
Sally Madison
Decatur, AR
I’m adding you two to my nice people list; it now has three people on it. And when I have a place to call home, I am going to invite you guys to my home and we’ll have a big party.
Until then and always, you have my respect and love.
Carrie
Sam and Rhonda looked at each other; “I didn’t even get to give her the phone I got for her.” Sam said. Then he held his wife and they both shed tears of loss.
Rhonda kept bringing small things to Carrie to take, like packs of crackers, Vienna sausages, some dried fruit and berries from the farm, and even a small round of homemade cheese. She also brought her a nice coffee cup, one of those camping ones, cram packed full with packets of tea and hot chocolate.
“I think this will fit in your fanny pack. Sometimes we need something hot to warm us up and comfort us.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate all you are doing but really this is enough. I won’t be able to carry any more.”
“Well, I also want to talk to you about that. Sam and I have a couple of bikes and wanted to offer you the use of one. It will make your trip go by quicker.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I respectfully have to say no. You’ve been very nice but I can’t do that. I would have to worry about it and I really don’t want to have to worry about anything else but myself.”
Rhonda sighed heavily “ok, I understand. But I will still hope you will reconsider, ok?”
Carrie smiled and said “ok, I’ll think about it but I won’t promise anything”.
The next morning Sam and Rhonda woke up early hoping to convince Carrie to use the bike. At 7 o’clock, Rhonda went to Carrie’s room and found it empty except for a note on the pillow wrapped around a ten dollar bill.
She called to Sam who came running in and handed him the note. He read it out loud:
Dear Sam and Rhonda, I want to thank you so much for care and love you’ve shown me these past couple days. I especially appreciate you allowing me to help with the animals; it brought me closer to the time I use to spend with my Gramma.
I know I’m being a chicken by leaving before you get up, but I really did not want to say goodbye. And I knew it would be a mushy tear jerker good bye. YUCK!
Please know that I will be very- very careful.
I also want to pay for my part of the gas and some of the other things, but I know it’s not enough.
I’ve said a prayer for you two because I really think God needs to get His act together and bless you two with some kids, so don’t be surprised if this time next year there is someone keeping you awake all through the night. I hope you don’t mind, but I prayed for twins for you. Don’t worry, you’ll be the best of parents.
I also took one of the small loaves of banana nut bread because it was very delicious and I’m going to eat it for breakfast.
Since I feel you are safe people, I’m adding all I know about my Gramma and her address. She doesn’t live in town but about 30 or so minutes of driving time outside of town. From what I remember, I wish she had put her address on her letters to me, but all I have is the postal town.
Sally Madison
Decatur, AR
I’m adding you two to my nice people list; it now has three people on it. And when I have a place to call home, I am going to invite you guys to my home and we’ll have a big party.
Until then and always, you have my respect and love.
Carrie
Sam and Rhonda looked at each other; “I didn’t even get to give her the phone I got for her.” Sam said. Then he held his wife and they both shed tears of loss.
A Place to Call Home - Eight
Eight
Carrie began the next day early by reading one of her Gramma’s letters.
24 Oct 2001
Dear Carrie,
I got your sweet card and I love it. You really made a beautiful card and I especially loved the flowers that you glued on. Dandelions are my favorite. Did you know that you can dry the long roots and make a hot drink out of them? The flowers can also be made into a tea or even eaten in a salad. I bet if you picked some for your class turtle, he would love to eat them. The leaves and flowers.
Just remember to not pick any by a road.
I got the last of the pumpkin canned and ready for your visit next month. We will make a dozen pumpkin pies so you can take some home and freeze them for later.
Sometimes we get to have fun and sometimes we must be strong and tackle the challenges in front of us. Just remember that we have God on our side, and if He is with us; who can stand against us?
Old Hank down the road finally caught who has been stealing his treasures. Why anyone would want any of that junk in his yard, well I guess we all found out.
Story is that it was the Johnson boys and they had been taking that scrap metal so they could sell it and buy some food for the table. Now Old Hank has gotten himself a couple farm hands and the boys go home with food each week. It’s a win win honey. Looks like Someone was giving a helping hand on both sides.
I know you won’t really understand a lot of what I write, but you’re a smart girl and I’ve confidence in you and I know it won’t be long before you can understand what and why I write.
Just because we may be going through some kind of hard time, it doesn’t give us permission to show disrespect. But it doesn’t mean we have to let people walk all over us either. Sometimes when we do the unexpected, we gain advantage. I know that’s how I got your grandpa to marry me. I plum shocked him silly when I first met him. We had been eying each other in church and that is the only place he had ever seen me, but I had been checkin him out and finding out all the things he likes to do and eat. I even found out where his favorite fishin hole was. He was clueless….as most men are, but don’t tell any guy that, they’ll just deny it.
Anyways, your Poppy had told his buddies that he was going to spend a Friday afternoon fishing since he hadn’t had any time to fish in a month of Sundays. That little piece of information just so happened to come to my attention on Wednesday morning, so I had plenty of time to set my little surprise up.
See honey, I already knew your Poppy was a good man, one who would last a lifetime. He was good to his momma and a hard worker but best of all, he loved to laugh. And everyone trusted him. So I knew I could respect him and love him and we would be good together. (don’t ever expect a man to know if he is good for you, it’s up to us women to get the man, even though the man thinks he is courtin’ us- men like to think they’ve come up with the idea and they love the ‘chase’).
So by Friday afternoon, I was ready. I was at the fishin hole a whole hour before your Poppy.
I probably shouldn’t even be telling you this story but I think it important that we pass on our best stories to our kids and grandkids. And your daddy is sick of hearing it.
Anyways, your Poppy got to the fishing hole and tossed in his line. It wasn’t too long and he had him a bite. Well he thought he had him a nice big fish. Oh what a fight it was and low and behold he finally landed his catch.
It was me.
Yep. I had swam under water and snagged his line and to the day your dear Poppy died, he honestly thought it was all an accident. See, I even hooked the hook into my swim suit to make it look good.
Now once a man lands a “mermaid” he pretty much is all hers to do with as she pleases. And the rest of the story you know since you are here. But we could have driven a truck into his mouth that day, it hung so low.
I hope to see you and your daddy soon! Be good and don’t forget to say your prayers and be strong.
Love Gramma
Carrie was so glad that she had been able to save this letter especially since she wanted to be able to tell her kids one day all about it when she had a place to call home.
Breakfast was great, homemade biscuits with lots of sausage gravy and cold fresh milk. Carrie had helped Sam do the morning chores before they had ate. After they were done, Carrie spoke up before either Sam or Rhonda could “Is there a thrift store around town anywhere? I’ve been thinking that I might need baggier clothes and I know I need a flashlight. And maybe a hat of some sort or maybe I could cut my hair. I think I really need to try to disguise that I’m a girl. I hadn’t given that much thought before.”
Rhonda replied “There is a small store in town but it doesn’t open until ten; I can drive you over.’ Over Carrie’s head as she was finishing her last bite of biscuit, Rhonda was giving Sam ‘the look’ that said “DO SOMETHING,SAY SOMETHING” but Sam shrugged knowing that there really wasn’t much he could do.
“Hey Carrie, I know you are wanting to leave today but why don’t you stay just one more day and leave out first thing tomorrow after breakfast. That will give you today to get the things you need for the rest of your trip and” he lowered his voice in a conspiracy whisper “I think you being here has been a good thing for me, Rhonda hasn’t fixed this many treats in who knows how long and I’m hoping she will make some of her delicious banana nut bread this afternoon and chances are much better that she will if you stay.”
Carrie couldn’t help but laugh since she knew Rhonda had heard every word. She appreciated the thoughtfulness. “I’ll think about it, ok? And after I get the things I need, I’ll let give you my answer.”
“Fair enough” both Rhonda and Sam said at the same time.
Kitchen clean up went quick and Sam challenged the girls to a game of Poker until it was time to leave for the store. Rhonda won; she just could read Sam too well and could always tell when he was bluffing. Carrie had never played before, so she had some beginner’s luck but if she got in more practice, she would be good because she had a steady hand and a good poker face. Rhonda could never tell if she was bluffing or not.
Sam had to have lunch ready when the girls got back from shopping. When they left, Sam went into the living room and hit redial.
Carrie had so much fun with Rhonda as they shopped in the thrift store. She not only found a cool flashlight that she wore on her head, which kept her hands free, she found two big sweat shirts and a baseball cap with the Miami dolphins on it. But the best find was a radio that ran by cranking it up. So she didn’t have to worry about batteries and she would be able to listen for news or weather reports.
Rhonda almost had her talked into just braiding her hair but Carrie decided she really wanted it cut.
“It will be easier to keep clean. I washed it once in the sink in a park bathroom but it was hard to do.” Was Carrie’s reasoning “and besides, I can always grow it out later.”
“If you decide to stay until tomorrow, I’ll cut it for you this afternoon.”
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that. And I would like to stay but only if you’re sure that I’ve not overstayed my welcome.”
Rhonda sighed and honestly answered “I wouldn’t mind if you stayed forever, honey.”
Carrie smiled sadly at her as she replied “I have to get to my Gramma’s.”
“I understand honey, I really do.”
Carrie had taken a twenty out of her money belt before she had left the bedroom that morning and had stuck it in her pants pocket. That was the limit she had set for herself for the things she needed. She still had her money belt on though.
Her purchases came to $9.75, so she found some good deals.
Once back at Sam and Rhonda’s farm, they found a delicious lunch of homemade vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. After the lunch dishes were finished, Rhonda got out her good scissors and gave Carrie a haircut. If anything, the hair cut actually made her look even younger and gave her a pixie look.
“I don’t think that is going to work” said Rhonda.
Carrie was looking in the mirror “but I love it, it looks so cute!” She was thrilled with her new look.
‘But it’s not going to disguise you or make you look less like a girl.”
Sam had to agree but once Carrie ran and got her cap and put it on, the effect was better.
“Ok, I guess you could pass for a boy, IF you don’t let anyone get too close.” Sam decided.
The afternoon passed with more poker playing and practice and Carrie packing and repacking her bag to see the best way to pack things. And of course, banana nut bread baking.
Rhonda came into the bedroom carrying a fanny pack. “I want you to have this; it will give you more room to carry things, like your new radio.”
Inside were a small water filter and some ear phones. “You might want to listen to the radio but not want anyone close by to hear you coming. If you stick one ear bud in your ear, you can listen and yet still hear what is going on around you.”
“Thank you.”
“And both Sam and I want you to have the water filter. That way in case you aren’t by a town, you can still get water from a creek or stream. “
“Thank you so much.” Carrie said and on impulse reached over and hugged Rhonda.
“You’ve been very kind to me and I will miss you.”
“I will miss you too. Now go ahead and finish up, I’m going to start some supper.” Rhonda went out, closed the door, and wiped her eyes. She sure was going to miss her.
When Rhonda came out into the kitchen, Sam was there. He softly began to tell her of the phone call he made that morning.
Later, Sam made a quick trip into town.
Carrie began the next day early by reading one of her Gramma’s letters.
24 Oct 2001
Dear Carrie,
I got your sweet card and I love it. You really made a beautiful card and I especially loved the flowers that you glued on. Dandelions are my favorite. Did you know that you can dry the long roots and make a hot drink out of them? The flowers can also be made into a tea or even eaten in a salad. I bet if you picked some for your class turtle, he would love to eat them. The leaves and flowers.
Just remember to not pick any by a road.
I got the last of the pumpkin canned and ready for your visit next month. We will make a dozen pumpkin pies so you can take some home and freeze them for later.
Sometimes we get to have fun and sometimes we must be strong and tackle the challenges in front of us. Just remember that we have God on our side, and if He is with us; who can stand against us?
Old Hank down the road finally caught who has been stealing his treasures. Why anyone would want any of that junk in his yard, well I guess we all found out.
Story is that it was the Johnson boys and they had been taking that scrap metal so they could sell it and buy some food for the table. Now Old Hank has gotten himself a couple farm hands and the boys go home with food each week. It’s a win win honey. Looks like Someone was giving a helping hand on both sides.
I know you won’t really understand a lot of what I write, but you’re a smart girl and I’ve confidence in you and I know it won’t be long before you can understand what and why I write.
Just because we may be going through some kind of hard time, it doesn’t give us permission to show disrespect. But it doesn’t mean we have to let people walk all over us either. Sometimes when we do the unexpected, we gain advantage. I know that’s how I got your grandpa to marry me. I plum shocked him silly when I first met him. We had been eying each other in church and that is the only place he had ever seen me, but I had been checkin him out and finding out all the things he likes to do and eat. I even found out where his favorite fishin hole was. He was clueless….as most men are, but don’t tell any guy that, they’ll just deny it.
Anyways, your Poppy had told his buddies that he was going to spend a Friday afternoon fishing since he hadn’t had any time to fish in a month of Sundays. That little piece of information just so happened to come to my attention on Wednesday morning, so I had plenty of time to set my little surprise up.
See honey, I already knew your Poppy was a good man, one who would last a lifetime. He was good to his momma and a hard worker but best of all, he loved to laugh. And everyone trusted him. So I knew I could respect him and love him and we would be good together. (don’t ever expect a man to know if he is good for you, it’s up to us women to get the man, even though the man thinks he is courtin’ us- men like to think they’ve come up with the idea and they love the ‘chase’).
So by Friday afternoon, I was ready. I was at the fishin hole a whole hour before your Poppy.
I probably shouldn’t even be telling you this story but I think it important that we pass on our best stories to our kids and grandkids. And your daddy is sick of hearing it.
Anyways, your Poppy got to the fishing hole and tossed in his line. It wasn’t too long and he had him a bite. Well he thought he had him a nice big fish. Oh what a fight it was and low and behold he finally landed his catch.
It was me.
Yep. I had swam under water and snagged his line and to the day your dear Poppy died, he honestly thought it was all an accident. See, I even hooked the hook into my swim suit to make it look good.
Now once a man lands a “mermaid” he pretty much is all hers to do with as she pleases. And the rest of the story you know since you are here. But we could have driven a truck into his mouth that day, it hung so low.
I hope to see you and your daddy soon! Be good and don’t forget to say your prayers and be strong.
Love Gramma
Carrie was so glad that she had been able to save this letter especially since she wanted to be able to tell her kids one day all about it when she had a place to call home.
Breakfast was great, homemade biscuits with lots of sausage gravy and cold fresh milk. Carrie had helped Sam do the morning chores before they had ate. After they were done, Carrie spoke up before either Sam or Rhonda could “Is there a thrift store around town anywhere? I’ve been thinking that I might need baggier clothes and I know I need a flashlight. And maybe a hat of some sort or maybe I could cut my hair. I think I really need to try to disguise that I’m a girl. I hadn’t given that much thought before.”
Rhonda replied “There is a small store in town but it doesn’t open until ten; I can drive you over.’ Over Carrie’s head as she was finishing her last bite of biscuit, Rhonda was giving Sam ‘the look’ that said “DO SOMETHING,SAY SOMETHING” but Sam shrugged knowing that there really wasn’t much he could do.
“Hey Carrie, I know you are wanting to leave today but why don’t you stay just one more day and leave out first thing tomorrow after breakfast. That will give you today to get the things you need for the rest of your trip and” he lowered his voice in a conspiracy whisper “I think you being here has been a good thing for me, Rhonda hasn’t fixed this many treats in who knows how long and I’m hoping she will make some of her delicious banana nut bread this afternoon and chances are much better that she will if you stay.”
Carrie couldn’t help but laugh since she knew Rhonda had heard every word. She appreciated the thoughtfulness. “I’ll think about it, ok? And after I get the things I need, I’ll let give you my answer.”
“Fair enough” both Rhonda and Sam said at the same time.
Kitchen clean up went quick and Sam challenged the girls to a game of Poker until it was time to leave for the store. Rhonda won; she just could read Sam too well and could always tell when he was bluffing. Carrie had never played before, so she had some beginner’s luck but if she got in more practice, she would be good because she had a steady hand and a good poker face. Rhonda could never tell if she was bluffing or not.
Sam had to have lunch ready when the girls got back from shopping. When they left, Sam went into the living room and hit redial.
Carrie had so much fun with Rhonda as they shopped in the thrift store. She not only found a cool flashlight that she wore on her head, which kept her hands free, she found two big sweat shirts and a baseball cap with the Miami dolphins on it. But the best find was a radio that ran by cranking it up. So she didn’t have to worry about batteries and she would be able to listen for news or weather reports.
Rhonda almost had her talked into just braiding her hair but Carrie decided she really wanted it cut.
“It will be easier to keep clean. I washed it once in the sink in a park bathroom but it was hard to do.” Was Carrie’s reasoning “and besides, I can always grow it out later.”
“If you decide to stay until tomorrow, I’ll cut it for you this afternoon.”
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that. And I would like to stay but only if you’re sure that I’ve not overstayed my welcome.”
Rhonda sighed and honestly answered “I wouldn’t mind if you stayed forever, honey.”
Carrie smiled sadly at her as she replied “I have to get to my Gramma’s.”
“I understand honey, I really do.”
Carrie had taken a twenty out of her money belt before she had left the bedroom that morning and had stuck it in her pants pocket. That was the limit she had set for herself for the things she needed. She still had her money belt on though.
Her purchases came to $9.75, so she found some good deals.
Once back at Sam and Rhonda’s farm, they found a delicious lunch of homemade vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. After the lunch dishes were finished, Rhonda got out her good scissors and gave Carrie a haircut. If anything, the hair cut actually made her look even younger and gave her a pixie look.
“I don’t think that is going to work” said Rhonda.
Carrie was looking in the mirror “but I love it, it looks so cute!” She was thrilled with her new look.
‘But it’s not going to disguise you or make you look less like a girl.”
Sam had to agree but once Carrie ran and got her cap and put it on, the effect was better.
“Ok, I guess you could pass for a boy, IF you don’t let anyone get too close.” Sam decided.
The afternoon passed with more poker playing and practice and Carrie packing and repacking her bag to see the best way to pack things. And of course, banana nut bread baking.
Rhonda came into the bedroom carrying a fanny pack. “I want you to have this; it will give you more room to carry things, like your new radio.”
Inside were a small water filter and some ear phones. “You might want to listen to the radio but not want anyone close by to hear you coming. If you stick one ear bud in your ear, you can listen and yet still hear what is going on around you.”
“Thank you.”
“And both Sam and I want you to have the water filter. That way in case you aren’t by a town, you can still get water from a creek or stream. “
“Thank you so much.” Carrie said and on impulse reached over and hugged Rhonda.
“You’ve been very kind to me and I will miss you.”
“I will miss you too. Now go ahead and finish up, I’m going to start some supper.” Rhonda went out, closed the door, and wiped her eyes. She sure was going to miss her.
When Rhonda came out into the kitchen, Sam was there. He softly began to tell her of the phone call he made that morning.
Later, Sam made a quick trip into town.
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