Emily Teller wasn't sure what to think when it was announced that school would close for "an extended break " that Friday afternoon. Her teacher talked about Easter vacation, but that was next month, so she wondered if maybe another snowstorm was expected. Then she met her dad in his company rollback waiting to pick her up instead of mom in her minivan. And instead of turning towards home, he drove towards the Kashway market.
" Don't look at anything, don't ask for anything, and don't touch anything !" He advised, in a tone she wasn't familiar with, as they walked into the crowded store. It reminded her of shopping with her mom just before Christmas , as the lines were very long, but it seemed many customers weren't very happy or excited at all... everyone had carts almost overflowing with stuff, especially lots of toilet paper.
Melora Jean, one of the cashiers she knew, who occasionally baby-sat her, looked very tired, when they finally made their way to the register.
" Hey , Mr Teller " she sighed, robotically scanning the bread and milk.
" Melora.." Jax nodded, digging thru his wallet.
" Kinda crazy here, how u doing?"
" It started when they made the announcement, and we're running out of everything. Hey little girl..." She smiled at Emily, as she handed her Dad the long receipt.
" Hang in there, kid...come on, Em, we don't have time, let's go.." Jax tugged his daughter before she had a chance to respond.
The traffic getting out the parking lot tried his patience.
Once home, she was dismayed to learn her Mom was still at work, and wasn't expected to come home yet.
The new rules were confusing.
They could go outside but they couldn't go anywhere. Her friends couldn't come over, because they weren't allowed to leave their homes. Even her older brothers couldn't leave. Megan couldn't visit Abel. There was no school, but there was no snow, no holidays, and no Easter. It wasn't even warm outside yet.
Her mom was never home before dark, and her dad said something about someone positive at the garage, so he never left for work.
When her mom did come home, she walked in thru the basement , undressed in front of the washing machine, and after dropping her scrubs into it, she took a very long shower in the bathroom nearby. Emily was not allowed to talk to her, or even come downstairs - In fact, Jax forbade anyone to be in the basement at all, till further notice. It was only after the shower and a change of clothes , her mom appeared upstairs, very tired, and very sad.
If the boys were needed on one of Opie's tree trucks, she would be left alone with only her dad, and while he tried to play some of her games, it wasn't the same as with Mom. No community theater, no after school plans, nothing!
After two weeks of this, she admitted she wanted to go back to school...or anywhere, for that matter, as she watched Abel and Tommy tinkering in the garage.
" We're gonna go in town, if you wanna ride with us " Abel offered. He and Tommy were also feeling the effects of shelter in place - a quick trip down the trail to Skillet's would clear his mind. He didn't see any harm in his little sister coming along.
Twenty minutes later, a four-wheeler and dirt bike roared down the trail towards town, with Emily holding tight to her oldest brother.
The town was deserted which seemed kinda scary to her.
Skillet had a closed sign on her diner, but indicated take-out orders were available.
The pharmacy was closed, Stans hardware was closed, even the post office was locked tight.
There were no people walking around, and no cars.
" Dude, this is really strange!" Tommy looked at his brother. Abel, usually the stoic one, had to agree.
" Let's go see if Opie is at work!" He suggested, and they quietly rode thru town towards a converted Fire Station, now occupied by Winston Tree Service.
Sure enough, the place was open, but it didn't seem like many trucks were out- the rear lot was full of them.
Inside, Opie, was busy lecturing a small handful of employees when he saw the two dirt-bike and cat slowly putter thru one of the empty bays and pause.
" Go ahead n go home, but I want everyone here next Monday, an we'll go over CDC guidelines!" He finished up, and as the group slowly dispersed, he didn't look happy.
" Hey, Ope.." Tommy called out.
" One sec..." Opie noticed his cell phone flashing.
" Hey..." He answered, then paused.
" My test came back negative "...it was Jax ..
" Awesome, how soon before you guys open up?"
Opie was relieved. The spread of coronavirus was misunderstood, and information seemed to change on a daily basis.
Jax gave a long sigh. " I don't know, there's another one of my guys positive... the first one is in ICU. Short of letting customers make appointments, an not allowing anyone inside, I'm lost." It was only a couple weeks since the lockdown had begun, and everyone was trying to sort things out.
" I hear ya brother. I'm trying to keep going, but everyone here's scared too. I'm having a meeting n go over the new guidelines from CDC Monday...I guess that's a start. They don't wanna come in, fuk em, n fuk their unemployment too!"
" Damn, I'm gonna hate to lose mechanics." Jax replied. Vintage car geeks were hard to come by, and his shop was well known for them. " This virtual learning is for shit too; our internet can't handle it up here." Sometimes being trapped at the house with all three of his kids, two who constantly fought, and the other with his learning disability was challenging, at best...the possibility of more than two weeks wasn't something he looked forward to...
" I'm not seeing that " he laughed, " I'd beat their asses or go crazy.
" Maybe you can have em come here, we got that Pen-Tel internet..." Opie suggested. " Donna was wondering about them last night, I'll ask her. An I can use them as cheap labor if they fuk around too much " he added, not realizing how relieved Jax felt at the idea.
" Sounds like a good plan, but I don't want to burden you guys -" he was interrupted by Opie.
" I'll see what she thinks, n get back with ya!"
" That's great, Ope " Jax was looking for the kids and checked the garage, discovering it empty. " Damnit, they're gone!"
" Yea, they showed up here a lil bit ago, one cat, one dirt bike, all three of em. I can't help it if they like me more n you ..." Opie grinned.
" Keep em safe, " Jax laughed.