Pride Goeth Before A Fall

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#115

"Inga?"

"Humm," she turned as she cooked potatoes. "You need something John?"

"Have you checked on the propane lately?" John had a tattered list in his hand and a stub of a pencil he was marking with.

"Nooo, I didn't think about it. Actually, I have no idea when Leta got the last delivery."

"I think we'd better check right now," the handyman, part time deputy and cafe helper, dash minister, muttered darkly.

The amount of propane in the large tank was disappointingly low. "I don't know how to measure what we use," Inga looked at the chill line that approximated the amount of gas available. "Do you know?" she looked at John who was feeling the tank with his hands.

"No experience in that area," John replied absently. "I suggest we explore different ways of cooking, cutting way back on using the grill."

Inga nodded as she walked back into the kitchen, reaching over to turn the grill off. The pot of potatoes continued to steam in the cool air. Using pot holders, she moved the Volrath stockpot to the wood stove in the front room, capitalizing on not loosing heat from the interrupted cooking.

In the cast iron dutch oven she dropped a tablespoon of oil and the chopped up chicken she had prepared. As the supplies ran out, Inga was forced to cook using more creative methods. The chicken and dumplings had evolved down into chicken stew. The celery, and most of the onions were used up. Flour was used for biscuits

The wealth of supplies that John had brought in, were dwindling fast. The boxes of food they had distributed to the community, gone, as people indiscriminately cooked and wasted what they did have. Poor judgments and the habits of excess are not easily set aside just because the times demand it.

The storage room had more empty shelves than full ones. Inga estimated they had twenty pounds of flour, a bit more in beans and rice and a flat or two of canned vegetables. Both she and John hoped that the road would be opened soon. Inga had enough money to buy supplies, just no way to get them delivered.

The days and what they held, were looking grim. Inga's diners had dwindled down to Stan and Jerry, plus Doc and Donna. Hobart hung around the edges, but he had started living in the roadhouse. Hobie acted like a lost puppy with the Betty chapter closed. He moped up and down the street in front of the diner, hands stuck in his coat and hat pulled low.

Cassy fed Will, Kevin and what small amount they were able to get Wayne swallow. Cassy was getting low on food, so she did what all cautious cooks did to stretch what they had. More rice, more beans used as fillers for hungry bellies.

In the diner, John and Inga ate when the rest of the customers had finished. Recently, their portions were smaller and smaller. Patti sat in her room, unconnected to life. Inga thought she was deliberately starving herself, as no amount of coaxing would bring her to the table.

Brett and his now legendary appetite was tamed by the concoction Inga made him drink. A age old trick from her mother, of course.
Inga made a cup of beef broth every day with increasing amounts of boiled garlic until the mixture was syrupy with the strong fusion.

Brett gamely drank the mixture, and avoided everyone for the week. He rushed from the room every once in a while, but nobody commented. If he passed the tapeworm, he didn't say. However, when he had finished the 'treatment' he had more of a normal appetite than previous.

John kidded the teen about glowing in the dark and safe from vampires, but the minister's approval went a long way toward helping Brett finish the 'medicine'. Brett slept in the woodshed, he couldn't stand to be close to himself with out a stiff breeze blowing from upwind.

The second night he had banished himself to the shed, Brett was wrapped up in John's sleeping bag with a rain poncho wrapped all around. That was the night he discovered all sorts of shenanigans and people were out in the storm after dark. It sure was puzzling that kids were out wandering around.

The trash bin behind the diner was a favorite stop for the gangs. Each night they searched through the trash looking for scraps of food. They also did enough talking to wake Brett and keep him informed of the slippery, dark side of Evergreen.

The late night gossip that was bandied about, gave Brett the first clue about the town betterment committee. Brett kept the information close to his vest while he thought out all the ramifications. Finally, the burden was too great a secret to keep, and he sought out John and Inga.

"Hey, guys, do you want to hear something that might be kinda bad?" Brett asked in a very disturbed way. John's nose sniffed trouble right away, and he motioned Inga to a chair beside them.

"Last night," Brett started, "It was way late and when the guys started coming around,......."

Inga opened her mouth to ask questions, but stopped when John shook his head no and reached under the table to grab her hand in warning.

"Do you or Auntie Inga know about the 'town betterment committee?" Brett hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

"No, " John said calmly. His demeanor tensing, he didn't like where this might be heading. He was after all, a student of human nature and not under any illusions about what might be taking place.

"Well, I guess they are a bunch of people that think, what is here, should be given to everybody. Or at least that's what it sounds like to me." Brett ducked his head, embarrassed to bring up the subject that he had no proof about.

"Brett," John stood up to pace the floor. "I do believe you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Do you have any more information, this is very important for all our safety." he leveled a calm but intensive stare at the teen. Like all people that John grilled with his eyes, the icy blue stare made it impossible for others to lie to him.

"Maybe today or tomorrow they are going to come here and take our food and give it around." Brett offered.

"My," was all Inga could say with a dry mouth. "We have so little, surely they know that."

"Don't count on it. Brett will you take a message to Will?" John used a napkin to scribble on. "Run, my man." he instructed.

"Inga, please listen to me," John took her hands in his. "This so called betterment committee is nothing more than a mob. We need to do something I would never suggest in normal times. We need to hide some of your food."

"John, I don't mind sharing. I want this community to grow and prosper. I would gladly give half," Inga stared deep into those blue eyes, stressing her belief that helping one's neighbors was important. Inga started melting at the depth of the love and caring she saw reflected in that wonderful face.

"Inga!" John shook her shoulder slightly, "listen to me. These will not be nice neighbors that are coming to call. These are people that will take the food out of Brett's mouth. They will be as a plague of locusts that will leave you nothing. Now! help me." he ordered sharply; breaking Inga out of her trance.

Half of the beans were bagged into Inga's pillow. Half of the rice was carefully put into the exhaust fan vent of the grill. The flour was divided into thirds and two thirds was placed in the vent with the beans. A bowl of beans was set to soak, and rice put to cook on the wood stove. Inga felt like her mother.

Inga wondered what her mother would do. Then it came to her like a bolt from out of the blue. The good old mop board trick. In the broom closet was a loose board just like she needed.

Holding her finger to her lips in the quiet sign, Inga had John take the money sack and hide it in the out of the way hole. There was room in the space for a good sized jar of yeast and a plastic sack of bouillon cubes. John tapped the nail back in place and shook the dust mop over the disturbed area.

In the trays of stacked bowls and mugs, they lifted the top bowls and cups and added cupfulls of coffee and cocoa and replaced the empty top bowl and mug. They covered the trays with clear plastic wrap and set them in the pantry. Jars and cans of meat were stacked under the old chair Leta sat in, the dust ruffle hiding the stash. They had moved the chair to the far corner, so it was likely it would not be tipped over.

They were sitting at the table, when the 'betterment committee' came to call. The mayor, egged on by Mildred Brockman got right to the point.

"We feel," he got a sharp jab in the ribs when he dawdled, "you should give up the supplies you have here for the betterment of the community. We have people who are hungry and you have food." his spiel over, the portly man mopped his face with a blue hanky.

Mildred produced a piece of paper. "We need all the food you have. You may go live with your mother if you need to eat. You Sir," she addressed John, "may go eat with Will."

John stood up and faced the loosely gathered group. "Under who's authority are you gathering the food?"
 

sssarawolf

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Jerks their getting it for themselves I bet and will take what they want if they do give it out. Thieves plain and simple.
 

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
"We need all the food you have. You may go live with your mother if you need to eat. You Sir," she addressed John, "may go eat with Will."

We haven't heard Inga's reaction to that yet. Is it fair to say she is bristling? She just doesn't seem the type to be dispatched so easily. lol

Great Chapter, thank you.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#116
Mildred hemmed and hawed while quick thinking on her feet. "Moral law.." she started to say, and then remembered who she was talking to. Blushing, but recovering her pushy nature in an instant, Mildred snarled," It's not right that you have food to sell, when we have citizens that are hungry and have no money."

"I see," John nodded while folding his arms. "Who is going to distribute this great excess of food, and how are you going to determine who gets food and who doesn't?"

"Well, how did you determine who got the food." Mildred snapped, hauling up the arm of the hapless mayor, the man stumbling to his feet.

"We gave everyone food," John replied calmly. "You got a box, Mildred. Don't you remember?"

The mayor drew back, frowning at the woman that had a death grip on his arm. "I got a box," he acknowledged slowly, "You said they skipped you Mildred." his tone got a little accusing.

"Please," John picked up the stack of papers, the photos of box recipients and handed them to the mayor to thumb through. First on the stack was a picture of Mildred both arms out stretched to accept her box.

"Mildred," you have lied to us," he blustered. "Why do you feel it is necessary to behave so?"

"Listen everyone, I want to speak," Inga interrupted the back and forth. "I want you to come into the kitchen and see how much food we have. You are welcome to half of it, but not all. I need to live, and there are people in this town that depend on the diner for their food." Inga pointed to the mayor, Mildred, and a woman she didn't know. "Come with me," she ordered.

"Where is the food you brought up here in the trailer," Mildred went on the attack as soon as the inspection was over. "You have less than we do." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted the blunder. Citizens close to Mildred eased away, leaving the obviously well fed woman standing alone in the center of the room.

"We delivered 500 boxes of food, Mildred. You do the math. Times 10 pounds of flour by 500. Then do the same for 10 pounds of beans and rice. The trailer is empty, it's back over behind the Sheriff's office. I don't know what made you think we were withholding food;....have you lost your Christian spirit....is that because it is what you have done, so you expect it of everyone?"

Mildred looked like a fish out of water, mouth opening and closing without producing a sound. Then she flounced. John had seen women act that way when their hands were caught in the cookie jar, but flouncing. That was a new one on him. The look Mildred gave him was pure venom. She was a form able foe.

John shrugged. "If you have some baggies," he offered, "we can split the rice and beans right now. I'm not calling on Leta to use her own bags to give you her food."

Standing tall, John counted the heads he could see. "It looks to me like the people represented here would each get about a half cup of beans and rice. I would expect you to share half of what you get with another unfortunate person. That's what is expected of you morally, correct?" he made eye contact with every member of the committee.

Most of the people dropped their eyes and started backing out, looking frantically for the door. Mildred held her ground, and she had the spineless mayor securely by the arm. "Don't you spout the Bible to me, young man. I know what I read," she spit in rage.

"I agree," John conceded. " but what are you practicing?"

That did it, The mayor shook himself free and stalked out the door without looking back. Mildred flounced once again and stamped her feet. Out the door she went with an audible sniff.



Cassy spooned broth into Wayne's mouth. He was alert enough to swallow, and she softly encouraged his participation in taking more. Will stood leaning against the door jamb, watching the young man slurp with hunger. Doc stood against the other side, sharp eyes taking in all the outward changes he noticed in the teen.

"I think Wayne is going to make it," Doc said conversationally. "He's a tough kid with a strong will to live. I expect, in his life, he will accomplish great things."

"I do believe you are correct," Will said as he walked back to the kitchen. Their act had been carefully orchestrated for Wayne's benefit. Both men concluding the boy was more alert, than he wanted to let on.

Cassy kept spooning broth, but noticed the tiny uplift in the corner of Wayne's mouth. Holding back her own smile, she praised the young man's effort.

"He smiled," she tattled when she got back to the kitchen. "You were right Doc, he's fudging for all he's worth."

There was a terrific banging on the front door and Brett burst in all out of breath. "Sheriff, John needs you." he thrust the napkin message at Will.

"I need to go," Will tightened his utility belt another two notches. He had lost the slight pudge he was carrying before the surgery.

"Do you feel strong enough?" Cassy was worried and it showed.

"Yes," Will grabbed his coat. "It sounds like some of our good citizens are conducting a food grab."




Ev, Benny and Clora worked all morning on the wood. Slow and steady they cut, split and stacked. The fair weather held until early afternoon. It was easy to see the in incoming front. The dark clouds stacked and rolled, the blackness advancing quickly from the west.

"I think I'm gonna scoot for home," Ev refused lunch with the clan. "I'm not liking what I see. I think that's rain, not snow." he added with a worried frown.

All day long, the temperature had been rising. Ev had to shuck his heavy coat to continue working, but now he grabbed it and strapped the snowshoes back on. Going home was twice as difficult. The snow turning wet and mushy on top. Ruby sniffed him well, inhaling Inky's sent off her master. She was a tad disgusted that he stunk like 'that dog."

Cheryl laughed at Ruby's expressive attitude. "She's a bit possessive of you," she remarked to Ev.

Ev responded by wagging his eyebrows up and down in a silly manner.

"You goof," Cheryl teased. "I understand her reasoning" She blew a kiss at Ev, while she went to stir the chili.

"That's the only reason I was able to make it home tonight. I could smell your chili half way across the pasture," he smiled at his wife.
 

bad_karma00

Underachiever
I honestly can't say enough good things about this story. I really can't. Nor can I express in mere words how much I enjoy reading it. Thank you so much for all your hard work.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#117
The rain held off until just after dark. The thunderous noise when the heavens opened up, made talking impossible in the cabin. Ev felt the deep change in the air, the hair standing up on the back of his neck. Primitive response to nature and the vast helplessness man has in the face of danger.

Ruby had curled herself into the smallest ball she could manage. Troubled eyes focused on Ev as he stood up to pace the floor. Cheryl looked up from the yarn and hook she was using to teach herself to crochet. "My goodness, that's a real frog swamper."

Seconds later, the wind slammed into the west side of the cabin. The pressure drop caused ears to pop and the chimney and flame on the oil lamp to sway. "I sure hope that doesn't happen again," Ev remarked to no one in particular. He rubbed the back of his neck to lessen the electricity tension dancing across his skin.

"Have you ever seen St. Elmo's fire?" Ev asked Cheryl. "It makes your skin feel like this if you are near it."

"What is it?" Cheryl was curious enough to put her mangled pot holder down.

"Short explanation, it's a static electric phenomenon that happens in very cold weather. I've only seen it once; we were ice fishing in upper Minnesota. I can tell you it makes you get right with God in a hurry. There is this ball of blue colored electricity that bounces along the ground, or in this case it skipped across the ice. It skittered this way and that, and looked like it was coming straight for us."

Ev laughed a short bark. "I can tell you three, eleven year old boys levitated up from that ice fishing hole and made it to the side of the lake in split seconds. I don't think I have been that scared since." shaking his head at the remembrance, Ev rubbed his neck again.

"How cold was it?" curious about the past her husband wouldn't discuss, Cheryl asked a small non-threatening question.

"Probably close to 20 below,: Ev was lost in the memory. "It took two days before we could go back and get our gear. We had three frozen fish on our lines. Easiest but scariest fishing I have ever done."

"What happened to the fire ball?" Cheryl wanted to know.

"We were in such a hurry, we didn't see what happened to it. Haven't been back to look for it either." this time Ev really did laugh.



The rain hit the Hanson house seconds after it slammed into Ev's place. It made Inky shake and whine a little as the falling pressure hurt his ears.

"Wow," Benny covered his ears at the rain onslaught. "That's loud."

Sandra looked fearful and scooted her chair closer to Evie. "Grandma, is it OK. It's not gonna push the house over?"

"No honey, I don't think so. Sometime we get really severe storms that come in from the Pacific. They gather up so much strength over the water and then they collide with the mountains, it accelerates their energy into super storms." Evie explained seriously.

"Grandma, do we have any weather books downstairs?" Benny asked as he carried the bedtime mugs to the sink.

"I think so," Evie stood up and pushed her chair in. "Let's look in the morning," she suggested. "We might as well head for bed."



The storm gathered up more strength to give the town the benefit of it's swirling rage. The floodgates opened and water inundated the snow clogged streets. There was no where for the water to go but in basements, low lying areas already full and the sewer ponds east of town. The ponds were not functioning, they were iced over and electricity-less machinery sat frozen in place.

Raining to the tune of an inch of water a hour, the sewer ponds first resisted the creeping water and then the ice melted enough so the ice tops floated off the ponds and were pushed by the flowing water onto the ground. The rising water rushed it to fill the empty space and then overflowed onto the ball field, contaminating the field and the houses unlucky enough to be in the line the bacteria laden sludge.

Mildred was shrieking at the top of her lungs as the brown wall slowly advanced toward their house. "Stop, STOP!" she was screaming; "Henry, DO SOMETHING, make it stop. Do you see what that is? It is going to ruin us. HENRY, MAKE IT STOP! I DEMAND YOU STOP IT!" Mildred paced the living room, their generator run spotlight aimed at the slowly advancing flow of human manure.
The closer it got, the higher in pitch Mildred's voice rose.

Henry walked up stairs and got his briefcase from his office and calmly picked up his important papers. He walked into the bedroom and put his boots on. Next was the heavy coat and the rain slicker with the odd looking Nor'Wester hat. He grabbed a backpack and a heavy duty flashlight. Walking downstairs, he announced in loud tones, to overcome Mildred's hysterical ranting.....

"If I were you, I'd get rain clothes on and get to the car." with that, the door banged shut and Mildred was left alone.

"YOU WORM," Mildred screamed with all her might. Stamping her feet in a hissy fit, she turned once again at the advancing sludge. It was roughly five feet from the basement windows. Her precious things were down there, and if Henry thought she was going to drive away and let her house be overcome with ----t, he had another think coming.

Beep, Beep, Beep, Henry honked impatiently from the driveway. He revved the motor and honked twice again. Turning on the lights he began gunning the motor to get the aristocratic old sedan through the huge snow drift. Almost instantly, the spinning whirr of wheels announced that the car was stuck.

Henry gunned the accelerator until the engine screamed, going nowhere. Shutting off the motor, he dejectedly gathered his papers and walked back into the house.

Opening the door, he walked into the wall of Mildred's abusive language. Silently, he shuffled upstairs and drew the curtains He sat on the bed, listening to Mildred spew vitrol downstairs. Slowly he laid down, not even caring that his muddy, wet feet were dripping on Mildred's precious antique Abigail Adams bedspread.
 

kua

Veteran Member
I'm sad for Henry that he has to take the abuse Mildred dishes out. She is getting what she deserves but what about the other half of that family? And what is this cesspool going to do to the town? Is the diner in it's path? or the hospital? Oh my, this is sure a sad situation for our little town to deal with.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#118
On Will's side of town the storm came with a clap of thunder that shook the sturdy house. The sharp retort had Wayne sitting up in bed screaming. The four adults were sitting in the living room enjoying each others company when the jagged yell had Will scrambling for his gun.

"Good Lord, what was that!" Donna whipped her head around, looking for intruders, zombies, or rabid squirrels.

"Wayne," Doc replied, on his feet he rushed to the bedroom. The child was sitting up, eyes closed, terrorized to the point of not breathing.

Doc went to put his arm around the young man only to have him explode with violent thrusts of his hands, warding off the Doctor's touch. "No, No! don't touch me" the pitiful sobs tore from Wayne as he pushed against Doc.

"Oh," Donna walked in the room, "He's having flashbacks from the beating, I bet."

Cassy appeared with a cup of water and started talking in a low, soft voice. Her actions worked, Wayne started to relax. She asked him to take a drink and he complied. Slowly she motioned for Doc to back away and she took his place beside the bed.

"Wayne, your OK. You are safe. You are safe here in Will's house. Do you hear me," she questioned softly, insisting that Wayne answer her.

"Oh God, Uncle Tom, you shot her. You killed Aunt Myrna." Wayne was sobbing, leaning into Cassy's shoulder as he shook with pain.

Will and Doc were standing in the doorway. "That clears up that mystery," Will muttered under his breath. Cassy waved them away, shooting a dark look in their direction.

Cassy was in the bedroom for an hour, talking to Wayne. Finally she came out, looking totally drained. Will held open his arms and she settled in with him on the couch. Occasionally she used the corner of his shirt to wipe her eyes.

"That was the roughest thing I have ever had to listen too. Please, I don't want to talk about it right now." she whispered. "He's sleeping," she motioned towards Wayne's bedroom.

"He'll get better now," Donna interjected. "His mind needed this release."



The church leaked. John ran around with pots and pans from the kitchen to collect the dripping water. The rain beat incessantly against the aged roof, the leaks creating a mist inside the building.

John sat in the front pew, watching the destruction drip around him. Finally he moved the sacraments and alter cloth to a box that kept them dry. There was a crash in the back of the room. A section of water soaked wallboard fell from the ceiling, spilling grungy water and plaster across three pews. In all, seven sections gave way and crashed to the floor.

The wind kept pushing and pushing, the old building creaking and swaying, sounding ominous in the almost hurricane force weather.
A particularly strong burst of wind crashed the side window next to the piano, the storm finding a toothhold in the battered building.

Finally, John picked up the alter box, his Bible and walked to his quarters. There was nothing to do but pack a suitcase , find his foul weather gear and extra batteries for the flashlight. The closest safe place was the Sheriff's office. Kevin opened a cell for him.



The cafe leaked. Inga moved pots and pans around, walking with the flashlight to center containers under the drips. She and Brett huddled around the stove whenever she wasn't emptying pans. The sound of the rain had them practically shouting at each other instead of talking in a normal voice.

In the close quarters, heat from the stove caused Brett to sweat. Garlic oil is sweat from the body for days after it is ingested. Brett just plain stank. Being around the stove made Inga's eyes water and her lip curl with the overpowering scent. Gamely, she said nothing, but blew her nose often.

"What happens next Auntie Inga? We are almost out of food." Brett moved closed so he didn't have to shout so loud.

Choking delicately into her hanky, Inga smiled in the dim lamp light. "I guess we close up the diner and try to get to Mom's. That's the best I've come up with," she said with resignation. "I'm open to all suggestions; ya got a couple?" she asked Brett.

"No," he shouted, "I'm clueless. Grandma's is OK, if we can't find any more food. Whatever," he said. "What about the princess?" he indicated Patti's room.

"She goes with us," Inga shouted back. "We're like the Marines, no one left behind."

The evening and the weather drug on into the night. The rain was fire hose drenching, the intensity never lessening. There was only one person out wandering aimlessly in the storm. Patti .
 

ejagno

Veteran Member
Karma is amazing in Mildred's case. Wayne is afraid that if he recovers he will be cast aside? This story is great. Please continue.
 

bad_karma00

Underachiever
Oh, my momma would whup Patti with a peach tree limb for that. As soon as she made sure she was all right.

Tension just keeps ratcheting up.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#119
"Grandma, the beans got mold on them," Benny hollered up the stairs. He was rummaging through the bookcases looking for books on weather. "Not all, but some."

"Well isn't that a bother we don't need right now." Evie sputtered as she finished the dishes. Clora looked interested, but continued drying.

"Well, that's a problem we have to solve right now. It must be to cold in the basement and things are drawing moisture." that was enough to put Evie in a growly mood. "Sandra, please get the old sheet from the closet, I think it's on the bottom shelf. I'll finish the dishes; Clora would you help Benny bring up the pods."

Piled on the sheet, the twisted bean pods were tan and mottled with various stages of dryness. Off to the side there was a piece of butcher paper with moldy pods.

Evie sorted beans that the kids shelled. Soon she had groups of beans according to size. "Always choose the best beans you shell for planting seed. Keep three times as many as you intend to plant."

"Why," Clora wanted to know.

"It's insurance in it's best form. Say you want to plant 100 seeds, so you keep 200 and plant the 100 of them. Then add another 100 in case you have a crop failure the current year. Ya always have a hundred beans or so for carry over. If ya got seed, ya got the ability to grow your food."

"Now beans are some of the easiest to grow and keep. Others like carrots and cabbage make the seed out of the plant the second year. And some," Evie's fingers sorted as she spoke,"like onions are only good seed for the next year. Don't worry, you'll learn." she promised the kids as they looked puzzled.

"In about another month, we'll start seeds. They need time to grow before we put them in the garden. With our cool damp Spring weather, we need to get a head start on the growing season. Plants have a maturity date included in the seed, so we have to make it as easy as possible for them to grow." Evie talked as she moved beans here and there.

"We have to make sure the eating beans are soaked overnight. That way we make sure any aflatoxin on the seed is boiled away when cooked.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#120
"Grandma, there's a pumpkin that looks mooshy and a couple of squash also. Do you want me to bring them upstairs?" Once again Benny was yelling from downstairs.

"I think I'd better come down and check things over. C'mon girls, I need your help." Evie shook the sheet and refolded it tightly.
Shutting the kitchen door, her eyes fell on Inky. "Don't you want to go outside?" she asked, reopening the door and said "git! This is a dog outside day if there ever was one."

Down stairs, Benny was turning the pumpkins and squash over carefully. The drying racks provided good air flow around the vegetables, but the rain had dampened the basement with seep here and there. "Looks like if we want to save any of these, we'd better get them up stairs."

"How many of them?" Sandra asked.

"All of them," Evie said, thinking of the work ahead.

All afternoon was devoted to the cutting, peeling, cooking and drying of pumpkins. "Should we make a pie?" was Evie's next question.

All three kids turned around with shining eyes at the mention of their favorite dessert. "Yeah," they said in unison.

Evie instructed all three on how to gather together the crust makings, brushing the single crust all over the bottom with milk and sprinkling a layer of sugar over.

"Why?" Clora concentrated on shaking her allotment of sugar off the spoon.

"It keeps the wet filling from sinking down into the crust and making it gooey," Evie replied, handing Benny the whisk and deep bowl to incorporate the milk and seasonings into the pumpkin puree."Sandra, do you want to add the sugar to the filling? Clora, crack in two eggs?"

All afternoon as the storm continued to rain it's fury, the Hanson household basked in the fragrant scent of cooking pumpkin pie.



Late night in the diner was boring as all get out, Brett sat staring at the stove and it's fire shadows. Inga had gone to take Patti her supper, hoping to get the moody teen to eat something. Brett heard slamming doors, and then running feet.

"Patti's gone," Inga said a little out of breath. "I looked everywhere. She's not out here, is she?"

"Nope, haven't seen her. Heard her slam the bathroom door a little after lunch, she was screaming about the water bucket being empty. Truthfully, I kinda tune her out," Patti's younger brother said with a grin.

"Brett I want to go look for her, but frankly I'm sick and tired of catering to her whims and tantrums. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it." Inga said firmly. "Leta seemed to handle her, but I'm just striking out all around."

Brett chewed on his lip. "She has," he hesitated and then plunged on, "she has this rotten attitude just like Mom had. It's just such a 'me first' way of thinking that everyone gets put off. She used to be better, but since she got to know that hardware boy, it's really worse. Auntie Inga, I know some things about that kid. Patti has such a crush on him, and he's the kid that got that girl in trouble. John never said her name, but I heard from the other guys all about it."

"Oh, that explains a lot. Brett, I'm at a loss to know how to deal with all this boy/girl drama. When I was growing up, all I cared about was horses. You can see I'm not very smooth in that area yet." Inga said ruefully. "I can't even keep my wits about me when I'm talking to John."

"That's OK," Brett shot back. "He doesn't make any sense either." Snickering, he ducked when Inga pretended to swat at him.

"I look at it this way," Brett spoke with the conviction of a youth that has the thinking all thought out. "If she's so stupid to go out in this downpour, she can just stay out there."

"As the adult here, I'm supposed to protest and gather up my responsibility and rain coat and trot outside. I think I will wait and see if Patti comes to her senses. I can't force her to stay here, I can't force her to do anything. I want her to come and stay, because she wants too." Inga stood and went for the coffee pot.

As Inga and Brett were talking, Patti was already a long ways away.



The oozing blob of human excrement surged up against the basement wall and the pressure caused the creaking, old concrete to crumble. The second thing the spongy brown goo clogged was the exhaust port from Henry's generator. The odor rising from the hot pipe wafted into the basement and up the open stairwell. The generator sputted, backfired and stopped. The inside lights dimmed and the house went dark.

The rain thundered against the roof, and upstairs, Henry felt the old house tremble as the wall caved inward.

The squealing downstairs seemed to reverberate against the walls, climbing higher until it clanged like a ringside bell at a boxing match.
Throwing his arm over his eyes, Henry pretended he was away from his life. Away anywhere, but here. Besides, it was only a matter of time before Mildred went hoarse.

It wasn't time quite yet. Mildred got another twenty minutes of nonstop squalling, before she exhausted her self out of a voice. The rain continued to flood the town, washing snow banks into dirty waves of water that covered everything. Inches of water turned to a foot, and then more.


"This is the most miserable place I have ever lived." Donna was very emphatic about her disgust with the constant rain. Staring out the window into the dark night, she noted the sheets of rain flowing down the glass. Curling her lip, she dunked her tea bag until she created waves in the mug.

"Ahh, you say the sweetest things," Doc wandered in, eyeing the hot sloshing tea water with alarm. "Easy there girl, your gonna burn your hand."

"Doc, when this weather breaks, I want to go somewhere dry. At this moment, I don't give a hoot where that might be. Just that it is soon. I would like company," she invited.

"I can't leave Donna," he said quietly. "As much as what you are suggesting sounds out of this world, I can't leave the town without medical care." Inghram sat down in the chair nearest his nurse. "How many people did we see today? I think 20."

"That's another thing," Donna said tiredly, "Will thinks a couple of those guys are casing the place. They have been here three times with minor problems that seem phony."

"I trust his instincts, so we need to be cautious." Doc leaned back, rotating his head to crack his neck. Donna got up and stood behind him, kneading her fingers into the tension tightened cords. "Keep that up, and I'll marry you someday," he teased.

"Better be quicker than someday," Donna shot right back.
 

PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#121
Patti and Bobby, the kid from the hardware store, slogged through the rain and rotten snow. Bobby had been talked into running away, the thought of frequent sex and no responsibility for his pregnant girlfriend seemed like a free ticket to never-never land.

It was Patti that came up with the idea of using a sled to get out of town. Bobby had tapped on Patti's bedroom window, towing the sled and a small knapsack. It was easy to sneak out the back door. The thunderous roar of the rain masking the tiptoe exit the teen made. It was easy to fix the lock to leave the door locked behind her. Patti smiled, the grotesque grimace so reminiscent of the cold calculating twist of lips that passed for her mother's smile. The uncanny resemblance would have frightened those that knew her.

Patti had done all that Bobby had asked of her. He didn't want a pudgy girlfriend, so Patti went into a food lockdown, refusing to eat until she had starved herself into a form Bobby approved. Patti had welcomed, and accommodated the youthful demands for intimate contact. Bobby had never felt such power. He strutted around, his prowess with the ladies making him a hero with the bored, unchallenged youth of Evergreen. He evolved into a natural leader. Patti was only one of several young ladies that adored him.

The rain had the pair soaked instantly, the wind snatching at their clothes and the beam of light they used to reach the edge of town. The downgrade seemed miles away as tired legs churned through the knee high snow. Twice Bobby decided to turn back, but Patti lured with whispered enticements that had to be yelled to be heard.

Finally they reached enough of the slope that the sled was useful. The rain on the frozen snow crust created a fast ride. The wind blowing from the back, gave them a boosting thrill as they shot down the hill. In front, Patti couldn't see a thing as the rain slammed into her face, forcing her to close her eyes.

She wiggled a bit, enjoying the response that happened as Bobby's legs tightened. He was darting his head around her, as he steered the flying missile with his feet. "This is the coolest," Patti shouted. The weak flashlight beam illuminating no further than the rain stinging her cheeks.

They were rushing downhill in the blind darkness; way too fast to make the tight corner near the bottom. As the sled shot off the roadway, the blackness swallowed them up.

The curve they missed had a steep dropoff. The bodies were not discovered for three years, when a tow truck operator hauled a cable down to retrieve a car that had missed the curve. Eventually, the mystery of where they had disappeared, was solved.


The town held search parties for the two teens. Nothing was found. The future of Evergreen as a town started to wither. So many changes happened. Loosing the school was a blow the citizens couldn't recover from. It was more cost effective to bus the students down the hill, than to front the bonds to rebuild.

Five years later, the whole structure of what appeared to be a settled life, was vastly different.

Will and Cassy had a 2 year old boy. He was no longer the Sheriff, but owned the hardware store. Ev and Cheryl had a 5 year old girl and operated the backhoe service in town.

Donna left town to find a dry place in the world, leaving Doc behind. Doc built a small clinic in town; the hospital in the same disintegrating condition as most of the buildings after the wrathful winter.

Henry packed up and left Evergreen when the small bank branch was consolidated into a larger city bank. Mildred went willingly, so thrilled to be finally shed of the dirty little town.

John tried many different ways to raise money to rebuild the church. He held services in homes and empty stores until he came to the conclusion that he was not the minister he perceived himself to be. He attempted to rally the town many times, over various issues, and simply could not get a satisfactory response. In a dejected frame of mind he left Evergreen, hitchhiking out of town in the dark.

Inga operated the diner for 7 years, until she fell in love with Doc and worked as his receptionist-partner. The cafe passed on to Brett, who took a chef's course at the community college and discovered his cooking passion. He fell in love with a certain blonde haired girl with a small son. Together they worked hard to create a good life as solid citizens.

Benny became the county Sheriff. His inauspicious beginning in life overcome by hard work and an innate intelligence that blossomed under the tutelage of his Grandmother. Clora used her abilities to become a teacher, and Sandra still lived at home with Evie.

There are more chapters begging for life, in the dregs of this one. People are calling to me, wanting to have their story told. Evie is not done with life, she has many missions yet to fulfill.

I have some extra responsibilities I need to take on at the moment. Three grandchildren are coming to live with us. They are 2, 3, and 7, and that will take my writing time. Hubby is recovering slow but steady, and I give thanks to God for my health and life.

I have enjoyed being a writer here. It has been thrilling to have people read my story, THANK YOU ALL, SO VERY MUCH.
 
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