http://www.writerq.com/mobile/SonaeSun/ Latest updates from Sonae C Geiger http://www.writerq.com/mobile/library/713/commoners-jar/ Jodan heard the crackling of a handheld radio before he ever saw Jack as he appeared next to Jodan and his sister Lory. “Hello there son, is your father coming?” Jack dripped the words like a snake hissing. “I told you already Mr. Spiegler that my father is unable to be here.” Jodan responded quickly. He added the Mister at the beginning of Jack’s name to distract him from asking any more questions. It worked. Jack puffed out his chest as Jodan called him Mr. Spiegler. Jack must not hear that very often in his line of work.
Lory nudged Jodan in his side. Her long brown hair was falling out of the cap wore. She readjusted her cap and gave Jodan the look. He knew she was anxious to make the trade. “Fourteen days of food for a family of four in exchange for two glass jars right?” Jodan asked. “Well now, you see…” the words slid out of Jacks mouth. “We’ll get food somewhere else” demanded Lory “Jars are almost extinct, ever since the Bomb hit the Capital. With the states asking citizens to donate all their jars for the good of the country, you can’t buy a glass jar anywhere!” Lory added emphasis to the word anywhere. She may be the younger sibling but she was a wiz when it came to finances. She had a way of making people feel like they were getting their way even when they didn’t. “Imagine what those jars will get you Mr. Spiegler.” She added softly. Jodan started to gather their backpacks and act as if the deal was over. He could see Jack was thinking about the trade and whether he could give them less than he promised.
“OK, OK now. I think two months of food for two glass jars is a fair price.” Jack whistled and a small boy with dirty hair and torn clothes came from behind the trees. He was dragging a cart with canned foods behind him. Jodan wondered how long the boy had been there without making any noise. “Where’s my pretties girl?” Jacked eyed the cloth package Lory cradled like a baby. Jodan counted and examined the canned foods while Lory put the package on the ground carefully. She unwrapped the cloth to expose two applesauce jars with their lids. She handed them one at a time to Jack. Jack held them up in the sunlight like a proud new papa holds his new baby.
The small boy helped Jodan put the cans in his empty packs. “What’s your name?” Lory asked the boy. Jack shoved the boy towards the trees and grabbed the wagon himself. They were gone just as quickly as they had appeared.
It had only been two months ago that terrorists had bombed ten major cities in the nation. They heard that the bombs had taken out all the major communications, transportation and electricity.
Jodan and Lory put the packs on their backs and snuck back into the camouflaged hiding spot only a few feet away. They waited for half an hour in total silence. Just as they were getting ready to leave, they heard Jack “Boy, I told you to watch where they went. Now you’re gonna get no supper”. If things were different, Lory would have grabbed the boy and taken him home. Mom would have seen to it that the right authorities were notified. Things were different but in a bad way. Rubbing her eyebrows, she relaxed a little.
“Let’s split up boy and see if we can get those cans back” Jack said to the boy as they passed over the stream just beyond the hiding spot. The voices disappeared and Jodan stepped out of the hiding spot first. Jodan signaled for Lory to follow him through the trees, back the way they came. It took an hour to go a mile as they were constantly watching their surroundings.
“Whew, that was close” said Lory as they entered The Ark. “Who knew we would really need an emergency underground bus system one day” said Jodan. Some of the vines that covered the trap door crept into the opening as Jodan closed it. “Put these cans in the pantry Lory and then we’ll talk about what just happened” said Jodan. “Why do I have to put them away? You do it Jodan.” Said Lory. “I’m asking you to put them away, not telling you. Besides, I’ve got to go get the maps from Command Central.” Said Jodan “I don’t know why you won’t just call it Dad’s study.” Said Lory as she picked up one of the packs and headed for the pantry.
“We need to find another trading spot” Said Jodan as he stared at Dad’s land map of the area. Lory began to clean some of her jars for the next trade. “I remember this jar, Dad gave me marbles for my birthday in this one” Said Lory as she gently rubbed the spotless jar. “Dad really understood my excitement of every jar I saved” said Lory. Jodan interrupted her “Stop acting like Dad is dead. We don’t know if Dad and Mom are alive or not. Just because they can’t contact us doesn’t mean they’re dead. Jodan stared at the map, “Dad marked all the great hiding places on the map with a triangle and the tree houses with a ladder. I think we need to scope out the tree houses and make sure they are still covered by branches. Let’s eat.]]> http://www.writerq.com/mobile/library/713/commoners-jar/ Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:37:44 +0000 Sonae C Geiger