The Troop Read online

  “I'm not using my hands!” Liam blurted out.

  “No one expects you to use your hands Liam,” my dad said. “You’ll use your foot. It’s harder to do but works better.”

  “My foot!” Liam balked. “Are you kidding?!”

  “Of course, I'm kidding, Liam,” Dad laughed. “Like I told you, quit being so gullible.”

  I laughed and said, “Yeah Liam, the Martians use their foot to wipe their butt in that pyramid they live in. The one we saw a copy of on the way here.”

  “Dude,” Liam moaned. “That is so stupid. I mean, really. Really stupid.”

  “At least I’m not stupid enough to believe you can wipe poop with your foot,” I countered.

  Most everyone laughed except Luke. He actually started crying. I guess my dad noticed it because he asked him, “What's wrong, Luke?”

  “Nothing,” Luke choked through tears.

  “There's nothing wrong with crying, Luke,” my dad assured him. “Are you scared? Because I promise you, we all are.”

  “I'm worried about my mom. And my sister.”

  “That's OK, Luke,” my dad promised him. “We're all worried. Worried about our families back in Fredericksburg. Our friends. And our own future…”

  “We are worried about our future because it's not what we expected to happen,” Johnny added. “We expected to come out here just to have fun. Not to live out here for the foreseeable future.”

  “How long is that?” Luke cried.

  “I don't know,” Dad admitted.

  “It won't be long,” Bob said after suddenly appearing. He had his pack on and Matt stood next to him. “Because once I get back to civilization, I'll make sure they know we've got a Boy Scout Troop back here that needs help.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Dad declared matter-of-fact. “It's civilization that I'm worried about.”

  14

  Bob and Matt dropped their packs and Bob motioned for Matt to grab water bottles out of the trailer. Matt did and Bob said, “We're running light. Not gonna take much more than water and a few snacks.”

  “You're taking a tarp for sun protection at least, aren't you?” Johnny asked.

  “No. We’ll be in Balmorhea by dawn…”

  “Bob, there's no way…”

  “Johnny, I assure you we can make it,” Bob insisted. “We're gonna leave here in just a few minutes.”

  “What happened to until sundown?” Dad asked.

  “The heat of the day has passed us,” Bob decreed.

  “Don’t be silly,” Johnny warned. “You’ve got at least four hours of sunlight left. At least.”

  Bob ignored Johnny and helped Matt load water into their packs. Carl walked over with his pack and dropped it at Johnny’s feet.

  “Do you want to check my gear now?” Carl said to Johnny.

  Johnny frowned but moved to look at Carl's pack anyway. He rummaged through his goods for a few minutes then came up and said, “Looks like you're set for at least two days. You’ve got food, water, water filter, and a tarp just in case…”

  "That's too much,” Bob insisted.

  “It's part of our deal,” Johnny declared. “I get to approve his load. The other part is that he comes back at the first sign of trouble. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” Carl promised.

  “We’ll be coming back once we can get some help,” Bob reiterated.

  “Again Bob,” my dad almost moaned. “There won't be any help. Not in Balmorhea. Not anywhere. Everyone – with very few exceptions – is in the same boat that we’re in. The only difference is that we’re better off than most people. We’re in an area where we can survive off the land…”

  “I doubt this will be the last time we disagree,” Bob laughed.

  “I…I think we should pray,” Matt suddenly and nervously stammered. “I mean…I think we should have earlier but…well, now's a good time too.”

  “OK,” Dad said. “You're the troop’s Chaplains Aide. Go ahead.”

  Matt nodded and took off his hat. Everyone got quiet and lowered their head.

  “Dear Lord,” Matt stuttered. “We thank you for our time together…and ask that you protect us while…while we are apart. Help guide all of us safely…in the ways you see fit. And…look after our families and our…well, look after our country and we ask…we ask that you look after all of us. Amen.”

  “Amen,” everyone repeated.

  Bob picked up his pack and hoisted it over his shoulders. Matt and Carl did the same.

  “Be careful, Carl,” I said. “You too Matt. Bob.”

  Call smiled and promised, “Will do.”

  Bob led Matt and Carl out of the camp and toward the road. I was worried about them and still couldn't believe Dad and Johnny were letting them leave but also had a really strong feeling that I’d see them all again soon.

  15

  We had originally planned on having hamburgers with all the fixings that night but ended up having just the patty and cheese instead. We didn't have the buns or turn our potatoes into fresh cut fries because Dad said we would be saving them for later. Johnny was supposed to make an apple cobbler in his Dutch oven as well but since the apples were canned and the sugar and other ingredients didn't need to stay in an ice chest, we held off on eating them as well. We could eat them later that way. I can’t remember the last time we ate such a small meal on a camp out. After we cleaned up, we all sat outside under the stars and waited for it to cool off enough to go to bed.

  Dad broke the silence by explaining that our families and loved ones back in Fredericksburg were all looking at the same sky. “With no light pollution from streetlights or businesses or houses, they're all staring up at the exact same sky that we are,” Dad said.

  That made me feel a lot better about my mom and sister and even my dog. I know it was kind of silly to be thinking about my dog with everything going on the way it was but that's where my mind took me. I guess I wasn't the only one thinking off-the-wall things as Jack said, “I don't know what my sister’s going to do if she can't blow dry and flat iron her hair every morning. She's gonna go crazy.”

  “She's going to have wild hair for sure,” Johnny said. “I just wonder what she'll do with all that extra time. Maybe talk to mom for a change.”

  Jack laughed and said, “I seriously doubt that.”

  “Yeah,” Johnny laughed. “Me too.”

  “I hope no one eats my cat,” Liam offered continuing on his random thought bandwagon.

  “What?” I laughed.

  “My cat, Mr. Potato Head.”

  “Your cat’s name is Mr. Potato Head?” Andrew exploded into laughter.

  “Yeah, my sister named him. I guess he looks like a potato or a Mr. Potato Head toy or something. I don't know. She was only six when she named him,” Liam explained. “I just hope nobody eats him.”

  “Why would anyone eat your cat?!” I shot back.

  “I mean if folks run out of food they might eat him,” Liam explained.

  “I think people would start hunting deer in the parks or outside of town before turning to your cat,” Dad prophesied. “Plus, I'm not sure how much meat you can get off a cat. I don't think it would be worth the time to skin and clean him.”

  “I don't know. Mr. Potato Head is kind of fat. He might make a meal or two,” Liam chuckled.

  “Again, Liam,” Dad said. “I think he’s safe.”

  “For now!” Johnny belted out in an evil laugh. “For now!”

  “So…if Mr. Potato Head was here and we wanted to make kitty cat jerky how do we do so? Tell me about the smokehouse were making tomorrow,” I asked.

  “Johnny and I think a basic tripod rack will be easy enough,” Dad said. “It's just a tall tripod that sits over the fire with three or four racks built onto it. It'll be easy to put together.”

  “And it'll be good for smoking strips of Mr. Potato Head and other family pets?” Andrew chuckled.

  “I don't want to eat a cat,” Luke said.

  “I thi
nk we’ll try it with deer meat first,” Dad offered. “But y'all keep me posted if you see any cats, dogs, or guinea pigs or ferrets walking around camp. Y’all’ve got my taste buds curious with all this pet talk.”

  16

  I didn't sleep very well that night. Liam and I stayed up in our tent and talked a long time and when he fell asleep I couldn't. I just lay on my cot thinking about what huge changes the day had brought. Our country was attacked. The president said life was going to be tough and our getting back to normal would take a long time. Bob, Matt, and Carl left; my dad and Johnny had let them.

  I thought about my mom and sister and thought about all the arguments I'd had with both of them and all the bad thoughts I'd had about my mom and how she sometimes made me so mad I wanted to tell her that I wanted to move in with Dad. And that I was tired of her always getting on to me about stupid things like watching too much TV or my grades not been high enough, or my playing video games on my phone. Of course, none of that mattered now. I was living with Dad and would probably be doing so out here for a long time.

  There was no TV to watch.

  No video games to play and probably not going to be any school coming up this fall.

  I lay there for, I dunno how long, with all those thoughts bouncing around in my head when I suddenly thought I heard Johnny. I stepped out of my tent into the starlight and looked towards the trailer. Even without my contacts in, I could see Johnny sitting at his table, his face lit up by the faint colored lights and illuminated dials of his radio. I grabbed my glasses and put on a T-shirt and walked towards him. I was halfway there when I realized that I should've at least put on sandals as the rocks and pebbles beneath my feet were pretty torturous. I made my way to Johnny who greeted me with, “What's up bud? Can't sleep?”

  “I might've slept a little bit. I don't know,” I answered. “What time is it?"

  “Little after two,” Johnny said after looking at his radio. He pointed to the seat next to him. I sat down and he commented on my not wearing any shoes. “You’re gonna step on a scorpion or worse out here walking around barefooted.”

  I nodded in agreement then asked, “You talk to anybody?”

  “My buddy Bill in Austin.”

  “What’d he say?”

  “Pretty much what I expected. People are mostly in shock. There's been a lot of church services and vigils today. A lot of losses at hospitals and old folks’ homes.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. Guess people that were on machines and stuff went right away. I mean died right away.”

  “Yep. Now there's the problem of burying people. How do you get them to the graveyard with no cars or trucks? And it takes a long time to dig a grave with no tractor.”

  “Hadn’t thought of that either. Don't think I want to."

  “Then don't think about it,” Johnny said. “No, surprisingly Bill said city life was just a day of mourning and disbelief. Most people are rushing to eat the stuff out of their refrigerator or freezer before it goes bad and saving all the canned goods and dry food for after.”

  “Just like us.”

  “Yep just like us. But we’ve got it better heat wise.”

  “Heat wise?”

  “Yeah, like my friend Bill. He was semi-prepared for a disaster like this. He kept his radio and some batteries safe just like me. He and his family had food designated for emergencies. But there's not much you can do about the heat except maybe go outside n’ hope for a breeze.”

  “Outside? That’s where it's hotter.”

  “No air-conditioning or fans inside anymore. I mean, they’re still there. They just don’t work. And most houses aren’t designed for good airflow even with the windows opened.”

  “Oh yeah. They're designed for air-conditioning.”

  “Yep."

  “I guess we’re better off than most people then. I mean our tents have sides and doors that can roll up to let in airflow.”

  “Yep. All things considered we’re in the best place to be.”

  “What are we like, 40 or 50 miles from the next human?"

  Johnny thought for a moment then said, “There's a ranch house 45 miles from here as the crow flies but I don't know if anybody's living there. I think they just lease the land to a nearby rancher.”

  I nodded then probed, “Can I ask you how all this, the way things are as compared to what it was like when you were in Afghanistan? I mean, Dad says sometimes veterans don't want to talk about their time in war.”

  “Your Dad's right. But you can ask me though. It's OK.” Johnny paused then said, “This situation is different and the same.”

  "How?"

  “It's the same in that I'm away from my family, well part of my family, and I hate that.”

  “How's it different?”

  “Ain't nobody trying to shoot me here!” Johnny laughed. “I like that part a lot!”

  I smiled and was glad that I hadn't offended or upset Johnny. I liked him a lot. He's a good guy just like my dad.

  “Did your friend Bill say who attacked us?” I asked.

  “There's just speculation at this point. I mean there's such little info being shared and no real way to share it, what with no phones or Internet. But the rumor is that it might've been North Korea or China. Or even Russia. Bottom line is that I guess nobody knows yet or if they do know the word hadn't gotten out…”

  Something caught Johnny's eye and he bolted up and out of his chair. He started walking away from camp. I stood and followed the best my bare feet would let me. I looked ahead of Johnny to see that he was walking toward a figure. A person walking towards us.

  It was Carl!

  “Carl!” I yelled.

  Johnny reached him and I hobbled up right after him.

  “Are you OK?” Johnny asked. “What's wrong?”

  Johnny looked toward the road then back to Carl and asked, “Where’s Matt? Bob?”

  Carl swallowed hard and in a scratchy voice said, "Bob’s dead."

  17

  I didn't have time to register what Carl said.

  Johnny didn't let me.

  “Taylor, go wake up your Dad. Have him meet us at the trailer.”

  I stood there dumbfounded for a second.

  Johnny didn't let me do that either.

  “Go. Now. And don't wake anyone else.”

  I ran as fast as my bare feet would let me do so all the way to Dad's tent. I shook the foot of his cot then his bare leg all the while whispering, “Dad! Dad! Get up Dad!”

  Dad bolted up hard and looked around. He locked eyes with me and asked, “What's wrong?”

  I didn't know what to say.

  I hadn't thought that far ahead.

  I was just doing what Johnny told me to do.

  “What is it?” Dad asked again. “What's wrong?”

  “Carl came back. Bob's... Johnny said to get you. He said to come to the trailer.”

  Dad turned in his cot and slid his feet into the flip-flops he kept next to it. He pulled on a T-shirt and put on his glasses. He looked me up and down and said, “Where's your shoes?"

  "I…uh"

  “Go put some on. You'll step on a scorpion or worse.”

  Dad pushed me out of the tent on his way to the trailer and said again, “Go. Put on some shoes. Do that now.”

  I mumbled, “Yes sir,” then hobbled to my tent. I entered to find Liam sitting up in his cot.

  “What's going on?” he asked. “I heard you yelling."

  I stood there thinking of what to say. I guess I was still in shock from the news.

  “Dude,” Liam moaned. “What were you yelling about?"

  “Carl’s back.”

  “What!” Liam exploded.

  “Keep it down,” I said.

  “Carl’s back? What happened?”

  “I don't know yet.”

  I slipped on my sandals and turned to leave. Liam said, “Hold up a sec.” I ignored him and headed back to the trailer. Carl was seated where I had been just a few minutes e
arlier and was wiping his face with a wet rag. Dad and Johnny were standing next to him. I guess the whole Bob thing hit me then because I was suddenly kind of scared. I stood next to Dad and he put his hand on my back like he does sometimes. Liam walked over and questioned, “What's going on?”

  Johnny looked at me with disbelief.

  “He was awake!” I blurted out.

  “It's OK,” Dad said. “I think everybody should hear what's going on. Is that OK Carl?”

  Carl nodded and said, “Yeah. I guess so.”

  Dad looked at Liam. “Go wake up Jack and everyone else. Tell them Carl is back and we're having a meeting.”

  Liam said, “OK.”

  “But Liam,” Johnny said.

  “Huh?” Liam answered.

  “Put on some shoes. You're going to step on a scorpion or worse.”

  Liam left and I looked to Carl, “You want anything? Gatorade?”

  “Gatorade’d be good.”

  I turned to get him a cup and Dad said, “Get him a protein bar or something out of the trailer too.”

  I nodded and got Carl some Gatorade. I gave it to him and dug around in the grub box in the trailer looking for a bar. It was hard doing it without a flashlight but I more or less knew where they were and could tell by touch when I had one. I brought it to Carl just as everyone was crowding around him. I gave Carl the bar and said, “I have no idea what flavor it is. I can't see.”

  Carl took the bar and held it to the dim radio light and squinted. “Chocolate peanut butter. Thanks man.”

  “No worries,” I said.

  Carl tore into the bar and killed his Gatorade. Dad said, “When you're ready Carl.”

  Carl finished chewing his mouth full of protein bar and said, “Bob's dead.”

  All the scouts started murmuring, talking amongst themselves. Jack looked like he might cry. Luke did cry. Dad spoke over everyone without raising his voice.

  “Tell us,” he instructed Carl. “Tell us what happened.”

  “We hiked down the road and it was real slow because, well, you know how Bob hikes. Matt and I kept waiting for him. Bob went real slow on the hills. He drank a lot of water. We kept asking if he wanted to take a break and he said he didn’t.”