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Post by motherhen on Jan 22, 2018 0:13:34 GMT -6
So great to see this story develop more, thanks!
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Post by papaof2 on Jan 30, 2018 21:35:40 GMT -6
Chapter 64 - At Trade Day
"We have a bulletin board?"
"Yes, Love. With Matt and Bobby manning the post-hole diggers, we have a bulletin board up very quickly. And people started using the note-sized pieces of paper while the digging was in progress."
"Note-sized paper?"
"I used the big paper cutter to cut the one-side-printed pages that we no longer needed into six pieces and also provided some pencils on lanyards so they don't easily walk away."
"The 'Trying to Contact' section seems to be the most popular."
"Love, there's not been much communication other than with those in close walking distance for most people since the power went off, phones stopped working and gas became very precious. I'll guess that only a small number of those messages will be answered by the person being asked about; it's more likely someone who lives near them will reply. A response like 'Talked to Gus on Wednesday - Rita T' or 'Saw Liz in her garden yesterday - Joe W' so you know their status on a given day and who reported it."
"Just enough information to reassure the asking party but not enough to compromise anyone's security. I think most of the people out here have already upped their OPSEC level,"
"That's a very good thing. The yellow note is one you'll find of interest."
"Funeral for Henry Jamison is tomorrow at 3PM. The family cemetery at the Edwards' place."
"I'm sure Melissa might like to have a few even slightly familiar faces there with her. Ask Sarah and the girls if they'd be willing to go.”
"I will."
---
"Gramps! What's that thing?"
"That, Alex, is making creative use of available items."
"But what is it? It looks like a big lawnmower without a blade but with a big wagon."
"The 'big lawnmower' is a Simplicity walk-behind tractor, probably from the 1950's or earlier. Sue and Mike have it hooked to a sulky so the operator can sit and reach the controls. They have a farm wagon behind that and it takes two people to drive that combination - Sue on the sulky to operate and steer the tractor and Mike on the wagon to operate the wagon's brakes."
"But why?"
"How many people are riding in the wagon?"
"Maybe fifteen?"
"Does anyone have a car that can bring that many?"
"Only a big van - maybe more than one."
"Did you notice how small the engine on that tractor is?"
"Like a lawnmower."
"Correct. It's probably somewhere in the 5 to 7 horsepower range. How much gas do you think it uses?"
"It's too little to use much."
"So they have powered transport for multiple people and some space to carry goods and it does those things with very little fuel?"
"And most people don't have much fuel! They picked up everyone on their way here and they'll drop them off as they go home. I guess that'd work if everybody chipped in a cup of gasoline."
"Why don't you go ask Sue?"
"Tell Momma where I'm going?"
"I will."
"Encouraging another engineer, Mr. Williams?"
"That would be correct, Mrs. Williams. Alex will also bring back information to add to our list of what people brought or are looking for. How is the response to 'Miss Carla's School'?"
"Very positive. George Jeffers has offered the use of anything at the County Historical Society, including demonstrations of steam and water powered equipment."
"One of the positives of a steam engine or an early gasoline engine is that it can run slowly enough for someone to watch the sequence of piston and valves and literally 'see' how it operates."
"Seeing the grooves in the millwheels and talking about how grain is moved between the wheels until it's fine enough to exit the grinding area covers a lot of other mechanical operations."
"Sometimes the simple things catch someone's attention, Love. I remember Paul Junior being fascinated with the corn sheller and talking about how useful such a simple machine was."
"Potato peelers are also simple 'machines' but there's a lot of math in making a good one."
"You're making lesson plans as you walk through the aisles?"
"Absolutely! Some of these things are good discussion items because of the thought that went into making them and others are good starting points for 'Could you make it better?' discussions."
"I don't think the kids will be bored at MCS."
"MCS?"
"This is the logo for 'Miss Carla's School'. I ran it off on the 3D printer last night and gave it a coat of bronze paint for plastic. I think you'll appreciate the background images."
"Looks like something from an agricultural and engineering college."
"Considering what the kids will be learning and the depth of some of that learning, I think it might be a good fit."
"If we have fifth grade kids doing first year algebra again, you'll be correct."
---
"Mr. Williams?"
"Yes, Matt?"
"I found something that we might be able to use for the CB network but I don't know enough to say if it's a good deal."
"And you found?"
"Someone with what sounds like a lot of big sealed batteries. He seems like a 'want to be far from any neighbor' guy from New York. Says he was a freelance software consultant…"
"Also sometimes know as a 'hungry programmer'. Where is he?"
"He's on the next aisle near the end. He has two batteries in a kid's wagon so you can see what they are. The sign says he has 40 of them and will consider trades for food and solar panels."
"How much food or solar panels?"
"I didn't ask. I was just close enough to hear what he was saying to a Deputy."
"Then let's go see what he thinks they are worth."
---
"Hi, I'm Paul. Tell me about your batteries."
"Hi, I'm Mario. Did I see you at the tables with the solar panels?"
"Yes."
"The batteries are 12 volt AGM batteries from the UPS that protected my game development system and the multiple big monitors. Their eight hour rating is 82AH and their 20 hour rating is 90AH. They're three years old."
"I recognize the DataSafe brand, Mario. If they've been treated well, these should have at least seven years left in them."
"They have been. Because of the price of the batteries and the cost of shipping them out here, I changed the UPS low voltage shutoff to turn off at 30% Depth of Discharge instead of 80% DOD to triple the number of charge/discharge cycles they could deliver. I don't have enough solar power to run everything at my place but what I have could recharge the batteries from an all day programming session in two or three sunny days when the power was off. That's no longer important as I can't contact the company I was doing work for so I can't provide them the updates they wanted. Guess I'll be looking for work again when power and communications are restored. Do you know how long that will be?"
"Out here, it could be at least a year…"
"What?"
"Let me show you a map of the damage."
"Somebody nuked us?"
"No, just a very large and very powerful storm that did damage for hundreds of miles."
"They grow wheat and raise cattle out there, don't they?"
"Among other things, such as pumping out crude oil for gasoline and diesel."
"So I won't be going to a drive-through for a cheeseburger."
"Correct. I'm hoping that the local farmers have enough variety in what they grow to allow folks to get a reasonably balanced diet. Your burger might be lamb or rabbit and the cheese might be made from goats' milk but we may be able to feed most of the people in the Dawkins Bluff area."
"How will I pay for food? I didn't keep much cash at home and the ATM's don't work."
"How many days food do you think this battery is worth? Remember that 'food' might mean veggies that aren't your favorites and the meat might be rabbit but that food will keep you alive."
"New, these are about $300 each from DataSafe. Aftermarket vendors are about $160."
"How much do you think a used battery that I haven't tested is worth to me?"
"Salvage for the lead in it was about $20 but there's probably not anyone doing that around here as recycling lead requires power. Would you consider $65?"
"$15."
"$60?"
"$20."
"$50?"
"$25."
"$40?"
"$35."
"Deal. How many days of food is that? I'd guess the price gouging has already started so how many batteries for a month's food?"
"You make a list of the foods you eat - veggies, fruits, meats, breads, desserts, beverages - and then we'll walk through the aisles and see what's being offered. I'll guess that you're someone who only recognizes some foods by the label on the can or box and not by how it looks fresh from the garden. I'll throw in some lessons on fresh foods while we walk."
---
"I noted the prices and the barter equivalents. I can get a week's worth of food for $20?"
"That's a week's worth of fresh food. If you don't eat it quickly, some of it will spoil without refrigeration. There were also people with dried and canned foods that cost more…"
"A lot more!"
"A lot more only by comparison. A week's worth of canned food would be $40 but I'll guess you spent more than that two months ago."
"I did. What was that sign about a 'deposit' on the canned stuff?"
"The glass canning jars can be reused. Part of that $40 was a $2 deposit on each jar. If you wash the jar and ring and bring them back, there's just the cost for the food next time. It will still be more than the fresh food because someone did put their time and effort into preparing and canning it and the lids are usually one use only."
"That would be reasonable if I had a source of income. I'm afraid all my skills require power."
"Most people can learn to do basic gardening and we'll have a group going through making and expanding gardens for the people in the Dawkins Bluff area this week so you can grow some of what you eat. For as long as my stocks of heirloom seeds last, I'll provide the seed to start your garden but you must allow a small part of the garden to go to seed so we'll have seed next year."
"'Go to seed'? I always thought that was a bad thing."
"It can be a term indicationg that someone didn't make the best use of a productive garden because they didn't do the needed work and let it go to seed. However, because we'll need seed next year and possibly the years after that, letting a small part of the garden go to seed each year means we'll be able to harvest those seeds for the next year's garden."
"Those won't be in the neat little packets with pictures on the front so how will you know which bag has which seed?"
"Someone will be extracting the seeds from the plants that were left to go to seed and doing the packaging and labeling. The writing on your signs seems particularly precise and legible. Perhaps you could work at packaging and labeling seeds? That's a job that require light but not power."
"Then I would be doing something useful for the people who help me get a garden started!"
"Mario, that's why small communities banded together in the first place. Some people were better at tending animals; others were better at tending plants. Still others were better at organizing and keeping track of things. And there were those who were concerned about defending the community from those who would take what the community had worked together to produce."
"I see your badge and there's a couple more Deputies here in uniform but there are so many people with guns - even some of the kids!"
"You're correct. Kids out here get exposed to life or death situations almost daily - if you don't feed and water the chickens, they die. Some of the kids caring for the chickens are under age six…"
"But chickens are dangerous!"
"Not nearly as dangerous as city traffic. Those kids also learn early about firearms because they also must protect the chickens from coyotes and other wild animals…"
"Even that little girl on crutches?"
"She's eight and already knows the four rules and other things about firearms safety. I'll be giving her more hands-on shooting lessons in the next few months. The armed girl she's with is my granddaughter who is 13."
"You do start firearms lessons for the kids early!"
"Early by city standards, perhaps. Not by farm or ranch standards. Mario, you strike me as someone who might like science fiction. Ever read any of Robert Heinlein's books?"
"No."
"Did you see the movie 'Starship Troopers'?"
"Yeah! That was a great story!"
"That movie was based on his book of the same title."
"Guess I should check the box of old sci-fi books my Dad sent me last year. I don't think I'll be watching much on the 72 inch screen."
"Heinlein had a quote in 'Beyond This Horizon' that I think applies to our current circumstances: ' Well, in the first place an armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.' I've heard some serious discussions today but nothing louder and nothing truly discourteous."
"You're right, and I've only seen maybe four people in uniform or with a badge. That's not much law enforcement for this many people."
"Doesn't take many in uniform when most of the people here do their own enforcing."
"People who aren't LEO shoot the bad guys?"
"Two died at our place when they tried to break down the door. Another left in handcuffs and with his butt full of rock salt…"
"My grandfather mentioned using rock salt on thieves in his garden. It doesn't kill them?"
"The salt is too light to travel far or penetrate deeply but you know how much salt water can burn in your eyes or in a small cut. Being shot with a 12 gauge shell of rock salt is like getting salt water in dozens of small cuts."
"That would be a very painful event. Better to trade labor shoveling manure than to be caught stealing from a garden protected that way,"
"I think it's fair to say that few would be willing to repeat the experience."
---
"Paul, I see your solar panels have their specs but no prices. How much per watt?"
"Mario, first you need to take a worksheet and figure out how much power you need; not 'want' but truly 'need'. For example, unless you need a camera you won't get much use from a cell phone until many things that you have no control over have been repaired. Then use the second worksheet that includes typical hours of useful sun during each season and compute how much solar power you would need to recharge two or three days' usage in one day to allow for cloudy days. Then compute how much total battery capacity you would need for those two or three days of autonomy when there is no sun. Once you've done that, you'll have an idea of how many of those batteries you should keep for your own use. Then you can decide how many batteries should be traded for how much solar panel wattage and maybe adjusting the numbers to allow you to buy more food or firewood…"
"Firewood?"
"You mentioned having enough propane for cooking and heating this winter. What will you do if propane deliveries are more than a year away?"
"Close off part of the house this winter so the propane last longer but plan to get firewood and learn to use the pot bellied stove for heating and cooking. I wanted to take that out but my girlfriend at the time thought it added to the character of the house so I left it in. Seems Maria may have been smarter than I was."
"Wise woman. Do you know if she could cook on a wood stove?"
"She said she learned from her great-grandmother. Nothing fancy, just the basics - but she talked about baking a cake on top of the stove."
"In a Dutch oven?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Mario, my wife Carla."
"Mario O'Kelly. Pleased to meet you, Ma'am."
"Hearing 'Ma'am' with a New York accent seems odd."
"Trying to be polite. You're older than I am, you're a Deputy and you're armed, plus I'm still thinking on Paul's reference to 'an armed society is a polite society' - especially when I'm not armed."
"Welcome to Heinlein's world. You're trading batteries for solar panels?"
"Paul gave me a price on the batteries but we haven't talked prices on solar panels yet. He told me to do some numbers before I decided how many batteries and how much solar I needed and that I needed to plan for a year or more of food and maybe food plus firewood the next year. I'm still trying to deal with the two gallon a week limit on gasoline and the almost empty grocery shelves and he's telling me it could be more than a year to get even close to 'normal'."
"You're experiencing our new 'normal'. You're actually taking it better than some of the 'don't want neighbors' people from elsewhere. Paul, Deputy Johnson stopped to tell me that all the Pakistani family except the youngest are dead. Looks like the father shot all of them early today then turned the gun on himself. The youngest was shielded by her older sister and just has a couple of relatively minor gunshot wounds. Hank said she was 'Jackie' which doesn't sound Pakistani."
"Rose had mentioned that girl and that she went by 'Jackie' because she didn't like her Pakistani name of Kheezran and wanted to sound 'more American'. No other family here?"
"None that Jackie knows of and none in the limited paper documentation the Deputies found in the house. Hank asked if you could resurrect the cell phones and tablets they found for any information in them. They're behind the center table in the small bag marked 'Scott County Sheriff's Office Evidence'."
"Do you need a hacker, Paul? I'm pretty good at getting into other people's cell phones."
"I'll remember that, Mario. If I get stumped and one of the teenagers can't help me, I'll contact you."
"Contact me? How?"
"Initially by messenger, probably on horseback or dirt bike to make the best time through the woods. If you have the power to run it and something to trade for it, maybe you should think about getting one of the mobile CB radios with mag mount antenna that seem to be at every other table."
"You have radio?"
"CB, ham radio and a County radio because we're Deputies. In the days before cell phones, almost every house and vehicle out here - even tractors - had a CB radio. Most of those went in the garage or basement when cell phones came along. Now they're being put back into service by those who have an available battery and a little bit of solar power. A 50 watt or larger panel should keep the battery charged for several days' use with the typical daily use of less than 30 minutes the radios get now. Having a CB means you have the ability to either directly contact or be relayed to someone with a County radio. We have both so we're one of the contact points."
---
"Love, I see Alex and her shadow headed this way. Annie might see that as Bobby and his shadow."
"I think your first description is more correct, Paul. Kasey and her shadow are coming from the other direction. They all seem to have paper in hand."
"I handed each of them a note pad that would fit in the back pockets of their jeans and a good pen so they'd have a way to make notes on what they saw and what people were talking about - either asking for or offering to bring next week if someone wanted it. I think I'll have reading material for a while. Speaking of kids, how big will your class be?"
"At the moment, it's at 17 but there are at least five more kids with parents in the 'thinking about it' stage. I'd guess that all the nearby kids over age six will be there this fall and the younger ones next year if the County schools aren't open then. I have two adults who were teachers at some point and they're willing to help in the classroom. If we get more than 20 kids, splitting them into a younger group and an older group might work well but we'd still have the older kids working with the younger kids in a 'learning buddy' system."
"I remember how much Kasey liked that at her school when she was in fourth grade and was 'buddy' to a kindergarten girl who thought having someone older helping her was wonderful because she was the oldest of five and at home she was always helping care for some of the younger ones."
---
"Did we do good, Gramps?"
"Kasey, all of you did better than 'good'. This is very good information gathering and reporting. Bobby, did you say that someone in the work crew was looking for chocolate?"
"That was Debbie."
"I found a small amount of Ghirardelli 60% dark chocolate but I think there's enough for each member of the work crew to have some. If you'll send them to me when you see them, I'll hand out this week's 'bonus' payment. These are for the four of you."
"Yummy!"
"Thanks, Gramps!"
"Thanks, Mr. Williams."
"You're welcome. Remember that we start making and expanding gardens on Monday."
"Love, how many pieces did Kasey break that into before she opened the package?"
"I think six. It's been two weeks since they've had a free day, unlimited time with friends, no immediate emergencies affecting them and now dark chocolate. I think all of them will stretch the enjoyment of that. What other 'goodies' did you find that you'll mention later, Paul?"
"Lets sit in the truck for this. I'll hit the highlights and then you can read my list. Do you remember that Laura bought the very capable Janome manual sewing machine last year but the treadle she planned to power it with was too rusted to be repaired?"
"You found a decent treadle cabinet?"
"Two of them. Deal is the two treadles and two SSB CB radios for a 50 watt solar panel and a PWM charge controller."
"What about a battery?"
"The coach battery from their RV. From their description it's a pair of GC2's so about 200AH. They see it as getting some use from the electronics in the RV. I see it as getting a scan-capable SSB CB for us so we can be monitoring for SSB calls as well as for the outlaws who may think no one else has SSB capability. Mario still keeps 'programmer's hours' of working until something is done and then sleeping until he's rested and he has enough solar power to have LED lighting for that. When I know a little more about him, he might get the second SSB CB so he can monitor during the wee hours of the morning."
"Sounds good, Paul. How many of his batteries will you be trading for?"
"That will depend on Mario. I think the trade he needs is one or two of the 300 watt panels as he has an MPPT controller that can handle that much additional solar power - he did plan for future expansion. Remember that I have almost enough spares to replace the installed panels so a good enough trade for one or two of the bigger panels won't have a significant impact on our power capabilities,"
"I agree. You'd like to have a computer geek with enough power to do some things for you?"
"Correct. I think you know what some of those things are and there's a 10 meter dish on his property."
"Direct two-way satellite communications?"
"Yes and it's about as secure a location as you can find within 200 miles. Mother Hen could send things to a laptop computer I set up there and Mario could notify me when something arrives. If the work crew is here, one of them could be messenger by horse or dirt bike. If not, taking the smallest ATV through the woods would use the least fuel for the trip."
"Paul, I see Susan at our booth. She's probably looking for one of us. Here's my list for you to explore."
"Thanks, Love."
"There you are, Carla!"
"Susan, Paul and I were sitting in the truck exchanging notes on what we've seen here that might be useful."
"There are more people and more goods than I expected. I have a question about Alexis."
"Yes?"
"Charles and I want to thank her tangibly for helping Kelly. I think one of the girls has a summer birthday…"
"Kasey, in August. Alex's birthday is in April."
"Then we have plenty of time to plan this. Charles wants to have a big celebration and a hog-killin' so there'll be food for everyone and have most of the people in the county there…"
"Don't think Alex will go for that."
"I told him that we need to know whether she'd rather have riding lessons and a horse - well, two horses; one for each of them - or just frequent bouquets of orchids from Charles' greenhouse or something else."
"A horse needs feed and tack…"
"Each horse would include a saddle and two years of food."
"That's a very big gift!"
"Carla, do you have any idea what we spent on specialists who couldn't help Kelly? What Alexis did would be cheap at twice the value of the horses, feed and tack!"
"Let me ask Alex when we get home today. She still thinks what she did was what any kid would do for another kid who needed them."
"But it's not! It's so much more!"
"From your point of view, Susan. Not from hers. She was just being herself and doing what she'd want someone to do for her."
"You know her better than I do so I guess you're right but it is such a big thing to us!"
"I'll ask tonight. She may still ask 'What's the big deal?' and say for you to write her a 'Thank You' note."
"I'll try to keep Charles in check until I hear from you."
---
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Post by udwe on Jan 31, 2018 6:24:07 GMT -6
Love!
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Post by 9idrr on Jan 31, 2018 21:05:43 GMT -6
Thanks for the good-sized chapter.
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 5, 2018 20:51:25 GMT -6
Chapter 65 - A Force To Be Reckoned With
"You sure about this, Jake?"
"Yeah, Slick. The one with the little girl on crutches is pretty enough to bring a very good price and she looks ripe for the picking plus she has the only gun I see at this end of the aisle."
"All the kids stop for the comic books and candy. You be ready in here and I'll be out in front of the tables."
---
"Alex! They have M&M's!"
"Then we can see what they'll trade for them."
"Come on in, ladies…"
"Got her!"
"LET ME GO!"
"Not my big sister!"
Smack!
"Damn! My knee!"
Ker-chunk!
"Stay on the ground! You move and you die! You, behind the table! Come out with your hands up! NOW!!"
---
"Explain this to me again, Deputy Colson?"
"Mrs. Williams, these two tried to kidnap Alexis. She screamed and the perps discovered how dangerous a little girl on crutches can be. The EMT thinks Sally shattered this one's kneecap when she hit him with her crutch. Charles Edwards was one booth over and came in with his 12 gauge. The 'ker-chunk' of chambering a round got the attention of the second perp. Sally was leaning against a table holding the crutch in both hands like a baseball bat. That perp was careful to stay far from her as he came out to be cuffed."
"Charles, I think you just paid any debt you may think you have to Alex. I'll ask her later to be sure…"
"But…"
"No 'buts'. I'll ask her and she can tell you what she thinks the next time she sees you."
"Yes, Ma'am."
---
"You want to go home now, Alex?"
"No, Gramps. I found some things I want to show you but I don't want to go by myself and Sally is tired from all the walking we've done."
"I don't think Sally should be on bodyguard duty although she did a good job of it today."
"I did, Uncle Paul?"
"You did. You thought on your feet and you responded quickly with an available 'weapon'."
"Like the shooting lessons where having a gun in your hand isn't always the best answer?"
"Correct. See, you did remember some of those 'things I'll never use'."
"I did, didn't I? You were right. Being aware of what you can use is better than just having a gun."
"Very good. I think your 'weapon' may need some time in my workshop to get this big dent out of it."
---
"Mario, may I borrow your wagon?"
"She's the one who stopped the kidnappers?"
"She stopped one of them. Sally, show Mr. O'Kelly your crutch."
"She did that?"
"Un huh. My big sister needed help and I was there."
"'Big sister'?"
"It's complicated, Mario. Just accept that she feels that way strongly enough to take on an adult to protect 'family'."
"They do grow up faster out here. If she wants it, the wagon is hers. I already have very good food deals for both batteries and they include transport home on the big wagon."
"Sounds like you did some serious bartering."
"I think you paved the way for me on them."
"Who, me? Get in the wagon, Sally. One of us will pull you unless you want to get out and look at something."
"Yes, Uncle Paul."
"Where to, Alex?"
"Down this aisle."
---
"Not much on the table."
"It's not what's here but who's here."
"Corporal Jensen?"
"Sir, I'm probably breaking some higher level order by showing you this but you're so involved in making things work here that I think you should see it."
"Copy of the New York Times?"
"Brought in by the Colonel who flew in after dark and out before sunrise. After you read it, I have copies of some supporting documents."
"'White House Leak Says 24 to 36 Months for Recovery'. That's not good. More in the body of the article?"
"Yes, Sir."
"I see it's from 'a reliable source'. I find no fault in the reporter's logic. If all these things are true about the military's diversion of resources to the southwest, highline power is a minimum of 18 months away from today, main feeds in the cities 18 to 30 months, suburbs 24 to 36 months and rural areas 30 to 48 months. We have the setting for a massive die-off!"
"That's what the Colonel told the Major. The Guard won't be getting much in the way of food or some other supplies after the next 90 days. Can you help us with a garden and chickens or whatever?"
"Garden if you have fuel. Animals if you have someone who knows how to care for them or is willing to learn from the kids who do those chores…"
"Learn from kids?"
"Did you hear about the attempted kidnapping earlier?"
"Some big guy took out a perp's knee with a baseball bat."
"Your information is not quite correct. Sally, show her your crutch."
"She did that?"
"The EMT said it was a perfect fit."
"And she'll be teaching?"
"Feeding and watering chickens plus collecting eggs."
"Definitely a class to pay attention in. This folder has the supporting documents."
"Thanks, Jensen."
"No, thanks to you and the others out here for teaching our next line of defense."
---
"Love, did you make notes on things to do differently the next time we're here?"
"Besides the level of security for the kids?"
"I think everyone is aware of that. I saw far more visible firearms after the incident than before."
"Not sure whether those are more effective deterrents than a little girl with a crutch."
"Sally and her crutch were certainly a force to be reckoned with and one the perps didn't expect. I think she's just shown the responsibility level needed to have her own rifle."
"I agree. Being willing to put herself in danger to protect someone else is a very mature response to a bad situation. What did Alex want to show you?"
"Someone from the Guard brought a New York Times that the Colonel who visited overnight had left behind. Go sit and read the headline and the associated article."
"It's that bad?"
"It could be for some. You'll go get Sarah and Rob when you finish reading?"
"Planning on it. I'll also ask Alex and Kasey if they want to say 'Hi' and 'Bye' to Dave as we won't be staying there long."
"I thought you might be asking them. If Sally wants to stay with Alex, let Annie know."
"Already did."
---
"Paul?"
"You're out of uniform, Isaac."
"Better that I'm not noticed here. You've spoken with Jensen?"
"Yes."
"Can you help us?"
"As I told her, with a garden if you have fuel and with animals if you're willing to learn from the kids who do some of those chores now."
"Kids?"
"Sally, show him your crutch."
"Here."
"She stopped the kidnapping?"
"She had some adult help but she took down the first one by herself."
"She'll be teaching?"
"Feeding hens and collecting eggs."
"I have some troops who might chicken out when they learn who's teaching that class."
"Your puns are as bad as Uncle Paul's are!"
---
"Everything and everyone loaded?"
"Love, the nose count is three more than coming here but that includes the goats in the bed of the truck to keep the grass trimmed in the fenced areas of the yard. They don't need gas or diesel."
"You're silly, Uncle Paul!"
"He is, Sally, but we have fun with most of the things we do."
"Can I sit in your lap, Alex?"
"You may."
"I said 'can'. You said 'may'. What's the difference?..."
---
'Dust Farmer from Marshal Dillon.'
'Farmer.'
'Can you be available to do the digging at the OK Corral by noon tomorrow?'
'It's scheduled that early?" 'No, it's at 3PM but that gives you time to finish the work and change clothes if needed.'
'Understood. I'll be there at 11.'
'Thanks. Dillon out.'
'Farmer out.'
---
"Alex will be one of your 'learning buddies' for older elementary?"
"She did well with 'can' and 'may' for Sally so I'll certainly ask her to help the other kids as needed."
"I see the chamomille tea canister on the counter. You're expecting bad dreams?"
"Possibly, although both of them may work that out with snuggle time when Sarah tells them to brush and floss."
"I'll be here."
---
"Girls, do you know if Matt and Bobby were able to find the parts they were looking for?"
"Gramps, Matt saw some pieces on Mr. Jeffers' table…"
"Which Mr. Jeffers?"
"The one with gray hair."
"That's George. He's Doug's father."
"Matt asked him about prices in 'junk silver' and they got into a long discussion about what Matt and Bobby were looking for. Anyway, Doug Jeffers has multiple working dirt bikes and a lot of parts because he taught beginner classes in riding. They can both get what they're looking for in exchange for time spent getting things at the Historical Society working again or some junk silver but they plan to work on stuff. They think it's a great deal because they'll be working with George Jeffers to learn about water, steam and early gasoline power - even some things they might be able to build now with little more than a blacksmith's shop. And there's one of those at the Historical Society building."
"That's very good. And I do have a machine shop for the pieces that need more precision than a blacksmith's shop can provide."
"Can we snuggle now?"
"You may."
---
"You'll tell everyone about the new recovery schedule tomorrow?"
"Yes, Love. I think that means Sarah and family will be here for up to four years because so much of their highway home runs through rural areas. It also means at least three years of Miss Carla's School and at least three years of eating vegetables that are in season whether we like them or not."
"We need to plan on managing with limited fuel and to provide our own power and water for at least that long. Did you find out more about the fuel rationing that's being proposed?"
"I spoke with Isaac - Major Green to his troops. Where electronic communications are readily available, most of that will tied to driver's licenses. A terminal with a camera will verify that the presenter is the same face as on the license, so even self-service will require a visit to the cashier. In the 'dark area' and in many rural areas, people will have plastic ration cards that are issued by the military and get physically hole-punched when a purchase is made. The proposed price increases will immediately cut down pleasure driving and the guidelines for encouraging car pools will have businesses scheduling people so they can car pool. Some people who live elsewhere in the world seem to think that we should have public transport that runs on every paved street or road, but they're not aware that we have individual rural counties that are bigger than their entire country and public transit on that scale isn't feasible."
"Now I know more than I wanted to. What about stolen cards?"
"Local law enforcement and the military will handle that. Local law enforcement on small things and first offenses. The military punishment goes from hard labor to a firing squad. There will be no seven time repeat offenders as repeaters can be shot on the third offense."
"Lots more that I didn't want to know. What about the food rationing?"
"Sugar, flour, salt and few other things will be rationed. There will be a card per person but those under 16 will be included on the card for their parent or guardian, with some exceptions such as the die-offs leaving a teenager as the head of a household. Although some of the Democrats tried to get an 'anti-hoarding' bill through Congress, it was soundly defeated so there will be no house-to-house counting of a person's cans of beans and taking anything greater than one week of food. Personal gardens will be encouraged as will planting different things than your neighbor so you'll both have more variety in your diet."
"I thought you might only have negative news but the defeat of that proposal and encouraging gardens are both positive. The goats will keep the grass trimmed and provide a little milk. What did you trade for them?"
"A quart of your dried jalapenos. Their previous owner has more animals than he can feed and just wanted them to be cared for. We have plenty of grass for them and we can move them as needed. We have barn space for them in the winter."
"That covers the goats. What did you hide in the trailer? I noticed that the truck was moving slower to get it home. You don't usually fall behind when going up the few hills on the way here."
"Alex wants to learn to drive a stick shift so I talked her through the shifting on the way home. Kasey didn't ask even though she's closer to driving age. Talking Alex through a shift is slower than my hand-foot coordination so we lost a little speed downshifting on some of the hills. The first couple of times we lost enough speed to require a second downshift to an even lower gear. After that, just the extra time of a vocal shift instead of a direct one."
"That's plausible because you did fall back faster early on but I still think there's something more."
---
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Post by udwe on Feb 5, 2018 21:27:02 GMT -6
There's always "something more"!
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Post by gipsy on Feb 6, 2018 10:51:41 GMT -6
udwe you are SO right
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Post by sniper69 on Feb 12, 2018 16:30:19 GMT -6
I want to say thank you for the great story. I saw it started reading, and after getting to the last chaoter, realized I'm hooked. It will be great to read more of this fine story.
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 12, 2018 17:02:29 GMT -6
I want to say thank you for the great story. I saw it started reading, and after getting to the last chaoter, realized I'm hooked. It will be great to read more of this fine story. Thank you. More story is in progress, just somewhat slowly. At the moment, there are two chapters nearing completion and a lot of outlines that need some meat on their bones. The outlines are sometimes easy. Getting a thousand or so words to make an outline into a chapter that tells part of the story is rarely easy - although I have the occasional day where my typing is slower than my muse's prompting ;-)
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 12, 2018 22:52:11 GMT -6
Chapter 66 - Sunday, 16 June
Beep!Beep! Beep!Beep!
"Good morning, Mrs. Williams."
"Good morning, Mr. Williams. Other than the funeral, what are your plans for today?"
"Matt and Bobby will be here after breakfast to help me unload the trailer and then the truck. There are things for each of them and I'll also be taking them to Doug's place to complete a trade they worked out yesterday."
"Just how much is there to be unloaded?"
"The big items are two very heavy things. An old hit-and-miss gas engine and a small steam engine…"
"I knew you were loaded heavier than usual!"
"The engines belong to the Historical Society but had been in the mechanical shop area at the high school for attention when one or more of the kids had some free time. Now Matt and Bobby want an education on old engines so George Jeffers said for us to load those engines and bring them to my machine shop where both boys would have easy access to the engines, adequate tools and someone who knows how the engines work. That also means we might be able to put together a steam powered generator as the little steam engine's boiler burns wood."
"How much power would the steam generator produce?"
"From its size, the rated horsepower is likely two or three. I don't remember at the moment but it's on the nameplate. At 746 watts per horsepower that's 1492 or 2238 watts on the input side of the generator. The car alternators we'd be using typically aren't more than 60 per cent efficient so 895 or 1345 watts output. That's less than the previous solar array but the power is available day and night, as long as you have a little wood to burn. If we had a horse, the steam generator could be mounted on a wagon to provide portable power without using any fuel other than hay for the horse and wood for the generator. With some decent batteries and a big enough inverter, the constant power from the steam-powered generator would keep the batteries charged for a day's use of power tools: circular saw, sawzall, drill, maybe a small compressor for a nail gun."
"And I'd have access to the engines for class?"
"Of course. Bringing them home seemed to be a win for everyone as I'm sure Matt and Bobby will throw most of their spare time into getting the engines running - not that they need another reason to show up here."
"We get to help Matt and Bobby with the engines?"
"So you girls already know about that?"
"Un huh. Matt couldn't wait to tell me after they got the stuff in the trailer."
"Or Bobby me."
"Love, do we let the girls be grease monkeys?"
"As long as they can get their hands clean enough to help with the cooking."
"Yes!"
"Me too!"
"Matt said something about a forklift. Do you have one?"
"Yes, Kasey, but I won't be using it for this bit of moving. I have an engine hoist with wheels and we have plenty of 'people power'. The hoist is intended for use in removing engines from cars and light trucks but will work for moving stationary engines."
"'Stationary engine'?"
"An engine intended to power something that stays in one place such as a sawmill. Compare it to a traction engine which is wheeled and moves under its own power to pull other things such as a plow or a sickle bar."
"More dictionary time!"
"Possibly a very old dictionary to get the definitions used at the time these engines were built. I do have one modern convenience for working on the engines."
"The blue gloves?"
"They're made of nitrile which will keep the oil, grease and very old dirt off your hands and out from under your fingernails plus the gloves are thin enough to not affect your sense of touch very much. Dress in old and/or grubby clothes as you will get dirty moving the gas engine. The steam engine seems to be somewhat cleaner so perhaps it's had more recent maintenance."
---
"Gramps?"
"Yes, Alex?"
"Debbie Edwards was sad that their Dad is planning to get rid of some of their horses because there aren't any people driving out here to go riding for fun and the Sheriff isn't using that many horses so her Dad thinks they should put more time on the garden and less on pleasure horses."
"And?"
"Debbie is afraid that the horses might wind up with someone who won't give them good care. She's sure the ones the Deputies are using are in good hands because the Deputies know their lives might depend on their horses. Nana talked with me about the Edwards wanting to give me something for getting Kelly to open up about being hurt. I don't really want anything from them but their horses need to be in a good place and we're not really earning our keep…"
"But…"
"No 'buts', Gramps, because we're not, at least not yet. I heard you talking about having a horse to pull a wagon with a generator on it. If I tell the Edwards I'd like to have a horse and riding lessons, you could use the horses for a lot of things I saw or heard about at Trade Day and Kase and I would be useful as messengers because we could ride."
"Sarah, are you sure this kid is just 13?"
"Yes, Dad. I was present for her birth and she still has the same birthmark on her left hip."
"Then it seems we may become horse people. I'll let Alex and Carla work that out with Susan as she seemed to be trying to keep Charles in check and that might be easier if he isn't involved until it's time to deliver the horses. If you ladies would work on that after breakfast and see what the timing might be for us to make space for animals, feed and tack? Remember that the funeral for Henry Jamison is at 3PM today and I'd like for all of us to be there to support Melissa. She hasn't known us long - but at least ten hours longer than any other neighbors. Carla and Alex might get a few minutes with Susan while we're there. Where's Laura?"
"Already in the kitchen working on breakfast, Gramps."
"Then we should go help her. I'd like to see the 'What I found' lists from my favorite granddaughters and their shadows…"
"'Shadows'?"
"Each of you did have a semi-permanently attached shadow yesterday, whether or not you were in the sun…"
"Gramps!"
"Gotcha! We also need to work out where Dave will be when he's released from the hospital today as he won't be able to do chores at Laura's place for a while."
"Momma goes with Granny G to her place to help with chores and we stay here to help with chores - you will have two more animals very soon. Where does Daddy stay?"
"Carla?"
"I don't want him out in the cabin as that's too far to hear him if there's a problem. If we lock both doors to the basement, he could have the mini-suite down there and we do have a working intercom to that area. If Sarah and the girls are OK sharing a table with him, he could eat with us. If not, we could implement the airlock feature so only one of those doors can be open at a time and use the two doors as a pass-through to get food to him."
"Where would we meet with him?"
"Kasey, I think you might feel safer in the cabin as you'd be closer to an outside door than anywhere else with a table."
"OK, Nana. Do I hafta do it today?"
"Not this morning. We'll talk more when Dave is released from the hospital today. We'll also need to organize things for Laura and Sarah to move to Laura's place and ensure they take some fresh foods with them. I think that means Paul will go get Dave from the hospital and the rest of us will get Laura and Sarah moved. You girls have the option of moving there as well."
"Nana, we have chores here."
"OK, Alex."
---
"Alex and Kasey. After breakfast I want to finish reading the lists from yesterday. I'd like you to be there in case I see anything on those lists that I need more explanation about."
"OK, Gramps."
"Me too."
"Do the two of you have some type of signal about which one says 'OK' and which one says 'Me too'?"
"Just whoever gets it out first."
---
"Before we stack plates and cups for later washing, the funeral for Melissa Jamison's father will be at the Edwards' family cemetery at 3PM. We're not family but she has known us about ten hours longer than any of the other neighbors so I'd like for all of you to plan on going."
"Gramps, do we hafta?"
"Kasey, you don't 'hafta' but there's a very small group of people that Melissa knows. This is doing something for someone who needs your physical presence and has no way to pay you back."
"It's different when you put it that way. I'll go. How do we dress?"
"Maybe something nicer than milking clothes?"
"Gramps!"
"When we get back, I'll go to Scott General to get Dave. I'd like the rest of you to help Laura and Sarah with getting things packed to move to Laura's house. Some of that can be done before the service but Alex and Kasey will be helping me, Matt and Bobby with unloading the trailer. Then I'll drive Matt and Bobby their respective homes so I can deliver some of their acquisitions that are in the bed of the truck."
"Laura, leave the dishes. Let's get you packed up except for what you're wearing today and you can look through the fresh veggies for things you like and may not have."
"OK, Carla."
"Alex and Kasey to the sofa so you can inform me as I read."
"OK."
"Me too."
"You switched words again."
"So we did."
---
"I see that both of you have 'wicks for kerosene lamps and heaters'. Any kerosene?"
"No, but most of the sellers had empty cans in case someone had kerosene available."
"Kasey, what kinds of 'hand tools'?"
"Mostly hammers, pliers, screwdrivers and rusty wrenches of all sizes."
"Any saws?"
"One metal frame with a little blade in it and a different metal frame with a much wider blade in it."
"Like any of these outlines?"
"Yes. A jigsaw and a hacksaw."
"Any others?"
"A really big saw with handles on both ends. It was on the table and ran the whole length of it."
"A two man saw. That could be of several types, depending on the blade's teeth."
"There's a picture on my phone."
"Very good, Kasey. That's a saw for cutting down trees. Something that might see a lot of use if there is no gas for the chainsaws."
"Wouldn't that be slow?"
"There's a reason people say 'Heating with wood warms you twice'."
"Twice?"
"Yes, Alex. Once when you cut and split it and again when you burn it."
"I guess it does."
"Both of you have 'power tools'? What did you see, Kasey?"
"Lots that most people can't use because all the tools had cords. You have power but most people don't. If you made the steam generator in a wagon you could get a lot of power tools to take with you for not much cost as the tools had 'Make Offer' signs on them."
"Alex?"
"Some with cords but some with batteries. Most of those had a charger with them so they still need power, just maybe not as much power as the stuff with cords 'cause a battery could be charged for hours on solar power and then used as needed."
"What were those people asking for?"
"A shoebox of food for each power tool. If you were giving them fresh stuff from the garden. it wouldn't take much to fill the shoebox."
"I see that some wanted gas for generators. What were they offering?"
"Stuff from their gardens. They had a lot of people looking at the food but none had gas to offer. One offered to walk over and do any work to get food for his family. The guy behing the table asked if that man would dig a pit for an outhouse and got the answer 'What time tomorrow?'"
"I think some people are beginning to get hungry. Charles Edwards had four horses for trade?"
"Those are the ones Debbie is worried about."
"Did he have any takers?"
"Not when we left."
"Doug Jeffers had two dirt bikes out?"
"And a bunch of pictures from Vietnam or somewhere with entire families riding on a small motorcycle."
"You see a lot of that in some Asian countries. Alex, what's this that was scribbled over?"
"That's the table that had some dark chocolate and wasn't interested in peppers but maybe some other garden stuff but by the time we checked with Nana and got back to the table the chocolate was gone so I scribbled it out 'cause I was mad! Then the lady at the table described the person who got it."
"And you brought some others of the crew to get their 'bonus'."
"Sure did! Any chocolate left?"
"Not after Laura and Sarah got theirs when I got home."
"At least I had a little chocolate."
---
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Post by udwe on Feb 13, 2018 20:53:27 GMT -6
This is such a wonderful story!
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 19, 2018 22:40:31 GMT -6
Chapter 67 - Dust to Dust
"I hear engines."
"Matt?"
"Bobby?"
"Probably both. Grubby clothes and gloves before you go out."
"Yes, Nana."
---
"You were right, Mr. Williams. The engine hoist does go high enough to get the steam engine out of the trailer."
"Matt, both these engines have horizontal pistons which makes them shorter than those with a vertical piston. The balance point needed a little trial and error because each engine is heavier at one end but it's the opposite end."
"You have a V-belt pulley that will fit this shaft?"
"Maybe in the box of parts George had us load along with the engines? If not, my lathe could handle that six inch flat belt pulley and I could cut the groves if the metal is thick enough. Alternatively, we could melt some scrap aluminum and pour a round ingot in a metal can and I could machine that into the pulley we need."
"We'll be machining big stuff like that?"
"After some experience with smaller things, Bobby. Remember that the earliest engines were made by hand with a machinist creating the needed parts to whatever size and tolerance was required. They didn't have any computerized milling machines that could turn an aluminum ingot into a pulley or a piston."
"Matt, I think we'll be students at Miss Carla's Technical University."
"That would sure match the logo."
---
"Girls, go wash up. I'll drive the truck to Doug's place so Matt and Bobby can complete their trades and then take them and their 'goodies' to their respective houses."
"We can't go?"
"No, Kasey. We talked about this earlier. You and Alex are needed here to help Laura get packed. She's been doing a lot but she's not able to pack and move everything."
"Yes, Gramps."
"Me too."
"I was watching for the double blink that time, Alex, so I knew which one of you would be 'Me too'."
"Not fair!"
"What's not fair about paying attention to the things my favorite granddaughters do?"
"Gramps!"
---
"Mr. Williams?"
"Yes, Bobby?"
"Do you have room for us to ride to the funeral with you? We'd stay a lot cleaner than on our bikes on the dirt road."
"We have room for both of you."
"We didn't know him but we got him out of the car so we'd like to see this to the end."
"Thank you for caring about other people."
"Just seems like the right thing to do."
---
Honk! Honk!
"Paul, pull on down to the red barn. That's where the bikes are. Dad said to give you these pulleys that he thinks will fit the engines you got yesterday."
"Thanks, Doug. The guys had asked about proper pulleys and I mentioned either machining grooves in a flat pulley or pouring some aluminum and making a pulley from scratch."
"Either of those would be a great learning experience for the boys but these pulleys will allow you to get whatever project you have in mind started sooner."
"That they will."
---
"Back already, Paul?"
"Yes, Love. The boys moved very quickly when unloading their treasures. Sally just had to help when she learned one of the dirt bikes would be hers. She had a small box under each arm in the gap in the crutch frame and was holding a bag in her teeth."
"Sounds just like Sally. How long before she asks to learn to do a wheelie?"
"Less than ten minutes into her first solo ride under power?"
"That's about what I'd expect from her."
---
"Do I smell biscuits?"
"Yes, Dad, along with cornbread for us and an apple pie that we'll leave with the Edwards. Mom said to expect the usual 'death in the family' response from neighbors and her usual contribution is a pie."
"Can we cut that pie and serve it on a different plate so I can get a piece and it won't be noticed?"
"It's a big oven so there's a pecan pie for us."
"Even better!"
---
"Boneless pork chops and cheesy mashed potatoes, Nana?"
"Alex, that's comfort food before going to a funeral. If you go comforted, you'll be better prepared to comfort others."
"A tummy full of good food does make me think things could get better."
"Sorry to put the brakes on your thought of 'get better' but that will take a very long time. Carla and I have read the headline article in this newspaper and I'd like for all of you to read it today. Reading it might take five minutes but digesting it will take longer. We'll discuss this more after each of you has read it. The paper will be on the counter when you have an opportunity to read it. Please initial it when you finish so I'll know when everyone has read it."
"Sounds scary, Gramps."
"It is scary, Kasey. That's why we need to talk about it and what effect it may have on you."
"A New York Times article can affect me?"
"Alex, the Times publishes articles about things that affect people from New York City to the entire world. This affects much of the country so it does affect you."
"Sounds even scarier now."
"You read the article and then we'll talk about it."
"OK."
---
"Everyone ready?"
"Yes, Nana."
"Then to the SUV. Alex and Kasey in the back row, Laura in the front right, Sarah and me in the second row and your Gramps driving."
"Why?"
"So there will be room for Matt and Bobby to ride with us without doing any seat shuffling. Bobby in the back row going over; Matt back there on the way home unless you can persuade Sarah to ride in the back row."
---
"Aunt Susan, who are all these people? They didn't know Daddy or me."
"They are neighbors, Melissa. No, they didn't know Henry and they don't know you. However, they know us and you're family to us so they came because you are family."
"Even the guy with the big digger?"
"Yes, even Mr. Jeffers. Digging that much dirt with shovels is hard work so he made the process easier for us by bringing his backhoe to do the work."
"But there's not any gas at the stations!"
"Not much gas, Melissa. Neither is there much of the diesel that the backhoe uses. Mr. Jeffers had a construction company that did lots of jobs moving dirt for various projects - a big enough company that he has his own diesel tank on his property."
"How much will it cost? I ain't got any money!"
"No cost. It's a gift. People out here often say 'I care about you' without using words. Mr. Williams…"
"Gramps?"
"Yes, your new Gramps. He asked Mr. Jeffers about doing the digging and he came early today to get it done…"
"And he showed me how to run the digger!"
"He mentioned that you understood that the machine, like a horse, responds best to a gentle touch."
"That's the thing I remember most when Uncle Charles was telling us about riding the horses at my birthday party. Just because they're big, that doesn't mean you have to do big movements of the reins for them to do what you want."
"You seem to have learned that lesson well."
---
"Gramps!"
"Hi, Melissa."
"Sit with me?"
"Susan?"
"You were the first 'family' she encountered here so who better to sit beside her for this?"
"You on the other side, Aunt Susan."
"Dearly beloved, …"
---
"…ashes to ashes, dust to dust…"
"NO!! Make him stop!!"
"Reverend Carver?"
"Take your time, Paul. This is often very hard for kids."
"Melissa?"
"Yes, Gramps?"
"We can't change what happened but I can hold you."
"YES!"
"You OK now, Melissa?"
"Yes, Gramps."
"Go ahead, Reverend."
"We commit the body of Henry Jamison to the earth. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust in the hope of the resurrection."
"Susan, did you ask Melissa if she wanted to do the handful of dirt?"
"She did, Paul. But now I'm not so sure."
"Let me ask her. Melissa? "
"Yes, Gramps?"
"Did you want to be part of those dropping in a handful of dirt?"
"If you go with me?"
"I will. Let's hold hands like this and we'll have our outside hands free for picking up the dirt."
"OK. Why do people do this?"
"Because everyone dies and we're just acknowledging that by adding a handful of the dirt we came from and will someday return to."
"Ackno-what?"
"Acknowledging - showing by our actions that we understand what will happen."
"Just so you don't die soon!"
"I don't plan to."
---
"Susan?"
"Yes, Carla?"
"Alexis would like a couple of minutes with you."
"Walk out to the springhouse with me so I can get some more milk. What's this about, Alexis?"
"Nana has told me about you and Mr. Edwards wanting to give me something for getting Kelly to talk about what happened to her…"
"Anything!"
"Mrs. Edwards, I don't want anything…"
"But…"
"Please let me finish. I don't want anything, but Debbie is worried about some of the horses you need to get rid of and I asked Gramps and he said we had room for two of them and their food and that would make you and Mr. Edwards happy and then you'd stop asking what you can do for me."
"Carla, how old did you say this young lady is?"
"Thirteen, a couple of months ago."
"Wise well beyond her years. Alexis, the package is two horses; one for you and one for your sister, saddles, blankets and so forth plus riding lessons and two years of food. I want to talk with Paul about which horses he'd prefer of the ones we have available as he knows you and your sister well enough to say with some authority how much horse each of you could control. Let's go back inside and encourage everyone to enjoy all the food that was brought today."
"And make up packages of leftovers for some of them?"
"Alexis, you are such a joy to know! I think we can do that without being obvious about it."
---
"Gramps, how do we fill the hole?"
"The same way it was made, Melissa. After the guests have left, Mr. Jeffers will use the backhoe."
"Can I help?"
"Why don't we go ask him?"
"He's here?"
"He looks a little different in a suit and tie than in his usual faded jeans, plaid shirt and yellow CAT hat."
"He looks more like a preacher than the preacher does!"
---
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Post by udwe on Feb 20, 2018 16:04:43 GMT -6
Love this story! keep it up, please!
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Post by udwe on Feb 20, 2018 16:07:43 GMT -6
Love this story! keep it up, please!
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 20, 2018 17:01:01 GMT -6
Love this story! keep it up, please! Thank you. Some days it seems that I spend more time dealing with my aging body than I do writing. My primary care physician says I have a 3 letter condition - O L D ;-) More house and yard related work are needed today and I have a physical therapy appointment tomorrow. Then maybe back to writing - until I see the ophthalmologist in two weeks and he'll want to schedule the surgeries on my other eye (cataract and partial cornea transplant - the cataract is part of OLD and the cornea problem is hereditary [ Fuch's Dystrophy]). Surgery will likely be at least a month out from that visit (he's very good and stays busy poking sharp things into the eyes of other people ;-) I'd like to get beyond Chapter 70 before I have the surgery; ideally several completed chapters as I can post using one eye but editing is somewhat harder.
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poppa
New Member
Posts: 17
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Post by poppa on Feb 20, 2018 18:49:30 GMT -6
Sir, I love your work and I understand "old" as I have been "old" for quite a while. Being "old" is quite a privilege - althou a bit inconvenient :-)
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Post by 9idrr on Feb 20, 2018 21:26:21 GMT -6
Sir- best of luck with the arm twister and the eye poker. You know that we'll all wait patiently (ha-ha-ha) while you heal. Thanks again for that with which you've blessed us so far.
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 20, 2018 21:36:10 GMT -6
Every time I choose to get a stepladder instead of using a convenient chair, it's inconvenient ;-)
I never thought much about longevity until I started doing family history when our first grandchild (now a teenager) was born. Sidenote: Out of the blue, she recently asked about her lineage so I have a 6 generation chart to assemble and send her. Now the question is whether or how much that interest can be encouraged, as many family members come to me with questions but none seem interested in taking up the work of tracking people and events :-(
My grandmothers lived to be 79 and 81. One grandfather to 85. Two of the great-grandfathers to 85 and 92. One great-great-grandfather to 82. I haven't yet equaled any of them but it seems the odds might be in my favor to do so ;-)
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Post by udwe on Feb 21, 2018 22:20:03 GMT -6
I will try to be patient.
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Post by accountant on Feb 22, 2018 10:26:01 GMT -6
Love this story! keep it up, please! Thank you. Some days it seems that I spend more time dealing with my aging body than I do writing. My primary care physician says I have a 3 letter condition - O L D ;-) More house and yard related work are needed today and I have a physical therapy appointment tomorrow. Then maybe back to writing - until I see the ophthalmologist in two weeks and he'll want to schedule the surgeries on my other eye (cataract and partial cornea transplant - the cataract is part of OLD and the cornea problem is hereditary [ Fuch's Dystrophy]). Surgery will likely be at least a month out from that visit (he's very good and stays busy poking sharp things into the eyes of other people ;-) I'd like to get beyond Chapter 70 before I have the surgery; ideally several completed chapters as I can post using one eye but editing is somewhat harder. papaof2, forgive me if I am out of line but your primary care physician sounds like a quack to me. Everyone knows that OLD is a highly contagious disease that is affecting a substantial number of people worldwide. People have been know to "get" OLD from spending too much time with others who have the disease. Symptoms of OLD include lethargy, crankiness, loss of will, loss of enjoyment in life, loss of control, and thinking that there is nothing they can do about the current state of affairs. Avoiding this dreaded disease can be done by enjoying time with "young" people, performing regular physical activities around the house, continuing with regular mental activities, having passion in life, and having regularly scheduled activities beyond the short term. Sir, in my opinion, you have not yet caught OLD. You genuinely enjoy your time with people on this board as well as your grandchildren, you perform house and yard work, continue to exercise your mind and imagination through your wonderful stories, and are looking to the future in terms of further chapters. Please don't "get" OLD if you can help it. Some of us still need your inspiration and critiques. Accountant
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 22, 2018 18:59:16 GMT -6
Not a quack, just someone I've known some 30 years and am on a first name basis with. We sometimes trade jests about each other. I'd give him generally excellent marks for the people he's referred me to (the one exception was technically competent but had less bedside manner than most hogs).
When the years and the miles begin to slow you down, you become aware that OLD will eventually catch up with you ;-)
Meanwhile, I'm still learning about solar - I had yet another solar panel out for testing for an hour or so today. I probably have enough info, references and practical experience to write a short book on "Building Your Own Solar Generator", including how to determine daily power needs, sizing the battery bank, number of days of autonomy, amount of sunshine at your location, sizing the solar array, etc. (Short book? From the guy whose short stories eventually become 120,000+ word sagas? ;-)
As long as I can maintain my sense of humor, I'll probably manage OK - don't really want to be the crotchety old curmudgeon at the end of the road...
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 27, 2018 23:01:59 GMT -6
I sat down to work on the next chapter after this one and found that what I thought was "next" will be the second "next" chapter. My muse woke up and gave me 1300 words that go after this chapter. I'm certain you'll all be disappointed that there will be an additional unplanned chapter ;-)
Chapter 68 - Discussing the Times
"It seems that everyone has read the article or at least initialed the page. I'd like to take 30 minutes for any questions you have and I'll make notes on what we cover so I can update Dave on the way back here - after he reads the article."
"Gramps, is it really gonna be that long? Three or four years?"
"Alex, the closest this country has ever had to this level of loss would have been during the years of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Factories closed, many people didn't have a job and goods were scarce."
"Factories are closed now because they don't have power. Why were they closed then?"
"Money was tight and the business owners couldn't borrow enough to keep the factories running. Sometimes they need to buy raw materials so they can create a finished product. If they can't get the money to cover the raw materials, they will never have a product to sell. In some ways, the banks' responses to the initial situation just made it worse."
"That makes sense. Was everyone hungry then?"
"Some were but not everyone because there were more self-sufficient people then, as even some people in the cities kept chickens or had gardens. Some of them would have dried or canned some of the things they grew to have a reserve for bad times. Probably not a year or more of reserves but at least something put back."
"And we know that some people here and a lot in Wilkinsville didn't have anything in reserve."
"People often follow the path of least effort. A frozen dinner or takeout from a convenient restaurant eliminates the effort of cooking and the hassle of washing dishes. That's an easy habit for the unwary to fall into. Back to the recovery time. Food and fuel are going to the soldiers repelling the Mexican invasion in the southwestern US. Some of those soldiers and their fuel supplies were taken from those rebuilding the highlines. No soldiers with fuel means no one rebuilding towers means power restoral is delayed which delays restarting oil and natural gas wells and pipelines and the refineries that produce gasoline and diesel…"
"And no fuel for the farmers and truckers means not much food or anything else even if it is being made 1,000 miles away."
"Very good, Kasey. At Trade Day, Major Green asked about chickens and a garden for the Guard encampment. They'll be losing most of their supply deliveries in 90 days."
"You can grow chickens or a garden in three months?"
"Some garden things can be grown in that length of time. Meanwhile, I'm sure they'll be looking to barter for available food at Trade Day and their cooks will be working out ways to stretch the food they do have. I think you should ask your mother about the timing from hatching chickens to getting eggs because she did a well documented report on it."
"And your Nana had it on the fridge for months!"
"I still have it, Sarah. Look behind the breadbox."
"Mom, why did you keep this one?"
"It's well researched and well written and it's in cursive."
"Cursive?? Momma, you actually *wrote* this many pages?"
"Alex, my choices were cursive or a manual typewriter in the typing classroom after school because we didn't have a typewriter then. Using cursive meant that I could write it at home with your Nana and some live chickens available for reference when needed."
"So how long to get from a newly hatched chick to laying eggs?"
"That depends on the breed, Alex, with some starting in five months. There's a chart in the report."
"Nice chart, Mom! You didn't have a computer, so how'd you make it?"
"The numbers from printed brochures that the extension service and Dawkins Bluff Feed and Seed offered. The computations on an electric adding machine, including the averages. I located the points on the graph using some of your Gramps' drafting tools and drew the lines using colored pencils. Other bits and pieces came from the library and some 4H documents."
"Yeah, there are pages of references. Who is J. D. Sawyer?"
"He had the biggest chicken operation in the state at that time so he was the best available reference for the section about 'Raising Chickens for Profit'."
"I think J. D. was very impressed with Sarah because a junior high girl was more interested in his chicken operation than either of his college-age sons. When J. D. died, they sold the business to ADM but those people were only interested in fast bucks from the maximum possible egg production and the line of hens that J. D. had been grooming because they laid longer were dumped for the industry standard breed. Had ADM been more aware, they would have continued to groom J. D.'s line to have high production for well more than a year beyond the 'standard' hen. A few of us picked up some of those hens and have continued to breed them…"
"That's why Rosie and Lilac didn't try to chase me?"
"They remembered you from previous years. We continue to raise some chicks each year so we'll have the full range of ages. I see that I've been sidetracked again. Further questions on recovery?"
"You can feed all of us for four years?"
"Yes, Sarah. We've more than doubled the size of the garden. We'll allow more hens to set and have more chicks this year. We now have goats for additional milk and meat. Both cows should be OK on milk production for a year or more. We have pigs and will either have George Jeffers butcher them or do that ourselves after the first frost as we do have enough people to handle the work and we have some neighbors who could use the meat we just don't have room to store…"
"Bobby and Sally?"
"Matt's family?"
"And some others that Alex is aware of because she asked Susan about making up packets of 'leftovers'."
"Them too, Nana."
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Post by 9idrr on Feb 28, 2018 19:40:06 GMT -6
You know of course, you can "disappoint" us like this any time.
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Post by udwe on Mar 2, 2018 21:35:24 GMT -6
I love the way Grandma & grandpa (& Sarah) teach the girls!
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Post by papaof2 on Mar 2, 2018 23:49:17 GMT -6
You should always take advantage of "teachable moments" - but people aren't always aware of them. On the other hand, I could have been brainwashed by my wife who taught preschool (mostly 3 year olds) for 29 years. Plus I enjoy watching the light bulb come on when a kid gets that last little push that knits previous learning into understanding. I volunteered at an elementary school for several years, mostly with 4th and 5th grade kids (ages 9-10). I wish phones with video capability had been available then because I saw one beautiful example where you could see understanding develop in a girl's face. Her expression was thoughtful, then struggling to put bits together then BIG smile when she got it and you could almost see the light bulb go on above her head ;-) One experience like that will keep you going back as a volunteer for a long time.
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