Donald had called a meeting for everyone who could be spared. Nancy had fixed coffee and coffee cakes and set them out for everyone. There were folding chairs set up too in the main room of the lodge. Donald quieted everyone down. “I appreciate you all being here. I called the meeting because we need to make preparations for any eventuality. Alaska is known for the electricity going out, large snowstorms, earthquakes, etc. I am not saying that to frighten you. It is actually a protector for us, because not so many people want to deal with these situations, so we don’t have people watching and judging us like they would if we were in the lower 48. However, we need to think ahead and prepare.
You may have noticed Leonard, Jim and some of our other strong men spending a lot of time chopping wood. Someone asked me why the other day when the temperature has been in the upper 70s and we have central heating. Well, it won’t be that way long and when the electricity goes off, we don’t want to depend solely on body heat! Everyone laughed! Seriously, a large woodpile is essential. We also need to make sure we have enough food at all times. We brought a substantial amount with us, but we need to continue to supplement that.
I want to put a double team in the kitchen. Nancy, do you think you can oversee the daily meals and also a crew cooking meals to freeze that can just be heated up if we have an emergency?”
“Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem. We have experienced, ready workers. However, we do have somewhat of a problem. At the moment , our deep freezes don’t have a lot of space. Where would we store prepared meals?” Nancy asked.
“Ok, that is a great question. I think we may have an answer for you. What if we dug out an old timey pantry underground? To give it double protection, we could build an igloo over the top of it to discourage any animals from getting in. What do you think?”
Leonard said, “Man, I am going to be ripped after all of this chopping and digging! And Jim and Bruce too!”
Donald said, “Yeah, I imagine you will be! Thank you for being so willing to work, Leonard.”
Leonard said, “Right back at you man! I appreciate you sharing your lodge with us and paying for winter coats and using your boat to rescue us! If it weren’t for you, we would be facing death right now! We owe you our lives, man! None of us can ever pay you back, so it is the least I can do to chop wood and dig a pantry!”
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Karen spoke up, “Yes, dahling. You are our hero!”
“Hear, hear!” someone said and they raised a glass of coffee(in place of wine) to Donald!
“Leonard, I am afraid I will need to take Bruce from you. He is a sharp-shooter and is needed to help me hunt for meat! Also, I wanted to ask if anyone has botanical training. That is very important, because there are plenty of good, nourishing foods growing here, but we don’t want to bring in anything that would poison us. We also need experienced seamstresses or tailors who can sew either by hand or machine. The animal skins we will be bringing in will make some fine boots and other clothing. Anyone with these talents please report to me and we will get going on these projects. Time is of the essence because once it starts snowing, we will be greatly limited.”
Meanwhile, the first 300 of the elderly on the cruise ship in Portland were being ferried to the clinic for their ‘spa’ day. There were excited whispers and conjectures as to what they would experience. The supper at the clinic was a candle-lit occasion and they were each given a schedule of where to go and when. Irma Smith was at the table with Rob Pierce, Angela McFarland and the doctor (Incognito). Irma was talking about how she had dreamed of a spa day when she was a nurse. She said, “I used to get so tired on those long shifts that thinking about going in a hot tub and pool and getting my nails done was what would help me get through the long hours of changing beds and diapers and bandaging people up. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed helping sick people get better, but sometimes I would just be weary. I never got to go to a spa, but here I am and it is a dream come true!”
The doctor asked Irma, “How long were you homeless?”
Irma answered, “Way too long, honey. I had a nice house in Portland in a beautiful area. I had a little black pug named Horace. He would run and greet me with a bark and turn in circles when I got home! Then one day, I was at work whenI received the news that there was a big fire in my neighborhood. I got off of work early so I could go check on my house, but it had already caught fire before I got there. I tried to go in to get Horace out, but the firemen wouldn’t let me. I just hoped he had gone out back through the doggy door. I waited there until we were allowed to go in and I rushed out back first, but Horace wasn’t there. I knew then,” she sobbed, “Horace was gone!”
The doctor asked, “How did you become homeless? Didn’t you have insurance?”
Irma said, “Yes, I did. I paid on that insurance for twenty years. Come to find out, it was a scam and I didn’t get one red cent to rebuild. How can people with a conscience live with themselves after treating a body like that?” Irma cried softly.
The doctor excused himself and went up to his room to think.