Twenty TwentyDana sat on the porch swing with the book in her hands. The light in the window behind her shed enough on the pages for her to read. She liked reading outside in the dark. No one ever disturbed her.
The gritty and crinkled pages tickled her fingers as she turned them. As she read, Dana soon realized why this book was considered contraband back home. It proposed ideas contrary to what President Klens would ever allow. Though she thought Patrick Henry a bit too inflammatory for her taste, Dana thought he had relevant ideas. Among them was the idea that individuals should not be ruled by any governing body.
Voices caught her attention. Looking up, she noticed torches in the distance drawing closer. Dana shut the book and put it aside. As the marching feet drew nearer, she stood up and leaned on the rail.
Dana stared out at the distance and the town that lay before her. The inflamed shouts of a group of people as they increasingly grew angry unnerved her. She had never seen a populace so angry over something they couldn’t even explain themselves. Spirals of smoke appeared. Light appeared as explosions took place. Dana watched the flashes of light appear.
Shapes moved down the road toward the house. Peering into the darkness, Dana realized that the people coming for them were not there on a friendly visit. She ran into the house.
“Sampson, we have company.”
Sampson and Minny stepped outside. He took one look at the crowd and ran back into the house, rummaging around until he came back with his gun. Quickly, Sampson checked it, making certain it was loaded.
“Back in the house, both of you,” said Sampson to Dana and Minny.
Reluctantly, the two women went back inside, turning off the lights. Dana stayed close to a window, watching everything.
As the sounds of marching feet drew nearer, an ominous feeling filled Dana. The expressions on the mob’s faces told her that nothing good would come from all of this. She watched as Kenny and Bert led them to Sampson’s front porch.
“What’s the meaning of all this?” demanded Sampson when they got within earshot.
“You know,” said Bert.
“No, I don’t.”
“We’ve come to right the injustices of this world,” said one within the crowd.
“What injustices are you referring to?” demanded Sampson, cocking his weapon.
“These people don’t have much,” said Kenny. “We’re here to give them their equal share.”
“Equal share of what?” Sampson’s voice had a sharp edge.
“You know full well what,” said Bert. “It’s not fair you having all this property and everything on it. It’s not right that you control all of it. Many of us here can barely feed ourselves and yet you live in plenty.”
“Have I not sold my crops at honest prices? Many times, one of you couldn’t afford to pay me, yet I gave it to you anyway.”
“Well, yeah, but it’s not right you having so much.”
“And who are you to decide that?” demanded Sampson. “This is my land. I have spent my life working it, and I’ll be damned if I give it up to your lot.”
“We just want what we are owed,” shouted one.
Sampson raised his gun. “Oh, I’ll give you that.”
“Look, Sampson,” said Kenny, “we don’t want any violence. We just want an equal share for everyone. We are all part of this community and we all depend upon your farm for food. Therefore, we all deserve a share of it. Together, we’ll make it richer.”
“Take your nonsense elsewhere. I’m not giving up what is rightfully mine.”
Before Dana knew what had happened, shots rang out as the mob stormed the house. Men piled on top of Sampson. Despite his strength and size, they quickly subdued him.
She and Minny raced for the back door. Before they reached it, people burst inside from all entry points. Minny grabbed Dana and tried to pull her to the cellar. They had barely gotten to it before hands seized them. Struggling, Dana kicked and screamed, trying to get free. Every move she made resulted in tighter grips onto her arms and legs.
Shrieking, she and Minny were dragged outside amidst the yells of the mob. Dana gasped as they dumped her on the ground next to Sampson, who had been tied. Minny ran to her husband, but others snatched her and tied her as well.
Unable to stop the madness, Dana hunkered on her hands and knees, watching as people looted the house. Delicate items crashed and smashed on the floor, sending shards everywhere. She listened as they stomped around the house and stampeded up the stairs. More banging and crashing ensued. Dana glanced up at Kenny, who watched the proceedings with Bert by his side. He refused to meet her gaze.
Hatred filled Dana as people ran out of the house, carrying valuables that did not belong to them. She couldn’t understand how things came to this in such a short period of time. Clanging and banging filled the air as people tossed items into the vehicle they had brought.
“To the fields,” shouted Bert.
Instantly, the mob ran off into the massive fields that Sampson had just planted. They yelled and screamed in their riotous state. Dana listened to their pounding feet as they took off.
Kenny finally glanced at her with a dispassionate look. He broke it immediately as Dana continued to glare at him. Within minutes, the lights of fires sprang up, covering the fields. She knew where the flames had originated, the underground orchards and grooves. The sound of the melee filled her ears. Despite the distance, they sounded as though they were right next door.
While those guarding them had their backs turned, Dana undid Minny’s wrists. Her fingers tugged at the taut rope, pulling it loose bit by bit. Relief filled her when it finally came undone.
Freed, Minny quickly unhooked Sampson’s ties, freeing both his ankles and wrists. Without waiting for the blood to flow back into his limbs, Sampson charged one of those next to them. He threw the man to the ground, wrenching his weapon from him. Swiftly, Sampson smacked the other with it.
He handed Dana a key. “Take the truck and get out of here.”
Dana looked at the key, not wanting to leave him alone. “What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
Dana started to go before whirling around. “Karl!” she said. “He’s too old to be able to handle them. What if they go to his place?”
“You and Minny go find Karl. Get him and bring him back here. We’ll meet by the barn, or what’s left of it once these idiots are through.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Minny, concerned.
“Save what I can of my property,” said Sampson.
“Be careful,” Minny kissed her husband.
“You too.”
They separated. Sampson ran into the field after the mob while Minny and Dana jumped into his truck.
The engine started immediately. Dana shoved it into gear and drove off down the dirt road to the town. She sped onward, not caring if the truck bounced and jostled them about. Smoke filled the sky from burning fires. Dana hoped that they made it to Karl’s in time, knowing that a man in his 70s would be ill-suited to defend himself against a mob.
A throng of people blocked the road into town. Quickly, Dana swerved to the left, hanging on tightly to the wheel as the back wheels left the ground before crashing back into it. Dust and rock flew everywhere as she turned and swerved to avoid hitting the people, but not wanting to stop. Another swerve to the right and Dana crashed through an abandoned building as she charged into town. Rioters darted about with Molotov cocktails and bandanas wrapped around their faces to prevent themselves from being identified.
One man dashed in front of her. Swiftly, Dana jerked the wheel, bringing the truck to a halt as she barely missed the man. He banged his fists on the side of the vehicle, shouting curses and insults. Dana shifted into first and took off.
With little concern for anyone else who might run in front of her, she slammed the accelerator and charged uphill to Karl’s place. Smoke made seeing difficult. Both Dana and Minny coughed as it seeped in through the vents.
Another crowd of rioters headed her way. Without hesitating, Dana did a 180 and plowed down a back road before turning back to Karl’s. Homemade explosive devices thundered around her as enraged men and women chucked them. Others ran around with their arms full of items that they had stolen.
Dana noticed that Betsy’s diner crumbled under the weight of the roaring flames that consumed it. She hoped the woman hadn’t been in there when it happened. People hauled out one of her stoves, carrying it down the road. Soon, they tossed it through a window of another business. The words “death to greed” were spray-painted on the sides of other buildings.
“Go this way,” said Minny pointing to the left.
Dana turned the truck. She dodged and swerved to avoid accidents as she followed Minny’s directions to Karl’s. Within 10 minutes, they had navigated their way through the streets. Dana slammed the brakes, coming to a screeching halt as she stopped in front of Karl’s house. The other houses around him were engulfed in flames.
Knowing there wasn’t much time, Dana burst out of the truck and raced up the walk to the front door. She pushed it open, not bothering to knock.
“Karl!”
No answer.
Dana looked around the messy house. “Karl!”
She ran from room to room. No sign of him. Even his work room was empty.
“Karl!”
Panic filled Dana as Karl continued to not answer. She hoped she wasn’t too late. The sounds of the mob drew closer.
“KARL!”
“Here!”
Dana ran upstairs to his bedroom. “Karl, come on, we need to leave.”
“I know. I know. But I got to find it.”
“Find what?” demanded Dana.
“It’s here somewhere,” said Karl as he rummaged around his room in vain.
“What are you looking for?”
“My wife’s journal. She kept one before she died.”
Shouts drew nearer. The building next door lit fire as people flung torches on it.
“Karl, we don’t have time.”
Dana snatched Karl’s arm and yanked him out of the room.
“No! Let me go!”
She refused his pleas. A window smashed as flaming rocks were hurled through it. Instantly, the place went up in flames with all of the scattered papers and books.
“There it is!”
Karl broke free of Dana and ran into the upstairs study. She chased after him. Just as she reached the man, he grabbed a small leather-bound book, clutching it tightly as though it were the most precious thing on earth.
The incessant honking of a horn fueled Dana’s movements. She seized Karl and threw him out of the study. Not wanting any more distractions, she clutched tightly to his arm as she dragged him down the stairs. Thick, black smoke filled the house as the fires spread. Coughing and choking, Dana managed to get Karl to the bottom of the stairs. Flames blocked the front door.
“Which way?” shouted Dana.
“This way.”
Karl darted through the kitchen. Dana followed. He stopped at a white pantry door. Carefully, Karl opened it, making certain that nothing lay behind. Dana peered into the dark interior.
“This is a closet,” she said.
“In!” Karl thrust her inside. Dana had expected to meet a wall, but instead, nothing was there to stop her. Karl shut the door behind them. He reached around her and pulled on a metal cord, flipping on a light.
“Follow me,”
Karl walked ahead of Dana, leading her through a small tunnel and down some stairs. When they reached the bottom, he jerked to the left.
“Help me with this,” he said.
Dana studied the metal door that blocked their way. Realizing that this was a basement of sorts, she figured that Karl must have built this in case he ever needed to make a fast getaway. She reached for the metal door while Karl pushed from the other side. Together, they popped the door out of its holding, moving it to the side. Air struck them as it rushed in.
Karl motioned for Dana to go through. She did with him close behind. Together, they ran through the opening and climbed a ladder coming out somewhere in his yard.
The chaotic noise of the mob alerted Dana to their presence. She hauled Karl out of the hole. Hanging onto him, Dana ran as fast as she could without losing the old man. They charged for the street.
Dana halted when she reached the road. Where was the truck? Looking all around, she searched for Sampson’s truck, but found no sign of it. A blaring horn caught her attention. The roaring of an engine drew closer as the truck pulled up and screeched to a stop.
“Get in,” said Minny.
Dana opened the door and shoved Karl inside. She jumped in the truck bed, pounding on the window for Minny to go. They sped off. Expertly, Minny wormed her way through the mob and away from Karl’s house, which now burned brightly. Some of the rioters pelted the truck with rocks. Dana covered her head as a few pebbles stung her skin.
The truck turned and careened down a hill before leveling out. Cold air brushed the top of Dana’s head, causing her to shiver slightly. Hanging on tightly, she tried to ignore the cold as she watched the rioters destroy everything they found.
Graffiti dotted what used to be nice looking real estate. “Give us what we’re owed,” said one. On another building, the words “we have rights too” stood out in vivid green paint.
Anger filled Dana. She thought she had left all that behind and found a place where she could live as she chose. Now all that had been ripped away by a man who was so shortsighted, he never thought beyond his own needs.
As they hit one of the main roads heading out of town, Dana noticed the stables for the first time that night. Its doors hung on their hinges as holes dotted one of the walls. Debris lay everywhere.
“Poboy!” Dana jumped out of the truck, thinking only of her horse, her friend.
Minny slammed the brakes. “Dana!”
Dana ignored Minny’s shouts, her thoughts rested only with Poboy. She ran through the mangled road and the junk that now filled it. Desperate to reach her horse, Dana shoved her way through a crowd. She pushed and prodded people, forcing them out of her way. Few paid her any heed. Thinking she was one of them, one man handed her a Molotov cocktail. Dana chucked it at another mob that approached. Quickly, she heaved her way past everyone until she burst through the other side.
Freed from the mass of people, Dana sprinted for the stables. Mr. Callors was nowhere to be found, but Dana didn’t care. Poboy. She smacked into one of the hanging doors as she ran into the stables. Hay lay everywhere, mixed with feed that had been dumped. Manure lined the walls, as some thought it funny to chuck it at them.
Dana ran for Poboy’s stall. Tears streamed down her cheeks when she reached it. Inside laid the young horse in a pool of blood. Someone had slashed its throat with a knife and wrote the words “wealth and greed killed the whores” on the wall behind him. Slowly, Dana entered Poboy’s stall. She knelt down, reaching out with a shaking hand to touch him. 
All sounds from the riots faded. Only her horse’s demise mattered to her.
The still soft fur of Poboy stunned Dana as she stroked him. She sat beside him, putting his head in her lap and ignoring the blood that dripped onto her pants. Carefully, Dana petted her friend. She knew he was dead, but she didn’t want to accept it.
“I’m here, boy,” she whispered. “I’m here.”
Poboy’s vacant eyes stared back at her. Gently, Dana brushed her hand over them, closing them. “You’re just sleeping. Only sleeping.”
Common sense told her this was a waste of time, but Dana’s grief refused to release her. Poboy was her horse. She bought him, cared for him, and visited him each day. He had become her friend. Now he lay dead, killed by a bunch of thugs who thought the world owed them what they coveted. Poboy was innocent, yet he paid the ultimate price.
Crying, Dana refused to leave. She never heard the steps that approached her.
“I’m sorry,” said Kenny as he looked at Dana cradling Poboy.
Sniffling, Dana looked into Kenny’s eyes. “No you’re not. You don’t know the meaning of the word.”
“Dana, I never expected this to happen.”
“Well, what did you expect as you worked people up into a fit of anger?” Dana continued stroking Poboy’s mane as though the horse might come back to life.
“I just wanted everyone to be equal.”
Dana laughed. “You don’t even know what that means.”
More footsteps approached. Minny and Karl walked in, searching for Dana. They saw Dana cradling Poboy and knew not to rush her. Minny’s eyes turned to Kenny, focusing on him with a venomous stare.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I just wanted to apologize,” said Kenny.
Minny picked up a nearby shovel. “Boy, you got five seconds to get out of here before I beat you into your grave with this shovel.”
Kenny glanced at Dana. “Dana—”
“Leave me alone,” hissed Dana.
Despite the sorrow that filled Kenny’s eyes, Dana only felt hatred toward him. He turned and left.
“Dana, we need to go.” Karl lifted Dana by the arm.
“I can’t leave him,” said Dana.
“We need to leave. There’s nothing you can do for him now.” Delicately, Karl hauled Dana to her feet, forcing her to leave the stable. Minny followed close behind with the shovel in her hands, wary of anyone else that might chance upon them.
They reached the parked truck, which had remained untouched. Gently, Karl put Dana into the cab and sat beside her. Minny dumped the shovel in the back and got in the driver’s seat. She rammed it into gear and pulled away. Ignoring the mob, Minny steered the truck onto the dirt road and back to what remained of her home.
Dana remained silent the entire way. She stared blankly out the window, her eyes had gone dry. “Why Poboy?” she kept asking herself. She had never expected to love a horse so much, but her now broken heart just wanted to be left alone. Neither Karl, nor Minny spoke to her. They both knew that words meant nothing right then.
Minny paused when they reached the house. Only scorched remains were left. A few smoldering embers glowed, but the house was gone. “Forty years I’ve lived in this place,” said Minny, “Sampson and I rebuilt the house many times after storms and floods, only to have it ripped away by a bunch of animals.”
“My wife and I lived in my house for 50 years. We were married in that place,” said Karl.
“I’m sorry,” said Minny.
“What happened to her?” asked Dana, finally breaking her silence.
“One day, she said she didn’t feel well. The next day, I buried her.”
Dana looked into Karl’s eyes. She saw the pain that was still there, even after the years that had passed since. “I’m sorry.”
“No worries,” said Karl. “I’ve had time to get over it.”
“Does the pain ever stop?” asked Dana.
“In time, honey,” said Minny. “In time.”
Minny put her foot on the accelerator and headed for the barn. Sampson stood outside waiting for them.
“Those fools destroyed everything,” said Sampson. “Apples and oranges are lying all over the place. They even chopped down the trees. And as though that weren’t enough, they destroyed the climate controls and set them all on fire.”
“Isn’t much left of the house either,” said Minny.
“I want you three to search through what’s left of the house and this barn and salvage what you can. Only what we need though,” said Sampson, “I’m going to go back to the fields and save what I can. Hopefully, I can gather enough to last us for the trip.”
“Trip?” asked Karl.
“I’m not staying here,” said Sampson. “If those idiots want my land, then they can have it and the mess they’ve made of it.”
“Where will we go?” asked Minny.
Sampson put his hat back on. “I don’t know.”
He and Minny switched places, while Dana and Karl hopped out of the truck. Within seconds, Sampson had gone to salvage what was left of his life’s work.
Minny’s hands wrapped around Dana’s shoulders. “Come on,” she said, gently. “There isn’t much time and we have a lot to do.”
Dana plopped the last bag into the back of the truck. The others waited for her in the cab. Though a tight fit, they managed to squeeze four people in there.
Kenny had followed Dana to the farm, hoping to convince her to stay.
“I have nothing to say to you,” said Dana before he could speak.
“Dana, I never meant for any of this to happen. But sometimes, bad things happen for the better.”
Dana glared at Kenny. “What do you want?”
“I’ve come to ask you to stay.”
Dana laughed.
“Dana, please. 
I do care about you. I want you to stay here. Together, we can lead this place to a better life. We can—”
“No.”
“What?”
“No,” said Dana. “I’m not staying. I don’t care what you want, Kenny. I no longer care about what you’re thinking. You wanted to turn things upside down for your own ends and you succeeded. I hope you are happy with what you’ve achieved.”
Dana got into the truck.
“Dana, please—”
She slammed the door as Sampson started the engine. “This is your new world, Kenny. You live in it.”
Wheels crunched on the gravel as the truck sped off in the morning sunlight, leaving Kenny alone with his accomplishments.