Making a Difference

By Jerry Mack Grubbs
 
There was no explosion or earthquake that disrupted our lives. It was referred to as a civil unrest. Someone must have thought that the term "civil unrest" was more pleasing to the ear than the truth.  Like when Vietnam was called a conflict instead of a war. Whatever you choose to call it, it was a dangerous time. Gangs were roving the streets, taking what they wanted by force. Law and order was nonexistent in our community. It was dangerous to be out on the street. The only means of transportation was by foot or bicycle since there was no gasoline for vehicles.

With a desire to be together as a family during this turmoil, my son Trevor brought his little family along with my daughter Leslie and her boys to our home. It was a long walk for the little children. The parents were exhausted not so much from the long walk but from the threatening and unsafe circumstances. Leslie's husband Ty had gone to help my son Todd take care of his neighbors. As soon as they were safe within the walls of our home, Trevor left again to help bring Todd's family to our home. I wanted to go with him because I knew there was safety in numbers but he desired for me to stay home incase there was trouble in our neighborhood.

Todd's family lived closer and the walk wasn't as far but it was still a relief when they arrived under Trevor's care. The stories Trevor told of what he had seen on his journey made me realize that the situation in our community was worsening. We had no way of knowing if the situation was as bad in the southern end of the valley where Linda Jean had moved. Since she lived the greatest distance away we had previously mapped out a route that she would start following and we would come meet her if anything of this nature occurred. For fear that she might be out on the road and in danger I now wished I had asked her to just stay put in her own home until we came for her.

As soon as Trevor returned I started preparing to go for Linda Jean and her son William. Once again, Trevor stopped me and suggested that I stay with the family and he would go find them. I gave him the course that Linda Jean would be following and my wife Kaye packed food for him to take. It could require the better part of two days for him to make the trip under the current circumstances. I hated to send him out alone but I knew it was best that I stay with the family until the other men, Todd and Ty arrived.

To our surprise and relief, Trevor was back home with Linda Jean four hours later. Family members gathered around her, hugging her and celebrating her safe arrival. The spirit of that celebration was dampened when we were told that William had not been willing to come. He said that he needed to stay in their home to protect it from looters. Sadness fell over the family and there was a feeling of loss without him there. True, Todd and Ty were not back yet either but we knew they were together and could protect one another. William was all alone.

I went upstairs and began preparing to bring William home if at all possible. There would be plenty of time while on my walk to think of some way to convince him that he should be with us instead of all alone. I loaded my shotgun and put other shells in my jacket pocket.  I didn't want to hurt anyone. I just wanted to be left alone.  I took the food pack that Kaye had prepared for Trevor and started out the door. Linda Jean met me in the foyer and said that she was coming with me and that she had only come without William in order to get help convincing him to come stay with us. In unison, the family pleaded with me to not let her go. She was safe inside the walls of our home and I would be able to travel faster alone which meant that I would reach William sooner. She reluctantly agreed and as I stepped out the door she opened a small plastic case and handed me a baby tooth belonging to William and asked me to not return without him. She already knew that I would not come home without him if he was still alive. This act of entrusting me with his baby tooth was merely a symbol that we both understood. The last sound I heard as I stepped away from the door was the dead bolt being locked behind me. I looked back and there stood my family gathered at the front window waving goodbye.

As I walked, I thought of what had transpired over the last few days; the collapse of law and order and the shutting down of goods being transported across the country that created shortages.  There was panic buying that stripped the shelves in the stores within hours. Selfishness ruled as did the cruelty of people toward one another when such circumstances should have brought out the best in humanity. I wanted to find William and get back home as soon as possible. I knew that until we returned there would be no peace in the hearts of those locked behind the walls of our home. My thoughts turned to Todd and Ty, wondering if they were home safe yet. Suddenly I realized I had forgotten to ask Linda Jean if she had given William the route that he should follow if he decided to come on his own. Doubt began to creep into my mind. What if I passed him and didn't even know it. What if I went all the way to his home and at the same time he was arriving at our home. I felt foolish for not being better prepared. Subconsciously, I reached into my pocket and touched William's baby tooth that Linda Jean had given me just as I left the house. All I could do was my best with what I had and knew at the time. I picked up my pace to find William.

In the distance ahead I could see three men coming toward me. I felt uneasy. Although I had my shotgun and a pistol, I didn't want any trouble nor did I want to hurt anyone. I angled my direction of travel so as not to come face to face with them but as I did so they shifted their direction also and continued to advance toward me. I eased my shotgun out of its holster and held it in a non-threatening position. Then I recognized the three men coming toward me. To my relief it was Todd and Ty. And they had William with them. After they had finished helping Todd's neighbors they immediately took off to get Linda Jean and William. Arriving at their home they found only William there and brought him with them.

I never asked how they convinced William to join them and they never offered an explanation. I was just happy that the four of us were on our way home. We would have enough challenges ahead without worrying about the past. We arrived home long after dark. Most were bedded down but except for the children not many were sleeping. It is difficult to describe the feeling that swept over me as I realized that we were all there, all safe, all accounted for.

As night turned to day we began to stir around the house. At breakfast Todd gave a little speech about how thankful he was that Kaye had been so diligent in preparing for an emergency such as this. We held a family council and it was decided that we couldn't just remain locked behind the walls of our home while others were struggling and less prepared. Unbeknown to me, Kaye, Linda Jean, Julie and Kim had spend the better part of the night doing an inventory of our food supplies. Everything was categorized and a basic menu had been developed.

With gangs roaming the streets and going into the homes and taking food supplies from other people we decided that we should help out in whatever way we could. There were five men in our home. We decided that four men would take food prepared by the family and go out and share it with those in need. Each day one man would stay behind to defend our home. The other four would go out, locate hungry, tired families and share the food with them. They not only shared food but the four would stay and guard over a family while they ate and rested. These men were soon being referred to as the "Peace Warriors." They carried enough fire power to defend a small neighborhood but focused their attention on helping, not hurting. When they extended a hand it was filled with food, not a weapon.

The highlight of each evening was when the Peace Warriors returned home safe once more. After dinner the family would gather and listen to the stories and experiences that they had that day. While our own food supply satisfied our physical hunger, the sharing of our food and the gratitude of those who received it filled our hearts to overflowing. However small it might be, we were making a difference.

I dream every night but most dreams are just bits and pieces of disconnected events. On occasion I have a dream that is so vivid and detailed that I feel compelled to write it down. This dream is not a foretelling of events to come. It is not an omen of impending doom. It is just a dream that both saddened me and enriched me. However, the people of my dream are real. They are precious to me. I hope there is something within this dream that reaches out to you and touches you for good. That's my only purpose in sharing it with you.