He sat there alone at the edge of the cave.
He could only look in the distance.
"Why me?"
"I'm just a kid."
"We need some sort of help… any help at all."
"Please… Ms. Delaney… come back."
Many different things ran through his head. He was uncertain of what would happen. All that Jason Grant knew, all that he had ever learned, would be put to the test. He continued to look into the distance. It would be a long night.
"Now kids, remember, these caverns are home to some of the oldest rocks known to man. Be very mindful to what our tour guides tell us today. Also, remember everything we talked about in class. This is a fieldtrip, and it is supposed to be fun, but it is mainly supposed to help you fuel your knowledge."
Carrie Delaney was a young, beautiful fourth grade teacher at Early Dawn Elementary School. She was a fun, engaging teacher that gave her students more than they could ask for. When students wanted to hear about history, Ms. Delaney was sure to tell them exciting stories of America's hey-days in World War II. If the students wanted to read about interesting literature, Ms. Delaney was always on her toes giving them classics like Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer (and, if she felt the time was right, she'd let some of the students sneak in time for Grognak the Barbarian). If the students wanted to learn about the earth and rocks, she'd schedule a fieldtrip, much like the one today, so students could learn about caverns and how they came to be.
Riding on a bus full of at least forty kids, Ms. Delaney sat at the front trying to quiet down all the excited kids. She knew she'd have her hands full, but she was excited for the young fourth graders to learn about the caverns that were held within the D.C. area. "Alright students, we are about to arrive. Remember to stay close together and always do what any adult tells you. We have nearly half the school here today, so please be mindful of others paying attention on the tour. This is just as much a trip for them as it is for you all."
The fourth grade class was running wild as the bus came to a halt. "Slow down, kids," Ms. Delaney said. She could feel their excitement. A wide smile grew upon her face as she watched the kids getting off the bus. Ms. Delaney kept the group together, and as the last kids got off, she followed right behind.
As she got off, she saw the next load of students getting off of another bus. "Alright everyone, keep together and be mindful of other guest. We won't be the only people here, you know." Mr. Pollack was the school's third grade teacher. Though very serious about giving his students a solid education, Mr. Pollack was a kind man who students enjoyed. He many not have been considered "fun," but Mr. Pollack was surely favored by the students for being such a great teacher.
"Well Mr. Pollack… these students sure do seem eager to see the cavern."
With a smirk, Mr. Pollack responded, "Why wouldn't they be? Lamplight is such a wonderful spot. I remember when I was their age. I came here with my parents every year for nearly 10 years. I think I was around 19 or 20 when I stopped coming."
"What was it like?"
"Oh, about the same. It really made me appreciate the world… something so hard to do nowadays."
"You are not kidding. I've heard reports about possible airstrikes around the globe. Have you heard that?"
"Yes. Apparently China, Russia, and the US have discussed some… "falling out" plans. It's a shame. I really hope these kids get to see a brighter future."
"As do I Mr. Pollack… as do I."
As the day went on, all eighty-two students and their chaperones explored the caves of Lamplight. Wonderful sights were seen and all of the students were engaged. Even the worst of the kids cooperated and had a good time.
A young student, Jason Grant, was very curious to learn about the caverns. He wanted to know every bit of detail that he could. "When was this cavern founded?"
"Lamplight Caverns was founded in the late 1800s. It was later turned into a tourist attraction by the 1920s," the tour guide was just as happy. He never had a group as attentive and involved as these students. "And remember… if you like what you've seen today, stop at the souvenir shop. You can take home your own rock chipped from right here within the cavern." The students' oh's and ah's made the tour guide very pleased.
"Well kids, thank the nice tour guide for showing us around this wonderful cave," said Ms. Delaney as she settled the group down. "The buses will be arriving shortly, so let's hurry to the souvenir shop and get what we want quickly."
"Yes students," Mr. Pollack chimed in, "we don't want to be late. Make your purchases, thank the workers, and be sure to…"
A steady rumble settled over the cavern. The entire cave then began to shake violently. The lights continued to flicker on and then off until finally they cut out. The kids, all very panicked, screamed for their lives. No one knew what exactly was going on. In a hurry, Mr. Pollack raced to the entrance of the caves.
"Sir," said another tour guide, "sir, where are you…"
"I need to see what is going on."
"But sir, don't you want to…"
Mr. Pollack was already out of the front door. What was once a bright day was now a mucky gray colored day. Mr. Pollack looked out into the distance and gasped. He slowly walked back into the cavern. As if he had seen a ghost, Mr. Pollack walked slower and slower towards the students and chaperones with a blank stare.
"What is wrong?" asked a tour guide.
"What… what has happened?" asked another.
Mr. Pollack did not answer. He got in the middle of a crowd of students. He remained quiet.
"Mr. Pollack… are you alright?" asked Ms. Delaney.
"Clouds… Mushroom clouds… all over the sky…"
"Mr. Pollack, you don't think…"
"No… I don't think… I know. There are mushroom clouds all over the D.C. area. They have struck. The war has begun."
"Kids… please keep quiet while we try and figure out what to do." Mr. Cob, unlike Ms. Delaney and Mr. Pollack, was not quite as nice. His stern approach to teaching made him essentially the worst teacher in the students' opinions. Even his own son, Charlie, would agree his father was way too mean of a teacher. For Mr. Cob to say "please" meant that this situation was dire. Mr. Cob, much like Mr. Pollack, seemed disturbingly worried. He was frantic, going back and forth whispering to his wife Claudia, one of the other adults chaperoning. The students finally knew he was terrified and serious when he blurted, "…because we are finished, Claudia! There is no more America! This is it!"
"Shush Damian… you're scaring the children," Claudia whispered.
"I… I'm sorry students… please relax and stay calm. Everything will be alright."
The kids watched as the adults went back and forth, both talking and frantically worrying. Occasionally, the staff at the cavern came up asking the group if they needed anything. Though staff numbers were limited being that it was the afternoon, four staff members were trapped inside the cavern with the elementary school. Much like everyone, the staff, too, was terrified. With seemingly no connection to the outside world, the group knew they were trapped inside Lamplight Caverns. These similar actions continued for a few days.
By the next day, the group had water and enough food to last about five days. Stressed from all of the action, Ms. Delaney escaped to a secluded area. No one noticed Ms. Delaney slip by, so she was able to get a few minutes of privacy as she went to the side of the cave. Once she had gotten out of view, she pulled out a small pocket recorder. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and then hit record:
My name is Carrie Delaney. I teach fourth grade at the Early Dawn Elementary School, in Washington, D.C.
Yesterday, October twenty third, two thousand seventy-seven, half the school went on a field trip to Lamplight Caverns. We were packing up to leave when- when everything went crazy.
The caves started shaking, the lights went out, the kids started screaming. My God...
Mister Pollack went outside to see what was going on.
When he came back in, he told us what he saw. Clouds. Mushroom clouds. It's finally happened. The end of the world.
Quickly, Ms. Delaney hit the stop button. Her eyes were wide. She then rested her face, began to breathe really heavy, and then began to cry. She knew there was no hope. This was the worst Carrie Delaney had ever felt in her life.
At the top of the cavern, Mr. Cob and Mr. Pollack tried to calm the students down. Mr. Cob, usually a teacher who could be overheard telling staff that fear was weak and made a person break, was now claiming he was scared. "Look everyone, I am scared too. We must keep going, though." This was a new side the students had seen of Mr. Cob. It was new side his own son had seen of Mr. Cob. "Charlie… may I see you right now?"
Charlie walked up to his father, both worried and confused. He knew this was serious. "Yes sir?"
"Charlie… you know I love you son… right?"
"Yes Dad. I know you and Mother love me very much."
Mr. Cob began to cry. This was something Charlie had never seen before in all nine years of his life. Mr. Cob grabbed Charlie's head, hugging him tightly and pulling Charlie into his chest. Charlie began to tear up as well. Claudia came up and pulled Mr. Cob off of Charlie. "Damien, we cannot have these kids worried. We must stay strong," she told him.
"You're right… we need to just get through the days. We will be fine."
Four days had passed. The group was worried. Claudia figured that someone had to look around at the outside world. No one had even attempted to step foot outside of Lamplight in seventy-two hours and it was killing her. She whispered that she'd be leaving to Mr. Cob who, in return, nodded and kissed her gently on the forehead. Everyone watched as Claudia walked out the front door, embracing the outside world for the first time in nearly four days.
Hours passed with no return. Claudia had left early in the morning and now it was far passed midday.
"Dad, where is Mother?" Charlie curiously asked.
"I don't know, Son… I don't know."
"Well… are we going to go find her?"
"Yes… I will."
"But Dad, I want to…"
Mr. Cob broke away from Charlie and began to walk to the entrance of the cavern. Mr. Pollack walked next to his side, pleading with him to stay, but Mr. Cob kept walking unalarmed by Mr. Pollack's words. He just kept repeating, "I need to find my wife."
Again, hours passed after Mr. Cob's search went on. He did not return for some time. Charlie sat in a corner, alone with none of his friends. Ms. Delaney finally went up to him. "Charlie, are you alright sweetheart?"
"Yes… I'm fine. Dad's going to find Mother. They'll be back. They'll be back, I swear."
"Yes… yes they will dear."
Ms. Delaney felt terrible for this young boy. She knew he was experiencing some hardships missing both his parents at a moment like this. She knew all of the kids were experiencing hard times. She went to her undisclosed location once again and began to record:
We're all okay. If you can call being stuck in a cave with eighty-two terrified kids okay. Alive, anyway. But I don't know what the hell we're going to do.
It's been four days. Claudia went out this morning to look around, and never came back. Then Mr. Cob went out to look for her, and HE never came back.
So now there's only me, two other teachers, two of the parents who were chaperoning, and a few of the cavern staff. And all these poor kids.
We've got enough food and water to last for awhile, I guess. But after that? I just don't know. We can't stay in here forever. Can we?
As time went on, adults began to leave the cavern to search for supplies. None would return. Eventually, Ms. Delaney was the last surviving adult. She hated being alone. How could she take care of eighty-two kids alone? She eventually worked up the courage to leave out of the entrance. "Kids… I'll be leaving. I hope to return soon… with supplies, and food, and water!"
The kids, though, knew they'd never see Ms. Delaney once she walked out of the door. They watched as she walked out of the door, waving goodbye one last time. She had a troubling smile with tears in her eyes as she pushed the small wooden door to the outside world. The kids, now, were all alone.
After hours passed without their teacher, the fourth graders, the oldest students of the group, decided to talk things over. Their big question: who would watch over and protect this group? Henry Fallon, a charismatic fourth grader with a good sense of leadership, decided to get all eighty-two kids together. "Attention… Attention! Quiet down everyone! As you all know… the adults are gone. Ms. Delaney hasn't returned and it has been hours. We need some sort of person to watch over us."
The voices of kids rang through the caves. Kids were scared and nervous. This would be a big responsibility.
"Would anyone want to step up as a leader?" asked Henry nervously. The group remained quiet for some time. Finally, a voice rang out, "Well there needs to be someone who stands up and takes leadership! We can't survive without a protector." It was the voice of Max Tindal. Tindal was a stubborn bully of a kid who always was getting in trouble for running his mouth and starting fights with other students. "I personally say that we make Charlie in charge… his parents are the reason no adults are around."
"Hey dude, no need to be a jerk, Max. Charlie has gone through a lot," said Henry.
"You're so big and bad, why don't you step up as leader, Max!" shouted Charlie. He was furious by this point.
"Listen here, Corn on the Cob… maybe I don't want so much responsibility. Ever think of that?"
"That was a terrible insult, one, and two, don't you just love to be the center of attention?"
The two continued to argue until they broke into a small fistfight. A few students broke them up as a voice from the back of the room began to sternly speak. It was Jason Grant.
"Hey, hey, hey! Fighting gets us nowhere! We are all scared. We are all terrified. The adults are gone and we don't know what to do. I get it! But please… please, please, please do not fight. It gets us nowhere. It just causes more problems that we do not have time to solve. What we need to do is work together. We need to find a way to conserve our food as well as find more. Where we are now… it won't do. We are so confused as people. We need to relax and work together, not fight one another. Max, be cool. Charlie, keep calm. We have lost a lot, but we need to stick together."
For that one moment, the group seemed hopeful. A pleasant light was shining within the group as the kids' faces lit up. There seemed to be a chance of survival. Without hesitation, Henry asked, "Jason… that speech… you make us feel safe. Would you… please… would you lead our group? You are the oldest person here. One of the few of us that's ten. Please, will you lead our group?"
This was a big burden that Jason was given. Did he truly want to lead a group of seven to ten year olds? This was so much for a kid who was barely ten himself. "Well… does no one else want to be the leader?" All of the kids remained quiet. Jason looked around one last time, hoping maybe one kid would step up and take leadership. None. It was all for Jason. "Everyone… I would be honored to be the leader of this group."
As the night was winding down, Jason took a troop of six older, bigger guys to explore the cave. They grabbed flashlights from the cavern souvenir shop and explored the lower half of the cavern. "We are going to split up. Take your notebooks from that Ms. Delaney gave us the other day from this trip and write down what you see. This can help us map out the other parts of the cave that aren't on the tour maps." Jason was starting to lead this group very well. His confidence was definitely soaring and he felt proud.
The six kids split up. As others went in different directions, crawling into spaces and around outer edges, Jason went straight into a vastly open space. It was well secluded from everything else, and he wondered how special of a place this could be. He looked around the perimeter but found nothing. As he continued to search, all he could think about was leading the kids safely out of this cavern and back to the outside world. There had to be some other way that wasn't the front door. As he pondered this thought, he tripped over something on the ground. It was a small, black device that fit in the palm of his hand. He saw a button, pressed it, and immediately heard the voice of Ms. Delaney. He was curious to hear what she had to say. After hearing that she left a sort of recorded journal, he figured he'd document his experience as well:
Umm... I guess this thing is working. I'm Jason Grant. I'm ten years old. I'm in Ms. Delaney's class, Early Dawn Elementary. A month ago a big war came and everything was destroyed. Except us. We're still OK in these caves. Kinda. Ms. Delaney went out this morning to get help and she never came back, but the other adults never came back either. So now it's just us kids. A lot of the others still cry every day. They're really scared. I'm not. There's nothing to be scared of, as long as we don't go outside. Nobody else wants to be in charge, so I'm gonna try. Most of the kids listen to me already, so it should be easy.
Jason examined the machine again. He found an eject button, hit it, and pulled out a tape-like figure. He saw a blank strip on the tape and decided to write on it with a pin he had in his pocket. He swiftly sketched "My diary, by Jason Grant- entry 1," placed it back in the recording machine, and set the machine gently back on the ground. Jason knew he'd be a great leader for these kids.
For months, the kids continued to live together, working hard to survive after the unfortunate fate they were dealt. A month after the disappearance of all adults, the kids were able to find running water. One of the kids, Stanley, an eight year old who most called "Spuds," heard a hissing sound coming from the lower east region. The kids found a small, unmarked running stream that was producing seemingly pure water. This was valuable and substantial to their health. Jason vowed that they would always remember this day as a key moment in their survival.
Jason continued to lead the group well. He was well liked by ever member of the student body. They all trusted him. He was kind to them. He was not a tyrant, but rather a just leader who heard what the other kids wanted. One night, all of the kids in Lamplight got together. They had realized that Lamplight was slowly becoming a city of kids. As the fourth graders had recently learned in their social studies, every city needed a mayor. The students all secretly voted Jason the mayor and decided they'd call their city Little Lamplight being the fact it was a city run by little kids.
After the voting, the kids ran up to Jason excitedly. Henry Fallon excitedly grabbed Jason's shoulders. "We have some great news, dude!"
"What's that?" asked Jason
"We want you as mayor. We've decided… well, since we'll be living in this hunk of a rock for some time… we want to make this a city. A city of kids! And we want you as mayor!" All of the kids cheered as Henry gave word.
Jason, on the other hand, did not look as thrilled as the others. He seemed quite distraught and was very, very quiet. "Can I have some time to think this over?"
Henry was taken back and seemed extremely shocked. "Um… yeah man. We'll be here. Just let us know what you think, man."
Jason went to the side of one of the high cavern peaks. He sat there alone at the edge of the cave. He began to think hard. His mind was racing with thought. "He couldn't believe it. He couldn't think straight at all. He could only look in the distance. Why me? I'm just a kid. We need some sort of help… any help at all. Please… Ms. Delaney… come back." Many different things ran through his head. He was uncertain of what would happen. All that Jason Grant knew, all that he had ever learned, would be put to the test. He continued to look into the distance. It would be a long night. He was going to be the mayor of Little Lamplight.
Jason went back to the crowd of kids gathering around. They were anxious for his word. Time for Jason seemed to be moving incredibly slow, and he was simply ready to get the words out of his mouth as fast as he could. "Fellow students…"
All of the kids were wide eyed, waiting on any answer at all from Jason's voice.
"Fellow students…" Jason was stalling as he cleared his throat. He knew he had to accept the position as mayor. He was the only member truly qualified out of the group to lead them. Besides, Mayor Grant had a pretty nice ring to it.
"Fellow students… I graciously accept your title. I would be honored to serve as mayor of this city. And for all who occupy this wonderful living quarter: welcome to Little Lamplight!"
The crowd of kids cheered louder than they ever had before. Jason's mind was racing. In this moment, Jason Grant knew that his life would forever be changed, and he would have to lead all eighty-one kids, including himself, as a caring, protective, and fair mayor for years to come.