Two Close

Two Close: a story of survival - Book 2

Scene: At home in Solers' cellar Time: Immediately following a nuclear meltdown

Lenore left to get a change of clothes for each of the boys. 

“Sneakers, too, into the bag. When you’ve showered and dressed, find something else for your feet. Then everybody downstairs. If you have any special toy you want to bring with you, take it when you go. You won’t be up for three days.

Done. No ifs, buts, ands, or ors.”

Even Stephen put aside his want of food.

After the boys . . . under Carlos’s supervision in the main bathroom . . . and Lenore and then Carlos had showered . . . in the one off their bedroom, and they all had changed their clothes—including their shoes, the boys and Lenore headed for the basement while Carlos collected his family’s castoff clothes and any food sitting around. Walking under his golf umbrella, Carlos then transported everything to the large plastic trash bins. When Carlos came back inside, as he passed the threshold of the door, he tossed the flip-flops he had been wearing off the side of the steps and stood the golf umbrella just outside the door. Then he joined the rest of his family downstairs for what was to be the longest three days of their lives.

Lenore brought down with her bread and cold cuts from the refrigerator and a carton of milk. They opened and sat on the sleeping bags there and shared the picnic lunch makings and talked.

“So, Dad, how long do we have to stay down here?” It was Ricky. He was twelve and generally quiet, but he had a way of getting to the facts fast.

“Seventy-two hours.”

“Will we have to stay after dark, too?” asked five-year-old Stephen.

“We’ll be sleeping here for three nights. So, you might as well settle in for the long haul,” answered Carlos.

“But why, Dad?”