Free No Normal Day by J. Richardson

great longtime romance and
marriage. She had been the middle daughter, the somewhat wild child,
she had been the one that clashed with her father, wanted to do and
try it all. Finally, when Kathryn and Dane were pre-teens, she
realized she was doing them all harm by staying. She worked two jobs,
seven days a week for two years. Of course, she was receiving no
child support and she was struggling to keep them going. That night
that she and Jason met, they had sat all night long and just talked.
He thought she was the smartest, most beautiful and strongest woman
he had ever met. He still felt that way. One of the things that he
really admired about her was that she fit the definition of a mother.
All of the kids and little BJ adored her. She even mothered him and
he let her because no one ever did that for him before. They were a
family.
    All
the others chattered at
first, now quiet, they looked out
the windows and wondered what
would be up
ahead. They moved along
the paved road, Jason felt very
uncertain about the events of the last few hours. One thing he was
sure of, the
day was unlike any he had ever experienced.
    Along
the country roads, they made their way around a few cars or trucks
stalled in the way and once he spotted an old tractor, pop-pop-popping across a plowed field. When the road took them
over the Interstate, they stopped for a stretch. As far as they could
see in both directions, vehicles filled the six lanes of pavement.
People were milled around, some sat in the median and punched on cell
phones, some were walking. Jason said, “Take care of what you
need to. There's a restroom on the side of the convenience store, see
if you can get in. Tate, you take the .22 and go with the girls. You
boys go around back, don't stop and chat with anyone, just get back
here. If you need a drink from the ice chest, get it. I think Dianne
made up some sandwiches, we can eat on the move. In fifteen minutes
they were back on the road.
    They
had reached Hughesville less than an hour later, on the road a little
over two hours. Jason didn't find David, his mother and her new
husband at their house, so he went to the ex-wife's mother's house.
They were all there, along with Jason's little daughter, who was born
right after Jason and the mother had divorced. Just as he thought,
the daughter did not want to leave her mother. They made a spot for
David in the stuffed back of the goliath. He hugged his daughter. At
least, this little town was away from any big cities, he had to hope
for the best for them.
    With
David and a minimum of his gear loaded they were on the road, the
wagon eased along in the dark, they were cramped and weary. Jason
kept his eyes on the road ahead, at this speed, it may take us
another two hours but so far, so good. Something bounded across
the road, just in the edge of the headlights. S---! Jason hit the
brakes. Was it a dog, a deer?
    Tate
said, “Jason, something is in the road.”
    Jason
slowed and moved forward, he saw what looked like a big dual axle
truck, jack-knifed across the road. A guy was standing beside the
truck, with the door open. Is he military, he's got a rifle? Three
other guys came from behind the truck and the guy raised the rifle.
Jason slammed the wagon into reverse and started screeching and
spinning and backing up. There was a BANG! water started pouring down
the windshield. “Tate...roll down your window and shoot that
damn pea shooter at them! All of you, get your heads down!”
Tate fired a couple of shots from the .22. Jason couldn't see a thing
behind him, he was afraid to get off the road and turn around. This
hunk of lead would probably get stuck. He was trying to stay on the
road and kept driving backwards as fast as he could. He yelled at
David, “Son, find that flashlight, it's right close to where
you are sitting. Shine it out the back window and to my side, so
maybe I can spot a turnaround.” The guys had stopped for a
moment and now they ran towards them again. Tate