CHAPTER FOUR
Arthur, DW, and Kate appeared in Thora's living room with David and Jane not far behind. They were going to have Sunday dinner with their beloved grandmother, but they were surprised to find her kitchen untouched when they arrived around four. Thora sat with a disgusted look on her face as the others got comfortable. Kate and Pal napped together in sunshine pouring down from a window while Arthur and DW sat in front of the television. When the adults thought they were distracted enough, they started talking.
"Thora, we sent you some money for food to help cover the cost. Did you receive it?" Jane asked.
Thora sighed heavily, "I told you not to do that," she said, snatching the envelope from the table beside her and handing it to Jane, still unopened. Thora continued, "I wasn't going to need a visit to the grocery store, but when I went outside to pick my vegetables this morning, someone had stolen everything, even the things that weren't ready yet!" she cried.
"Wow, Mom, did you call the cops?" David asked with a fearful tone, careful to keep his voice low despite the kids being close by.
"Of course I called the cops, David, not that they could do anything. It's been happening to everyone, they said. Next year, if I can even get seeds, I have to grow them in the house, potatoes and all. So I have leftovers, very few, but nothing more. I can't do this next week either. The kids can come over, but we eat our own food. Maybe you should come after lunch and leave before dinner."
"We can do that," Jane nodded, her voice barely above a whisper, "but…can you even get the seeds to grow your plants inside? Our stores were wiped out as novice gardeners appeared out of nowhere to try their skills."
"That's what happened here," Thora sighed. "I'm going to look through the shed for some extras when I get over being so darned mad. I just…I heard stories when I was a kid about the Great Depression and what people had to do for food. It was different then. Everyone grew things in the country where my people were from, so they made due. Now all of us get everything from the grocery store. Flour, butter, eggs—even the most basic staples all bought in a store. That's going to be our downfall. People are already starving to death. They can't afford food, and the government can only provide so much."
It was true. David heard the story on television of a young family found dead in their home. Their food stamps couldn't help them cover food costs, and they couldn't supplement the cost of food with their own money. So they bought games and other items to keep themselves and their young son entertained for two whole weeks. No one saw them, but they would talk on the phone. By the third week, that stopped. An officer arrived to check on them and found them all dead over a game of Sorry! They had starved to death, adults and child.
As food stamps stopped covering food costs and no other solution came available, they knew it would happen more and more. People were furious at the government, but the Read's knew it wasn't their fault. The world was facing this problem together, and other governments were having the same struggle. In fact, some governments were stealing from the food supply to keep themselves and their families alive while their citizens went hungry. At least things weren't that bad in America…yet.
After visiting Thora's house for a few hours, the Read's journeyed back home. As they passed, they saw a small protest outside a grocery store. Four young families picketed the front, their signs telling their story: No food stamps, no money, no food, and not enough money to bury them all. The kids just sat with their mouths shut, but David and Jane exchanged worried glances. People couldn't feed themselves, and people couldn't afford to bury their dead. What was this world about to come to?