A Difference of Opinion

[papaof2]

I'm still hooked...

[9idrr]

Glad to see things improving. I think Jillian could use some stability about now.

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Chapter 25

Saturday, March 3rd – Early afternoon

After getting their shotguns from the gun safe, Dave and Jillian took a walk down to the Jacks house, near the main gate and the carnage of two days prior. Both stopped in shock in the middle of the street, about 30 feet from the Jacks’ driveway.

There, parked along the curb, as perfectly aligned and spaced as if they were at a dealer’s lot, were thirteen motorcycles. In front of the first motorcycle was a large cardboard box. Not knowing exactly why the motorcycles were there or who moved them, Dave and Jillian both unslung their shotguns, racked a round, and moved to the front of the house next door to the Jacks residence. They knelt down and took a good slow look at the situation.

“I’m going to move up for a closer look,” Dave whispered. “I want you to stay here and cover me. If you hear shooting, you run for home and lock down the shelter. No discussion. My job is to protect you.” Jillian nodded once, silently.

Dave eased forward, creeping slowly along the front of the house. A noise from near the gate caused him to train his shotgun in that direction. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Jillian had taken cover behind a front porch pillar of the house and had her shotgun ready but raised, as he was in her line of fire.

Dear God in heaven, Dave thought to himself. Their buddies followed them here, killed the Jacks, and now they’ve taken over. He carefully aimed his shotgun and prepared to fire…

just as Bruce and Suzy Jacks came walking through the gate, Suzy stripping off a pair of latex household gloves and Bruce pushing an empty and very bloody wheelbarrow.

Suzy and Bruce saw Dave at the same time and both froze in their tracks, instantly understanding how the situation must look to Dave and Jillian.

Altering the angle of his shotgun ever so slightly, Dave made a motion to Jillian to come forward as he stood and walked towards the Jacks.

“You folks okay? We saw the bikes and thought that, well, you might have had unwanted company.”

Bruce spoke first. “Dave, I’m sorry. We were out here first thing this morning cleaning up the mess out here. We didn’t want to bother you and Jillian. Figured you needed plenty of rest.”

Dave safed his shotgun and checked to see that Jillian did the same thing. “Looks like you got quite a bit done here. Um, where are...”

“Our visitors?” Suzy spoke up. “We started moving them to the open field next door. That’s where we found all their bikes. So we wheeled the bikes in here and moved them out there.”

“I figured we could sell or trade them for something in the future,” Bruce said, adding, “We stripped the bodies of anything useful, set aside the ID for the police. That’s what’s in the box by the lead bike over there.”

“Was there anything useful off those bums?” Dave asked.

Bruce shook his head. “Not particularly. A couple of the guys had hidden pistols, either in their belts or in ankle holsters. Several had gold coins and jewelry in their pockets. We tossed all that stuff in the box. Didn’t know if we should keep it or give it to the police or what.”

Dave shrugged and said, “I’m tempted to say spoils of war but that’d make us no better than them, frankly. Maybe we should take a drive in to town later, check with the police and see what they want to do. Can we give you a hand with anything?”

“No, we’re all done here,” Suzy said. “Just bringing the tools back, and then going to get cleaned up. How’re things going, Jillian?”

“Pretty good, Mrs. Jacks,” Jillian replied. “We were just coming down to see how you two were doing. When we saw this, we weren’t sure. I was scared.”

“We both were, J,” Dave added. “I’m just glad it was you two being eager beavers and not their buddies come back for revenge.”

“Well, now that that’s over,” Suzy said with a smile, “why don’t you come in and sit a while? I’m sure Bruce can manage something for you to drink. I’m for that shower first!”

A while later, all four current occupants of Midway Estates were sitting in the Jacks living room, with the security shutters and curtains open with Cokes and a plate of cookies on the coffee table.

“You’ll pardon the dust and whatnot, I hope,” Suzy said apologetically. “We decided to move back up topside and haven’t gotten a lot of cleaning done yet.”

“No worries, Suzy,” Dave said, laughing. “We’ve been doing the same thing. Dave flipped a couple of switches so the generator powered the house as well as the shelter, then moved some of the foodstuffs up from the shelter. We can do that with your generator too, Bruce,” Dave reminded him.

“Son of a gun, Dave! I forgot all about that. Would you mind coming down and giving me a hand with that?” Bruce asked.

As with the Simonian home, after a couple minutes, a second home in Midway Estates had electricity.

“What do you think of solar panels, Dave?” Bruce asked. “We’re going to run out of fuel for the generators before too long, and solar would surely help?”

“Good idea, Bruce. I was thinking along those lines myself. I would’ve put them in when I developed this place, but solar wasn’t a big priority then, and the County Planning yahoos wanted me to jump through all sorts of hoops. And, frankly, most of the buyers didn’t want them. Didn’t like the looks of them on the rooftops. Guess that doesn’t matter now.”

Plans were made to go into town the following week and see if any of the big-box hardware stores were open and if they had any panels available. Otherwise, it was a lot of work with a phone directory and driving to different places, with no guarantee of success.

Dave and Jillian headed home, the afternoon sun slowly fading in the west. Leftovers were heated in the microwave, an appliance which both had dearly missed having access to during the last three months.

After dinner, Dave and Jillian decided to sleep in the living room that night, as they hadn’t had the time (or, frankly, the energy) to clean or prepare any of the bedrooms.

Jillian grabbed blankets and pillows from the linen closet upstairs. They slept in their clothes, Dave on the long side of the sofa and Jillian on the smaller side of the L-shaped sofa.

“What’ll tomorrow bring, Dave?” Jillian asked drowsily in the darkened living room.

“I suspect every day will bring surprises from now on, J. We just have to deal with them one day at a time.”

Both fell asleep quickly and slept soundly the whole night through, neither one suspecting that a surprise would be awaiting them at the front gate the next morning.

[papaof2]

Had the person designing the generator connections been more knowledgeable (or perhaps just willing to spend more $$ - some buyers did skimp), the changeover could have been done with a couple of interlocked switches - and provided the ability to send generator power to house, shelter or both. No more than a minute or so to switch between configurations.

I have a small (4 circuit) Gen-Tran switch in the basement that gives me a convenient way to connect a portable generator to specific circuits: fridge, kitchen counter and microwave oven, etc. Only 3 of the breakers are in use. I've been debating using the fourth breaker for either the washing machine or the garage door openers. In 11 years here, the longest outage has been 16 hours (8PM one day to noon the next) so no need of the washer. Neither of us needed to be out before power was restored that time so no need of the garage door openers - and I can still manage the garage doors manually if needed.

If I had $$$ to invest in solar power (panels, batteries) a 3000 watt inverter and a big (800 or 1000 amp hour) battery bank could be connected to the Gen-Tran box to supply those circuits in the short term? Maybe overnight so I wouldn't be out setting up a generator in the dark?

[brucearmstrong65]

Jul 14, 2016 22:32:35 GMT -6 papaof2 said:

Had the person designing the generator connections been more knowledgeable (or perhaps just willing to spend more $$ - some buyers did skimp), the changeover could have been done with a couple of interlocked switches - and provided the ability to send generator power to house, shelter or both. No more than a minute or so to switch between configurations.

I have a small (4 circuit) Gen-Tran switch in the basement that gives me a convenient way to connect a portable generator to specific circuits: fridge, kitchen counter and microwave oven, etc. Only 3 of the breakers are in use. I've been debating using the fourth breaker for either the washing machine or the garage door openers. In 11 years here, the longest outage has been 16 hours (8PM one day to noon the next) so no need of the washer. Neither of us needed to be out before power was restored that time so no need of the garage door openers - and I can still manage the garage doors manually if needed.

If I had $$$ to invest in solar power (panels, batteries) a 3000 watt inverter and a big (800 or 1000 amp hour) battery bank could be connected to the Gen-Tran box to supply those circuits in the short term? Maybe overnight so I wouldn't be out setting up a generator in the dark?

Or, had the person writing the story (me!) known jack about generators and interconnections...

Seriously, thanks for the tip - I will work this in to both stories I've written so far; I've made the same error in both.

Question, if I may: is it too difficult to have a house/shelter with regular power, a generator, and solar? Thanks!

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Chapter 26

Sunday, March 4th – 10:45 AM

Sunday began normally for the four survivors of Midway Estates. It was the Jacks’ turn to host the Sunday service and brunch afterwards. Dave and Jillian arrived just before 10 AM, carrying their shotguns over one shoulder and their Bibles in their other hand, feeling refreshed after their first night’s sleep not in the bunker since December 2nd. Life is going to have a lot of firsts for a while, Dave reflected as he dressed that morning, and, unfortunately, some lasts as well.

The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) was the topic of discussion this morning. Dave realized with a start that he would be responsible for a topic or lesson next week, since the Sunday service and brunch alternated between the two occupied homes.

“I know he’s in the wrong, but I sympathize with how the older brother feels,” Jillian said as the discussion was wrapping up. “At least, I can understand why he’d feel that way: he works hard, does the right things, respects his father – and it’s the spendthrift brother who gets the party.”

“That’s true, Jillian,” Bruce acknowledged, “but it wasn’t an endorsement of the younger brother’s misconduct. The last verse says it all, I think: ‘But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ It was a time to celebrate the younger son’s return, not to settle accounts.”

The four held hands and Bruce, as host, offered a prayer to end the service.

A second after Bruce said “Amen,” there was a clanging noise from the front gate.

Immediately the foursome grabbed their shotguns, which were leaning against the wall in a corner of the living room, and went to investigate the possible threat, which was how they treated anything out of the ordinary anymore.

“Bruce, why don’t you and I go up to the gate and see what or who that was? Suzy can cover us from the front door,” Dave suggested.

“What about me?” Jillian piped up.

“J, why don’t you get in the kitchen doorway?,” Dave said. “You can watch the back door and back up Suzy at the front if anything happens.”

“OK, Dave,” Jillian replied, as she checked to see the back door was locked and then knelt down to one side of the doorway. Dave was glad to see she minimized her exposure. Some of those tactical lessons paid off, he thought as he and Bruce went out the front door and eased along the front wall towards the gate.

Dave knelt down at the edge of the house and covered Bruce as he did a low run to the edge of the decorative pillar near the gate. Bruce carefully peered around the edge, his shotgun at the ready. Suddenly Bruce yelled, and Dave could hear several voices talking all at once. Not sure of the cause of the commotion, Dave ran up to one side of Bruce, ready to shoot. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks next to the pillar.

Standing at the front gate were four skinny, road-worn and slightly disheveled people, each carrying a backpack and a bundle, the tallest of the four cradling a rifle in his arms. It took a few seconds before Dave recognized them.

“Harry? Mabel?” Dave said in wonderment. “Is that you?”

The man with the rifle raised a hand in greeting as Bruce unlocked the gate and opened it for the wanderers, hugging and shaking hands with each one in turn. Dave embraced the group as Bruce secured the gate and called for Suzy and Jillian to come out.

Dave clapped Harry on the shoulder. “Harry Vartikian! I thought you were gone and done for, you old dog!”

Harry smiled a tired smile. “Been a long time, hasn’t it? Three months and change.”

Harry and Mabel were Harry and Mabel Vartikian, one of the original buyers in Midway Estates. They lived next door to the Coopers, two houses from the gate on the other side of the Jacks’ home. Their property had been the scene of much bloodshed three days before. Standing next to them were their two children, Michael and Sandra, both teenagers, Michael, 16, and Sandra, 14

More screams and shouts as Suzy and Jillian, carrying their shotguns at port arms, recognized the visitors and ran full speed for them. By now everyone was a hugging, crying, yelling mob.

Finally Bruce said “Let’s get you folks in and off your feet. Come on in, we were just about to sit down to brunch.” The happy mob moved through the Jacks’ front door and filled the living room.

“We took a chance coming back up here,” Harry said, as he safed his rifle and handed it to Dave, who put it in the same corner the shotguns had been in before and were again now. “We didn’t know who would be living here now, though we figured you and Bruce and Frank would have survived if anyone did.”

At the mention of Frank, both Dave’s and Jillian’s faces dropped. Harry and Mabel instantly recognized what had happened, if not the details. “Where is Frank? And Nancy?” Mabel said quietly, a quiver in her voice.

Dave had to clear his throat before he could speak. “We lost Frank three days ago to a motorcycle gang that attacked here. Nancy was killed by a gangbanger who wanted the Mercedes … and Jillian.” Mabel and Sandra both gasped and enveloped a now-sobbing Jillian in a bear hug.

“How many people are left here?” Harry asked quietly as the three women, now joined by Suzy, who came in from the kitchen at the sound of crying, joined them.

“We’re it,” Dave said simply. “Eighteen families in Midway Estates, and all the survivors are in this room right now, at least as far as we know. Frankly, we thought you four were goners.”

“Eight people? Out of eighteen families and, what 60-odd people?” Harry gasped. “What in the hell happened?”

“Most everybody was out somewhere, three weeks before Christmas and all the stuff going on. The Jacks were at home, Nancy and Jillian were at Riverpark, and Frank and I went up to North Fork for the day.” Dave paused, steeling himself to deliver more bad news. “The Coopers got back some time after the fallout started and I guess they got a pretty bad dose, plus neither family had shelters prepared ahead of time. None of them made it.”

The room went quiet. The families of Midway Estates had, for the most part, been a pretty close-knit group. Michael had gone out with Donna Cooper a couple of times and had hung out with the girls as a group often; he looked as if he was going to be sick. Sandra had been friends with both the Cooper girls; in fact, they and Jillian were often found together at school events and on weekends.

Wiping away tears, Suzy announced that brunch was going to be delayed somewhat, as she was doubling the quantities. Mabel joined her in the kitchen to help and likely to exchange experiences of the past three months.

The three teenagers were sitting on the sofa, Jillian in the middle with Michael on her right and Sandra on her left. All three were huddled together and in various stages of crying & sobbing.

Dave motioned towards the door with his head and the three men, picking up their weapons, went out the front door. Dave stuck his head in the kitchen and told the wives they were going outside for a bit.

“Where have you been the last three months?” Bruce asked as the three men walked towards the Vartikian home.

“We were down in Bakersfield for a few days, visiting Mabel’s folks; her mother had been pretty sick and, well, we wanted to see her just in case. When the bombs went off, we took cover in their basement. Good shelter, but a bit crowded. The shock was too much for Mabel’s mom; she died on the third day. We had to, well, bag her and put her in the garage until it was safe to be outside.”

Harry went on with his narrative as they reached the Vartikians’ front porch – rationing their supplies of food and water, the food riots once they could start coming out, the trickle of refugees from LA that quickly dried up, the massive traffic jam completely blocking I-5 through the Ridge Route. Ration cards issued by Kern County. More than one meal consisting of a slice of stale bread and condiments, tomato “soup” made from ketchup. The death of Mabel’s father from a heart attack shortly after they buried his wife in the back yard. Finally, the decision to carry all that they could and begin the long walk back towards home. While they had been in shelter, their car had been siphoned of gas, the battery stolen and, for some inexplicable reason, the windows all smashed, so driving wasn’t an option.

“What happened here?” Harry asked, finally noticing the blood stains in his front yard and driveway, the bullet holes in the walls and windows.

“A biker gang hit us the evening of the 1st. They came over this wall, and we caught them in a crossfire. If Bruce hadn’t been out walking after dinner – patrolling, really, I guess you’d call it – we’d have been caught by surprise and likely wiped out. That’s when Frank got it, over by the edge of the community building,” Dave said quietly, pointing.

“There’s something else, Harry. In January, when it looked like nobody else was coming back, we cleaned the empty houses out of food, split it between Bruce’s and Frank’s houses. We also secured guns and valuables – gold and the like – over in my basement. We kept a careful list of what we salvaged from which house. We’ll get back as much as we can to you, and make good on what we used.”

“I trust you, Dave, we all do. Wouldn’t have bought into your community if we didn’t. I know you’ll do right by us. Come on, I want to look inside the old place.” Harry fished a set of keys out of his pocket.

“You kept your keys all this time?” Bruce said in wonderment.

“We always planned to come home, we just didn’t know when that would be,” Harry said quietly, unlocking the front door and stepping inside.

The house was dark and dusty and musty-smelling. One of the bullets that had hit the front window had shattered a picture of Mabel’s folks which hung in the living room. Harry walked into the kitchen and turned on the faucet for a moment, watching the water run free.

“Good idea of yours to sink that deep well when you developed this place, Dave,” Harry said, looking at the water run before shutting off the faucet. “I haven’t seen running water or electricity since the attack.”

Harry turned and looked Dave squarely in the face. “I owe you an apology, Dave. I should’ve gone with the preparedness option you offered – enclosed basement, generator, air filter, the works. You too, Bruce – you tried to convince me to spend the extra money but I refused. Penny-wise and pound-foolish.”

“You don’t owe anybody an apology, Harry, least of all me. You made what seemed the best decision at the time. Besides,” Dave reminded, trying to lighten the somber mood a bit, “the best shelter in the world is useless if you’re not at home when the emergency hit.”

The discussion was interrupted by a noise at the door followed by a yell from Michael. “Dad? Lunch is ready. Mom said to stop jawing and start walking.” The laughter that followed was evidence that Sandra and Jillian were at his side.

The three men laughed and Harry said, “You heard the word from the boss, guys. Let’s get a move on.” The kids and men headed back towards the Jacks’ home and lunch.

The now-eight survivors of Midway Estates crowded around Bruce and Suzy’s dining room table, laden with food, as Bruce stood to offer a prayer.

“Lord, thank you for the food we are about to eat, and the dear friends and neighbors we are blessed to share it with as we welcome them home. Reading about the Prodigal Son was an apt lesson for today, for our neighbors were dead and are alive again, they were lost and now are round. Pray bring more of our prodigal neighbors back home. Amen.”

[cutter]

While somewhat expensive, it is entirely possible.

[papaof2]

Jul 15, 2016 7:15:12 GMT -6 brucearmstrong65 said:

Jul 14, 2016 22:32:35 GMT -6 papaof2 said:

Had the person designing the generator connections been more knowledgeable (or perhaps just willing to spend more $$ - some buyers did skimp), the changeover could have been done with a couple of interlocked switches - and provided the ability to send generator power to house, shelter or both. No more than a minute or so to switch between configurations.

Or, had the person writing the story (me!) known jack about generators and interconnections...

Seriously, thanks for the tip - I will work this in to both stories I've written so far; I've made the same error in both.

Question, if I may: is it too difficult to have a house/shelter with regular power, a generator, and solar? Thanks!

With some thought given to the design, you can have commercial power, a generator (or more than one), solar and wind power. Solar and wind charge (large) batteries because solar is only available during mostly cloudless days and only limited locations have 24 hour wind. If you're at the seashore there are morning and evening breezes but perhaps not much wind at noon or midnight. Your site planning would include how much power you use daily, how many consecutive days you could be without sun/wind - some places have a rainy season where multiple days have no sun. One option would be to use a generator to charge the battery bank that is normally charged by sun/wind. That would have the generator running for a limited time instead of continuously until the sun comes out again.

The amount of solar or wind power available varies by location. We're in a good location for solar (southern US) but there's not much wind. I occasionally see one of the whirligigs in my wife's flower garden spinning like mad but it's more likely to be turning lazily or not at all. Not all "site survey" equipment needs to be expensive or electronic ;-)

You can selectively power things when not on commercial power - or you can bite the bullet and get an automatic start, automatic transfer, whole house generator that runs on natural gas or your 1000 gallon LP tank. Think several thousand dollars for generator, transfer switch and installation.

I'm more of a DIY and DIFL (Do It For Less) person, so I opted for a 4 circuit Gen-Tran switch (this provides safe connectivity from my generator to a limited number of house electrical circuits with no possibility of back feeding the power line coming into the house - you don't want to electrocute the guys working from bucket trucks to restore power).

If you want long term backup power, you should look to solar and wind, as you don't know when natural gas or LP supplies might be disrupted. Example: no power over a large area could shut down the natural gas pipelines. Same for the oil and gasoline pipelines. Your nearest gas station may have 30,000 gallons of regular in an underground tank but they probably don't have a generator to run the pumps when the power is off.

Part of the design of a long term solar/wind installation is choosing efficient appliances. Engel ( engelcoolers.com ) makes some extremely efficient DC (12/24 volt) refrigerators and freezers in models from big picnic coolers to shipboard installations. If you've seen the "six pack" coolers (about 7 quarts) sold for automotive use, think much bigger cooled space and much less power. The typical console-sized cooler uses a thermoelectric cooling module, requires 4 to 9 amps of DC power and can drop the internal temperature of the cooler about 30 degrees from ambient - if the day is 74F the cooler is 44F. The Engel coolers use a very efficient compressor and can give a cooler temperature of 38F in 95F ambient with an average current draw of 1 amp (peak current of 2.8 amps). This efficiency doesn't come cheaply - the MT35-U1 35 quart model (a little over 1 cubic foot) is $870. There are trade-offs in buying efficiency versus buying more solar panels and larger batteries. You could also use a propane fridge - but it may need a vent.

Cooking and heating (including heating water, unless you want to use a solar water heater) should be gas (natural or LP). Heating appliances and those with motors are power hogs when you're providing your own electricity. Remember that most gas cooktops have electric igniters of some type - you'll need power for that. Gas ovens use an electric igniter (possibly several hundred watts) that also needs power - unless you find gas cooking equipment that uses the pushbutton spark lighters found on many gas grills.

If you're in an area where central air is considered a necessity, think $$$$$ for off-grid power, converting to an LP air conditioner (yes, they exist) or think smaller - an efficient 5000 BTU window unit to cool one room requires about 400 watts running (maybe 4 times that to start it). That much power can be provided from 3 or 4 large solar panels (180 watt and 230 watt panels are common), a 2000 watt inverter (to handle the starting surge) and $$$ in batteries. On the positive side, the hottest part of the day usually has the most sun so you can reasonably expect to cool one room.

Are you sufficiently confused yet? ;-)

If not, read on.

Are you also interested in alternate water sources? Is the rainwater that runs off your roof drinkable? Do you know how to collect, store and treat it so you could drink it?

Or alternate sanitation? If you have a septic tank (or an outhouse) you're self-sufficient there. If you're on city/county sewer, some areas require effluent pumps to get the waste uphill to the processing plant. How many days without power before the sewer starts backing up into your house? Maybe you need to install an anti-backflow valve to prevent that? If that valve closes, you need to dig a pit and build an outhouse or put a toilet seat on a 5 gallon bucket (you'll still need the pit).

What about a garden? Or maybe a greenhouse?

And what kinds of food do you store? The freeze-dried Mountain House foods in #10 cans are nice and can last 25 years but they're a bit pricey. How much flour, sugar, corn meal and salt for how many people and for how many months/years? How do you package it? Where do you store it?

How much OTC (Over The Counter) medication? Ibuprofen, cough syrup, anti-diarrhea, antibiotic cream, bandages? Feminine hygiene products? Soap and shampoo? Spare glasses or contacts?

Flashlights and batteries? Handie-talkies, shortwave radio, weather radio and/or other communications? Rechargeable batteries and chargers?

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Chapter 27

Sunday, March 4th – Late afternoon

The Vartikians, accompanied by Dave and Jillian, began working on cleaning up their home as soon as brunch was over. The bullet hole in the front window was taped up until a replacement could be found, likely by removing the front window from one of the unoccupied homes and boarding up the open space. The kitchen had been cleaned up, particularly the refrigerator/freezer, when the unoccupied houses had been salvaged earlier in the year.

Jillian thought Dave had seemed distracted ever since they’d started working on cleaning up the Vartikian home. She asked him what was going on when none of the Vartikians was in earshot.

“Well, J, I don’t think they should move back in here.”

Jillian was shocked, at first. “You don’t think they should move back into their own home? Why not?”

“It’s almost unlivable. The Vartikians have no electricity, no generator, no solar panels, nothing except running water. All the things we take for granted, even now.”

“So what do we do, Dave?”

“Well,” he replied slowly, thinking out loud, “there IS a house that has all those things but that is going unused except for storage. My house, to be specific.”

Jillian was, to say the least surprised. “You want to give them your home?”

Dave shook his head. “No, I was thinking of trading them my house for theirs. I can fix their house up over time, remodel the basement to serve as a shelter and things like that.” He paused. “If you don’t mind my living in your house for now.”

“Why in the world would I mind that? Dad tasked you with caring for me. It only makes sense for us to live in the same house. I think it’s a great idea, Dave. Let’s talk to them about it right now!”

“Easy there, tiger,” Dave said laughingly. “I better talk to Harry about this first, alone. He might think it’s a terrible idea, and I wouldn’t want to cause problems in front of his family.”

Harry was, to say the least, shocked. “That’s incredibly generous of you, Dave! But we just can’t kick you out of your house!”

“Harry, nobody’s kicking anyone anywhere,” Dave replied, and went on to explain his situation as Jillian’s trustee. “I’m going to be living in Frank’s house, at least until Jillian is 18. There’s no sense in leaving the house vacant. Frankly, it’d improve our security situation as well, having two families next to each other.”

“I like it, Dave, though I still think we’re taking advantage of you. Why don’t you explain your thinking to the rest of the family? I can’t imagine anyone would say no, but they all should have a say in a decision like this.”

A few minutes later, Dave, accompanied by Jillian, explained his idea to the entire Vartikian family; the volume of cheers and yelling proved that nobody opposed the idea.

Decisions were made quickly and put into action almost immediately. The Vartikians would help Dave move whatever he wanted over to the Simonian house. Dave would check out the shelter and electrical systems and make sure the generator was running properly. The guns collected from the unoccupied homes in the development would be split up among the three shelters for safekeeping. The salvaged food supplies would be reallocated in the same manner among the three occupied homes. Jillian did a yeoman’s job in tracking what was going where and keeping the computerized inventory records up to date.

By sundown that evening, the Vartikians were installed in Dave’s former house, almost overwhelmed with running water, indoor plumbing, and reliable electricity.

Monday, March 5th

Everyone in Midway Estates formed a working party to get the Vartikians’ belongings moved into Dave’s former home, and those items Dave wouldn’t need moved to the Vartikians’ former place. Harry Vartikian and Dave went ahead and replaced the front window that had been hit with a stray round, using the identical front window from the Coopers’ former home and boarding the Coopers’ window up. With eight people working together, the moves were done by noon.

Once the moving was complete and the window replacement was finished, Dave drove Harry and Michael, along with Jillian, to meet Deputy Chief Wilson and Sergeant Scortia, as well as to turn over the IDs of the dead bikers, and explain what had been done with their bodies and to get advice on what to do with the motorcycles and loot.

Deputy Chief Wilson said he would turn the licenses over to the morgue personnel so that their deaths could be registered officially. Apparently Wilson hadn’t been joking the night of the shooting, when he said a garbage truck was good enough for the bad guys, for the following morning a garbage truck arrived, and two workers threw the bodies in back. At least they didn’t run the compactor unit, Dave thought, for which he was grateful. Harry Vartikian registered his family for the food distribution, which was still being done out of fire and police stations in Fresno. The Vartikians’ pick-up point was Clovis Fire Station No. 5, only a few miles from Midway Estates.

Wilson and Scortia bold told Dave to keep the box of stuff they’d taken off the bodies. “I got the guns that night,” Scortia said, “well, at least most of them. As far as I’m concerned, everything else is spoils of war – or, as that old legal doctrine goes, finders keepers.”

Deputy Chief Wilson and Dave talked alone for a few minutes as everyone else was heading out to the Suburban. Wilson walked Dave out to the vehicle, shook his hand, and waved goodbye to everyone.

Jillian, riding shotgun (figuratively and literally), asked Dave what the two men had talked about.

“Oh, just an idea that was bouncing around in the back of my head. The return of our friends got me to thinking about it again,” Dave explained. “I’ll tell you all about it tonight when everyone comes over for dinner.

Dave pulled up to the gate, unlocked it, pulled through, and locked it behind him. Bruce heard the noise and came out, shotgun in one hand. He walked out to the street as Dave pulled up and lowered his window. “How’d things go in town, Dave?”

“Pretty fair, Bruce, pretty fair indeed. Sergeant Scortia said whatever we got from those bikers is ours to keep. They kept the driver’s licenses for their records. The extra guns, the coins and money, the jewels – all ours. Even the bikes.” Dave thought for a second. “Why don’t you and Suzy come down for dinner, say, about 7 PM? There’s a lot to talk about, I think all of it good.”

“We’ll be there, Dave. Looking forward to it.” Bruce waved as Dave pulled down the street into the Simonian driveway, and everyone piled out of the Suburban.

That evening

Jillian made a double batch of chili and cornbread for dinner that night. Bruce and Suzy brought up a case of Coke and some of Suzy’s neighborhood-famous chocolate chip cookies. Everyone ate heartily and enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors.

Once the dinner was done and everyone seated in the living room with a beverage, Dave stood up and started speaking.

“First, it’s great to have the Vartikian family with us again after such a long separation!” Everyone cheered and clapped.

“Now on to what happened at Clovis City Hall today. I talked to Deputy Chief Wilson for a few minutes about an idea I had to help our first responders and improve our security at the same time.

“I don’t think we can count on many more of our former neighbors coming back to reoccupy their homes, which saddens me, as I’m sure it does all of you. But it’s also dangerous. Right now we have three out of 18 homes occupied, and that’s dangerous. As the old saying goes, there’s safety in numbers.”

Jillian raised her hand and interrupted. “So how many are going to be occupied by firemen and police officers?” she asked with a smile.

“Remind me never to play poker with you, J,” Dave remarked to laughter from all. “I offered at least half a dozen homes to Deputy Chief Wilson for firefighters, paramedics and police officers who needed housing, particularly those who had families to care for. He’s going to run the idea by his Chief, and then it’ll go to the Police Chief, and likely the mayor.”

“What do we get in return?” Jillian asked.

“Well, we get access to immediate emergency health care, assuming a paramedic or two participate. We get security from having more people out here, especially if word gets around that a couple of police officers are living in Midway Estates,” Dave explained. “Wilson though he could swing us some fuel supplies and extra food supplies; it seems FEMA and the military are slowly getting their act together and getting essentials out to emergency services, at least. Wilson also promised to have food rations delivered directly to the neighborhood; that’s the main way they’re paying first responders now, since the monetary system is frozen without computers. So what do you think?”

Harry Vartikian stood up. “I think it’s a grand idea. Like you said, safety in numbers. But what if a family makes it back here only to find someone living in their home?”

“Well,” Dave said, “we can do one of two things: We move our neighbors back into their home, and relocate the current occupants, or we help our returning neighbors set up in another vacant home. But as I said before, despite the Vartikians’ return, I don’t think we can count on any more of our former neighbors coming back.”

Bruce was whispering with Suzy and then stood up. “We’re foursquare behind it. I’d like to add a suggestion, if I may, Dave. I move we elect you as mayor of Midway Estates and our representative to dealing with whatever government agencies and outside entities we want to or are forced to deal with.”

Dave’s protestations were overwhelmed by the yelling and applause. Every one in the room raised their hand to support Bruce’s proposal – except Dave’s. Jillian playfully reached over and held his arm up by the sleeve. In a theatrically exaggerated eye-rolling that an earlier version of Jillian would have been proud of, Dave grumbled, “Okay, fine, it’s unanimous. But you’ll be sorry!”

The evening ended, and Dave and Jillian stood on the front porch, watching the Vartikians walk next door and the Jacks down the road.

“I’m really proud of you, Dave. Or should I say Mr. Mayor?” Jillian remarked with a twinkle in her eye.

“Mr. Mayor when we’re by ourselves, Your Royal Highness when the peasants are around,” Dave said regally, as he waved in hand in a Royal manner.

“Power-mad already,” Jillian sighed. “Time for a recall, I say.”

“Fine by me, Madame Mayor,” Dave responded as they walked inside.

“Then again, His Royal Highness has a nice ring to it. Good night, your Majesty.”

She’s developing a sense of humor just like her father’s, Dave thought, as Jillian walked up the stairs to her bedroom. I could be in serious trouble. He smiled and went to bed himself.

[9idrr]

Keep it comin', sir. Or is that Your Royal Highness?

[pbbrown0]

Mr. and Madame Mayor. Did I get that right?

[papaof2]

Jillian is as yet unmarried, so she's Mademoiselle Mayor.

[pbbrown0]

I think there may be some foreshadowing going on here

[brucearmstrong65]

Jul 15, 2016 21:44:10 GMT -6 pbbrown0 said:

I think there may be some foreshadowing going on here

Oh, how I wish there was - then I'd have some idea of what was going to happen next! 

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Chapter 28

Sunday, April 1st – Noon

Dave helped set up the last of the tables outside the community center building and watched as the younger children were having an Easter egg hunt in the park area and a few of the nearby yards, under close supervision of several adults.

Easter services had wrapped up an hour before in the community center, and would be followed by lunch, once the Easter Egg hunt was completed. Midway Estates had grown so quickly that it was impossible to hold church services in any one family’s home now.

In record speed, the City of Clovis had accepted Dave’s offer of free (well, nearly free) housing for first responders and their families. The first family to move in was Sergeant Scortia’s. He, his wife and their two young children had occupied the former Cooper residence on Friday, March 9th. Apparently the Scortias were the “test case,” to see how conditions were and how friendly and cooperative the current occupants were.

The test was obviously a successful one, since two police families began moving in on Monday the 12th, followed by three firefighter families on the 18th. Two weeks after Dave proposed the idea to Deputy Chief Wilson, Midway Estates had a total of nine occupied houses with 25 total residents.

On Monday the 19th, Wilson had come out to ask Dave if two homes could be made available for single police and fire personnel, respectively. Dave agreed immediately, and another eight residents had joined Midway Estates by the 24th. Midway’s current occupancy stood at eleven homes and 33 individuals, with about a third of that being children, mostly under the age of ten.

Getting electricity to the newly occupied homes proved to be less of a problem than Dave thought. The City of Clovis provided Midway Estates with an industrial-size portable generator, and personnel from Pacific Gas & Electric worked with the city to ensure the proper wiring and electrical safety for the homes. In essence, Midway Estates was its own independent grid. As part of the housing agreement, the City of Clovis provided fuel for the generator.

Thank God for Kern County, Dave thought as the last table was set in place and was quickly covered with a paper tablecloth. Home to the city of Bakersfield at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, Kern County was one of the biggest producers of petroleum and natural gas in the state before the war, and probably led the entire country now. Crude was refined into gasoline and diesel right there in Kern County, and tanker trucks transported it north to the Central Valley and east to points beyond.

It wasn’t available for civilian use, for the most part, though farmers were considered essential services, as were fire and police departments, hospitals, and trucking companies. The City of Clovis came through again for Midway Estates, authorizing a special transit bus to run three times a day between there and the Clovis government center on 5th Street near downtown. This was how the first responders got to work, and it allowed the other occupants a reliable way to get into the city.

The tables outside the community building were full now, as parents tried to keep children from eating their Easter treats before lunch, a battle they were only moderately successful at. Platters of sliced ham and dishes of mashed potatoes and vegetables came from the community building’s commercial-quality kitchen and went to each table. Suzy Jacks had been in charge of the Easter lunch and had come through in her usual fine fashion.

Food was still limited though the supply line was beginning to re-establish itself, at least in the Central Valley. Farmers had cleaned up their land as best they could, following advice from the state and federal Agriculture Departments, and crops were already being planted – even at Midway Estates, where front lawns and back yards were turned into gardens and homes for chickens and goats. The food might be basic, but it’s probably a healthier diet than we were eating before, Dave thought, as he raised his hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Friends, welcome to our Easter lunch. I hope you enjoyed the services this morning, which were ably led by our newest resident, Fire Department Chaplain John Lewis -” Dave was interrupted by lusty cheers from the firemen and good-natured boos from the police - “okay now, no fighting until after lunch. Jillian and Michael and Sandra Vartikian did a great job in setting up the Easter egg hunt” - more cheers fro all - “and a special thanks to Suzy Jacks and her crew of helpers for the lunch we’re about to enjoy!” The loudest cheers of all for the kitchen crew, causing Suzy Jacks to blush to such a degree that she appeared to have a sunburn.

“Now, the last thing any of you want to hear right before lunch is a speech, so I’ll make this quick and to the point. If this community survives and prospers, it’ll be because of your hard work, of your deciding to take a chance with us. So most of all, thanks to each and every one of you.

“Now, Chaplain, before these hungry folks lose all control, would you offer a blessing for us?”

Chaplain Lewis rose and spoke: “Let us pray. Lord, thank you for blessing us with food to eat, when so many are going without, and thank you for friends and families to enjoy it with, when so many are separated from their loved ones. Amen.”

A chorus of Amen’s was quickly followed by the noises of food being served up, drinks being poured and passed around, and people enjoying good food.

Dave sat at a table with Jillian, Bruce and Suzy Jacks, and the Vartikians. As the meal concluded, and the tables were being cleared, Dave gave an almost imperceptible nod to Suzy Jacks who stood and asked Michael Vartikian to give her a hand with something in the kitchen. Michael had been clued in ahead of time by Dave and practically jumped to his feet.

Jillian had seen Dave’s nod to Suzy Jacks, and, sitting next to Michael, had nearly been run over when he jumped up from the table. She put two and two together and leaned over to Dave, whispering, “Something’s going on here, and it better not be what I think it is!”

Dave put on his best innocent face, which to those who knew him was not all that convincing, smiled and said, “J, I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. I think Suzy just needed a hand with dessert. Or something.” Jillian gave her best dramatic teenaged eyeroll, smiling at what she thought was coming.

Technically, Dave hadn’t lied to Jillian, for Suzy did indeed need Michael’s help with dessert, which came out of the kitchen presently and was wheeled on a serving trolley to Jillian’s side. Dessert was a large sheet cake, baked early that morning, with white and pastel frosting and decorations and fourteen burning candles and the words HAPPY 14TH, JILLIAN in pink gel.

The residents of Midway Estates burst into the Happy Birthday song as Jillian turned bright red. Michael was standing next to her and as he sang, Jillian reached up and took his hand. Harry Vartikian caught Dave’s eye with a slight nudge of the head towards the two teens and gave an eyeroll almost equal to that of Jillian’s from a minute earlier. The two men laughed as the song ended, the gathered assembly applauded, and Jillian blew out her candles, holding onto Michael’s hand all the while.

The cake was cut and served and the luncheon/birthday party broke up shortly afterwards. With many eager volunteers, the cleanup went quickly and everyone went their separate ways by 2 PM.

Michael and Jillian went for a walk around the bustling neighborhood, pausing to look at the gardens springing up in front of several of the homes. Dave watched from the corner of the community building as they sat on the curb in front of one of the few still-vacant houses and enjoyed the afternoon sun, Michael putting his arm around Jillian’s shoulders and she leaning into him, resting her head on his shoulder. They sat like that for quite a while.

“Maybe that’s the house they’ll move into someday,” a voice said from behind him. Dave turned and saw Harry and Mabel Vartikian, standing behind him in almost an identical pose to that of Michael and Jillian.

“Oh Lord, I’m not ready for that yet!” Dave said in mock fear, and the three adults laughed. “They do make a good-looking couple though, don’t they?”

[kaijafon]

thank you for the moar!!

[brucearmstrong65]

Jul 16, 2016 11:25:52 GMT -6 kaijafon said:

thank you for the moar!!

You're very welcome. I think we're in the home stretch! (For some reason, 30 chapters seems to be the perfect number for me!)

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Chapter 29

Saturday, May 19th

The 19th was an important day for the residents of Midway Estates, particularly so for those who had lived there before the war.

It marked the filling of the last vacant house, that which had belonged to the Vartikians and now belonged to Dave. An apartment building fire the day before in Clovis had left several families homeless, including a paramedic and his wife, who was seven months along in her first pregnancy. Chief Wilson – promoted to that position upon the death of the prior chief of radiation-related illness a month before – called and asked Dave if they could fit the family somewhere in Midway Estates. As Dave was living at Jillian’s house (he still wanted to call it Frank’s), he offered up the former Vartikian house without hesitation, and the shaken but grateful family was moving what few things they had saved in with them. A neighborhood collection helped furnish the house with the necessities.

The 19th was also important because it was Michael Vartikian’s 17th birthday. Michael made it known he had no desire for a surprise such as he had helped set up for Jillian six weeks earlier. Everyone solemnly promised that they would comply, and then immediately conspired with one another to arrange a surprise.

Dave had invited Michael over to the house that afternoon, in part to help get him out of the way for the birthday arrangements to be made at the Vartikian house next door, as well as to sound him out regarding his intentions towards Jillian.

Dave might not have been Jillian’s biological father, but he took his role as stand-in father very seriously, as Michael was about to discover.

The doorbell rang at 5 PM on the dot, exactly when Dave had asked Michael to stop by. Michael was in his fire department trainee uniform, but it was clean and neat. The trainee program was another idea of Chief Wilson’s. It was obvious that the City College firefighter and police training courses would not resume for the foreseeable future, and the department was still shorthanded, so the new Chief developed a plan to train new firefighters on the job, as it were. They would lend a hand where needed and able to do so – rolling and cleaning hose, cleaning equipment, fire inspections and the like – while learning the details of firefighting. Michael had been one of the first to sign up.

“Come on in, Michael. Want a Coke or anything?” Dave asked.

“N-no sir, Mr. Powers, thank you. I’m fine,” Michael responded, in a voice which showed that he was more nervous than fine.

“Call me Dave, please. And relax, Michael. This isn’t the Spanish Inquisition.”

Michael smiled at Dave’s turn of phrase. “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.”

“Good God, a teenager with a job who knows Monty Python as well. I’ve officially seen it all,” Dave joked. “Want that Coke now?”

“I’d appreciate it, Dave. I’ll get it. One for you too?”

Dave nodded and Michael took two Cokes from the refrigerator, passing one to Dave and opening one for himself as he sat down at the kitchen table.

“Michael, first, congratulations on the new job. You listen hard to Chief Wilson and your training officers, and you’ll come out just fine. Second, happy birthday. Your 17th, isn’t it?”

“Thank you, sir – Dave – and yes it is.”

“Firefighting’s a good career, always has been. I thought about it before I joined the Army back in – well, a while ago.”

“Why didn’t you become a firefighter, Dave?”

“The air mask made me feel claustrophobic. Gas mask training in the Army did the same thing, but I was able to get through it. We didn’t wear the gas masks very often or for very long.”

“That hasn’t been a problem for me yet. The hardest thing is walking towards a fire rather than running away from it. That takes quite a mental adjustment. It was easier when Chief Wilson said he still gets that feeling.”

“Well, Michael, as I said, it’s a good career with a good future. Which is what I wanted to talk with you about today – your future. I guess I should stay, yours and Jillian’s future.”

Michael swallowed and spoke. “I think we’d like to get married, sir. That’s one reason I took the fire trainee job. It’d be dumb to get married without being able to provide for my wife.”

Dave had always liked Michael, and he was becoming more impressed with him by the minute.

“That’s smart thinking, Michael, and I’m glad to hear it. Have you asked Jillian to marry you yet?”

Michael shook his head. “We’ve talked about it a little, but I haven’t asked her yet. I wanted to talk to my dad and you first.”

Dave nodded. “And what did your father say?”

“He thought it was a good idea. He knew Frank had done his best to raise her right, despite...” Michael hesitated.

“Despite Nancy?” Dave filled in.

Michael nodded. “I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead and neither did my dad, but Jillian’s mom, well, she didn’t seem very nice and she was leading Jillian down a … a bad path, sir. No offense.”

“None taken, Michael. Nancy was not the easiest person to get along with – very superficial in some ways – and I agree, she was taking Jillian down that same path. I assume you haven’t spoken to Jillian about her mom in that way?”

“No, sir, but she has mentioned once or twice that she was ashamed of how both she and her mom had treated Frank.”

“Anyway, about your dad – he liked the idea of you marrying Jillian?”

“Yes sir, he did, but he insisted I speak with you first, sound out your feelings about the idea, and then ask you formally, which is what I’d like to do, sir. May I have your permission to marry Jillian?”

“This is a serious step, Michael. Don’t do this just because she’s the only girl, aside from your sister, that is close to your age,” Dave said. “Do it because you love her, and for no other reason.”

“Sir, Dave, I’ve thought about this for a long time – long before we got back here, before I knew if Jillian was alive. We’ve always gotten along together, but particularly lately, there’s been a certain special – I don’t know exactly how to describe it.”

Dave smiled, stood and took Michael’s hand firmly. “I think it’s called love. Very well, acting on Frank’s behalf, I give you my permission to ask Jillian for her hand. But let me tell you something, very seriously” - Dave put his left hand on Michael’s shoulder - “if you hurt her in any way, if you don’t treat her properly, you will answer to me. And you will not enjoy that.”

“No sir, I don’t believe I would. But it doesn’t matter, since I will never do anything to hurt J.”

“Well, then, that’s settled. Have you thought about an engagement and a wedding ring?”

Michael nodded. “I have, but I don’t see how I can afford to do anything like that for a while. The fire department provides training and uniforms, and the extra food ration but little or no salary as such.”

Dave leaned against the kitchen counter, lost in thought. “I think I’ve got an answer to that for you, Michael, provided Jillian approves. Come downstairs with me for a minute, then we’ll head back over to your place. I ought to talk to your dad face to face.”

After a few minutes in the shelter, the two men walked out the front door and through the very healthy-looking garden to the Vartikian home. Michael started to head for the back door, but Dave (knowing the surprise) tapped Michael on the shoulder and pointed to the front door. “Let’s do this formally, Michael. Properly.” Michael was sufficiently distracted by the thought of marrying Jillian and not screwing up around Dave that he didn’t seen the activity through the kitchen window. Dave rang the doorbell, which was quickly answered by Harry (whom Dave had seen in the kitchen, pointing towards the front door).

“Hello, Dave. What’s going on?” Harry said, trying to conceal his smile and his amusement at Michael’s state.

“We’ve got a couple things to talk over, Harry. I suspect we’re going to be in-laws of a sort very soon.”

“Well, come on in, you two. We might as well get this over with.” Harry stepped to one side and Michael, subtly directed by Dave, walked in the door.

“SURRRR-PRISE!”

A dozen or more people were blowing party horns and cheering in the Vartikians’ living room, which had been decorated starting about a minute after Michael went to see Dave. More people were waving and yelling from the kitchen and hall doorways. Behind the gob-smacked Michael, more people came in the front door.

Jillian came seemingly out of nowhere and hugged Michael, putting an arm around his waist, as Michael put his arm around her shoulders.

“All together now!” Mabel yelled from the kitchen, as she wheeled a birthday cake with 17 candles blazing into the living room, stopping right in front of Michael and Jillian.

The assembled group, now numbering more than two dozen people, joined in a hearty rendition of the Happy Birthday song, while Michael turned as red as the color in his Fire Department uniform patch.

Dave looked at Harry and Mabel and gave them a big thumbs up, which most people took to be a part of the celebration, but which the three adults knew meant things had gone well.

Dinner was followed by a couple of party games and then the serving of the cake. By 9 PM, everyone had headed home, congratulating Michael at the front door. Dave and Jillian and the Vartikians pitched in together and got everything cleaned up in record time.

“Hey J,” Michael said in his best casual manner, which fooled no one in the know, “why don’t we set outside for a bit before you go home, if that’s okay?” This got a nod from both Harry and Dave.

“Okay, birthday boy,” Jillian said with a smile, putting her arm in his as they stepped outside and sat down on the porch, Michael deliberately leaving the front door open and the screen closed.

“Care for some coffee, you two?” Mabel called to Harry and Dave from the kitchen doorway.

“Sure, Mabel, thanks,” Dave replied and followed Harry to a seat at the kitchen table.

In the kitchen

Mabel filled three cups, just washed, placed them on the kitchen table, and sat down. “Okay, Dave, how’d it go?”

Dave smiled. “Couldn’t ask for anything more. Michael was polite, respectful and scared to death of me.”

The adults laughed. “Well,” Harry said, “I might have put a little too much emphasis on the respect part, or rather, what might happen if he wasn’t respectful.”

“Well, he was very respectful!” Dave responded. “So I take it you two are okay with this?”

“A hundred and ten percent,” Mabel said, with a tear in her eye. “There were times I thought we’d never make it and now, to be next-door neighbors and in-laws to boot. I just wish Frank and Nancy were here with us tonight.”

“Me too,” Dave said quietly. “I think they’d approve of what’s going on out on the front porch, if I understood Michael this afternoon.”

Harry was amazed. “You think he’s asking her right now?”

Dave nodded. “Pretty sure that’s his plan.”

“But what about a ring?” Mabel asked.

“We took care of that earlier. I discovered several rings in the gun safe when I was re-organizing it one day and asked Jillian about them. She said they were her folks’ engagement rings and Nancy’s wedding ring. I guess Frank had taken it off the … off Nancy. Chief Wilson gave me Frank’s wedding band before they took Frank away to rejoin Nancy. I offered them to Michael to use, as long as it’s okay with Jillian. They might be too emotional for her.”

A loud scream of happiness came from the front porch and the three adults smiled at each other and waited. A second later, the screen door banged, and Jillian came running into the kitchen. “Michael asked me to marry him!” she screamed, jumping up and down while waving a hand that bore an engagement ring on it.

“So what’d you tell him, J?” Dave said as he winked at Harry and Mabel.

It took Jillian about half a second to realize that her chain was being well and truly yanked.

“Oh, you!” Jillian exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Dave’s neck and hugged him. “Michael told me what you did earlier, about the rings. Thanks, Dad.”

Dave started to speak but Jillian hushed him. “I know what I said, and I meant it. Thanks, Dad.”

Michael walked into the kitchen behind Jillian, looking slightly dazed. The room turned into a flurry of hugs and handshakes and backslapping and tears.

[9idrr]

You've done a good job with a short story, giving enough detail (although I didn't see any mention of the Bulldogs) to ground things as far as the area and people without getting bogged down. Here's hoping that Ch. 30 has the same positive tone as the last few.
I bet you're already working on ideas for more writing, too.

[papaof2]

Not that I'me addicted or anything - but I do check back daily ;-)

[kaijafon]

happy dance time!!!

thanks!

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Chapter 30

Saturday, September 29th – 7 AM

Dave balanced two cups of coffee and toast on a tray as he knocked at Jillian’s bedroom door. A big day was ahead of both of them, and he wanted a few minutes of quiet time with her.

A sleepy-sounding “Come in!” gave Dave entree to open the bedroom door, revealing Jillian pulling herself up to a sitting position against the headboard.

“Is this a special occasion or the condemned’s last meal?” Jillian said, smiling. That’s something Frank would have said, Dave thought, as he placed the breakfast tray across Jillian’s lap and pulled up a chair to sit down next to the bed.

“No reason it can’t be both,” Dave replied as he leaned forward to take one of the coffee mugs.

“You didn’t need to do all this, Dad,” Jillian said before she took a bite of the toast and a sip of coffee.

Dave, still thrilled every time she called him Dad, selected a piece of toast and took a napkin from the tray. “Well, it’s going to be a busy day, hon – I just wanted a few quiet moments on your last day of being Miss Simonian.”

“When everything went to hell last December, did you ever think we’d end up like this? Me about to get married and you serving as father of the bride?”

“Frankly, J, I wasn’t sure we’d be alive at this point. So many bad things have happened to you in the last ten months – losing your mom, nearly all our neighbors, especially Donna and Dayna, then your Dad – I don’t know how you made it. I’m really impressed – and proud of you. And the wedding date – that was an excellent choice.” September 29th had been Frank and Nancy’s wedding day, many, many years before.

“Dad, I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for you and Dad,” Jillian said quietly, not for the first time referring to both Dave and Frank as Dad in the same sentence. It still jolted Dave to be called Dad.

“Frank was my best friend for years – more than 30, since we met in high school,” Dave said, lost for the moment in a flurry of dreams. “We stood up for each other at our weddings, I drove him and Nancy to the hospital when you decided to arrive on the scene three weeks early, he lent a hand where he could when I was getting this project off the ground...” Dave’s voice cracked and he went silent.

Jillian reached out and covered one of Dave’s hands in hers. “And you risked your life to try and rescue Mom and I. And you worked as hard as anyone to get us through these past ten months. And you didn’t fall apart when we lost Dad. A lot of other people wouldn't have.”

The pair fell quiet for a moment, a quiet which was interrupted by the front door bell.

Jillian glanced at her clock. “Oh, that’ll be Suzy. Matron of honor duties await. I’ve got to start getting ready. Would you -” she gestured at the breakfast tray.

“I’ll take this downstairs and let Suzy in. Still not too late to back out, you know,” Dave teased her as he picked up the tray and headed for the door.

“Pfft on that! I’m in this for the duration,” exclaimed Jillian as she swung her legs out from under the covers and headed for the bathroom. “I thought I’d lost Michael before. That is NOT going to happen again.”

Dave headed downstairs, sat the tray down on the kitchen table, and answered the door just as Suzy rang the bell again.

“Morning, Suzy – what brings you here so early?” Dave was clearly in a leg-pulling mood this morning.

“Out of the way, old man! This maid of honor has work to do to get your daughter ready for her wedding day!” Suzy 1, Dave 0, he thought as he started to close the door, only to nearly get run over by two more women from the neighborhood, both firefighters’ wives who were serving as Jillian’s bridesmaids.

“Morning, ladies! Upstairs, third door on the right. Coffee down here if you need it,” Dave sighed as he headed back for the kitchen. It’s gonna be one of those days, he thought, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Two hours later – 9 AM

Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, with his wedding suit over one arm, Dave headed over to the Vartikians’ house next door, which was serving as the men’s base of operations for the day. The atmosphere was, to say the least, considerably calmer. Dave found the Vartikian men, Bruce Jacks and a pair each of firefighters and police officers were sitting around in the kitchen, drinking coffee.

“Dave! Grab a cup and a chair!” Harry said, motioning Dave to the last vacant chair around the table.

Mabel came through from the living room. “Don’t mind me, just heading over to lend a hand with the bride.” She paused and put a hand on Dave’s arm. “Who’s more nervous, Dave? You or Jillian?”

“Me by far, Mabel,” Dave confessed. “Is it too late to lock her in her room and sit in the hallway with a shotgun?”

“Too late by half, Dave Powers,” Mabel said in mock reproof. “Nothing is going to stop this joyous day! See you at the hall at 11 AM!” She glanced at Michael. “Promptly at 11 AM, young man.”

Michael got up as Mabel was going out the door and headed upstairs to shower and shave and get dressed. Dave excused himself into the first-floor bathroom and got dressed. Forty-five minutes later, Michael came down, dressed in his newly-issued dress uniform with a slightly askew tie. The men laughed and gave him a gentle ribbing about his nerves.

“Come on, Michael, let me give you a hand with that,” Dave said. The two men walked into the hall where Dave stood him in front of the hall mirror and helped him make the necessary adjustments.

“Almost time,” Michael said in a nervous voice.

“It’s getting there,” Dave agreed. “Now, you’ve got the wedding rings, right?”

“Gave them to the chaplain already,” Michael said, pointing a thumb towards the kitchen where John Lewis, the Fire Department chaplain who was also serving as the pastor for Midway Estates, sat with the mixed party of firemen and police officers who were serving as Michael’s groomsmen.

“What did you two decide about vows?” Dave asked. Jillian and Michael had talked about writing their own vows, but neither one had them done before the rehearsal the previous evening.

Michael shook his head. “We’re just going to do the traditional ones. The Chaplain has them in his service book.”

“Well, I think we’re just about ready then. Now, serious, are you nervous?” Dave asked.

“Terrified and excited, all at the same time,” Michael admitted.

“Just like me and every other man on their wedding day. C'mon you, let’s round up that gang of bums in the kitchen and get this show on the road.”

The men came out of the kitchen, put on their uniform jackets and hats, and headed for the front door, each one pausing to adjust his tie and jacket in front of the hall mirror before walking over to the community center.

Two and a half hours later – 11:30 AM

“I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Michael, all nerves gone, lifted Jillian’s veil (borrowed from her mother’s wedding outfit, found in the master bedroom closet) and gently touched his lips to hers.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vartikian headed down the aisle between two sections of folding chairs and walked outside to greet their guests while a volunteer working party set up tables and moved chairs for the wedding feast. There were two vacant spaces at the head table. Each one was adorned with a single white rose in identical vases. In front of the two roses was a framed photograph of Donna and Dayna Cooper.

The only time anyone saw Dave tear up that day was when it came time for the traditional father-daughter dance. Jillian had selected one of Frank’s favorite songs, “In My Life” by the Beatles. Everyone in attendance knew what had happened to Frank and what Dave had done for both Frank and Jillian; suffice it to say, Dave’s eyes weren’t the only ones tearing up.

A fireman who had not been at the service itself caught Dave’s attention and gave him an OK sign from the back of the crowd. Dave smiled to himself and thought, Those two are going to be SO surprised.

No honeymoon was planned, as Michael had a full work and training schedule, and Jillian was studying and being tutored for her high school exit exam. Due to the lack of teachers, and the fact that all schools were being used as community housing and shelters, the acting Clovis school superintendent had directed that all youths at least age 14 could take the exit exam at will and, if passing, would receive a high school diploma. It was estimated that the schools would not resume operations for anywhere from six months to a year.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids helped move the gifts back to the Simonian residence and then returned to the reception, which was likely to go on for some time. Dave, Harry and Mabel Vartikian, and Bruce and Suzy Jacks walked the couple back to what would be their home.

The front door open, Michael picked up his new wife and carried her across the threshold (having been briefed earlier by his folks on the tradition, and on certain other matters). Everyone was invited in by the new couple, but excuses were made, and eventually Michael, Jillian and Dave were left standing at the door.

“Look, you two, there wasn’t much I could give you for a present, except this.” He pulled a set of house keys from his pocket, put them in Michael’s hand and placed Jillian’s hand on top.

“What do you mean, Dave? We can’t kick you out of your home!” Jillian nearly wailed.

“You’re not kicking me out, and besides, it’s already done. I shanghaied a couple of firefighters to move my stuff into the shelter and yours and Michael’s stuff to the master bedroom during the service. I took a bag down to the bachelor firemen’s quarters yesterday. I’m spending the next week down there. We’ll figure out something after that. Maybe I’ll set up a bachelor pad in the shelter. What’s important is that you two are starting off on what I hope will be a long and happy life together.”

Dave shook Michael’s hand and kissed Jillian on the cheek and then, without a word, turned back towards the reception. “See you later, Dad!” Jillian said in a soft voice. Without turning, Dave raised a hand in acknowledgment and continued walking.

Dave paused at the door to the hall and glanced back, just in time to see the front door of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vartikian close. With an ever-so-slightly melancholy sigh, Dave whispered, “Good bye, daughter,” and rejoined the party.

[brucearmstrong65]

A Difference of Opinion – Epilogue

A Spring Evening, Five Years Later

Life can take some funny turns, Dave thought, as he sat on the porch of his original house at Midway Estates and watched the streetlights come on.

The wedding reception after Michael and Jillian’s ceremony had been fruitful in many ways. By Dave’s count, it was responsible for at least four marriages within the year following. Two of the firemen had become involved with two female firefighters and held a joint wedding six months later. Sandy Vartikian, a year older than Jillian, had met Antonio Canales, one of Michael’s fellow fire trainees and gotten married a year later – in fact, on Michael and Jillian’s anniversary.

And the fourth couple? Well – Dave’s reverie was interrupted as Gina came out the front door, handing Dave a cup of coffee and sitting down next to him on the porch swing.

Gina Benedetto was, at the time of the war, a four-year veteran with the Clovis Police Department who had survived the fallout by sheltering at police headquarters. Dave had seen her a few times when he had some dealing with the City of Clovis, but they hadn’t had a chance to talk until he had returned to the reception after seeing Michael and Jillian to the house.

Although she was half his age, almost to the day, she and Dave had clicked at once. A month after the reception, they had moved into the shelter at Michael and Jillian’s insistence and had married the following year, having a joint ceremony with Antonio and Sandra on Jillian and Michael’s first anniversary. The joint reception had been interrupted when Jillian’s water broke. There wasn’t a better place to have a baby than a room full of firefighters, paramedics, and police, Dave thought. A few hours later, Franklin David Vartikian entered the world, full of vim and vinegar. He was joined a year later by Nancy Dayna Vartikian.

Dave was busier than he had been since getting Midway Estates off the ground. The triangular-shaped neighborhood across Academy Avenue to the west of Midway Estates had never been reoccupied after the war. When reliable electrical service had returned to the Valley, Dave had proposed to the City of Clovis that he be granted ownership of the community and its twenty-four homes, so that he might renovate them for additional first responder housing. The city agreed, assisted Dave with priority material allocations (most building supplies were still rationed) and financing, and within a year, twenty-four new-looking homes were rapidly occupied by firefighters, police officers, and other public safety personnel. The offer of low-cost rent-to-own housing made a job with the City of Clovis sought after by first responders from across the southwest. Dave and Gina occupied the first home renovated while Dave and his crew worked on the others.

Not everything was peaches and cream, however. The natural chain of life and death continued. Harry and Mabel Vartikian were killed, along with 17 other people, when the GreyLine bus they were riding on to Bakersfield blew a tire and turned over on Highway 99, where it was subsequently struck by an 18-wheeler that had been unable to stop in time. They were added to a plaque on the wall of the Midway Estates community building, entitled “Absent Friends” and listing the names of those who had lived in the community at the time of the war and who had never returned. Their names were just below those of Frank and Nancy Simonian.

At the wake for Harry & Mabel Vartikian, Dave and Gina were approached by the two Vartikian children, Michael and Sandra, and invited to move back into the house Dave had originally occupied. Sandra and Antonio would move into Dave and Gina’s house in what Dave had called Triangle Estates, after the shape of the development.

“What are you thinking about, sweetie?” Gina asked, pulling him out of his reverie.

“Oh, just about how things change – come full circle, I guess. How’s little Donna?”

“Back to sleep after a diaper change – which, I suspect, is why you came out here,” Gina said with raised eyebrows over her coffee cup. “You men are such cowards when a little poo is involved.”

Dave and Gina held hands and looked out across the neighborhood – kids riding bikes, lawns being mowed, birds chirping and dogs barking.

“A little noisy tonight, isn’t it?” Gina asked.

“Yeah, I guess it is, hon. Wonderful, isn’t it?”

The two smiled and sat back as their six-month-old daughter slept inside, years away from understanding the horrors that had nearly shattered their world.

Man, Dave thought, I wish Frank had been here to see how everything turned out.

In Another Dimension

Frank and Nancy leaned against the front railing of Dave’s porch and watched the two lovebirds holding hands.

Nancy nudged her husband. “Well, doesn’t that beat all? Dave, remarried and a father at his age? And our daughter, married five years and a mother of two? I wish we could be here to help her.”

Frank nodded approvingly. “Everything’s coming together nicely, I’d say. Maybe we could pay her a visit later.”

“That’s a good idea. I remember I darn near scared you to death the first time I visited.”

“You did no such thing, my dear. I was surprised, it’s true, but not scared.”

“Oh, please,” Nancy rolled her eyes, “I’m surprised you didn’t have to change your shorts after that first visit.”

“Well,” Frank said after a moment, standing and stretching [even spirits can have bad backs], “let’s agree to disagree on that subject.”

“A difference of opinion?” Nancy said with a smile, taking her husband’s hand and walking through Dave and Gina’s garden to their old house, where Harry and Mabel Simonian and the Cooper sisters awaited them. Everyone wanted to see Michael and Jillian’s babies before they returned to Eternity.

[9idrr]

Great ending to a good story. Thanks for all the work you've put into this. Would that I had the ability to write this well.

[misterjimbo]

A most wonderful story. Thanks.