Chris Purdom
Stories (8/0)
The Pear Tree
I sat on the fence separating the cows from Henry the bull. Henry had finally come to tolerate me after many months. It was a quiet, early spring evening. The past few months seem unreal. My partner, John, passed away after falling through the frozen lake over the winter. It was just a couple of weeks ago that the lake finally melted and we could recover his body and bury him at the old barn. I had moved in with Joanne after John perished. The move really disturbed Henry at the beginning. Joanne and I were living as a couple, married by Pete and witnessed by Alice. After John’s death, I inherited the entirety of the gold we found. I was technically one of the richest people on earth but couldn’t spend much of it or we’d attract marauders and thieves. Joanne and I did move a sizable amount to our island from the old barn. Alice, Pete, myself and Joanne wouldn’t have to worry about supplies. Our baby, Joanne is expecting in May, would never have to live the life I did. He…or she, scary thought. What if it is a daughter? How would I even handle that? I can’t do this! I can’t do it….what am I talking about? I have to do it. Joanne is going to need me to help her and our child. What was I thinking about? Oh yeah, our child would never have to live like we lived and would be secure from those that would attempt to enslave or participate in involuntary inscription by the survivalists and warlords. I had made some purchases with the gold to help protect our little community. An army of automated security robots protected us now. I still had my mech suit if I was needed in a fight but those robots would give us a fighting chance and early warning. Ok, I need to stop thinking about this. I’m getting too much in my head. Henry is helping. For some reason he is banging on the fence again. “What’s your problem big guy? You worried about Joanne? Don’t worry too much. Just realize that there is going to be another human in your area and your mistress is going to be spending a lot of time with them. We’re going to need you to help protect all of us and I guarantee we’ll let you have fun with a cow or two. Do you like that?” I’m talking to a bull like he’s a human. I am losing it. As a cow walked by, Henry started pawing the ground and snorting. “Ah, you want to play with her do you? Well, I’ll ask Joanne and maybe tomorrow you can play.” The sun was going down over the mountains giving the entire valley a golden glow. The pear tree we planted was flowering and was especially beautiful as the golden rays lit up each petal. They say pear trees are good omens. If it is true, this tree is being spectacular.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
The Green Flash
I rowed back across the strait from Joanne’s Island and thankfully further away from her guard bull, Henry. However, I wasn’t leaving for a better conversation. John is going to be extremely upset that I’ve been lying to him just so I could go see Joanne. Hopefully, he’ll understand.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
Henry
Since our meeting, I had become infatuated with Joanne. I wanted to meet her again but not with the whole community watching our every move. She lived on the island and I would have to go there without raising any suspicion. How could I get away from John and then get to the island? I was a strong swimmer but I’d rather not jump into an unknown lake. I started making excuses to be able to search around for a boat or other watercraft. Paydirt! An old home near the lake had a kayak. It had a cover and had been housed in a garage that helped protect it from the weather. Now all I had to do was drag it to the lake and see if it still floated. As I approached the edge of the lake, I realized how little cover there was on the beach and on the lake to the island. I was going to have to make his attempt during darkness. I flipped the kayak into the water. It bobbed around from the waves and its own splash. After ten minutes, the kayak had settled and was just gently rocking from the waves. Next step, will it still hold with me in it? I pulled the kayak to the shore just enough so that when I got in, if it did sink, it would only be a couple of feet of water to contend with. Ok, one foot in the kayak and one in the water…time for the leap of faith. I pulled myself up and wriggled into the kayak. I was expecting to suddenly feel water around my feet, soaking my clothes…no, all dry. I grabbed the paddle and pushed a little bit from the shore. Still afloat. This gave my confidence a boost. I paddled along the shore to get the hang of controlling it. A couple of times I made myself dizzy as I couldn’t figure out how to stop turning. A little longer and I was able to move in a straight line, turn and return to my starting point. I felt that I could make the trip with this boat. I pulled the boat up on the shore and hid it under some branches. Not the best hiding spot but no one should really be looking down here anyway. I looked at my watch…Damn! No one is going to believe I was scouting the area for this long. John is going to be even more suspicious.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
Golden Summer
It was noon on Friday. John and Mike sat at Pete’s table with Pete. Alice was waiting by the door expectantly. She was giddy as a child about to open a present. Pete was making small talk when the bell on the door rang out across the room. All conversation stopped as a woman in her thirties entered the restaurant. She had golden hair, crystal clear blue eyes, and a svelte figure. She was wearing a hunter’s outfit that was all green except for the one bit of color. On her right breast pocket was a marigold flower. Mike was entranced by her. Pete reached over the table and with his index finger closed Mike’s gaping mouth. “Mike, keep your composure.” John remarked. Mike shook his head to break the reverie as Alice was nearly skipping beside Joanne as the two women approached the table.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
The Package
It had been a couple of days since John and Mike enjoyed their first piece of chocolate cake. They decided to lay low even from the couple they had met. They had made some improvements to the old barn including repairing the walls and doors. No one could see the inside when the barn was fully buttoned up. However, the new repairs would show that someone was living there. They went over to the old Pickford mansion for supplies. They found a generator that needed some work and best of all a grill and a wood fired stove. They could cook their food properly and stay warm in the cool mountain air. Since they had managed to secure the barn, they no longer pulled watches. The doors were lockable from the inside, secured with double timbers and some bells they found in the house to make noise if someone should try to breach the doors. They were both able to sleep at the same time which suited John better. As they both got into their military sleeping cocoons, Mike piped up, “John, we should work on the perimeter defense tomorrow. If nothing else, it would help keep the animals away from the barn.”
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
Chocolate Gold
Mike and John headed out to survey their surroundings. There were a lot of trees! This was good and bad news for the former soldiers. Trees helped cover and conceal their position but also aided any foes in the same manner. As they trekked down the mountain, they looked for any signs someone may have left on the way to the old barn. They knew they would be discovered sooner or later and with the commotion of the boar, it would probably be sooner. They came across old homes that nature had reclaimed. Strong tree grew through the middle of houses, grass, moss, and other plants covered conveyances and what were once roads.. The men could see the lake and a small island off the shore. They also saw smoke coming from the island. Someone was there. The scent of food came to them but not from the island. The men used their noses to determine the location and saw more smoke on their side. John thought it was odd that people were not hiding their location or even more bizarrely, seemingly signaling their location. They didn’t have a boat to get to the island, so they decided to head for the column of smoke closest to them. They came across an odd structure on a lea that had obviously been a road. The sign read Old Ice House Pizzeria & Bakery. “What’s a pizzeria John?” asked Mike.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
The Old Barn
John stared in disbelief at the sight before him. He had traveled thousands of miles, deserted his command, persuaded his friend to desert also and THIS was before him? He fingered the locket and thought have I been conned? Has whatever the lovers had here long ago disappeared? He held the locket up and reread the inscription, “Our love is as pure as gold, may we never part for long. Our treasure is always ourselves: 48.2477N, 116.3071W.” That had to mean more than a mushy love sentiment. As he was staring at the dilapidated barn, he began to feel sick. He was startled out of his vexing thoughts by a slap on his shoulder and a loud, positive cry of joy.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction
The Symbol
No one knew exactly why this war was started or when it would end. It’s been going on for over a century. The countries that started the war no longer existed and what’s left are warlords and survivalists. The warlords used weaponry and food as a means of power. The survivalist used any means they could find to protect themselves including animals, scavenged weapons, and harsh locations. The best survivalists had compounds that no warlord could break through or siege. Both sets used piracy.
By Chris Purdom3 years ago in Fiction