Ray Gorham - 77 Days in September

“Oh, just a little, but it’s no big deal. Besides, the walk will go by quicker if you have someone to chat with.”

“I guess that’s okay,” Jennifer answered, making a point not to show any enthusiasm.

“Great. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind.” Doug offered to carry her bag, then held the door for her as they bid Gabe goodbye.

“So, Doug,” said Jennifer, Chuck’s words of caution ringing in her ears, “I don’t know much about you. Are you married?”

“Nope,” he replied. “I was engaged once, but it didn’t work out.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Probably for the best. I don’t think she liked that I was in law enforcement. Said I was too authoritarian.” He said the last word in a mocking tone and made quotation marks with his fingers.

“So no kids then?”

“No. Well, not with her at least. I’ve got a son with a girlfriend from a few years back, but I’m not even sure he’s mine. I didn’t really trust her while we were together. I think she just wanted to get some money out of me.”

“Does your son live close?”

“Spokane. At least that’s where they were when I last heard from her. What’s with the inquisition?”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. Just trying to make conversation. What should we talk about?”

“I don’t know. How about you? How are you doing, you and your kids?”

“Still as good as one could hope, all things considered. We’re trying to stretch the food out, so always a little hungry. Guess I’ll be losing the weight I’ve been trying to drop.”

“You don’t need to lose any weight,” Doug said, stepping back to take an exaggerated look. “I think you look good. Hope you don’t mind me saying that.”

Jennifer’s breath stuck in her throat. She mumbled a “thanks” and tried not to give any reaction beyond a brief, forced smile, wishing she’d kept the conversation from taking a personal turn. After a long pause, she changed the subject. “So, how are things going on the security front? Have you found anyone to help you with that yet?”

“That’s going fine,” he answered. “Not a lot happening with it really. One of my neighbors gave me a bike, so now I can get around a bit more, but it’s uncomfortable and making me sore, if you know what I mean. Once I get used to it, it will be good transportation.”

“That was nice of them. I’m sure it will make things easier.”

“Yeah, I suppose so, at least until winter. Then I’ll really be wishing my patrol car worked.”

“Hard to believe how much we relied on our cars, isn’t it? I feel totally helpless without mine. If anything happened to the kids, I couldn’t rush them to the doctor, and I can’t run to the store, or go see my friends. You can’t do anything except on foot or bike anymore, or a horse if you have one. It’s been a tough adjustment.”

“There’s that one truck that I told you about that belongs to Jacob. He would probably give you a ride in an emergency, but I don’t know where you’d go. On the radio the other day, the president said that a few hospitals still had some services, but who knows where they’re at or what’s there. Did you talk to Jacob about helping you find some food?”

“I did, on Monday. David managed to get some gas out of our car and we took that over. Jacob came back with some stuff that evening. I have to say, I feel bad about just taking things out of trucks. It doesn’t seem right.”

“I know what you mean. Usually I’d arrest people for doing that, not suggesting it in the first place,” Doug said, chuckling softly. “Times are pretty desperate though, and all that food will just spoil if it sits there. I don’t know what else can be done.”

“I thought about writing down what we get and from where, so somehow we can make it up, but I don’t know how that would ever work.”

“Honestly, Jennifer, I wouldn’t worry about it. People are just trying to survive. I bet there’ve even been shootings for food, especially in the cities, and the situation is probably going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

“I hope it doesn’t, but I do worry about my kids. Did you have any success hunting the other day?”

“No, we saw a couple of deer a long way off, but it’s still warm, and they haven’t come down very far. Another month or so and we should start to see them. We were just scoping out areas as much as anything.”

“Well, I’m sure that will be helpful. It would be good to have some meat again.” Jennifer looked up and saw her street. “It looks like I’m about home. I can walk from here.”

“Oh, I don’t mind,” said Doug. “I’m the security guy. I’ll just make an early patrol of the area.”

Jennifer offered a lukewarm smile and resigned herself to his continued companionship.

Doug motioned to a brown two-story home on the other side of the street. “Have you noticed anyone at that house? I’ve stopped by a few times but haven’t found anyone there.”

“I haven’t seen anyone. Why?”

“Well, the other day when I was on patrol, I was thinking about these three houses where it’s obvious people have lived in them, but no one is around now, and I bet there’s food inside, if someone hasn’t already stolen it. I figured I should wait awhile to see if the owners show up, but there’s no sense in people starving if we have some food this close. I think maybe this week I’ll try and get inside.”

“You’re probably right,” Jennifer mused, “but this seems kind of weird. Now I’m talking with the sheriff about breaking into my neighbor’s home.”

Doug laughed. “Think of it as survival. If they’re not going to use it, we should.”

As they approached Jennifer’s house, Doug reached out and took her hand, which she yanked away reflexively.

“Hey, easy, Jennifer. I’m not trying to hurt you,” Doug said while reaching for her again. “I just wanted to tell you how much I like you, and I thought maybe we could be there for each other, you know. We have no idea how things are going to turn out. It would be good to have someone to be with and talk to, someone who’s looking out for you.”

Jennifer shook her head and took a step back. “Doug, I’m sorry, but the last thing on my mind right now is finding someone. I’ve got myself and my three kids to worry about, and I’m married, in case you’d forgotten. No offense, but romance isn’t on my to-do list.”

“Look, Jenn, I know you’re married, and if your husband comes back, fine, I understand. But if he doesn’t, or until he does, we can be there for each other.”

“Doug,” Jennifer said, searching for the right words, “I know the world’s changed, and I think you’re trying to be nice. So in a way, I’m flattered, but…,” she stammered, “but no. No! We can’t ‘be there for each other.’ I’m sure you can find someone else, if that’s what you need, but I’m not the one. Please understand. Okay? I need to go.” She turned abruptly and hurried to her house.

Doug stood in the driveway with his hands on his hips, watching her walk away. “I’ll see you at the next meeting, Jenn,” he called out as she disappeared into her house.

Wednesday, September 14 th

Northern Texas

The sun was low in the western sky as Kyle pulled his cart to the side of the road. He was two days removed from Lubbock and healing little by little, but still carried many painful reminders of the city’s unofficial “welcoming committee”. The warm, clear evening showed no sign of rain, so Kyle left his tent in the cart, found a soft spot of ground, and unrolled his sleeping bag. With some light still left in the day, Kyle pulled out the notebook Elijah had given him and began to write.