Bobby Akart - Desolation

“Let’s put it this way, she told me that it doesn’t matter how much food and water we have stored; if we don’t prevent this crap from entering our lungs and blood system, we’ll begin to suffer from respiratory failure, heart issues, and, like smokers, cancer.”

Peter rolled his eyes and said in a loud whisper, “Happy, happy. Joy, joy. I’ve been breathing in smoke since DC got nuked.”

“Okay, the masks are a good start,” added Lacey. “I guess we can make it a point to cover up when outside. Hats. Long sleeves and pants.”

“That’s not a problem with how cold it is,” said Tucker, who was used to chilly weather hitting the San Francisco Bay Area.

“What else can we do?” asked Lacey.

“Clean,” replied Hank. “It was stupid of me to suggest we could smoke cigars and crack the windows last night. We need to vacuum and wipe down everything. Also, we need to find a way to limit the amount of outside air that comes into the house.”

“We could come and go through the mudroom,” suggested Phoebe. “I’ll keep the door to the kitchen closed, and we could spray our clothing off with Lysol.”

“I doubt we have enough Lysol to last years, but it’s a start,” interjected Hank. “Let’s all think on it, and we’ll come up with a solution. For starters, let’s all plan on kicking off our shoes and remove any outerwear to be left in the mudroom. Sonny and I’ll create some peg hooks or cubicles to store our outdoor clothing.”

Sonny nodded, his weary face reflecting his exhaustion from worry and lack of sleep.

Lacey made a suggestion. “We have lots to talk about, especially as it relates to getting into a daily routine now that everyone is here. Whadya think about letting Sonny and Phoebe get some rest? Jimmy needs to get squared away as well. Tonight, we’ll talk about this logistical stuff after dinner. Sound good?”

The group wholeheartedly agreed. Sonny and Phoebe helped Jimmy out of the house through the kitchen.

After they left, Hank turned to the group. “You guys know that I rely upon them a lot for operating the inn.” He turned to look in the direction of the Frees’ bungalow. “I’m no longer their boss. I’m Sonny’s brother. Jimmy is like a brother to Peter. And Phoebe, she’s like the glue that holds us all together. I’m saying all of that to say this. We’re going to share the responsibilities around here in order to survive. In addition to the obvious concerns, we, as a group, need to be rowing our boats in the same direction. Does that make sense?”

Everyone agreed.

Erin brought up one additional point. “I’m the outsider, and I can’t thank you all enough for taking me in. I hope to lend a different perspective based upon what I experienced while I held my position in the administration. Here’s how I look at it.

“After the attacks, the nation as a whole went into shock. There wasn’t any guidance on what to do or how to react because this whole thing was unprecedented. It was the stuff of scientists’ theories or survival thriller novels.

“Once people realized the government wasn’t going to take care of them, their primal instincts took over. Survival in a situation like this will take a strong, cohesive group like this family.

“However, there’s one more thing to consider. Our world has suddenly become a lot smaller. Sure, we’re still part of the United States, and of course you could say we’re still Floridians. But what happens in Pennsylvania or Tallahassee or even Miami is of no real consequence to us. We can only control or be a part of what happens here in the Keys or Marathon or on Driftwood Key.”

“Forget about the so-called big picture ?” asked Lacey.

“Sort of,” began Erin in response. “There is a big picture, but how it impacts us won’t manifest itself for years, I’m afraid. Outside Driftwood Key and Monroe County, people are dying by the tens of millions. I’ve seen the hypotheticals and projections. And we’re only in the beginnings of this catastrophic event. The same will begin to take place from Key West to Key Largo. We need to focus our efforts on controlling what we can.”

“That’s why you think my dad should get involved in politics?” asked Lacey.

“Yes, and I saw him in action today. He’s a natural. You know why? Because he’s real. He’s a levelheaded problem solver who could bring business leaders and politicians together to stand up to the mayor.”

“Shouldn’t we focus on getting our own house in order first?” asked Peter.

Hank stepped in to answer that question. “Peter, we learned today that Lindsey has plans to confiscate property and fuel in Key West using the sheriff’s department. Many believe it’s her goal to move systematically up the Keys with the intention of taking supplies into the government’s possession for redistribution.”

“Ours?” asked Tucker.

“Yes,” his grandfather replied as he placed his arm around Tucker’s shoulders.

“How do we stop it?” asked Lacey.

Erin sighed. “We have some ideas, but like any new political campaign, we have to get organized. We need a place or building dedicated to going over strategy that’s separate from our living space.”

“Bungalow one is the closest,” said Hank. “We could remove the bedroom furniture and convert it.”

“That means we’d have to go outside a little too often,” said Lacey. “What about the game room upstairs? We could move things out and cover the pool table with a board to create a table.”

“That would work,” said Hank. “I’ll get with Sonny. I think he bought some chalkboard paint for a project Phoebe had. Heck, we’ll paint a whole wall with it.”

“Excellent!” exclaimed Erin, excited about the undertaking. “I say we sanitize the inn first so Phoebe won’t be compelled to do it, and then we’ll focus on our new war room.”

“Grandpa for mayor!” shouted Tucker.

Hank shook his head and playfully snarled at Erin.

Monday, November 11

Driftwood Key

Everyone gathered in the dining room for dinner except for Jimmy, who was still sleeping. All agreed that every moment he could rest, whether asleep or simply relaxing, would help him recover faster. Like Peter, Jimmy was satisfied with a bowl of soup and some crackers. At this point, the guys were more concerned with their sore throats than filling their bellies.

“Phoebe, it’s amazing what you can do in the kitchen with our limited options,” said Hank as he marveled at the fresh-cut greens and vegetables from their greenhouse garden that accompanied the baked fish. “For the last couple of days, we’ve all come to realize how difficult it is to manage our food.”

Phoebe accepted the compliment and took her seat next to Sonny. “I have to say, having Lacey and Erin around to help made a difference. But, Mr. Hank, we will have to start fishing again soon to keep our seafood levels where they should be.”

Sonny added, “And I have to bring all of our sustainable gardening to its full capability. Remember, we cut back to fool Lindsey into thinking we were just getting by.”

Hank nodded as he poured the homemade Italian dressing made by Erin with oil, vinegar, and Italian seasonings Phoebe had stockpiled.

“I remember. It’s time to ramp up with a focus on our survival now that we have everyone together, almost,” he said. Hank reached over to squeeze Lacey’s hand, a gesture designed to remind her that Owen might be gone, but he wasn’t forgotten. “We’re going to entrust you to portion out our food and related supplies as you see fit. I think Sonny and I are in a position to start fishing again.”