It Was 2052 (15 page)

Sharon laughed, “I guess you could say that. Have to admit we've acquired a bit of a family, it seems.” They both sat quietly for a few minutes as the setting sun turned the lake and sky colors of pink and yellow.  “It's pretty nice, actually.” She grasp his hand.

“Yes, it certainly is,” said Driver and exhaled smoke out the window.

***

The barred door slammed shut and the man inside the cell slurred out a drunken song. John placed the keys in the desk drawer, locked it and put the drawer key in his pocket. His pleasant face was near normal now, except for the long red scar that trailed from the corner of his eye to above his chin.  The wide grin appeared as Mamie walked in the door.

In a flurry of bright colors, shiney hoops dangling at her ears, she filled the office with faint perfume aromas and honeyed chatter. She placed the covered plate in through the slit in the cell door. The man inhaled deep, “Iz-at the food or you that smells so good, honey?”

Mamie just twirled around and kissed John on the cheek, “Hello, Sheriff John. How's it going today?”  The wide scar on her upper arm was hidden today beneath the sleeve of her top. “We're meeting Eric and Rose at Luciano's for lunch.”

“Not pizza again?” he frowned.

She patted her curvy hips, “Maybe we'll try some soup and salad. How about that?”

“Better.  Soon as the deputy gets here, we'll take off.”

As they walked toward the Luciano Village, a few minutes later, Mamie chatted away to John about the difference on the streets these days. “Sure, the skies are never clear and sunny like you and I remember but it does seem to me that people are friendlier these days. Don't you think?”

“Maybe, a little less like robots,” he said.

The traffic on the street was busy and noisy and the citizens went in and out of the various tall village buildings. He did have memories of days so long ago, when the sky was often bright and blue.  He remembered days when the sandy beaches of Galveston stretched into the Gulf. Now underwater, like New Orleans and other coastal cities world wide, new inland cities were on the ocean's edge. He missed many things from the world before the big catastrophic event. Still, he liked this life he was living these days. He had hope for the future of his country and for Eric and Rose and the other young citizens. He looked down at the hand with the smoothly painted fingernails that was wrapped around his arm and patted it. Life was good for John these days.

Rose sat at the small table in the Luciano cafe. She noticed the happy look on her uncle's face.
I wonder what I would have done all these years without Uncle John.
It's good to see him not alone. Who wouldn't love Mamie? 

The second floor of the Luciano had become the operations headquarters of the U.S. military alliance.  The third and fourth levels were still for living quarters, both military and civilian. The Colonel and Driver had a room on the third level and the Colonel had taken over Luciano's old office on the second floor. Uniformed soldiers mixed with citizen workers in the hallways and lower level businesses.  Colonel Sharon passed by the cafe doorway and gave a wave to the four diners. 

Eric and Rose had moved into the former Network haven and managed the market, cafe and business of the ground level. These days, Rose's big smile flashed on the huge street screen that had so fascinated Jackson and invited people to eat pizza and shop at the Luciano Village.  It was a big job, the military had taken over the farm and the food production from the farm was trucked in, sold and bartered here in the market. All of the former girls that offered their favors on the second floor were now employed in various jobs of the village if they wished. Their earnings were their own and they lived on the fourth floor.

As the customers shuffled in and out of the cafe, the four enjoyed their lunch together. Mamie dug into the big bowl of salad, “This is good, Rose. Great to have something other than pizza.”

Eric said, “Yeah, I pretty much can't even bear the smell of it anymore.” They all laughed.

“Well, have you two set the date yet?” said Mamie. “I still don't know why you think you need some piece of paper to prove you love each other, pretty clear to me.”

Rose just smiled, “I don't know. With the baby coming and all, it just seemed right. I talked to Anissa today. She thinks the farm might be a good place to have a ceremony. What do you think? Right now, we're so busy, I just don't know when yet.”

Everybody agreed that sounded nice and soon parted to their various jobs.

***

The truck filled with corn left the long entrance to the farm. Jackson wiped his brow, even though it was Fall and not the hot summer, harvesting was hard work.  As he watched the dust boil up behind the truck, he thought about how much his life had changed since he came to the city. It had been nearly two years since he arrived at the Dallas Metro Villages and he felt far from the young man that got off of the bus on that cold day.

Anissa didn't want to live in the Luciano complex ever again and Jackson felt he had more than a belly full of the city life. When the plans for recovery were made, the two of them agreed to move to the farm, along with Lee, her father and her friend Shelly. These days, Lee already called him
Daddy.
He loved the farm life, the animals and outdoors. Anissa's father though frail, was thrilled to be out of the city and in the country.

Jackson was made the foreman of the farm. He had some experience with agriculture, growing up in his small town and Anissa's father knew a lot and was a big help. There were plenty of workers, once it was known that the military would pay and that room and board would be provided. Many of the original farm slaves, with no where else to go were happy to return. 

Shelly, the friend and Anissa managed the food preparations for the employee residents and saw to it that all the living arrangements were adequate, clean and comfortable.  The farm was no longer a place of oppression and brutality, it was fast becoming a thriving and happy home for the many that lived there.

Anissa led one of the big horses around, Lee proudly held on and rode around the yard. She smoothed out her long dark hair and looked down to be sure that she wasn't getting covered in dirt. A little nervous, she kept looking up the entrance road to see if she saw Jackson coming. Finally, the truck in the cloud of dust swirled into the farm yard.

“Down, momma, down!” shouted Lee. “It's Daddy.”  She lifted the small boy to the ground and his short legs pumped toward the man that climbed from the truck. Jackson swung him around and Anissa came smiling behind him. He leaned down and gave her a kiss.

Jackson's parents exited the other side of the truck and came around to where the three stood. They had always refused to come to the city. After a scratchy phone call and a conversation on the short wave radio, he had finally talked them into coming to see them. When he told them that he was managing a farm for the military, outside of Dallas they agreed to make the hundred mile journey. He had picked them up after their long bus ride and brought them to the farm.

For the first time in his life, he noticed that his parents were aging. His mother's hair streaked with gray and their faces lightly lined. Still straight backed and strong from a life in the post catastrophe world that wasn't easy, his mother bent and picked up the stocky little boy. He grinned big and said, “My name is Lee? What's yours?”

Jackson's mother laughed, “I think it might be grandma.”

“Mother, Dad, this is Anissa.” She stepped up a little hesitant.

“Oh, goodness, aren't you beautiful? It's nice to meet you Anissa.”

The dark haired beauty let out a sigh of relief and Jackson said, “She's much more than just beautiful. There are lots of things for us to tell you.”

Anissa slipped his arm from around her waist,” Oh, you must be hungry after that long bus ride. Let's go over to the dining hall. Jackson, would you put the horse up?” She walked briskly toward the building where her father and friend stood on the porch.

Jackson put his arm across his father's shoulder, “I knew mother would like her,” he said.

That evening, they had built a small fire in the large main hall fireplace. Shelly had left to put Lee to sleep, he had spent most of the day trailing after Jackson and his father and fell asleep at the supper table. They all sat around the fire with steaming cups of coffee and Jackson told the story of the past several months.

His mother had a very amazed and concerned look on her face, she scolded, “You should've let us know something, son. You have been in great danger. How would we have known if you were hurt or worse.”

“I know, mother. I really didn't know how to tell you all the things that were happening,” said Jackson.

His father put his hands on his knees and said in a rather loud voice, “Well, it's done now. You did the right thing.” He looked over to Jackson's mother, “And, we know about the important causes and the battle for good, don't we?”

His mother had a very sad look for a moment, then stood up and wrapped her arms around her son. She reached for Anissa's hand, “Yes, we know about the good fight. I'm proud of both of you.”

They stayed up very late that night. Jackson and Anissa told more stories of the last few months. Jackson parents told some old stories of their past experiences in the small town of Unity. They told about struggles of their own parents to survive and protect their families.

On the afternoon of the second day, the winter wind howled and there was a big fire in the fireplace. The tables were covered with white cloths and food filled them, a big cake sat on the end of one. Rose looked beautiful, her red hair piled up on her head, encircled in a wreath, she wore a yellow dress that floated around her, with room for the baby bump. Mamie bustled around with Anissa and her friend, making sure all the tables were prepared. A pastor from the big non denominational church in the villages would marry Eric and Rose. The service was short and sweet.

Eric talked excitedly with Mayor Adams and John about the business at the Luciano Village. Lee dashed around with some of the other children from the farm. Anissa's father sat by the fire in a rocking chair and Mrs. Pendelton brought him a piece of cake and sat down nearby.  In the corner, a small group of musicians played. Larry and Jason had found the group and now Jason sang with a not great but surprisingly clear voice. It was an old song, a waltz tempo that made Jackson's mother turn from her conversation and reach for her partner. The couple eased around on the sprawling wooden floor. Driver pulled the rather red faced Colonel to her feet and they followed. Sharon, a rare vision with her hair loose and a blue dress that fit her curves.  Soon, many others including Jackson and Anissa with Lee wedged between them moved around to the music.

Dallas and the country was not completely well, not healed from years of destruction, struggle and rebirth.  Not healed, but growing some new skin.  Jackson had no idea what was ahead, what lay around the corner. He did know that he was a part of the future. They all were and they would not give up the good fight.

Hope you enjoyed reading
  It was 2052
.  I'm always glad to hear from my readers, so please e-mail me with your comments:

[email protected]

*****The Days After series:

                  The Days After (Big River)

                  The Days After (The Tenth Year)

                  The Days After  (Far View)

                  The Days After (Chain of Strangers)

Four books in the No Normal Day series:

                        No Normal Day

                        No Normal Day II (Unity)

                        No Normal Day III  (West)

                        No Normal Day IV  (Travelers)

----also, paperbacks with two novels in each volume are available on Amazon.

Thanks for you support and interest.   J. Richardson