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Post by papaof2 on Sept 28, 2019 17:25:58 GMT -6
Chapter 1
Friday, 1 August, 2:25PM
"Mark, what's this on your shirt collar?"
"What color is it, Sarah?"
"Red."
"No idea until I look at it."
"Here."
"Maybe from when Lisa got into your makeup yesterday? She did leave color on a number of male faces."
"Not my shade of lipstick - and why did it take you so long to get new gate hinges at the hardware store?"
"Well, I asked the clerk about parts for the Aladdin lamps so she took me to that aisle and was explaining the various pieces and I guess lost track of the time."
"I texted you FIVE times! I know your phone works in town, so what caused you to lose track of three hours? Is this the clerk's lipstick?"
"Now, Sarah…"
"Don't 'Now, Sarah' me, Mark Talbot! I told you the last time you had an affair that another one would be the end of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot…"
"But Sarah…"
"No 'buts'. Pack your crap, take your Jeep and my lawyer will contact you."
"But darling…"
Ker-slack!
"Do you need 12 gauge confirmation?"
"Give me five minutes to pack."
"That clock has 2:28. Move it!"
---
Roar!
knock. knock.
"Yes?"
"Sarah, it's Willie. Why'd Mark just go tearing out of here? Anything I can do?"
"Lipstick other than mine on his collar, again! But this is the absolute last time because I talked with my lawyer the previous time and he has divorce papers just waiting for the current date and any names I can include. I told the lawyer it was a clerk at Smithville Hardware and he said he'd take it from there."
"The female clerks are Carrie and Millie - short for Millicent. Millie could be my mother so I think the name you want is Carrie. Don't know her last name but Don Atkins owns the store and he can tell you. I'm not much for handling female tears but Sharon's not working today. You want me to call her?"
"Thanks, Willie. Just give me the number…"
"At least let me make the electronic introduction."
"OK."
"Hold it."
Snap!
[Sharon, the one adult female here needs a shoulder to cry on. OK if I give her your number? Or you can call her at 706-555-3791. Picture attached.]
"It's sent. I expect she'll call you…"
Deedleet! Deedleet!
"That's the unknown caller ringtone. Area code 334?"
"Yes."
"Thanks again to my almost big brother."
"I'm out of here."
'This is Sarah.'
'Sarah, I'm Sharon. Tell me about the tears in the picture.'
---
"Mister Willie, where'd Mister Mark go so fast? He ran over one of the chickens we got yesterday!"
"Sarah sent him packing."
"Why?"
"Jack, I think that's a question for you."
"Daddy?"
"Lisa, do you remember telling me about the fights your Aunt Susie and Uncle Rob had?"
"Most of them about him spending time with somebody besides Aunt Susie… Mister Mark did that?"
"And like your Uncle Rob, it wasn't his first time. This time Miss Sarah told him he wouldn't be cheating on her again and she's contacted her lawyer about starting divorce proceedings."
"She's really mad!"
"I think she's all out of 'mad' or she might have hurried Mark away with some buckshot. I'm guessing she's just tired of being lied to."
"I didn't like that either. I'm glad Uncle Joe and Uncle Rob are in jail. When does Kevin get out of juvie?"
"Where did you hear 'juvie'?"
"When Mister Willie was talking to Mister Carl."
"I think they said 30 days on the battery charge and possibly much longer if they have reason to pursue the other charges."
"He won't be back in jail unless he does somethin' else bad?"
"Correct, smart girl. Would you like a hug?"
"Un huh. And I bet Miss Sarah would too."
"Willie said she was talking with his friend Sharon so we'll let them work things out for a while."
"I still get to help cook for everybody tonight?"
"You do. There'll just be one less plate on the table."
---
"Jack?"
"Yes, Willie?"
"Sharon called to tell me that Sarah should probably have people around her later today. Maybe Lisa could distract her?"
"Daddy, can I spend the night with her?"
"Why don't we go ask her?"
knock. knock.
"Yes?"
"It's me, Miss Sarah."
"Yes, Lisa?"
"I told Daddy you needed someone to stay with you so I brought my jammies and you can help me wash my hair after supper and we can have a sleepover."
"You really are the sweet and smart girl that your Daddy keeps saying you are. I'd like to have a sleepover."
"And I think you need a hug."
"You think right. Thanks for bringing her, Jack."
"Just putting her suggestions into action."
"I also need to talk to you about gasoline for the generator. These days of 'High of 96, feels like 110' have the gen running at full output to power the A/C in the RV. The shaded space in the drive-through area of the barn helps but this isn't the best insulated living quarters."
"Sarah, if you're comfortable living in a house with five guys, you can have what I'm sure they once called the parlor. It only has one door, the lock works and the key is in it. We can move things down from one of the upstairs bedrooms to give you some furniture. There are new mattresses for all the beds and plenty of linens. The upper level of the house isn't being cooled but it does provide a large heat barrier so we can run the A/C on one side of the main level most of the day."
"I can just pay you for the gas…"
"The solar portion of the power will be 'free' when we get all of it installed and the offroad diesel the generator uses is currently cheaper than gasoline. Cheaper overall if you just take the room. The drapes in there are old but they are clean and there are plantation shutters on the windows if you want the room dark so you can sleep in."
"Guess that's what I get for letting myself stay in a unit of 'sheep dogs' long enough to be adopted as the 'little sister' even if I am only three years younger than you."
"You're right; it's your fault."
"Thanks, Jack. Good to know that multiple people have my back. Lisa, would you like to help me move my clothes and things while the guys move furniture downstairs?"
"Yes!"
---
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Post by sniper69 on Sept 28, 2019 17:46:08 GMT -6
Thank you for posting this, it is off to a good start.
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 28, 2019 17:53:19 GMT -6
Now you done it, boy. The hook is set and I'm sure I ain't gonna be the only one on your stringer.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 28, 2019 17:57:12 GMT -6
Now you done it, boy. The hook is set and I'm sure I ain't gonna be the only one on your stringer. I'm working on Part 2 but I have a partial outline and most of the first chapter of Part 3 waiting for attention. We could just drop back in to check on these folks every year or two ;-) I'd have to add a cast of characters to each Part so first timers would know they needed to start at the beginning...
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 28, 2019 18:20:43 GMT -6
"so first timers would know they needed to start at the beginning..." So, you're one of those guys who believe in bein' organized and all that stuff, huh? Hey, I've been known to drop in in the middle of a story without realizin' it and had to go find where it started. Thanks for the new chapter.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 28, 2019 18:49:39 GMT -6
"so first timers would know they needed to start at the beginning..." So, you're one of those guys who believe in bein' organized and all that stuff, huh? Hey, I've been known to drop in in the middle of a story without realizin' it and had to go find where it started. Thanks for the new chapter. When I can do things in a semi-organized fashion I will - but my muse doesn't always work that way so sometimes I just write out the bits I get and save them until those bones can be fleshed out. Other times - like the kid I saw who fit the opening description of Part 1 - I just sit down at the keyboard and the story flows out and into Word. However, that's rare. More likely that I put some skeleton away and then later find meat for those bones - (the chapter of "The Elevator" where he wakes up in the dark and in pain [ Ch. 3?]) was the first chapter I wrote - much later I had the rest of the story.
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Post by misterjimbo on Sept 28, 2019 19:44:27 GMT -6
Your muse is very powerful and all knowing. Perhaps she needs some chocolate sacrifices.
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Post by udwe on Sept 28, 2019 19:47:36 GMT -6
Thank you!
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Post by gipsy on Sept 29, 2019 21:26:14 GMT -6
You please keep writing and we will keep enjoying. Thanks
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Post by ydderf on Sept 29, 2019 23:15:07 GMT -6
I'm glad your muse has found her way home. Give her much praise and our thanks.
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Post by smitty60 on Sept 30, 2019 9:42:08 GMT -6
Thank you for the new story. I don't thank you enough. Though i do buy your books😁
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 30, 2019 10:04:00 GMT -6
Thank you for the new story. I don't thank you enough. Though i do buy your books😁 You're welcome. And "Thank you". Please tell all the readers you know.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 30, 2019 16:46:40 GMT -6
Chapter 2
Friday, 1 August, 7:20PM
"Seeing that you have both hands working again, Lisa, how much of supper did you make tonight?"
"Mister Jesse, me and Miss Sarah did it all!"
"Lisa, that's 'Miss Sarah and I'. The other person's name first and you try 'I' and 'me' by themselves to see which sounds right."
"Daddy, why didn't the teacher tell me like you did and make using 'I' and 'me' easy?"
"Maybe she's known what's right for a long time and didn't think to tell you the 'why' and 'how'?"
"I still want you to be my teacher when school starts back."
"We'll see."
"OK."
"English lesson aside, both our ladies did a good job. I'm stuffed."
"But Mister Carl, we baked brownies!"
"Death by chocolate! What a wonderful way to die."
"You're as silly as Daddy is!"
"And now you and Sarah are both smiling."
"Carl, it's good to have 'family', even if it seems we might lose Willie to another good cook."
"Sarah, if everything is like that sweet potato pie Sharon sent us, she should open a restaurant."
"Yummy!"
"I agree with Lisa. Yummy."
"You're being silly again, Daddy."
---
"Why am I taking a big box of tissues to Miss Sarah's room?"
"Remember that she's sad about what happened with Mark today and she may have tears again more than once."
"I should give her a hug?"
"Ask if she wants one."
"I can do that. And let her hold Hiram Bear?"
"That too."
---
"I think Sarah reading to Lisa in bed has them both asleep. First question: will Mark try to retaliate?"
"Jack, the tires on Sarah's car were slashed the previous time she mentioned a divorce. We should at least be more aware. Maybe increase the sensitivity of the motion sensors?"
"Agreed, Jesse. Second question: what form would the retaliation take?"
"Mark was charged with arson when he was about 14 but he went to counseling instead of incarceration. Even with a decent pond as a water source, we're a long way from the metal building where the Volunteer Fire Department parks their trucks. Carl, do any of the cameras have IR capability that can do fire sensing?"
"Luigi, I think that some of them do. I made a paper note to check the specs on each one and set up long distance fire sensors if possible."
"Jack, are there enough entry sensors to monitor each door and window?"
"I think so but we'd need to dig them all out and test them to know the exact number. I'm not aware of any of us planning to be off the property for an extended period in the next couple of days…"
"I'll be at Sharon's tomorrow evening for supper and to review some of the properties out here with her Dad. She texted me that I could invite Sarah to come with me. Then church on Sunday."
"We should always have at least two people here. I plan to take Lisa to Sunday School and church with me Sunday. Doesn't hurt our standing with the neighbors to be active in church - and I think it's a good place for Lisa who also might have met someone she liked last Sunday."
"The kid who couldn't stop talking about her being 'a good shooter'?"
"Don Atkins' grandson Tyler. He's about Lisa's age and lives with his grandparents. I don't know the details of that. As far as gun things go, Don is a Life Member of the NRA and Tyler started shooting before he was six. Tyler's very impressed that another kid can shoot a handgun better than he can - especially a GIRL, an outlook Don told me Tyler got from his now-absent father. Don was impressed that the cast didn't slow Lisa down and that she ignores all the drama of 'You shot a bad guy' and just says 'I was keeping myself safe'."
"Smart. Pretty. Practical. Gun-friendly. If only…"
"She was 30 years older, Jesse?"
"Yes, Luigi. My perfect future wife; but when she's old enough for marriage, she'll see me as a doting - maybe that's doddering? - uncle or something."
---
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Post by texican on Oct 1, 2019 23:04:11 GMT -6
PP2, When I can do things in a semi-organized fashion I will
And generally very well even if in fits and starts....
Thanks for the two chapters.... Didn't have internet or land line for six days due to failure of the electric system pulsing multiple times last Thursday and Friday wiping out the local telephone switch station.... Both are back on late this evening after the phone company changed out all of the equipment.... Multiple calls to both utilities.... Today is my and my dear wife's 42nd wedding anniversary.... She has managed to put up with me for 42 years which is saying a lot.... She also helps me with my mother that lives with us which is not an easy chore....
So sad that so many can not make it in marriage....
Now where is Chapter 3 since you have everything in semi organization...
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 2, 2019 10:51:32 GMT -6
PP2, When I can do things in a semi-organized fashion I willANn generally very well even if in fits and starts....
Thanks for the two chapters.... Didn't have internet or land line for six days due to failure of the electric system pulsing multiple times last Thursday and Friday wiping out the local telephone switch station.... Both are back on late this evening after the phone company changed out all of the equipment.... Multiple calls to both utilities.... Today is my and my dear wife's 42nd wedding anniversary.... She has managed to put up with me for 42 years which is saying a lot.... She also helps me with my mother that lives with us which is not an easy chore....
So sad that so many can not make it in marriage.... Now where is Chapter 3 since you have everything in semi organiaation...
Texican....
Congratulations! My better half has been putting up with me 12 years longer than yours has been putting up with you ;-) I'm sure that power and communications being out in most of my stories is probably boring to some people because it happens again and again, but you just proved my point - it doesn't take an EMP or the eruption of Yellowstone to isolate an area and put it in the dark. Did the telephone office being down also affect cell phone service for some people? What would things in your area have been like if power, phones and internet weren't fixed in a week? Two weeks? A month? Even longer? The Camp Fire should have proved that there's no need for evil intent - poor maintenance or poor follow-up of reported problems can also create an SHTF event for many people.
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 2, 2019 14:08:18 GMT -6
Chapter 3
Saturday, 2 August, 7:20AM
knock. knock.
"Sarah? You awake?"
"Huh?"
I'm holding Hiram Bear? Lisa's head is on my shoulder? I guess I did move to the house last night and it wasn't a dream.
"Give me a minute to get my head together, Jack."
"OK. Breakfast in progress but my assistant cook will probably want to help."
"I'll wake her. Good morning, sweet girl."
"Good morning, Mo… Oh. Hi, Miss Sarah."
"How did I wind up with Hiram Bear?"
"I woke up and you were crying so I gave you a tissue, Hiram Bear and a hug and you went back to sleep."
"Thank you, sweet girl. If you want to help cook, go potty, then to your room for clothes then to the kitchen - but don't run."
"Yes, Mo… Miss Sarah."
---
"Blue shorts today, Lisa?"
"Daddy, I'd rather have the white ones but Mickey's red shorts would show through."
"That's my smart girl. Do you remember how to turn the pancakes?"
"Un huh."
"Show me."
"Spatula down flat and slide it under and turn it over… like this."
"Very good. You finish the pancakes on this griddle while I pour more on the other griddle and then I'll move the stool so you can reach them."
"Yes!"
"Jack, how much of this cast iron cookware did you bring and how much was here?"
"Luigi, the things with a 'Lodge' label came with me. The others were here and have been cleaned up and seasoned."
"So we have a seven-year-old using cookware that's a hundred years older than she is?"
"Yes, but some of the pieces are even older. The satellite TV plus internet installation is scheduled for this afternoon so we'll be able to research the actual ages later today."
"What about the additional solar equipment?"
"I asked Harry Jenkins to check Craig's List in Atlanta, Montgomery and a couple of other places for deals on solar panels and batteries. I had a full set of spare charge controllers, so the solar array can be doubled using those as soon as we find the panels and I'll have time to order a new and somewhat larger set of spares."
"What about that big solar dealer in Miami?"
"Considering the state of the nation's power grid right now, I'd rather not be making large trackable purchases of alternate energy components. What's done on Craig's List will be cash and usually less than $1000 per transaction. If Harry does the buying in Georgia, it won't point to us and I've offered him and his daughter a place here if we do experience an SHTF event. Ordering several 'offbrand' charge controllers from US vendors on Amazon and Ebay, plus a few from AliExpress, and having some of them delivered to Harry and some here won't be seen as a 'whole house' solar project - just some people dabbling in solar power."
"You certainly deserve the nickname 'Ghost'. You get into an armed confrontation your first day in this county but a week later the child you rescued is a heroine of sorts and you're disappearing into the background."
"I'd prefer to stay 'disappeared' but circumstances don't always allow that."
"Not just circumstances, Jack. Your response to someone in trouble doesn't allow that."
"That too."
---
"Sarah, you look better this morning."
"That is thanks to a very sweet and smart girl, Jack. She woke to me crying during the night so she gave me a tissue, then Hiram Bear to hold and she hugged me."
"So you've also been 'adopted' by my new daughter?"
"So it seems. Probably not a bad family to be part of."
beep!beep!
"Text from Harry."
[245 watt panels are 10 for $1000. Also 20 Fullriver DC400-6 415AH 6 volt AGM batteries for $250 each but might be negotiable in quantity (remember the "might"). 11 months old so 6 years transferable warranty left. 8000 watt Reliable Power 24 volts DC to split 240 volts AC pure sine wave inverter $450.]
"Harry found some things near Atlanta. We're looking at $3000 for solar panels, $5000 for batteries and $450 for an inverter that can run the well pump and the 24,000BTU A/C for this side of the house. Plus another $1500 for roof mounts for the panels, $1000-$1400 for additional controllers and $750-$1500 for wiring, breakers, heavy duty shelving for the batteries, etc. Most of the miscellaneous items we can get at a home center so we'd just take our list and a trailer. I'll want to spread that out over multiple stores, including Smithville Hardware. That price would give us about 20 hours of battery backup in summer if we're running the central air - consider that one night's sleep without a generator - or about four days in winter without running the gen if we use wood heat."
"That's about $12,000 which is a big hit on the $20,000 you started with, Jack. Here's my $2000."
"Mine."
"Mine."
"Mine."
"And mine."
"Thanks, team."
"We can't live this well for these prices anywhere else."
"Let me tell Harry the quantities and that I have cash."
[30 panels unless you get a better price at 40 or more panels. All 20 batteries. Inverter. Check for EPEver 4210A charge controllers ($100 or less) or MakeSkyBlue 50 or 60 amp controllers version 1.19 ($90 or less) - not the MSB wifi and not any older version. Up to 15 of the 4210A or 12 of the MSB. I have cash to cover all of it.]
---
"Jack?"
"Yes, Willie?"
"Could the house across the road be retrofitted for solar?"
"We might be getting a neighbor we already know?"
"Sharon's Dad knows the area and that place has a small, spring-fed year-round creek plus the well and he thinks the house was built as well as this one, but it's about 50 years newer. It's had the same window and insulation upgrades as this house. I have the key."
"Then let's put together a recon party."
---
"How big is the property, Willie?
"Hundred and ten acres. Like yours, there's farmland to feed a family and have some food for sale or trade plus enough woodlot to provide firewood all year. We've found blackberry hedges along the fences, the second barn would work for solar and the panels would be hidden by the first barn plus there's a big tornado shelter."
"Like our house, you can get vertical airflow through the house in nice weather by adjusting the windows on the upper and lower floors. The A/C is a couple of years old. The LP furnace and water heater about five years. You want to bring over the 5000 watt gen and we can test one electrical thing at a time until it's all checked? The 10 inch wheels are big enough to get it across the gravel road."
"Let's do it."
---
"It all tests OK, Willie. Are there other properties?"
"One's about a half mile west of here. The other one has a sign on this road but the property fronts on the dirt road that runs behind your place."
"So even more remote than this?"
"I do like my privacy and I would have a trusted neighbor on adjacent property."
"True. Check them now?"
"Carl said he'd have burgers on the grill for lunch so after we eat?"
"Most definitely after, when the burgers will include baked beans and German potato salad from his grandmother's recipes."
---
"Mister Carl, this is yummy!"
"How many times did I ask you to try it, Lisa?"
"A bunch, Daddy, but it doesn't look like any potato salad I ever saw before!"
"Being different doesn't keep it from being good. Remember your 'Yuck' the first time I said 'oatmeal'?"
"Different there is very good."
"Will you trust me next time I ask you to try something new?"
"Un huh."
---
"Can I go with you, Daddy?"
"Are you armed and do you have your Get Home Bag?"
"Always armed. Why the bag? Aren't we gonna be back for supper?"
"We plan to be back, but look at the clouds. Could we have rain that makes the creek up that way fill up and be so high over the road that we can't drive through it?"
"I gotta remember to look for 'all day' and not just 'right now'."
"That's my smart girl. Get your GHB. And does it have more ammunition in it?"
"The box from my chest. Is that 50 rounds?"
"Fifty rounds minus whatever you've used at the range. Did you count how many were in the box?"
"I better get a full box."
"Very good."
"I'm losing my assistant cook?"
"Daddy and Mister Willie think it's just for a little while to check out two more houses, Miss Sarah. But I still gotta take my GHB."
"Here's something extra for your bag today. Three brownies left from yesterday and in a hard plastic container so they don't get mashed flat in your very full bag."
"They go in this pocket on the outside."
---
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Post by 9idrr on Oct 2, 2019 20:16:44 GMT -6
Thanks.
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Post by gipsy on Oct 2, 2019 21:30:52 GMT -6
Cool
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Post by texican on Oct 2, 2019 21:56:43 GMT -6
PP2, When I can do things in a semi-organized fashion I willAnd generally very well even if in fits and starts....
Thanks for the two chapters.... Didn't have internet or land line for six days due to failure of the electric system pulsing multiple times last Thursday and Friday wiping out the local telephone switch station.... Both are back on late this evening after the phone company changed out all of the equipment.... Multiple calls to both utilities.... Today is my and my dear wife's 42nd wedding anniversary.... She has managed to put up with me for 42 years which is saying a lot.... She also helps me with my mother that lives with us which is not an easy chore....
So sad that so many can not make it in marriage.... Now where is Chapter 3 since you have everything in semi organization...
Texican....
Congratulations! My better half has been putting up with me 12 years longer than yours has been putting up with you ;-) Congratulations on the 54 years of marriage which is fantastic.... You undoubtedly have a great wife to put up with you for that many years....I'm sure that power and communications being out in most of my stories is probably boring to some people because it happens again and again, but you just proved my point - it doesn't take an EMP or the eruption of Yellowstone to isolate an area and put it in the dark. Did the telephone office being down also affect cell phone service for some people? What would things in your area have been like if power, phones and internet weren't fixed in a week? Two weeks? A month? Even longer? The cell phone tower as well as the telephone switch office are on microwave.... Most do not realize how drastic it will be if electrical power fails for months or even forever.
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 4, 2019 13:01:10 GMT -6
Chapter 4
Saturday, 2 August, 5:10PM
"That's it, Jack. Now I have notes about the pros and cons of all three properties. Thanks for the help. You too, Lisa."
"You're welcome, Mister Willie. You gonna talk to Miss Sharon's Dad about buying a farm?"
"He knows a lot about these old farms and it's always worth your time to investigate all you can before buying property. I don't think any of these houses will have treasure like yours and I'm pretty sure there's not another smart and sweet girl running around out here, but I need to know which ones are worth the asking price or if I should make a lower offer."
"But we won't see you as much if you're living somewhere else!"
"When you've learned to ride that horse you keep asking for, maybe you could ride over to see us. Jack might think you're safer on a good horse than walking down the road."
"Really, Daddy?"
"Yes, 'really', sweet girl. I've found a couple of horses that might work for you to ride them and us to farm with them and we'll go look at them Monday or Tuesday. I'll be talking with Martin Duke at church tomorrow about the best time to see them."
"I love you, Daddy!"
"I might like you a little bit, horse-crazy girl."
Roar! Thump!
"OW! Owwwww! Ow!"
"Sounds like a kid, Jack."
"Lisa, you may come with us but stay behind me and do as I say. We don't want to have two kids hurt."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
"I think the lungs and vocal cords are OK. There's dust coming from that old logging road. Willie, you take the left side and I'll take the right side. Lisa…"
"Behind you, Daddy."
"That's my smart girl."
"Ow! Ow!"
"I see an upside-down three-wheeler just past the pile of brush on your side, Jack."
"Center of the road, Lisa."
"I'm there."
"Ow! Ow!"
"Daddy, it's Tyler! I remember his Batman shirt."
"Tyler, where does it hurt?"
"Ow! My arm! And my leg! Ow! Ow!"
"I think you broke your arm and your leg is against the muffler so that hurt is a burn. Willie, can you get the back wheel and the end of the handlebar on that side?"
"Got the wheel. The handlebar bent when it hit and I think his hand was trapped so that's what broke his arm. Tyler, it will hurt when we lift this off you because your arm and your leg will both move but then it won't hurt as much."
"Ow! Make it stop hurting!"
"Tyler, give me your hand."
"OK, Lisa."
"Squeeze my hand if it hurts."
"OK."
"On three, Jack. One. Two. Three!"
"OWWW!"
"Better now, Tyler?"
"Yes, Lisa. You do good taking care of people."
"Tyler, is your grandmother or grandfather at home?"
"Grandpa's at the store. Grandma went to Miz Thompson's next door for some kind of spice and I got the ATV while she was gone. They won't let me ride it by myself but Daddy said it's mine and I should be able to ride it any time I want to."
"But you didn't see the hole in the road and the ATV flipped when you hit it?"
"Maybe I'm not big enough to ride everywhere by myself."
"What's you Grandma's phone number?"
"334-5.5..5-...3….7… I don't remember the rest of it."
"Then I'll call 911 and they can get you to the hospital…"
"Jack, I'm calling Carl. He and Sarah can find Grandma."
"Thanks, Willie. Lisa, I need the First Aid kit from your GHB and the splint kit. You'll have to help me do this."
"Tell me what to do."
'Smith County 911. Where is your emergency?'
'Old logging road between County 17 and the dirt road that's about a half mile behind it. Can you read the GPS in my phone?'
"This one, Daddy?"
"Yes."
'We don't have that capability yet. Can you give me the phone's GPS coordinates?'
' 31.67083295 North, 87.836164567 West'
"Willie, help me get the arm straight."
"OW!!"
'I have you located. What is the nature of your emergency?'
'Seven year old boy flipped his three-wheeled ATV. Left arm broken between wrist and elbow. Right leg has possibly second degree burns from the muffler. His helmet is scraped and slightly dented but he is conscious and talking.'
"Lisa, tie a knot in this piece of gauze and then the other one. Then get the bag marked 'Burn Kit'"
"Tie like this?"
"Very good."
'Be nice to have every report that concise. Victim's name?'
'Tyler Atkins. He said his grandfather was at the store and his grandmother went to a neighbor's to borrow some spice, so he snuck out with the ATV. We called someone to have them try to locate his…'
"Tyler!"
"Grandma!"
'His grandmother is on scene.'
'Are you LEO?"
'No. Former military.'
'Please stay on the line. ETA for EMTs is seven minutes.'
'We'll be here.'
---
"Mrs. Atkins, can you tell me what happened?"
"Deputy Thompson, I was gone maybe five minutes and when I got back I hollered for Tyler and he didn't answer so I checked outside and that damned ATV his father sent him was gone - and he knows he's not allowed to ride alone - and just as I was about to call you, these people drive up and tell me Tyler's been hurt but there's someone with him who can take care of him until they get an ambulance there and then they take me and when we get there the ATV's upside-down and bent and Tyler's on the ground with two men and a little girl putting a splint on his arm and then I saw his leg and I think I fainted."
"You just sit there and sip this water. Your husband will be here in the ER in a few minutes. The ER doc says the EMTs were impressed with the first aid Tyler received - even the little girl holding his hand when they checked him. Human contact can be really important during a traumatic event."
"He better hope she's available to hold his hand when his Grandpa deals out the promised punishment for going off alone."
"I think he's already getting worse punishment than his Grandpa would ever give. The doc said the break in his arm will need surgery to set it and he'll be in a cast for weeks. The burn on his leg is mostly first and second degree and they're not yet sure if he'll need to go to the Burn Center in Birmingham but it could have been much worse if Jack and Willie hadn't been there to lift the bike off him as soon as they did."
"Jack? The Jack that rescued Lisa Bonner?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"And the 'little girl' was Lisa?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Tyler was impressed with her shooting. I'm impressed with her care-giving skills. Wonder if she knows how to cook and sew?"
"She's learning to cook, as she had brownies in her backpack that she helped bake yesterday. Don't know about the sewing. Tyler was very disappointed when Jack told him that he couldn't have anything to eat until the ER doc had checked whether he'd need surgery. Lisa did say she'd save one for him."
"She's a sweet kid."
---
"Liz, are you OK? They told me you'd passed out!"
"Don, I'm fine. It was just the excitement of Tyler running off, being told he'd been hurt, seeing them putting a splint on his arm and then seeing that burn on his leg."
"How's Tyler?"
"In surgery for his broken arm and they're also checking how bad the burn is. The ER doc didn't know if he'd need to go to the Burn Center in Birmingham or not. We'll know when he's out of surgery."
"Who found him?"
"Jack Wilson and his friend Willie - I forget the last name - and Lisa Bonner were out looking at farms Willie might buy when they heard the 'Thump' of the ATV hitting something and then they heard Tyler yelling so they just followed the sound. Jack and Willie lifted the ATV off him. Lisa held his hand and even helped with the splint."
"Our new residents are good people."
"They sure are."
---
"Lisa, do you think we should tell the others we'll be late for supper?"
"Daddy, you're being silly again. They already know we'll be late. You told me that all of you have had a broken bone somewhere and that the doctors take forever getting it 'just right'."
"That's my smart girl. You want a brownie while we wait to see how Tyler's surgery goes?"
"No. I told him I'd save one for him. But maybe something to drink?"
"Come with me to the snack shop and we'll see what they have. Willie?"
"Bring me back lemonade or chocolate milk. I'll stay here in case anyone has a question for us. I'll text you if needed. I'm surprised no one has complained about the three of us being armed."
"Lots of hunters probably come in with a bear or pig gun on their belts. And this ER has dealt with our Annie Oakley before."
"That they have." ##
---
## "The Waif - Part 1"
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Post by texican on Oct 4, 2019 16:16:31 GMT -6
PP2,
Lisa, Jack and Willie to the rescue....
Lisa is getting lessons with impact....
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican....
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 6, 2019 12:31:39 GMT -6
Chapter 5
Saturday, 2 August, 7:40PM
"Jack, where's Willie?"
"Carl, Willie went to Sharon's, if somewhat later than planned."
"Welcome home, heroes of the day."
"What, Sarah?"
"Jack, I don't know how they found out but the local country music FM station had it on their 7PM news. Seems ATV accidents are common out here but having qualified people on the scene within a minute or so of the accident is very rare. Unheard-of to have a little girl helping with first aid. Don't know that it'll make TV news in Birmingham or Montgomery but your faces are already familiar to many as one of the deputies did a Facebook post of a picture of you, Willie and Lisa putting the splint on Tyler's arm with the comment 'Wish more people knew First Aid and taught their kids like these people do'."
"We could do without that kind of publicity."
"True, but the road was a public place."
"Any location identifier?"
"The poster is 'AlabamaDeputy' and his profile gives his location as just 'Alabama'."
"Then maybe not bad."
"Carl put the rest of the burgers on the grill when you called from the hospital as he didn't think any of you would complain about a repeat of lunch. We can eat as soon as you wash your hands and fill your plates. Tyler's status?"
"Medical prognosis is fair. Surgeons set his arm and it's in the first cast. They cleaned the burn on his leg and he's on his way to the Burn Center because there are some areas of third degree burns. However, those are small so they think the deep tissue damage and the scarring may be minimal and the Burn Center will be able to help with that. Prognosis of his future encounter with his grandfather and that razor strop might not be so good."
"Lisa's concerned about him getting the brownie she promised him."
"His grandmother called earlier to say 'Thank you' and she said they're taking the brownies with them so Tyler can have one as soon as he can have solid food. She said we would get the container back - but filled, because that's how people here return unexpected gifts of food and she didn't get to thank any of you in person."
"Speaking of food, let's eat!"
"Sounds just like you, Jesse."
---
"Do we sleepover again tonight, Miss Sarah?"
"It's sweet of you to offer but I want to try by myself tonight."
"OK. You'll help me with my hair?"
"Yes. Who does the story?"
"Daddy."
---
"What's up, Jack? You're more worried than that picture justifies."
"Jesse, it's the number of people in the ER with some kind of cough. Fall allergies, winter colds and flu, and then spring allergies I expect at those times of year but there shouldn't be anything that has 90% of the ER waiting room filled before 6PM on a Saturday night in August."
"Not good. The satellite internet and TV are installed and working so you can do research and see if the talking heads are talking about whatever they're calling this cough. That delay after clicking the mouse on the satellite internet is something I'll have to relearn - things don't happen immediately but a half-second or so after you click."
"That's the downside of satellite internet but the upload and download speeds are much faster than dialup or even DSL this far out. Cable isn't an option here. They lost out to satellite TV several years ago."
"I'll just have to retrain my fingers to not click again if 'nothing' happens."
"Me too. I had a 50Mbs fiber connection at the previous location."
"Really a comedown for you."
"I survived the days of dialup internet; I'll survive this."
"Did you get the tee shirt?"
"How about one with 'Hayes Smartmodem 1200' on it?"
"A true warrior of the early internet."
"I found that shirt at the Goodwill store for 25 cents, but I did use dialups."
---
"Read to me, Daddy?"
"In my lap or after you're in bed?"
"Lap. And a piggyback to bed?"
"I think we can manage that tonight."
"You're the best Daddy ever."
"Why?"
"'Cause you're always there to take care of other people and you're teaching me how."
"Two chapters tonight if you don't go to sleep too soon?"
"Yes!"
---
"Didn't take long to get her to sleep tonight, Jack."
"Not after an exciting and somewhat scary day, Jesse. Her being still longer to hear the second chapter also helped."
"So, anything online about the cough?"
"Higher than usual number of ER and doc-in-a-box visits the past three or four days and it's been moving across the country at about the speed of that storm."
"Something airborne?"
"That seems to match the speed at which it's spreading."
"How serious?"
"Mostly minor, but a small percentage gets very sick the first day. However, the number of 'very sick' increases each day: the number doubles on Day Two and doubles again on Day Three. There are some N95 and P95 masks in the things I moved here so all of us will be masked any time we're outside and I'll need to see if one of the UK-produced masks will work better for Lisa because of her smaller face. No one outside the group allowed in the house until we know much more about whatever this is."
"You think transportation and shipping might be shut down?"
"I expect them to be officially shut down in a few days to 'limit the spread' but with the currently reported infected areas, they should have quarantined people in their homes when the first case was reported. Unfortunately, there is no 20/20 foresight on what might be the spread or the carrier of the next 'Spanish flu' level of pandemic outbreak."
"Your friend Harry knows?"
"He knows. He got all the things we'd texted about and a rental truck yesterday. He and Lacey are moving everything here. Lisa will be pleased to have someone to play with and I'll be pleased to have my universal handyman available as we go into quarantine mode here."
"We'll have enough solar power?"
"Best answer is 'maybe'. It's hotter and more humid here than where I did the original planning so my estimates of the increases needed may not be correct. I can answer that better when they've been here for a week and we're looking at power needs to feed and bathe six adults and two children. If the additional pieces I've ordered get here Monday or Tuesday we could be OK. I won't even guess about transportation after Tuesday."
"What about the things we'd need to farm here?"
"Seed, fertilizer, implements, repair parts, tires, hoses, oil and filters, hydraulic oil and filters plus leather and bridle hardware for repairing the horse-drawn implements should all be here Monday, Tuesday at the latest. Smithville Hardware also has a 'seed and feed' section so we could get some amount of those things there. Also a load of LTS food plus the usual storage foods of beans, rice, flour, corn meal, etc. We may not be thrilled by what we have to eat, but we will have something to eat. I had almost a year's worth of those things, but that was a year for one adult which translates to less than two months for all of us."
"Anything we can grow in two months?"
"A few things, but not a lot. We do have a long enough growing season that anything we plant now will mostly produce before first frost and a few things can be left in the ground for storage if we don't have room in the root cellar."
"So - we don't yet have much food stored but we might have things that get here before the SHTF and if we get things planted and have good weather, we might make the winter?"
"Perhaps you should capitalize each 'if' and 'might'? Lots of unpredictable in that sentence."
"Think I should go sleep on this and see if I have any ideas in the morning."
"Your first idea is good - if you can get to sleep."
---
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Post by texican on Oct 6, 2019 15:52:05 GMT -6
PP2, Seems like a plague is spreading and it is near.... Good reason to limit our exposure to crowds as SOP at all times and none once the plague appears.... According to research by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it’s not just the person next to us we should worry about: coughing spreads droplets as far as six meters (appx. 20 feet), and sneezing as much as eight meters (appx. 25 feet).
Thanks for the chapter....
Texican...
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Post by 9idrr on Oct 6, 2019 20:57:13 GMT -6
So, I thank you or your muse, sir, for the chapter?
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Post by papaof2 on Oct 6, 2019 21:06:40 GMT -6
So, I thank you or your muse, sir, for the chapter? Both, I guess. Her for the inspiration and me for doing the typing ;-)
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