Chapter 29

As soon as everything was in order, KA-CHUNK! KA-CHUNK! A nail gun boards up windows with plywood. Howard and Tom work together, turning 2x4s into bracket barricades for the front door while Howie Jr helps. In the kitchen, Mary got some candles and Max shows Stevie and Jordan how to operate some kerosene lanterns while Dorothy makes them sandwiches. The kids gawk, surprised by the gesture. In the garage, Linda and Sarah gather firewood, flashlights, binoculars, more candles, axes, bats, and other equipment. Aunt Dorothy opens a stocked liquor cabinet and found the bottles. Already she was beaming like a kid in a candy store. In the dining room, food, supplies, and weaponry are neatly laid out. Tom looks over everything, hoping it's enough when Max suddenly scampers by with Tom's laptop bag. Confused, Tom follows him into the living room where Max removes a portable travel battery and plugs in the tree, filling the room with soft white light. Touched, the family stares in awe, basking in its warmth. And all while this is happening, we see Omi keeping to herself, keeping the fire tall and hot as the wind moans. Windows are dark and boarded shut. But then, inexplicably, the comforting sounds of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special were on wasting their tech battery on Linda's iPad/ The girls are camped out in front of it, wrapped in blankets, while Howie munches on a fruitcake. He offers it to Jordan. "Gross. How can you eat that crap?" Howie shrugs, and keeps eating.

Sarah enters with more pillows. "Won't the battery die?"

Linda said, "Gotta go some time. Might as well enjoy it.

Aunt Dorothy said, "Yer tellin' me..." Dorothy swishes a brandy glass, already half asleep.

Linda said, "Been a while since we had a slumber party."

Sarah said, "Yeah, the first one asleep gets her hand dipped in warm water."

Linda asked, "That never actually worked, did it?"

Sarah nodded to Aunt Dorothy and said, "We could find out..."

The women quietly laugh, but Linda sees her sister's smile fade fast, obviously still anxious. "Hey, Beth's a tough girl. Takes after her mom. I'm sure she's fine."

Sarah's smile returns, grateful. "Thanks, sis. I just wish Alexander was alive." Linda nodded. "He knows how to survive without tech during a storm like this." Linda put her arm around her sister. She looks at her daughter as she walked to her grandfather's urn on a cabinet and turned on a light-up toy candle and placed it next to it.

At the windows, Tom and Howard use binoculars, peering outside through slits between the boards. Howard looks like he wants to say something, and finally musters up the courage. "Hey...uh, Tom? I, uh, wanted to say thanks. For, you know, savin' my ass back there."

Tom said, "Oh. Sure. No problem." Tom is taken aback by this little bonding moment.

Howard said, "And sorry for thinking you were such a spineless prick all these years." This is news to Tom. Howard reads his surprise. "Now look, I know you don't think much of me either."

Tom said, "No, Howard you're—"

Howard interrupted him. "-Linda's life sentence. That's what her dad called me at the wedding, Still, that was the happiest day of my life. I promised myself I wouldn't be the loser everyone thought I'd be, but now... here I am."

Tom said, "A loser would've walked out ten years ago, Howard. What matters is that you're always there for them. That you come home every night to see your wife and put your kids to bed, you know? I mean, at least you're not spending half the year in hotels and airport lounges. And I'm not saying all this just because you're holding a shotgun."

Howard smiles, oddly moved. "Thanks, Tommy." Max joins them, eating a cookie,

Tom said, "You and your sister should get some sleep, champ."

Max asked, "How?"

Tom was lost for words, "Good point."

Mary looks outside the window and spots the eerie snowman outside, now covered in sharp icicles, their grins sending chills up her spine as she hugs her Baby-Bop doll. Max asked his dad, "Dad... Are we gonna die?"

Tom and Sarah exchanged a look. Then, calm and collected, " No.

THUD. They see Omi toss more logs into the fire. Max said, "Omi's been acting differently. Ever since the storm..."

Tom said, "Yeah, but she always gets weird around Christmas."

Max asked, "How come?"

Tom answered, "Dunno. She never wanted to talk about it. Not even Dad did. He only said it involved their childhood."

Max considers this when BOOOOOOOOOM! The entire house shakes - flashes of light burst through the boards - everyone screams, and hits the deck - Chrissy is now awake and crying. Mary went to her little cousin and gently got her in Mary's arms and tried to calm her down.

Aunt Dorothy yelled, "What the hell was that?!"

Howard said, "Sure as shit wasn't fireworks."

Tom took charge. "Everybody stay down! Howard?" Tom and Howard carefully climb back up to the windows. A fiery glow on the horizon, plumes of smoke. "Looks like some kind of explosion."

Howard asked, "What's out that way?"

Tom said, "Main Street..."

The kids flock out to Linda and Sarah, near hysterics. The women comfort them despite their own splintered nerves. Linda tried her best. "Shhh, it's alright. It was far, far away from us, It's okay..."

But Tom spots something else on the horizon: the faint glow of street lights and flickering electricity. "Wait... looks like someone still has power. Maybe the MegaMart?"

Howard said, "Could've been a gas line. Some poor bastard trying to turn his heat back on."

Aunt Dorothy agreed. "Yeah or maybe it was them.

Sarah said, "I think I'm more worried about what I'm not hearing. No sirens, no police or fire. So where is everyone?"

The listen - she's right. Dead silence. Aunt Dorothy said, "Maybe they're the ones who got

blown up...

Lina said, "Guys." Linda points out the kids, all shuddering with fear. "Hey, how about we finally get some sleep? Maybe tomorrow we can open some presents early. If you're good."

The kids relax and climb back into their sleeping bags. Howie nuzzles up against Aunt Dorothy, who reluctantly lets him. Howard and Tom watch as Linda and Sarah tuck everyone in. A moment of calm in the surreal chaos. Howard said, "You know Linda might be a ripe pain

in the ass sometimes, but she has a way with little ones that I'll never understand."

Tom looks at Sarah, more in love with her than ever. Tom said, "Yeah... I know what you mean." They're all huddled next to a crackling fire. Probably the closest this dysfunctional family has ever been.

Howard said, "We should stay up and keep watch. Make sure the neighborhood doesn't come crashing down."

Tom said, "Good idea, I'll go first."

Howard shook his head. "Nah, you catch some winks with your family. Besides, 'bout time I put my Reserve Training to good use."

Tom asked, "You sure?"

CLICK-CLACK. Howard checks his shotgun. Good to go. "A shepherd's gotta protect his flock. Your dad taught me how to shoot in the dark." Howard settles next to the window, gun raised.