Revolution Road: Broken Trail

By Henry Martin

The world didn't end, it sure did try though. The Fall, the following riots, world unrest, mass hysteria and murder due to everyday products no longer being available. Looking at the world as it is now… you might say it did end. To a group of kids in their senior year, that's furthest from their minds. Pay it forward, an unofficial motto spoken by the group and uttered by those they help. Their mindset is: What can they do for their family, their friends, their neighbors, their country and how can they have fun while doing it? They have their skills learned through training, trial and error, all of which get put to use.

Then just as if it hadn't had enough, the world tried to end again, only this time it was the blatant greed and hunger for power from others that started the next crisis. Revolution can be done in many ways, but sometimes the simplest way can have the best impact.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823013345

Henry Martin

Henry Martin was born in 1986. Growing up he found that he was always facinated by how things worked, later on this would lead to becoming an engineer. Always using his imagination to design or create, along with his avid love of reading, he turned toward his new passion of writing. The Revolution Road storyline is his first attempt at something he truly enjoys doing.

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© 2023 Henry Martin. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/13/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1332-1 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1333-8 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-1334-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023915277

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

In the last several thousand years, empires one after another have arisen, waxed powerful by wars of conquest, and fallen by internal revolution or attack from without.

John Boyd Orr.

It’s said that no matter how strong a civilization becomes, it will always fall over time. Due to varying reasons, these political giants succumb to this fate. The cultures of Babylon, the Roman Empire, the Maya Empire, and even the legendary Atlantis Empire were part of this apparent cycle. As such, it is only a matter of time before the modern powers of the world, try as they might to avoid it, fall just as the prophecy predicts.

This time, the ‘empire’ is America, a land created by the people who came there to escape persecution and earn a new way of life. A land forged through the great acts of many people and millions of deaths to secure and defend it.

Since this young country’s life began, America has stood at the forefront of science and technology, medicine, culture, and politics. They were among the first to lead the way into the air and were the first to the moon. They were the first to lead the way into the nuclear age, but most of all, they led the way through democracy, adopting the ideas that the Romans once used.

However, somewhere through all that greatness and pride in the country, the same honor and respect that the colonists held were eroded and disappeared. The nation’s people became complacent, lazy, and divided due to ignorance. The people more or less stopped caring how their country was run. As long as it didn’t inconvenience them or they didn’t need to work for what they had, the people didn’t care. This lack of concern, in turn, let into the government people who only wanted power and opened the way for a catastrophe the likes of which they had never seen.

Over the long course of the history of the United States, the blunders of people in power and the ignorant laws they created for their gains piled upon each other one after another. This trend of ignoring continued until the turning point when the United States was no longer the United States. A second Great Depression struck the US. Debts that were owed to their people and other countries, the inaction of the lazy or content, and the overaction of those greedy people all contributed to the worst years the country had seen in a very long time.

Riots followed quickly on the heels of the event. Destruction and total anarchy ran rampant in its streets as the people lost their collective minds. An unforeseen side effect of the Great Fall was that this event impacted every country worldwide. The fall of a once great nation figuratively destroyed the planet that it strove to protect and exploit.

As bad as this fall was, the US was the first to recover any economic capacity after re-establishing trade with each of its borders. The US rebuilt quickly and steadily. Then, even though the cause of its fall was the unabashed nature of wanting to help others, it began reaching out to other nations again. It sent what little supplies it could to its allies in a genuine attempt to rekindle life and prosperity elsewhere. It was, however, far from its former glory as a superpower. Its people spread out from the big cities, trying to keep in contact with family, others just trying to survive in what way they knew how.

As time passed, it became what one would call a superpower again; the freedom the original United States had boasted of was now its driving force again after a long time. During the dark times before the fall, many people didn’t follow the laws made by corrupt politicians. People had guns, equipment to survive, the knowledge to do so, and the hunger that the country’s people had not felt since the days of its creation back when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Other countries, however, were not as lucky. Most fell on hard times as the weather and location obstructed production. Lack of morals, freedom, and harmful materials also slowed down any rebuilding that was trying to take place. Slowly, over time, the other countries began to become angry with the U.S., saying that they had been withholding resources and labor needed for their restoration. Denying this, the U.S. built as fast as possible, fearing…or knowing that something might happen.

The people in charge had been right. Thus, many U.S. citizens paid the ultimate price for it. In the past, some countries known as China, Korea, and Vietnam had formed one giant state. Other countries, such as Iran and Iraq, did the same, solidifying the world with fewer countries. Before the Great Fall, there had been nearly 200 distinct countries. After the fall and subsequent mergers that created the super-states, there was a mere fraction of the number of countries. Most smaller countries had been destroyed or absorbed to increase power further.

In their anger or jealousy, some of these ‘super states’ saw fit to invade the US, and as the US’s allies were in no position even to attempt to help, it was hit hard. The super states began devouring the resources that had been used in an attempt to rebuild as much as possible, but it was made very difficult. The people weren’t as lazy as they had once been, and they resisted violently as their newfound hunger for their country gave them the courage to do whatever was necessary to preserve it.

The year is 2045, and this is the story of a few people who came together to survive, only to impact the world.

Chapter 1

The bell inside the school rang at the bottom half of the hour, telling everyone it was time to go home. The students in the high school didn’t cheer, but they left as quickly as they could as they caught up with friends, went to club activities, or just decided to hang out. Most of them, if not all, just wanted to be out of the decaying building that constantly reminded them of what was and is no more.

On the other hand, the seniors gathered around their cars if they had them, making jokes and pointing at the ungainly freshmen who didn’t know what they were doing. It was the start of a new year, and everyone was looking forward to what came next, which in the senior’s case was a shorter year and finally getting out on their own.

Two of the seniors stood out from the rest. Others surrounded them as they sat in the back of an old forest-green 1979 Ford Bronco. It was the pride and joy of the boy relaxing in the bed, having rebuilt it over the years. Everyone nearby was laughing, having a good time as the first day of their senior year in high school came to an easy and uneventful end. They looked at their friends as they relaxed, basking in their free time, knowing they would soon be swamped with homework, tests, projects, and even jobs.

Everything was good as they talked about some of the current political issues or the state their country was in. This kind of interaction from the younger generation would have been unheard of just a few years before. That was the time before the event that became known as The Collapse or The Fall. The country’s young people genuinely taking an interest in the country’s well-being would have blown people away before 2040.

People, both the young and the old, were interested in what was happening now. They tried to know what was happening regarding the economy and how they might help. They wanted to be a part of the law-making process like the people were back when America was founded, though their actions were not like others during the time leading up to the Fall by causing total anarchy over a perceived slight. Kids helped independently, using their free time to complete any small job they could, minor building repairs, landscaping, and even construction if needed. It left the adults to do the other things the children couldn’t grasp then. Life in the United States was beginning to look up as it began to recover its former glory.

The seniors were deciding what they would do next when they graduated. Some would go to college, and others would join the reconstruction effort. Most of them would join the military, though. Everyone had an idea of where they would go, and it seemed as if nothing would stop them. The two seniors in the covered rear of the large forest green ’79 Bronco were the two for which their particular school was well known. They were kids still in school and taking an active role in re-creating their country.

The boy in the duo was Jerod Connor. Everyone knew him as J.C., though his friends preferred calling him Jerod. Standing at just over six and a half feet, he was built big, his days doing odd jobs having kept his physical image lean, which, in contrast to his best friend, made him look much more prominent along with his telltale wide-brimmed leather mountaineer hat, and his red hair and green eyes from his Scottish heritage.

His claim to fame wasn’t academic as much as it was pure dumb luck. His ‘luck’ had allowed him to do amazing things, such as survive a building crashing down on him. He had helped people out of dangerous situations, and he had many trophies for competitions for doing things deemed impossible through sports and competitions over the years. Almost everyone noticed that the boy’s features always seemed relaxed as if nothing would bother him. He also usually had a look in his eye that made it seem like he could see the angles of a situation that no one else could.

The girl, Jerod’s partner in crime for most of his life, was Terry Johnson, known as TJ. Her lithe five-foot-eleven frame housed a pair of unnaturally blue eyes that seemed to be able to stare into the very heart of the person she was looking at. The only thing that stuck out more was her hair. Typically, it was a light gold or nearly platinum blonde, a color that could be seen for quite a distance in its own right. She recently received a hair coloring kit as a present from Jerod. It happened to be in her favorite color, cherry blossom pink. She’d used that to dye her hair so that when she wore her trademark loose ponytail that just reached the base of her neck, her hair blended from her natural color at her scalp to the unfaded cherry blossom color at the end.

A certified genius, she used her knowledge by coming up with inventive ways to create explosives to be used in the reconstruction effort. Not only did the new government trust her with the materials, but they also trusted her with using those destructive devices when they didn’t have the people to spare for a project. So, she was often called out of classes to go to job sites, to which she usually dragged Jerod.

From a young age, Jerod and Terry had been taught by a family friend who had retired from the military. He’d served for quite a few years before reaching the age at which he could relax and leave the military. Since most of the adults were often off doing something important for the reconstruction, these two were left in this man’s hands as a favor to their parents. He was able to think of a way to keep them occupied with very little trouble. His idea was to teach them everything he knew: tracking and hunting, traps, shooting, concealment, and explosives. Anything and everything he could think of to help them out in the world was on his list to teach until he knew that they would be able to survive on their own if the worst came to pass. To say he was a cautious and paranoid fellow did him little justice.

While everyone else knew what they wanted to do when they got out of high school, Jerod and Terry were already doing it. Moreover, they loved every minute, even if they had little free time to show for it. Every day brought new possibilities, new adventures, and new friends as they moved along the path they had set before them. Most of all, neither would ever give up the new memories they created with each other.

Jerod. We have that job planned for tomorrow, you know, Terry said as she pulled out a pad of paper that had their engagements written in little side notations along with what she was actually looking for.

Which one are you talking about? The Dewalt Vandover job? Jerod asked as he looked over the side of the truck. I haven’t forgotten.

Some students walked by, heading to practice with their football pads over their shoulders. The high school coach was known to be rough if the players were late, so they never attempted to stop and say hello to the two. Other students were hanging about with their bags outside, doing something that took up their time. It was a beautiful day, so many took advantage of it by doing their homework under the sun.

That’s right. The government will be sending a squad to protect us while we set the charges, Terry said as she remembered the memo about bandits in the area of the Vandover Mall, even though that wasn’t where they were going.

Ok. So I’ll bring my rifle. That’s not a problem. When will they be arriving? He asked as he looked back at his friends, still discussing their day.

Jerod listened closely to their little group of friends. They weren’t carefree but weren’t working on anything significant with Jerod or Terry. Of course, he did blame Terry for the extraordinary lives they and their friends had when the two of them weren’t on government jobs. They certainly were never bored. She was the smart one, and she usually dragged him along on odd jobs or, when they were younger, to strange places. He had to admit it was usually a highlight of his day when she tried to figure out how to get him to go along and do something until she figured out that asking was easier. More often than not, those jobs and exploring were fun, but they did get into trouble routinely.

They will probably pick us up here at the school at around 10 a.m. I wish they would just let us go out there ourselves.

I’m not complaining. It saves us from having to buy more fuel in the long run. We may no longer depend on petroleum or oils, but fuel prices are still pretty high, Jerod spat as he remembered how much it had cost him to fill his truck up earlier that morning. Besides, tomorrow is Saturday, and no one will have their image of you destroyed by seeing you get picked up by a military hummer. It’s not that strange.

When Terry didn’t give him a punch or quip in response, he focused on what she was looking at. A little boy and girl stood by the back of the truck, staring up at the both of them from the dropped tailgate. They were freshmen from their looks. How they had gotten so close to his truck without being squashed by the seniors or noticed by anyone was beyond him. However, there they stood, apparently amazed at what they saw when they looked at Terry and Jerod.

Terry was smiling at the kids. She was always happy to see the looks of awe like what the kids showed. The fact that she could make such an impact on someone so young as to render them speechless when they met often made Terry giggle. Jerod, on the other hand, wanted to shoo them away. Not because they were bothering him but because it made him uncomfortable to have someone fawn over him for being lucky.

Can we help you two? Lisa asked the two newcomers as she leaned over the truck’s passenger side, blocking Terry from view.

Lisa Holt was a good friend to Terry and Jerod, and she often ran interceptions between them and people who just wanted autographs or something else that was trivial. She was very motherly-oriented and usually corralled younger students or little children around. You could usually find her quickly as her red hair stood out like Jerod’s, though hers leaned slightly toward brown. She was usually with her boyfriend, Tom Higgins. Terry and Jerod never asked her to be a go-between for them. She just took it upon herself and never made a fuss otherwise.

As they stood there, the two new faces shook their heads yes in response to Lisa’s question. The girl was rubbing her hands together, apparently nervous. The boy was just as unnerved, standing there as if he was afraid any movement would draw some attention he didn’t want. When it seemed apparent that they weren’t going to volunteer the reason they were standing there, Lisa pushed them a bit with some soft words to calm them down.

It turned out that their family had just moved into a house that had not been adequately maintained. Neither did they say if it had been previously occupied. Since their parents were always busy working and got home late, the work on the house was slow going. They wanted to know if Jerod and Terry could help them at least fix some of the significant problems with the house before their parents both got home the next day. They’d heard all the rumors about how they would help others and had met a few people who had been assisted somehow.

You’re home alone? Lisa asked with a bit of sadness in her voice.

We’re freshmen in high school, not babies. We can fend for ourselves for a few days, The boy retorted, obviously irritated with the unwanted sympathy that Lisa was throwing their way. It’s just that this is a bit beyond us. We’ve never really done something this complicated.

Where do you live? Jerod asked before noticing the piece of paper the boy was holding.

Jerod reached out quickly like a snake striking at something and grabbed it, surprising both the freshmen. He turned it over, carefully looking it over as if it were something new and exotic. Inside the folded confines was an address, nothing else.

Terry seemed to think about the offer for a few moments, giving Jerod a casual glance to see if he would agree. As much of a tough act as he put on, Jerod had a soft spot that very few people knew he had. He wholeheartedly loved helping people. When Jerod turned and looked at Terry to ask if she was okay with it, she just gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

Without a word, she climbed from her position in the back into the Bronco’s front passenger seat. Everyone started backing away from the truck, realizing the gathering place was about to roll out. There had been an unspoken order that seemed to filter through the crowd that had surrounded them.

Can someone grab the cap and put it back on? Jerod asks loudly as he crawls forward to enter the driver’s seat. A boy walked up to the open window smiling, and Jerod handed him the paper with the address. Tom. I know you’re busy and can’t go tonight, but before you leave, can you grab whoever will come and send them to the kids’ address? I’d prefer it if you could get some people who know how to use their hands. We’ll get an estimate of what needs to be done when we see the house and start from there.

Want me to see if the football coach will lend us some help? Pretty sure he’ll say yes now for a good workout for the players.

Sure, see if the whole team can come. Say it will be good strength training. Jerod replies quickly.

As Tom walked off, Jerod looked at the clock on the dashboard. It was only 2:45 p.m. Jerod knew they could work into the night a bit. He grabbed his leather hat from the dashboard and put it on tight, pulling the brim down a bit in front of him. Terry smiled as she donned her nearly matching leather hat that was a gift from Jerod a few years back.

Lisa? Are you going to come with? Terry asked as Lisa moved away from the truck.

Lisa had to wait a few seconds as a group of kids around the Bronco picked up and carried the truck’s cap back to where it was supposed to be. They’d taken it off the truck because Jerod wanted to sit in the back without being covered. The four kids carefully put it back in its place, ensuring it was snug before two of them jumped in the back to secure it to the bed of the full-sized SUV. Once they were done, they jumped out and walked off, not even giving Jerod a chance to thank them.

No, I have to watch the little brother. I’ll stop by and see if I can help out tomorrow, Lisa replied as she waved to the kids sitting in the now-covered bed of the Bronco. Send me pictures of the interior. I’ll see what I can think up for colors and wallpapers for the family to try out later.

Jerod watched everyone walk off before noticing the kids still behind the truck. He turned to look at them, wondering what they were doing before he realized they weren’t sure what to do themselves.

Jump in! Jerod says, watching them become surprised before doing what he told them.

Someone was kind enough to lift the tailgate as he counted the seconds until it was clear enough for him to back out. Then he put the truck’s key in the ignition and turned it. The rumble of the large 460 cubic inch engine as it turned over and started rattled the air. Jerod sat there and listened briefly before depressing the clutch and throwing the truck into reverse.

You always do that when you start up your truck, Terry says, bemused.

Yeah? And?

It’s just an engine.

Jerod stepped on the brake just as they were about to leave the parking lot and stared at Terry. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to find, rebuild, and engine swap this thing into my Bronco? I even learned how to make that synthetic fuel crap the military designed long ago for oil shortages so I could have this engine instead of a diesel engine!"

Terry was smiling at Jerod’s response and shook her head in laughter. Boys, you do love your toys. You going to raise the tailgate window?

Hell no, too nice out, and the breeze will feel great, Jerod says as he puts the Bronco into first gear.

Terry put her hand on Jerod’s knee, getting him to pause for a second. Good boy.

Chapter 2

The ride to the children’s house had been much faster than Jerod and Terry had expected. Upon arrival, they could see what the kids meant when they said the place’s upkeep was sorely lacking. The house had seen better days, though it was livable by current standards.

The porch, stairway, and walkway up to the front door were overgrown with weeds. The porch itself looked like it wouldn’t last another minute. The house desperately needed a paint job, and the siding was a joke. Much of it was just a layer of plastic to keep most of the water out on rainy days.

This run-down, decrepit look was standard after The Collapse. Most homes just weren’t appropriately kept for obvious reasons. Jerod had a pad out and was taking notes on what they would need to fix those problems almost as soon as he got out of the Bronco. His first thought was that he hoped it was structurally sound and not rotted from mold and mildew or eaten away by bugs.

Terry and Jerod walked around the house methodically to see what else they could do to help. They stopped next to a pile of brand-new plastic sheets that he instantly recognized as the siding. The one downside was that dirt and grime were all over them, probably due to the items lying there for a while, and would need to be cleaned thoroughly before being placed on the house. A mound of vines nearby also seemed to be covering something up, though he couldn’t tell what for the moment. Jerod noted it as they walked on to have someone clean it.

The kids then showed them the house’s interior. It turned out to be slightly better than the exterior. The place was a literal mess from what the two teens could see. The wood flooring of the halls and living room was left unfinished, and the floor for the kitchen hadn’t even been started yet. Jerod noticed piles of tile, wood, nails, and grout nearby, so someone could start and probably finish both projects in just a few days.

Walking around, Jerod and Terry saw that some of the walls had large holes in the drywall, and parts of the house were missing chunks of insulation in addition to sections of drywall. One thing they did find, to their surprise, was that the plumbing wasn’t as bad as they had thought it would be. There seemed to be only a few leaks at the sinks, and the bathtubs needed to be sealed or the pipes tightened.

As they finished their inspection, Jerod’s paper pad had several pages flipped over with notes on needed items. When they left the house, they saw several trucks and a few vans pull up the rocky driveway. The vehicle cabs were packed to the breaking point with people, and the trucks’ beds were holding just as many. Jerod smiled as he thought back to his history class earlier that day. The teacher had said that before The Fall, no one cared about anyone but themselves, and if they did, it was usually in the worst possible way, but now people wanted to help out like they felt it was their duty.

Well, this will cost a pretty penny, Jerod told Terry without any tact.,

The two kids cried out, probably thinking they would leave. It was evident to Jerod and Terry how important this little job was to them. Terry gave Jerod a sly glance. It was a look that told him not to be too blunt with how he said things around them and to get to the point.

Please help us! We’ll do anything! The girl said as she looked on the verge of tears.

Jerod could see that they wanted help in a big way and that it seemed they were the only ones who could do it for them. He wasn’t in the business of turning down someone who legitimately wanted or needed help.

Terry. Do you mind taking a few people to the local hardware stores to pick up what we need? Jerod asked as he placed his hand on the girl’s head and smiled. I’ll help out around here.

Sure. I can use our discount. Lord knows the government won’t mind. They still owe us for the last job we did. Besides, I believe this will boost the economy. Isn’t that how they put it? Terry said as she watched several seniors walk up with belts laden with all manner of tools already around their waists.

They asked one all-encompassing question, Where do you need us?

Jerod watched as Terry wasted zero time thinking of how she wanted to set each of them up. They were all friends that he and Terry knew well. They each had their talents, and each had done jobs rebuilding things with Terry and Jerod at one point or another. With that specific group there, making that house less of an eyesore became easier by a large margin.

Jamie, take a group around back. There is a large pile of siding that looks brand new but dirty. Inspect it, try to clean it, use bleach if necessary, and get it into position to finish up the house. When you finish that project, please go up on the roof to ensure nothing is amiss while I’m out getting things. Also, if you have the time, try scraping off some peeling paint around the windows so we can put a fresh coat on at some point.

Jamie Renwell was a bit of a strange mix of characteristics. She stood only five foot six inches tall and seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades person who could pick up and do anything reasonably efficiently. She never seemed to excel at anything but entertainment. She found it boring after a short while if it had nothing to do with music, movies, or organizing parties and gatherings. That being said, she was as bright as they came. She always seemed to anticipate things before they happened. Egyptian and Japanese heritage gave her an attractive mix of looks that complemented her long, perfectly black hair and her aloof attitude.

Figured I would need them. I have a few boxes of nails and some adhesive that should do the trick. Besides, I didn’t feel like getting yelled at by Rachel again. Jamie said before running off to her truck.

David, I need you to grab whomever you want and rip up that porch. It looked like it wasn’t attached to the foundation, so it should be ok, and while you’re at it, get rid of the forest around it too.

David Colt was colossal, just as tall as Jerod but with twice the muscle. He looked like the iconic 1960s white all-American high school boy with brown hair and eyes. Jerod and David quickly became friends when they were young since David always seemed to be able to keep up with Jerod when they played. He was always trying to find ways to make others laugh, even at the expense of himself, especially when things seemed to be going badly.

Man, I’m always stuck with weeding, David said with a laugh as he ran to his van, pulled out a gorilla bar, and grabbed six of the more muscular football players to help him. Come on, guys. We have our work cut out for us again.

David, if you want to complain about that little bit, you can have a nice discussion with Mackey, Terry said with a laugh.

David shook his head. No, thank you. I know the crap he usually gets issued on your projects.

Mackey, you have yard duty. I don’t care what you do; clean it up as best you can. There’s also a huge mess of vines in the back. It looks like it’s probably covering some stuff up. Look into that if you could. Terry took a deep breath and yelled so everyone could hear her as they moved off to start their jobs. I want updates. Give them to Jerod if you can’t find me! I don’t care about the interval, but tell us what you need so we don’t waste time!

Mackey Brookman was a flower child in the most literal of terms. Standing just under six feet, he surprised everyone when they saw him because he was built like a brick house. He loved gardening, landscaping, and botany. Working outside in the dirt always made him smile, no matter the situation. Because of his African ancestry, it left him with no shortage of good and bad jokes about his love of the outdoors. He always has some plan to turn something into a lovely but manageable garden or turn a small spot of land into a small farm plot. He often said his mission in life was to restore the balance between man and nature.

Mackey looked at David and snorted before giving him a large, overbearing bow. Why massa, I never knew yous did any labor!

I… David started.

You racist bastard! Mackey continued in his best Achmed voice from Jeff Dunham, something he was getting pretty good at mimicking to his credit.

Mackey ran off laughing to the shed, the two freshmen and half the football team in tow, to grab shovels and other things to let them do the assigned job. David quickly dragged the rest of his own help over to the porch in just as high spirits. It didn’t take long before his group started causing a stir as the noise of their destructive work echoed everywhere.

Terry turned to Rachel next, a reasonably severe look on her face. Rachel was, in fact, the only person Terry or Jerod knew who understood anything substantial about carpentry and how to fix things, especially when those repairs were inside a house and without destroying the rest of the house itself.

Rachel, there are quite a few holes inside on the walls. Grab your tools and take a few people to clean them out to prepare for patching. I also want you to look at the wood and tile flooring while you’re in there. And as always, please do a general inspection. We don’t want this house coming down on anyone’s head.

Rachel Hunter was a military brat who never let anyone forget it. Her father had put her through self-defense courses and physical training since she was young. Rachel had an eye for construction that amazed most of them, with knowledge of electrical and plumbing that baffled them, as no one knew where Rachel had learned it. You wouldn’t know it from how she looked or acted, but she supposedly descended from French royalty. The entire group liked to joke about it because her skin was usually tan and a bit rough from working outside, even though she did her best to cover up and use lotions when she could get them.

Rachel nodded, tying her dirty blonde hair in a loose ponytail as Terry grabbed a few kids and took off in Jerod’s old Bronco. With everything set, Jerod looked around and tried to figure out where he could help. Jerod could either help with prying up the deck in the front of the house or assist Mackey in digging up holes at the spots where he wanted to plant things. He could even go in to help Rachel tear things down to rebuild them. Jerod was somewhat grateful that he at least had a choice.

To say the items on the list were hard was an understatement. Most of the kids leftover who weren’t part of the football team and helping weren’t overly strong or didn’t have as much stamina. So, anything they participated in took a bit more time to get things done, especially with the afternoon sun and humidity. To their credit, they were all just as stubborn as Jerod, and things progressed reasonably. Even the kids that had brought them there for the job helped out, bringing out water in large pitchers that were cool to the touch.

When the first trucks returned carrying their supplies, most of the prep work had been done. The plastic outside the house had been torn down and cleaned away. Jamie’s group was placing the now clean siding up. The porch was gone. Most of the burly football players had fun destroying it in a big show of strength for the few girls there once it was confirmed it wasn’t attached to the house.

David’s group was currently clearing out the weeds, grass, and mounds of dirt around where the new porch would be placed. That meant dirt was flying everywhere as there were no flowers currently in the area that they would have needed to watch out for. The people in the yard had pulled out shovels, spades, and pickaxes to dig holes and trenches where bushes and trees would be planted. Mackey had even gone one step further, marking the driveway, digging parallel holes on each side, and getting ready to plant some trees to follow the path.

The first truck to pull up had the wood, nails, and tools David and his group needed to put on a new porch. There were even wood railings ready to enclose the entire porch area strapped to one of the vehicles. They didn’t hesitate to pick up the posthole maker and start putting in the posts that would line the outer edge of the porch. David had had Rachel come out to measure beforehand where the posts would need to be.

The second, third, and fourth trucks pulled up with bags of dirt, mulch, and gravel to be deposited where Mackey wanted so he could begin planting. Mackey’s only problem was that he had nothing to grow yet, so they continued to dig up the areas that Mackey and the two siblings indicated.

Thirty minutes later, Jerod’s Bronco pulled up, carrying the sheetrock hanging a bit dangerously out the rear using the tailgate for support with other materials piled on top to fix the inside of the house. Yet what caught everyone off guard was that it pulled an oversized dual-axle trailer that could have pulled another pickup. Jerod laughed at the image of his Bronco pulling a trailer that could haul another Bronco.

There were bushes, trees, and other assorted greenery on that trailer that Mackey hadn’t had a chance to ask for. When Mackey saw that, he smiled and looked over at Jerod, who only shook his head and shrugged, indicating that it hadn’t been him. They both looked to see Terry getting out to walk over to Mackey.

Thought you could do something with these, She said with a smile as Mackey began to laugh again. It took me a while to pick some good generic ones that would work, and we have to take the trailer back. They loaned it to us to carry everything.

Yeah, I’m all set for them. If you don’t mind returning for more, I’ll need a few more trees. Mackey answered as he pointed at the holes lining the sides of the driveway.

Will we be done by tomorrow evening? Terry wondered out loud as she looked over the scene, not expecting anyone to answer.

"We’ll be fine. Prep work is