Shopping In the Storm

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room, one of the many fathers. Mother and one of the fathers went out shopping and had told her to stay where it was safe, she stayed there for hours, only leaving to use the toilet or to get a bite to eat, father’s and brothers kept watch. They watched for mother to come home, to bring the much-needed supplies, and most importantly what she needs, for she had become closer to becoming a woman this morning, and now was the time to learn from mother what that meant, but first she needed to get the supplies. The outside world was unknown to her, and she wondered if she would ever truly know what was beyond this household.

Coming here every once in while was a necessity, we needed supplies, and they were getting harder and harder to come by. We remember when it was so easy to get what you needed, such as food, clothes, medicine, hygiene products, but nowadays, you are lucky if you could even find two necessities. So, here we are, walking in this god forsaken storm, to come to this god forsaken store, to get, hopefully, the food, clothes, medicine, (the cold and flu season is coming up), and hygiene products, (good God, hope there is shampoo, and pads). Now we have come to the store, shit, there is a crowd in the front. We had hope that the storm had kept most people in doors, but what can you do, we need what we need, even though we noticed that not many people had come to shop, looks like all they came was to just talk and see people, they call the gathering, but back then it was called hanging out, when we had been young.

Now we go down each aisle now, picking up what food we know that we would like to eat, we pick the ones that we know would last the longest, no fresh food, there has not been any of that for years, farms haven’t been able to produce anything. Now just canned food from the factory, protein in a can, vegetables in a can, if we close our eyes, we can almost think it the real deal, oh joy!! Hint the sarcasm in our voice. Now to look for the medicine, cold and flu season is just around the bend, and if it hits one person in our household, then everyone gets it, (God, I miss the vaccines). Found some!!!! And good grade it is as well, right behind the pads, need those, we are only one female, we the rest are male. Yes, we have many husbands, one is with me. Now to the clothes, hopefully we find something that fits, or we get out the needle and thread, just like last time, (need to get more thread for that as well).

Now we have come to the check-out, must check our cart, did we get everything? Hopefully! And hopefully we can get what we need, need to have enough credits for this. We remember in the past when we spent money, could see it, feel it, and smell it. Could hear the jingle of coins, the crinkle of the bill, but now, it is just credits on a card. So, we get there, up front and hope that we have enough, just barely, yes! We remember when we did not have enough, had to leave more than half behind, had to pick what we needed the most, thank God we were able to save enough medicine to get us thorough, so did not need that at that time, but we need food, so bought the food, and nothing else. We made do with cloth pads this time, at least we always have enough water, must keep that secret.

Now time to go home. We hope that no one follows, if so, we are in trouble, (I remember when no one followed you home). Thank goodness, no one is following, the storm keeps them at bay. Walking and more walking, past closed shops, and broken homes, past a field, an overgrown field, where food grew, (wheat I think) and now we are home at last. Greeted and welcomed, the kids look alive, worried there for a moment, the husbands as well, damn it, (more sarcasm). We un-pack what we have bought, so far so good, the pads are only half full, the rest just cloth, oh boy but we will make do.

We looked out the window, and as the storm started to break, grey clouds covered the sky, as they had been for many years. They never part, never any sunshine, only a grey darkness in the day and pitch black in the night. We look for our daughter, our only one, she is in our room, safe and hidden, looking out the window. We show her what to do when her time comes at the end of each month. Time has passed too quickly; we remember when she was so young but now, she is getting older, and we wonder if we are doing right by her. If we have raised her well, and hope that she will be able to care for herself in this world.

She knew that she would know, for in a few years she would have to leave home. Mother and the one father that went with her, have come back, and they have brought the much-needed supplies. Soon mother will come to her and show her what to do, what it means to be a woman. And she does so, but with a look of sadness on her face, for soon, in a few years she will have to leave here, marry, and have children. She looks upon the household, her fathers, her mother, her brothers and wonders, when that time comes, will she ever see home again?