May 25
“I’ll tell you everything when I get back, Allex. For now, please just trust me,” Jim said and he tossed an overnight bag in the Hummer. Perkins was already seated and anxious to be somewhere other than Moose Creek.
*
Tom and I opened the doors of the Moose Creek Township office building precisely at ten o’clock. Harold had all of his seeds out on a table for the public to view. It was a nice display, I must admit. He had brought along a small box of plastic snack bags to put seeds in once a person decided on their choice.
“I think I can find you another box or two of those bags, Harold,” I said when I noticed his dwindling supply.
“For that, Allexa, your seeds are paid for. These are irreplaceable now,” he lamented. “So what would you like, corn, peas, squash?”
“Even before the ash cloud we were never sure if we would have a growing season long enough for corn, so I’ll pass on that. Besides, I still have some.”
“Perhaps then we can trade like for like to add variety to each other’s supply.”
“That’s worth considering,” I said. I selected some Detroit red beets and he measured a tablespoon full into a baggie and labeled it with a marker. “How much pea seed for another, still sealed marker?”
He looked up, surprised. “You are good at bartering! How about a half cup of peas?”
“Deal!” I also took six pumpkin seeds and a teaspoon of radish. “I’m surprised you have flowers, Harold. I would have thought you would carry only edibles.” I picked up a bottle to read the label.
“Not just any flowers: marigolds, which are a natural bug deterrent in gardens. Plus the nasturtiums, which are edible.”
The townspeople started filing in around ten-thirty. By noon the place was empty again. Everyone seemed in a good mood being able to get fresh seed so they could be ready when it was warm enough to plant. It also looked like the shooting issue was pushed aside in favor of something more positive.
I noticed that Harold was giving growing advice quite freely, and he never gave enough seed for two seasons. I asked him about that.
“It’s better for everyone to learn to save their own seeds. By designating a couple of plants out of the many they grow, they can have enough seed to perpetuate their gardens indefinitely. That’s my objective,” he explained. “To feed the world, one garden at a time.”
May 26
Jim arrived back home late afternoon, tired and in a good mood.
“Mission accomplished!” he said gleefully.
“And are you now going to share what this mission was all about, Colonel?” I pushed, still a bit miffed that he didn’t want me along. Tom smirked as he poured us each a drink.
How long had this drinking been part of our evening ritual? Forever it seemed. And what would we do when the booze ran out?
“Well, after the town meeting the other day, the truth and the implications of my words really hit home. We are under martial law and likely will be for a very long time. In out of the way places like Moose Creek, martial law is enforced by the senior military leader, and in this case that’s me. It occurred to me that my retirement would have changed that.”
I hadn’t thought about that part. Who would be in charge after Jim retired?
“Currently, as a full-bird colonel, I’m in charge of the entire Upper Peninsula. The thought of military troops stumbling into our fair town and taking over bothers me, though that can happen only if I retire,” he continued.
“What are you saying Jim?” I whispered, now worried.
“I rescinded my retirement papers.”Tom and I were both shocked. “Can they call you back to duty now?” I murmured.
“No. What I also did was to take an indefinite leave of absence by initializing years of back furlough. In effect, I’m still a colonel in the army, with all the rank and privileges, but I have no orders to follow. It’s the best of both sides, Allex.”
“I can see where you felt the need to do that, Jim,” Tom said. “And as mayor, I thank you for thinking of the town.”
“So doing that took you all day?” I asked.
“It took a good portion of it, yes. Once I got a chat link with my superior—- and friend— General Jameson, whom I had sent my retirement papers to, asking for them to be held for a month, I kept the link open until we had finished our business. That was my primary objective, but not my only one.” He looked at me with a Cheshire cat grin. “Because my other reason would take longer, I initiated that one first and contacted the acting commander at Selfridge, Chandler O’Malley.” He took my hand. “He himself went to your sister’s house to give her your message. At first she wouldn’t even open the door to him, until he gave her the password of ‘Tufts’. He told her you received her letter and that you and your sons were fine. Chandler said she broke down crying and thanked him over and over.”
I couldn’t talk. The tears streamed down my face. I reached out for him and held on tight.
“There’s one final message from her. Here’s the copy.” Jim handed me a sheet of paper.
“‘The fishing is getting better,’” I read aloud and laughed.