Anthony Newman - American Survivor

The furniture was covered in sheets, and everything had a thick layer of dust. Cobie removed the sheets from the furniture and found a handwritten note. The note read:

Dear Joe:

So, you found this ratty old cabin while exploring your new property. This cabin was originally built in the 1850’s when Oregon was settled. Your grandfather and I stayed in it for years until we built the other cabins. I hope you never have to live in this ragtag excuse of a cabin, but once it had a family that loved it and depended on it for their survival. Please don’t tear it down because it holds many a memory and was the place where your dad was conceived. I know TMI.

Cobie almost cried because the old woman apparently loved her grandson and the old cabin. Then she wondered if Joe actually lived in the woods nearby.

She opened the windows and doors to let light in and air out the place as she dusted and then wet mopped the floors. The pump didn’t work, but there was a small creek twenty yards from the west side of the cabin with ice cold, clear water. She found two buckets and hauled water into the bathtub and sink. She scrubbed the bathroom first and kept a bucket of water in the room to flush the toilet. Then she cleaned the two bedrooms and drug the mattresses outside to air out. It was 1:00 am when she finished the last room and fell asleep on the couch.

Cobie woke several times to the sound of a wolf howling in the early morning hours, and it sent shivers up her back as she snuggled deeper into her sleeping bag. She thanked God her boss had allowed her to purchase the slightly damaged camping gear at a reduced rate, now that she needed it to help make a home for her daughter. The sleeping bag was one of the best, and she had to strip down to her underwear during the night to keep from sweating. Unfortunately, she almost froze as she put her clothes back on the next morning and since she didn’t build a fire, the toilet seat was like a block of ice. Perhaps camping in the winter was not her cup of tea but it beat living on the streets with her twelve-year-old daughter.

She made it to work on time and thanked her boss for allowing her to leave the trailer there while she apartment hunted. She evaded his questions about the location of her new digs and only said that it was a small home out in the country but still in the Ashland school district.

Cobie had the radio on while waiting on Cloe to get out of school and the station broke into another song to announce there was turmoil in Asia between China and Taiwan. Cobie never watched the national news and frankly didn’t give a care about national or world events. She knew who the President was by name but didn’t know the Oregon Congressmen. She had a daughter to raise, and anything else was just background noise, so she changed the channel only to hear the same crap coming out of the speaker.

She smiled when she saw her mini-me walking with a boy to the Jeep. Cloe was two inches shorter and fifteen pounds lighter but could pass for her mother though Cobie was 16 years older. They shared most of their clothes and even wore the same shoe size. Cloe looked much older for her age and could pass for a twenty-year-old the same as her mom. Several people had stopped them while out shopping and thought they were twin sisters. This made Cloe happy and put a frown on Cobie’s face because she wanted her little girl to grow up slower and more sheltered than she had.

The young man peeled away as Cloe arrived at the Jeep making her mom ask, “Who is your new friend and how old is he?”

“Mom, his name is Brad, and he is only a bit older than me. He’s 16 and has a Mustang. We just talk and have a Trig class together.”

Bennie, Cloe’s chocolate colored Lab, jumped in Cloe’s lap as Cobie said, “Cloe, you are twelve years old and are a freshman. You are brilliant but not mature. You are too young to go with a boy four years older with a car. Does he know you are only twelve?” a protective mother exclaimed.

“Mom, please. It’s not like we’re having sex or anything. He hasn’t even tried to kiss me yet,” Cloe said as she baited her mom.

“Cloe, I have a gun and can get a fingerprint kit. If he touches you, I will shoot him in his…”

“Balls, mom, that’s what they call them these days,” replied Cloe as she laughed at her mom.

“Girl, we are going to our new home after we drop by the store to get some paint, hammer, and nails. I think you will like our new rustic home,” Cobie crossed her fingers as the words came out of her mouth.

“Mom, what street is it on? Is it close to the school? Do any of my friends live nearby?”

Cobie answered, “Don’t know, no, and probably not. It’s a cabin in the woods and kind of off by its self. It’s all we could afford, and it’s about six miles out of town.”

Cloe thought for a minute and then asked, “Which direction?”

Her mom pointed straight up, “It’s kinda up in the hills east of here. I love it, and we can walk in the woods and commune with nature. Bennie will love it.”

“If the wolves don’t eat him first. Mom, I will love anywhere you choose for us to live. I hope you know that I know how much you do to make a good home for me.”

She shook her finger at her daughter, “Buttering me up won’t make me change my mind about that boy.”

“Mom!”

Cobie drove to the ridge above the cabin and asked her daughter to help carry the supplies down the steep path to the cabin.

“Mom, where is the house and why isn’t there a mailbox?”

“I’ll explain everything once we make about three trips down to the cabin. The cabin is about 200 feet down the hill and hasn’t been used in a long time. The going will be rough. Follow me and watch where you step,” replied Cobie.

As Cobie warned, the going was tough, but they arrived at the cabin, and Cloe loved their new home, “Mom, this is great. The path is horrible, but I love the cabin and the woods. Bennie will love romping in the trees.”

They made two more trips with Bennie running along with them barking and chasing a rabbit. Cobie made sure they entered the woods from a different place so they wouldn’t wear a path in the foliage by the old road. She then had all of the trails converge about 25 feet down the hill so most of the way to the cabin could be cleared. Earlier she had walked around the woods and never found a path to the cabin. It was surrounded by dense stands of trees, brush, and weeds.

Cobie turned a portable kerosene heater on in the living room, the kitchen and living room were soon reasonably warm.

“Mom, we don’t have central heating?”

“Darling, this is a hunter’s cabin and wasn’t meant to be lived in year round. We will live like the pioneers did 150 years ago with a wood burning fireplace and well water. I’m sorry but there just wasn’t much in our price range in the school district. As a matter of fact, we will get our mail from Joan’s house to make sure no one questions if you live in the Ashland school district,” Cobie replied anxiously.

“I really like the cabin, and the walk down will only be twice a day, so I’ll get used to it. Darn, do we have to heat water for our baths? Oh, crap, there is no shower,” a shocked look came over the poor teenager’s face.

Cobie tried to look sympathetic as she responded, “No darling, there is no shower, and yes we have to heat the water for a bath. I’ll work on installing a shower a bit later, but you’ll have to rough it for a while.

It was soon dark, and Cobie lit the kerosene lanterns and prepared supper while Cloe worked on her homework. They both were somewhat amazed at how quiet the cabin and surrounding woods were at night until they heard the first wolf howl after supper.

“Mom was that a wolf howling. How neat.”