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Story: Out in the cold..
- Thread starter Icarry2
- Start date
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
Pulling up in front of the driveway he noticed the gate closed and locked. It brought a refreshing smile to his face. “My Baby has learned” he thought. As he got out to punch in the code to open the gate he realized that once the gate was open he knew that Tasha and the rest of the house would be aware he was home as the gate was wired with an open closed sensor which fed a signal to the house’s security system. Steve walked over to the “wooden” looking post that the south half of the gate was hung on and reached around to the inside just below the top hinge and pushed a hidden button 3 times then 2 times then 1 time. The code he entered not only opened the gate but sent a signal to the security system that it was him. Everyone had their own code as well as a trouble code in case there was an emergency or if they were being forced to open the gate. Steve thought to himself that he wouldn’t want to get shot by his wife pulling in his own drive. As he finished the relay of signals the gates electro-mechanical lock mechanism hummed then he heard the pop of the lock bar and the actuators started opening the gates.
Steve had meticulously designed the gate system to look like a regular tube gate like many farmers and ranchers used to secure out of the way grain silos or hay barns. It even had a mock up looking padlock that looked as thought it held the gate secure. In reality the bolts that made up the locking mechanism for the gates were hidden in the top, middle and bottom tubes. A custom configuration that secured the gate such that only a large vehicle traveling over 20 miles an hour might have a chance at plowing through it but anything less would be stopped.
Steve had designed the ditches around the gate and across the road such that nothing short of a M1 tank would be able to get a running start at the gate nor would any winch or cable be able to pull the gate over. He had tried to pull the gate open with his biggest tractor, it ended up just spinning the tires, nothing budged the gate..
The only way to defeat the gate bolts would be with a torch, plasma cutter or carbon arc. The bolts were hardened and installed on bearings that would allow them to turn and make them nearly impossible to cut with any vibrating or rotating blade. No way any hand saw would even dent them. The hinges and gate tubes themselves were hardened steel with a cold galvanizing finish to look exactly like common gates that everyone else used. Even the posts which looked like standard square, rail road tie size timbers were actually 6 inch heavy I beams with wooden facade to conceal their strength that were sank 6 feet into 3 foot diameter concrete reinforced pylons tied together under the driveway and cross anchored both directions with more concrete. If a group could pull the system out they would have a hole too large for any normal vehicle to traverse.
With the way that Steve had dug the perimeter ditch no normal vehicle, no matter how highly modified, could get through the ditch in a hurry. The gate configuration was such that on each side of the new gate were what looked like old concrete archway pylons that were actually heavily reinforced concrete that could possible stop a tank or other tracked type vehicle. Steve had learned how to make concrete look aged and cracked to mask the integrity of the columns.
As he pulled through the gate and up the windy driveway lined with more of the evergreen trees and pulled around to the back of the house he decided to put the service truck in the back barn out of the way, it was typical since he didn’t want the water mess in the garage attached to the house. It could thaw out in the barn which was only kept just above freezing. It also offered protection from the weather and left the room in the attached garage for the kids to play in as they often did when cooped up on snow days.
Pulling up in front of the driveway he noticed the gate closed and locked. It brought a refreshing smile to his face. “My Baby has learned” he thought. As he got out to punch in the code to open the gate he realized that once the gate was open he knew that Tasha and the rest of the house would be aware he was home as the gate was wired with an open closed sensor which fed a signal to the house’s security system. Steve walked over to the “wooden” looking post that the south half of the gate was hung on and reached around to the inside just below the top hinge and pushed a hidden button 3 times then 2 times then 1 time. The code he entered not only opened the gate but sent a signal to the security system that it was him. Everyone had their own code as well as a trouble code in case there was an emergency or if they were being forced to open the gate. Steve thought to himself that he wouldn’t want to get shot by his wife pulling in his own drive. As he finished the relay of signals the gates electro-mechanical lock mechanism hummed then he heard the pop of the lock bar and the actuators started opening the gates.
Steve had meticulously designed the gate system to look like a regular tube gate like many farmers and ranchers used to secure out of the way grain silos or hay barns. It even had a mock up looking padlock that looked as thought it held the gate secure. In reality the bolts that made up the locking mechanism for the gates were hidden in the top, middle and bottom tubes. A custom configuration that secured the gate such that only a large vehicle traveling over 20 miles an hour might have a chance at plowing through it but anything less would be stopped.
Steve had designed the ditches around the gate and across the road such that nothing short of a M1 tank would be able to get a running start at the gate nor would any winch or cable be able to pull the gate over. He had tried to pull the gate open with his biggest tractor, it ended up just spinning the tires, nothing budged the gate..
The only way to defeat the gate bolts would be with a torch, plasma cutter or carbon arc. The bolts were hardened and installed on bearings that would allow them to turn and make them nearly impossible to cut with any vibrating or rotating blade. No way any hand saw would even dent them. The hinges and gate tubes themselves were hardened steel with a cold galvanizing finish to look exactly like common gates that everyone else used. Even the posts which looked like standard square, rail road tie size timbers were actually 6 inch heavy I beams with wooden facade to conceal their strength that were sank 6 feet into 3 foot diameter concrete reinforced pylons tied together under the driveway and cross anchored both directions with more concrete. If a group could pull the system out they would have a hole too large for any normal vehicle to traverse.
With the way that Steve had dug the perimeter ditch no normal vehicle, no matter how highly modified, could get through the ditch in a hurry. The gate configuration was such that on each side of the new gate were what looked like old concrete archway pylons that were actually heavily reinforced concrete that could possible stop a tank or other tracked type vehicle. Steve had learned how to make concrete look aged and cracked to mask the integrity of the columns.
As he pulled through the gate and up the windy driveway lined with more of the evergreen trees and pulled around to the back of the house he decided to put the service truck in the back barn out of the way, it was typical since he didn’t want the water mess in the garage attached to the house. It could thaw out in the barn which was only kept just above freezing. It also offered protection from the weather and left the room in the attached garage for the kids to play in as they often did when cooped up on snow days.
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
As Steve walked the 100 yards from the barn to the house he noticed Tasha standing at the back deck sliding glass door holding the muzzle end of her 20 gauge riot shotgun with the stock standing on the floor. Another moment of pride warmed over Steve. As he walked through the back door to the mud room he could hear the kids playing in the garage through the slightly open walk through door from the mud room into the garage. As he opened the inner door the kids stopped playing and stood there looking at him for a second. The youngest, Lynn blurted out, Thanks for waking us up Steve, smiling as she said it. Then her older brother Fred asked, roads suck? Steve nodded yes and explained to the kids not to go outside unless Tasha or he knew and to wear their ice spikes because there was sleet and ice under the snow. Fred replied, Mom said we could only go out to do our chores otherwise to not go outside. Steve turned to Tasha at the door to the house and Tasha said morning chores have been done. She propped her shotgun next to the door on the kitchen side of things and stepped through the doorway and walked over to the mud room door to hug Steve. She whispered in Steve’s ear “I’m glad your home hunny, what’s going on.” Steve said he would explain and asked her to have the children to clean up their stuff and then everyone could sit at the kitchen table and he would explain what he knew.
It took a few minutes for Steve to get “undressed” out of his outer layers of his winter work clothes so that he was more comfortable in a single layer of clothing much along the lines of lounge clothes. He left his base layer on and put some house shoes on. Once they were all setting at the kitchen table Steve looked at Tasha and asked if she had gotten any answer from her oldest, Margie. Tasha replied no, and now the phones are off, just a beeping tone. She finished by stating that she had tried to text her but was not sure if it went through. Tasha stated that she tried to email but wasn’t sure if the internet was down or just the email servers. She should be ok for now with her father but that she wanted her here with all of them.
Lynn and Fred sat patiently in there normal seats at the big oak kitchen table. The other seats for the rest of the kids were empty. Tasha sat in her seat and Steve sat down in his.
As Steve and Tasha communicated what they knew the kids got a little bored then eventually started to pay attention. Being that they were up and playing and not watching TV they had no idea. Tasha had only one TV on, the small one in the kitchen which had been muted once Steve walked in.
As Steve explained to everyone that this sort of situation is what they had drilled, trained and practiced the kids look dumbfounded at him. Fred asked, are we at war? Steve replied we don’t know. Nothing is happening around here but we will be ready if something starts.
Steve gave both kids marching orders to get their rooms clean, get showers, put their “uh oh bags” in the staging area in the garage and to resume whatever entertainment they had planned but not to leave the house, not to try and send any messages to anyone, even their sister. If anything starts to work to let him or Tasha know what. Steve reminded both, that means no facebook posts, no emails, no texts, no calls, nothing. And as he finished Tasha exclaimed to them, “Got it? This isn’t a joke.” and they both nodded and replied “YES Mama.”
As Steve walked the 100 yards from the barn to the house he noticed Tasha standing at the back deck sliding glass door holding the muzzle end of her 20 gauge riot shotgun with the stock standing on the floor. Another moment of pride warmed over Steve. As he walked through the back door to the mud room he could hear the kids playing in the garage through the slightly open walk through door from the mud room into the garage. As he opened the inner door the kids stopped playing and stood there looking at him for a second. The youngest, Lynn blurted out, Thanks for waking us up Steve, smiling as she said it. Then her older brother Fred asked, roads suck? Steve nodded yes and explained to the kids not to go outside unless Tasha or he knew and to wear their ice spikes because there was sleet and ice under the snow. Fred replied, Mom said we could only go out to do our chores otherwise to not go outside. Steve turned to Tasha at the door to the house and Tasha said morning chores have been done. She propped her shotgun next to the door on the kitchen side of things and stepped through the doorway and walked over to the mud room door to hug Steve. She whispered in Steve’s ear “I’m glad your home hunny, what’s going on.” Steve said he would explain and asked her to have the children to clean up their stuff and then everyone could sit at the kitchen table and he would explain what he knew.
It took a few minutes for Steve to get “undressed” out of his outer layers of his winter work clothes so that he was more comfortable in a single layer of clothing much along the lines of lounge clothes. He left his base layer on and put some house shoes on. Once they were all setting at the kitchen table Steve looked at Tasha and asked if she had gotten any answer from her oldest, Margie. Tasha replied no, and now the phones are off, just a beeping tone. She finished by stating that she had tried to text her but was not sure if it went through. Tasha stated that she tried to email but wasn’t sure if the internet was down or just the email servers. She should be ok for now with her father but that she wanted her here with all of them.
Lynn and Fred sat patiently in there normal seats at the big oak kitchen table. The other seats for the rest of the kids were empty. Tasha sat in her seat and Steve sat down in his.
As Steve and Tasha communicated what they knew the kids got a little bored then eventually started to pay attention. Being that they were up and playing and not watching TV they had no idea. Tasha had only one TV on, the small one in the kitchen which had been muted once Steve walked in.
As Steve explained to everyone that this sort of situation is what they had drilled, trained and practiced the kids look dumbfounded at him. Fred asked, are we at war? Steve replied we don’t know. Nothing is happening around here but we will be ready if something starts.
Steve gave both kids marching orders to get their rooms clean, get showers, put their “uh oh bags” in the staging area in the garage and to resume whatever entertainment they had planned but not to leave the house, not to try and send any messages to anyone, even their sister. If anything starts to work to let him or Tasha know what. Steve reminded both, that means no facebook posts, no emails, no texts, no calls, nothing. And as he finished Tasha exclaimed to them, “Got it? This isn’t a joke.” and they both nodded and replied “YES Mama.”
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
Steve looked at Tasha and asked her to stage the Durango. This meant that she needed to turn her Dodge Durango around and back it in her bay in the two and a half car attached garage. It hadn’t been backed out so that the kids had more room to play but was pulled in instead of backed in. Steve reminded her to make sure that the door is down and tight and that the jump wire was plugged in as they had practiced.
Something she never understood was the purpose of the “jump wire,” what the heck was the jump wire for? She just went along with many of the preparations that Steve came up with because she felt it was easier than a drawn out explanation. She trusted the man, with her life and the lives of her children. The Jump Wire was easy enough to connect, just a simple one way connector the size of a cigarette pack that had to be plugged in the front or the rear of the Durango with the cable that hung from the ceiling that was mounted on a retractable cord reel. There was one for Steve’s Ram too but it had been moved to the barn over the weekend since the weather had turned nasty so the kids would have a bigger area inside to play.
Every vehicle that the Jameson’s owned including the lawn mower had a jump wire setup for it where they were stored. All were interchangeable and served many functions. First, they kept the batteries topped off and always ready. Second they incorporated a grounding strap that was part of the extensive EMP Hardening that Steve had put into the vehicles.
These along with the Faraday Cages that Steve had built into the barn, storage shed and house made them basically a metal box grounded to the earth done to hopefully allow them and their electronics to survive an EMP attack. The plan was any EMP would have it’s energy sent directly to ground and that everything would still function. With no way of testing this, it was a gamble and a prayer that the preparations worked.
Steve had done months of research to ensure he did everything he could. He even went so far as to buy spare computers for each of the vehicles and stored them in an underground cashe bunker in a metal box attached to an earth ground cable. Worst case, if the jump wires didn’t take the hit and funnel it to ground all he had to do was swap the brains and hopefully the vehicles would operate.
Steve looked at Tasha and asked her to stage the Durango. This meant that she needed to turn her Dodge Durango around and back it in her bay in the two and a half car attached garage. It hadn’t been backed out so that the kids had more room to play but was pulled in instead of backed in. Steve reminded her to make sure that the door is down and tight and that the jump wire was plugged in as they had practiced.
Something she never understood was the purpose of the “jump wire,” what the heck was the jump wire for? She just went along with many of the preparations that Steve came up with because she felt it was easier than a drawn out explanation. She trusted the man, with her life and the lives of her children. The Jump Wire was easy enough to connect, just a simple one way connector the size of a cigarette pack that had to be plugged in the front or the rear of the Durango with the cable that hung from the ceiling that was mounted on a retractable cord reel. There was one for Steve’s Ram too but it had been moved to the barn over the weekend since the weather had turned nasty so the kids would have a bigger area inside to play.
Every vehicle that the Jameson’s owned including the lawn mower had a jump wire setup for it where they were stored. All were interchangeable and served many functions. First, they kept the batteries topped off and always ready. Second they incorporated a grounding strap that was part of the extensive EMP Hardening that Steve had put into the vehicles.
These along with the Faraday Cages that Steve had built into the barn, storage shed and house made them basically a metal box grounded to the earth done to hopefully allow them and their electronics to survive an EMP attack. The plan was any EMP would have it’s energy sent directly to ground and that everything would still function. With no way of testing this, it was a gamble and a prayer that the preparations worked.
Steve had done months of research to ensure he did everything he could. He even went so far as to buy spare computers for each of the vehicles and stored them in an underground cashe bunker in a metal box attached to an earth ground cable. Worst case, if the jump wires didn’t take the hit and funnel it to ground all he had to do was swap the brains and hopefully the vehicles would operate.
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
Steve put his cold weather clothing back on and went to the back door in the mud room and sat down on the little bench by the door to put his boots on. As he pulled his boots off the upright boot dryer he noticed Lynn peaking out of the house door, her hair wrapped in a towel and a clean par of lounge clothes on. She was being very shy. She looked at Steve and was nearly in tears. Steve spoke “What’s the matter Sweetie?” As he looked at her she came running up to him and gave him a big hug and whispered in his ear, “I’m scared.” she was trembling. Steve pulled her back to look her in the face and replied, “It’s ok Sweetie, I am too.” She sort of giggled and expressed a “yeah right” expression as she stated “you are not afraid of anything.” To which he replied, I am scared for everyone we know and love. This could get really bad and I will do the best I can to protect you and Fred and Mommy. Lynn blurted out, “what about Margie? to which Steve replied, we will look out for her too, hopefully your Dad will be smart and take care of your sister or we can go get her. Lynn, excitedly said “can I go with you to get her?” to which Steve replied “no, if I have to go get her, I will go alone.” Then Lynn realized that more then likely her Daddy wouldn’t let Margie come with Steve nor would Margie want to come here as she had never even set foot on the property. Steve tried to reassure Lynn that he would look out for his other step-daughter no matter what. Lynn then asked about Lee, Steve’s daughter, that she might need to be picked up as well. Lee hadn’t came to visit that much, a couple times since she helped move into the house. She moved her stuff, helped setup her bed and other things that was at their old house. “And what about Michael?” Lynn asked. Steve replied, they are alright, I already checked with them. About the time Steve got boots on Lynn gave him another big hug and whispered “I love you Steve” into his ear so softly that no one else would ever hear. Both Lynn and Fred were discouraged from showing any sort of feelings for Steve by their father. Their father was so mental about things that he didn’t want them to care for their mother’s husband even though it had been over 9 years since they had divorced. A biter divorce and Steve had been drug into the middle of it more than once since he and Tasha had started dating and even more when they began living together. Most of the issues were shut down when they were married.
As Steve motioned to Lynn to go back in the house and do what needed to be done he heard the gate buzzer. The house security system didn’t sound the gate alarm so he knew it could only be one of a hand full of close friends or family that knew about the button. Steve walked back into the kitchen and over to the counter where the TV sat and grabbed the remote. He switched the channel to 2 and then looked at the feeds from the security cameras on the little tv.
At the front gate was a bright red Dodge Power Wagon which he recognized and his friend TJ waving his arms. Steve reached over to a security control panel near the fridge and pushed front gate unlock, then once it confirmed unlocked he selected open and the gates started to swing inward. Then watching the monitor he waiting until the Power Wagon cleared the gates he then watched to make sure that the gates closed and confirmed that it locked before walking out of the kitchen and into the garage. Just about that time Tasha came into the kitchen and cleared her throat. As Steve turned to look at her he noticed she was looking at his boots. He didn’t think and walked into the kitchen wearing his still wet boots.
Steve apologized, and blurted out “TJ’s here!” To which Tasha responded “oh boy, get out of my kitchen Mr. Jameson..”
In the garage Steve checked his Ruger and then walked over to what looked like a normal metal two door storage cabinet. He opened the doors and then pulled on the shelving to reveal a hidden safe. Steve spun the dial to the appropriate numbers and flung open the safe door. Once open the sound of TJ’s Power Wagon was heard outside the garage door. As Steve was reaching into the safe to retrieve a long gun and some mags in a patrol pack he heard a knock at the back door. He walked over to the mud room door to see TJ smiling and waving, Steve walked over and unlocked the door letting him in.
Steve put his cold weather clothing back on and went to the back door in the mud room and sat down on the little bench by the door to put his boots on. As he pulled his boots off the upright boot dryer he noticed Lynn peaking out of the house door, her hair wrapped in a towel and a clean par of lounge clothes on. She was being very shy. She looked at Steve and was nearly in tears. Steve spoke “What’s the matter Sweetie?” As he looked at her she came running up to him and gave him a big hug and whispered in his ear, “I’m scared.” she was trembling. Steve pulled her back to look her in the face and replied, “It’s ok Sweetie, I am too.” She sort of giggled and expressed a “yeah right” expression as she stated “you are not afraid of anything.” To which he replied, I am scared for everyone we know and love. This could get really bad and I will do the best I can to protect you and Fred and Mommy. Lynn blurted out, “what about Margie? to which Steve replied, we will look out for her too, hopefully your Dad will be smart and take care of your sister or we can go get her. Lynn, excitedly said “can I go with you to get her?” to which Steve replied “no, if I have to go get her, I will go alone.” Then Lynn realized that more then likely her Daddy wouldn’t let Margie come with Steve nor would Margie want to come here as she had never even set foot on the property. Steve tried to reassure Lynn that he would look out for his other step-daughter no matter what. Lynn then asked about Lee, Steve’s daughter, that she might need to be picked up as well. Lee hadn’t came to visit that much, a couple times since she helped move into the house. She moved her stuff, helped setup her bed and other things that was at their old house. “And what about Michael?” Lynn asked. Steve replied, they are alright, I already checked with them. About the time Steve got boots on Lynn gave him another big hug and whispered “I love you Steve” into his ear so softly that no one else would ever hear. Both Lynn and Fred were discouraged from showing any sort of feelings for Steve by their father. Their father was so mental about things that he didn’t want them to care for their mother’s husband even though it had been over 9 years since they had divorced. A biter divorce and Steve had been drug into the middle of it more than once since he and Tasha had started dating and even more when they began living together. Most of the issues were shut down when they were married.
As Steve motioned to Lynn to go back in the house and do what needed to be done he heard the gate buzzer. The house security system didn’t sound the gate alarm so he knew it could only be one of a hand full of close friends or family that knew about the button. Steve walked back into the kitchen and over to the counter where the TV sat and grabbed the remote. He switched the channel to 2 and then looked at the feeds from the security cameras on the little tv.
At the front gate was a bright red Dodge Power Wagon which he recognized and his friend TJ waving his arms. Steve reached over to a security control panel near the fridge and pushed front gate unlock, then once it confirmed unlocked he selected open and the gates started to swing inward. Then watching the monitor he waiting until the Power Wagon cleared the gates he then watched to make sure that the gates closed and confirmed that it locked before walking out of the kitchen and into the garage. Just about that time Tasha came into the kitchen and cleared her throat. As Steve turned to look at her he noticed she was looking at his boots. He didn’t think and walked into the kitchen wearing his still wet boots.
Steve apologized, and blurted out “TJ’s here!” To which Tasha responded “oh boy, get out of my kitchen Mr. Jameson..”
In the garage Steve checked his Ruger and then walked over to what looked like a normal metal two door storage cabinet. He opened the doors and then pulled on the shelving to reveal a hidden safe. Steve spun the dial to the appropriate numbers and flung open the safe door. Once open the sound of TJ’s Power Wagon was heard outside the garage door. As Steve was reaching into the safe to retrieve a long gun and some mags in a patrol pack he heard a knock at the back door. He walked over to the mud room door to see TJ smiling and waving, Steve walked over and unlocked the door letting him in.
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
As TJ walked in stomping the snow off his boots he looked over to see Steve lock and load a winter camo’d and suppressed AR with a 30 round mag. Steve reached for the winter camo patrol pack and made sure there were 6 – 30 round magazines an IFAK and canteen full of water. TJ announced “It’s started!” to which Steve nodded. After walking back over to the safe shutting the door, locking the pins and spinning the dial Steve closed the mock storage cabinet doors to hide the contents of this safe from prying eyes. The kids knew what was in there, Tasha knew the combination and TJ, well, TJ and Steve went way back and had a bond of brotherhood and life of trust so long they knew about everything about each other. Closer then brothers TJ used to say along with his favorite sentiment, “My life for yours, any day.”
Steve first met TJ in 8[SUP]th[/SUP] grade on the bus and spent almost every day together all the way through basic. Sort of unusual bed fellows as they were assigned to the same bunk in basic without anyone knowing they were best friends. Friends for life from the start. They clicked. Having never known anyone who could almost read each others minds the pair were almost unstoppable. Both were crack shots. Both were physically the same size and built the same way and had the same endurance. They were always the ones who made time on any ruck hump or run but were not the first ones to cross the line. “Better to hold back some reserve strength” they each thought. Why be first when you don’t have to be. Those will be the boys killed first they thought.
As it was TJ was brilliant, a photographic memory, picked things up the first instruction, never complained or criticized where it wasn’t beneficial to the situation. He had grown up on a commercial hog farm that his grand father had started when he returned from the war in 1946. His father had taken over once he returned from college in 1969. TJ’s father Tom had some how not gotten drafted. The only thinking that made any sense was that since he was still listed as a student because Tom had signed up for a masters degree program but never started. He came home to take over the family farm right after obtaining a bachelors degree in Agriculture Management because his father Ray had fell and broken his hip wrestling a large boar who had gotten out of a breeding lot to chase a bunch of sows. Tom took over the day to day operation of the now 3,000 head hog farm in 1970 to allow his father to recover and continued to run the farm and even at the ripe age of 64. Tom had met and married a gem of a gal while in college at Purdue, Karen was a small spitfire of a woman. Not once did TJ ever back talk his mother and get away with it. Not even to this day. TJ was born in late 1970 and nearly killed his mother being born. They always had a bond that no one understood but Tom had always figured it was due to the stress they put on each other the first day of TJ’s life.
TJ shook Steve’s hand and said again, “well it’s started, just like you said.” Steve reminded TJ that it wasn’t he who thought up the scenario that seemly had come to fruition early in the morning on this day, the 16th of December, 2013. Steve motioned to TJ to follow him as he stated, “I need to check on the animals”.
As TJ walked in stomping the snow off his boots he looked over to see Steve lock and load a winter camo’d and suppressed AR with a 30 round mag. Steve reached for the winter camo patrol pack and made sure there were 6 – 30 round magazines an IFAK and canteen full of water. TJ announced “It’s started!” to which Steve nodded. After walking back over to the safe shutting the door, locking the pins and spinning the dial Steve closed the mock storage cabinet doors to hide the contents of this safe from prying eyes. The kids knew what was in there, Tasha knew the combination and TJ, well, TJ and Steve went way back and had a bond of brotherhood and life of trust so long they knew about everything about each other. Closer then brothers TJ used to say along with his favorite sentiment, “My life for yours, any day.”
Steve first met TJ in 8[SUP]th[/SUP] grade on the bus and spent almost every day together all the way through basic. Sort of unusual bed fellows as they were assigned to the same bunk in basic without anyone knowing they were best friends. Friends for life from the start. They clicked. Having never known anyone who could almost read each others minds the pair were almost unstoppable. Both were crack shots. Both were physically the same size and built the same way and had the same endurance. They were always the ones who made time on any ruck hump or run but were not the first ones to cross the line. “Better to hold back some reserve strength” they each thought. Why be first when you don’t have to be. Those will be the boys killed first they thought.
As it was TJ was brilliant, a photographic memory, picked things up the first instruction, never complained or criticized where it wasn’t beneficial to the situation. He had grown up on a commercial hog farm that his grand father had started when he returned from the war in 1946. His father had taken over once he returned from college in 1969. TJ’s father Tom had some how not gotten drafted. The only thinking that made any sense was that since he was still listed as a student because Tom had signed up for a masters degree program but never started. He came home to take over the family farm right after obtaining a bachelors degree in Agriculture Management because his father Ray had fell and broken his hip wrestling a large boar who had gotten out of a breeding lot to chase a bunch of sows. Tom took over the day to day operation of the now 3,000 head hog farm in 1970 to allow his father to recover and continued to run the farm and even at the ripe age of 64. Tom had met and married a gem of a gal while in college at Purdue, Karen was a small spitfire of a woman. Not once did TJ ever back talk his mother and get away with it. Not even to this day. TJ was born in late 1970 and nearly killed his mother being born. They always had a bond that no one understood but Tom had always figured it was due to the stress they put on each other the first day of TJ’s life.
TJ shook Steve’s hand and said again, “well it’s started, just like you said.” Steve reminded TJ that it wasn’t he who thought up the scenario that seemly had come to fruition early in the morning on this day, the 16th of December, 2013. Steve motioned to TJ to follow him as he stated, “I need to check on the animals”.
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Electronrider
Sharpshooter
Type faster! Great start so far, looking forward to more.
Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
In a shocking reply TJ asked, you haven’t made your morning rounds yet? WTF Steve?” to which Steve replied, I got called out this morning at about 6:30. TJ gasped and said to where? Steve – Brainer, TJ – Illinois? Steve – Yeap.. TJ acted shocked, so you had to go to work the morning that all hell breaks loose. Wow what a mind job. Another of TJ’s whimsical little sayings..
Steve and TJ walked out to the main barn where Steve flipped on the lights and walked around checking on the different animals which resided there. First he checked the chickens, all 12 were still laying and the Rooster was just taking up space. He collected 11 eggs, put them in a basket hanging near the chicken roost and balked at the hens for not laying stating that the house would have fried chicken for dinner if the slack kept up. TJ laughed and reminded Steve that chickens were dumb, they couldn’t possibly understand you, to which Steve replied yeah like pigs are so smart.. It was a long standing joke..
Steve then walked over to the goat pen where a pair of Oberhasli goats had been the newest members to join the family. The dam Nahnah as the Tasha had named her had just given birth to two kids. One doeling and one buckling. He wanted to check on the kids and Nahnah’s udder. Nahnah’s udder was full and the kids must have had their fill and were sleeping in the corner under the heat lamp that Steve had carefully positioned so there was a low risk of fire. Steve motioned to Nahnah which Lynn and Fred had nick named “Bertha” because even though she bore two kids she was still sort of fat.
As she walked up into the milking stanchion Nahnah bellowed to show that she was not comfortable with her udder this full and that she was grateful of his attention. Steve expressed to TJ that he had to relieve the old girl before he could continue his rounds. TJ asked if there was anything he could do. Steve handed the rifle and pack to TJ and asked if he would walk around the corner and check on the horses and make sure they had water and hay.
As Steve took hand full of hay from a broken square bail by the goat pen and put it in the feeding trough of the milking stanchion and removed a clean milk bucket from under it. Nahnah positioned herself for the milking and started eating the handful of good hay which normally only went to the horses. Goats you see will eat about anything. Nahnah was a gentle doe who stood about 32 inches high at the shoulder, typical of all Oberhasli goats. Steve never had any trouble with her and except for one incident with Fred everyone had been able to milk her with out a problem. She always seems to rather enjoy the attention. With a bit of disgust Steve milked about a quart and left the rest for the kids figuring he would come back out before dark to check on her and see if she needed milked some more.
Placing the lid on the milk bucket and carrying it over near the tack room door setting it on a table he looked back to see TJ petting the “tough as wet leather” buckskin mare the kids had named “Precious.” She was a fantastic horse, not too tall at only 14 hands tall but tall enough that any normal sized man could ride her without it tiring her out too badly. Steve’s pride and joy “Bishop” was a grey Andalusian stallion who stood 16 and a half hands tall. A mans horse no question. In fact Bishop didn’t like to be ridden by anyone but Steve or Lynn and despised Tasha even being near him.
TJ walked over to Steve as he was wiping his hands off with a towel. As TJ stood there shaking his head sideways Steve asked him “What?” and TJ went to explain that he probably kept track of every blade of grass in the pasture as Steve began writing the barn log which he kept records of all feeding, cleaning, milking, egg production and other relating items of interest about the animals. TJ asked’ do I need to sign in? Then went on to say the horses had water and hay and he gave them a scoop of oats each to tide them over without letting Steve respond to his dig. Steve recorded the info and explained only a couple things left. Check the cattle and feed and water the rabbits. Both the cattle and rabbits were kept in separate barns out away from the main barn for various reasons. Number one, the rabbits like a little music to keep them calm so they didn’t hurt them selves if startled by a predator or a human walking into the rabbit barn. So the noise didn’t bother any other animals they were in a separate small barn at the corner of the barn lot.
In a shocking reply TJ asked, you haven’t made your morning rounds yet? WTF Steve?” to which Steve replied, I got called out this morning at about 6:30. TJ gasped and said to where? Steve – Brainer, TJ – Illinois? Steve – Yeap.. TJ acted shocked, so you had to go to work the morning that all hell breaks loose. Wow what a mind job. Another of TJ’s whimsical little sayings..
Steve and TJ walked out to the main barn where Steve flipped on the lights and walked around checking on the different animals which resided there. First he checked the chickens, all 12 were still laying and the Rooster was just taking up space. He collected 11 eggs, put them in a basket hanging near the chicken roost and balked at the hens for not laying stating that the house would have fried chicken for dinner if the slack kept up. TJ laughed and reminded Steve that chickens were dumb, they couldn’t possibly understand you, to which Steve replied yeah like pigs are so smart.. It was a long standing joke..
Steve then walked over to the goat pen where a pair of Oberhasli goats had been the newest members to join the family. The dam Nahnah as the Tasha had named her had just given birth to two kids. One doeling and one buckling. He wanted to check on the kids and Nahnah’s udder. Nahnah’s udder was full and the kids must have had their fill and were sleeping in the corner under the heat lamp that Steve had carefully positioned so there was a low risk of fire. Steve motioned to Nahnah which Lynn and Fred had nick named “Bertha” because even though she bore two kids she was still sort of fat.
As she walked up into the milking stanchion Nahnah bellowed to show that she was not comfortable with her udder this full and that she was grateful of his attention. Steve expressed to TJ that he had to relieve the old girl before he could continue his rounds. TJ asked if there was anything he could do. Steve handed the rifle and pack to TJ and asked if he would walk around the corner and check on the horses and make sure they had water and hay.
As Steve took hand full of hay from a broken square bail by the goat pen and put it in the feeding trough of the milking stanchion and removed a clean milk bucket from under it. Nahnah positioned herself for the milking and started eating the handful of good hay which normally only went to the horses. Goats you see will eat about anything. Nahnah was a gentle doe who stood about 32 inches high at the shoulder, typical of all Oberhasli goats. Steve never had any trouble with her and except for one incident with Fred everyone had been able to milk her with out a problem. She always seems to rather enjoy the attention. With a bit of disgust Steve milked about a quart and left the rest for the kids figuring he would come back out before dark to check on her and see if she needed milked some more.
Placing the lid on the milk bucket and carrying it over near the tack room door setting it on a table he looked back to see TJ petting the “tough as wet leather” buckskin mare the kids had named “Precious.” She was a fantastic horse, not too tall at only 14 hands tall but tall enough that any normal sized man could ride her without it tiring her out too badly. Steve’s pride and joy “Bishop” was a grey Andalusian stallion who stood 16 and a half hands tall. A mans horse no question. In fact Bishop didn’t like to be ridden by anyone but Steve or Lynn and despised Tasha even being near him.
TJ walked over to Steve as he was wiping his hands off with a towel. As TJ stood there shaking his head sideways Steve asked him “What?” and TJ went to explain that he probably kept track of every blade of grass in the pasture as Steve began writing the barn log which he kept records of all feeding, cleaning, milking, egg production and other relating items of interest about the animals. TJ asked’ do I need to sign in? Then went on to say the horses had water and hay and he gave them a scoop of oats each to tide them over without letting Steve respond to his dig. Steve recorded the info and explained only a couple things left. Check the cattle and feed and water the rabbits. Both the cattle and rabbits were kept in separate barns out away from the main barn for various reasons. Number one, the rabbits like a little music to keep them calm so they didn’t hurt them selves if startled by a predator or a human walking into the rabbit barn. So the noise didn’t bother any other animals they were in a separate small barn at the corner of the barn lot.
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
TJ handed Steve the rifle back and said I will check the cattle if you want to get the rabbits. TJ hated the rabbits. He had tried to raise some as a kid for the 4H fair and had been scratched badly from a feisty buck, the feeling was mutual as far as Steve could figure.
TJ walked around behind the main barn and climbed over the drifted gate on the corner of the barn to enter the cattle lot where Steve kept 3 steers and a heifer. They were all huddled up inside a lean too that Steve had built on the back of the barn. Back in the fall TJ had helped Steve close in the lean too to help protect the animals from the elements. Walking inside the doorway TJ startled one of the steers who about ran him down getting out of the lean too only to realize it was warmer in there and that maybe he should return. TJ walked over by the heifer and checked the water trough making sure there was water and it wasn’t frozen. The tank heater was working and the trough was about half full. As he turned around to the face of the returning steer TJ spoke to the steers and heifer and said you all be good now. Walking out of the lean too TJ bent his head around the corner to make sure the large round bail hay feeder had a sufficient amount of hay in it. There was over half a bail left.
TJ walked back over to the gate and hopped over about the time Steve came out of the little rabbit barn about 50 yards away to the south. He and Steve walked back into the barn and TJ reported on the cattle for Steve to record in the log. Steve noted that the rabbits watering system was fine and that they had all been fed and that the Doe with the ear tattoo of 149 had given birth to 6 babies and that they all looked fine. The doe had pulled enough hair and made a warm enough nest to keep the babies alive. Steve had learned much from an old rabbit raiser Roy Keller that Steve grew up next to. In fact it was Roy who gave him his start for the herd of now over 70 rabbits. Keller as he always called him was an icon in the rabbit market raising blue ribbon show rabbits and great meat and fur producers. Keller had always told Steve not to waste fuel or power to heat a rabbit barn, they can take it so long as the does pull enough hair to keep the babies warm.
Steve grabbed the pail of goats milk and handed TJ the basket of eggs after throwing a towel over the eggs. After shutting off the lights he and TJ walked back to the house, went in the mud room door, removed their boots and outer layers hanging them neatly on the hooks inside the garage door. Steve put his boots back on the drier and flipped it on to keep his boots nice and fresh. Washing up in the small bathroom off the mud room was SOP at the Jameson house, especially if you had been in the barn or around the animals. Steve reached around behind the door which opened inward, something Steve had always regretted to get a jar for the milk and a carton for the eggs. Steve had been in a hurry the day he hung the frame and without noticing which way the door would swing finished and trimmed it when Tasha noticed it. He hadn’t lived down that simple mistake, never would, she reminded him every so often to keep him humble.
Steve placed a single use filter similar to a paint filter on the top of the jar and poured the milk into it. After the milk was transferred he moved to the large stainless steel sink and washed and rinsed the milk pail and lid and hung them on the stainless steel screen strainer to allow them to air dry. The eggs were wiped off with the towel and put in the carton and the basket was hung on the back of the door. TJ waited in the mud room until Steve was finished and then said “my turn” and washed up.
TJ handed Steve the rifle back and said I will check the cattle if you want to get the rabbits. TJ hated the rabbits. He had tried to raise some as a kid for the 4H fair and had been scratched badly from a feisty buck, the feeling was mutual as far as Steve could figure.
TJ walked around behind the main barn and climbed over the drifted gate on the corner of the barn to enter the cattle lot where Steve kept 3 steers and a heifer. They were all huddled up inside a lean too that Steve had built on the back of the barn. Back in the fall TJ had helped Steve close in the lean too to help protect the animals from the elements. Walking inside the doorway TJ startled one of the steers who about ran him down getting out of the lean too only to realize it was warmer in there and that maybe he should return. TJ walked over by the heifer and checked the water trough making sure there was water and it wasn’t frozen. The tank heater was working and the trough was about half full. As he turned around to the face of the returning steer TJ spoke to the steers and heifer and said you all be good now. Walking out of the lean too TJ bent his head around the corner to make sure the large round bail hay feeder had a sufficient amount of hay in it. There was over half a bail left.
TJ walked back over to the gate and hopped over about the time Steve came out of the little rabbit barn about 50 yards away to the south. He and Steve walked back into the barn and TJ reported on the cattle for Steve to record in the log. Steve noted that the rabbits watering system was fine and that they had all been fed and that the Doe with the ear tattoo of 149 had given birth to 6 babies and that they all looked fine. The doe had pulled enough hair and made a warm enough nest to keep the babies alive. Steve had learned much from an old rabbit raiser Roy Keller that Steve grew up next to. In fact it was Roy who gave him his start for the herd of now over 70 rabbits. Keller as he always called him was an icon in the rabbit market raising blue ribbon show rabbits and great meat and fur producers. Keller had always told Steve not to waste fuel or power to heat a rabbit barn, they can take it so long as the does pull enough hair to keep the babies warm.
Steve grabbed the pail of goats milk and handed TJ the basket of eggs after throwing a towel over the eggs. After shutting off the lights he and TJ walked back to the house, went in the mud room door, removed their boots and outer layers hanging them neatly on the hooks inside the garage door. Steve put his boots back on the drier and flipped it on to keep his boots nice and fresh. Washing up in the small bathroom off the mud room was SOP at the Jameson house, especially if you had been in the barn or around the animals. Steve reached around behind the door which opened inward, something Steve had always regretted to get a jar for the milk and a carton for the eggs. Steve had been in a hurry the day he hung the frame and without noticing which way the door would swing finished and trimmed it when Tasha noticed it. He hadn’t lived down that simple mistake, never would, she reminded him every so often to keep him humble.
Steve placed a single use filter similar to a paint filter on the top of the jar and poured the milk into it. After the milk was transferred he moved to the large stainless steel sink and washed and rinsed the milk pail and lid and hung them on the stainless steel screen strainer to allow them to air dry. The eggs were wiped off with the towel and put in the carton and the basket was hung on the back of the door. TJ waited in the mud room until Steve was finished and then said “my turn” and washed up.
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Nice job!
netsecurity
Shooter
Pretty good
starbreather
Master
Good work, thanks for posting.
Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
Walking out of the room and back into the mud room TJ was met by both Fred and Lynn. “UNCLE TJ!” they exclaimed, “what are you doing here?” Fred asked. TJ replied “I came to talk to your Dad, I mean Steve.” TJ didn’t have any kids, an injury which earned him a Purple Heart had seen to the fact that TJ would never have kids. A fact that bothered both Tom and 89 year old Ray who was till tooling around the hog operation getting in Tom’s way. Their families blood line would not be continued.
Lynn interrupted “Uncle TJ did you hear, we might be at war?” and was eager to listen to his reply since she had sat and listened to TJ’s tall stories of when he and Steve were “in the service” which some of which had to be edited for younger ears. TJ may have been a devote Christian but he cursed like a sailor.. He was always getting smacked on the shoulder by Tasha and reminded about “little ears” she called them.
TJ picked Lynn up and carried her into the house behind him came Fred who was asking to see TJ’s gun that was always on his hip. “Uncle TJ when are you going to let me shoot your gun?” Fred asked. TJ replied jokingly, “you have your own to shoot, this ones mine.”
Tasha pulled out a chair at the table and TJ stood Lynn up on the chair as Steve handed the milk and eggs to Tasha. He leaned over and gave her a big hug saying “run along and play now me and your, uh, Steve and I have some adult things to talk about.” Lynn kissed TJ on the cheek and said “I love you Uncle TJ” and scampered off to her room he guessed as he sat down to a fresh cup of hot tea sitting in front of his normal visiting spot at the table. “Thanks Tosh” he spouted to Tasha who was setting the honey bear and a spoon next to his cup. He jokingly patted her on the butt as he often did and although he meant nothing by it since he thought of Tasha as a sister earned a scowl from Tasha. He would never break the trust of his “brother.” TJ had counseled both Tasha and Steve when they hit a rough patch early on in their relationship and Steve never got jealous of him due to the stuff they had been through “across the pond” as they both said. Steve trusted TJ with the virtue of his wife and the girls.
Steve sat with his cup warming his hands and looked TJ in the eye and said “So now what?” TJ said “well on the way over here I heard the CB blaring about the folks wanting to take up arms” The Short Wave was full of all kinds of conjecture and misinformation that must have been coming from someone just stirring the pot because they refused to give their call sign.
Walking out of the room and back into the mud room TJ was met by both Fred and Lynn. “UNCLE TJ!” they exclaimed, “what are you doing here?” Fred asked. TJ replied “I came to talk to your Dad, I mean Steve.” TJ didn’t have any kids, an injury which earned him a Purple Heart had seen to the fact that TJ would never have kids. A fact that bothered both Tom and 89 year old Ray who was till tooling around the hog operation getting in Tom’s way. Their families blood line would not be continued.
Lynn interrupted “Uncle TJ did you hear, we might be at war?” and was eager to listen to his reply since she had sat and listened to TJ’s tall stories of when he and Steve were “in the service” which some of which had to be edited for younger ears. TJ may have been a devote Christian but he cursed like a sailor.. He was always getting smacked on the shoulder by Tasha and reminded about “little ears” she called them.
TJ picked Lynn up and carried her into the house behind him came Fred who was asking to see TJ’s gun that was always on his hip. “Uncle TJ when are you going to let me shoot your gun?” Fred asked. TJ replied jokingly, “you have your own to shoot, this ones mine.”
Tasha pulled out a chair at the table and TJ stood Lynn up on the chair as Steve handed the milk and eggs to Tasha. He leaned over and gave her a big hug saying “run along and play now me and your, uh, Steve and I have some adult things to talk about.” Lynn kissed TJ on the cheek and said “I love you Uncle TJ” and scampered off to her room he guessed as he sat down to a fresh cup of hot tea sitting in front of his normal visiting spot at the table. “Thanks Tosh” he spouted to Tasha who was setting the honey bear and a spoon next to his cup. He jokingly patted her on the butt as he often did and although he meant nothing by it since he thought of Tasha as a sister earned a scowl from Tasha. He would never break the trust of his “brother.” TJ had counseled both Tasha and Steve when they hit a rough patch early on in their relationship and Steve never got jealous of him due to the stuff they had been through “across the pond” as they both said. Steve trusted TJ with the virtue of his wife and the girls.
Steve sat with his cup warming his hands and looked TJ in the eye and said “So now what?” TJ said “well on the way over here I heard the CB blaring about the folks wanting to take up arms” The Short Wave was full of all kinds of conjecture and misinformation that must have been coming from someone just stirring the pot because they refused to give their call sign.
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Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media
TJ explained that he had put out a message to the group before the phones went nuts, I emailed everyone, text everyone and put the hand held on “our” frequency but it’s in the truck.” Then while swaying in his chair TJ muttered “I could go get the handheld but I don’t know if it will get any reception in here” as he noticed Steve shaking his head and then looking at him cocking it to one side as if to point out the obvious. TJ proclaimed, “DUH, I knew it wouldn’t” as TJ had known that inherent in the design of Steve’s home was a shielding from outside radio transmissions. “a metal box” as TJ proclaimed “won’t allow any signals in or out, I remember, I remember he rambled.” The way Steve had designed the house unless you turn on the repeaters that allowed the cell phones, handhelds and other radios devices to get signals through the metal construction of the house the only way something could receive or transmit was if there was an external antenna connected to the device. Steve softly said “lets go down stairs and we will see what’s up.” Tasha stopped Steve pulling him towards her so she could give him a kiss and then as he walked away she squeezed his butt and reminded him that he “owed” her something because he got called out this morning. TJ knew what this meant and giggled as the men headed for the back corner of the kitchen where the hallway was. On many occasions TJ had been on the family camping trips and ran interference keeping the children far enough away from Steve and Tasha’s tent so that they wouldn’t hear anything curious to them.
Down the hallway and through the inconspicuous door at the end was the back stairs to the basement. The “dungeon” as the kids called it was a spacious finished basement with high ceilings. The guys were headed for what Tasha called “Steve’s Room” which was off limits to the kids and visitors without permission or an invite. The kids had found out breaking that rule brought stiff punishment and serious consequences as Fred had found out right after moving in when he walked in and handled one of Steve antique hand guns. It earned him a week of no tv, no internet, no cell phone and extra chores. The old pistol was a particular favorite of Steve’s that had been given to him by his great grandfather.
As the men walked by the kids play room that some of Fred’s friends had nick named the “kid cave” they heard “can I come?” from behind the big padded chair that Fred sat in for hours on end honing his Xbox Call of Duty skills, “please?” Fred asked.
Fred had been trying to grow up way too fast. He was a very social young man with many friends. Once the move to the new house had been completed he found himself too far out of town to visit his friends like he had been used to. It was “too far to ride a bike” in his opinion even though he would ride around town all day putting 10-12 miles on his bike in the process. As both Tasha and Steve had explained, your 6 miles from town. You can ride that with an easy pace and be in town at your friend’s house inside of a half an hour. Fred had also eagerly learned to shoot, sharpen a knife, skin a rabbit, clean chickens as well as all of the other chores around the small farm they now lived on.
Steve stopped and backed up to the doorway, motioning for TJ to go on ahead. Steve walked in behind the chair and cleared his throat and waited for Fred to pause his game and provide Steve his full attention. As Fred paused the game and looked over his shoulder Steve simply asked a question. “Who is supposed to check the animals when I am not here?” Fred sank in the chair realizing he was so caught up in not having school that he forgot to check all the animals. Steve explained Bertha was about to explode to which Fred interrupted and stated “you know she doesn’t like me” and Steve just looked at the boy who now realized that he had screwed up. Nothing worth punishment but something to hurt his chances as being included in more adult matters which Fred so wanted to be included in. Fred said “I’m Sorry, can I come with you please?” to which Steve replied, not now buddy, maybe later which Fred knew probably meant not today.
TJ explained that he had put out a message to the group before the phones went nuts, I emailed everyone, text everyone and put the hand held on “our” frequency but it’s in the truck.” Then while swaying in his chair TJ muttered “I could go get the handheld but I don’t know if it will get any reception in here” as he noticed Steve shaking his head and then looking at him cocking it to one side as if to point out the obvious. TJ proclaimed, “DUH, I knew it wouldn’t” as TJ had known that inherent in the design of Steve’s home was a shielding from outside radio transmissions. “a metal box” as TJ proclaimed “won’t allow any signals in or out, I remember, I remember he rambled.” The way Steve had designed the house unless you turn on the repeaters that allowed the cell phones, handhelds and other radios devices to get signals through the metal construction of the house the only way something could receive or transmit was if there was an external antenna connected to the device. Steve softly said “lets go down stairs and we will see what’s up.” Tasha stopped Steve pulling him towards her so she could give him a kiss and then as he walked away she squeezed his butt and reminded him that he “owed” her something because he got called out this morning. TJ knew what this meant and giggled as the men headed for the back corner of the kitchen where the hallway was. On many occasions TJ had been on the family camping trips and ran interference keeping the children far enough away from Steve and Tasha’s tent so that they wouldn’t hear anything curious to them.
Down the hallway and through the inconspicuous door at the end was the back stairs to the basement. The “dungeon” as the kids called it was a spacious finished basement with high ceilings. The guys were headed for what Tasha called “Steve’s Room” which was off limits to the kids and visitors without permission or an invite. The kids had found out breaking that rule brought stiff punishment and serious consequences as Fred had found out right after moving in when he walked in and handled one of Steve antique hand guns. It earned him a week of no tv, no internet, no cell phone and extra chores. The old pistol was a particular favorite of Steve’s that had been given to him by his great grandfather.
As the men walked by the kids play room that some of Fred’s friends had nick named the “kid cave” they heard “can I come?” from behind the big padded chair that Fred sat in for hours on end honing his Xbox Call of Duty skills, “please?” Fred asked.
Fred had been trying to grow up way too fast. He was a very social young man with many friends. Once the move to the new house had been completed he found himself too far out of town to visit his friends like he had been used to. It was “too far to ride a bike” in his opinion even though he would ride around town all day putting 10-12 miles on his bike in the process. As both Tasha and Steve had explained, your 6 miles from town. You can ride that with an easy pace and be in town at your friend’s house inside of a half an hour. Fred had also eagerly learned to shoot, sharpen a knife, skin a rabbit, clean chickens as well as all of the other chores around the small farm they now lived on.
Steve stopped and backed up to the doorway, motioning for TJ to go on ahead. Steve walked in behind the chair and cleared his throat and waited for Fred to pause his game and provide Steve his full attention. As Fred paused the game and looked over his shoulder Steve simply asked a question. “Who is supposed to check the animals when I am not here?” Fred sank in the chair realizing he was so caught up in not having school that he forgot to check all the animals. Steve explained Bertha was about to explode to which Fred interrupted and stated “you know she doesn’t like me” and Steve just looked at the boy who now realized that he had screwed up. Nothing worth punishment but something to hurt his chances as being included in more adult matters which Fred so wanted to be included in. Fred said “I’m Sorry, can I come with you please?” to which Steve replied, not now buddy, maybe later which Fred knew probably meant not today.
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