By Way of Autumn Read online

  They weren’t getting mine. With my mind swimming with thoughts of my desperate neighbors breaking down my door and trying to slaughter my family over a few bits of Ritz crackers, I turned to Julie and said, “They’ll kill for more than batteries. I have an idea. I want to leave no more than a couple days worth of food up here. Take the rest down and hide it in Daddy’s marijuana room.”

  “I’m sorry. What?”

  “We have about enough food for three weeks, I figure. But we have to be careful. Up here we have the perishable things like cereal, and fruits and vegetable. And a couple of the canned goods. Someone breaks in here, we don’t want them to think we’re stashing. The rest we’ll take downstairs to his marijuana room.”

  “I got the part about the food. Daddy has a marijuana room?”

  “Well yeah. You kids didn’t need to know. But Daddy likes to smoke the weed.”

  “Daddy smokes?”

  “Yeah, but, it’s not like he does it and enjoys it. He has a predisposition to glaucoma, and he wants to cut it off at the pass.”

  “Mom, you’re not that dumb.”

  “No,” I said. “Neither are you. Your father is a pothead. Always was, always will be.” That made me pause. I hoped with all of my heart even as silly as it sounded, that Jeff would continue to be a pothead. If he was, he was still alive. “But we need to do this. It’s a great room. No one knows it’s there.”

  “Um, yeah. I didn’t know. And I’ve lived here all my life.”

  Her curiosity was piqued, I could tell. She was still in a state of shock learning about Jeff.

  We gathered up everything that we wanted to stash, and while Tag was occupied, Julie and I went downstairs.

  Jeff’s marijuana room was quite inventive. Originally it was a large walk-in closet with a single door. Not one of those fancy sliding doors, just a normal door. Jeff took off the doorknob, placed a faux bookshelf over the door, filled it with books that nobody wanted to read, and used a fake copy of the hardback version of War and Peace as the door handle. No one was the wiser.

  It was a great little room. Eight feet long by about six feet wide. In there, Jeff had a small end table, his father’s old reclining chair, a TV at the other end of the room, and his game console. There’s no ventilation whatsoever. Which probably explained why Jeff was always so stoned after leaving that room.

  I laughed at first when Jeff told me what he wanted to do with that room. I was laughing no more. Not only was it a great place to stash our food, Jeff also hid his gun box in there. The lock box that held the two pistols he got from his dad. That room, besides being Jeff’s stoner haven, would and could be our safe haven. Not only was it a place to hide our food, but a great place to hide period if we ever needed to retreat.

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  The temperature hovered above eighty and stayed there all night long, giving no relief whatsoever even after the sun went down. Tag finally fell asleep. He had a hard time and complained about the heat. Plus, he asked about Jeff and his mom. I didn’t know what to tell him. I could sympathize with him all the way around. Especially with the heat. I had two furnaces burning. Mine and the baby’s. I was absolutely miserable and stripped down to a light T-shirt and a pair of shorts. I didn’t show my legs often but at that point I didn’t care. I stepped outside on the porch to get some air and that’s when I noticed. The entire street was pitch black dark except, for Sam’s house. One window exuded light. Not the dull or dim type of light you get with a candle or lantern, but full-fledged bright light.

  While the rest of us were scourging for candles, Sam had power. He had power?

  I told Julie that I would be back and that I wanted to speak to Sam. She thought that was a good idea, but I didn’t know why she would think that. As I crossed the street, walking toward his home, it hit me. I didn’t think much of his odd exit from the earlier conversation. That was just Sam. He was always eccentric. Yet, he ran away suddenly as if he had known something, and combined with the fact that he had power, my crazy neighbor, who was always prepared for something had me thinking. What did he know? Was he indeed prepared for this, whatever it was?

  The doorbell didn’t work, so I knocked lightly. I didn’t want to wake him if he was sleeping. Although, I don’t know if you could sleep with that bright light on. A few seconds later Sam answered the door kind of surprised.

  “Hey Tess.”

  “Hey Sam. You got a minute?”

  “Yeah, come on in.”

  “Thanks”.

  Sam asked, “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, I just have a few questions to ask you.” I stepped into his house.

  “Close the door, don’t want to let the cold air out.” Sam said. “I only have another twenty-two minutes with this thing on. I want to enjoy it all.”

  I didn’t know what he was talking about until I stepped from the sweltering heat into his living room. It was an ice box. So cold I was willing to wager I could see my breath.

  “Seriously?” I said with sarcasm. “The whole town is dark and you have air conditioning?”

  “It’s crazy I know. But I’m gonna enjoy it is long as I can. Have a seat.”

  I did. I plopped down on his sofa with a sigh of relief. “Oh my God. This feels so good in here. I’m dying.”

  “Well I’ll have it going every night for about two hours until the generator runs out of gas.” Sam said. “I’m using that to recharge my batteries, and try to find out what the heck is going on in this world. I know the heat is bad. I think it’s gonna get worse. Don’t know how you’re gonna handle when it keeps going on for months and you’re at that due date of yours.”

  “Months? This can’t go on for months. Surely, the government…”

  “The government?” Sam chuckled. “Don’t count on the government. Seriously. We have to assume, that things are bad, Tess.”

  “You know something, Sam?”

  “Not yet.” Sam said. “But I’m trying. Fortunately some of my electronics survived because well, I heard about the sun releasing some sort of coronal mass. That happens a lot. And all my radio buddies said to stick one of my units in the Faraday Cage. In case you don’t know what one is, it protects electronics from the EMP. And the things that weren’t running, thankfully they ran again. So I’m hoping, my buddies out there on the airways, and others like me, are just taking a moment to get things back up and running. I don’t think the government is one of them, Tess. Honestly, I don’t. “

  “When will you know?”

  “Couple days. Figure that’s how long it’ll take for the satellite signals to reflect enough for us to somehow make a connection. We’ll get the answers. We will.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Is that all you wanted? “Sam asked.

  “Actually, I came because I was curious to as to why you have power.” I said. “But now I have something else to ask you. And it isn’t just about what happened.”

  “What is it? “Sam asked. “Are you asking if you come over and enjoy the cold? Anytime you want…”

  “No, Sam, seeing all this, and hearing you talk, I have a question. What can you tell me about survival?”

  “Can you be more specific?”

  “Everything. I need to keep my family safe and alive,” I said. “If this is something big, and long-standing, which by your attitude, it seems like it is, I need to know what to do. I need to do things right. Especially…” I paused a moment and swallowed. “If Jeff doesn’t come back.”

  “I can help you.” Sam pointed to his own temple. “I’m a vat.”

  “I believe that.”

  “Well,” Sam exhaled with a smile. “At least, I’m glad to hear you aren’t like the others n this neighborhood, and think I’m that crazy, whacky, neighbor guy.”

  “To be honest, I did think you were crazy,” I said. “But I don’t anymore. Please help me.”

  Sam just stared at me. And then he smiled again. I didn’t think he was crazy anymore. Not that I thought he was insane
in the truest sense of the word, I just thought he was very eccentric. Now I viewed him differently. I viewed him potentially as my own personal survival encyclopedia. How could he not be in the midst of a blackout, a major event, heat wave index skyrocketing, I was sitting in a home with ice cold air conditioning. No, Sam was not only my new friend, he could very well be my family’s salvation.

  ELEVEN – EXECUTIVE ORDER

  July 12

  Three days.

  I gave myself three days before I fell into despair. Then as if my subconscious was already waiting, on the third day, I opened my eyes to feel the physical pain of heartache.

  Jeff hadn’t come back.

  Nicole was out there, near whatever we saw light up the sky.

  Half of my family were more than likely gone.

  The previous day my mind was so preoccupied with them, looking out the window, hoping to see or hear from them, that even the horrendous pain of my kidney stone was tolerable. It was nothing compared to how I felt when I thought about the loss of my family.

  I had visited Baby Liam three times at the hospital. He developed a fever, but Doctor Stanley said that he’d be going home soon.

  Where exactly home was, remained to be seen.

  Tag slept in bed with me, his little body was drenched from sweat. I was too, it was hot. I couldn’t wait for my hour at Sam’s, and I’d slip over there and just sit. Medication, I claimed for the baby.

  Lying in bed, running my fingers through his damp hair, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of sadness. What would I tell him about his mother? What would he remember?

  I just stared at my sleeping grandson, his still eyes, and perfectly pouting lips. What was going on? There was no news, nothing was known. Was this now life or would things go back to the way they were? It was in that quiet, sad moment, that a ‘thumping’ caused me to jolt.

  It came from downstairs. At first I was filled with excitement, thinking Jeff was back. Until I heard more noise and male voices. I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

  “Oh my God,” I jumped out of bed, my first thought was to call for help. There were looters in my house. But since there weren’t any phones, I raced quietly to the bedroom door, and locked it. I planned on yelling out the window, but that would draw attention.

  Then I thought of Julie. I was keeping myself and Tag safe, yet, she was probably sleeping and unknowingly a possible victim.

  No. I had to protect my family.

  Keeping them protected ran though my mind after my talk with Sam and I did what he suggested. I placed the revolvers, in two different places, high, out of Tag’s reach, hidden, loaded but with the safety on.

  One was in my closet.

  The noise and voices continued below, and I retrieved it. My plan wasn’t to go downstairs and pull a Clint Eastwood, it was to remain vigilant and ready by the bedroom door and if they came up, I’d shoot.

  Unlocking the door, I quietly slipped from the room into the hall, stood near the steps and flipped off the safety. Surprisingly, I wasn’t shaking or scared.

  Then I heard the one male voice. “Leave that cup of cereal, and instructions. Did you mark everything down?”

  “Yeah, Sheriff.”

  Sherriff?

  When I heard that, I immediately recognized the voice and barreled down the stairs.

  Sure enough, before they saw me, I saw them. Sheriff Stew was in my kitchen with what I guess was his homegrown posse. Officer Steve wasn’t there. All my cupboards were open.

  “What the fuck?” I blasted, charging into the kitchen. Then I don’t know why, I raised my gun.

  Melissa Owens’ husband, Chet, was there. How’d I know he’d be a looter? It took food to get his lazy ass out of the house. And the Sheriff, too?

  Chet backed up with a “whoa.”

  “What are you doing in my house?” I asked. “I won’t hesitate to shoot.”

  “Now, Tess,” Stew said. “You’d be breaking the law and you’ll only get one good shot off ….”

  “Then I’ll aim for you,” I lifted my aim at Stew. “Bet me Chet and Garret here run.”

  “I may,” said Chet.

  “Chet.” Stew scolded.

  “Just being honest,” Chet said. “Look Tess, I’m only helping. I was drafted. Trust me I wouldn’t do this. But he’s making me cause of my size.’

  Chet was a big guy, tall too. “I call Bullshit,” I said. “And I will shoot. You’re in my house and …” arm still extended aiming, I peeked in a box. “You took my fucking food. Leave, right now and bring back my water.”

  “Can’t do that,” Stew said. “This is the law. We ran around with the bullhorn yesterday letting everyone know to turn in their resources, you didn’t.”

  “I had no idea what the hell you meant. And the day before you were running around telling people not to leave town. Who listens to you?”

  “Everyone but you and Crazy Sam.”

  I shook my head. “You have no right.”

  “We have every right,” Stew argued. “To take everything you have in this house. Food, water, batteries, every resource.”

  “What is this some sort of Stew power trip law?”

  Stew shook his head. “When was I ever mean to you? Never. This isn’t a Stew Law, it was a presidential law enacted years back. Don’t believe me, go check the police station we have the law printed for folks like you.”

  “What law would say you can go into people’s homes …”

  Stew cut me off. “Executive Order of National Defense Preparedness. Under section 801, it gives Homeland Security and its local representatives the authority to seize all resources in the best interest of the community in the event of disaster. This is in the best interest. In my town one person won’t starve while the other has plenty. Everyone will get the same. It’s what we have to do to make sure there is no looting, that we all eat and survive. You’re lucky.” He waved a finger at me. “This works for you. You have a day’s worth of food at most. Let’s go boys.”

  “You can’t do this,” I growled. “Someone has to stop you.”

  Stew spun on his way out of the door. “Who? There’s no government reaching out. No answer out there, for all we know we are the only ones left and we have to work under that assumption. I don’t want to hear anymore from you about it, Tess. Be glad. Distribution registration starts at noon. We’ll have everything accounted for by evening and start distributing. For now we left you enough food for the morning.”

  As I lowered my arm in defeat, Stew reached out quickly and took the gun from my hand. “We’ll take this as well.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Then they barged out.

  Taking my things.

  They took all but one jug of water, all of my batteries, most of my candles, everything but one cup of cereal, a can of beans and ten crackers. I raced about the house making a list of what all they did take.

  My ibuprofen, cough medicine, they had gone through my entire house and taken what they deemed resources. I wanted to scream. I was enraged. How dare they not only take my family’s survival, but protection as well? Or at least they think they did.

  Why my stuff? It wasn’t like I was a prepper or anything like that, I was a normal every day woman and mother. No different than anyone else.

  They took everything to make sure everyone had something. It wasn’t fair.

  I peeked out the living room window to Sam’s house. I wondered if they went there first or at all. I didn’t hear any shots, surely Sam would have fired at them. Sam’s home looked undisturbed. In fact, I was looking to see if Stew and the posse were anywhere else on my street.

  Just as I spotted them going into a home five doors up, there was a knock at the back door.

  “Oh, so now you’re polite,” I griped, making my way to the kitchen door. “Now you’ll knock. Did you forget something?” I grabbed the doorknob. “I suppose you want to claim the baby in my womb!” I blasted as I opened the door.

>   “No,” Sam answered. “Not even if you’re offering. You can keep the child,” He stepped inside my home. “I work best with loaners, like the video stores used to do.” He closed my kitchen door. “That’s why I borrow Tag.”

  I looked down to the mug in his hand. “Is that coffee?”

  “It is.”

  I took the mug. “I’m having a hell of a morning.”

  “I bet. Me, too. I just came to see how you handled it.”

  “Not, well,” I replied. “I almost shot the sheriff.”

  “But you did not shoot the deputy.”

  “Huh?” I looked at him confused.

  “Shot the sheriff. Didn’t shoot the deputy. A song.”

  I shook my head.

  “Too early, I guess or you’re too young.”

  “Both.”

  “How you holding up?” Sam asked then reached for the items on the counter. “I see they left you more than they left me.”

  “Can you believe this?”

  ‘Yeah, good thing you reminded me about that law.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “The law. That’s what you were alluding to when you said you hid your supplies, right? I mean, that’s why I hid mine.”

  “No. I was thinking of looters. I didn’t know about the law. Although. Same difference.”

  “In Stew’s defense,” Sam said.

  “He has no defense.”

  “Listen.” Sam held up his hand. “We have a town. Two thousand people. Some, they don’t have enough food in their house to get them to tomorrow. Others they have plenty. Are you gonna share your food when a family runs out.”

  “No. Absolutely not. No. It’s to keep my family alive.”

  Sam nodded. “And Stew knows that is the general thinking. As a whole, this town has plenty to survive until a long term plan is devised. So he was taking the whole and dividing it equally.”

  “That is such a liberal way of thinking.”