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From: "Jay Alexander" <yawn@angelic.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} Amelia  Part 06  Mg*, Fb, bg*, ped, oral, anal
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Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 06:11:14 -0400
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This is fiction, a product of a mind warped since childhood by
dealings with devious adults with their own agendas.
If erotic stories are not allowed where you are, close this or
change countries.
Story codes: Mg*, Fb, bg*, ped, oral, anal
Our hero is gentle with the children but deals harshly with
adults when needed. If crushed elbows or bleeding bodies on the
sidewalk bother you, move on.
My inspiration was a child I never spoke with and only saw at a
distance. I had a face, a name and an age - the story was built
on that foundation.
 =============================
Sunday, 20 September, 8:10AM
Knock! Knock!
"Hi, Alicia."
"Hi, Momma. I got to make a bracelet too! See? And Poppa fixed
pancakes and I got to use the chocolate and hazelnut spread on
them and when Amelia's Grandpa Joe gets back we get to help make
more water barrels and there'll be more solar panels for
electricity and maybe a washing machine that doesn't need
electricity."
"I think you had a good time with your Poppa. I'll get the back
gate, Jack. We need the charger - the batteries are at 65 per
cent and the weather forecast is rain today and tomorrow,"
"Joe said he'd be back late today or some time tomorrow. Bob
Bridges will be by to pick up the tablet holster I printed last
night. Alicia went to sleep watching the printer work. Don't know
if she was tired or maybe hypnotized a little by the steady
motion."
"You certainly made her happy with supper, with her two favorite
food groups of pancakes and chocolate. Did she sleep OK?"
"Snuggled up on my shoulder and had a great smile when I eased
her off my shoulder to get up and reheat pancakes for breakfast
this morning. I wondered what she was dreaming."
"Probably about spending more time with you - like the 'we get to
help make' she couldn't wait to tell. Your presence is providing
healing for my girls. Thank you."
"Thank you for the opportunity to know them."
"'Opportunity to know them' is a real change from the 'do I have
to put up with them' they'd been hearing. They just want to be
close to you - as in inside your skin."
---
"Uncle Jack, can we do the charger?"
"Are you able to, Amelia?"
"Yes I'm able to. May we do the charger?"
"Yes. I'll watch to see if you still do it correctly."
"Alicia, get your coat and come with me."
"What are we doing?"
"The charger. The batteries are getting low."
"OK. You read this time and I'll do."
---
"The 'A' team did well."
"Thank you, Poppa."
"Thank you, Uncle Jack."
"Do you remember how long it needs to run?"
"'Til the battery voltage is 14.2?"
"Correct. Any guess on how long in time or how much in gasoline
that will be?"
"There's nothing from the solar panels 'cause it's cloudy so it's
all the charger today. Two or three hours?"
"Good estimate. How much gas in it the tank?"
"We forgot to check!"
"Is that on the instruction sheet?"
"I guess we just assumed everyone would remember to check the gas
- but that won't work because we didn't. Can we add gas now?"
"What does the label on the gas tank say?"
"'Stop engine. Wait two minutes before filling tank.' Do we hafta
stop it and let it cool and then put in the gas and then start it
again?"
"Yes, you 'hafta'. It's not safe to add gas to a hot engine and
certainly not to one that's running."
"OK. Charge to Stop. Cables disconnected. Key to Off. I don't
have a watch. How do I know when it's two minutes?"
"How many seconds in a minute, Alicia?"
"Sixty, Poppa. Like there's sixty minutes in an hour."
"If you count 'One, one thousand, two, one thousand' and so
forth, you get about one count a second. How many do you need for
two minutes?"
"Sixty times two is one hundred twenty, Uncle Jack."
"Very good, smart girl. Why don't you split that and each of you
count half way."
"Go, Alicia."
"OK, Amelia. One, one thousand. Two, one thousand…"
---
"Sixty, one thousand. Go, Amelia."
"One, one thousand. Two, one thousand…"
---
"Sixty, one thousand. OK, Uncle Jack, that's two minutes."
"I poured some gas from the five gallon can to this one gallon
can because it's light enough for you to handle it safely.
Remember to pour very slowly and watch the reflections on the
surface of the gasoline in the tank to know when it's close to
full."
"I remember from last time - but you'll keep reminding us so
Celia and Leah and Paige and Rachel will also be reminded."
"Very good, smart girl. You understand that some of the things I
tell you again are for the benefit of those who may not have
heard it as many times."
"I remember how scary it was when you lit that little bit of gas
in the lid from a pickle jar and let it spill on the driveway. It
was running fire and I don't want that on the charger or near the
house."
"Me, too."
"It's almost full. I stop there and put the cap back on the tank.
Now we can start it again, Alicia."
"And put 'Check Gas!' at the top of the instructions in big
letters."
"Should you have safety warnings about adding gas?"
"That too, Poppa. We gotta rewrite the whole thing again?"
"What if I scan the current instruction sheet and print it out on
longer paper with the existing instructions on the bottom half of
the page and the top half blank for your additions?"
"You can do that, Uncle Jack? We don't hafta draw everything
again?"
"Correct. First get it started and charging again."
"Yes, Poppa."
---
"Why did you stop and restart the charger, Alicia?"
"We forgot something important, Momma."
"It sounded like you got it started on the first try. What did
you forget?"
"To check how much gas it had! Poppa asked us how long we thought
it might need to run and then asked how much gas was in the tank.
I guess we thought everyone would check the gas before starting
it. Poppa's gonna copy the instruction sheet to bigger paper so
we can add stuff at the top and not hafta write and draw all the
rest of it. How'll you do the copy, Poppa?"
"The paper we've been using is eleven inches long - it's called
'letter' size. The paper I put in the all-in-one printer for this
is fourteen inches long - it's called 'legal' size because
mortgages and lots of other documents are on the longer paper so
they can get more words on fewer sheets of paper."
"So we get three inches of blank paper to put the new stuff on
and we don't hafta write or draw any of the old stuff. Is that in
the instruction book for the printer?"
"No. I just thought that up."
"Like you said about smart being different from educated.
Educated is learning things. Smart is using the things you've
learned. You learned that you could make copies. You learned that
the paper comes in two sizes. You used what you learned to copy
the instruction sheet to paper with space to add what we needed."
"Very good, smart girl."
"You're the smart one, Uncle Jack, and you're a great teacher."
"She's right, Jack. You must know which way the all-in-one scans
the paper - top to bottom or reverse - to know how to place the
paper in the scanner and make the copy onto a different size
paper."
"I could do it that way with some all-in-ones, but I'd have to
memorize that information about every printer I use. Much easier
if I scan the original into the laptop at high resolution and
paste that image into a word processor page that's configured as
legal size, then print from there."
"You still gotta know how to do the scan and how to put the
picture that you scanned on that other page and in the right
place."
"That's true."
"Uncle Jack, we learned a little about computers and writing
stuff on them at school but you do more than they ever showed us.
Can we have Saturday school for cursive and computers?"
"I think that might be arranged when school starts."
"Thank you, Uncle Jack."
"Thank you, Poppa."
---
"What next, Sarah? Will they be asking for lessons in Swahili on
Saturday?"
"I have no idea, but I love seeing them open up to the idea that
not everything comes from Monday through Friday school. And they
want to learn more!"
"Nothing beats having the right teacher."
---
"'When school starts', Jack? Are you that optimistic?"
"No, Sarah. I'm not at all optimistic about school starting but I
won't say anything to the girls until they announce that school
will not be starting. I think they may institute a 'quarantine in
place' to try to keep everyone at home to control the spread of
whatever has made so many people sick. The best they could do on
containment now would be to try to block traffic in and out of
the state. It's already too late for that as your Dad was 150
miles away at the solar dealer - and it's anyone's guess how many
have gone elsewhere because the water is off. And it's likely
that quarantine will not help as we think the problem is
water-related, not something being transferred person-to-person."
"They could do a quarantine like that?"
"They could for a health emergency - at least until it's proven
not to be transmissible human-to-human."
"But what is it and where did it come from?"
"If anyone knows, they're not telling."
---
"Uncle Jack, are we doing the new fridge today?"
"Yes, Amelia. You and Alicia get on jeans because you'll be
crawling around on your knees for some things - not the greasy
ones in the laundry - something you might wear to school. You may
get a little dirty today, but not as dirty as cleaning the
tiller."
"How do we do it, Poppa?"
"I'll make space for the fridge where your mother wants it,
Alicia, then we drill a hole in the wall for the vent and one in
the floor for the gas line. You'll be helping me mark and drill
holes and mostly handing me tools when I run the line for the LP
gas…."
"But I wanna run the line…"
"Sorry, Amelia. You're not tall enough to do what I'll be doing
when I run the gas line on the floor joists."
"Where's that?"
"Follow me to the basement, girls."
"It's kinda crowded down here."
"Alicia, look at the label on those cans before you complain."
"Oatmeal. Raisins. Flour. Hot chocolate. There's a lot of food
down here!"
"Several months' worth. Who can you tell?"
"This is like the stuff that covers the windows so light from the
heater won't show. If someone else knows we have it, they might
want it."
"Very good, smart girl. What we came to see is here. See this
pipe?"
 "Un huh."
"We tap into it to get LP to the new fridge."
"You're right, Uncle Jack - I can't reach that high."
"That's what I said, shortstuff."
"I'm not short! I'm just not all grown up yet."
"That still leaves you a little short for doing some things. You
OK with helping by doing the things you can reach?"
"Yes, Uncle Jack. I'm always trying to do more than I can, aren't
I?"
 "Quite often. But sometimes you do manage to stretch yourself
and accomplish something new."
"I'd like to be stretching right now!"
"We have cold things to do, not hot things."
"I can dream, can't I?"
"Better find a more comfortable place. The cans and boxes down
here are definitely not a good place for the things that put that
dreamy look on your face."
"Yes, Uncle Jack."
"Your Grandpa Joe will be back either late today or sometime
tomorrow. You think he might like some time with his
granddaughters?"
"Un huh."
"And you have a different dreamy look on your face."
"I love you both, Uncle Jack. It's like the difference between
strawberry cake and chocolate ice cream. One's not better than
the other - they're both good - they're just different."
"Sweetie, I didn't say that I had a problem with you spending
time with him. I'm just teasing my helper about getting
sidetracked from the work of installing the fridge."
"You're bad sometimes, Uncle Jack."
"And he's 'so good' sometimes."
"Yeah. That too."
"Back to the kitchen and we'll get started on the work."
"OK."
---
Sunday, 20 September, 12:30PM
"Jack, are you at a stopping place?"
"Other than the clean up, Mindy, we're finished here."
"The fridge is cold?"
"In the process of cooling down. That will require several hours.
Less if you're willing to sacrifice a couple of the frozen jugs
in the old fridge."
"There's not much food left in it, so I don't think it would be
problem to move half of the jugs to the new fridge."
"You'll do the other fridge after lunch?"
"Is the 'A' team OK with that?"
"Amelia, I bet we can do it faster than this time."
"You're right, Alicia. Now we know how. Momma, we'll help Uncle
Jack do it."
"Thank you, girls."
"And then we'll be done for the day?"
"With a small exception."
"What now, Poppa?"
"We could install the little water heaters at each house so
there's always be enough hot water for a few people to have a sun
shower bag of warm water each day even when the sun isn't
shining."
"Yes!"
"Me, too!"
"Does that mean we can swim?"
"With some conditions..."
"I knew there was a catch somewhere."
"How many people want to swim?"
"All us girls."
"And we want you to throw us in the air."
"So how many showers is that?"
"Seven."
"How many did I say?"
"'A few', Poppa, but it takes more water to wash me than Rachel
because there's more of me and more for Amelia's hair than mine -
and more for you than any of us unless you're in the shower to
wash all of us and you get wet doing that but we'll only be in
the pool if it's sunny and the sun warms the bags and the barrels
so we can swim on sunny days and some of us can get showers on
the days it's not sunny."
 "How much water do we have stored?"
"Enough for drinking and cooling and one shower a week if there's
enough rain."
"So when you can swim?"
"One day a week unless it rains every week?"
"Correct, smart girl. However, having the water heater means
you'll still have warm water for showers when it's too cool for
the sun to warm the bags or the barrel."
"I don't like this, Uncle Jack. When do we get water and power
back?"
 "I'm sorry, Celia, but I don't have an answer. The power is
coming back very slowly - we do have cell phone service some of
the time now, but they've not really told us anything about the
status of the water system. We can get a little more water for
washing by using the still to clean the pool water - but it's
slow. Do any of your remember hearing the pump near the pool
run?"
"Not in a long time. Isn't that how it cleans the water when
Paige pees in it?"
"Among other things, Amelia. We've been testing the water and
adding chemicals as needed…"
"When you stir it with the oar and we can't be in the pool for a
long time?"
"Yes, Leah. However, there's a limit to how much cleaning can be
done when the pump doesn't run and the water doesn't go through
the filters. In a week or so, we'll close the pool because it
won't be safe to swim in."
"NO!"
"I'm sorry girls, but you know that I put keeping you safe ahead
of fun."
"You said a week?"
"Yes, Celia. But I don't know if you would want to be out there
in a bikini today."
"It's still kinda cool in the bathroom upstairs. I don't think I
wanna be outside and mostly uncovered."
"So closing the pool might not be as bad as you first thought,
Leah?"
"Maybe not - and you did tell us before it happened. You're nice,
Poppa."
"I think this crew might be happier with food in them. To the
table."
 "Yes, Momma."
---
"Momma, can I have another sandwich?"
"Only if you eat the heels..."
"Yuck! We don't have any more bread?"
"The stores were almost out of bread when we were there the other
day. Jack, do you know where the store gets their bread?"
"Their warehouse on the north side of town, but that's only a few
days' worth. I think the commercial bakery that supplies them is
just across the state line in that direction."
"Have they started the quarantine by closing the state borders
without telling us?"
"The local authorities haven't been completely truthful about the
water or power issues. They could be keeping us uninformed about
this…"
Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!
"Let me check this text message."
'Be there in 10 minutes. Have some questions for you. Bob'
"Bob Bridges is on his way here. He'll be picking up the holster
I printed for him last night and he has some questions for me.
Looks like I'll be in 'job' mode for a while. Mindy, there's a
very simple bread recipe in the LDS documents I brought over. I'm
not sure how much each girl can help - being in a cast might make
kneading bread difficult - but perhaps baking bread would be a
better project for after lunch. I'll move the dining room table
to make room for the kero heater in there so there'll be room for
all the girls to help with something in the kitchen."
"We get to cook?"
"Yes, Alicia. I think your mother and Miss Sarah can find
something that each of you can do to help. You will NOT be
handling the bread pans on their way into or out of the hot oven.
Like the kero heater and the skillet Amelia tested, cold metal
and hot metal look exactly alike."
"Yes, Uncle Jack."
"Yes, Poppa. Can we still do the other fridge and the water
heaters?"
 "We'll work on those later today or tomorrow. I think having
bread to eat might be a little more important than another
working fridge. And baking bread might be a little more fun."
"But I like using the tools!"
"Me, too!"
---
Knock! Knock!
"Hi, Bob. Here's the holster."
"Thanks, Jack. Do you have time to look at some things at my
house? I managed to get things that I think are equivalent to
what you built on but my mechanical skills appear to be no match
to yours."
"Let me tell everyone."
---
"Most of them aren't happy about me leaving, except Amelia. The
.22 rifle is loaded and where she can get it if needed. Sarah and
Mindy are armed. As long as my truck is here, people seem to be
avoiding us."
"I'm guessing that the bloodstains on the sidewalk don't hurt."
"I did have to do a bit of persuading to get the ladies to leave
those alone. What are we building?"
"Rain collection and filtering. Battery banks with inverters and
solar panels. Pumps for water in the kitchen and upstairs. A
battery charger like you have. The solar water heater barrel."
"Should I bring any tools?"
"No. I'm a tool-a-holic. Can't resist buying just one more wrench
or saw or drill or whatever."
"Drill charged?"
"Yes, both batteries and the charger is a fast one - less than an
hour. I have a small inverter generator that I've used a little
for cooling the fridge and charging phones and a laptop. I can
run it if you need a small saw or a corded drill…"
"You have plenty of gas?"
"About 25 gallons of treated gas. No more than the inverter
generator uses when lightly loaded, that's a lot of hours of run
time."
"Then we're OK on power for the moment."
"Cell service is marginal but text works - slow, but working. I
can also get slow dialup service and so can most of the others.
Between texts and email, we worked out the plan for today.
Charlie and both Jerry A and Z are at my house for some hands-on
learning. Sherry will be making notes and video. I got to
thinking about the form I asked you to design and finally
realized that we all need to be able to *do* the scrounging and
building because every location is unique. The ones you teach
today will be out teaching and helping others tomorrow."
"That's good, Bob. Let's go start classes."
---
"The hookup is that simple, Jack?"
"Simple if you have everything that's to be connected on your
diagram and you have all the wiring color coded, Bob."
"True. Having each person watch and then do and then teach the
barrel prep makes that stay with you."
"Doing is how children learn the things they remember best. I
don't know about you, but I'm frequently told that I'm a big kid.
Guess it works the same for us."
"As much fun as those girls seem to have with you - even if it's
dirty work - I can see where you'd get called a big kid. You also
manage older kids pretty well. I never thought I'd see Layla with
any tool in her hands, but she thought drilling a water barrel
and installing a faucet was 'awesome' - not sure where she got
that word, last week it was 'neat'."
"Most kids are happier when they feel they are contributing. For
her, I think getting a shower - even the five gallon variety -
was her initial motivator. Then she discovered that there are
some things she does well - being complimented by our resident
mechanic brought her self-esteem up a notch or two."
"I think she has a crush on you, Jack. I overheard her talking
with her mother and 'hunk' came out several times."
"Tell her I'm taken. I have a family to care for."
"That's what Laura told her - and got a response of 'Are you
sure?'. However, Layla has lost some of her teenage whining about
things. You interested in being therapist for a group of
sometimes pain-in-the-ass 15 and 16 year old girls?"
"No, I don't need another giggle of girls around me…"
"'Giggle of girls'?"
"We say gaggle of geese. What sound do girls that age make?"
"I give. I've had all the pun-ishment I can take today.
Everything connected?"
"All but one. Either your wife or your daughter should make that
last connection and see the charge controller light change from
red to green and the see 'Charging' on the display."
"I'll ask Laura."
---
"You wanted me, Mr. Wilson?"
"Yes, Layla. Would you like to make the final connection for the
solar power system?"
"I can?"
"Yes."
"Light's green, Jack."
"Thanks, Charlie. You want to go look, Layla?"
"Yes, sir."
---
"It's working, Daddy! Can I charge my iPhone now?"
"Yes. Do remember to unplug the wall wart when the phone is
charged."
 "Yes, Daddy."
---
"Jack, I owe you big time!"
"No, Bob. I'm just helping a friend."
"Not the water and power, Jack. It's Layla."
"Explain to me?"
"At best, I've been 'father' for the past year. Now my bubbly
daughter is back and I'm 'Daddy' again. I think you were right
about having her work on the instruction sheet for the charger
with Sherry. I don't think we'd have gotten her to the grease
monkey status of your 'A' team, but she's had fun today and been
accepted by the adults as an equal."
"I think we sometimes expect too much of our children in some
areas and don't give them enough opportunities for growth in
other areas."
"Would you be interested in running for the County School Board?
You sure beat the 'we must do what California does' robots who
are there now."
"I think my plate is full with having some responsibility for six
kids."
---
Sunday, 20 September, 5:10PM
Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!
"Let me see who needs me now, Bob."
'Joe is back. Needs to talk with you ASAP.'
"Bob, Sarah's Dad is at the house and needs to talk with me. I
should go back now."
"I'll take you, Jack. And thanks."
"You're leaving, Mr. Wilson?"
"Yes, Layla. My family said I was needed."
"Thank you for letting me help."
"You're welcome. And that was an impressive 'thank you' from a
very pretty young woman."
---
"Told you she had a crush on you, Jack."
"So you did. Wonder who she's been practicing kissy-face with?"
"I may have an idea, but considering how much her attitude
improved today I won't say anything. I think the adult approval
she got today will override the attraction of one boy's car."
"Just be sure she has the kind of care she needs when she needs
it."
"Including things such as the 'very good' and 'smart girl' you
handed out regularly today?"
"She did a good job on everything she attempted to do. She did
have some good ideas. Just noted them while they were still fresh
in her mind."
"The next time she decides she hates us and wants to live
somewhere else, I'm sure it will be your house."
---
'Where'd the road train come from, Jack?"
"Joe went shopping. Solar panels, batteries, water barrels,
convection heaters, probably a washing machine…"
"The list I commented on."
"Correct."
"Need any help unloading?"
"Let's go ask."
---
Knock! Knock!
"You're back, Jack."
"Yes, Joe. Bob brought me back and came in to see if we needed
help unloading."
"Thanks, Bob. You should probably stay for what I'll be telling
Jack and the others. Jack, can you set up a movie for Celia,
Paige, Leah and Rachel? As much as I hate yanking them out of
their childhood innocence, I think Amelia and Alicia need to hear
this."
"I'll get the movie started."
---
"Did you notice the back of the trailer, Jack?"
"Yes. Mostly small arms but a few larger caliber holes."
"That was coming back. They have roadblocks on most roads that
connect to our surrounding states. Having grown up in the area I
was traveling through - fishing, hunting, hiking, camping - I
know the back roads and forest trails better than any of the
Guard members from either state. Getting out was easy - I was an
hour or so ahead of the highway closings - which were not
announced on either side of the state line. Getting back was more
difficult - Guard from both states at most state line crossings
and I was pulling a much heavier load. Fortunately, the Guard on
this side isn't as concerned about people coming into the state
so the holes are from troops on the other side."
 "You look a little worse for wear, Joe."
"Didn't have my seatbelt on at one point and got tossed around a
bit inside the vehicle when I hit a muddy spot on one of the back
roads. Nothing soap, water and some antibiotic ointment can't
handle."
Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!
"What's that?"
Surveillance system. Two cameras see motion and a ground motion
sensor detected footsteps. We have visitors. Kids to the
basement. Amelia, take the rifle and ammo. Remember the
password."
"Yes, Uncle Jack."
"Mindy, open the gun safe and let Joe and Bob choose weapons.
Sarah and Mindy to the basement door. Mr. Barrett and I will take
an upstairs bedroom window."
"Mr. Wilson? Major Tibbets wishes to speak with you, sir."
Love having camera access on my tablet. The sergeant has a white
flag, is unarmed and looks ready to piss his pants. I think he
was part of the cleanup crew at the park. If so, he knows the
destruction that can be originate here.
"Sir? The Major is aware that you may be better armed than we are
and will meet in your preferred location."
"Tell him I'm exiting the Humvee, Sergeant. I'll be unarmed."
"Sir?..."
"I heard the Major. Have your men on each side of the house move
to the Humvee and be seated on the ground."
"I don't know how he knows but I'm not in a position to argue. Do
it, Sergeant."
"Alpha Team stand down. Return to the Humvee. Weapons on the
hood."
"Come to the door, Major. You are being watched from multiple
locations. Any move against my family and you die first."
"Yes, Mr. Wilson. Should I knock or keep my hands raised?'
"Keep them raised. Joe, get the door."
"Got it, Jack. Come in, Major Tibbets
"Judge McKenzie?"
"I also remember you from court, Thomas. I think you know my
style. My grandchildren are in this house and no one harms them
unless they get past me."
"Your Honor, I know that you dealt fairly with my troops when
they got in trouble. Occasionally with creative punishments that
were extremely effective. I hope you'll listen and give me a
similar fair hearing. I spoke with Deputy Connors about some of
the logistics problems we're having and he suggested I ask Jack
Wilson. When I asked who that was, he said 'The SEAL with the
Barrett'. I have no desire to interfere with your efforts at
surviving what's happening. I'm here to ask for help getting
basics for my troops."
"What about your support at the Guard Armory?"
"There is none. Very little food and water, no functional water
processing equipment, fuel only because we pulled trailers with
us. We can requisition food, but water is now critical. Can you
help us?"
 "Jack, you hear all that?"
"Yes, Joe."
"Can you help us, Mr. Wilson?"
"Is there any source of water where you're camped?"
"A small spring-fed pond."
"How many troops?"
"Currently about 60. Should be higher but many probably went home
to care for family."
"If you can get food grade water containers, the home centers
have sand, gravel and landscape cloth. Wally World and pet stores
have aquarium charcoal. If you can't find that, plain charcoal -
not briquets and not those impregnated with lighter fluid - for
grilling will work. With those items, you can build slow but
effective water filters. Not as good, portable, quick to set up
or as fast as the reverse osmosis units the military usually uses
but this is an available expedient and they do work. That's how
our water here is filtered. Coffee or tea, Major?"
"You have Earl Grey?"
"Mindy. It's your house. You know better than I where things
are."
"I'm on it, Jack."
"You do have running water! I didn't believe the Deputy when he
said how much you'd put together in so little time. And electric
ignition for the stove!"
"Jack's been very good about the little things that keep the
cooks happy. Maybe he just likes to eat?"
"I thought the Deputy said there were kids here?"
"They're in a safe corner of the basement and the oldest has her
.22 rifle. She won't respond until she hears a voice she knows
and the password."
"Guess it's good to have a teenager in the house at times."
"Not a teenager. Just a very responsible nine year old."
"You'd trust a kid that young with a firearm?"
"Absolutely. Joe gave her lessons. I don't know anyone better for
teaching responsibility."
"Thank you, Ma'am. I apologize for not introducing my self to
you. I'm Major Thomas Tibbets."
"Major. I'm Mindy Davis. My co-cook is Sarah Pope."
"Ladies. Jack mentioned coffee. I have six men outside. Could
you…"
 "Pot's already on the stove. Just a couple more minutes."
"The Deputy said you were nice people, just very protective of
each other and especially the children. We came in probably
looking like stormtroopers and you have coffee on for us."
"We could use some allies also."
"Mr. Wilson, I don't know what we have that you might need. You
seem to have taken the loss of water and power in stride - or you
at least have me fooled."
"We've acquired piece parts to put together alternative systems.
We ration water and electricity. Showers are once a week using a
five gallon sun shower bag. The kids get one movie a week; other
nights they get bedtime stories."
"Joe, I thought I heard Amelia. Would you tell her it's OK for
them to come up? She knows your voice better than mine."
"On my way, Jack."
---
"Coffee's ready. How do your men take it, Major?"
"Black, Ma'am."
"Bob, if you'll put this tray on the porch?"
"Sure, Sarah."
"Major, if you'd tell your men to come get a cup."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
---
"We can go back up, Grandpa Joe?"
"Yes. Amelia, remember to carry the rifle safely but keep it with
you."
"OK."
"Can we see our movie?"
"I think so, Celia."
---
'M-M-Mister J-J-Jack.'
'What's wrong, Alicia?'
'Th-th-that's S-S-Seth!'
'Deep breath, sweetie. Here's a hug. If you're OK to talk now,
tell me which one he is.'
'B-B-By Grandpa Joe's tr-tr-truck.'
---
"Major, we have a problem."
"Yes, Mr. Wilson?"
"The soldier by the Suburban is wanted for beating and raping
three children. I know the warrant has been issued but he's
likely been hiding in this Guard unit to avoid arrest. I've
called the Sheriff's Office, but if they can't get here quickly,
I'll confront him myself. If I do, tell the others to stand down.
There is no reason for them to be hurt protecting him."
"But…"
"Major, six other members of that family attempted a home
invasion in Jack's presence. Three are dead. The other three are
crippled and in jail. Tell your men to stand down. It will NOT
end well for any who interfere."
"OK, Your Honor. If he can touch at a quarter mile, I won't
question what he can do up close."
---
"It's been ten minutes, Jack."
"Major, I'll take Seth with the minimum damage needed to subdue
him. Tell the others not to interfere."
"Ow! You stupid whore! I'll kill you for that!"
"Seth, on your knees!"
"Who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare."
"Ow! You and that damned ball bat! I'll stomp your ass you dumb
slu…"
 "Arrrgh! My arm!"
"On your knees, Seth."
"I still got a knife! Ow! You and that damned bat, Leah! I'll
kil…"
 "Aiee! My leg!"
"Alicia, Rachel! Bring your bats!"
"You hurt me. Now I can hurt you!"
"You made me bleed. Now you're bleeding!"
"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"
"What's going on?"
"Some of the children he hurt getting their licks in, Major. I
think this might be considered 'physical therapy'."
"You won't stop them?"
"Before they do much damage. I don't want them dealing with a
dead body, but a little blood here and there is good."
"You're vicious."
"No. I've had these kids cry themselves to sleep on my shoulder
after telling me some of what happened to them. Seth should
consider himself fortunate that I'm not the one inflicting pain."
"Damn but you can be scary."
---
"Alicia! Leah! Rachel!"
"What?"
"Over here girls."
"Was I bad, Poppa? He hurt us and he can't get away and I hit him
and I hit him and I…"
"Shh, Alicia. You weren't bad."
"I started it, Poppa. Was I bad?"
"No, Leah. You weren't bad."
"Me, too, Poppa?"
"You weren't bad either, Rachel. All of you have a lot of anger
about the hurts that have happened to you. You just needed to let
some of that anger out."
"But now I feel bad about hitting him."
"That just proves that you're not bad. You did something in anger
but now you're not sure if it was worth it."
"It was. I'm not scared of Seth now."
"I can tell, Alicia."
---
"What happened, Jack?"
"Pete, Alicia was terrified when she recognized Seth. I called it
in but went to confront him when you weren't here in ten minutes.
It seems Leah is more of a danger with the baseball bat than I
gave her credit for. She was swinging at Seth before I got to
him. He chased her. I told him to stop. He drew a knife. I put
him down and then my backup came out with baseball bats."
"Backup?"
"Alicia, Leah and Rachel. I stopped them after a little while -
didn't want them dealing with a dead body."
"They're OK?"
"Alicia wasn't sure how she felt about hitting someone when he's
down, so they'll probably need some lap and shoulder time
tonight. I'd say she's a pretty good kid if that's already
bothering her."
"The other troops didn't interfere?"
"I'd cautioned the Major and so had Joe. I think the facts that
Leah hit the first blow and Seth had less than positive things to
say about her - such as 'stupid whore' - probably persuaded the
others that it wasn't their fight."
"I'll write it up as assault on a child and resisting arrest. If
he complains, I'll tell him we'll be happy to release him in the
girls' custody."
"That would be scary for him, as Alicia said 'I'm not scared of
Seth now' - and she has the bat to back it up with."
"Score one for the good guys - I guess that's girls - this time.
Will you be able to help the Major?"
"With getting water, yes. With food, not so much. They can
requisition things, but with the state borders closed, the food
supplies will disappear very quickly."
"'Just in time' won't be happening."
"And it's too late in the year to grow much in a garden -
assuming you have the tools and supplies."
"What about a greenhouse?"
"One with a source of auxiliary heat might work through the
winter. Otherwise you only add a month or so at each end of the
growing season. Metal conduit, PVC pipe and clear plastic film
may still be available at the home centers. A source of heat may
require some serious research - how big, what type fuel, how much
fuel for how long. Anything of masonry typically holds the heat
if there's enough mass but useful mass also eats crop space. Lots
of trade offs."
"Help me get this crap into the car so I can take him by the
hospital on his way to jail?"
"Yes. Nice to have the county doing trash pickup today."
"Do you ever lose your sense of humor, Jack?"
"I've misplaced it for a day or two, but it's never been
completely lost."
"I asked for that, didn't I?"
---
"Poppa, can you hold me?"
"Me, too?"
"Me?"
"If you'll excuse me, Major. I have some little girls that need
some time with me. Probably no more than 20 minutes. Ask Bob
about what we did at his place today and see if any of those
things would be useful to you. Girls, come with me."
"You already got towels, Poppa?"
"Maybe I know what my girls need right now?"
"Just being 'your girls' makes it better - that and snuggling."
"And probably some tears."
"Un huh."
---
"Are they asleep, Jack?"
"Yes, Mindy. If you can move Rachel and help me with Leah. Pull
blankets up over them so they'll be warm and we'll need to listen
for bad dreams."
"At first I thought you were terrible for letting them hit Seth,
but then I realized what they were saying. They just paid him
back in kind."
"Since the opportunity for pay back presented itself, I thought
they should get to take advantage of it. I hope I stopped them
soon enough."
"If not, they'll work it out in your lap or on your shoulder."
---
"Are the girls OK, Mr. Wilson?"
"They're asleep. I'm sure they'll need more comforting later.
Call me Jack, Major."
"Jack, I'm Tom. Would it work for us to set up in the park? I
know the water deliveries will probably stop with the state
borders closed, but if we could filter water from the lake in the
park we could still provide some water to the people close by."
"I think so, Tom. There're plenty of paved surfaces for vehicles
and some decent places to pitch a tent. I think the public
restrooms there are on a septic system because the houses here
are - check before you start using them. If you need soap or
shampoo, the low shrub that's all over the park is soapwort. The
flowers, leaves and stems can be used for washing. Better when
they're dried, but a few freshly pulled leaves or flowers can be
used. It's a very gentle soap, so OK on hair and skin but doesn't
do much on greasy coveralls."
 "I didn't know such a plant existed. You definitely have my
attention. Where would we find food? The 'just in time' three day
supply will be gone quickly."
"Check your resources for farms and grain elevators. Corn and
wheat can be ground to make meal and flour for various breads and
other things. Remember that a cow is steak walking and a pig is
bacon walking, you just need a butcher."
"Where do I find a grinder for grain?"
"For grinding small quantities, there are several possibilities:
camping supplies store, organic foods store. Does the LDS have a
cannery or other operation in this state?"
"LDS? Oh, the Mormons. I think there's something out east of us.
"There's also Jackson's Mill State Park that's fairly close.
There was an article in the travel section of the paper a couple
of weeks ago about the mill being restored to operation and that
stone ground cornmeal was available. I don't remember whether the
article mentioned grinding wheat into flour, but I'm sure you can
find out."
"You think outside the box, which is good in this situation. I
should let you get back to caring for the children."
"The cell service is spotty but texts work OK here. Voice only
works if I get in exactly the right place, so text if you have
other questions."
"One more question tonight. Do you know a good mechanic? A couple
of our trucks are down and only one generator is working."
"Bob?"
"Give me your cell number, Tom and I'll have Charlie call or text
you."
"Thank you, gentlemen and ladies. I'll be in contact."
---
"Uncle Jack, I need lap time!"
"Me, too!"
"Me!"
"My lap isn't big enough for all of you. What if I take Amelia
and let Celia and Paige get in their Grandpa Joe's lap?"
"OK."
"I have towels, Jack."
"Thank you, Sarah. I expected this, but didn't know when it would
turn loose."
"I had to watch the soldiers and keep you safe, Uncle Jack. I
couldn't stop for lap time until he was gone."
"Thank you, brave girl. You want time in the chair or in bed?"
"Chair. It's warmer here. Rub my back? Slow and gentle?"
"You need to unwind from being ready to fight?"
"Un huh. Being in your lap helps."
"No tears?"
"Still wound too tight."
"OK, sweetie. I'll just rub your back."
"Nice."
---
"What Alicia and Leah and Rachel did was scary, Uncle Jack! He's
a soldier. He coulda hurt them bad."
"Amelia, what Leah did was scary. She took him on before I ever
got close to him. That's where she might have been hurt."
"But after you stopped him and he was on the ground, they just
kept hitting him!"
"Do you remember who Alicia said he was?"
"Seth."
"Did she tell you anything about him?"
"That he was mean and hurt them."
"And how do you think he hurt them?
"He hit them. And he put his dick in them when they were little
and it hurt and bled… They were kinda doing him what he did to
them. But you stopped them. Why?"
"They had never been in control when he was around them. He was
in control and he hurt them. For just a little while I let them
be in control of him. When I held them, Alicia said she wasn't
sure if she should have hit him."
"She didn't like being the one that hurt others?"
"Even after all the times she was hurt, she's nicer than that.
But until she had the opportunity to let some of her anger out in
payback, she'd never know who she truly was. Now she knows."
"You read us so good."
"And I have a towel."
"I need it."
---
"She's asleep, Jack?"
"Yes, Sarah."
"So are the others. Your suggestion was good. Dad looks much
better."
"The girls haven't been with him in a while, so I thought they
would like the idea. I was almost positive he would."
"When I checked on Celia and Paige he said 'Jack's s very caring
and understanding person'. He knew you steered those two his way
instead of taking all three of them as you did with Mindy's
girls."
"He's still pretty sharp."
"You're pretty sharp yourself, mister. Should Mindy and I start
supper?"
"Whatever is needed to ensure this group of girls gets at least a
30 minute nap. They all need some 'unwind' time and 20 minutes
should be long enough to start dreaming."
"We have tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and both sausage and
pepperoni. Think they'd eat pizza they assembled on a thick slice
of the bread they helped bake today?"
"Sounds good to me and if they can choose the toppings, most kids
eat pizza."
"You didn't get much 'job' time today or time on your other
projects here."
"I think Bob will consider all the time I spent there today as
'job' time."
"Why?"
"His 15 year old daughter, Layla, has been distant and calling
him 'father' for a year or more. She is a very capable person and
really liked the positive feedback she got from the adults she
was working with. I asked Bob if his wife or Layla should get to
make the last connection on the solar system Bob and his wife
agreed on Layla and she was thrilled to get to do it. After
seeing the displays, she asked 'Can I charge my iPhone, Daddy?'"
"That made his day, didn't it?"
"Very much so. ---
"Hi, Amelia."
"Hi, Uncle Jack. I like your 'wake up'. But you only did one side
of my face."
"The other one has been against the towel."
"Come and help we wash it?"
"And some other things that you need 'help' with?"
"Un huh."
"This time it will just be for face washing. I think you might
want to go build your own pizza."
"Pizza? How?"
"First a slice of the Italian bread you helped bake today. Then
some tomato sauce and some mozzarella cheese. Then maybe some
pepperoni or sausage."
"Yummy! Let's eat!"
"Look in the mirror."
"Yuck!"
"You don't think anyone will want to sit across from that while
they eat?"
"I don't want to sit behind it. Wash me quick so I can go do
pizza!"
"OK. Washing done. A little drying with a towel. Close your eyes
while I check…"
"That was nice! Kiss me again?"
"Not now. Time to eat.
"OK, but you gotta do better later."
"Amelia, who needs me most tonight?"
"I want you, but Alicia and her sisters need you. I can wait but
they shouldn't hafta."
"You are such a loving, caring person, shortstuff."
"When you kiss me like that, I don't care what you call me."
"We should go eat."
"No, you should go wake Alicia and the others with a kiss. They
need you."
"Yes, sweet girl. I'm glad this beautiful girl who loves me is so
understanding and cares so much for others."
"I'm just trying to be like you."
---
"Alicia?"
"Hi, Poppa. Nice going to sleep and nice waking up."
"Leah?"
"Hi, Poppa. I like your wake up."
"Rachel?"
"Hi, Poppa. Nice alarm clock."
"Would you like pizza for supper?"
"Yummy!"
"Time to go down and you can assemble the things you want."
---
"Joe, I don't think we stopped long enough earlier to hear what
you brought back."
"Everything on the list, Jack. And a few extras. I see you got
one LP fridge in before being sidetracked today."
"Maybe tomorrow for the other fridge and the water heaters. If
it's sunny after that, we can get more solar panels up on the
roof. If not, we can work on water barrels in the garage."
"I found another small gas engine. You and the grease monkeys can
put together another charger. And the washing machine, along with
the suds saver tubs."
"Suds saver?"
"Sarah, it's a pair of tubs that can hold all the water in the
tub of the wringer washer. You wash minimally soiled things, then
pump the soapy water to the suds side of the suds saver. Then
fill the washer with rinse water and rinse that first load of
clothes. Then pump the rinse water to the other tub of the suds
saver and refill the washer with the original soapy water which
you use for things that are a little dirtier than the first load.
Then repeat. At some point you need fresh wash and rinse water,
but you get at least two loads out of each fill."
"And they call what we have now 'high efficiency'."
"Can I help?"
"Me, too?"
"Me?"
"There are some limits on helping, girls."
"Yes, Uncle Jack?"
"The wringer that gets the water out of the clothes doesn't know
the difference between a pair of jeans and your fingers. Whatever
gets put between the rollers gets squeezed dry - even your hand.
It hurts and it can do so much damage that you won't be able to
use your hand again - ever. So do NOT try to use the wringer. Do
NOT ask to use the wringer until you're twelve."
"That's a long time."
"Yes, it's a long time. This is an old washer and it doesn't have
safety features to protect you. If you don't follow the rules,
you will be hurt - maybe in a way that can't be fixed."
"You're scaring me, Uncle Jack."
"I want you to be scared just enough to always remember to be
careful around this washer."
"Yes, Uncle Jack."
"There is something for the girls in the middle trailer."
"For us, Grandpa Joe? What?"
"A diesel generator big enough to run the pump on the pool and
enough fuel for a couple of years if it's just run a few minutes
each hour. I see the question on your face, Jack. The trailer has
tanks for more than 100 gallons of fuel. They're full of diesel
and it's all been treated. The generator is an 1800rpm model, so
it should last a long time and it has wheels so it can be moved
by one or two people."
"We get to swim everyday!"
"No, Leah, just the days we have enough water for showers."
"But the pool will be clean."
"Yes, the pool will be clean and we won't close it next week -
unless it's too cold to swim."
"I've been thinking about that, Mindy. If we had a greenhouse we
could still have a garden when it gets cold. If that greenhouse
was also over the pool, the pool area would be warm much longer
than usual…"
"Uncle Jack, we could swim on Thanksgiving and Christmas?"
"I don't think we could extend the season that long, Celia, but
maybe through Halloween. And we could have planting tables in
that space for growing fresh veggies."
"You have seeds, Jack?"
"Joe, Simon at the hardware store had a large rack of heirloom
seeds the last time I was there."
"I'll talk to Simon later."
"Thanks, Joe."
---
"Major, you seem deep in thought, sir."
"Sarge, do you remember 'Edge' from the sandbox?"
"Yes, always looking at everything but nothing in particular.
Rifle always at ready for any threat."
"I think this situation is stealing childhood from the children."
"How, sir?"
"The Deputy had told me there were children in Jack Wilson's
household. I didn't see or hear them when I went in. When I
mentioned that the Deputy mentioned children in the house, Jack
told me they were in a safe corner of the basement and the oldest
had her .22 rifle. She would only respond to a familiar voice and
the password."
"Very good security, sir. A teenager, I guess?"
"That was what I said. They told me she was nine. Nine, Terry!
There shouldn't be armed nine year olds protecting the younger
children!"
"I agree, sir. You mentioned 'Edge'?"
"When the kids came up, the one with the .22 took a position in
the inside corner of the room and I saw a much younger version of
'Edge' but with long wavy hair instead of a buzz and wearing pink
jeans and a Mickey tee shirt instead of camo. She was watching
everything, looking at nothing, rifle in an easy grip, aimed
nowhere but ready for anywhere. I'm afraid of very few people or
things, but she's definitely on my list of people to treat
politely and approach with caution. I think Judge McKenzie taught
his granddaughter well."
"Yes, sir. Knowing that she's his granddaughter and armed would
have me saying 'ma'am' to her."
"Good choice, Sarge."
---
"Amelia, Celia, Paige."
"Yes, Uncle Jack?"
"Would like to stay with your Grandpa Joe at your house tonight?"
"We can?"
"Why don't you ask him?"
"Can we, Grandpa Joe?"
"Pretty please?"
"Pretty please with three kinds of sugar on it?"
"I think my girls might have missed me while I was gone."
"We did! And we need snuggle time 'cause today was scary."
"And Alicia and her sisters need Uncle Jack for snuggle time
'cause it was scary for them."
"You're a very loving, caring person, Amelia. Sarah, do they need
to take anything?"
"This tablet. Jack has the surveillance app on all the tablets so
it will alert you if there's motion nearby."
"That's as good as having another person on watch - maybe
better."
"It's dark, Joe. Let me scout ahead of you with the night vision.
I don't anticipate a problem coming back in the morning - the
girls aren't likely to be out before dawn."
"Thanks, Jack. Still taking care of 'your girls', I see."
"Always."
"Can I get my goodnight kiss now, Uncle Jack?"
"Me!"
"Me"
"Line up and pucker up."
---
"See anything I need to know about, Jack?"
"I'll sketch what I saw."
"Uncle Jack, the people are mostly in the same positions as last
time."
"Last time, Amelia?"
"We came with Uncle Jack to get some stuff and took it back on
the red wagons. He drew a map on the whiteboard in the apartment
to show us where he saw people. There was somebody here and here
but not here or here."
"You have an amazing memory, shortstuff."
"Shortstuff?"
"Grandpa Joe, that's Uncle Jack's nickname for me 'cause I'm
always wanting to help do stuff but there's a lot I can't reach
yet."
"It's faster to say than 'you're too short to do that stuff'."
"Kiss me goodnight again before you put on the night vision
thingie?"
"Me!"
"Me!"
"Line up and pucker up."
---
"Anything to be concerned about, Jack?"
"One less occupied house, Sarah. Couple of people have changed
their watch positions - which is good if you can do it."
"Seems strange that no one had been out to contact neighbors."
"We haven't either."
"We've been busy with preparations."
"Not to mention gun battles, Mindy."
"You think that would keep them away?"
"Would you approach a house that the National Guard approached
either with a white flag or their hands up?"
"Probably not."
"Would you answer the door if someone from that house approached
you?"
 "Probably not."
"So if we want to speak with the neighbors we must find a way to
make them feel safe but without revealing our preparations for
the long term?"
"Yes, teacher. And I suppose you'd like that report typewritten
and double-spaced?"
"I'll accept legible. Meanwhile I think we have some girls who
might need more than one story and a lot of snuggle time."
"Little House?"
"Pickle?"
"Little House?"
"Then jammies and teeth brushed and I'll do a 'Pickle' book and a
chapter of Little House."
"Goody!"
"All of us in your lap?"
"For the books, Rachel in my lap, Alicia and Leah beside me. You
can each have lap time after the books."
"OK."
---
Sunday, 20 September, 9:20PM
"They're already asleep, Jack? Even with their naps earlier?"
"Emotionally exhausted, Mindy. This is the first time they've
relaxed since the nap. I expect them to wake in an hour or so and
come looking for lap or shoulder time. I'll take a couple of
towels to bed with me. If you ladies would like to get yourselves
to bed, I'll take the kero heater out and turn it off then check
battery charge and water level then refill the heater and cover
it."
"Good night, Jack. Thank you for loving my children."
"And mine."
"My pleasure."
"And theirs."
---
Sunday, 20 September, 10:10PM
"Grandpa Joe?"
"Yes, Paige?"
"Can I be your baby tonight and just get hugs and little kisses?"
"Of course. Things today were scary for you?"
"Un huh. Little lip kiss?"
"Yes."
"Eyes?"
"Yes, even your nose and chin."
"Rub my back?"
"Yes."
"That's nice."
She's winding down slowly. Wonder if Jack is doing this with some
even more upset girls? He'll likely be dealing with many tears.
Asleep already? Very tired little girl. Back to her bed. Another
little kiss on her lips. Just a hint of a smile on this pretty
face. I think she'll make the night - perhaps better than I will.
"Grandpa Joe?"
"Yes, Celia?"
"Can I be your baby tonight?"
"You had a scary day and just want hugs and little kisses?"
"Un huh."
"Lips."
"Nice."
"Eyes."
"I like that."
"Nose."
"Tickles!"
"Chin."
"Nice. Rub my back and kiss my lips again?"
"Yes."
This one is also gone quickly. Unusual for more than one girl to
ask to be a 'baby'. Not sure if it the emotional exhaustion is
from being scared by having the Guard unit here or seeing the
other girls beating Seth. She also has that little smile. Another
little kiss when I put her in bed.
"Grandpa Joe?"
"Yes, Amelia?"
"Hold me! I wanna be your baby tonight."
"OK. Hugs and little kisses for my baby. Lips."
"Nice."
"Eyes."
"That's nice too."
"Nose."
"Kinda tickles but I like it."
"Chin."
"Nice. Another little kiss on my lips?"
"Yes."
"Nice. Rub my back?"
"Like this?"
"Un huh."
"Another lip kiss?"
"Yes, little sweetie."
"Nice."
She's settling in. The little movements of making her nest on my
shoulder. I can feel her relaxing. I won't try to carry her back
to her bed - I'll just enjoy having her close. Same sweet little
smile. That's too nice to resist. Another little kiss on these
sweet lips. Smile's a little bigger now. Now just the back rub.
Don't want her sidetracked by 'other stuff' when she just needs
to be held.
---
Sunday, 20 September, 10:50PM
"Poppa?"
"Yes, Rachel?"
"Can I snuggle?"
"Climb in and put your head on my shoulder."
"You already have a towel?"
"I thought my girls might need some crying time."
"I do."
Poor baby. Wish I could understand more of what she's saying, but
she seems to be OK with being held and having her back rubbed.
Cried herself into the hiccups. Hope it doesn't get stronger -
she doesn't need the burn of loosing her supper. A little calmer
now.
"Kiss me, Poppa? A little girl kissing her daddy kind of kiss?"
"Yes, Rachel. And kiss the tip of my finger and put that kiss on
the end of your nose."
"That's fun!"
"And another little kiss on your lips. And your eyes and your
chin."
"Is this what little girls do before they learn about making
love?"
"If they are lucky little girls who are loved very much."
"I am. I get to do both. Be a little girl kissing her daddy when
I want to and make love with my Poppa when I want to."
"Yes, sweetie, it's all about what you want to do and when you
want to do it."
"I just want to be little tonight. Rub my back?"
"Of course."
I can feel her relaxing. The stiffness and tightness of her
muscles slowly melting away. Soft little murmurs of getting
comfortable. Did she ever get to - in her words - 'be little'? I
think this smile is the softest and most 'little girlish' I've
seen on her. Perhaps she did have the opportunity for 'just
enough' payback - most the anger is out but there is little or no
guilt. Hope I got it this close to right for the other two. Soft
little snores. I hear little feet…
"Poppa?"
"Yes, Leah?"
"Can I snuggle?"
"Come to this side of the bed."
"OK. Rachel's here and she's not naked?"
"She just wanted to snuggle and 'be little' tonight."
"I wanna snuggle too. Do little girls get to snuggle with their
daddy and get little kisses and not do other stuff?"
"Yes."
"What's a little girl kiss like?'
"This. And I kiss the end of my finger and put it on your nose."
"Silly! But kinda nice."
"And a little kiss on your eyelid and your chin."
"My lips again?"
"Just a little kiss."
"This is nice. This is what daddies and little girls do if they
don't make love or fuck?"
"If she's a lucky little girl and her daddy loves her very much."
"I like being little. Another little girl kiss? And rub my back?"
"And here's a towel if you need it."
"I do."
Crying harder than Rachel did. She was the first to swing a
baseball bat - and she has more years of hurt to work out.
Already in hiccups. Keep up the back rub.
"Can I choose between being little and making love and being
fucked?"
"Didn't you already make that choice tonight?"
"Un huh. You're nice. I love you, Poppa."
"I love you, Leah."
She's relaxing. Like watching someone take a deep breath and then
blow it out until they collapse. Same sweet smile as Rachel.
Guess maybe the timing on the baseball bats was OK for this one.
They're both out of it. Neither stirs when I lift an arm - it
just drops back. Can I get them off my shoulders without waking
them?
"Poppa?"
"Yes, Alicia?"
"I wanna snuggle."
"If you help me get these two snugglers off me, there'll be room
for you."
"They're not naked?"
"They wanted to snuggle and 'be little' tonight."
"Me, too."
"You pick up Rachel and I'll take Leah."
"She's like the shower bag - she's just there."
"So is Leah. They've had a long hard day. I think you might be
like them once you unwind."
"Rachel's down and puckered up."
"Kiss her gently. A little girl kiss."
"She's holding her bear."
"Same for Leah."
"Now I can snuggle?"
"Come with me."
"You already have towels?"
"Did you have a scary day?"
"Yes, Poppa. You're always taking care of us."
"On my shoulder."
"Do daddies kiss their little girls if they're not making love or
fucking?"
"Yes."
"Show me."
---
"I like that..."
"And you might like a little kiss on your eyelid and your chin
and I kiss my fingertip and put it on your nose."
"You're silly, but it's fun. Can I be a little girl with her
daddy tonight?"
"Of course."
"Kiss me again? Little girl kiss on the lips?"
"Yes."
"That's nice."
And her torrent of tears has started. Hug her a little. Rub her
back. Kiss her hair. Poor little girl - her sobs are shaking the
bed. Here come the hiccups. That strong will not be good. Move
her to my lap and out of bed to the porcelain throne - and just
in time.
"It burns!"
"Take a sip and swish in your mouth then spit."
"OK."
"Do it again."
"OK. Still burns."
"Can you gargle?"
"Un huh."
"Do it and spit."
"Grgrg."
"Again."
"Grgrg."
"Take a drink to get the burn out of your throat."
"Better."
"Quick brush so it won't taste so bad in the morning."
"Do I hafta?"
"Yes."
"OK. Quick brush. Rinse and spit. Can we go back to bed?"
"Yes. Make your nest on my shoulder."
"Another little girl kiss?"
"Yes."
"I like being little. Can I choose being little or making love or
fucking?"
"Didn't you get to choose tonight?"
"Un huh."
Snuggled in. Hug her and rub her back. She's relaxing - maybe
melting would a better word? Very calm. Same sweet smile the
others had. Maybe the payback timing was right or at least within
a range she can manage. I rather like these kids when they want
to 'be little'.
---
Monday, 21 September, 6:10AM
"You awake, Jack?"
"Yes, Mindy."
"What's that smell?"
"Alicia cried so hard she was in hiccups then lost her supper. I
was occupied with her and didn't think to dump a bucket in for
flushing."
"As usual, you paid attention to what was important. I'll get it.
Leah and Rachel didn't come for snuggling?"
"They came, got their time, cried themselves to sleep. Alicia got
Rachel back in her bed and I carried Leah. Then Alicia got her
shoulder time."
"She looks different."
"More peaceful and more like a little girl?"
"Yes."
"Each of them asked how daddies and little girls kissed if the
didn't make love or fuck and I gave them chaste little girl
kisses on lips and chins and eyelids and one on my fingertip to
go to her nose. And each released her torrent of tears. I held
them and rubbed backs until they were calm. I could feel each
little body relaxing - almost like watching the air go slowly out
of a balloon."
"Again you've loved each if them in the way she needed when she
needed it. Thank you, Jack."
"I do get rewarded by being on the receiving end of all their
'daddy' love. I think this one probably needs to be awake to help
with breakfast."
"Good morning, Alicia."
"Good morning, Daddy. I love being your little girl."
''Daddy', Alicia?"
"Only when it's just us and I've been your little girl like last
night. But you'll always be 'Daddy' in my heart. You should go
wake up Leah and Rachel. They need to see 'Daddy' too."
---
"Good morning, Rachel."
"Good morning, Daddy. I can only say that when I was your little
girl and it's just us. But I always think it."
"Good morning, Leah."
"Good morning, Daddy. I know I can only say it when it's just us
and I'll probably only say it when I've been your little girl
like last night, but I always think it."
"Get dressed and come help with breakfast."
"It's cold!"
"Go light the heater, Poppa! We're gonna snuggle together."
"And so I learn how much I mean to them. 'Daddy' and snuggles
when they're scared and 'go light the heater' when they're cold."
"You know better than that, Jack."
"Yes, but they'd miss the teasing."
"You did leave them giggling."
"As a group of girls that age range should be. I'll get my coat
and go light the heater."
"I'll get mine and start on breakfast. You up, Sarah?"
"On my way. Jack, you said the convection heaters have
thermostats and timers?"
"Thermostat, yes. Timer, I don't know because we haven't unboxed
one yet."
"Can you move that near the top of the project list? I'd get out
of bed to turn a thermostat up. Wonder how Dad is doing with the
girls?"
 "Probably enjoying his girls since he's not had time with them
for a week or more."
"And they're enjoying being with him. I think the two of you are
like the girls favorite desserts. Strawberry cake and chocolate
ice cream. One isn't better than the other; they're both good -
just different."
 "I should check the mirror. Do I look more like cake or ice
cream?"
"The girls are right, you're silly! Go light the heater."
"If you'll hold the door when I come back in."
Remove the old burn barrel that's our camo. Button in. Wick lit.
Let it get stable. Back inside.
"It's a little warmer in here than when I went out."
"Oven's on for biscuits."
"Excellent. You want the kero heater in here or the dining room?"
"In here. I don't plan to do anything requiring a lot of kitchen
space today."
"Momma, is it warm yet?"
"Alicia, put on socks and a sweatshirt and I think you'll be OK."
"Yes, Momma."
---
"Can we help cook?"
"Wash your hands. Alicia can roll out the dough. Leah can cut the
biscuits out. Rachel can place them on the baking sheet."
"What's Poppa doing?"
"I woke you up. I got the heater lit. I might have a hug or two
tucked away somewhere. Stop! Finish what you're doing and wash
your messy hands before you leave the counter."
"I thought you were mad at us when you yelled, Poppa, but it was
the only way you could keep us from making a mess."
"Alicia, did you listen to yourself? You talked about me possibly
being mad at you and you didn't stutter at all."
"I didn't? Maybe I'm not as scared as I was. You take good care
of us, Poppa. Even when you let us hit Seth - you just didn't let
us do it long enough to feel real bad about it. I love you,
Poppa."
"Me, too."
"And me!"
"I love my girls."
"That's the best part - you want us."
"Hold those tears. Flour mixed with tears will make more dough
and we'll have to put you in the oven and bake you."
"You're silly, but that's part of how you show you love us. I'm
glad you're here."
"Me, too."
"And me."
---
"Jack, I thought you were terrible when you let the girls beat up
Seth. But Alicia's stutter under stress is gone. There was a
speech therapist at the school who worked with her, but she said
it was something emotional that Alicia had buried too deep for
the therapist to help with. I don't know that she would have
approved your 'therapy', but it certainly worked. I've seen you
without your shirt and I still don't know where you hide your
wings."
"Mindy, I'm no angel."
"I beg to differ. You're been the angel of death for those that
would hurt your family - me and my kids included - and an angel
of healing for my girls. You won't convince me otherwise."
---
"Is there more honey for the biscuits?"
"Yes and no, Leah."
"That doesn't make sense, Poppa."
"Yes, because there's a beehive in a tree across the street. No,
because it isn't in a convenient jar you can pick up."
"Tree? Honey comes from the store."
"No, Rachel. Bees make honey. It's one of the best natural foods
and it can keep a long time. The store has jars of honey because
some people have many beehive boxes and they harvest the honey
the bees make and then it goes into the clean, neat, sting-free
jars at the grocery store."
"Sting?"
"Yes, Leah. Remember when a bee stung you last year at school?"
"That hurt."
"That's why you girls won't be going with me to get the honey.
I'll need something for a smoky fire and there's a rain suit in
the garage that will cover most of me. Do you have a large
container that I can put big hunks of the honeycomb in?"
"Stock pot?"
"That will work. I'll wait until dusk and let the bees slow down
from the temperature dropping."
"Is there anything else available locally?"
"You can harvest rose hips to get vitamin C and use soapwort
leaves and flowers for washing hair and body. It may be too
gentle for greasy jeans."
"Soapwort?"
"The shrub that seems to have been planted all over the
neighborhood and at the park. I think I picked up a book on
things which are available in each region of the country."
"Why am I not surprised?"
---
Monday. 21 September, 9:20AM
"Jack, that soldier is outside with a white flag again!"
"Girls, to the basement. Get your coats because it's colder down
there than up here. ."
"You won't let us know about scary stuff, Poppa?"
"I will let you know, Alicia, but it needs to be in words Rachel
can understand. I'll translate that for you when the Major
finishes telling the adults about it. For now, I need you to help
the others feel safe."
"I understand."
"Mr. Wilson, the Major would like to speak with you."
Cameras and other sensors don't indicate anyone closer than the
Major's Humvee..
"Sarah, if you'll get the door."
"Come ahead, Major."
"Jack, I have bad news."
"Mindy, I think the Major needs a cup of coffee - with a dash of
bourbon."
"Talk to me, Tom."
"You're aware that Green Guard has a facility just north of
town?"
"The signs are a bit vague, but it seems they might do some type
of medical research."
"The signs are vague for a reason - the research they do is on
biological warfare agents."
"And the contaminant in the water is something that got away from
them?"
"Yes and no. The facility doesn't look that big from the highway,
but it's built over an old mine. It goes down hundreds of feet
and is huge. The water contamination is two-fold…"
"Excuse me, Major. Mindy, I think all the adults may need that
type of coffee. Major, please continue."
"As I said - two parts to the contaminant problem. First is a lab
that has been leaking a tiny amount of a particular virus and
it's been in the water for a long time. The concentration in the
water was so low that it served as either an immunization or an
allergen to those who drank the water. Part two is a mutated
version of that virus that has now also gotten into the water.
It's more virulent and a much smaller exposure can be anywhere
from debilitating to deadly. The people who were never sick are
in two groups - those for whom the initial virus served as an
immunization - 99 percent of those who weren't affected - and
those with a specific DNA marker - similar to the unique DNA
marker in descendants of the people who survived the Black Death.
Those with that DNA marker are the other one per cent that
weren't affected. Of the ten per cent who were sickened, half had
no immunity but survived. The other half were those already
sensitized to the original virus and it was like peanut butter
for someone who's severely allergic."
"So we were all immunized by the first virus or we have this
unique DNA?"
"Jack, Mindy and her kids were immunized by the previous virus.
You, Sarah and her kids are part of the one percent with the
unique DNA. If you're willing, the CDC would like as much of your
genealogy as you know. They want to find where the immunity
originated."
"They know the problem is in the water. Will they opening the
borders immediately?"
"They're still testing whether the virus is human-to-human
transmissible. They have no idea."
"How can they not know that for a biowarfare virus?"
"Remember the name? Green Guard does plant research. It's a virus
designed to attack wheat in the field. If you starve an enemy,
their infrastructure survives. There's a reason they were working
on it here - there is no commercial wheat farming in the area."
"But this plant virus also attacks some humans. On that basis,
I'll accept that they have no idea how it might propagate among
people. So the shit is hitting the fan and we're downwind of it?"
"SHTF in a big way locally and the researchers at Green Guard
have no idea whether or how fast it might spread. The virus was
intended to be air borne. Can an infected human's sneeze infect
other people and the plants? How long is a human contagious to
other humans and to plants? How much crop area could one infected
human affect just by walking through the fields and sneezing on
it? The people upchain are so terrified that they can't think
straight. What if the mutated virus might attack corn, which is
grown near here? …"
"Tom! Take a breath!"
"You're right, Jack. I'm letting myself be overwhelmed by the
possibilities. Step one is the make the locals want to stay here.
I know things will only hold together for a few more days without
normal water and power available. You may have run out of rabbits
to pull from your hat, Jack, but you've had more workable ideas
than anyone in my chain of command. I've been given carte blanche
to do whatever you think might work."
"From Joe's description of state border security, the forces
currently stationed at the state line aren't adequate for
containment. I'm sure your chain of command will be deliriously
happy about that. Meanwhile, I need a week to think this through
but you need some initial ideas before you leave today. First,
make some announcements on local media. The water source has been
contaminated but you're working on alternate sources of drinking
water. Get beverage bottlers all over the state to switch to
producing bottled and canned water. Get that supply of water here
for distribution using their trucks and your fuel. Your
alternative is to build some massive sand filters and run lake
water through them and tell people to bring containers. People
need to know that food deliveries from out-of-state have stopped
and you're working on other resources. Have you found grain and a
way to grind it?"
"Yes. Wheat and corn are available. The mill at the state park
can grind two tons of grain a day. Not much for the number of
people in the state, but better than no supply. What do we do
when they run out of bags?"
"Hit the grocery warehouses. They should have thousands of bags.
You also need to provide simple bread recipes. I expect that the
small packets of yeast usually found at the grocery stores will
rapidly be in short supply if many people start baking their own
bread. You need recipes that use baking soda or baking powder.
Baking powder keeps longer than yeast and baking soda keeps even
longer."
"That's bread. What about power for baking? And water to go with
the bread?""
"Power is a two step process. Step one is clear the downed trees.
Step two is repair the lines. Find some local people who do tree
work. Ensure they have fuel and get them started on clearing the
trees that are down - blocking streets, on power and
communication lines, whatever. I'm sure there are local
electricians who either know how or can learn to repair
distribution lines. The equipment the out-of-town power
restoration crews brought with them should still be in the area.
A relatively fast partial solution for water in the mid-term
would be a long run of large diameter plastic pipe that can tap
into the river a mile or so upstream of the biowarfare facility.
That should ensure the water isn't contaminated but you should
verify the location with someone who knows the details. A long
term solution will be to install large enough pipe to handle
current water needs and some room for future growth, but that
will require engineering for sizing and intake location and
right-of-way issues - not to mention a lot of dollars for
materials and labor."
"What about pumps to get the water the mile from the pickup point
to the treatment plant?"
"It's mostly downhill from there to here, but you need some topo
maps and maybe a quick survey to see if the pipe can be used
without pumps. While that pipe is being run, see where and how
water could be brought into the treatment plant so you have a
place to connect this end of that pipe. You probably can't get
enough water for normal usage with the largest readily available
plastic pipe - which you'll be using because it's cheap and can
be made quickly - but you could limit the hours water is on -
maybe an hour or so in the morning and in the evening? That would
allow time to at least partially refill the storage tank between
the allotted usage hours. If you can get sufficient pipe, run two
lines and double the capacity. The material cost is doubled but
the additional time, labor and prep costs should be minimal. Any
announcement of water being restored should include a 'boil
water' order until the water system has been adequately flushed."
"Jack, read my notes and tell me if I missed anything. If you had
a week to think, I'd probably be holding a document a foot thick.
If I can't locate all the things that you mentioned, I'll pass
the needs up the abbreviated chain of command. I can get the tree
crews working today without involving anyone upchain."
"Looks good, Tom."
"Thanks, Jack. By the way, here's something for the kids - who
I'll guess are in a safe place."
"Thanks, Tom."
---
"What's in the box, Jack?"
"Chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, licorice, marshmallows,
graham crackers."
"Anything chocolate works for my kids."
"Mine too."
"We could also make s'mores."
"Now you're talking serious dessert."
"Mindy, if you'll tell Alicia it's OK to bring the others back
up? And maybe put water on to heat to fix them some hot chocolate
because they'll be cold from being in the basement. The candy
might be saved for something special."
"Alicia's birthday is Saturday."
"That sounds special to me. Instead of the usual 'take home' bag,
each kid gets to choose a candy bar."
"I don't know if we should get you involved in planning the games
or not, Jack. You might have a competition for the fastest to
build a rain barrel."
"Sarah, for the right group of nine year olds, that might be more
fun than trying to pin a paper tail on a paper donkey."
"I do know two girls who'd think that way."
---
"Speaking of a birthday, Mindy, that may be a way to contact some
of the neighbors. Make a list of neighborhood kids Alicia would
like to invite. An adult would accompany her when she visits
those houses with an invitation to her party. She's not
threatening, but she is backed up if there's a problem. It's also
cool enough that she could wear a bullet resistant vest and cover
it with a long sweatshirt.
"Do we let the kids swim?"
"I'm still thinking on that. It would require running the diesel
generator to run the pump on the pool and I'd rather not tell
people that we have power when they don't. It also may not warm
up enough for swimming. Work out simple 'goodies' and some games
that don't require power - no movies, music only from the wind-up
radio. I can build a solar oven out of cardboard and aluminum
foil and you can bake the cake in that - don't want to use the
oven on the kitchen stove because it's electric igniter is a
power hog when we're running on batteries.. If anyone asks, we
can tell the others how to build the solar oven. We'll try not
use anything that requires power. Water will be in containers on
the kitchen counter and we'll have buckets available to bring
more up from the basement as needed. I saw two other houses with
at least one rain barrel, so we're not unique in collecting rain
- just in the quantity that we collect and process and store.
Caution all the kids that power and running water are 'family
private'."
"If we start now, I think we could do all that by Saturday. I
don't think there are more than six or seven kids in the
neighborhood that are close to Alicia's age."
"With the little sisters included, that's ballpark for the 'one
child per year of age' rule for a child's party."
"You mentioned cake. What about ice cream?"
"The LP fridge can make ice - manual trays, not an automatic
icemaker - but I don't want to tell the world that we have a
working fridge when they don't. No ice cream."
"That's reasonable. I'll talk with Alicia about who she might
want to invite and what games they might enjoy."
"There's a book on childhood games in the stack I bought the
other day. Most need little or no equipment and run entirely on
kid power."
 "I'll look at it."
---
Monday, 21 September, 11:05AM
Brrt! Brrt! Brrt!
"Grandpa Joe, your phone is buzzing."
"That's the sound of an incoming text, Paige."
'Have more info from the Major. Not good. Bring the girls. I'll
tell all of them together. Jack.'
"What is it?"
"Your Uncle Jack has some information for us from the soldier who
was here before."
"We get water and electricity?"
"He didn't say that it was good news, Amelia. We'll go see them.
Get dressed and get your shoes and jackets. It's not raining but
it's cloudy and there's a little wind."
---
"Can I have a hug, Uncle Jack?"
"I don't know, Amelia. Are you able to?"
"Sure I can… May I have a hug?"
"Yes, shortstuff."
"You don't have a nickname for me!"
"Or me!"
 "You two haven't been working with me as much as Amelia has
because Paige isn't big enough to do some things and Celia only
has one hand she can use. I'll eventually find a nickname to
tease you with."
"Eventually?"
"Paige, that's a big word grown-ups use when they don't know how
long it will be."
"Amelia is correct."
"Do I get a hug?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you all do. Girls, your mothers have a special treat for
you in the kitchen. I'll be talking with Joe for a while then
I'll be explaining some things to you."
"I like special!"
"To the kitchen."
"What did the Major say, Jack?"
"There's a SHTF situation and we're in the center of the
downstream airflow…"
"What?"
"Let me explain…"
---
"You plan to tell the girls?"
"Joe, as much as I can in a way that doesn't terrify Paige and
Rachel. They may be a little young, but they are aware that
things are NOT normal and I think it's better to know what things
to be afraid of and what things we can do something about."
"Very little has been 'normal' for any of us in the last week or
so. I think you're right - they should know, but phrased in terms
they can handle."
"Girls, please come in here. Wash the chocolate off if you can
see it or get some help from your mother."
"Coming."
---
"So a lot of people got sick from something that was s'posed to
only make plants sick?"
"Yes, Amelia."
"Can they make the sick people well?"
"No, Celia. A virus is a kind of invader that your body must
fight off with very little help from the medicines that can help
with other things."
"So all the people who drink the water get sick?"
"No, Paige. Most people who live here were exposed to the first
virus in the water but it was such a little bit that it didn't
make them sick. The second virus only made a few sick but some of
them weren't able to fight it off."
"So we'll all be OK?"
"That's what the Major thinks. The problem now is whether a
sneeze or cough from someone who is immune might pass the virus
to someone who isn't immune. That means that it's hard for them
to find someone to drive the trucks that bring food and fuel from
other places…"
"The drivers don't want to get sick or take it back to their
families."
"Yes, smart girl. That means that we may not have a lot of
choices in what we eat for a while. If we say it's oatmeal for
breakfast, you'll eat the oatmeal because there is no cereal with
raisins or whatever in the stores…"
"Because the trucks didn't come."
"Yes, other smart girl."
"But what if I hate oatmeal?"
"We have some things that might make it better. You can try
cinnamon or nutmeg or honey…"
"Fresh honey, 'cause you brought it back from that tree!"
"Yes, and with only two stings."
"I didn't know you could run that fast, Uncle Jack!"
"Neither did I, Amelia."
---
"Poppa, are we gonna build things today?"
"Yes, Alicia. There are barrels and tools in the garage and we'll
work there while it's windy. The weather forecast is for sunny
skies the next day or so, which means it'll be nicer to work
outside - like adding solar panels."
"We get to do the drill again?"
"Yes, Amelia. We'll be doubling the number of barrels at each
house and my apartment and adding more filter capacity so we
don't loose water to overflow when there's heavy rain."
"Can we help with the solar panels?"
"No, shortstuff. Neither you nor Alicia is big enough or strong
enough to carry a solar panel up a ladder. You can help with
connecting them to the new charge controllers and you can help
with building the second charger…"
"You won't hafta move it back and forth?"
"Correct. One charger here; one at your house."
"Are we gonna do the other fridge - and the new water heater?"
"Looking for a warm shower, Alicia?"
"Un huh!"
"We drill all the water barrels and add faucets or other
connectors and put the barrels in place here. Then the water
heater here. Then water barrels in place and install the fridge
and water heater at Amelia's house."
"All of it today?"
"Perhaps. You've worked on water barrels before so you can do
those more quickly now. The water heater is new to all of us, so
we have to learn if there are any special requirements for
installing it…"
"But doing the things at Amelia's house will be easier 'cause
we'll know how!"
"Correct, smart girl. You two need old clothes - you'll be
sitting on the garage floor again."
"Yes, Poppa."
"Yes, Uncle Jack. Come help us change clothes?"
"I might help you get out of your dirty clothes and with your
showers when we finish working today. If I go 'help' you now, we
might not get this work started for an hour or two."
"I'm busted."
"No, you still have a mostly flat chest."
"Uncle Jack!"
---
"Girls, Miss Mindy and I have picked out clothes for you to work
in. Go change."
"Yes, Momma."
"Amelia, he treats us like we were real family."
"It's kinda nice. Alicia, even his teasing."
"Even teasing about your boobies?"
"He's right - it's mostly flat except for the bee stings."
"It seems like he's always right."
"He sure knows the right places and the right ways to touch me!"
"Me too! And when I just need to be little and snuggle."
"That too."
---
"We're ready, Poppa."
"The pilot holes are done. There's a drill for each of you - and
work gloves. Remember to use both hands on the drill…"
"'Cause we don't want it to twist away from us."
"Correct."
---
"That's the last of the AGM batteries for here, Jack."
"Then we check on the 'A' team's progress with the barrels and
let one of them make the final connection here."
"Making her feel useful?"
"Not just 'feel' useful, Joe; they are useful. While we've been
moving batteries, they've been drilling barrels. That's
absolutely helpful because it freed us to do something they're
not strong enough to do. They'll need help with installing
faucets and other connectors but I think the two of them can move
an empty barrel into place. I'll provide a little direction on
connecting and running hoses but they can do most of the work.
I'll follow up and ensure the hose connections are tight, but
only because they're not strong enough."
"So 'shortstuff' actually fits both of them?"
"Yes, but I need to find unique nicknames for each girl.
Especially Alicia and her sisters - they've had so little that
was unique to each of them. Mindy told me that her girls
squabbled over the little attention Carl showed any of them…"
"But you've resolved that. Rachel saying it wasn't 'her turn' to
spend time with you was a huge statement about how loved and
secure she feels now."
"It was."
---
"Finished with the drilling, girls?"
"Yes, Uncle Jack. We need help with the faucets and things.
You're right about me not being big enough and strong enough to
do some things. I tried putting the faucet in the hole, but it
just goes 'round and 'round."
"Do you remember that the drill bit is a little smaller than the
size hole we need?"
"Oops! I forgot. It doesn't matter - you told me I'd have to
practice with the file on some scrap plastic until I learned how
to take off 'just a little' and keep the hole round. We got Celia
and Leah to help put the hoses out…"
"And we put the concrete paver thingies where you had it marked."
"Thank you, girls. You're very good workers."
"I like getting hugs!"
"Me too!"
"Would one of you like to make the last connection for the new
batteries?"
"Alicia should. It's her house."
"I can?"
"I don't know. Are you able to put the connectors together?"
"May I, Poppa?"
"Yes. Put your gloves on. There might be a spark when you connect
the batteries."
"OK."
"Uncle Jack, do we run the charger to get the new batteries
charged now?"
"Yes. Can you bring it over here?"
"I think so. You want the cover too?"
"Yes."
"I'll help you, Amelia. It takes both of us to move the cover."
---
Monday, 21 September, 2:30PM
"I heard the charger start, Dad. If you're at a stopping point,
we can have lunch."
"Sounds good, Sarah. We just need to wash up. If we make as much
progress the rest of the day, we might have warm water to wash
with tomorrow."
"You'll get the little water heater installed today?"
"Probably. Maybe at both houses and the fridge at your house.
Jack will check the connections on the new barrels and we should
be ready to double the water supply as soon as it rains."
"Weather forecast is clearing tomorrow and rain again on
Wednesday, sunny Thursday through Sunday. It might be warm enough
for the girls to swim Friday through Sunday."
"Sounds as though we can get the additional solar panels in place
tomorrow. Jack, do you think the sound cover will fit the diesel
generator?"
"Possibly. An 1800rpm generator is usually a little quieter than
the 3600rpm versions so it might work very well. If so, we could
run the pump for an hour or so Friday or Saturday and the party
can be a swim party - just without showers for everyone. We can
tell the parents that the pool still looks clean and tests OK so
we're getting one last use out of it before we shut it down
because the power is off."
"I get a birthday party?"
"Yes, Alicia. You get a birthday party. I'll be talking with you
and your sisters about things other people do not need to know
and all of you must show me that you understand if you want to be
at the party."
"Yes, Momma."
"Amelia, Celia, Paige. I'll be talking with you about the same
things. We have things that most other people do not have…"
"Power for the TV and running water…"
"Warm showers!"
"Yes. Other people do NOT need to know about those things…"
"There might be somebody else that wants to take things away from
us."
 "Yes, Paige."
"My lips are zipped."
"Unzip them long enough to eat."
"You're silly, Uncle Jack."
"But you're smiling around that mouthful of peanut butter
sandwich."
"It's gooder on the bread we made."
"So was the pizza!"
"Had I known how much better home baked bread is, I'd have been
baking long ago."
"Me too, Sarah."
---
"The 'A' team needs to get the sticky off their hands and faces
so we can work on getting hot water."
"Showers when it isn't sunny!"
"Yes!"
"Nice to have enthusiastic help."
"Nice to have good helpers, Mindy. Even better when they're
enthusiastic."
"Jack, you're standing behind them. Are these smiles so big that
their ears touch in the back?"
"No, Sarah. Needs another inch."
"Poppa!"
"To the basement, 'A' team. We have gas line to run."
"On my way."
"Me too."
---
"Sarah, are there other men like him? I've never met one before."
"I thought David was good with the girls, but he was nothing like
Jack. He includes them in what he does, has them learn and then
do all they're able to, praises them for their work and they then
get some of the younger girls involved doing what they're able to
do. I've seen him without a shirt but I still don't know where he
hides his wings. What triggered your giggles?"
"I said the same thing about his wings the other day!"
"What wings, Mommy?"
"Rachel, sometimes it seems like Jack is an angel in how he takes
care of people."
"I guess an angel would know how to hide his wings."
"I think our kids may be smarter than we are, Sarah."
---
"I need the adjustable wrench, Amelia."
"That's the one with the corkscrew, Alicia. Here it is, Uncle
Jack."
"Last connection down here, Joe. The other end of the flex pipe
is next to the short counter on the outside wall. Having the
heater on the counter puts it high enough to avoid any possible
thermo-siphon problems and close to the kitchen work area."
"Are we done, Poppa?"
"Down here, Alicia. We have the cold and hot water lines on the
heater, the LP gas connection and the vent to do but those are
all in the kitchen. Check for any tools or supplies that should
be picked up."
"Got 'em."
"Back to the kitchen."
---
"How long for hot water, Jack?"
"When the burner kicks off. Probably an hour plus - the tank and
the water in it are cold. Heating the water as it is used won't
take as long. Typically you'll be using less than a gallon each
time you run the hot water and only need to warm that much cold
water - the tank will already be warm."
"But you said tomorrow for showers…"
"Yes, Leah. Because I'm sure your mother and Miss Sarah want to
wash dishes and pots and pans and kids' clothes in hot water to
actually get them clean instead of just 'not too bad'. Therefore,
most of today's hot water will be used on dishes and some very
dirty clothes."
 "I'd like my white shirt to be white again."
"You might get that."
---
Monday, 21 September, 5:40PM
"Jack, I'll back the trailer up to the back gate and we can move
things that way. Do the same at Sarah's for unloading. Put the
pavers, hoses and bucket of tools in as well. And don't forget
the 'A' team…"
"I'm not gonna ride in the trailer!
"Did I tell you to get in the trailer, Amelia?"
"You were talking about loading stuff in the trailer and said to
not forget us!"
"So you have to ride in the trailer if I remember you?"
"Well, you didn't exactly say that… You're teasing me again,
Grandpa Joe!"
"Because you're so much fun to tease."
"You do give good hugs with your teases."
---
"We're done with the barrels?"
"Yes, Alicia. You've done this before and you get a little faster
each time. We'll run the gas lines for the fridge and the water
heater in the basement then move up to the kitchen and connect
the gas lines, vents and water hoses."
"Is it gonna be cold in the basement?"
"Probably colder than in the basement at your house - there's
been no heat on here. Here's a key. You and Amelia get a couple
of sweatshirts from my apartment while Joe and I get tools and
supplies to the basement."
"Does it matter which shirts?"
"Look in the closet by the door. There are two blue sweatshirts
in there."
"OK."
"Joe, I'll get the kero heater going so it'll be a little nicer
to work in the kitchen."
"Then I'll get the tools and the coil of gas line downstairs."
---
"We're back. Hey! It's warmer in the kitchen."
"The kero heater is going. We'll be working up there soon. Come
on down and work in the cold."
"OK."
---
"It didn't take much longer to run two lines here than it did to
just run the line for the water heater."
"Maybe because we have some experience in doing this now? And
maybe it's faster to run two gas lines at the same time than to
run them separately?"
"Yes, teacher. Are we done down here? I'm cold."
"You've been very good about not complaining while we worked.
Would you like a hug and some hot chocolate?"
"Yes!"
"Check for tools left down here then up to the kitchen."
"Just these pliers."
"Then up to where it's warmer."
"It feels better up here!"
"Stand by the heater and turn occasionally to melt the icicles on
your pretty butts."
"You're silly, Uncle Jack, but it's fun to be with you."
"Being cold and getting your knuckles scraped is fun?"
"I'm OK with the little things if I get to help you."
"Me too."
"Tea kettle is whistling, so the water is ready. Hot chocolate
for two terrific helpers coming up."
"I love you, too, Poppa."
"Me too."
---
Monday 21 September, 7:50PM
Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!
"Your phone, Uncle Jack."
"Text message from your mother."
'Supper's ready. Are you?'
"Supper is waiting on us. I'll take the kero heater outside. My
helpers can collect all the tools then rinse the sticky cups.
I'll refill the heater and cover it; then we can go eat. You will
need to wash your hands and you may need to change clothes. You
were in some dusty little places."
"Because we could get in them and help with the pipe."
"Correct, shortstuff."
"Today, being 'shortstuff' was like in Goldilocks - we were 'just
right'."
"I think both of you are 'just right' all the time."
"And I agree with Jack."
---
"Fried chicken, Sarah?"
"Some things in the freezer are close to thawing, Jack. Better to
eat them quickly than to toss them out in a couple of days."
"Perhaps we should run the diesel generator to cool the freezer
and clean the pool. The charger is still running. I should check
the battery charge and we can probably shut the charger down. If
we use the sound cover, the diesel shouldn't be any louder and
the charger doesn't seem to have attracted any attention."
"And the sound of the gen will also be partly covered by the rain
and thunder we now have."
"That's also true, Joe. Be back in a few minutes. What? No
volunteers to go play in the rain?"
"I'm not big enough to help and the others don't want to go out
when it's cold and raining."
"Very good logic, Rachel."
"Did you just say 'smart girl' with different words?"
"Yes, smart girl. Ask your mother to explain while I'm outside."
---
"Sarah, have you ever known anyone who complimented a four year
old on her logic?"
"Not until now, Mindy, but she has been getting lessons by
watching him."
"More of his 'caught, not taught' learning."
"So it seems. And that comment certainly turned up the wattage of
her smile. I think we might be OK if we turned off the other
lights."
---
"I think a couple of hours should work for getting the freezer
back below zero and for cleaning the pool. Swimming will only
happen if it's warm enough. I don't think any of my girls want to
be outside in bikinis right now."
"Not even in a sweatshirt and a rain coat!"
"Remember that you're still on the school schedule for bed time.
Jammies, brush and floss. I'll read two books tonight. You can
choose these two new ones, or one of the new ones and one old one
from this group or two old ones, still just from this group.
First vote is to choose the category: new or old or both. Second
vote is to choose which books in the category. You vote with your
hands, not your voice. How many want two new books?"
"How many want one new and one old?"
"How many want two old books?"
"How many voted every time?"
"So you don't care which books, as long as you get to snuggle and
be read to?"
"YES!"
"That makes it easy. Two new books so you don't know how they
end."
"Happily ever after?"
"In a pickle jar?"
"The end?"
"What if it isn't any of those?"
"Really?"
"You'll have to listen and find out. 'It was a dark and stormy
night…'"
---
"Where does he find these books, Sarah? I've never heard of
either title but the kids are loving them."
"I think there's a children's librarian hiding somewhere inside
him."
"I can't argue that. He so often has a book that speaks directly
to one of the girls. It's like he knew what Leah had talked to me
about today but they were working at your house then and none of
the kids has had an opportunity to tell him since they got back."
"I have no idea how he does it. I'm just eternally grateful that
he's here for all of them."
"This time I have to ask why he chose that first book."
---
"Little girls go potty."
"Which ones of us are little, Poppa?"
"The ones who want to be. The rest of you can also go potty. You
have five minutes and I'll be by for goodnight kisses."
---
"Jack, how could you have known that there were kids who were
terrified of storms when you bought those books?"
"Just a reasonable assumption, Mindy. Six kids under ten provide
excellent odds of at least one being afraid of storms."
"It's so simple and logical when you explain it. Why tonight?"
"The thunderheads were very tall at sunset so I expect a major
light and sound show tonight..."
"And you'll have that little light on in your bedroom so they can
find you for a snuggle."
"If they need to."
---
"Paige?"
"Is it gonna rain all night?"
"Probably."
"Lightning and thunder?"
"Probably."
"You'll have a little light on for Rachel?"
"Yes, sweet girl. And for any other girls that need a snuggle."
"Big pucker."
"Rachel?"
"I heard about the light and the snuggle. You won't be mad if I'm
scared?"
"Was I mad last time?"
"No."
"Is there any reason for this time to be different?"
"In the book, Robbie wasn't as scared the next time."
"Are you in a book?"
"No."
"Is your name Robbie?"
"No."
"If you aren't him, you won't do exactly what he did, will you?"
"Big pucker."
"Celia?"
"You'll have the little light on for Leah?"
"Yes, sweet girl. And any other girls that need a snuggle."
"Big pucker."
"Leah?"
"I heard - light and snuggle. I don't hafta be like Robbie?"
"Robbie is in a book. You're not. You be Leah."
"Big pucker."
"Amelia?"
"You'll have a little light on tonight?"
"Yes, for any girl who needs a snuggle."
"Big pucker."
"Alicia?"
"I heard - a light. I love you too, Poppa. Big pucker."
---
Tuesday, 22 September, 2:10AM
CRASH!!
"Momma!"
"Mommy!"
"Jack, what happened?"
"I can't get there, but if you'll look out the window on the
front of the house, I think my lookout tree just came down."
"You can't get there? Are you hurt?"
"No, just at the bottom of this pile of scared little girls."
"The tree is down, Uncle Jack?"
"Yes, Amelia. If all of you can let go of me and get off me,
we'll go look. Oldest girls holding my hands; other girls holding
a big sister's hand."
"There's a lot of pieces."
"Some of it is smoking!"
"That's a good indication that the tree was hit by lightning. I'm
very glad I wasn't in that tree tonight."
"Me too, Uncle Jack."
"Me too, Poppa."
"Back to bed, girls. I know you don't want to be in your usual
beds. So we'll do the same as the last storm. Paige and Rachel on
my chest. Others beside me as you were before."
"You're not mad at us?"
"Was I mad last time?"
"No."
"Are you still the same girls as before?"
"Yes."
"Will I treat you any different this time?"
"You won't?"
"Did I say you could all snuggle with me?"
"I love you, Poppa."
"Me too."
"Me too."
"I love all my girls. Let's get any tears dried and all of you
arranged and the big sisters can pull up the blankets."
---
"Leah is having difficulty with Jack's consistency?"
"Sarah, Carl would occasionally be accepting of the girls being
afraid but it wasn't consistent from one storm to the next. If he
had a bad day, they caught hell. I think Leah is still deciding
how to respond to this big man who cares about how she feels,
wants her to be safe, speaks softly and only punishes her with
soft words."
"And he's proving to be the same time after time."
"Yes. Something they've not experienced. I think Alicia is old
enough to see that people can be different and Rachel simply
accepts that he always takes care of her. I think Leah is still
trying to understand that there are people like him. I have days
when I want to reach out and touch him to be sure he's real. I
already have bruises from pinching myself to be sure I'm not
dreaming."
"He is a little hard to believe, sometimes. But he does have six
little girls snuggled in and asleep in ten minutes."
"I can see sleeping very peacefully on his shoulders."
"You can only have one shoulder. The other one is mine!"
"In fifteen years, when all these kids are grown and gone?"
"If then."
---

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