Brother Mine: #2 in The Forgotten Shelters Series

By Dee Phillips

America in the 1950’s was a time of great anxiety. There was the constant threat of the hydrogen bomb exploding and a sense of unease became a real part of everyday life. With the possibility of a nuclear war, as the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union escalated, many Americans considered their options of survival. Ordinary Americans, often hiding their actions from their neighbors, created bomb shelters in their backyards in order to survive what seemed at the time an inevitable nuclear attack. They also lived in fear that if an attack did occur, they would be invaded by friends and neighbors seeking shelter when the ‘big one’ dropped. So they built their shelters in the dead of night so neighbors wouldn't see, secret places that held the hope of a future in a ravaged world. But, the bombs never fell.

Now, many years later, we can all wonder what really happened to all those backyard bomb shelters that frightened families built? Did they all become wine cellars, or fruit cellars, or have they just quietly filled up with water? Have they really been forgotten?

This is the story of just one of the disturbing possibilities...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dee Phillips
• Release date: Feb 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465834324

Dee Phillips

An English Major at University, Denny (Dee) Phillips loves science fiction and enjoys coming up with new ideas in that genre. Her newest interest is in vampire books. Denny has made a career out of writing website content articles and has researched many different topics. As such, she also has many information books available.

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Brother Mine

2nd in The Forgotten Shelters Series

Published by Dee Phillips at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Dee Phillips

Smashwords Edition, License Notes.

This short story is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This story may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this story with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this story and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Brother Mine

America in the 1950’s was a time of great anxiety. There was the constant threat of the hydrogen bomb exploding and a sense of unease became a real part of everyday life. With the possibility of a nuclear war, as the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union escalated, many Americans considered their options of survival. Ordinary Americans, often hiding their actions from their neighbors, created bomb shelters in their backyards in order to survive what seemed at the time an inevitable nuclear attack. They also lived in fear that if an attack did occur, they would be invaded by friends and neighbors seeking shelter when the ‘big one’ dropped. So they built their shelters in the dead of night so neighbors wouldn't see, secret places that held the hope of a future in a ravaged world. But, the bombs never fell.

Now, many years later, we can all wonder what really happened to all those backyard bomb shelters that frightened families built? Did they all become wine cellars, or fruit cellars, or have they just quietly filled up with water? Have they really been forgotten?

This is the story of just one of the possibilities…

It was dry and dusty in the small garden where Greta was working. The hot summer sun burned the back of her neck as she bent over the wilted plants. Her back ached and she was thirsty, but she knew if she stopped for a rest there would be hell to pay. She had only been working for about an hour, and that was not long enough to make a difference. The small vegetables needed care and she often didn’t have time to attend to it. And then there was the fuss her brother would make if she stopped.

Greta could just hear Danny now, You lazy son-of-a-bitch! Can’t even stand a little heat. What a good for nothing piece of shit you are! She cringed just thinking about it. She hated when he talked to her like that, as if she didn’t feel bad enough about herself already without him shouting at her like that. No, she had to hold out for at least two hours to avoid the tongue-lashing. Maybe then he would be satisfied. Probably not, but maybe.

Greta’s little hoe worked back and forth between the plants, breaking up the clods of dry dirt. It was not a very successful vegetable garden. The soil here was not very good. It was dry and not very fertile despite all her efforts. But she tried, and it was at least one way that she could extend their meager food supply. Of course Danny thought she was wasting her time, but he was always negative about anything she did.

She hated having to live with her brother, but there was nowhere else for her