Clueless - Prolog
“Oh no, Jack! We’re out of salad dressings! And Susan and Ken, and Doris and Davey will be here soon!”
“Better check the grill propane tank, too, I guess,” Jack replied to his wife, Alicia. “I haven’t filled it since the last party we had.”
“That would be so embarrassing, Jack. Can’t you get two of the tanks?”
Jack frowned slightly. “I don’t want to tie up money in a second tank when I just have to go a few blocks to get it filled at Henderson’s station.”
“Oh, I suppose you’re right. But hurry. You know Ken. He’s never late. Usually early.”
“Yeah. I know. Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Alicia went back into the kitchen. She heard the patio door open and close, and then silence. She busied herself with the preparations for the small get together with their friends. It was their turn this month and she wanted to at least equal Susan’s last party, if not best it.
She kept glancing at the clock, wishing Jack would hurry up and Ken wasn’t so prompt. With everything ready, Alicia went to her and Jack’s bedroom to take off the apron that had protected her undergarments and slipped into her dress for the evening. It was only the second time she’d worn it. After freshening her makeup, Alicia went back to the living room to wait.
She didn’t have long to wait. Moments after sitting down on the sofa, the front door opened and Jack came in, followed by Ken and Susan. Alicia jumped to her feet and went to great her guests.
She started to close the door, but Doris and Davey were coming up the walk. She held the door for them and then greeted them all, after getting their coats hung up in the entry closet.
“So good to see you,” Alicia gushed, giving the women a kissy face as Jack shook hands with the guys. They followed Jack out to the patio to hook up the propane tank and get it ready for the steaks.
Alicia began to serve the before dinner drinks, as she caught up on gossip with the two women. The men were doing much the same, discussing their various jobs and who had done what with whom when Alicia called to Jack that the drinks were ready.
The three men returned to the living room and the talk turned to non gender specific issues. Mostly how the children were doing, the weather, the state of the economy, and plans for the next party.
All in all, it was a pleasant evening, with only one interruption when, Ellie, Jack’s and Alicia’s two year old daughter came into the living room asking for a drink of water.
“Oh, honey,” Alicia cooed, “Of course you can have a drink of water.” She smiled at the other two women. It was pretty much par for the course during these parties. Each of the families had children, and Ken and Susan Morgot had one child and a dog, while Doris and Davey Klein had both a cat and a dog, along with their two children.
Inevitably, one of the children or animals would need something during the course of the party. Alicia came back into the living room after seeing to Ellie’s needs and getting her back to bed, and asked, “What did I miss?”
“Nothing much,” Jack replied as Alicia sat down on the arm of his chair and put one hand around his shoulders for balance. “Just starting to discuss further the state of the economy.”
“Such as it is,” Ken said. “I don’t know what things are coming to. Fully a third of my clients are wanting to get into gold and silver. I don’t understand it. The stock and bond markets are active and you can make money whether they go up or down.”
“Well, aren’t there gold stocks available?” asked Davey. “Mining company stocks and such?”
“Yes. That’s what I try to get them to invest in, but some of them are having me sell stocks and bonds to buy actual silver and gold. Coins and even bullion bars. It’s crazy.”
“Jewelry, I could see,” Jack said, looking thoughtful. “But gold coins and bullion? You’re right. It’s crazy. We’ll never go back onto the gold standard. Gold and silver are just commodities like wheat and what do they call them… Pork bellies?”
The six laughed. “Yes. Pork bellies,” Ken said. “I don’t do commodities, as you know. Too risky. But better pork bellies than gold. Everyone has to eat, after all.”
There was another laugh. But things turned a little more somber when Alicia said, “And that is getting more expensive every day, it seems like.”
“I know,” Doris said. “We just had to adjust our budget, because of the increases in the prices of everything.”
Quickly Davey said, “Just the matter of a couple of adjustments. Annoyances. No more.” It was obvious to the others that he was not going to admit to any financial stress. Not to these people.
But he wasn’t alone in his feelings. Jack said, “We had to make a couple of adjustments, too. But I’m expecting that raise I didn’t get last time. The company is doing pretty good, despite everything.”
Ken wouldn’t be left out. “We’re actually doing pretty good. My personal trading has kept us in pretty good shape, even with the number of clients that have left the market.” Ken winced slightly. He hadn’t meant to mention his slowly declining client base.
Then another round started when Jack patted Alicia’s knee. “Of course, Alicia is an expert shopper. We always get the best for less. Isn’t that right, Sweetheart?” He looked up at her face. Only he could tell how hard it was for her to agree.
“Yes. A little middle class, but I do shop for the best bargains. No sense in throwing away money.”
“True,” Doris replied. “I’ve even picked up the coupon habit, silly as that sounds. I save a bundle on everything.”
“Yes,” Susan added. “I believe it’s just sensible to be practical, no matter how well off we are.”
“I think we’d better be on our way,” Ken said, standing up. “No need to pay the baby sitter another hour if we don’t need to. It was a wonderful party, guys. Thank you.”
That started a round of ‘thank yous’ and good nights. Alicia and Jack both sighed when the door was closed and locked.
“Can you believe that Ken is losing clients?” Jack said with a shake of his head.
“And Doris couponing. Such a shame,” Alicia said.
A few more minutes and they were checking on Ellie and then getting into bed. Both fell asleep wondering just what kind of shape the other two families were actually in. They knew that they’d stretched things a bit… more than a bit… about their own situation. If Jack didn’t get the raise he was anticipating, things were going to get tight. Very tight.
Clueless
“Jack,” Alicia said just shy of a month later. “Ellie needs a few things for daycare.”
“Sure,” Jack replied, not even lowering the paper he was reading at the breakfast table. “Just put it on the child care credit card.”
When there was no response for several seconds, Jack lowered the paper and looked over at his wife. She had her lower lip in her teeth and was obviously trying very hard not to cry.
“Alicia? What is it?”
“The child care credit card is maxed. I had to use it to get groceries this week. The household budget card is maxed, too. That party cost us a lot, with the higher prices.”
Jack set the paper aside. “Both cards are maxed? What have you been buying?”
“Don’t accuse me, Jack. I checked all the card balances when I couldn’t use the child care credit card. You’re maxed out on all but one of your cards.”
“That. Well… Yes… But I had very good reasons…”
“And buying food and things for the baby, and keeping myself looking nice for you aren’t good reasons?”
“No. I didn’t mean that like it sounded. Doggone it! I should have got that raise! They as much as promised me. But no. I’m now assistant to the VP for sales. A stinking title! A title doesn’t pay the bills!”
“I know, Jack. I know. It wasn’t fair. But you can’t fret about it too much. Remember your heart. The doctor said you had to get rid of some stress or risk a serious heart attack. That little glitch last week is just a warning sign.”
“I know. I know. But what am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Alicia said. She turned around so Jack wouldn’t see the tears flow openly.
It wasn’t until that evening, after Jack got home from his job that they actually discussed the situation.
“Honey… Look… I know you love the charity work you do. You’re good at it, and people appreciate it. But I don’t know what else to do. You’re going to need to spend more time at home so we can eliminate the child care costs.”
“Oh, Jack!” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I love Ellie! But she enjoys the time at the center so much…”
“I know, Alicia. I do. But between the child care costs, and the costs you have associated with your charity work, we can save enough to maybe get a couple of the credit cards paid down. They are eating us alive with interest.”
“What about you, Jack? What are you giving up?” The tears had slowed, but there were still plenty in her eyes left to fall.
“Yes. Yes. Of course. I’ll have to cut back, too…”
“Your golf Sundays… the premium liquor and cigars…”
“Aw! Alicia!” Jack wanted to protest. But seeing the look on Alicia’s face caved him in. “Yes. I’ll stop those events. It’s almost winter, anyway. We’re just going to have to rewrite the budget and start saving everywhere we can. Both of us.”
Again Alicia turned away so Jack wouldn’t see the rest of the tears falling as she put away the supper dishes from the dishwasher.
With the decisions made, things went a little easier that week. Until Friday. Jack was pasty white when he came into the house. Alicia was playing with Ellie on the living room floor when Jack came in. She saw his face and quickly climbed to her feet.
“Jack! Jack! You’re so pale! Is it your heart?”
Jack just shook his head, handed Alicia an opened envelope, and more or less collapsed onto the sofa. He didn’t protest when Ellie climbed up onto his lap for a snuggle. She was fast asleep when Alicia had finished reading the contents of the envelope. She was just as pale as Jack.
“They can’t, Jack! You’ve been there for years! They can’t lay you off now! You just got that promotion.”
“Some promotion,” Jack said bitterly. “Did you read the letter closely? All assistants are being laid off. If I hadn’t received that new title, I’d still have a job. The guy that moved into my position is staying. He’s only been there three years and makes half of what I do. I think they knew this was coming and gave me the title just so I’d be cut and someone that costs them less could take over my old job.”
“Can they do that?”
“Yes they can. Seniority doesn’t mean much at the company anymore. Only the bottom line.”
“What are we going to do, Jack?”
“I don’t know, Alicia. I just don’t know. The severance will pay the mortgage next month, and the 401(k) the next couple. But that’s all. Unemployment won’t even come close. We have three months to come up with something. I’ll think of something. I have to.”
That month’s party was the next day. Jack and Alicia couldn’t think of a reason not to go. They both thought about just saying they couldn’t get a sitter for the evening, but that seemed too lame. They couldn’t afford one, so they broke protocol and took Ellie along with them for the evening.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Alicia said as soon as Ken opened the door to greet them. “Finding a suitable babysitter is getting impossible. We decided to bring Ellie along rather than miss the party.”
“Oh. Well… sure. Come on in.” Ken turned toward the kitchen and called to Susan. “Suze, the Penningtons are here. They brought Ellie along.”
“What?” asked Susan, when she came into the living room. “Oh. Ellie.” Susan recovered her composure at this blatant disregard of the three couples’ unwritten rules of party etiquette.
Ellie was looking around sleepily. It was already past her bedtime. “She should go right back to sleep,” Alicia said.
“Yes. Of course. We can put her in the spare room,” Susan said, leading Alicia, carrying Ellie, toward the downstairs bedroom hallway.
Ken was hanging up Jack’s coat when the two women returned. Jacked helped Alicia out of her coat and Ken put it away, too. They’d barely turned back to the living room when the doorbell rang.
It was Doris and Davey. Both had on only light jackets and were shivering when they entered.
“Getting cold out there,” Davey said, helping Doris off with her jacket. “A touch of snow as we parked.”
“Yes,” Ken said. “Supposed to be an inch or more accumulation tonight. I don’t know about this weather. The scientists keep saying global warming, but the winters seem worse the last three years here.”
“It’s getting to the point where I don’t believe anything the media is saying about anything,” Davey said. He handed Ken Doris’ wrap and shrugged out of his own light jacket.
“Well,” Ken said, a little hesitantly, “I’m not so sure I’d go that far… But I sure don’t believe much of what is being said about the economy recovering.”
Ken winced when Alicia announced Jack’s employment situation. “Jack was laid off this week. All without notice.”
“You’re kidding!” exclaimed Ken. “You’ve been there for years!”
“Yeah. Didn’t make a cotton picking bit of difference.”
“What are you going to do?” Doris asked.
“Actually,” Jack said, “I was hoping to pick all of your brains to see if you could help me come up with something. Thought there might be something available with one of the outfits that you work for.”
“Ah…” Ken ushered them into the living room. “Man, I don’t have a clue. The agency has put a freeze on hiring. I don’t know why. The market keeps getting stronger. It’s those dang gold bugs that are ruining things for the rest of us.”
“We’re having some layoffs at the plant, too,” Davey said. “So far I’ve missed the cuts.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Doris said. Her annoyance was obvious.
“I didn’t want to worry you, my dear.”
Doris looked around at the others. “We’ll discuss it later, Honey,” Doris said, stressing the ‘Honey’ when she told Davey.
“Of course. Something smells delicious,” Davey said, anxious to get the subject changed.
“Yes. Susan is making her world famous beef stew tonight. Home baked bread, and I just uncorked a very nice Bordeaux that should go well with it.”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever had your beef stew, Susan,” Alicia said. “Is it a special recipe?”
“Handed down from my grandmother,” Susan replied. “It’s a big hit at family reunions. I’m the only one with Grandmother’s recipe.”
“Must be something,” Jack said. “Sure smells good.”
“Drinks all around?” Ken asked.
While Ken prepared the usual drinks that each had at almost every party, the talk turned back to the weather. When Ken handed Jack his drink and Jack took the first sip, he cut a quick look at Ken. Not only was the drink short on liquor, it wasn’t the same premium that Ken always served. It certainly wasn’t rot gut, but it was far from a premium.
Alicia’s eyes met Jack’s. She’d noticed the difference in her drink, as well. Doris and Davey didn’t seem to notice.
Jack was again surprised when they all sat down to eat. There was only the one bottle of wine, where they usually went through two bottles during a party. And it wasn’t anything to write home about, Jack decided, despite what Ken had said.
Nor was the stew anything special. Jack knew his meats. Was something of a snob when it came to quality meats. The stew meat was just that. Grocery store stew meat. He’d been expecting a premium piece of meat cut into stew chunks. Not so.
Dessert, however, was up to Susan’s normal standards. Excellent presentation and the flavors were perfect. The only thing Jack decided, was that though excellent, it was one of the cheapest of the desserts that Susan usually made.
When it was time to go, Jack and Alicia said their thank-yous, bundled up Ellie and headed for home. “Did you notice the drinks?” Alicia asked Jack as he drove slowly through a heavy snowfall.
“Yes. The wine, too. Even the meat in the stew was second quality. Not like Ken and Susan at all,” Jack said.
“Do you think they may be having financial problems?”
“I suspect so. They paid too much for the house, and didn’t pay enough down. Their mortgage, Ken told me, is close to five figures. This housing bust must be devastating to his net worth. That house is probably worth half… two-thirds at most, of what they paid.”
“So it isn’t just us?” Alicia asked.
“I guess not,” Jack said.
Both seemed rather pleased at the idea, rather than sorry for Ken and Susan.
Nothing much changed in the month following. Jack was still looking for work, and Alicia was staying at home, taking care of Ellie. A little desperate for the quality of life they’d once led, Jack and Alicia were really looking forward to the month’s party at Doris and Davey’s. Of the three families, they usually had the best spread. Not only were they disappointed in the food and drink selection at the party, the talk was mostly about the For Sale sign on the front lawn of the Klein house.
“Just decided to upgrade a little. What we’re looking for is something smaller, but in a better neighborhood, preferably a gated community. We’re both so busy with things that keeping up with this big old house just doesn’t make sense.”
Davey didn’t catch the look that Ken and Jack shared. Both were painfully aware that Davey was trying to make it sound like they were going from good to great. Both had the same thought that not only was it going to be hard for the Klein’s to sell the house, but when they did buy something else, it wasn’t going to be anywhere as nice as what they already had.
The only other topic of conversation besides the economy was a mention of the world political situation. But Alicia, Doris, and Susan quickly put an end of that topic when Doris said, “Oh, let’s talk about something not so depressing.”
Alicia and Susan quickly added their like comments. But there didn’t seem to be anything else to talk about, so after an awkward silence Jack abruptly said, “I think we’d better get Ellie back home. She wasn’t feeling too well this evening, and I think our luck might be about ready to run out.”
Though it was an outright lie, Alicia quickly made a similar comment. “Yes. And you know how they are when they aren’t feeling well.” She smiled thinly and stood up. “Jack, if you’ll warm up the car, I’ll get Ellie bundled up.”
“Of course! I’ll sure be glad when this winter is over. Worst in years. It should be in the forty’s, not the twenties.”
Ken and Susan got up, too, Ken saying, “I think we’d better head for home, too. The baby sitter is going to want to get home before it gets as cold as the forecast says it is going to get tonight.”
A few minutes later Davey closed the front door, and turned to Doris. “What are we going to do in three months?”
Doris shook her head, a lone tear streaking her makeup.
Jack and Alicia were wondering what they were going to do the next month when it was again their turn for the party.
All three families should have been discussing the news, and what to do if things got worse than they were. Parties suddenly became the last thing on their minds with the President’s announcement of the breakdown of negotiations with the new Afro-Asian alliance over the reduction of nuclear arms in Asia and North Africa, including the Middle East.
The New Persian Empire that came into existence after the overthrow of several of the primarily Islamic States in southern Asia and the Middle East. Hard line Shi’a religious leaders took over the governments of each of the counties and formed, with Iran Shi’a leaders at the head of it, a New Persian Empire.
A few weeks of consolidation and the expulsion, incarceration, or killing of all non-Islamic peoples within their borders and the Emperor declared that Israelites had six months to move lock, stock, and barrel out of the current country of Israel, in preparation for the new Palestine Caliphate that would be part of the Persian Empire.
China and Russia were one and two in recognizing the new government and signing a non-aggression pact and new trade agreements.
Anyone not a Muslim still in the country after the deadline would be summarily executed and their bodies burned in public places. No man, woman, or child would be exempt. Only those that could prove they followed the Islamic faith would be spared.
Five months had passed in negotiations, primarily with the intention of negating the Exit Plan, but with strong nuclear weapons issues also a part of the talks. Two hours after the Persian negotiators called a halt to the talks and left, headed directly to the private jet that would fly them home, a five-hundred-forty kiloton nuclear device was successfully tested in Iran.
The Emperor announced that the deadline stood. Israel would be no more in one month. Despite riots protesting the actions in almost every country around the world, the Empire would not back down.
Troops and matériel were moved en mass toward every border of Israel and warships headed for the coasts.
“What are we going to do if war breaks out?” Alicia asked Jack after the President’s announcement of the breakdown of the talks and Persia’s detonation of the nuclear device.
“I don’t know, Alicia. I don’t know,” Jack said softly. “Just wait and see, I suppose.”
There were millions of people with the same opinion.
At the Pennington’s, it was February 14, 9:28 in the evening when the lights went out suddenly and the house shook violently. The events occurred during the quiet, inexpensive Valentine ’s Day celebration Alicia and Jack had managed to put together on their tight budget, based on Jack’s unemployment check. They, like Davey and Doris, now had a for sale sign in their front yard.
The sign, poorly installed, slammed into the huge front window of the living room seconds after the lights went out, breaking the glass into hundreds, if not thousands, of sharp shards. The massive burst of wind moved a few things around in the living room, including Alicia and Jack, on the sofa.
“Oh, no! What is going on?” Alicia asked, brushing the shards of glass from the window off her negligee. Mostly she just cut up her hands and drove some of the slivers through the thin material of the negligee and into her skin. She screamed in pain.
“Easy,” Jack said, carefully getting up off the sofa, straining to see in the darkness. Fortunately, he still had his shoes on and stood up. He shook himself, throwing most of the glass off his back. He was still wearing his regular clothing, and very little of the glass penetrated.
“Here. Let me help get you to the bathroom. We’ll get the glass off…”
“I can’t see, Jack!”
“I know. It’s dark. But the nightlight should be burning in the hallway. Wait. There is glass all over and you are bare foot. Let me get my arms under you and I’ll carry you to the bathroom.”
Copyright 2011
“Oh no, Jack! We’re out of salad dressings! And Susan and Ken, and Doris and Davey will be here soon!”
“Better check the grill propane tank, too, I guess,” Jack replied to his wife, Alicia. “I haven’t filled it since the last party we had.”
“That would be so embarrassing, Jack. Can’t you get two of the tanks?”
Jack frowned slightly. “I don’t want to tie up money in a second tank when I just have to go a few blocks to get it filled at Henderson’s station.”
“Oh, I suppose you’re right. But hurry. You know Ken. He’s never late. Usually early.”
“Yeah. I know. Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Alicia went back into the kitchen. She heard the patio door open and close, and then silence. She busied herself with the preparations for the small get together with their friends. It was their turn this month and she wanted to at least equal Susan’s last party, if not best it.
She kept glancing at the clock, wishing Jack would hurry up and Ken wasn’t so prompt. With everything ready, Alicia went to her and Jack’s bedroom to take off the apron that had protected her undergarments and slipped into her dress for the evening. It was only the second time she’d worn it. After freshening her makeup, Alicia went back to the living room to wait.
She didn’t have long to wait. Moments after sitting down on the sofa, the front door opened and Jack came in, followed by Ken and Susan. Alicia jumped to her feet and went to great her guests.
She started to close the door, but Doris and Davey were coming up the walk. She held the door for them and then greeted them all, after getting their coats hung up in the entry closet.
“So good to see you,” Alicia gushed, giving the women a kissy face as Jack shook hands with the guys. They followed Jack out to the patio to hook up the propane tank and get it ready for the steaks.
Alicia began to serve the before dinner drinks, as she caught up on gossip with the two women. The men were doing much the same, discussing their various jobs and who had done what with whom when Alicia called to Jack that the drinks were ready.
The three men returned to the living room and the talk turned to non gender specific issues. Mostly how the children were doing, the weather, the state of the economy, and plans for the next party.
All in all, it was a pleasant evening, with only one interruption when, Ellie, Jack’s and Alicia’s two year old daughter came into the living room asking for a drink of water.
“Oh, honey,” Alicia cooed, “Of course you can have a drink of water.” She smiled at the other two women. It was pretty much par for the course during these parties. Each of the families had children, and Ken and Susan Morgot had one child and a dog, while Doris and Davey Klein had both a cat and a dog, along with their two children.
Inevitably, one of the children or animals would need something during the course of the party. Alicia came back into the living room after seeing to Ellie’s needs and getting her back to bed, and asked, “What did I miss?”
“Nothing much,” Jack replied as Alicia sat down on the arm of his chair and put one hand around his shoulders for balance. “Just starting to discuss further the state of the economy.”
“Such as it is,” Ken said. “I don’t know what things are coming to. Fully a third of my clients are wanting to get into gold and silver. I don’t understand it. The stock and bond markets are active and you can make money whether they go up or down.”
“Well, aren’t there gold stocks available?” asked Davey. “Mining company stocks and such?”
“Yes. That’s what I try to get them to invest in, but some of them are having me sell stocks and bonds to buy actual silver and gold. Coins and even bullion bars. It’s crazy.”
“Jewelry, I could see,” Jack said, looking thoughtful. “But gold coins and bullion? You’re right. It’s crazy. We’ll never go back onto the gold standard. Gold and silver are just commodities like wheat and what do they call them… Pork bellies?”
The six laughed. “Yes. Pork bellies,” Ken said. “I don’t do commodities, as you know. Too risky. But better pork bellies than gold. Everyone has to eat, after all.”
There was another laugh. But things turned a little more somber when Alicia said, “And that is getting more expensive every day, it seems like.”
“I know,” Doris said. “We just had to adjust our budget, because of the increases in the prices of everything.”
Quickly Davey said, “Just the matter of a couple of adjustments. Annoyances. No more.” It was obvious to the others that he was not going to admit to any financial stress. Not to these people.
But he wasn’t alone in his feelings. Jack said, “We had to make a couple of adjustments, too. But I’m expecting that raise I didn’t get last time. The company is doing pretty good, despite everything.”
Ken wouldn’t be left out. “We’re actually doing pretty good. My personal trading has kept us in pretty good shape, even with the number of clients that have left the market.” Ken winced slightly. He hadn’t meant to mention his slowly declining client base.
Then another round started when Jack patted Alicia’s knee. “Of course, Alicia is an expert shopper. We always get the best for less. Isn’t that right, Sweetheart?” He looked up at her face. Only he could tell how hard it was for her to agree.
“Yes. A little middle class, but I do shop for the best bargains. No sense in throwing away money.”
“True,” Doris replied. “I’ve even picked up the coupon habit, silly as that sounds. I save a bundle on everything.”
“Yes,” Susan added. “I believe it’s just sensible to be practical, no matter how well off we are.”
“I think we’d better be on our way,” Ken said, standing up. “No need to pay the baby sitter another hour if we don’t need to. It was a wonderful party, guys. Thank you.”
That started a round of ‘thank yous’ and good nights. Alicia and Jack both sighed when the door was closed and locked.
“Can you believe that Ken is losing clients?” Jack said with a shake of his head.
“And Doris couponing. Such a shame,” Alicia said.
A few more minutes and they were checking on Ellie and then getting into bed. Both fell asleep wondering just what kind of shape the other two families were actually in. They knew that they’d stretched things a bit… more than a bit… about their own situation. If Jack didn’t get the raise he was anticipating, things were going to get tight. Very tight.
Clueless
“Jack,” Alicia said just shy of a month later. “Ellie needs a few things for daycare.”
“Sure,” Jack replied, not even lowering the paper he was reading at the breakfast table. “Just put it on the child care credit card.”
When there was no response for several seconds, Jack lowered the paper and looked over at his wife. She had her lower lip in her teeth and was obviously trying very hard not to cry.
“Alicia? What is it?”
“The child care credit card is maxed. I had to use it to get groceries this week. The household budget card is maxed, too. That party cost us a lot, with the higher prices.”
Jack set the paper aside. “Both cards are maxed? What have you been buying?”
“Don’t accuse me, Jack. I checked all the card balances when I couldn’t use the child care credit card. You’re maxed out on all but one of your cards.”
“That. Well… Yes… But I had very good reasons…”
“And buying food and things for the baby, and keeping myself looking nice for you aren’t good reasons?”
“No. I didn’t mean that like it sounded. Doggone it! I should have got that raise! They as much as promised me. But no. I’m now assistant to the VP for sales. A stinking title! A title doesn’t pay the bills!”
“I know, Jack. I know. It wasn’t fair. But you can’t fret about it too much. Remember your heart. The doctor said you had to get rid of some stress or risk a serious heart attack. That little glitch last week is just a warning sign.”
“I know. I know. But what am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Alicia said. She turned around so Jack wouldn’t see the tears flow openly.
It wasn’t until that evening, after Jack got home from his job that they actually discussed the situation.
“Honey… Look… I know you love the charity work you do. You’re good at it, and people appreciate it. But I don’t know what else to do. You’re going to need to spend more time at home so we can eliminate the child care costs.”
“Oh, Jack!” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I love Ellie! But she enjoys the time at the center so much…”
“I know, Alicia. I do. But between the child care costs, and the costs you have associated with your charity work, we can save enough to maybe get a couple of the credit cards paid down. They are eating us alive with interest.”
“What about you, Jack? What are you giving up?” The tears had slowed, but there were still plenty in her eyes left to fall.
“Yes. Yes. Of course. I’ll have to cut back, too…”
“Your golf Sundays… the premium liquor and cigars…”
“Aw! Alicia!” Jack wanted to protest. But seeing the look on Alicia’s face caved him in. “Yes. I’ll stop those events. It’s almost winter, anyway. We’re just going to have to rewrite the budget and start saving everywhere we can. Both of us.”
Again Alicia turned away so Jack wouldn’t see the rest of the tears falling as she put away the supper dishes from the dishwasher.
With the decisions made, things went a little easier that week. Until Friday. Jack was pasty white when he came into the house. Alicia was playing with Ellie on the living room floor when Jack came in. She saw his face and quickly climbed to her feet.
“Jack! Jack! You’re so pale! Is it your heart?”
Jack just shook his head, handed Alicia an opened envelope, and more or less collapsed onto the sofa. He didn’t protest when Ellie climbed up onto his lap for a snuggle. She was fast asleep when Alicia had finished reading the contents of the envelope. She was just as pale as Jack.
“They can’t, Jack! You’ve been there for years! They can’t lay you off now! You just got that promotion.”
“Some promotion,” Jack said bitterly. “Did you read the letter closely? All assistants are being laid off. If I hadn’t received that new title, I’d still have a job. The guy that moved into my position is staying. He’s only been there three years and makes half of what I do. I think they knew this was coming and gave me the title just so I’d be cut and someone that costs them less could take over my old job.”
“Can they do that?”
“Yes they can. Seniority doesn’t mean much at the company anymore. Only the bottom line.”
“What are we going to do, Jack?”
“I don’t know, Alicia. I just don’t know. The severance will pay the mortgage next month, and the 401(k) the next couple. But that’s all. Unemployment won’t even come close. We have three months to come up with something. I’ll think of something. I have to.”
That month’s party was the next day. Jack and Alicia couldn’t think of a reason not to go. They both thought about just saying they couldn’t get a sitter for the evening, but that seemed too lame. They couldn’t afford one, so they broke protocol and took Ellie along with them for the evening.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Alicia said as soon as Ken opened the door to greet them. “Finding a suitable babysitter is getting impossible. We decided to bring Ellie along rather than miss the party.”
“Oh. Well… sure. Come on in.” Ken turned toward the kitchen and called to Susan. “Suze, the Penningtons are here. They brought Ellie along.”
“What?” asked Susan, when she came into the living room. “Oh. Ellie.” Susan recovered her composure at this blatant disregard of the three couples’ unwritten rules of party etiquette.
Ellie was looking around sleepily. It was already past her bedtime. “She should go right back to sleep,” Alicia said.
“Yes. Of course. We can put her in the spare room,” Susan said, leading Alicia, carrying Ellie, toward the downstairs bedroom hallway.
Ken was hanging up Jack’s coat when the two women returned. Jacked helped Alicia out of her coat and Ken put it away, too. They’d barely turned back to the living room when the doorbell rang.
It was Doris and Davey. Both had on only light jackets and were shivering when they entered.
“Getting cold out there,” Davey said, helping Doris off with her jacket. “A touch of snow as we parked.”
“Yes,” Ken said. “Supposed to be an inch or more accumulation tonight. I don’t know about this weather. The scientists keep saying global warming, but the winters seem worse the last three years here.”
“It’s getting to the point where I don’t believe anything the media is saying about anything,” Davey said. He handed Ken Doris’ wrap and shrugged out of his own light jacket.
“Well,” Ken said, a little hesitantly, “I’m not so sure I’d go that far… But I sure don’t believe much of what is being said about the economy recovering.”
Ken winced when Alicia announced Jack’s employment situation. “Jack was laid off this week. All without notice.”
“You’re kidding!” exclaimed Ken. “You’ve been there for years!”
“Yeah. Didn’t make a cotton picking bit of difference.”
“What are you going to do?” Doris asked.
“Actually,” Jack said, “I was hoping to pick all of your brains to see if you could help me come up with something. Thought there might be something available with one of the outfits that you work for.”
“Ah…” Ken ushered them into the living room. “Man, I don’t have a clue. The agency has put a freeze on hiring. I don’t know why. The market keeps getting stronger. It’s those dang gold bugs that are ruining things for the rest of us.”
“We’re having some layoffs at the plant, too,” Davey said. “So far I’ve missed the cuts.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Doris said. Her annoyance was obvious.
“I didn’t want to worry you, my dear.”
Doris looked around at the others. “We’ll discuss it later, Honey,” Doris said, stressing the ‘Honey’ when she told Davey.
“Of course. Something smells delicious,” Davey said, anxious to get the subject changed.
“Yes. Susan is making her world famous beef stew tonight. Home baked bread, and I just uncorked a very nice Bordeaux that should go well with it.”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever had your beef stew, Susan,” Alicia said. “Is it a special recipe?”
“Handed down from my grandmother,” Susan replied. “It’s a big hit at family reunions. I’m the only one with Grandmother’s recipe.”
“Must be something,” Jack said. “Sure smells good.”
“Drinks all around?” Ken asked.
While Ken prepared the usual drinks that each had at almost every party, the talk turned back to the weather. When Ken handed Jack his drink and Jack took the first sip, he cut a quick look at Ken. Not only was the drink short on liquor, it wasn’t the same premium that Ken always served. It certainly wasn’t rot gut, but it was far from a premium.
Alicia’s eyes met Jack’s. She’d noticed the difference in her drink, as well. Doris and Davey didn’t seem to notice.
Jack was again surprised when they all sat down to eat. There was only the one bottle of wine, where they usually went through two bottles during a party. And it wasn’t anything to write home about, Jack decided, despite what Ken had said.
Nor was the stew anything special. Jack knew his meats. Was something of a snob when it came to quality meats. The stew meat was just that. Grocery store stew meat. He’d been expecting a premium piece of meat cut into stew chunks. Not so.
Dessert, however, was up to Susan’s normal standards. Excellent presentation and the flavors were perfect. The only thing Jack decided, was that though excellent, it was one of the cheapest of the desserts that Susan usually made.
When it was time to go, Jack and Alicia said their thank-yous, bundled up Ellie and headed for home. “Did you notice the drinks?” Alicia asked Jack as he drove slowly through a heavy snowfall.
“Yes. The wine, too. Even the meat in the stew was second quality. Not like Ken and Susan at all,” Jack said.
“Do you think they may be having financial problems?”
“I suspect so. They paid too much for the house, and didn’t pay enough down. Their mortgage, Ken told me, is close to five figures. This housing bust must be devastating to his net worth. That house is probably worth half… two-thirds at most, of what they paid.”
“So it isn’t just us?” Alicia asked.
“I guess not,” Jack said.
Both seemed rather pleased at the idea, rather than sorry for Ken and Susan.
Nothing much changed in the month following. Jack was still looking for work, and Alicia was staying at home, taking care of Ellie. A little desperate for the quality of life they’d once led, Jack and Alicia were really looking forward to the month’s party at Doris and Davey’s. Of the three families, they usually had the best spread. Not only were they disappointed in the food and drink selection at the party, the talk was mostly about the For Sale sign on the front lawn of the Klein house.
“Just decided to upgrade a little. What we’re looking for is something smaller, but in a better neighborhood, preferably a gated community. We’re both so busy with things that keeping up with this big old house just doesn’t make sense.”
Davey didn’t catch the look that Ken and Jack shared. Both were painfully aware that Davey was trying to make it sound like they were going from good to great. Both had the same thought that not only was it going to be hard for the Klein’s to sell the house, but when they did buy something else, it wasn’t going to be anywhere as nice as what they already had.
The only other topic of conversation besides the economy was a mention of the world political situation. But Alicia, Doris, and Susan quickly put an end of that topic when Doris said, “Oh, let’s talk about something not so depressing.”
Alicia and Susan quickly added their like comments. But there didn’t seem to be anything else to talk about, so after an awkward silence Jack abruptly said, “I think we’d better get Ellie back home. She wasn’t feeling too well this evening, and I think our luck might be about ready to run out.”
Though it was an outright lie, Alicia quickly made a similar comment. “Yes. And you know how they are when they aren’t feeling well.” She smiled thinly and stood up. “Jack, if you’ll warm up the car, I’ll get Ellie bundled up.”
“Of course! I’ll sure be glad when this winter is over. Worst in years. It should be in the forty’s, not the twenties.”
Ken and Susan got up, too, Ken saying, “I think we’d better head for home, too. The baby sitter is going to want to get home before it gets as cold as the forecast says it is going to get tonight.”
A few minutes later Davey closed the front door, and turned to Doris. “What are we going to do in three months?”
Doris shook her head, a lone tear streaking her makeup.
Jack and Alicia were wondering what they were going to do the next month when it was again their turn for the party.
All three families should have been discussing the news, and what to do if things got worse than they were. Parties suddenly became the last thing on their minds with the President’s announcement of the breakdown of negotiations with the new Afro-Asian alliance over the reduction of nuclear arms in Asia and North Africa, including the Middle East.
The New Persian Empire that came into existence after the overthrow of several of the primarily Islamic States in southern Asia and the Middle East. Hard line Shi’a religious leaders took over the governments of each of the counties and formed, with Iran Shi’a leaders at the head of it, a New Persian Empire.
A few weeks of consolidation and the expulsion, incarceration, or killing of all non-Islamic peoples within their borders and the Emperor declared that Israelites had six months to move lock, stock, and barrel out of the current country of Israel, in preparation for the new Palestine Caliphate that would be part of the Persian Empire.
China and Russia were one and two in recognizing the new government and signing a non-aggression pact and new trade agreements.
Anyone not a Muslim still in the country after the deadline would be summarily executed and their bodies burned in public places. No man, woman, or child would be exempt. Only those that could prove they followed the Islamic faith would be spared.
Five months had passed in negotiations, primarily with the intention of negating the Exit Plan, but with strong nuclear weapons issues also a part of the talks. Two hours after the Persian negotiators called a halt to the talks and left, headed directly to the private jet that would fly them home, a five-hundred-forty kiloton nuclear device was successfully tested in Iran.
The Emperor announced that the deadline stood. Israel would be no more in one month. Despite riots protesting the actions in almost every country around the world, the Empire would not back down.
Troops and matériel were moved en mass toward every border of Israel and warships headed for the coasts.
“What are we going to do if war breaks out?” Alicia asked Jack after the President’s announcement of the breakdown of the talks and Persia’s detonation of the nuclear device.
“I don’t know, Alicia. I don’t know,” Jack said softly. “Just wait and see, I suppose.”
There were millions of people with the same opinion.
At the Pennington’s, it was February 14, 9:28 in the evening when the lights went out suddenly and the house shook violently. The events occurred during the quiet, inexpensive Valentine ’s Day celebration Alicia and Jack had managed to put together on their tight budget, based on Jack’s unemployment check. They, like Davey and Doris, now had a for sale sign in their front yard.
The sign, poorly installed, slammed into the huge front window of the living room seconds after the lights went out, breaking the glass into hundreds, if not thousands, of sharp shards. The massive burst of wind moved a few things around in the living room, including Alicia and Jack, on the sofa.
“Oh, no! What is going on?” Alicia asked, brushing the shards of glass from the window off her negligee. Mostly she just cut up her hands and drove some of the slivers through the thin material of the negligee and into her skin. She screamed in pain.
“Easy,” Jack said, carefully getting up off the sofa, straining to see in the darkness. Fortunately, he still had his shoes on and stood up. He shook himself, throwing most of the glass off his back. He was still wearing his regular clothing, and very little of the glass penetrated.
“Here. Let me help get you to the bathroom. We’ll get the glass off…”
“I can’t see, Jack!”
“I know. It’s dark. But the nightlight should be burning in the hallway. Wait. There is glass all over and you are bare foot. Let me get my arms under you and I’ll carry you to the bathroom.”
Copyright 2011
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