The Earthquake Zone

By Melody Martin

A young man and woman find love in their last year of studies at a College in Virginia. Their major is in Seismology. They get jobs traveling with a crew trying to track down mysterious and unusual seismologic events. Follow them as they fall in love and work together at their chosen field of endeavor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Martin
• Release date: Oct 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393677666

Melody Martin

I spent 3 years in the Navy. Today I spend My time writing or Painting. I am a very Independent woman Living in Kansas. This is just another stop in my journey through life. I was born in New York in 1941. So, I was alive when they bombed Pearl Harb I grew up on a small farm In Ulster County. The war years were tough but I never went hungry

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Earthquake Zone

The Earthquake Zone | Chapter One

Chapter Two | Seismology Test

Chapter Three | Settling In

Chapter Four | A first Time

Chapter Five | A trip to Oklahoma

Chapter Six | Sean’s Parents

Chapter Seven | Opportunity Knocks

Chapter Eight | The First Assignment

Chapter Nine | Going to Marathon Idaho

Chapter Ten | Going to Montana

Chapter Eleven | A Peeper

Chapter Twelve | A trip back to Virginia

Chapter Thirteen | Celebration Party

Chapter Fourteen | Oklahoma Bound

Chapter Fifteen | Figuring it Out

Chapter Sixteen | Going to Washington DC

Chapter Seventeen | The Home Coming

Chapter Eighteen | The Wedding

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents either are the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual person’s, living or a dead or actual event is purely coincidental.

Forward; a young man and woman find love in their last year of studies at a College in Virginia. Their major is in Seismology. They get jobs traveling with a crew trying to track down mysterious and unusual seismologic events. Follow them as they fall in love and work together at their chosen field of endeavor.

The Earthquake Zone

Chapter One

It is a beautiful spring morning in Virginia. Jackie Steps out on the veranda of the apartment she is living in. A gentle breeze blows at her golden locks. She can smell the aroma of the coffee as it brews. Last night she had a date with one of the others in her class. She thinks back recounting all of the events of that evening. Sean is not a very tall man, as a matter of fact, she thinks she may just exceed his height by an inch or two. They spent the evening just getting to know each other. Both are studying for their Ph.D. in Seismology. They attend The American Geosciences Institute in Alexandria, VA. Graduation is in early June then she will search for a job. An upcoming job fair may just give her some insight as to what is available in her field.

She wakes in in her apartment the next morning and pours a cup of coffee, she adds a little creamer. Sitting at the table she lays out some of the study work for the examination later that afternoon. Her cell phone rings, the voice on the other side says. Good morning sweet pea, did you have a good time last night? Yes, Sean, I did enjoy the time we spent together. He says; we have a test this afternoon. I am not sure if I am reading the study work correctly. May I come over to your place maybe you can point me in the right direction.  Sean, I just got out of bed. Can you give me thirty minutes to get dressed? Sure, I understand, I can get ready in five minutes. I know from living at home my sister Mary she took forty-five minutes to get ready.

Well Sean, do not start assuming things about me. I will have you know it only takes me forty minutes. She laughs. Okay then, I will stop and get an egg mc muffin and then come over. Want me to bring you one? Sure, Sean, I do not normally eat breakfast but that would be great.

She takes another sip of the coffee and goes to the bedroom. She finds a spring-like dress and wonders if that is too much. Oh well, she thinks and hangs it on the doorknob. After showering and putting on some makeup she slides into the dress. By the time she gets back to her coffee, it is cold. The doorbell rings, it has to be Sean. She goes to the door and opens it. Sean is standing there with one white rose and a bag with sandwiches in it. Jackie takes the rose and holds it to her nose. Its odor is sweet and she smiles at Sean. How thoughtful of you Sean, breakfast and a rose. Have a seat I will put this in a vase. Sean sits and sees Jackie’s coffee cup sitting there. Do you have any more coffee he asks? Yes, but I will have to warm it. Mine is also cold it will only take a few minutes. She gets a second cup and pours it full of coffee. She tops off her cup while she is warming his in the microwave.

Soon she is done with heating coffee and sits at the table by Sean. He pushes one of the sandwiches towards her. She thanks him again. Sean asks; do you know what the white rose stands for? Jackie thinks for a moment, I know they are used at weddings a lot. I do not really know their meaning. Sean smiles, they can represent new beginnings. I hope that this is a new beginning for us. Taking a sip of her coffee she replies. Maybe you are trying to rush things a little. Jackie, I am sorry I really did not mean anything more than a relationship as friends. Sean, I can agree with that. You are a nice guy, I had fun last night. I would like to do that again. No strings, no commitment if that is good with you.

Very well, Jackie, I can live with that. I do not wish to hurry things along either. My outlook on life and relationships is to go forth with caution. My last relationship fell apart and left me in tears. Sean, I did hear rumors about that. Tell me the whole story. Jackie, it was solid to start out with. Then she started making demands I simply could not meet. Sean, I heard she left the university because she was pregnant. That part is true; yes we did have a sexual relationship. I thought the baby was mine. I went with her to the doctors and he did a sonogram. She was four months pregnant. The funny thing is we were only going together for two months.

Oh my God, Sean, I can see why that hurt. She expected you to take responsibility for a child that was not yours. Well, that makes me feel better. You know where my mind went. I am sorry I believed the rumors to be true.  I know Jackie; everyone was jumping on the bandwagon. They were calling me names. One guy threatened to put an old fashioned whooping on me. I showed him the results of the sonogram. His face got all red; I think maybe he was her boyfriend before me.

They finished the coffee and sandwich without talking. When they finished Jackie got the study material and put it on the table. The test was not until two in the afternoon and neither had classes in the morning. That left them with four hours to cram for the test. Together they got through all the study material. Jackie and Sean came away learning things they had not thought of before. Sharing ideas does have its benefits. It was nearly one when they pushed the material they were studying to the side. Jackie was hungry and asked Sean if he was too. He smiled and nodded. Jackie said all I have is some bologna and bread. I spent most of my money on new books. Do you have some pickles too? Yes, bologna and pickles. Do you want mustard too? He nodded again so she started making the sandwiches.

They finished their lunch. Jackie asked if he wants a ride to the campus. Sean in his usual way nods. We are going to have to do something with your voice. You seem to have lost it. He laughed and then quoted from an old saying.  A wise old owl lived in an oak, the more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard, now, wasn't he a wise old bird? Sean, she giggles, so you are a comedian also. Only when it fits my needs, yes I will accept a ride. Good, let's go. Jackie and Sean go to the street where her car is parked. It is not much of a car, Daddy’s old Audi. Still, it gets me where I need to go.

Chapter Two

Seismology Test

They went to the auditorium where the test is held. Professor Donald James comes to the podium. He begins, aside from the written test every ten minutes an image will be flashed on the screen. It will only stay up for three minutes. You must write down what the image is telling you. The last three will be for extra credit. There will be ten images in total. I would say good luck on your exam but luck has nothing to do with it. Your studies are what will win you a good grade. You may begin you have three hours to complete this exam.

Two and a half hours go by Jackie feels she has done well. Sean seems to still be working on his. She feels like she did two days of hard labor. She was not nervous at the start and she feels like there were a few trick questions. She hopes she managed to beat them. It’s time for some fresh air. She slips the test papers in the manila envelope and seals it. She drops it into the box at the back of the auditorium. Several others have already put theirs in. Outside the air feels wonderful, unlike the air inside. One of the girls in there was wearing perfume. It smelled like she took a bath in it. She wears a little but it is not overstated. A little is good too much well it just stinks.

Several others were sitting outside the wind had picked up a little and it felt like rain. She pulled out her phone and called her dad. She always was Daddy’s little girl. She told him about the test and how she felt good about it. She also told him about Sean. She got the same old lecture about the man will not buy the cow if the milk is free. She said I know dad, do not worry I am a good girl. She crossed her fingers behind her back. He said before hanging up, I put money in your personal account. Go get something to eat. He had to get to a late meeting and told her to take care.

Her dad is a successful engineer in an oil company. This is where Jackie got her idea to go into seismology. She would visit the office where her dad worked and met a few Seismologists. Aside from wearing work outfits to do their jobs the idea is something Jackie liked. She got to talk to one of the women on the crew. She found out that they make a lot of money. Some in that field makeover ninety thousand a year. The work is challenging but Jackie was never afraid of work. The really nice thing is if she gets too old to do the hard work, she can always get her doctorate in education and teach.

Sean came out and waved at her. She patted the seat beside her. He got the idea and came and sat with her. He pretended to wipe the sweat from his brow. Saying, that was a hard test, I hope I did okay, I know I did not get an A but I am sure I did not fail. Did you get that last slide he put up? Jackie replied yes, it is a Zhang Heng Seismoscope, 132 AD. It was invented by the Chinese astronomer, mathematician, and seismologist. Sean sighed, okay I missed that one. It was only for extra credit though. We will know tomorrow how we did.

Are you hungry Sean? Yes, but I am broke. That is okay; daddy dear just put a grand into my personal account. You bought breakfast I will buy dinner. Just as they were getting up one of the co-eds walked over to Jackie and Sean. She looked straight at Jackie; are you going with him now? Jackie replied well we had a date last night. I don’t count that as going with him. Sean knew the girl as Sandy. She still was looking only at Jackie, well she began, be aware he left his last girlfriend knocked up and kicked her to the curb. Jackie got right in her face; I saw the results of the sonogram. It said she was four months pregnant. Sean had only been going with her for two months. So stop spreading lies around. Sandy was stumped and turned around and walked away.

Sean was holding his hand over his mouth. Only when she was out of sight did he begin laughing. I guess you told her, thanks for coming to my defense. I will let you buy dinner but let’s say I owe you one. How about the Barn Side, no flair but good food. Sean replies sounds great. They go to her car and start out towards the dinner. They go inside and are seated right away. This place is usually busy but they are just ahead of the rush. Sean sits and smiles at Jackie. I guess we can call this our second date. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch she laughs. However, you are kind of cute. Oh, I see, you’re playing hard to get? Jackie laughs again. Actually, Sean, I think you’re quite a hansom. Just don’t let that go to your head.

A waitress comes to their table and they order from the menu. They are making small talk while waiting for their food to arrive. Sean is from Springfield Illinois as she finds out. She tells Sean, she is from Enid Oklahoma. They do not live that far apart. Their food arrives and they talk together about their home town and what they like. A rather get to know your situation. Jackie finds they have a lot of common interests. They head back to the campus Sean asks if he can come up for a nightcap. Jackie looks at him and smiles, yes you may.

Once inside Jackie looks in the fridge, darn all I have is some Pepsi. Will that is okay? Sure I am not really a drinker. I like to have one or two at a party or event. Jackie agrees I am like that too. I may keep a few beers in the fridge to let off steam after a tough day. But I am surprisingly calm tonight. Tests usually leave me overwrought, but not today. I guess being with a friend such as you relieved all the tension. I guess you can call this our second date. Because I did have fun and I enjoyed your company. Sean just smiled, he said nothing. They sat at the table talking until ten o’clock. Jackie looked at Sean; I think it is time to get some rest. That test wore me out. Will I see you tomorrow? Yes, Jackie, I have Geometry and Topology tomorrow at nine am. So do I why is it I don’t see you in the class there? Because I am shy, I hide in the back. Well Sean, tomorrow I will look closer. I normally have my laptop taking notes.

Okay, I will see you tomorrow after class. Sean stood up and headed for the door. Jackie went there with him. Sean asks may I have a hug. Jackie smiles at him, yes, please. Sean holds her tight in what seems like a long time. Jackie looks in his face and their lips meet. The kiss is gentle but goes on for a long time. They step away from