No Normal Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

of Jack, pulled a stool up to the bar, sat and placed her
hand over Jack's. “So, tell me your story”.
    Jack
swallowed a generous taste of the drink. He gave her a slight grin
and said, “I got a little more of this in the golf bag. Guess
we might have to learn to be stingy with it, huh?” He started
to tell her about the day that began at the county line. He told her
about Cody, about the old man that blew by everyone with his beat-up
old truck and scruffy dog, about meeting Lee. And, he told her about
the two jerks that thought they would help themselves to what was
his. He included how Cody had been either dumb enough or brave enough
to speak up and what the long day had revealed about his life.
    Beth
said, “I hate to think that the mean slugs of this world are
instantly out there, trying to take advantage. Those two could have
really hurt you and the kid. They didn't even know what you had in
the bag. Do we need to look at your arm, how bad is it?”
    “ No,
actually Lee did a pretty good first aid job on it. It's not deep,
just long and sore.”
    “ Did
you have any magic
elixir ?
said Beth.
    “ Are
you kidding? We've got that stuff everywhere. Remember, we said it is
probably the cure for cancer!” They sat quiet for a bit,
wanting to enjoy their shared joke and familiar back and forth, both
knowing their world has changed in just these last few hours.
    Beth
raised her head, “You like the kid, don't you Jack?”
    “ Yeah,
he's okay.”
    She
couldn't stop the tear that slid down her face, her hand brushed it
away. “What about Lynn and the girls? What are we going to do?
They are in so much danger and I just....”
    Jack said, “ You
don't have to tell me, honey. I had lot's of time to think while I
was walking. I think I might have a plan, a way to go and bring them
here. We will talk about it in the morning. Right now, I can only
think about showering and laying down in that bed.”
    She
sighed and said, “Really, a plan? Good , that's good, a
plan. I am sorry though, no shower, the water is off. I did bring in
some of the bottles of water and put them in the bath. It's going to
be pretty cold. Want me to heat some for you? Joel was here to check
on us. He helped me hook up that old fish cooker out on the patio. He
also left me a two way radio, he ask me to let him know when you got
home.”
    “ Old
gloom and doom, huh? I will have to try and make contact tomorrow.”
Shaking his head, he said,”No, I am way too tired to wait for
hot water. I'll manage.”
    While
Jack washed up, Beth cleared away
the dishes, piled them in the sink and put the leftovers in the fridge. She decided to
keep the food in the freezer part, it would stay cooler, longer. I
am going to have to do better about using the dishes, she
thought. No dishwasher to stick them in, no water to waste.
    Jack
flopped back on the bed with a big sigh and pulled up the sheet and
blanket. Beth snuffed out all the candles and lanterns. She brushed
her teeth, put on some pj's, with the help of small flashlight and
slid under the blanket. There was no light shining in the back
windows, it was a cloudy night, no moon. Jack reached for her hand
and held it tight. She glanced over at the dresser from habit, to
check the time on the digital clock. Black, just blackness. Her last
thought, before she followed Jack in deep sleep, a plan, we have a
plan.

Chapter
Two

THE
PLAN

    Jack's
eyes opened, he had slept so hard, that for just a brief moment he
thought this was a day like any of the hundreds since he retired,
those leisurely days of choosing what would fill his time. He sat up
on the side of the bed and the real situation flashed through his
mind. His eyes were stinging, he had totally forgot to take out his
contacts the night before, he forced himself not to rub them. The arm
was feeling tight and achy, he cautiously stretched it out. He moved
heavily to the bath. Beth was always thinking ahead, he
noticed the bottle of water by the toilet, for