The pastor said a few clichéd words, pious even.
The disgruntled crowd saw right through it and upon closing yelled out a few profanities. A gavel was smashed against the bench multiple times before Dan took over, thanking her. “Please. Everyone. You will all get a chance to be heard and speak but to do so, I would ask that you refrain from shouting or you will be escorted out. I don’t want that to happen. Please be considerate of everyone here. We want an orderly meeting. Thank you again, pastor.” He took a deep breath. “We have a short agenda tonight and then we will get to hear from the public. Now…”
“Get to it!” someone yelled.
Others agreed.
A few chuckled.
“As you are all aware, three days ago the Bayshore Mall was destroyed in a fire. We are investigating the cause and will update you all as and when we can. Until then, we need to make you aware that all the supplies we had are gone.”
The room erupted. Questions. Accusations. Cursing. It was to be expected.
A gavel was pounded by a young woman nearby. Jessie chuckled, looking at her fraught expression. The damn thing wasn’t loud enough. Any second now the end would fly off, hopefully striking Dan on the noggin. “We will have order. Silence. Settle down!”
A few overly zealous people were strong-armed out of the room.
Over the following five minutes, Dan waffled at the front, stumbling over his words, stringing together logical and at times nonsensical ideas for how the community could move forward. Blame was not on his lips as he had no idea who was responsible and as such, he focused on what needed to be done.
“This is a defining moment for our community. A make-or-break time. For years we have relied upon a system that has functioned and been there for us. I won’t cherry coat this, the safety net is gone. Now, from what we’ve heard so far, FEMA and the Red Cross are beginning to roll out help in larger cities. Camps have been set up. Emergency hospitals. At this time I would be a fool not to urge you to seek out their services, however, that will mean leaving Humboldt County and heading north. For those of you who don’t want to leave your homes, we must look at working together. This is not about what we can do for you. Understand that we,” and he waved to the officials in the room, “we are you. We have families that also need feeding. Now having said that. We live in a bountiful county that offers a lot of fishing opportunities. Wild game exists too, however, you are more likely to have better luck in Trinity or Siskiyou County. So what I would like to propose is that anyone who plans on staying and would like to help, please see me after so we can take down your name and make arrangements to have you help with bringing in food.”
“Why would we do that?” someone asked. “I’m not fishing here for everyone else.”
“Sir, you can do that. That’s your right. And, that mentality might feed you but it’s the same mentality that’s liable to get you killed.”
“What?” he bristled, glancing at his family.
“Hoarding will make you a target.”
“Well that’s why you have the job of protecting us,” he replied.
“So we are to serve you for free but you don’t wish to serve, is that what you’re saying?”
The man went silent.
Jessie had to give it to Dan. He might have come from the Strickland line but he wasn’t a stupid man. Dan continued. “Everyone, please understand something. A rising tide lifts all boats. Each of you is a part of this community. If we rise, we rise together. If we fall, we fall together. If you want to be a lone wolf, hoard food, shine your knuckles on your chest, and think you’re going to ride past everyone else — you are very much mistaken. I understand the mentality that no one owes anyone anything in this life but if we were to live by that, there would no law or order, no one to help you when someone breaks into your house, no one to attend to you when you’ve been injured and no one to give a damn when you’re suffering. So… by all means, fish, hunt, keep all the food you get for yourself. But don’t expect me or anyone here to help you out again.”
“It’s your duty,” another man said. “That’s what you signed up for when they voted you in as sheriff.” All eyes turned on the man.
Dan responded to him without missing a beat. “You are right. And just as we have a duty to uphold the law, we have within our power something called discretion. That time you were caught speeding, Keith. I had the discretion to let you off with a warning, or give you a ticket. Likewise, in this situation, I have the discretion to help you or make your life a living hell. Do you understand?”
The man balked. “I’m sure the mayor would have something to say about that.”
“Oh, well, I think you’d have some trouble asking him. He’s dead.”
Murmurs spread. “That’s right. Mayor Peterson isn’t coming back. In fact people are dropping like flies around here. So the last thing we need to hear is some asshole talking about duty.”
A pin dropped could have been heard in the room.
Jessie stifled a laugh.
“Every single person here in a uniform is here because they CHOOSE to, not because they HAVE to. Understand that difference. It might save your life.”
Sure, Dan’s superiors could have pulled him up on it, but where were they? Right now with the mayor gone, he was the head of the spear. The only one stepping up to the plate willing
