Dear Diary, It’s Me, Jessica: Chapter 11 (Book 2)

By the Author of Dear Diary: It’s Me, Jessica

Find the previous chapter here.

Dear Diary,

It’s me, Jessica.

They sent me to run back to Four Corners and tell Daniel and Savannah what had happened.  Daniel did not hesitate, grabbed his medical pack, and started out at a quick walk with Savannah and me following.  Daniel, with his bum knee, could not run but did his best.  Fortunately, we did not have to go far.  Eight men were carrying a makeshift litter they had made from two small trees as poles, and they used their camouflage tops to carry Jack.  Someone used a face covering called a “Shemagh” to tie around Jack’s shoulder and neck to keep bandages in place.  I could see blood had seeped through.  

Daniel began asking rapid-fire questions, and they answered with medical jargon I could not understand. I just stood out of the way.

Daniel had them put Jack down for a moment to check the wound.  He nodded. “I have seen and treated nearly a hundred GSWs while I was a paramedic in the city.  Okay, let’s get him to Four Corners where I can treat him.  You guys did a good job.”

“Would not be the first gunshot I have treated in the field,” one of them responded as they lifted Jack back up and continued to carry him at a quick walk. 

Four Corners had built Daniel and Savannah a small, two-room aid station with a single bed. Once there, Daniel ordered everyone out so that he and Savannah could work.  

Sean and Rae showed up a few minutes late,r once the word had gotten out about Jack.  The men who carried Jack filled them in about what had happened.  Sean nodded gravely.  Rae looked worried.

After a very long hour, Daniel came out looking concerned. “He is stable but still unconscious.  We will have to wait and see.”

Entry two

With nothing to do but wait and see, Mom, Rae, and I decided to head back home.  This time, we paid more attention to our surroundings as we made our way.  Mom was going to go straight home.  While she and Rae were not in any of the fighting, she was exhausted from the whole ordeal.  Rae and I were going to stop by Jack’s house to check on the dogs.  

Of course, the dogs were happy to see us.  We thought it would be best to take the dogs home with us, Samson with me and the puppies with Rae to watch over them.  

When I got home, Mom was on the couch with a cup of tea.  Samson gave her a few kisses in greeting and then found his favorite spot in front of the fireplace to take a nap.  

Dad returned from the Millers’ a short time later.  I told him what had happened.  As he hugged Mom, she began to cry.  I went over to them and hugged them both and began to cry myself.  Not as hard as Mom, but it was still a cry.  After a few moments, Mom said she was okay, and we broke the family hug.  She laughed a little at herself and got up to go to the bathroom to clean up.  Dad asked if I was okay, and I said I was.  

“I think Mom was a little shook up from getting taken.”

“We will keep an eye on her,” Dad said, but he gave a small frown.

“She’ll be okay,” I reassured him.

Entry three

The next day was a school day.  To take my mind off worrying about Jack, I really engaged with the kids.  For the younger group of children, we had enough copies of Stuart Little for everyone to have a book.  It was a nice day out, so we sat in the grass in a circle, each child would read five pages, then the next child would read their five pages while everyone else followed along.  We got about halfway through the book when it was time to end class.  Some of the children didn’t want to stop reading, and I told them if they wanted, they could take the books home and read them there, but we would finish the book as a group at the next class.  Their reading skills have markedly improved since we started school.  

The next group of kids was older, so we were reading The Hobbit. At first, I thought it might have been a bit too much of a children’s book for them, but they seemed to be enjoying it. I thought it would be a good lead-in to The Lord of the Rings.

Dad’s engineering class was finishing up on the plans for Nate’s water wheel.  Next week, they would make a trip to Four Corners to begin actual work on it.  With the class, a number of people from the community and the people at Four Corners, with that many hands, Dad thought they could build the water wheel in a few days or a week at most.  If they did not run into any problems.  But between himself, Nate, and the class, Dad thought they had everything worked out. 

Then he added, “Which means Murphy is lurking.”

Dad would make the trip to Four Corners tomorrow with the plans to review them with Nate.  Rae and I would go with him to check in on Jack.

Rae and I took Jack’s after-school card game club.  It was a lot of fun!  

Diary, you recall Allison, that young girl who was with Rae and those people who kept them as slaves?  Well, since school started, she has been doing a lot better.  More open and talkative than when they first came here after Jack and his assault team freed them.  And she has a serious competitive streak in her at card games! 

Rae later said, “Allison, if Las Vegas was still open, they would be in serious trouble if you showed up!”

Allison beamed.

Entry Four

Tom and Collins were at their post at the Eastern gate.  They heard what had happened and asked if we were okay.  

“We are fine,” Rae answered, and I gave them a reassuring smile. “Here,” Rae pulled a book out of her backpack and handed it to Collins. You mentioned you are a history buff, and I thought you might be interested in it.”

“The Resistance: The French Fight Against The Nazis,” he read from the cover.  “Thank you, Rae!”

“You’re welcome.  Any word on Jack?”

“There was no change as of this morning before we stood post,” Tom responded, looking serious. But that was a few hours ago,” he added, sounding hopeful.

Rae nodded, gave our thanks, and we walked to Four Corners proper to find Sean and the aid station.  

When we arrived, Sean was at his shack on business talking with two men and a woman. He waved us over.

“We were just chatting,” he nodded to the others.

“Jack,” I asked.

“Still unconscious, but Daniel said there appears to be no internal bleeding, blood pressure and heart rate both normal, and his color is better.  He says he is hoping Jack will come to, soon.”

“Should we stop by or just leave them alone?”

“Nothing you can do.  When he wakes up,” Sean put emphasis on ‘when,’ “I will let him know you were by.”

“Okay.  Thank you, Sean.”

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, Jessica.  Jack’s going to be fine.”

I nodded and gave him a smile.

“Nate at his usual place?” Dad asked.

“Aye, he is.  Said you and your class will be by next week to start on the water wheel, eh?”

“As long as the weather is good, we will be.”

“Good to hear.”

We left Sean and headed down Old Fishing Road South to the RV Nate used as his home and where he conducted business.  On either side of the road, the people of Four Corners were going about their own business.  Some had tables of produce to trade.  Others had clothing.  A few were there with cooking fires.  There was one three-sided stall with two barber chairs, where people were getting their hair cut or the men were getting a shave.  Three men sat on logs to one side, waiting their turn while playing cards.  The usual din of people talking filled the air along with the smell of the cooking fires and the smell of things being cooked.

As we approached, Nate smiled and shook our hands warmly.

“I got what I hope are the final plans for you to review,” Dad said as he pulled them out of his pack and unfolded them on Nate’s folding table.  Nate looked them over for a minute, nodding in approval.

“Yes, you got all the changes we talked about in.  This is really good.  You are a much better draftsman than I am.”

“I had help from the class.  We drew up three sets, two will be our working ones with the third as a spare.”

“Good thinking.”

The energy in Four Corners suddenly changed. 

People went from their daily activities to a sense of excitement.  Then the word was passed. 

Jack was awake.

About 1stMarineJarHead

1^stMarineJarHead is not only a former Marine, but also a former EMT-B, Wilderness EMT (courtesy of NOLS), and volunteer firefighter.

He currently resides in the great white (i.e. snowy) Northeast with his wife and dogs. He raises chickens, rabbits, goats, occasionally hogs, cows and sometimes ducks. He grows various veggies and has a weird fondness for rutabagas. He enjoys reading, writing, cooking from scratch, making charcuterie, target shooting, and is currently expanding his woodworking skills.