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KENDRA STUFFED HER modern literature book into her backpack and pushed her locker closed, spinning the combination lock a few times. Giving it a final tug, she walked away to head to her next class. A flash of pink caught her attention as Serena hurried up beside her, bouncing with excitement, as usual.
"Is there ever a time you're not cheerful," she asked her dark-haired friend.
"Not really, but I have lots to be cheerful about." Grinning, she flashed her hand in front of Kendra's face. "Take a look."
"Oh my god." Kendra grabbed Serena's hand and pulled it closer, studying the emerald-studded ring on her friends' finger. "Is it real?"
Serena yanked her hand away, pouting. "Of course it's real." She held her hand out in front of her, gazing fondly at the ring.
"Where did you get it?"
"Where do you think? From HIM, of course."
"Him? Meaning, the invisible, mysterious boyfriend, who your parents know nothing about?"
"Exactly."
"So how do you intend to explain the ring?"
The girls turned the corner and trotted down the wide staircase, pushing past the steady stream of kids ascending the stairwell.
"Well, I take it off when I'm at home, silly. I can't let them see this."
"Then what's the point?"
Serena hugged her notebook to her chest. "After graduation, we'll announce our engagement, and he'll meet my parents then."
"Oh, so you're engaged now?"
"Not yet. Not exactly."
"What does that mean?"
"This is just a promise ring. He'll give me a real diamond ring when we get actually engaged."
"He's that rich? What does he do?"
Serena glanced sideways at Kendra. "He's kind of self-employed."
Now Kendra returned the look. "Doing what?"
"Oh, all sorts of things." Serena avoided her probing gaze. "But the fact of the matter is that I'll always have what I want, and I'll never be poor again."
"And what does he want in return?"
Serena turned and grinned at her friend. "My undying love and loyalty."
"I'm sure that's all."
"Well, maybe my help with his business sometimes."
"What kind of help?"
"Long story. I'll explain later." She stopped, turning to stand in front of Kendra. "Listen, you could have a piece of this, too. You'll lack for nothing, and here's the best part," she forged ahead when Kendra started to shake her head. "You'll be helping the people in the town. People who really need help."
Kendra frowned at Serena. "What's this about?"
"Look, you're going to need a job once you graduate, and there aren't a lot of jobs out there right now. This will give you the security that you need."
Kendra thought of Mitch's plans to travel the world. It sounded romantic, but what were they going to do with no money and no home? Doubt swirled in her chest and she bit her lip. She had never had security in her life. And helping people? How could that be a bad thing?
"Okay, I'm listening."
***
THE NEWS HIT THE TOWN like an imploding building. The cereals manufacturing plant had been on the planning committee's drawing board for two years, promising jobs and an influx of badly needed cash into the floundering city. The investment backers released a statement that morning, announcing their intention to move their proposed build location to a larger center, citing production and staffing shortages and costs. Just like that, four hundred jobs vanished like steam on a hot afternoon, and the residents of Melina were devastated.
"This is not good," Mom said as the story was announced on the evening news. "A lot of people were counting on that plant. Cereal grains and beef cattle are what are keeping this city on the map. If we lose that, how are people going to stay afloat?"
"We still have a lot of cattle ranches around," offered Mitch hopefully. "There are two big packing plants just outside of town, and they have jobs."
"Without the grain, you can't keep the cattle fed, son," said Dad softly, not taking his eyes from the television. "It's all connected."
Mitch thought of the conversation he had with Cory, and told his parents what Cory had said.
“Wow,” Dad shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. With the Jameson cooperative folding up, that’s the third major operation in this area to go. No wonder the plans for the plant were scrapped. It’s just not viable.”
“Is it really as bad as everyone is saying?” He looked from his dad to his mom, seeing worry etched in every line of their face.
“Could be,” said Mom. “But it’s more than just a run of bad weather. Legislation is squeezing the profits of the smaller farms, making it harder for them and small businesses like local stores to compete, to stay ahead of things. We’re being taxed out of our livelihoods, and wages aren’t going up.”
“But Cory says something else is going on. The wheat, corn and other grains aren’t growing because it’s so dry all the time, but the trees aren’t growing fruit any more, or not much. He said the other plants in his mom’s garden barely produce anything, either. She only got a small crop of tomatoes this year, hardly enough to can for the winter. What is stopping everything from growing fruits and vegetables?”
Dad shrugged. “I don’t know much about gardening, but it seems to me that you need fertile soil to grow good crops. Maybe the soil is so depleted that it’s no good for crops anymore.”
“Don’t forget pollinators,” Mom interjected.
“What do you mean by pollinators?” asked Mitch.
“The insects that pollinate food crops; butterflies, bees, wasps and such. Even some flies and other flying bugs contribute to pollinating. Think about it. How many insects did we hear at night this summer? Hmm? I remember when I was kid, the summer nights virtually vibrated with the songs of cicadas, crickets, and other bugs. We would even hear frogs and who knows what else, out singing their songs. How about lightning bugs? Remember the lightning bugs you used to catch when you and Pam were kids? It’s been a couple of years since we saw any lightning bugs. They’re just...gone.” She lifted her hands helplessly, and dropped them in her lap.
The three people sat in contemplative silence for a few moments.
“Toxins?” asked Mitch. “Pollutants in the atmosphere? You’re right, though. Where are all the bugs?”
“And the birds, too,” said Harvey.
“Birds?”
“Yeah. I was driving around on my beat today and I saw one little chickadee and remembered all the birds that hung around when I was a kids. You hardly see or hear a bird anymore.”
“Something has changed, but I don’t know what it is,” said Mom. “I’m not the only one who is asking questions. Rumors fly around about government conspiracies, but those kinds of rumors have been around for as long as government has existed. Whatever is happening, the small towns are going to be the hardest hit. Just look at where we live. People are already packing up and leaving. I mean, I hate to panic and run at the first sign of trouble, but maybe they have a point.”
“And what point would that be,” asked Harvey.
She shrugged. “Maybe we need to go where the jobs are. I love it here, but we have to think ahead. If the farms are folding up, and the big cereal plant isn’t happening, how long do you think the store is going to last? Not to mention; how long do you think they are going to need three managers? At some point, my job is going to be redundant and I’ll be out of a job. Soon after that, there won’t be anything left of this town.”
“Oh Jessica, these people are more resilient than that. I’m sure the government as a whole is working on making sure people don’t lose everything. Even locally, City Hall has plans in the works to take care of people in need and make sure the Federal government doesn’t forget whom they are working for: us. We’re a long way from the catastrophic destruction of civilization as we know it. We’ll be okay.”
“You’re such an idealist. But I prefer to keep my eye on reality.”
“An optimist, my dear. There is a difference.”
“Well,” she huffed as she stood and picked up her coffee cup. “I still say we cut our losses while we can and go where we have a chance to survive.” She took her cup to the kitchen without a backward glance.
“This is our home, Jessica,” Harvey called after her. “I’ve got a decent job and I like the people I work with. Maybe after I retire, we can consider moving but not right now. They need me down at the precinct, and we have a lot on our plate right now. I can’t just walk away from the station right now. That wouldn’t be right.”
She reappeared in the kitchen doorway, hands on hips. “What about the fact that we need you here - Mitch and me? Your family. You’ve done your time with the station. So what if you quit a few years early?”
“And forfeit my retirement package?”
Mitch stood up and headed for the stairs. “Well, goodnight folks. That’s it for me.”
They were at it again.