Keep the Cool Inside

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored because there is no "next chapter" after Chapter 21.

There doesn't seem to be a "Stories that may never be completed" section, so this story is in "Stories as they are written" with a warning on each chapter.

I did post in "Plot Discussions" that I had an unfinished story and for people to respond "Yes" or "No" about me posting that story.

You can credit/blame gipsy and 9idrr for the two responses I received - both were "Yes".


================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 1


Friday, 19 March, 1:40PM


"Bob, Sarah's prescription doesn't call for this much insulin and I know our insurance won't cover this much at one time."

"Lily, you know that the cyber-terrorists have been taking out water and sewer systems in many places…"

"I heard about Boston and Philly on Fox news while I was driving here."

"They'll be hitting the electric grid next. The Southern Company and its subsidiaries have good security but one of the big California providers was also thought to be secure and about half of that state is currently without power."

"Since when?"

"About an hour ago. I was on a noon net with hams across the country and one outside of Sacramento said all their linked two meter repeaters with backup power had hams talking about the power being out in multiple cities. If PG&E is down, then Southern isn't likely to survive either - and that includes Alabama Power and Georgia Power."

"What does that have to do with the extra bottles of insulin?"

"You know it needs refrigeration to survive and the warehouse in Atlanta only has two weeks of fuel for their backup generator. My brother-in-law works at that warehouse and said they're under their own DefCon system so every outgoing order of certain medications has been increased several times, meaning I'll have a big delivery from them next week, and for me to do triage - saving the younger people because a power outage that lasts for weeks or months will kill most of the older people who are medication- or machine-dependent."

"That's a big load on you!"

"It goes with the job. I have lots of practice from the tornadoes and ice storms that we have here. Sarah seems to be a very intelligent and responsible kid and we'll need lots of those if we're back to a Civil War lifestyle in the near future. I've tried to provide six months' worth of insulin to all the kids and first responders who need it, including the one diabetic dentist we have - without readily available dental care you could die from an abscessed tooth. There's no record of the other bottles and there's no charge. If power is out for as little as a month, it could be six months to a year to get things back anywhere close to normal."

"How do I store it if there's no power for the fridge?"

"What's the temperature in your spring house?"

"About 53F in the summer."

"That will provide about 2/3 of the normal insulin storage life at 38F in a fridge, but you can compensate by increasing the dose by about 10% a month after the expiration date. Just check Sarah's blood sugar an hour after the initial injection and make any needed adjustments."

"Thank you very much, Bob."

"The big box has 500 disposable insulin syringes with needles and this small box has 20 sterilizable glass syringes and 100 needles. Instructions for sterilizing are in the box."

"But…"

"No buts, Lily. Cliff gave his life to save mine in the Sandbox and I must do all I can for his family. I know you've had EMT training so there's also a box of common prescription medications, tools and supplies for some minor surgeries, plastic and inflatable casts and some other emergency items that you might need if things go as badly as I think they could. If anyone asks, they're from the EMT bag you brought home when you quit last year."

"Thank you again, Bob. Remember that our garden produces more than we can eat so let me know if you need fresh food."

"I will. Let me carry some of this out to your car. And now that we're outside, I'll be nosy. How are you and John coming along?"

"I think he'd ask me to marry him if he was certain the girls approved."

"Do they?"

"Both seem to, but he's still working up the courage to ask them."

"Sounds very much like John Adams - scared of nothing except hurting someone else."

"That's a positive trait for someone considering becoming part of a ready-made family."

"You'll get no argument from me."

---

"Why so much insulin, Momma?"

"Sarah, the pharmacist, Dr. Bowen, said the company that distributes insulin and some other medications thinks there might be problems with the power in a month or so and they're clearing out their warehouse in Atlanta because they can't keep the refrigerated medications cold without power."

"And the other stuff?"

"So you will have enough syringes and needles to last you a year or more if that should happen."

"Here's the last box!"

"Melissa, go back and close the door. We're paying for electricity to cool the house, not the great outdoors, and we want to keep the cool inside especially with it being 85 degrees in March."

"Sorry, Momma."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 2


Two months later, Friday, 21 May, 9:10AM


"Now John, you know we can't make accommodations for special needs…"

"I know, Mrs. Tatum. You and Duncan were very specific about your conditions for taking people in - to the point of having this list printed up. You weren't interested in anyone who wore glasses or contacts even though I could provide things you didn't have. My vision hasn't changed. I also have some added responsibilities and your list prohibits bringing in any 'strays' - those not related to the person coming in. I have three 'strays' right now, Lily Thompson and her girls Sarah and Melissa. They do have some sheep on their place so we can make insulin for Sarah and the limited solar power I can provide should be able to keep the little fridge cool…"

"John, that little solar system of yours won't power a fridge of any size!"

"That's where you're wrong, Duncan. There's enough lumber and insulation out in the shed out behind the barn to make a small and very well insulated room in the house that we'll pipe the spring's output to and with a hundred feet of copper tubing I'll make a cooling surround for three sides of the little 4.4 cubic foot fridge. That fridge only runs about five hours a day in a 78F room, so an insulated space cooled by 52F water from the spring should bring that down to something like two hours of run time each day."

"But you're wasting water!"

"No, that water will go to the sand filter barrels and then the storage tank in the house. When the storage tank is full, the incoming flow will be diverted out to the water troughs for the animals and then to the garden and then go down the streambed as it always has. We'll just be using a little of the cool."

"But what about us? We also need to keep foods cool!"

"Ma'am, you have two springs that could be piped to the barn and the house to have running water and cooling. You have enough people to do the digging for that and I can see PVC pipe hanging in the barn."

"But Duncan doesn't know how!"

"Neither did I until I read some books and taught myself. Duncan's already told me twice that I'm only worth what I can do without 'those stupid books' and that you don't have a place to store books in the house. The Thompson house has a room dedicated to being a library and some empty bookshelves. My books are mostly there and this load will complete that…"

"How'd you get that truck running, anyway? Mine has sat so long it won't even turn over."

"With the pull-start 5HP engine off an old yard vacuum. The little Datsun truck is old and it doesn't move very fast but it beats pushing a wheelbarrow for as long as the gasoline lasts."

"I'll pay you $5000 to do my truck!"

"With what, Duncan? You don't have any old equipment here to salvage parts from and in case you don't remember, the only 'cash' that has value is pre-65 silver coins."

"But it's US currency, all Franklins and Grants."

"And worth more as fire starter and toilet paper than as trade goods. Don't bother coming after me - you can't run fast enough."
---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 3


Friday, 21 May, 1:20PM


"Mister John?"

"Yes, Sarah?"

"Will this really work to keep my insulin cold enough?"

"That's a science lesson for you and Melissa. Take the blue thermometer and hang it on the middle copper pipe with this piece of string. Take the red thermometer outside and put it in the shade at this end of the barn. Here's a notebook and a pen. Write down the date - today is May 21 - and the time - it's 1:20PM. Watch the windup wall clock in the house and I want you to check the thermometers every hour."

"OK."



"Mister John, it's 80 in here and 81 out there."

"Now let's turn on the valve that lets the spring water flow through this pipe and into the house."

"We just let it run?"

"It will fill the tank in the house and then go out to keep the animals' water troughs filled. What overflows from there will go out to the garden to water it and then into the stream."

"You're smart!"

"Thank you. We're working on you being smart, too."

---

"It's been an hour, Mister John."

"Then you two record the current measurements."



"It's 78 inside and 83 outside. It's gotten cooler in there!"

"Wasn't that why we brought the cool water into our insulated space?"

"But it doesn't need any power!"

"No, it doesn't. We will need some power for the little fridge to get it cool enough for your insulin but we won't be cooling the fridge down from 83 degrees, will we?"

"But the water is cooler than 78. Does that mean the room will get cold?"

"If the spring provided enough water and we had big pipes and enough of them, we might get the room temperature low enough to feel 'cold' when it's 83 outside but we don't have that, so we're just trying to cool the space around the fridge but that also cools some of the air space near the fridge - and it is a very small room."

"There's barely room for the three of us with the door open and you hafta leave for Momma to come in - and the roof is kinda low."

"Do you think maybe it's easier to cool a small space than a large space? How many ice cubes did you need to cool the little juice glass compared to the big iced tea glass?"

"Little space needs a little cool and big space needs a lot more cool?"

"Very good; add that to your notes. It's time to check the temperatures again."



"It's 76 inside and 84 outside. And it feels really cool when I go in there!"

"Maybe we should keep the door closed until it's again time to check the temperature?"

"And 'keep the cool inside' like Momma was always sayin' when we still had 'lectricity and the central air worked?"

"I think you're getting it, Melissa. Add that to your notes."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 4


Friday, 21 May, 4:10PM


"John, how often will we need to kill a sheep to make insulin?"

"Lily, how many units a day does Sarah need?" **

"I track that on paper and work out the daily average each week and month."

"We'll work from your averages and how much insulin we get from ever how many grams of animal pancreas we have to work with so we can create a chart of how much she needs versus how much we can extract. From that, we can work out how often we'll need another pancreas. By the way, how are your stocks of test strips?"

"I stocked up on the color changing strips when things started going downhill so I no longer worry about needing batteries for the meter. The meter is more accurate but Sarah's getting good at matching the color to the blood sugar level. She'll mix using the meter daily and the color changing strips once a week then the color changing strips daily for a week and the meter once; when all the batteries are dead, it will just be the color changing strips. These are the charts for the past three months."

"I see small spikes at Easter and on Melissa's birthday so those were to cover the additional sweets?"

"Correct. Sarah is very good about working with me to mitigate the additional sugar with more non-sugary foods."

"She's a very intelligent and responsible young lady to be only nine."

"Nine and a half, Mister John."

"Not until next month, Miss I'm-in-a-hurry-to-grow-up."

"Yes, Momma."

"Sarah, should I take your sitting beside me and trying to get under my arm as an indication that you might want a hug?"

"Un huh."

"Me too!"

"Then Melissa on the other side for her hug then it's time for another temperature check."

"If we hafta."

"You 'hafta'. Go now. Remember the notebook and pen."

"Yes sir."

---

"You're a terrible softy, John."

"Only for certain things, Lily."

"Such as little girls who need a father figure?"

"Bright, bubbly, intelligent, well-behaved girls who are a joy to have around. Being pretty doesn't hurt."

"Keep talking and I'll think they both have you wound around their little fingers."

"Just telling you what I see."

"You really want to take on this much responsibility? You could live with lots of conveniences if it was just you."

"But I do get tired of my own cooking and I enjoy teaching kids who want to learn. I got burned out teaching in an over-controlled and over-documented public education environment so I got into writing books on classroom management, finding community resources and some other, more readable, fiction."

"Your end-of-civilization-as-we-know-it books."

"Correct. They are fiction, but they have some basis in fact and they present ways to live without all the modern conveniences."

"I really like that you've gotten running water again - especially the flush toilets."

"Being on a septic tank and having a spring that comes out of the hill behind and above the house makes that possible but remember that we might have problems with that pipe freezing in winter unless I bury it. I'll worry about that if power's not back by October."

"But why didn't a previous owner make use of that?"

"Too much work when you already have the convenience of an electric well pump or the County's water system."

"You wouldn't have seen it that way even with power."

"No, but then I like to have backups to my backups. The adage 'Two is one and one is none' is true. You need more than one backup."

"So you plan to get the pancreas when any large animal is butchered?"

"If possible. I have information on making insulin from the pancreas of sheep and water buffalo and I think a cow or bull might be comparable in size to a water buffalo. I also have the procedures for testing insulin strength on rabbits so we'll know about how much to use. There will be a learning curve of sorts on each new batch we make, as the pancreas of sheep number one won't be identical to the pancreas of sheep number two - or sheep number ten - and certainly different from cow number one."

"You plan to record those things and make some type of chart from it?"

"I have a couple of older but still working laptops that don't use much power and they have things like Word, Excel and Access on them so I can collect and process large quantities of data and print that data in a useful format. I think the tracking should include the breed, age, sex, weight and what we know of its feeding history - and breeding history for the females, as a pregnancy might affect how an animal pancreas works because we know that some humans suffer from gestational diabetes. I'll also include the weight of the pancreas and how much insulin we're able to extract and what its strength is compared to the commercial insulin and to other animal extractions. I hope to find some things that correlate so I can make a reasonable assumption about how long the insulin from a given animal's pancreas will last."

"You're very serious about this."

"I can be very serious regarding people I care about."

---

"It's 73 inside and 85 outside."

"So how much has the room changed since we started?"

"From 80 to 73 is seven degrees."

"How much has it changed outside?"

"From 81 to 85 is four degrees."

"So should we somehow include the change in outside temperature when we record the change in inside temperature?"

"I guess."

"So Melissa guesses. That's probably a good answer from a just-turned-eight-year-old. Sarah?"

"I think it's probably important 'cause the inside might've cooled more if the outside stayed the same."

"Very good, Sarah. We'll do some math that's not usually taught in elementary school but I think you're smart enough to do this."

---

"Your 'I think you're smart enough to do this' is certainly a hook for those two. They'll try anything you tell them they might be able to do."

"They did it with a just little help…"

"And they saw it quicker than I did. I guess they really are as smart as you tell them they are."

"Lily, the biggest limit on most kids is the limited expectations of the adults around them. If you let them know you think they can do something, they will usually reach that goal. When it comes to learning, kids need goals instead of limits."

"Speaking of goals, mine is to get you as a permanent part of this family."

"What do the girls think of that?"

"Sarah has asked me 'Momma, can't you ask him instead of waiting for him to ask you?' so she seems to be in favor and while Melissa hasn't been as vocal about it, she does always seem to be near when there's an opportunity for a hug."

"Before I ask you, I want to ask them."

"That's what I told Sarah you'd probably do."

---

"Sarah, I'm thinking of asking your mother to marry…"

"YES!"

"'Yes' to what?"

"You being my new Daddy!"

"Me too!"

"I feel like the fish in a fish filet sandwich."

"Huh?"

"Squashed between the two halves of a bun."

"You're silly, Da… Mister John."

"Me too."

"Let me put both of you down so I can ask your mother."

"OK."

"Lily Thompson, will you marry me?"

"YES!"

"Did the girls learn the jump and hug from you or does it run in the family?"

"You're silly, Daddy."

"Me too."

"Me three."

"Lily, do you know when Reverend Bartow will be back this way?"

"A week from tomorrow. I offered him a place to stay this time so we'll have the opportunity to talk with him."

"Very good. You think he'd consider a pound of beef jerky and some self-heating MREs adequate payment for a wedding service?"

"With him always on the road on horseback, I think he'd be very pleased with that."

---

** The actual dose depends on the person's ability to produce insulin (if any), their age, weight, activity level, amount and type of foods consumed, any illness being experienced, etc. and there are formulas for computing the estimated daily dose and the amount needed to compensate for a high blood sugar condition and various other events. Basic Type 1 reference for children here:

uichildrens.org/health-library/insulin-carb-ratios-calculate-meal-insulin-doses-type-1-diabetes

There are also references for Type 2 diabetics.

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 5


Saturday, 29 May, 10:00AM


"Do you, Lily Thompson, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to love, honor and cherish until death do you part?"

"I do."

"Do you, John Adams, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to love, honor and cherish until death do you part?"

"I do."

"Do you, John Adams, take the Biblical fatherhood responsibility for Sarah Thompson for so long as you may live?"

"I do."

"Do you, Sarah Thompson, accept John Adams to be your acting father for so long as he may live?"

"I do, but it's forever."

"Do you, John Adams, take the Biblical fatherhood responsibility for Melissa Thompson for so long as you may live?"

"I do."

"Do you, Melissa Thompson, accept John Adams to be your acting father for so long as he may live?"

"I do. Forever, too."

"You may kiss the bride."



"Me too, Daddy!"

"Me too!"

"On your noses."

---

"John, that's the first time I've ever had children included in a wedding with that level of commitment from the incoming parent. Good to know there are people who care that much and are willing to tell the world."

"Thank you, Reverend. The bag on the chair is for you."

"Thank you, John."

"Open it, Reverend!"

"OK, Melissa. My word! I'd do a dozen weddings for something this useful! John, it's too much."

"No, Reverend. It makes my all my 'girls' happy."

"I can certainly see that. I wish more like you had survived and everyone age nine and older weren't coming to church armed, but church attendance among the survivors is very high."

"It's a good place to stop and count our blessings."

"Speaking of blessings. How's Sarah's insulin supply?"

"She still has a little of the commercial insulin and we shared a sheep with some other families this week so I had a pancreas to work with. We got about 60ml of homebrew insulin and comparison testing with the commercial insulin shows ours is about 85% the strength of the commercial version. The instructions we're using indicate that both the strength and the quantity increase as you get more experienced and can complete the process faster."

"Can you teach someone else?"

"If they have sheep and some other supplies."

"Duncan Tatum's son David came in this week with his kids. The boy, Bobby, is a Type 1 diabetic and on his last bottle of insulin. Duncan's been trying to buy insulin but he still hasn't figured out that most people aren't interested in colored paper."

"David's much smarter than Duncan so tell him to come talk to me - but leave Duncan out of it because I can see him coming over to 'ask' with a 12 gauge and you know how I'll respond to that. I can provide David with instructions and maybe a couple days of insulin for the boy if he's on something similar to what Sarah needs."

"I understand - and thank you. I know Duncan and Lois have been very difficult for most people to deal with, which is most likely why Duncan can't find any source of insulin or information."

"I can't argue with that."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 6


Sunday, 30 May, 10:40AM


"John?"

"Yes, David?"

"After church I'd like to ask you about making insulin."

"I thought you might be interested so I have some information for you. Meet us at our wagon then."

"I will. Thank you."



"What's that about, Daddy?"

"Sarah, David has a son about your age who's also a Type 1. He wants me to tell him about how we make insulin."

"Bobby with the pretty blue eyes?"

"So you've already noticed him?"

"We're in the same Sunday School class. He's nice. He even held the door for Mrs. Chastain when she came in."

"Do I hear some boy-girl interest in your voice?"

"Maybe - a little. He's so different from most of the other boys here. He doesn't tease the girls or make rude noises and he got on his cousin Caleb for calling me 'Skinny Minnie'. Caleb's bigger than Bobby but he didn't do his usual 'I'm gonna bust you one' with Bobby. He just looked mad and shut up."

"Did Caleb mention how he got that black eye?"

"He said he ran into a door."

"That's not what Caleb's dad told me a little while ago."

"What happened?"

"Caleb knocked down Bobby's little sister Lisa and Bobby told him not to do it again. Caleb said 'Make me' and took a swing at Bobby. Bobby ducked under the punch and got Caleb in the eye and the stomach and Caleb went down hard."

"Bobby didn't get in trouble?"

"Caleb's mother saw the whole thing but was too far away to stop it. She did tell Caleb that he'd be the one to tell his dad how he got the black eye."

"So that's why he said he had things to do after church when Robbie invited him to go fishing - Caleb's grounded!"

"A week for knocking down Lisa, a week for taking a swing at Bobby and two weeks for lying about it the first time his dad asked him how he got the shiner."

"Daddy, how do you know?"

"Caleb's dad told the whole story in our Sunday School class. He didn't want Caleb to get away with any of his lies about what happened."

"It's easier to tell the truth 'cause there's less punishment."

"That's my smart girl."

"I like being your girl about anything, especially smart!"

---

"Lunch was good, Momma. Whose turn is it to wash the dishes?"

"Why don't I take a turn?"



"And girls don't drive wagons?"

"Well, not until yesterday when you let me drive you and Momma home from the wedding."

"So if girls can drive wagons maybe men can wash dishes?"

"I guess."

"It's Biblical, Sarah. The Old Testament even mentions what a good job a man can do when cleaning dishes."

"Where does it say that?"

"Second Kings, 21:13…"

"I'm gonna look that up…"

"After the dishes are done."

"Yes, Momma. I'll dry."

"Me too!"

"Then Sarah dries the breakables and the big skillet and Melissa dries the little pans and the silverware."

"OK."

"Me too."

"John, you're setting a precedent."

"One that I may only be able to do on Sundays."

"That's OK. It's a good mind-stretcher for the girls."

"Momma, what's a 'mind-stretcher'?"

"Something new, different or unusual that makes you stop and think."

"Then Daddy's the best mind-stretcher 'cause he makes us do that everyday. Is he gonna be our teacher when it's time for school again?"

"I think he's already being your teacher. How many pages did you write about the 'cold room'?"

"Five… We are learning stuff but the way he does it is mostly fun and it doesn't feel like school. It's like being with somebody really smart and what they say and do just rubs off on you."

"So you might have 'school' all summer?"

"If it's like the past few weeks, I think it'd be fun to have school all year!"

"Sarah! Are you crazy?"

"Think about it, Missy. Were we working or were we having fun?"

"We worked a little but mostly it was fun. I guess I can do that kinda school all year."

---

"You'll be teaching them cursive and Swahili as well, John?"

"Cursive for sure, Lily. Once they learn it's the 'secret code' that adults write in they'll want to learn it so they'll know what we're writing."

"You're sneaky."

"I'm giving them incentive and adding a little bit of fun to the boring repetition of writing a string of 'b' or 'q' or whatever letter we're working on."

"You are a very good teacher. The public school system really screwed up when they let you leave."

"No, they screwed up when they didn't allow all the classroom teachers enough freedom to do things that interested the kids and made the boring bits endurable because there were some fun things in the learning process."

"We need to find financing for 'The John Adams Advanced Elementary Learning Academy'. The girls have each had one teacher who tried to do things that way and they really learned a lot in those classes."

"Not sure I can take the time from farming and caring for animals to teach school in the fall. I have a family to take care of and their needs come first - but I might work in two snarky little girls."

"Daddy! I heard that 'snarky'!"

"And Sarah isn't using her inside voice."

"Oops! Sorry, Daddy."

---

"I hear a wagon."

"Very good, Sarah. Is it being pulled by a horse or a donkey?"

"Huh?"

"Remember how Boots sounds when he's pulling the wagon?"

"Un huh."

"Is this like that or is it different?"

"It's different, Daddy!"

"How is it different, Melissa?"

"The steps aren't as heavy."

"Then horse or donkey?"

"If it's not heavy enough for a horse, it must be a donkey."

"Good, Sarah. So whose wagon?"

"Only the Tatums have donkeys. Do we hafta be nice to them?"

"Maybe you should see who's driving the wagon before you decide it's someone you don't want to see?"

"The window upstairs?"

"Correct. You can see a long way down the road in either direction."



"It's Bobby and his dad! Bobby's driving - I bet Caleb's mad about that 'cause he never gets to drive the wagon since he went ran it off the road and through his Grandma's garden. Why are they coming?"

"Remember that Bobby's dad wanted to learn about processing a pancreas?"

"Un huh."

"Bobby does too. I'll talk them through my part of the processing and you can talk them through your part."

"I didn't get it perfect."

"Neither did I, but we did pretty good for our first attempt. I want them to see that they can do at least as well as we did."

"But the Tatums don't have any sheep."

"They don't, but we're not raising any pigs this year so maybe we can trade animals? Would insulin for bacon be a good trade?"

"Very good if you need insulin."

"Would you let me loan Bobby some of your insulin until they get production started on their own?"

"Why ask me? You're my Daddy and you have control of me."

"No, I love you and I'm responsible for you. If I genuinely act responsibly, I involve you in decisions about your medical care and anything else that affects your wellbeing."

"I think you're the best Daddy ever!"

"Maybe just the best one in this house."

---

"Hello the house!"

"Hello, David, Bobby."

"Hi, John, Sarah."

"Our processing setup is in the shed on your left. Tie up your donkey and come with us."



"You have the instruction sheets laminated for protection."

"Butchering an animal can get wet and messy, as can the insulin extraction process. Bare paper won't survive and with the rioting, looting and burning in the cities, we won't be going to an office supply store for paper, ink or toner for a while."

"If the print was a little bigger, I wouldn't need my glasses."

"Me either, Dad."

"You're not having a problem with Duncan over the glasses?"

"Not after I told him he could accept us as we were or I'd take the tanker of gasoline and diesel that I brought and find someone else who'd trade food and shelter for fuel to farm."

"David, have you ever thought about all the 'farm art' Lois has done?"

"The ear of corn on some of the bins and barrels, the shock of wheat on others… Dad can't read and write can he?"

"My suspicions are that his father was too proud to take Duncan to get his eyes tested and if Jethro did take him, he was too proud of being 'strong and manly' to allow Duncan to get glasses. I'll guess that Duncan was - and probably still is - very farsighted and couldn't focus on anything close enough to read it when he was a kid. That would explain Lois using different color plates depending on what she cooks - Duncan may not be able to see mashed potatoes on a white plate."

"That would certainly explain a lot and maybe some things about Thomas and Caleb."

"You think Thomas inherited some degree of that vision problem and passed it on to Caleb?"

"Caleb is having some of the same problems in school that Thomas did. Where would we get glasses for anyone now? WalMart isn't open to pick up those $15 readers in any strength."

"Daddy, what about the box from the County Library?"

"The donations for the Lions Club! Thank you for remembering, Sarah. Most of those are prescription glasses but there are some generic readers as well. Do you remember where that box is?"

"Un huh. It's on a table in our library. I can show you when we go in."

"You remember that and we'll look through those after we show David and Bobby how we made insulin."

---

"That's a lot to remember!"

"Bobby, that's why we have the laminated sheets with the steps numbered. Even I can do some of it if I just follow the numbers."

"I guess so, Sarah, but you just seem so much smarter than me."

"I think Daddy would say that I'm not 'smarter' but 'more educated' because I've already done this once."

"You even make 'not educated' sound OK 'cause it's something I can fix."

"You can. It's easy. Talk to me about it after you make up the first batch. And this is a loan to keep you alive until you make the first batch."

"Dad! Sarah gave me a whole bottle of the commercial stuff!"

"John, you don't…"

"Not my choice, David. I asked Sarah if she would consider doing that…"

"But isn't it a 'hafta' if he asks?"

"No, Bobby. Daddy said he was responsible for me but that I should be involved in my medical care and it was my choice. You just owe me the equivalent amount when you make some."

"Dad, can you be in love when you're ten?"

"Maybe not the romantic lets-get-married love, Bobby, but you might find someone who cares for you like family."

"Better than family, 'cause Grandpa Duncan didn't want us making insulin and she loaned me a whole bottle!"

"Bobby, put it in this insulated lunch bag that has a few ice cubes in it to keep it cold until you get home. We need to go look for some reading glasses."

"Yes, Mr. Adams."

---

[9idrr]

If I whine and beg at the end of each page, I guess that we ain't gonna get any more after twenty-one? What if I threaten to sing "Ebb Tide" doin' both the Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley voices? Nah, that might be considered a terrorist threat to human ear drums. Stamp my feet and cry? Voodoo dolls and knitting needles?

[papaof2]

None of the above. You're talking to the old guy who got out of bed after back surgery to go to the bathroom because he can't use a bed pan - without any meds because I wasn't conscious when they put the pain pump button in my hand and I didn't know what the IV pole was for until the next day. Knitting needles? How about titanium plates and self-tapping screws almost 2 inches long? I carried that xray on my Palm Zire 31 for a long time because it meant the discussion of my back surgery could be ended in seconds ;-)

jecarter.us/files/back-screws-1.jpg
jecarter.us/files/back-screws-2a.jpg

Not even if you sing harmony or disharmony with the Everly Brothers...

[gipsy]

I have 4 of those in my neck.

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 7


Sunday, 30 May, 5:10PM


"Mom, I need your help with something."

"Yes, David?"

"I know that Dad can't read and write…

"Now David…"

"Don't 'Now David' me, Mom. The problem is obvious when I step back and look at it, with the ears of corn painted on some bins and barrels, the shocks of wheat on others - and you never serving rice on a white plate. I think he's probably too farsighted to be able to make sense of anything smaller than a .45 cartridge at the end of his arm. I want you to get him to try these reading glasses until he finds the ones that work for him. Have him try to separate these .357, .380 and 9mm bullets without the readers and then with the various readers until he finds what works."

"You know he'll never admit…"

"He'll do whatever you put your foot down about, Mom."

"You know us too well, David."

"Just taking care of family as someone else is doing for me."

"An unopened bottle of Bobby's insulin? How?"

"It's a loan from Sarah Thompson - maybe that's now Sarah Adams? - until we get the first batch made."

"They made her…"

"John asked her if she would loan it and she thought she had to, but he told her he was responsible for her and part of truly being responsible was having her involved in her own care. It was her choice."

"As nasty as Duncan was to John, he still cared enough to ask that girl to bet her life on you and Bobby. Those are some really good folks."

"We need to get set up to extract insulin from a pancreas. It's too warm to do a big animal without refrigeration but we could share out a sheep with other people for whatever things they have to trade or even some time working in the fields or with the animals. Until power is back on and fuel is readily available, we'll be doing a lot of hands-on farming."

"Duncan's been worrying about having enough help. His 'don't need nobody or nothing' ways haven't endeared him to the locals. Food, though, is almost always an acceptable peace offering. Where do we get a sheep?"

"John and Lily have sheep but no pigs this year. Either a live pig for them to feed out or some reasonable amount of meat when we butcher in the fall will probably work."

"Pigs we have. Considering that they made the offer with no conditions, we'll feed it out. I'll tell Duncan to pick the best of the feeders and eartag it for Sarah."

"Here's the ammunition for Dad to sort."

"It's even from the same maker!"

"Except for the caliber markings, they're as close to identical as I could find in my stock and John's stock."

"You're awful! You know how badly your Dad wants to have more ammunition on hand."

"That's why I think this might work to get him to try the glasses. If he does, you'll have to update your list."

"I'll use that list to light the fire to cook breakfast in the morning. It's been more trouble than it's worth. Thank you, David, and you be sure and thank John - and Sarah - for all they've done for us."

"I will."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 8


Sunday, 30 May, 7:30PM


"Lois, you know I can't sort this ammunition and I don't want to blow up my hideout .380 with some .357 Magnum loads. You're gonna…"

"No, Duncan. The only one who is 'gonna' is you. You're 'gonna' go thru this box of glasses until you find some that let you read the markings on those cartridges and you'll start now."

"But Lois, strong people don't need glasses or medication to function."

"Let me tell you about 'strong', Duncan Tatum! We have a nine-year-old girl up the road who loaned Bobby a bottle of her insulin. Sarah Thompson is betting her life that someone she's known for a couple of hours can produce enough insulin for themselves and to repay her. How long has it been since 'strong' Duncan Tatum literally risked his life for someone else?"

"She did what?"

"She chose to loan Bobby a bottle of commercial insulin until he and David can get production set up here."

"But we have no sheep."

"And Sarah's family has no pigs. In the morning, first thing, you will eartag the best of our feeder pigs for Sarah and we'll feed it out."

"But Lois…"

"Do you remember the last time you tried to make coffee and fry eggs?"

"Mmph."

"That's about the sound you made when you tried to choke down your own cooking. Remember that and get that pig tagged or you'll be getting your own breakfast for a week."

"Yes, dear."

"Now try these glasses on until you can see well enough to sort that ammo."

"Yes, dear."

"And once I know you've tagged that pig for Sarah, I'll use the requirements list to light the fire to cook breakfast in the morning."

"Yes, dear."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 9


Monday, 31 May, 6:30AM


"Dad, what's up with Grandpa Duncan? He said 'Good morning' and gave me a hug - and he even has some glasses in his shirt pocket."

"Bobby, I think your Grandma laid down the law to him yesterday about several things - and he's still trying to decide how to classify Sarah. Why would she loan you insulin that she might need when she doesn't know if you can be trusted to make enough for yourself and to repay her? He's having to work out a new definition of a 'strong' person that doesn't have 'manly' and 'totally independent' as the primary components - that's very much at odds with what his father impressed on him. Someone who cares enough about others to risk her life by loaning essential medication on the promise of future repayment is also 'strong'."

"Very strong. I don't know if I coulda done that."

"Let's hope you never have to find out whether you could or not."

---

[texican]

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

PP2,

That takes a lot of fun out of reading....

None the less, you posting moar will be read by all....

Thanks for the chapters....

Texican....

[papaof2]

Just don't want a lot of disappointed "One MOAR" responses after Chapter 21. Sort of like enjoying a small steak - you know it won't last so you take time to enjoy each bite.

Take small bites ;-)

[bluefox2]

OK, all caught up with this. (Im) patiently waiting for the next bite. Will joyfully accept whatever bits you decide to post.

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 10


Monday, 31 May, 8:30AM


"Daddy, why do you have all those barrels stuck on that old tractor that was in the barn?"

"It's another science lesson, Melissa."

"What's scientific about barrels and a stack of wood?"

"A great deal, Sarah. Do you remember asking how the gasoline engine on the lawnmower worked?"

"There's a carb… carbu…"

"Carburetor?"

"That's the word! It mixes the air and gasoline into something that will burn very fast and push the piston down and the weight of the cra… crank… crankshaft pushes the piston back up to do it again."

"Slightly abbreviated but you do understand that the engine needs something that will burn so it can run."

"Un huh."

"Does wood burn?"

"Yes… well, your explanation is that it's some of the stuff that comes out of the wood when it gets hot that actually burns. And you did that thing baking wood in a big can and lighting the smoke and stuff that come out when you do that."

"The 'stuff' is called 'wood gas' and if you can produce enough of it and you can clean it up - getting rid of the smoke particles and just using the wood gas - you can run a gasoline engine on it. It works best when you can match the wood gas production to the engine's speed but a tractor's engine usually runs at a steady speed for whatever you're doing - plowing, mowing and so forth."

"You're gonna run the tractor on wood so we can have a bigger garden and plant corn where the stream can water it?"

"Correct. It seems you did pay attention to all that 'boring crop stuff'."

"It stopped being boring when Momma told me about all the empty shelves in the IGA and that was just two days after the power went off to stay. If we can't grow our food or grow something to trade for food, we'll be hungry as soon as we eat all the stuff we helped Momma can and dry."

"That's my smart girl."

"So what're we gonna plant and can I drive the tractor?"

"Here's your mother's list of things to plant. Some of these you and Melissa can help with but you won't be driving the tractor for plowing or other work - probably not until you're at least 12 for doing plowing. However, I might - remember that I said 'might' - let you drive the tractor from the barn to the field or back to the barn. First we must see if your legs are long enough and strong enough to operate the brake and clutch and if your hands and arms are strong enough to do the steering."

"But I can turn Momma's car around in the driveway!"

"Her car has power steering and power brakes. The tractor requires people power for its steering and braking. You may not be that strong."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. You know that I try to tell you the truth about everything you're old enough to understand…"

"I know. I just don't wanna understand about not driving the tractor."

"I love my honest and truthful girl even if she sometimes gets the mullygrumps."

"What's 'mullygrumps'?"

"The face you're making and the whine in your voice."

"Oh."

"Yes to your 'Oh' that tells me you know I won't change my mind if you're not tall enough or strong enough to do this safely."

"And the next thing you'll say is you're doing it because you love me."

"Why else? Other than maybe I don't want the tractor to run through the chicken yard as Caleb drove that wagon through his grandmother's garden?"

"There is that."

"That and I want to keep you safe whenever I can."

"I know - that's another way you say 'I love you'."

"Do you also need a hug?"

"Always!"

"Me too!"

"Better now?"

"Un huh. Tell me more about how it works?"

"There's an article in this magazine that has pictures and diagrams…"

"Yes!"

---

"So you'll have another tractor driver, Mr. Adams?"

"In the future, Mrs. Adams. I doubt that she's strong enough to keep a straight line when plowing right now but she may be able to move the tractor from place to place and she'll be able to tell someone else the steps for getting the wood gas generator operational and then the tractor running on the wood gas. Those abilities could be valuable skills in our world where liquid fuels are rapidly becoming rare."

"What about the age of the tractor's battery?"

"She won't be able to crank it by hand for several years but the hand crank is still there and she can tell someone else how to use it."

"So an adult will hand crank the tractor in the morning and maybe use the electric start after lunch?"

"Perhaps. I don't know if the battery is that good but we'll see after the tractor has run an hour or so today."

"You will get the garden expanded today?"

"Yes. I'll need some help extending the fence around the newly plowed area."

"I'll be available. You'll start on the corn fields tomorrow?"

"Yes. I think we have enough seed for about 40 acres and the usual production of this heirloom variety should keep us in corn for the animals and corn to grind for meal all winter."

"You'll be harvesting with horse-drawn equipment?"

"Possibly; maybe probably. If power was all restored tomorrow, it would still be months before fuel production was even at half of what we had in March."

"What about drying the corn?"

"Using the ground-powered harvester gives me ears, not kernels, so they can be stored in chicken wire cribs to dry naturally and that two-row harvester can be pulled by a horse or a small tractor. If we had fuel for a combine, we might then need natural gas for heat and electricity to power fans to dry the kernels. Mostly we'll be feeding the animals and they can remove the kernels from the ears. I do have a manual sheller for the portion we plan to make into corn meal."

"Something else from the 'Horse Farming Museum' you started when you were in 4H?"

"That, the grain grinder, the manual seeder, the seed sorter and about 80 other things useful in a world without most of the 21st century's most common power sources."

"What about hay?"

"I'll cut about a third of the late Bob Walker's fescue fields with the sickle mower. There's a hay baler for the gathering, as long as we have enough of the proper twine. Duncan wants the rest of that hay but I don't know if he has enough fuel for that. Our very old tractor will be slow but we have almost unlimited fuel for it - there are 31 cut and split cords in the woodshed and under tarps."

"You might barter for something?"

"I cut hay for Duncan and he provides us with fresh milk."

"Sounds good."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 11


Tuesday, 11 June, 10:40AM


"OUCH!"

"Lois! Are you OK?"

"I tripped coming up the basement steps and caught myself on my left arm but I think I broke a bone in the arm."

"I'll call 911."

"Duncan, the phones haven't worked in over a month. Harness Bessie to the wagon and take me to see Lily. She was an EMT and is the best medical care in 20 miles or more."

"I'll get money…"

"Forget the colored paper, Duncan. Get that yellow crate and fill it with what I tell you."

"But…"

"No buts. Food and ammo are the new currency. Open the pantry. Second shelf: pint jars of salt, sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder and one of the small jars of cinnamon. Third shelf: quart jars of flour, corn meal, oats, white beans, pinto beans and one of the small jars of garlic. Add a brick of .22LR and a box of 12 gauge 00 buck plus this IOU for a pound of bacon, one of sausage and a side of ribs that she can redeem when we butcher the first hog."

"But that's too muc…"

"Duncan! That's a damn sight cheaper than your trip to the ER for a broken toe last year! And we won't be waiting three hours to get care. Go get the wagon."

"Yes, dear."

---

"Momma, I hear a wagon."

"Melissa, go up and see who it is."

"OK."



"It's Mr. Tatum and Mrs. Tatum and she's holding her arm like it hurts. Why are they coming here?"

"Maybe she needs some medical care?"

"Oh yeah. You're an EMT."

"And that means I'm the closest person with any medical training. Run out to the barn and tell your Daddy that I may need his help."

"On my way!"



"Hello the house!"

"Hello, Duncan. What happened?"

"Lois fell coming up from the basement and caught herself on the side of her left arm. She thinks she may have broken something."

"Let's get her inside and on the table."



"Lois, I need to check the outer bone - that's the ulna. I know it will be tender from being bruised but I need to press on it hard enough to determine if it is broken. I don't have much in the way of painkillers so bite on this tongue depressor so you don't break a tooth."

"Lily, that's what Doc Johnson said when I fell out of a tree and broke the other arm when I was about six."

"You fell out of a tree?"

"Trying to prove to my older brother that I could do anything he could do - including jumping from one tree to the next one."

"I can feel an irregularity right here…"

"OW! You found where it hurts the most."

"You're lucky in that it seems to be a simple ulna break and not something that requires surgery. I can put a cast on it but you'll be in that cast for maybe 6 weeks - and that's if you listen and do NOT use that arm for anything more strenuous than stabbing beans with a fork."

"But…"

"If Duncan can't cook, maybe you should ask David."

"David can brew coffee and make oatmeal but not eggs, bacon, sausage, or biscuits."

"Those aren't hard."

"You're Sarah?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"You can cook?"

"Yes, sir. I cooked breakfast this morning. There's biscuits in the breadbox. You want to try one?"

"Go ahead and get them out, Sarah. And some of the goat butter we churned."

"Yes, Momma."

"While Duncan works on his unbelief, John can help me get the bone aligned and then I can put a plastic temporary cast on it. However, I'll use a felt liner to make it snug and some heavy duty zip ties to hold it together so it provides support similar to what a plaster cast would. If the itching gets unbearable, let me know and I can remove the cast long enough to do an herbal scrub that will remove the dead skin and make it feel better. Brace yourself. I can guarantee that the motion will hurt but it will feel better when it's aligned."

"Go ahead."

"You have her elbow, John?"

"Yes."

"Now!"

"OOOOOHHHH! You were truthful, Lily. That was second only to childbirth but it's a little better now."

"Let me get the cast in place and fit a sling to support it. I'll send you home with enough oxycodone for a few days. One tablet plus two ibuprofen every four to six hours today and tomorrow; half a tablet plus two ibuprofen every four to six hours the next two days. You'll probably want to have the ibuprofen available after the oxycodone is gone as it provides pain relief and reduces inflammation. No using or washing cast iron cookware or pouring from large pitchers with that hand - and no using the well pump."

"Sarah?"

"Yes, Mrs. Tatum?"

"Would you be interested in being our cook for a few weeks? Maybe you could come over in the morning and fix breakfast and something Duncan and the boys could heat up or eat cold for lunch and supper? I'm sure we can work out payment for that."

"Momma?"

"Sarah, you need to think about how many people you would be cooking for, how much food is needed for that many people for all day and how long it would take you to do that."

"I'd be washing all the dishes?"

"No. Bobby can do most of that and David can help him as needed."

"Propane stove?"

"As long as the 1000 gallon tank lasts. I think there'll be propane for the weeks I'm in this cast."

"I'll have chores like milking or feeding chickens?"

"Not planning on chores; just the cooking."

"Do you have any favorite recipes?"

"Young lady, you are a genius! Asking to make my favorite things guarantees you a job."

"How much does it pay?"

"Let's start with one day's food for your family each week. I think your mother should be involved in that as she knows how much the family eats."

"Momma?"

"Sarah, I think that's a fair offer. If you want to try it for a week, I'll wake you earlier in the morning and you can ride Boots over to their house in time to get breakfast for them."

"Lois?"

"Yes, Duncan?"

"If she bakes these biscuits every day, you can double her pay."

"Duncan! How many did you eat?"

"Just whatever was left. Maybe five or six?"

"Sarah?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Please bake biscuits in the morning so I'll have one to try."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Lily, this is payment for taking care of me."

"Lois, I can't…"

"Yes, you can. Last I heard, the ER at County General was in a tent, wait time was in hours and payment was fresh food or junk silver. I know you used supplies that can't be replaced."

"If you insist."

"I do. Sarah, we'll see you in the morning around 6:30."

"Yes, ma'am."

---

"Momma, did he really eat all the biscuits that were left?"

"Yes, Melissa. It seems we're not the only ones who think Sarah's a good cook."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 12


Tuesday, 11 June, 1:10PM


"You're gonna have a GIRL do the cooking, Grandma?"

"What do I look like, Caleb? A male rhinoceros?"

"But she's not married or anything. She doesn't know how to cook!"

"Caleb, you and Thomas split this biscuit."



"Yummy! Where'd you get it, Grandpa?"

"That GIRL baked it."

"But… but… but…"

"You keep sounding like an old Evinrude outboard and I'll clamp you to the back of my jon boat and let you power it around the lake."

"But…"

"No buts. Sarah will be here in the morning to fix breakfast and some other foods that will keep so we can have three meals. You will be polite and on your best behavior. If not, I'll tell her to make food for everyone except you and you can go hungry for a day."

"You wouldn't!"

"Have I ever not done something I promised to do?"

"Not that I remember."

"I'm making you another promise."

"Yes, Grandpa."

---

[texican]

Sept 13, 2019 14:45:32 GMT -6 papaof2 said:

Just don't want a lot of disappointed "One MOAR" responses after Chapter 21. Sort of like enjoying a small steak - you know it won't last so you take time to enjoy each bite.

Take small bites ;-)

But, but you post several chapters at a time which is a large meal to be devoured immediately....

Only 9 chapters left....

Then we will starve....

But well feed until then....

Texican....

[papaof2]

If people can't discipline themselves and control their voracious reading, I guess I could stretch out the other chapters to one a week ;-)

[texican]

Sept 14, 2019 11:32:49 GMT -6 papaof2 said:

If people can't discipline themselves and control their voracious reading, I guess I could stretch out the other chapters to one a week ;-)

Works, but the moaning and groaning would be nonstop....

Post away, for when it is over it is over and the Moar Hounds will finally move on to the next story....

Or not....

Texican....

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 13


Wednesday, 12 June, 5:20AM


"Time to get up, working girl."

"'Working girl', Momma?"

"Don't you have a job cooking for the Tatums now?"

"I guess I am a working girl now."

"Your breakfast is on the table. Check the menus you made out for ingredients you might not find in every house."

"While I eat. And they can go in my backpack with the menus and my notebook and pen to make notes about things I might need for other stuff I cook."

"That's my smart girl."

"Daddy, I like being your girl for any reason - especially smart!"

"You have the .22 rifle and pistol?"

"Pistol in the holster on my belt. Rifle by the door and the strap will be on my shoulder."

"Very good. Stay aware of your surroundings."

"And don't ride close to the bushes or trees at the edge of the road."

"That too."



"I'm feeding the chickens AND collecting the eggs?"

"Yes, Melissa. We talked about this yesterday. With Sarah cooking for the Tatums in the morning, you'll be doing some of her chores."

"Just some of them?"

"I'll milk the goats unless you want to try."

"I can?"

"You may try. Then we'll know if you 'can'."

"Miss Scrivener kept talking about 'can' and 'may' at school."

"Do you remember what she said?"

"'Can' is able to. 'May' is permission. Oh… You gave me permission to try milking so we'll know if I'm able to do it!"

"Very good, smart girl."

---

"Hello the house!"

"Hello, Sarah. Before you start cooking, I have a favor to ask."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Caleb was supposed to milk Delores this morning but it seems he did everything wrong and she ended up kicking over the bucket before he got more than a splash in it. I got her calmed down but I can't milk with one hand and this cast in the way. None of the others know how. Bobby offered to learn but I really can't teach him with just one working hand."

"Let me put Boots in the pasture then wash my hands. I'll need a pail of warm water and a cloth to wash Delores' udder. Bobby can wash his hands and take the milk pail out. If Delores will let me milk her, I'll show Bobby how."

"Thank, you, Sarah. It's good to have capable help."

"You're welcome."

---

"You've milked a cow before?"

"A few times, Bobby. Mostly I've milked the goats but the only real difference is size and how much milk you get."

"I see where you put your hands but what's that motion you do with them?"

"Think squeeze along a line and pull a little."

"Huh?"

"Put your hands in place."

"OK."

"Move the left one up a little."

"Let me reach in front of you and squeeze your hands. Feel the sequence?"



"Keep your hands in place, Sarah, and let me try it. Like this?"

"EWW! They're holding hands!"

"No, Caleb, I'm showing him the proper way to milk."

"Don't you just keep squeezing harder until the milk comes out?"

"No. That almost guarantees it'll be so uncomfortable that she'll kick the bucket over."

"I think you're just holding hands and I'm gonna tell Grandma."

"Bobby, let me have the teats."

"OK."



"Hey! You squirted me in the face!"

"Can't you move the milk that far, Caleb?"

"Uh… uh…"

"Wanna arm wrestle?"

"With a GIRL? They'd say I was a sissy for even trying."

"You're a sissy if you don't take the dare."

"Am not, Sarah! You're gonna be sorry!"

"Caleb…"

"Bobby, let me handle this."

"OK, I guess, Sarah."

"Got your arm in position, Caleb?"

"This is gonna be so easy!"

"Bobby, you give the 'go' signal."

"When I release your hands. One. Two. Three. Go!"

SMACK!

"OW! Not fair! I wasn't ready!"

"Not ready or not strong enough, boy?"

"Oh. Hi, Grandpa."

"Maybe learning to milk correctly and carrying in a full bucket might build some muscles?"

"Yes, Grandpa."

"Wash your hands and let Sarah give you a lesson on how to milk."

"Yes, Grandpa."

"And you can carry in the full bucket."

"Yes, Grandpa."



"Do you have hafta hold my hands?"

"Afraid you'll get warts or cooties from me?"

"No! Well… maybe not."

"Do Bobby's hands look OK?"

"I guess."

"You put your hands like this…"

---

"The bacon is crispy!"

"The cheese omelet is yummy!

"The biscuits are even better when they're fresh from the oven."

"I should double her pay, Duncan?"

"Yes dear. And maybe get out that carrot cake recipe?"

"You boys remember that there will be dishes to wash soon. Sarah has chores at home and she'll need to go do those. She's just here to cook."

"Yes, Grandma."

"Yes, Mom."

"Duncan?"

"I'll put things away, dear. I know where most of it goes."

---

"Sarah?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Thank you for the milking lessons."

"I'm here to help and if they learn to do it right, milking doesn't take very long."

"Also a thank you for taking a little of the wind out of Caleb's sails in a manner that he can't argue with."

"He's not the first boy who didn't know about girls having muscles. Momma told me about doing that to one of her cousins."

"I suspect your Momma told you other things that might prove useful with a boy who's too full of himself."

"She did. Daddy did too - but some of those might leave a mark."

"I understand. Explain to me why you have this cardboard box with the inside and the flaps covered in foil?"

"The dry beans need to be soaked warm to get them soft quicker. We might not be able to get propane when the tank is empty so Daddy showed me how to make a solar cooker. It works good for things that need to be hot a long time. You just turn it every hour to keep it facing the sun. If it's real sunny like today, you might even get the beans completely cooked in time for supper."

"You're cooking the home fries in bacon grease?"

"Yes ma'am, so I don't use any fresh oil that you might need for bread or a cake and Momma says people working in the field need more fat in their diet - plus guys always seem to like anything that tastes like bacon."

"Your Momma is smart about a lot of things."

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 14


Wednesday, 12 June, 2:20PM


"Hello the house!"

"Hello, David."

"John, Thomas rode out to see what the smoke up to the northeast was from and there's been a fire at the truck stop on the interstate."

"And?"

"Remember the fuel tanker we asked you about siphoning from? Apparently some other people tried that but didn't do the grounding and anti-static things you told us about. The 'Boom!' we heard earlier today was that tanker exploding. Thomas found some melted and burnt pieces of plastic hose so static electricity from fuel running through that hose may have been the source of the spark. Anyway, the pumps are also burnt out and while most of the trailers have some level of damage, there are two near the back of the lot - some of those the owner-operators dropped so they could go home - that were shielded by other trailers and look to be OK. If we provide fuel, could you drive your truck and pull a trailer? The undamaged trailers are from Walmart and Advance Auto. I'm guessing we all could use any toilet paper or food that might be in the Walmart trailer and anyone with solar power or a running vehicle might want more batteries - if there are any in the Advance trailer. Thomas couldn't break the lock on either one with a crowbar, so it's a pig in a poke but probably worth checking both of them. There's an IGA trailer but the side looks like it's been pretty hot so probably not good for whatever is inside."

"Stop and take a breath, David. Yes, I'm interested. The old tractor needs a new battery if there's one close to the right size. I have a battery powered angle grinder so we can probably get the lock housings and the locks off if the 36" bolt cutters can't get to the locks. Have you asked Lois and Duncan for their Walmart and Advance lists? If not, head back over and ask them while I ask Lily and the girls about their wish lists. I'll be at your place as soon as my ladies get their lists written, probably no more than ten minutes."

"Thanks, John."

---

"You don't know what's in the trailer, Daddy?"

"No, Melissa. Thomas didn't have the tools to open it so we don't know what's there. This is a mind-stretcher for you and Sarah - what might be in a Walmart trailer that we could use?"

"Toilet paper?"

"Very good start, Sarah."

"Milk?"

"Melissa, how long has the power been off?"

"A long time."

"Do you think a refrigerated trailer might have run out of fuel for the refrigerator unit by now?"

"So nothing refrigerated or frozen?"

"Correct. No fresh milk or frozen pizza."

"Powdered milk and a box of pizza mix?"

"Very good. You two keep thinking and making your lists. Your Momma is working on a list of other things and I'm working on a list of things that might be in an Advance Auto trailer."

"WD40?"

"Sarah, do you think that might be in both trailers?"

"Oh. Yeah, cause I've seen it both places. And they both have tools. And batteries. And tires. And work gloves."

"Correct on all of that. Keep thinking and adding to your lists."

---

And Lily's list ranged from feminine hygiene products to notebook paper, pens and pencils plus printer paper and ink. Plus garden seeds, bug spray and weed killer of all kinds. Personal hygiene and housecleaning products and as many other things as would fit on the front and back of that sheet of notebook paper. Clothes and shoes for the girls in larger sizes to cover a year or two of growth and any fabric or sewing notions to have materials for making what we don't find. Work boots plus rain boots and other rain gear. It's unlikely that we'll find all of those things but anything that we do find will be put to good use, with a few things to be kept for barter such as salt and coffee. Speaking of salt, that's something that the heat may not have damaged - maybe not the coffee either? - so the IGA trailer might also be worth opening. We may be making more than one trip today.

---

"Momma, what do I hear? It sounds like it's working hard but not moving very fast."

"I think it's your Daddy's little truck, Sarah. Go upstairs and check."

"It is! And he's pulling TWO trailers!"



"John, I know the truck has a lawnmower-sized engine in it, so how did you pull one trailer, let alone two?"

"The truck was a four-wheel-drive that was modified to be a rock crawler so it has a six speed transmission and a two speed transfer case. The gear reduction really does allow it to 'crawl' along and the low end torque is great even with just five horsepower, but the best speed I can get with this load is about 2MPH or a slow walk. Sure does beat moving this with a horse and wagon because Boots couldn't pull the load in either of the trailers. If you'll help me with the front and back doors on the barn, I'll pull through and drop the trailers. David and Thomas got their loads first and we unloaded at their place then we went back for what I wanted and they helped me load up. I told them we'd park these trailers in the barn until we made space to unload everything so it could be a day or two before we'll start unloading. Sarah can be my messenger when we've figured out what goes where and she can tell David that I'm ready to unload."

"And you got?"

"Items on your lists that are checked off. Items not on the list but that I thought worth bringing back without asking about are listed on the yellow paper."

"All American canner?"

"Pressure and water bath, two of each. Lots of jars, rings and lids. Couple of books on canning and drying food. Lots of clothes. I need to sit and drink some more water; digging deep in those trailers is hot work. I made notes of things I saw but wasn't sure about - check the pink paper."

"Go sit. You've earned it."

---

"AGM batteries, Daddy? Aren't those what you use for solar?"

"Yes, Sarah. However, some newer cars also use AGM batteries because they don't spill or dribble acid and can be mounted in the trunk because there's not a lot of room under the hood in some cars plus batteries last longer in the trunk because they stay cooler."

"Does that mean we can use the computer more and watch more DVDs?"

"We'll have a little more stored power but for anything other than lesson time, you still must earn computer and DVD time."

"It didn't hurt to ask."

"You may always ask. Today I think you and Melissa each earned 30 minutes for the lists you made. You'll have the opportunity to earn more time when we start unloading the trailers."



'And what did my list earn today, Mr. Adams?'

'You can collect after the girls are asleep, Mrs. Adams.'

---

[papaof2]

This story is NOT finished and it may never be extended beyond where it stalled a couple of months ago. It does stop at a good point (not a cliffhanger).

Requests for another chapter or "the next chapter" will be ignored.

================

Keep the Cool Inside

Copyright © 2019 J. E. Carter
All rights reserved

================

Chapter 15


Thursday, 13 June, 5:20AM


ringgggggggggg!



"John, what was that?"

"That, Mrs. Adams, is our older daughter being a self-starter. She asked me yesterday if there was a windup clock so she could set an alarm to get up for her job."

"And that little 'ring' is from?"

"A folding, windup travel alarm that my Dad used many years ago. It keeps reasonably good time for a windup clock and the alarm runs long enough for a light sleeper."

"No comments about a low-tech timepiece?"

"Just 'It's nice to have things that work'."

"I also like having running water - even if it's running slowly - and flush toilets. Not having to pump and carry water for the animals is also a 'nice to have'."

"Just me making the best use of available resources."

"If other people had things to barter, you'd be getting asked to do a lot of 'making the best use'. I know you cautioned the girls about not mentioning the conveniences we have and the only exception I'm aware of was Sarah explaining to one of the retired nurses at church that the old springhouse was cool enough to store insulin in 'for a little while' and that we were 'trying to make more from a sheep's pancreas', both very reasonable answers to a life-threatening problem."

"She did do well with that and Melissa answered someone who was trying to pump her about the truck with 'It's got an itty-bitty lawnmower engine and I can run faster than it can' which is true when the truck is loaded. Telling the truth, but only enough to satisfy whomever is asking, is always good because you don't have to remember any lies that you have told."

---

"Anything special in your backpack, Sarah?"

"Just some nutmeg and ginger for the blackberry cobbler Mr. Tatum also asked about yesterday, Momma. I think the cobbler will be easier to fix and take less time than the carrot cake he asked about."

"You have your grandmother's cobbler recipe?"

"I copied it to this index card so the original won't get lost. It's so good I don't want to lose the recipe and I haven't fixed it enough times to have it memorized."

"Glad you're thinking ahead."

"Me too."

"Daddy, that's what Melissa says!"

"But not about you thinking ahead."

"I guess you're right. Time for me to go and I will ride in the middle of the road and have my weapons where I can reach them. I saw the rattler you killed out by the gate so I'll be watching and listening even closer."

"Very good. There's only one of you and I might like you a little bit."

"I know."

"I saddled Boots so you're ready to go."

"Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome, daughter. Remember to thank whoever helps you with the saddle at the Tatums' place."

"I will. That's usually Mister David."

---

"You've made your 'day's worth of food' list for Lois?"

"It's in Sarah's backpack. She can hand it to Lois before she heads back home today."

"That'll work. Here's a smile or two for you. While we were salvaging yesterday, David told me that he is seeing evidence that the way to a boy's heart is through his stomach - it seems Caleb has asked his grandmother how you apologize to a girl when you've said some dumb things to her. She told him that his 'yummy' about the cheese omelets Sarah fixed for breakfast yesterday was a good start."

"No further comments about a 'GIRL' cooking?"

"Only 'Any more biscuits?'"

"I think that issue is permanently settled. If only all boy-girl disagreements were so easy to resolve - especially when they are teenagers and older."

---

"Sarah?"

"Yes, Mister David?"

"I have a question about how your insulin process is done - actually, about the equipment used and its layout."

"It's mostly old dishes and cookware from the attic."

"I used a little solar charger to charge my phone to have a camera. Could Bobby ride back with you and make some pictures?"

"Yes sir. Better to be riding than walking 'cause Daddy killed a rattler out by our gate yesterday."

"Definitely better. I'll tell the others about the snake. They're usually well away from people so I wonder if something has affected their usual slithering grounds."

"'Slithering grounds?' You're silly, Dad!"

"Think for a minute, Bobby. We talk about people having their familiar 'stomping grounds'. Snakes don't stomp but they do slither so what would you call the places they usually stay?"

"I think the DNR lady that did the presentation at school called it their 'natural habit' or something like that."

"Habitat?"

"Thank you, Sarah. I think that's the word Bobby was looking for."

"Yeah, Dad. She's smart."

---

"You got the pictures you needed, Bobby?"

"Yes, Mrs. Adams."

"You kids go wash up. Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes."

"On my way."

"Me too."



"So what do we do for the next fifteen minutes?"

"Melissa, is that a wedding album?"

"Yes, Bobby."

"May I? I've never seen you and Sarah in anything but jeans."

"Sure. We've all washed our hands so we can look."

"This doesn't look like regular photo paper."

"It's not. Daddy printed it on the inkjet printer. He says the pictures will be OK if they're kept out of the sun and away from any strong chemicals like bleach. That's why it's in a plastic case."

"Sarah, you look nice in jeans but you're really pretty when you're all girly in a dress with your hair down."

"Wearing dresses and having our hair down doesn't work for doing chores so we wear 'work clothes' all the time at home."

"Kids! Lunch is ready."



"Sarah, are you blushing?"

"Momma, Bobby said I was really pretty in a dress with my hair down."

"I think Bobby is very observant."

---

"Sarah has calmed down since Bobby left for home?"

"Yes, John. I think she blushed again every time she noticed him looking at her during lunch."

"He could hardly avoid looking at her when they were sitting across the table from each other. Are you playing matchmaker, Mrs. Adams?"

"Not matchmaker, but Sarah and Melissa could both use a little approval from people near their ages. We probably should come up with a way for all the kids to have some social activities."

"Maybe have a Fourth of July celebration with games for the kids, followed by food for all and then some fireworks?"

"Fireworks?"

"Large box of the $139 'Super Family Pack' fireworks assortments from the Walmart truck. Nothing real big but sparklers, bottle rockets, sidewalk flowers, roman candles, and a few of the larger skyburst rockets. If we did the larger fireworks over the big pond, we'd have very little worry about setting anything on fire if the rockets go up with just a few degrees of lean toward the pond."

"And the games?"

"Probably need multiple adults working on that so we have things that all the kids like. Try this 'Making History Fun' book for some ideas on games and crafts."

"I'll look at that and then go talk to Lois. Some things Sarah has said tell me that Lois might enjoy something that she could 'do' with one hand and that's all you need for planning."

"Sounds good,"

---

"We get range time again, Momma?"

"Yes, Melissa. All of us. You get the gear bag and the rest of us will bring targets, weapons and ammunition."

"Daddy, that's a different gun than last time."

"It's a youth 410 shotgun. I think you and Sarah can both handle it and it's a better weapon when dealing with snakes as you don't have to be as accurate as with a pistol or rifle…"

"'Cause it makes a big spot on the target."

"Correct. A very big spot compared to the .22."

---

"Why did you take down the bullseye, Daddy? That piece of brown bark with a black smudge on it isn't a very good target."

"Melissa, it's not a pretty target and it doesn't have numbers on it but is it closer to what you'd see when looking for a squirrel in a tree or a snake in the weeds?"

"Lots closer to that."

"So maybe there's a good reason to have different targets?"

"Very good reason."

---

"How well did they do today, John?"

"I think Melissa is ready to have her .22 rifle in the rack by the door. A while yet on a handgun as she's not consistently aware of where she has the plastic handgun pointed. Probably typical for an eight-year-old. Sarah's a very mature nine-year-old so she manages 'where it's pointed' better than I expected when I started shooting lessons for them."

"And the 'not shooting' lessons. Some of the unarmed self-defense you've taught them is a little scary in the damage that can be done by 'a little girl'. I'm aware that the psychological effects on adults are an important part of what you're teaching them. If they stop one adult, that will likely slow down other adults and they would have a better chance to get to safety."

"I hope they never need to use any of what I've taught them, but better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."

"You'll get no argument from me. Considering our current environment, that's just another way you say 'I love you'."

---

[9idrr]

Thank you.