A Better Kind of Life.

[fsr]

My Muse has been beating me hard to get this new story started.
 
A Better Kind of Life Chapter One. 

I am all too familiar with abuse and neglect. My parents were drunks and beat me at every chance they got. I wound up in foster care. my relatives didn’t want any “bad influences” on their beautiful families. They reminded me that my parents were trash and I would never be anything but trash myself.



My foster family is nice but I know I am not family in the truest sense of the word. I don’t blame them for putting their natural born kids first, blood is blood after all. They never beat me and I was fed and clothed. But that is about all.



I have one solace that makes this all tolerable. I like to spend time out in the wild. In order to afford this I got a job at the local camping shop. The owner and I had a good relationship, I taught disabled customers how to adapt equipment for their needs and the owner made sure I had the equipment I needed to go camping as well as decent wage.



I had decent enough grades and graduated just soon enough to “age out” of foster care. My case worker helped me find a efficiency apartment and I thanked her. I really don’t need a lot of room or a fancy place. It even had “free internet” so I couldn’t complain.



Things were looking up until my parents got paroled from prison. The first thing they did was come to settle up with me. I am now back in the hospital with more physical damage to my body. The doctors say that I may recover some but I will have deficits. So I am starting over again. I still have my job but my Landlord has evicted me for damages.



I found out how my parents found me. Someone in The Family Independence Agency aka Social Services tracked me down and gave them my address despite a court restraining order. The director promised a thorough investigation. I will believe it when I see it.



Two months later the Doctors cut me lose. I get an over priced rat trap room until I can find a new place. My lawyer tells me the Parole Officer would not violate my parents because of union ties so they are on the loose and I no longer trust Restraining Orders or Courts or Police. I realize Citizens must protect themselves.



I am too young for a pistol but I can buy long guns. A trip to the local Gun shop/Firing range nets my two weapons. I get a 12 gauge pump shotgun and a nice AK-47. All thanks to me saving every penny I could.

[iamnobody]

Great start!

[udwe]

I agree, great start!

[fsr]

Chapter One Continued.

My Lawyer arranges for a decent one bedroom apartment with internet by the end of the week. My old Landlord is now in serious trouble. No one wants to rent from him anymore. My heart does not bleed for him even if he can’t pay the taxes on the property.



It’s my day off and I am at the range practicing with my weapons. After I am done I go into the store and look at some of the guns, I feel like something is missing from my collection. Talking to the clerk he asks “Do you have a .22 in your arsenal?” I answer him “No I don’t.”



He shows me a few different ones and when I find one I like it goes on Layaway. I have six weeks to pay it off. Not a real problem. I also get a few bricks of ammo for it. I got to admit shooting is a lot of fun but it can be pricey.



After I was done shooting I watched other people and saw some of them collecting the empty cartridges and putting them in boxes or bags. I wondered what they did with those.



I asked one guy and he told me that he would reload them. I had no idea you could do that. I asked if it was hard and he told me “anyone of average intelligence could do it and save a lot on their shooting but the initial investment can shock you. I decided to look into reloading and found myself taking notes.



The clerk told me that the store offered reloading lessons so I signed up. They taught me reloading in all of its many facets including bullet casting! Okay I admit I used a bunch of money to put my reloading stuff on layaway. Because of the size of the purchase I have six months to pay it off. Trust me it won’t take that long.



The next morning finds me at work helping a customer select a tent. He has only one arm so I take a couple of rental tents outside and he finds one that he can set up with ease. He also finds a camp stove and cookware that he is comfortable with. The rest of the day I do more of the same.



My boss tells me that the current camping craze started with Covid and has not let up. In fact it has more than tripled. Hence the reason we are so busy. I know that right now hiring help is next to impossible.



Later on I have a customer ask for something I am unfamiliar with. He needs a “hot tent.”

[ydderf]

Looking good when you write I will read. Thank you

[cavsgt]

Nice start is it too soon to ask for MOAR?

[fsr]

Here is MOAR!


Okay, time to ask the boss on this one. He tells me a hot tent is a tent that is heated with a wood or coal burning stove. The traditional ones are made from canvas but some are now being made with other materials.



The boss shows us the ones he can order and the man decides on a Russian Bear tent. I check with our supplier and they have it in stock. The customer asks me to order the tent and stove, I do so at once. He pays in advance in cash plus he tips my boss and me.



Most of the customers we get are decent folks but we do get some real social justice warriors. One in particular is getting on my nerves. Today she is on about everything. Sexism, Ableism, Climate Change, Past Presidents (all of them conservatives) are Lizard Men from Space and a bunch of other stuff. My boss calls the police and they remove her. Both my boss and I have headaches now.



The news that night covers more “protests” I call most civil people would call it rioting. The police are fighting not only the so called protesters but the city and state Government as well. This night would see rioters locked up by police and let go by the courts.



The next morning my boss calls us together and recommends we start buying freeze dried foods in bulk just in case things get worse. He even offers to pay half of the cost. I sign up before he can change his mind.



It is Wednesday when the truck arrives and I am handling the special orders. The one I am most interested in is the Russian Bear tent. When the customer arrives to pick it up I ask him “Would you like to set it up here for inspection?” He takes me up on the offer and we set it up on our lot.



This thing is huge the stove comes in a nice wood crate. We look over the instructions and the tent goes up rather easy for its size and complexity. A lot of people see the tent and soon I have prepaid orders for six more. I order seven because I want one for me.



The boss decided that we would stock two of each size of these tents since they seemed to sell when people saw them. I got a nice bonus for my presentation while I was setting up the one for the customer.



I didn’t tell anyone that I have wrote a series of articles on camping with disabilities until I knew that they would be published. Not only are they published I get a large chunk of money in my bank account. The boss tells me I should write a book on camping with disabilities.

[cavsgt]

Thank You Will begging work again? MOAR Please.

[udwe]

Great story!

[ydderf]

Thanks

[texican]

Good start fsr.

Texican....

[udwe]

Great start! Keep it up!

[CountryGuy]

Liking the start, hope your Muse kicked you into the New Year.

[fsr]

The Muse told me to get back to writing now that the holidays are over. 

Chapter Two.



Finally, it is Memorial Day weekend and I have it off. I load my gear into my old pick up truck including my new tent, destination is the Au Sable state forest for some Boondocking in order to test my new tent.



I drive back on Jonesville Road and find a nice campsite. it’s about six PM and losing light once the tent is set up I light a pressure lantern and finish moving in. since this is Michigan I gather fire wood for the night because it’s getting cool. I am glad I gathered fire wood it got cold last night.



Saturday Morning dawns bright and clear and cool. I stoke the fire back to life and write down some notes about the tent while my breakfast cooks. It does not take long for the tent to warm up and my breakfast to cook. So far I am happy with the tent and wood stove



After breakfast I take a walk around and look at how other people are camping. One camp in particular was not what I was expecting. A lady and a young girl of about seven or eight are camping in the back of a Toyota Prius. I thought it an interesting choice.



I struck up a conversation and she told me "I got this idea from a YouTube channel and decided to try it.” I told her the set up she had was very interesting, I mean the Prius is basically a rolling generator. She used a two burner induction hot plate to cook on and got hot water from an electric kettle. Not a bad weekend set up. She also told me “If I leave my car on stand by the heater will run as needed and the engine starts and stops automatically.”



We talked a bit longer and she asked to see my camp set up. I told her “Sure I am just up the road a bit.” When they came by a little later I showed them the UP 5 Russian Bear Market Tent and Wood Stove. She said the tent impressed her but since she was making payments on the Prius another large purchase was not in the cards right now.



As we talked I found out they live in the same building as I do. It is a small world isn’t it? I found out that the little girl is Megan and is seven years old and is the half sister of Sarah who is my age. When the father died no else wanted to take Megan so Sarah gave her a home.



I met a retired couple who are touring the country on their motorcycles. They have pop up camper designed for towing behind their big bikes. They were very gracious and gave me the “grand tour” of their very unique camp set up. As with all trips it was soon time to go home.

[udwe]

He's meeting some interesting people.

[ydderf]

Thanks,looking forward to more.

[paulk]

Really have enjoyed your story. Looking forward to more!

[fsr]

It’s Tuesday and I am back at work. We received a shipment from a supplier. As I am checking it in there is a disturbance on the sales floor. I look and see two women raising a fit over something. One woman hits my boss and he goes down. I punch the alarm button.



The police and an ambulance arrive. The women get arrested and my boss is on the way to the hospital. We finish the day so I lock up the store and go home.



My boss is released the next morning with the order to take it easy. He leaves me in charge of the store for the week. Things are going without problem. We get orders in and make sales. I run some numbers in my head and it seems sales are up. Way up. It’s Thursday night and we have a speaker tell us about his canoe trip.



It’s Friday morning and the boss is back. He calls us all together and hands out bonus checks to everyone. A most welcome thing as we are all working a lot of hours. We are trying to hire help but the government is paying people to sit around, so why should they work?



The bonus comes at a good time. It seems my poor old truck has met its end due to old age and lots of miles. After work I am going car shopping. I hate car shopping with a passion. I finish the day and manage to get home. I cook a quick meal and go to bed early.



It’s Sunday and the store is closed. I get a visit from my neighbor Sarah that I met camping and she tells me about an older couple who are no longer able to drive. They have a Honda Odyssey they are selling cheap. Their plan is to move in with their son and his family. We meet and I look the van over. We talk price and tomorrow they will have their money and I will have my van.



On Monday morning I get the deal completed on my van. My editor calls me and tells me that my latest article will be published. I am starting to make a life that is certainly better than what I could hope for.



There is one thing I have been wanting to do and tonight I will do it.

[iamnobody]

Great update

[fsr]

I get up the courage and ask Sarah out, much to my surprise she says yes. We go out for pizza and check out a local carnival. These carnivals come through about three times every summer. They set up in large parking lots and stay for about two weeks. A few are nice but most are very shady.



I see past the trick games right away. We hit some of the rides and the old style video games. Just as we were starting to have fun I spot my parents. They see me and charge like an angry Rhino. Before I can escape my father has me on the ground with his hands around my neck, chocking the life out of me.



I reach up and jab his eyes and he lets go. Two police officers arrive and I get arrested for assault. I tell the officers that I have a restraining order against them. Their reply is they don’t care. So I spend the night in county jail.



The next morning I am hauled in front of a judge. To my surprise Sarah shows up with an older gentleman in tow. He addresses the court as my legal counsel. He has in his possession video of the incident, sworn testimony of what happened. The judge looks over the evidence and orders all charges dropped with prejudice. His final act is to order my parents arrested.



It turns out that the lawyer is J. Wilhelm Forte. He is the senior partner in the states largest law firm and is on retainer for Sarah’s family. He tells me not to worry about the bill it’s on the city for false arrest and wrongful incarceration. He drives us to the hospital and I receive treatment for my injuries.



My boss tells me to take a week and recover. As I am sitting at home I begin researching things namely the uptick in social violence. This leads me into government policy, there is a rift between politicians and law enforcement. The police have orders in many places to arrest the victim and let the politically protected criminals go. This is getting interesting.



I turn on the news and there is yet another “protest” or I as I like to call it a riot. Online some people are talking about “bugging out” if things get worse. I read about people’s plans and many of them are blabbing about where they are going to hide. I think this defeats the purpose.



I decide to do something about not having a place to run off too if things get bad. After a few hours of looking I come across a website for a strange campground. It is time for a trip up north. I start packing for a three day trip.





I call my boss and tell him my plan he agrees it is a good idea and I should proceed. I don’t want to drive alone so I call Sarah and Megan inviting them to come with me. They agree right away under the condition I include them in my bugout / survival plans. Of course they are a part of my plans, a big part.



We leave early the next morning and arrive about noon at “Wild Bill’s private campground.” Wild Bill himself met us at the gate and he takes on the “half dollar tour.” telling us “My wife and I built this place in the eighties during the cold war.” he continued “a lot of stuff was on peoples mind during this era like invasion and nuclear war.” He tells us “Now we sort of sell campsites for people to build up as they like, there are people in tents and fancy RV’s some even have small sheds that use for shelters.



He took us to what looked like a cellar door. He beamed with pride as he showed us the shelter saying “It’s good for everything from storage to tornadoes to nukes.” the place is really big and Bill built this mostly by himself over the years.



He shows the “fishing lake” it seems there once a stone quarry and it has a lake. It is spring fed and is good for fishing. We sit down and talk about how things are going.



Bill has us pick an empty site and we set up camp. The site has a nice fire ring and cook grill as well as a covered picnic table. It even has its own solar set up. I set up camp and we listened to the news on the radio. Things were getting worse.

[cavsgt]

Thank You!!!! A nice update on what is becoming a very good story.

[ydderf]

Thank you for the update I'm sure enjoying your story.

[udwe]

Am really liking this story! Keep it up, Muse!

[ydderf]

Is it to soon to ask for MOAR.

[texican]

Jan 30, 2022 12:32:28 GMT -6 ydderf said:

Is it to soon to ask for MOAR.

Y,

Has been eight days. So fair game to ask for moar.

Texican....