“Stay put girls, I’m getting a flashlight.” She’d told the twins. Laura felt her way to the kitchen and found a flashlight in the junk drawer. Turning it on, she made her way to the girls.
“We got no water mommy. We can’t brush our teeth.” Alexa said plaintively. Laura smiled down at her worrywart and caressed her rich chestnut hair, it was like her father’s hair. Her own hair was a mousy brown.
“I guess that means you’re lucky, you get to go to bed without brushing.” She tickled both girls, eliciting giggles from both. She’d let them sleep with her that night, wanting her daughters near. Something niggled in the back of her mind, but she’d not know what or why. The next day, the power still wasn’t on and she’d fed the girls dry cereal with powdered milk and water. The milk in the fridge was warm and she was afraid to give it to them. The meat and frozen food in the freezer were still cold but were thawing.
She had an electric stove and it was useless. All she could think of was wasted food. She opened a can of fruit to give the girls as well. She prowled the house that whole day, waiting for the power to come back on. Then, the next morning, she’d walked to her next-door neighbor’s home, Donny Peeler.
“You know what’s going on Donny? My power has been out since night before last.” She’d asked. Donny and his wife Carol were in their mid-fifties. Their children having flown the nest some years back. Donny worked at a car dealership while Carol was the receptionist at their dentist’s office. She’d known the couple for a few years.
“Well, I’m speculating, but I’m thinking something bad has happened, Laura. You might want to get those girls to your folk’s farm.” He’d told her, his eyes looking around the neighborhood, a worried frown on his face.
“What do you mean?” Fear had snaked its way up her back, and that little niggling in her brain became louder.
“Look, no power. The cars don’t work either.” He’d started to say.
“What? What do you mean the cars don’t work?” She’d asked, her voice raising slightly. She’d been off and so hadn’t needed to use the car for any reason.
“No power, and the cars don’t work. My cell is out, so is Carol’s phone. That means something took out the power, but also killed electronics. I can’t remember what you call it, but it has something to do with a bomb or something. It kills everything and for a very long time. Nothing with electricity is going to work, nothing with microchips. Also, look at the sky, it is really hazy. You can’t even see the sun. That’s not normal. You’d best take your girls and get to your parent’s farm. I have a bad feeling, it’s gonna get ugly and fast.” Donny had said, this time in a low voice when one of his neighbors stepped out on the porch, across the street.
She looked at him and then at the man across the way, who’d raised a hand in greeting. Both she and Donny nodded.
“My god, that’s twelve miles. The girls can’t walk that far.” Laura said, now frightened.
“Look, I’ve got a cart, you know, a garden cart. Load those kids up with food and water. You have a gun? And do you know how to use it?” Donny had asked her. She nodded numbly and it was difficult for her to answer, her mouth suddenly dry.
“Look, if you walk at a good pace, you should be there in about six hours. Get some good comfortable shoes on. Make sure you pack clothes for the girls and yourself. If you have a kid’s wagon, you can attach it to the garden wagon and pull behind. Get to your parents, it isn’t gonna be safe in the next few days. When people start to realize what is going on, you’ll be in trouble. Not sure if you know, but Randy, across the street is a registered predator, you know, sex offender. You need to get those girls and go.” Donny said sternly.
“Jesus Christ. I didn’t know that, about Randy, I mean. Okay, I guess I can leave tomorrow.”
“No, leave today, go home now. I’ll go get the cart and clean it up and get it ready. You go back over, and you get packed and get out now and head to your parents’ place. Anyone comes at you hinky, you know, if you feel a tingle, don’t hesitate to shoot. For your girl’s sake.”
Laura had been so shaken; she’d turned around and ran back to the house, looking up at the obscured sky. She found the girls playing in their room. She by-passed their room, going to her own room. She went to the closet and opened the small gun safe. She pulled out her Glock 26, and the three small magazines. She also grabbed two boxes of shells. She turned; her brain frozen with fear. She reached up on the shelf and pulled down the shoulder holster. She’d be wearing a coat so it would be invisible. Pulling out a suitcase, she went to the chest of drawers and pulled out underwear, socks, a couple bras and then pulled out three pairs of jeans. She then pulled out several heavy cotton shirts, a couple T-shirts and then moved to the girl’s room.
She didn’t want to alarm them, and it had taken a herculean effort not to. She smiled at the girls.
“We a’re going to go stay with granny and grampy, how does that sound girls?”
“Awesome!” Both cried in jubilation, jumping up and down excitedly.
“Okay, get changed
