GREGOR! (Cumberland Saga)

Sarah was peeling potatoes in the middle of the afternoon when part of her attention was captured by the sound of another delivery truck grinding its way up the two-track to the compound.

It had become a common occurrence and, while still a novelty it didn’t seem as important as getting the potatoes peeled, cut-up, into the pot and the pot on the stove.

The number of delivery trucks had increased in the past few weeks to the point where the grass that covered the loop at the end of the two-track was a muddied trace. She wasn’t surprised when the truck did not stop when it reached the top-of-the-grade but it continued around the loop. Many trucks did that so they could be pointed back down-hill before stopping.

She peered out the window over the sink. At least she could get a glimpse of the truck to see which vendor dropping off supplies.

Her surprise was complete when the truck pulled off the loop and pulled up beside her house and parked.

Her surprise turned to joy when the driver stepped out of the cab.

“GREGOR!” she shouted out loud. She put down the potato and knife and rushed out the door in her house-slippers.

Blain was washing up outside when he heard the clatter of the truck’s engine pull up next to the house. He heard Sarah’s exclamation although he didn’t quite hear what she said.

She burst through the door and launched herself into the stranger’s arms, wrapping him in a huge hug before pulling back slightly. Then, kissing beside each of his cheeks in the European manner she said “Gregor! You came back!”

Blain felt his stomach drop as his new world was turned upside-down. Of course she would have a boy-friend. The man was tall and rugged and handsome. He had a broad, infectious grin that broadcast a devil-may-care attitude toward life.

Looking over, he saw Lliam break into a smile. Obviously, this handsome, young stranger was a great favorite of the whole family.

Feeling Blain’s eyes, Lliam looked over and brought Blain up to speed. “Cousin Greg came home.”

“And who is this?” Cousin Gregor asked as Lliam and Blain walked up.

Lliam answered “This is Blain. He is mom’s new workman”.

Sarah cringed a little bit. Technically true but a bit of a simplification of how things stood at the moment. Going to church together had graduated Blain to a much higher status than "hired man".

Greg gave Blain a slow and steady, head-to-foot appraisal as he thrust out his hand. "Glad to meechya" he said in a soft drawl.

Blain was much younger than Gregor had expected. Somehow he had envisioned an older guy when he read Sig’s letter. Physically fit, too. That was a relief. Things could have been worse.

“I guess I better walk over and talk to the old-man” Greg said. “Mind if I leave the truck here until I figure out where to unload it?”

“We will keep an eye on it” Sarah assured him. “Better hurry, he will be waiting.”

The bed of the truck was filled to the top of the bed and covered with a sheet of plywood. Tubs were placed on top of the sheet of plywood and were held down with a combination of ratchet-straps and rope arranged in an intricate lashing Blain would later learn was a diamond hitch.

***

“Afternoon, Pops” Gregor said to Sig as they hugged in Sig’s kitchen. “I’m back.”

“I’ll put on a fresh pot of coffee” Gregor’s mom said as she bustled over to the cistern pump and started working the handle to fill the small percolator.

Sig had to clear his throat a few times before he could get control of his voice.

“Welcome home, son” he was finally able to manage.

Both started to talk at the same time.

Then laughed.

“Sit down” Sig said nodding toward the table.

“It might be more efficient if you just let me report out what I know” Gregor said.

Sig nodded. That was as good of a way to start as any.

“First, I know you don’t have any faith in these things” he said as he slid his smart-phone across the polished hardwood to his father. “I pulled the battery but I know you are more comfortable if you have it in the safe.”

Sig’s paranoia was legendary in the family and Gregor was determined to start his stay off on the right foot.

“I gotta tell ya, though. Phones are going to be a BIG issue with the other family members, especially the women” Gregor said.

“I been in touch with Peter and Samson and they will be along in another week or two. They had a few loose ends to take care of” he said. Notably, both of the young men he mentioned were single.

“What about the others?” his mother asked.

“Some of them I could not get a hold of” Gregor admitted. “The ones I was able to connect with, the ones with families...well, its complicated.”

And then Gregor went through a long recitation of the various family members that he had been able to reach through social media, or by texting or email.

A third of the Copperhead Cove “alumni” had a strong desire to relocate but there were factors slowing them down: A solid job, a spouse that insisted that “things aren’t THAT bad”, kids in high-school. They were chomping at the bit to get moving and were doing what they could to prepare. The biggest anchor, by far, was the reluctant spouse.

Another third sensed something was brewing but figured it would blow-over with the new crop of politicians and the comprehensive law-and-order reforms that had been passed. They had no intention of ever moving back to Copperhead Cove. Most of them lived in nice houses in nice suburbs with lots of "amenities" and they refused to abandon "...the equity..." they had built up in their house.

The other third was somewhere in the middle. Things were bad and seemed to be getting worse, but not quickly. They figured they had time to make up their minds and would put off making serious preparations until "something happened" or they had more money in their pockets.

“So, what would you like to have me doing now that I am here?” Gregor asked.

“Tonight? See Blain. He is handling the housing. Have him help you unload” Sig said.

“Most everything else can wait until morning, but my thinking is that since you have a truck and might have a little bit of cash in your pockets, maybe you could make a shopping trip into Dayton tomorrow morning” Sig said. "I can give you a list if you cannot think of anything you need."

The three talked long into the night. Sig was particularly keen to hear Gregor's observations about the kinds of construction projects he had been working and his observations about theft-rates in the places he had worked.

Gregor's mother was keen to hear news about far-flung family members. She cross-examined him to ensure she had combed every detail from his memories of the various conversations he had with them.

Blain was also a topic of conversation. Gregor was curious about how he fit-into the social ecology of Copperhead Cove.