No Normal Day (20 page)

It
would
soon
be a year since the event changed all of their lives. The whole
family had
survived
to see another Spring. They were preparing the garden and trying to
think of some ingenious ways to stay cool, during the upcoming hot
summer. They tried
to
share, what they could
spare
of their supplies with the family of three and the teenage girl and
her brother. The sixteen year old girl, Shawna and her fourteen year
old brother, told David that their mother was Spanish and their
father was black They had been good parents and they knew that they
had met some bad end, while trying to provide for them.. David seemed
to
know a lot when it concerned
the
girl. She was very smart, very tough and she worked
at
making sure that she and her brother survived. She also, seemed
to
be a big reason why “the family of three” were surviving.
It seemed
that
the father of that family did
very
little himself to protect and provide for his family. The
neighborhood was
still
not completely deserted. Jack was
sure
that a few people were scattered around. Perhaps original residents
or people who had
moved
into abandoned homes. It was rare to actually see a person out in the
open, on the streets.

It
was
a
quiet, sunny day and the humidity, so common to this part of Texas
was building. Eric, Dane and Cody were
working
on a solar battery system. All of them were very good at computers
and such and they liked
this
challenge. Some more of Beth's printed material, gave
instructions
for using car batteries and solar panels to build a small power
system. The batteries were no real problem to acquire. Fortunately,
the instructions gave
the
directions for
if you want to build your own solar
panels.
The
components to do this were pretty easily located. Hopefully, these
small solar units would
power
some fans, at least for sleeping.

Lee
and Tate were doing some maintenance on the War Wagon. The work
around the compound had to be done, even though the humid warm days
forced
everyone
to
move
a little slower. Jason, Matt and David finished
the
last watch of the night. After some breakfast, the boys went
to
their space in Beth and Jack's garage for a nap. Jason went
to
what they all, now called
“
Casa
Dos”, to rest a while. In a short time, Jason came back out
and
went
into
the shop garage, to find Jack. Jack was watching with interest the
solar project of the boys. The third wave of trouble swelled
on
the horizon.

Jason,
a worried look on his face, said, “Jack, I wasn't quite asleep
just now. I think I heard something like trucks. Pretty far off but
it is something with a big engine. Maybe outside the neighborhood,
maybe on the far side.”

Jack
said,
“
We
better check it out. Lee, you come with Jason and I. Eric, don't wake
up the napping boys, yet. But, you and Tate, Dane and Cody be alert,
until we are back. We will do a little re-con.” Jack, Lee and
Jason slipped
out
of the garage door, Eric secured
behind
them. They moved
with
caution, crossed
the
street and stayed
close
to the houses, going
around
the corner into the neighborhood. Most of the houses had
privacy
fences, so they couldn't move between the houses and through back
yards. They had
to
hug the houses as they moved
down
the next street, one block over from the Jack and Beth's street.
Off
of this street, several side streets branched. These side streets ran
into
a winding street that more or less bordered
the
neighborhood. They had
stopped,
crouched down and were listening. Lee said, “It's definitely
engines, sounds like military trucks to me. It is closer now.”

The
three men moved
down
a side street, the rumbling
noise
closer all the time. At the end of this side street, they climbed
over
the fence of a corner house into the shelter of the back yard and
peered
over
the top. “S---!” curses Jason, “Its military,
alright.” They could
see
three big army green trucks about a block down. Seemed
to
be six soldiers, two per truck. They were doing exactly what they had
observed them doing, months ago. They were going into houses,
bringing out body bags...two of the trucks look like body carriers...
and bringing bags loaded with plunder from others. They saw
one
man being loaded into the third truck. He was barely on his feet.

“
Let's
get home fast,” said
Jack.
The
men made
their
way as quickly and with as much stealth as they could muster, back to
the compound. They immediately doused
all
the fires and gathered
everyone
in the common room.

Jack
said, “We have spotted military trucks. They are clearing the
neighborhood.” There was a low murmur of fear. “Shssh!
Everyone pay attention.” They had all become accustomed to this
drill and they calmed down and got quiet. “Beth, I want you and
the girls to take the children and go to the hall. It's not in the
view of any windows, you know honey, just like a tornado warning.
Take some blankets and pillows for the children and some water. Close
all of the doors that enter the hallway. You girls, all get your
pistols from the closet. The trucks are still five or six blocks
over, working their way around the neighborhood. I am supposing that
if some folks are surviving, they will want to go with them. When the
men and I are situated, we will let you know and it will be very
important to keep quiet.”

“
I
understand,” said
Beth,
she and the girls begin to move.

“
All
of you men and boys need to choose your weapons and get extra ammo.
Eric, Dane and Matt go to the garage door that enters the patio and
set up. Tate, Cody and David go to the kitchen and be ready. Jason,
Lee and I are going to move around behind the SUV in the driveway. We
also have the cover of those hedges. Tate, when we tap on that
boarded up kitchen window, you tell the girls to get completely
quiet. Everyone clear?”

The
boys and even Cody, all responded, “Yes, Poppa.” This
made Jack's stomach tighten in a hard knot. These young men should be
going to movies, driving cars, chasing girls, not preparing to fight.
The older men all nodded and moved away. Lee and Jason ran over to
Casa Dos and came back with their camo fatigue shirts on. Jason had a
bag on his shoulder that was pretty full. He caught Jack's look of
question, “Some things that might come in handy” he said.

Everyone
followed
the
plan. In far less than twenty
minutes,
each person was in position, just waiting. The girls decided
to
pretend it was lesson time and they worked
with
the children, read to them and let them color.
Big
Dog and Little Dog lay at the feet of Eric and the boys in the
garage. Tate and company sat
on
the floor, against the kitchen cabinets. Jack, Lee and Jason had
moved
out to their hiding place. The afternoon was crept
by
and they heard
the
trucks move
through
the streets, closer and closer. They probably were not finding a lot
of live people or supplies but were finding plenty of bodies. Jack's
knees had
quickly
started to scream from
squatting
behind the
SUV.
He
had
eased
up to a small section of brick wall that extended
from
the corner of the house and backed
the
hedges. He sat
down
in the corner, that the wall and garage formed. The trucks were
sounding
louder,
within a block. Jack rose
and
tapped
on
the kitchen window, Tate tapped
back.
He said, “Tate, are you there? Don't shoot or move from your
position, no matter what happens,
unless
we say
go”

“
Got
it,” whispered
Tate.
Jack went
back
to the big wooden gates, called
to
Eric in the garage. Eric opened
the
hatch that they had
made
in the tall gates. Jack repeated
the
orders to him. He returned
and
lowered
behind
the hedges. Lee motioned
that
he was checking to see how close the convoy was, he moved
to
see around the hedges.

Lee
could
see
the family of three trudging out and being loaded in the truck. The
bag the soldier was carrying had
very
little in it.
I knew they were barely alive.
He
then saw
them
move
to
the house of the teenage girl and her brother.
Damn,
David is going to go berserk, if they take Shawna and her brother.
After
a few minutes, the soldier came
out
of the house, with a bag that was nearly empty. No teenage girl, no
brother.
What the hell? I know they are alive.
Knowing Shawna, they are hiding somewhere...GOOD.

He
edged back around the hedge, “They are coming, about three
houses down”. Jason and Jack were at alert, their guns ready.
Only six...
thinks Jack...
we can handle that.
He was not
convinced though, he had no idea what weapons they had. The next
three houses were empty, it only took them a few minutes to clear
them. They were spraying the big red X's on the doors, just as they
did before. They had arrived at the door of Casa Dos. The soldiers
were pounding and shouting, “Open up, US government. We are
here to help you.”

Before
the soldiers could begin to poke around the back of the house, Jason
and Lee stood up, motioned for Jack to stay there and walked towards
the soldiers. Jack was stunned, “Wait...what the F--- are you
doing? Jason, wait”, he strained in his loudest whisper. Jason
motioned,
down,
again. Jack's heart was pounding in his chest,
rifle at his shoulder. He looked around the hedges and waited for the
S--- to hit the fan.

Lee
and Jason approached the soldiers and Jason said with a loud voice,
“Hey there, soldier.” The two soldiers stepped back from
the door and raised their guns.

“
Stand
down!” one of the soldiers shouts. Jason and Lee stood
firm.
The soldier eyed
the
camo fatigues and Jason's Staff Sergeant stripes. He didn't lower his
gun completely but lowered
it
a bit and said
with
a question in his voice, “Sir-r?”

“
Soldier,
what is your mission here?” asked
Jason.
The soldier responded
some
to the voice of authority.