299 Days: The Preparation

Chapter 37 Annoying Lack of Collapse

Looking at California and Texas, and knowing that Washington State would be more like California, Grant started focusing even harder on his preps. Things were quickening. Events were moving faster.

One of Grant’s biggest preparations was his physical conditioning. He had been in good shape since the end of the “Dockers Years.” He was strong; stronger than he had ever been. But now, with the Collapse quickly unfolding right before his eyes, he was stepping it up one more notch. He knew, just knew, that soon he’d need to be carrying more, running, and enduring things that never cropped up in his suburban world. Now was the time to get strong enough for what was coming.

Right after the U.S. bond rating news, Grant frequently saw Jim, Jeanie’s boyfriend, at the gym. He was getting in great shape, too. Was he a prepper? He had been the first to use the “R” word of “revolution” with Grant, so maybe he was.

One morning at the gym Grant asked him, “You’ve been here a lot lately. What’s the deal?”

“My Guard unit is activating for our annual training,” Jim said, “and we might do more than two weeks.” The normal thing was for a two-week training period each year.

“I thought your unit did annual trainings in October every year for the annual computer security exercise,” Grant said.

“Yep,” Jim said. “We’re activating early. The brass thinks something might be happening. Maybe we’re going down to California.” Jim paused and looked around to make sure no one else could hear him. “We’re training for civil unrest. It’s no secret.” Some of the Oath Keepers at Capitol City Guns had told Grant that rumor, too. Jim confirmed it.

He looked a little embarrassed that he was training for civil unrest. Here was Mr. Revolution, but now he was meekly acknowledging that he was going to be part of the military unit presumably cracking down on civil unrest. What had changed?

Grant didn’t ask, but as he pieced together bits of information from conversations he’d had with Jim and Jeanie, the answer was that Jim needed the job. With all the cuts in the number of state employees, Jim needed his Department of Revenue job and he needed the Guard job. He had to put his beliefs aside for the paycheck.

That’s what happened to so many government employees. Most weren’t evil and didn’t want to do the things they were doing, but it was their job; their only job. They had to. Perhaps it was the higher-ups who were evil and power hungry. But the worker bees weren’t. It was so sad.

“Be safe, my friend,” Grant said. “I hope you can do some good out there.” Grant was trying to make it easier on Jim.

“Thanks, man,” Jim said, appreciating that Grant didn’t get on him about shooting Americans.

This was getting crazy, Grant thought; a thought he had several times a day, lately. The Washington National Guard was activating. Quietly, under the guise of the annual training.

This was unfolding exactly as Grant thought it would. He was having that weird feeling again when he couldn’t tell if he was in the present or the future.

With all the news and excitement swirling around, he had the strangest urge to call Steve Briggs back in Forks. Grant trusted his instincts more and more. He called Steve.

“Some crazy shit goin’ on, huh?” Steve said. That was his country boy way of starting a conversation on current events.

“Yeah,” Grant said. “I can’t believe people aren’t freaking out.

But I went to Cash n’ Carry yesterday and there weren’t that many people in the parking lot. People don’t get it. Or maybe I don’t. I’m starting to wonder.”

“Things are pretty mellow here,” Steve said. “People are watching the news and talking about it. But folks are not making a run on the grocery store. Most people have their shit squared away. The welfare shitbags don’t, but they’re too stupid to watch the news or understand what it means, so they’re not going and stocking up on smokes or Doritos. More for the rest of us,” he said with a laugh.

That made sense. Rural people were usually less scared about things like this since they didn’t depend on as many modern conveniences. Forks was still dependent on Highway 101, which connected it to the rest of the world. But, strangely, remote Forks wasn’t as dependent as areas right in the metro area.

“Hey, Steve,” Grant wondered, thinking about the auto parts store where Steve was the manager, “have you seen any shortages of parts at the store?”

“Nope,” he said. “So far things seem pretty normal. But, you’re right, that’s how we’ll know if the wheels are coming off. Get it, car parts; the wheels coming off? That’s how we’ll know when the country is truly falling apart.”

“I bet you country boys and girls will do just fine,” Grant said.

“Yep,” Steve said. “We’re already talking about it. People are getting their hunting, fishing, and canning stuff together.”

Grant asked Steve how Grant’s mom was doing. “Pretty good,” Steve said. Grant kept meaning to call her.

“Hey, man, I need to go,” Steve said. “I’ve got a customer here. Take it easy, Grant.”

“You too, Steve. Stay safe, brother.”

Grant hung up with Steve and couldn’t get his mind off the question of why people weren’t taking these events as seriously as he was. He kept looking for signs of the Collapse. He would look in parking lots of grocery stores and banks, and look for lines at gas stations.

Nothing.

Don’t be impatient. You will need the extra time to get ready.

True. But still. Grant was impatient. The impending Collapse was all he could think about. He went to Capitol City Guns. Surely, those guys would be busy.

They were. People were buying guns. Again. The Capitol City guys could not keep up. It wasn’t panic buying or anything; just a full parking lot and a line at the cash register. Some empty shelves. Many people were buying ammo; there was hardly any left, except cases of .40.

“Hey, you guys are busy so I’m just dropping by to say ‘hi,’” Grant said to Chip.

Chip looked at Grant and said softly, “It’s starting. You know it is.” Chip pointed to all the customers and whispered, “So do they.”

Grant nodded. “What’s selling best?” he asked.

“Pistols,” Chip said. “Lots of first-time gun buyers, so they’re taking forever to make a purchase, but I’m just glad they’re getting guns. We will raise the prices tonight after we close. Just a little. Chip smiled at Grant and said, “You, sir, as an esteemed attorney and a gentleman with shop privileges here, will continue to get things wholesale.”

Grant didn’t have the heart to tell Chip that he would be spending his cash on food for the foreseeable future. Besides, he had all the guns and ammo he’d need.

Grant asked, “Need any help?”

“Yeah,” Chip said, “you can answer people’s questions and get them pointed toward a gun that will work for them. I’ll do the paperwork.”

“No problem,” Grant said. He started helping people with questions about which gun to buy. He spent a couple of hours there, loving every minute of it.

When they had a spare moment, out of earshot of the customers, Grant asked Chip, “You think this is some serious shit?”

“Yep,” Chip said. “The Mexico thing is a big problem, but the bond rating is even bigger. We’re done for.”

“I know,” Grant said, “but I must say I’m off on my timing here. I would think people would be making runs on the grocery stores. But they’re not. Am I on drugs or what?” He asked.

“Nope,” Chip said. “Most people are dumbasses. They won’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late.” A customer came within earshot so Chip stopped talking to Grant.

Grant smiled at Chip and said, “Say ‘hi’ to Ted for me.”

Chip knew exactly what Grant meant. He smiled back and said, “Roger that.”

Grant was perplexed. Maybe the Collapse wasn’t coming. It was unfolding like Grant thought it would, but wasn’t happening as quickly as he thought. Maybe there wouldn’t be a Collapse. Maybe he was just overreacting.

He left the store and had another weird drive from Capitol City Guns back to his house. It was another period of time for him to transition from thinking about the end of the world to being a suburban guy. Grant hit the garage door button and put the happy face back on.

Lisa asked, “How was your day?”

“Oh, fine,” he said, lying. Of course. “How about yours?”

“Pretty typical,” she said. Amid all this news of what seemed like the collapse of the United States of America, Lisa managed to have a “pretty typical” day. Grant wished he could be as calm about this as she seemed to be.

“Kids,” Lisa asked, “what do you guys want for dinner?” Grant did not turn on the news. He knew Lisa would change the channel. She didn’t want all that doom and gloom to ruin her “pretty typical” day.