Fiction logo

Another Sunny Day in San Diego

Waves, Guitars and Heart Shaped Lockets

By Nancie BrownPublished 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago 9 min read
1
Two Doodlebugs :Chelsea and Austin

Cecilia was flying down Garnet on her neon blue 5 speed beach cruiser. Her loyal companion was riding shotgun in the wire basket in the back.  "Almost there Doodlebug."

8ish am. Her favorite time of day to enjoy an uncrowded beach. Sprinting down the steep wooden stairs, she observed the posted notice half way down.  Tsunami warning. In P.B? WTF! Escape Route to Mount Soledad.

She walked down the last steps, shaking her head in disbelief and talking to herself, "Got to be a college prank." Cecilia stretched for a minute and then jogged towards the water with the playful black and white Labradoodle dog at her side. She continued North splashing through the surf and stopped 100 yards into her morning run. "Hold up Doodlebug. I got to Google that shit right now!" She grabbed the phone from her fanny pack and asked her Australian Suri counterpart, "Hey Brad. Tsunami post in Pacific Beach?"  

"According to the California Coastal Safety Network, Tsunami warnings have been posted in San Diego County as of May 28, 2028 that include high ground emergency routes for the communities that are threatened."  

"What is the basis of  the Tsunami threat to San Diego communities?"

"According to CCSN, tectonic activity in the Northern Pacific Ring of Fire has escalated significantly in the last 5 days. It is expected to continue rising in magnitude.   As of  this morning , a full scale evacuation by all US military installations in Hawaii  is underway on the Big Island.  There are concerns of the Mt. Kilauea caldera collapsing. This event would trigger violent earthquakes and after shocks causing extensive damage to the entire chain of Hawaiian Islands and would generate life threatening Tsunamis that would decimate San Diego County Coastal Communities.

" Shit! My kid and his family are in Maui."

 "News on the evacuation in Hawaii? "

"A mandatory evacuation has begun in the Eastern Coastal and Northern Communities of Hawaii.  The US military is evacuating civilians in Hilo Bay and Kawaiha.  Death clouds of hydrochloric acid, steam, and shards of glass particles are forming on the coast from lava runoff into the Pacific.  These clouds are extremely dangerous and will compromise epidermis and lungs.  Fatalities reported in the area.

"Live local news coverage in Hawaii on the military's evacuation operation?"

"This is Stephanie Brighton KABC Hawaii going live with Cooper Wright on the Big Island.  Cooper,  give us details on the evacuation please."

"Stephanie, in progress and those monsters are the reason for the evacuation." The video was shocking. The caption read : Towering toxic clouds blowing onshore in Hawaii.

The camera panned 180 degrees. Jeeps, transport trucks, and ambulances bombarded the congested street with cars backed up for miles. Soldiers knocked on windows and extracted their occupants. Gas masks were distributed, and soldiers with swift hand gestures instructed how to use them.

 "Wow!" Cecilia gasped, "This is serious. Have to talk to my son," but she couldn't stop watching the real life drama unfold.

The camera panned back to a toddler lying on the asphalt. The EMTs were performing CPR.  You could hear the Mom screaming. The camera repositioned, the mom was being physically restrained by a soldier. Visibly distraught, the mother was pounding on him with her fists, desparately struggling to break free.  The camera spun right, the EMTs stood up, one returned to the ambulance and grabbed a white sheet. The soldier let her go, now inconsolable, the mother gathered up her little girl in her arms for the last time sobbing violently and unabashed.  

Cecilia wiped a tear from her face, "My God," was all she could manage as she walked back to the stairs.

A big gloved hand moved towards the lens blocking further filming of the unfolding disaster. " Sir? This Highway and surrounding area is now under the jurisdiction of the US Marine Corp. Press is no longer permitted to film or give commentary on our rescue efforts. Escalation of  public alarm by any means is a national disaster concern and will be  considered an act of treason."

"They give you a pay raise to memorize that speech soldier?" Cooper stared down the officer.

"No Sir, but they gave me a military issued firearm to enforce it.  Shut it down NOW before I put a bullet through the lens."  

"Cooper, are they talking to you?"  Stephanie is on screen now that the lens went completely black,  but the audio is still very audible. Stephanie takes over for a minute, "We've lost live video in the studio, but we will stay on with audio until we lose that as well."

"OK, OK. Understood. What about free speech?"  

"There are no 1st amendment rights under martial law." Cooper put his mic down and his lensman pulled the camera off his shoulder He walked up to where Cooper and Marine were butting heads.

"I appreciate your cooperation, " the soldier was ignoring Coop and addressing the cameraman.

 "No problem officer." He extended his hand, "Army vet. I know what, "by whatever means necessary" is about."

 The soldier smiled and leaned into the newsmen. You could hear him whisper, slow and deliberate, "Gentlemen, Get the hell out while you can," then, obviously irritated, "Hey?  Is that thing on? "

 "No, the red light is on cause he's rewinding," Cooper lied.

 "Listen. They are pulling the plug  on this operation very soon. You don't have much time. Two, maybe three hours at most. "

 "Are you sure? How are you going to load half an island in that short time?"

"Our orders are to be on deck by 1300 hours and bring as many as we can. Rescue abort is 1400 hours and that will be cutting it close to avoid toxins. And we're running out of masks. You and your crew should get in the that 2nd jeep."

You could hear footsteps walking away and Cooper whispering, "Hey are we still rolling audio?"

The camera man smiled, "What do  you think?"

"I think you deserve an Emmy and a raise. Let's get on the ship and get more footage."

"No Coop. Take the camera. My family is at the hotel. I'm not leaving without them." He was already in the news van. Screeching tires, Cooper cussing and a soldier shouting ,"Nice try news guy. My SSgt just informed me that live video doesn't rewind.  Drop that camera before I drop you." Three very loud gun shots made the studio team jump.

Stephanie's co anchor looked at her, "I hope he dropped it."

"I hope they let him board the ship. ABC with live coverage on the evacuation of the Big Island of Hawaii.  Let's go to our eye in the sky and look at that volcano. "

"Brad dial Austin's cell."

Voicemail. Cecilia called Chelsea. 

"Hi Mom. How was the beach?"

" Have you heard from your brother today?"

"Maybe."

"Seriously Chels, Do you know what's going on in Hawaii? I'm in no mood. If you hear from Austin call me."

"Hold on."

"No, No, Chels! Listen to me. Please!"

"Mom? Austin's voice teased her, "Are you hysterical?"

"No."

"Are you crying?"

"Yes.  Are Kim and the kids with you? Good. Be there in ten."

 Cecilia's frantic pedaling was a jam of Tour De France cyclist and off road BMX maniac. She dumped her bike on the porch and swung open the screen door, flushed and gasping for air.  

"Damn! Mom, you look like you are about to stroke," Austin really was a little concerned." "Hey Doodles!"

"Grandma!!"

"Babies!" Not only were the twins scrumptiously cute, they were the perfect age to begin spoiling. She couldn't wait to get started, but she had business to take care of first. "Babies I must talk to Mommy and Daddy and Auntie Chelsea for a minute then we'll go to the park with Doodlebug. Ok?"

"Yeah!!!"

"Hi Mom. Let me find a kids' show real quick to keep them busy."

"You guys got a gig?"

"We don't even have instruments with us.  All we were allowed to take was a small suitcase each.  Austin loaded his master tapes and mine has all the family photos.  We don't even have a change of clothes," Kim sighed.  

"What did you pack in the kids' suitcases?"

"A bedding dress and stuff."

"Mine has Daddy's notebooks."

"Songs," Sophie giggled, "and I have a wedding dress that Mommy wore when she married Daddy. It's for me."

"Kim. God Bless You."

They huddled around the dinette.  Cecilia started the conversation. "How long before you figured out you had to get out of town?"

"A hot minute. I wasn't taking any chances with my family. I shipped my guitars yesterday.  Shipped our clothes too, so we should have something to wear soon."

"Well I don't know if you'll be able to pick that up."

"Hell if I don't" 

"This is what I wanted to talk to you all about. We can't stay here. We have to leave. PB isn't safe."

"Yes it is. Are you having conspiracy theory issues again? There's medication you can take for that."

"Austin give her a chance," Chelsea shot him a look, "Mom what's up?"

"There are Tsunami warning posts all along our beach, all along our coast. We don't live on high ground and we are less than a mile from the water.  You didn't bring your family across the ocean to drown on the mainland, did you Son?"

"That's pretty dramatic."

"Austin," Kim spoke up, "That doesn't sound far-fetched to me.  The ocean quakes are real.  Ocean quakes create Tsunamis.  Look what finally happened to Washington State and Oregon last month when that plate shifted. Hundreds of thousands were killed. I may have read in Stargazer that Montana has a beach now."

"Guys, We have to buy food and water for the road. Rent a motorhome. Get camping gear. Go to the pawn shop, buy guns. Buy bullets.  Bank, withdraw as much cash as you can. Then we leave with Mark and his family bringing up the rear tomorrow."

"Dig camping. Tomorrow is crazy talk."

"Not crazy, besides it's a great excuse to camp in the Colorado Rockies with you kids again.  We'll meet up at Mark's house in Clairemont.  Agreed?"  

"No. I can't leave town without my packages."  

"Austin, I don't think your Godfather will wait. "

"Well Mom, I don't think Uncle Mark realizes whose guitars I collected besides my own. Do you think that Elvis, Hendricks, Lennon, Page, Petty, would want their instruments at the bottom of the sea?"

"You have all those?"

"Just to name a few."

Kim rolled her eyes," Mom, of the twenty boxes we shipped, only two contain wardrobe. He wasn't going to leave until the guitars were on their way. It was ridiculous."

"It was mandatory Kim.  I've been in relationships with most of those guitars longer than I've been with you."  

"IKR, makes a woman wonder, not who, but what, matters most to you, Daddy."

"I love you . Show Mom your anniversary present."

That made her smile. "OK" She pointed to the beautiful heart-shaped locket she was wearing. The proud mommy showed off the twin's photos inside. The tow heads were wrapped in bright yellow marigolds. Grandma remembered that Easter and the family visit fondly. What a stark difference to their journey here now.

"That's one of my favorite photos." she smiled.

"And Kim's favorite flowers."

"How can I stay mad at this romantic husband of mine? "Kim was thinking about that springtime day and how Austin went to the flower shop to have those angelic wreathes made with her favorite marigolds and dainty forget me nots. She gave Austin a sweet kiss. "Daddy I forgive you."

"Great! Everybody Happy. Let's get a move on!".

Short Story
1

About the Creator

Nancie Brown

vocal.media/poets/bio-in-poetry

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.