And Freedom For All
Written By Staff Contributer: Theresa Chaze
Daphne closed the drawer and looked around the room. There
was so much she wanted to take, but there was so little space. Two
suitcases, her cat Sarah and her dog Maxie were all that were coming
with her. Her sister had taken custody of her two mares, Star and
Moon. They would be safe with her. Later during one of the horse
show tours, she would return them. The rest of her belongings she
had arranged for trusted friends and family to store; maybe later,
it could be safely forward to her. But she wasn’t counting on it.
She wiped away the single tear. Backing toward the threshold, she
emotionally let go of the little reminders of the past. She would
still have the memories–most of them were sweet. Unfortunately,
some were not–resting her open palm on her stomach, she knew that
the only way to keep her life and freedom was to run and hide.
Angrily, she slammed the door and turned her back on it.
“Daphne?” Melanie ran into the hallway from the
kitchen. “You ok?”
Slowly she shook her head. “Just feeling stupid.”
“The trunk’s all packed. There is a little more room if you
have something small. Maybe your riding trophies?”
“No. Nothing else.”
“You don’t have to do this. We can find another way.”
“I’m already four weeks. A few more I`ll start to show and
they`ll stop me at the border.” Getting involved with George Hedge
was the biggest mistake of her life. He wasn’t the person he
pretended to be. She fell in love with a kind, intelligent
progressive man. Only George wasn’t that man; he was an illusion.
“You aren’t married. He doesn’t have any proof he’s the
father.” Melanie persisted. “Besides, he can’t prove you’re even
pregnant.”
“It doesn’t matter. Not any more. With so many women
escaping up north, they are stopping every woman.”
“Remind me again…what country is this?”
“I’ve heard of women being jailed for the full term of their
pregnancy to prevent them from leaving the state.”
Rolling her eyes, Melanie shook her head, the dark strands
swished over her shoulders. “Let’s go pick up Sarah and Maxie from
the vet and get on the road. Do you want to say good-by to your Mom
on the way out of town?”
“Yes. But it wouldn’t be a good idea.”
Through the window,
she saw a tan SUV pull into the drive and two strange men got out.
One checked his clipboard and said something to the other. He
replied and they both walked toward the front door. Daphne didn’t
recognized them or hear their words but she knew who they
were. “Don’t ask any questions. Go in the bedroom.”
“What for?” Melanie turned toward the window. “Who are
they?”
“Pre-born Protectors.”
“What the hell–”
“George must have filed a claim with them.” Angrily, Daphne
marched to the door, locking the screen door before they could turn
the handle. “This is private property. You are trespassing!”
A knowing look passed between them. The older of the two
stepped forward and pulled on the knob. “Daphne Miller?”
“Get off my property!” Daphne hissed back.
“I’m Agent Schub.” He pointed to the other man. “This is
Agent–”
“I don’t care who you are!”
“Agent Robertson. George Hedge has filed and been granted
custody of his unborn child you are carrying. If you attempt to
leave the state you will be arrested for kidnapping–and if you
abort the child you will be prosecuted for murder.”
The fury rising, Daphne slammed the interior door.
“He’s kidding–this is just a scare tactic?” Melanie
stepped closer. “I knew it was bad, but they couldn’t do it?”
“They can and have.” Daphne shook her head.
“Ms Miller, open this door.” Agent Schub demanded through
the screen of the window. “You are only making it worse on
yourself.”
“If you aren’t co-operative, we’ll come back with a
warrant.” The other man added.
“Gotta hell.” Daphne snapped back. “You are just rent-a-
cops! If you don’t get off my property. I’ll call the real ones!’
“The Pre-Born Protection Act already passed the House. It’ll
pass the Senate later today.”
The voice came from the other side of
the door. The screen door rattled. “The President will sign it and
there won’t be any place in the United States where you’ll be able
to hide.”
“She won’t need to hide.” Melanie chimed in.
“Who’s with you?” Agent Schub demanded.
“A woman with a legal gun who isn’t afraid to use it.” She
snapped back.
Amazed, Daphne snapped around.
Melanie pointed a small silver pistol at the door. “You are
trying to break in. I can and will kill you both in self-defense.”
She smiled and shrugged. “Mom said never go south without it.”
“Your mother hates guns.” Daphne whispered.
“That and a lot of things changed. She shoots marksman.”
Schub backed away from the window. Their voices could be
heard, but their words weren’t distinct enough to be understood.
After a moment, Schub returned to the window. “We’ll be back with a
deputy and a court order preventing you from leaving the state. If
you attempt to leave, you will be stopped at the border. If you do
leave the state, you will be hunted down and forced to return.”
“Eat shit and die red neck!”
“Melanie,” Daphne whispered, “you are only making it worse.”
“Like you have any power outside Kansas!”
“The Act will make the PBP part of the Federal Justice
system. It’ll give us the power to cross state lines to apprehend,
detain, and return any woman we deem necessary to protect the life
an unborn child.” He leaned in closer to the screen; his facial
features distorted by the shadows of the screen, he continued. “And
anyone aiding you will face the same charges.”
A smile crossed Melanie’s lips. Quickly tucking the gun in
her pocket and stepping forward, she swung, hitting him through the
screen. His head snapped back, his body followed, tumbling
backward. His comrade caught him before he hit the ground.
“You’ll regret that!” The semi-prone man growled. “We’ll
be back with a warrant for your arrest.” Returning to the SUV, they
slammed the doors and squealed out of the drive.
“In a little over an hour, we’ll be out of the state and out
of their reach.” Melanie returned the gun back in her
purse. “Let’s go.
“But–”
“But nothing. Let’s hit the road! Time’s a wasting.”
Daphne suddenly found it hard to breathe. Melanie was her
oldest and dearest friend. She couldn’t allow her own foolishness
to endanger her. Grabbing her hand, Daphne stepped in front of her,
blocking her path to the door. “I can’t let you do this. They’ll
catch us at the border–”
Turning her hand around in Daphne’s grasp, Melanie
intertwined their fingers. “Sister. We will be all right. I will
get you safely out of the state. Trust me. There is more going on
outside Kansas than you know.”
Daphne hesitated. She didn’t know what to do.
“My car’s outside. It’s ready to go. Let’s pick up your
fur-babies and get out of Dodge…trust me”
Slowly Daphne nodded. Ever since they were six years old,
she had known Melanie would be her protector and best friend–the
one person she could always trust to stand by her no matter what the
folly.
Together they walked out. Locking the back door, Daphne
dropped the keys in the tall vase beside it. The dried flowers
would conceal them from all but the friend who would be coming in a
day or two to retrieve her belongings. Melanie was already behind
the wheel and the engine was purring. Opening the passenger door,
she curled up on the floor and closed the door. If they were
watching the house, they would be looking for her either behind the
wheel or in the passenger seat. Melanie was a stranger in a strange
car with Michigan license plates. No one would or should connect
them.
Quickly stopping at the vet’s, Melanie retrieved Sarah and
Maxie. Safely in the carrier, Sarah was secured on the back seat.
Maxie jumped on the passenger seat and looked down at her.
Discreetly, she reached up and scratched his chest. Melanie slid
behind the wheel, producing a bent up, well worn Michigan driver’s
license with Daphne’s picture on it from her purse and an old
collar. It was valid, yet looked like it had been well used,
instead of being freshly created. “Here put this on him. It
belonged to Jax. Just in case. It’ll be an added detail in case we
are questioned.
“You were always better at the details.” Daphne whispered,
exchanging the collars.
Pulling out into traffic, Melanie deliberately drove past
the Sheriff’s department. Tossing back her head, she settled into
the seat and turned on to the freeway. Within twenty minutes, they
were out of the county. Daphne had settled into the front seat and
Maxie had curled up on the back seat next to the carrier.
Sitting up right eased the queasiness in her stomach, but it
didn’t calm the growing fear that Daphne felt.
Forty-five miles
before they crossed the state line. Anything could happen. She
didn’t have anything to say that wouldn’t sound like whining.
Silence filled the car, except for Sarah’s lessening complaint from
the carrier. Eventually she would curl up and nap. She wished she
could sleep and replace the nightmare her life had become with a
peaceful dream where all people were treated with respect. But she
was awake and this was the reality of her life. To save her dignity
and independence, she had to run, but to what? In Kansas, unlike so
many she had a secure job, a home–a life she truly loved. George
had taken it all away. Now she was left with an uncertain future
with no job, no home and once she crossed the border there would be
no going back.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“I was thinking about the future.” Daphne swiveled in her
seat so she could see her friend’s profile. The humor lines around
her eyes and the sparkle within the deep brown eyes never changed.
No matter what hardship or life challenge sadness never found a
permanent home within her. When a drunk driver killed her husband
and daughter, she started a local chapter of M.A.D.D. Three years
ago when the doctor diagnosed her breast cancer, she faced it head
on and did what was necessary.
“I’m going to have to find a job so
I can get my own home. With today’s economy, that won’t be easy.”
Chuckling, Melanie briefly tilted her head and glanced at
Daphne. “Don’t worry. Things are different in Michigan. Our
economy is strong. With your computer and research skills, you
won’t have a problem finding a job.” She returned her attention to
the road. “Look, when our new Governor took office, not only was
she the first female governor in Michigan’s history but she also
brought a fresh way of thinking and doing things. Instead of
cutting budgets and adding taxes, she looked for new revenue
sources.
She focused on new technologies. Her goals were based on
finding new energy sources and using the ones we had more wisely.
Michigan uses the winds above and the currents below to create
electricity. Most of our homes have been switched over to electric
heat. The excess is sold to the surrounding states and Canada. The
only fossil fuel most of us use are in our cars and soon even that
will change. Detroit was the car capital of the country, so it will
be that again. I work for one of the research facilities in the
northern part of the state. We are within a whisker width of making
the jump to hydrogen.”
“Really? Why wasn’t any of this in the news?” Daphne
quickly added. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but–”
“It does sound incredible.” Patting the air above the
steering wheel, she smiled. “But it’s all true. Our unemployment
is just over one percent.”
“The national average is over eight.”
“Right. We have one of the lowest income taxes. One of the
highest standards of living. We also have the Personal Privacy Act,
which prohibits the government from interfering in individual
medical, religion, and life style decisions. It also is the
prosecuting tool to deal with those that do.
All of which is in
direct opposition to the President’s policies–which is why none of
this is in the national news. He doesn’t want it known and we don’t
advertise. Since the legislation was changed about media ownership,
it isn`t that difficult to keep secrets. Most of the big networks
and newspapers are owned by big corporations, who really like the
tax breaks they’ve been getting. So what the President doesn`t want
to be known is simply not reported except by a few independents.
Even they are being harassed into silence by the patriotic
citizens.” One hand lifted off the wheel long enough for two
fingers to mime quotation marks in the air as she finished the
sentence.
“I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you want the rest of the
country to know?” Anger began to rise in Daphne. How dare they
keep the advances to themselves, when the rest of the country was in
such desperate need?
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch.” The humor remained in
Melanie’s voice, but her tone became more serious. “We don’t want
the religious crazies invading us. We have enough problems with the
bounty hunters dragging women back on false warrants as it is. Last
week, a new law was fast tracked through invalidating all out of
state fugitive warrants. In order, to detain or take into custody a
person, it has to be with a valid Michigan warrant.”
“How do you know so many details?”
“A really good friend, Jamie, is one of the Governor’s
aids. I get daily updates.” A knowing smile crossed Melanie’s
lips. “You should know that Michigan had a state wide vote
yesterday. The results are being double and triple checked to make
sure nothing could be questioned. But if it passes–and I’m sure it
will–then the federal government and the Prez are in for a rude
shock. Not only from Michigan but also from at least fifteen other
states who voted on the same legislation.” She nodded toward the
road in front. “There’s the border. Ready?”
Forcing a deep breath into her lungs, Daphne nodded, but the
fear again began to rise. “Ready.”
Stopping behind the green sedan, Melanie rolled down her
window as the tan uniformed man marched up. The logo on his arm
patch read “PBP". “Ladies. ID please.”
“Why are we being stopped?” Melanie demanded.
In the sedan in front, the uniformed man suddenly grabbed at
the driver’s door and tried to yank it open. He shouted and two more
men appeared; one stationed himself in front of the car; the other
tried forcing his way in from the passenger side. She tried to back
up, but Melanie’s car prevented her escape. The man on the
passenger side smashed the window and unlocked the door. He opened
it and jumped inside. They struggled. The driver’s door was
unlocked in the process. The first man pulled it open. Between the
two of them, they forced her from the car, kicking and screaming.
They dragged her into the building and the man in front moved her
car out of the way.
“All women are required to show ID before leaving Kansas.”
Ignoring the battle, he snapped back. “It’s the law.”
“What law?” Melanie matched his tone. “What are they doing
to her!”
“The Pre-Born Protection Act.” He looked over his
shoulder. “They are arresting her. Mostly like for kidnapping an
unborn child.”
“We’re from Michigan. Your laws don’t apply to us.”
Melanie countered. “We’re just going home after vacation.”
“Show me you driver’s license. I’ll confirm there isn’t a
detain warrant on either of you and you can pass.”
“That isn’t constitutional!”
Her stomach twisting into a double knot, Daphne prayed her
hand wouldn’t reveal her nervousness as she pulled the license from
her purse and offered it to him. “Mel, just do it. It’s getting
late and we have to be back to work tomorrow.” Inwardly the
butterflies swarmed in her stomach, but she didn’t stutter the pre-
rehearsed speech.
“No!” Melanie continued her role. “This is still the
United States. We haven’t broken any laws. As far as I know the
Pre-born Protection Act is still being debated. Therefore it isn’t
a valid. Therefore this is an illegal stop! And it is the woman
who is being kidnapped!”
He snatched the license and swiped the card through his
computer notebook. “Daphne Harrison. No wants or warrants.” He
returned it. Leaning forward he faced off with Melanie. “Lady,
show me your ID or be arrested.”
“Just do it.” Daphne prompted. “Here.” She pulled
Daphne’s purse from behind her seat. “I’m tired and hungry. Prove
your point another time.”
Reluctantly Melanie pulled her wallet out and flashed the
license.
“I need to scan it.”
Removing it from the plastic case, she held it out.
Nastily he snatched it, examining it closely before running
it through the system. “Melanie Harrison. Same address.” A
knowing look crossed his face.
“We’re sisters.” Melanie snapped. “Give me my license and
get out of the way.”
“No wants or warrant. This would have gone a lot faster if
you had just co-operated.” He tossed the license through the open
window. “They’re clear!” He shouted to the man at the
booth. “Drive through and come back soon.”
“When hell freezes over redneck!” Melanie pulled out and
sped through the now open barricade. “Welcome to Missouri.”
Gratefully, Daphne breathed a sigh of relief. Their plan
had worked. By focusing his attention on Melanie, he hadn’t looked
to closely at her ID.
“Just two more states to go before safe harbor.”
“Three.” Daphne corrected, seeing the look of disgust and
anger on her friend for the first time. The light was gone from her
eyes only to be replaced by a smoldering rage.
“No. We’re going up to Wisconsin from Illinois. Then
taking the ferry over.”
“Why?”
“Jamie told me it was the safest route. Everyone knows
about Michigan, California, and New York. But they don’t know about
the others. Once we cross the border into Wisconsin, they can’t
touch either one of us.”
“Good.”
“Don’t relax yet. Missouri is going to be the tough one.
And your buddy will know you’ve taken off by now. They’ll be
looking for you. There`s no going back now.”
“Thank for the cheer up.”
Inwardly, Daphne flinched. She
wasn’t sure of Melanie’s tone–there was a bite to it that Daphne
couldn’t define.
“No problem.” Melanie hesitated. “I don’t think the trick
will work twice. Next time we’ll both be good little girls.”
“I understand.” Settling back, Daphne watched the scenery.
She couldn’t think of any thing to say. Small talk didn’t seem
appropriate and she couldn’t face the big topics just now. The what-
ifs ran in a never ending loop, punctuated by moments of self-doubt
and disappointment. If she had been more careful, she wouldn’t have
gotten pregnant. If she had been smarter, she wouldn’t have gotten
involved with George; she would have seen him for who his truly
was. Part of her questioned if Melanie thought less of her. Not
connected by blood, Daphne still thought of her as a true sister.
Her opinion was important.
She turned in her seat, allowing her
hair to fall across her face to hide the tears, which were forming.
She wiped them away and forced herself to focus on the positive
changes. A new job. A new home. Regaining control over her life.
She had always loved the energy of Michigan. It was so much more
open than Kansas.
Melanie popped in a CD of hits from the 60’s. Quietly she
sang along. Sometimes Daphne found herself harmonizing with her.
Half way through the state, they stopped for lunch. Daphne felt
like everyone was watching that they knew and had called in their
location. No one seemed to take notice of them. Getting back in
the car, Sarah again complained about her confinement, but Daphne
couldn’t risk losing her. She had access to water and to a small
litter pan. Food would have to wait. About mid afternoon, they
crossed into Illinois without incident. Taking the most direct
routine, Melanie drove north; they should cross into safety sometime
mid evening. The music helped fill the dead air between them. So
many years of endless chatter seemed to suddenly stop. For the
first time since kindergarten, she didn’t know what Melanie thought
or felt and she felt totally alone.
For the next few hours, she watched the scene go by
intermixed with dozing. Once or twice, she swiveled in her seat to
check on Sarah and Maxie. He wagged his tail. Sarah had finally
curled up in the carrier and slept. All three of them would need a
home of their own soon. How much damage was done to their
friendship, Daphne didn’t know at this point, but if the discomfort
level in the car was any indication there were major issues now
between them.
After the procedure, she would need a couple of days
to recuperate. She would use the time wisely. While Melanie was at
work, she would look for a job and a place to live. Hopefully, the
bright future Melanie talked about wasn’t an exaggeration. Her
savings and the payment she would eventually received for the sale
of her home should be enough to make a sizeable down payment on a
new one with enough property to build a barn and fenced in area for
her horses. But that was a little further down the road. For now
she would just need a safe place, nothing too big just enough for
the three of them.
Some where along the way she drifted into sleep and only
woke up when the car stopped. She snapped awake. Her neck suddenly
hurting. Blinking rapidly, she tried to bring herself back into
focus.
“We’re at the Illinois border.”
“Sorry.” Rubbing her neck, Daphne swiveled in the seat. “I
didn’t mean to check out on you.”
“It’s just as well. I needed to think a few things through.”
A PBP officer walked up their car. “ID please.”
Without complaint, Melanie offered hers while Daphne dug her
out of her purse. Melanie was cleared. He returned her ID and
accepted Daphne’s. For a moment, he looked at it then at Daphne.
He swiped it through. For a moment, Melanie thought they were
caught. Still with a questioning look, he handed it back and waved
them through. Slowly, he walked to the car behind them. Melanie
drove through and they were safely in Wisconsin. “Welcome to
freedom, sister!”
“I thought for sure…”
“He was just trying to see if he could spook one of us.”
Melanie shifted in her seat. “I need a break and the car needs gas.”
Nodding, Daphne continued to look at her. “What did you
need to think through?”
“The other women.” She slowly continued. “Some of them
don’t have the options. They don’t have the education, the
resources–”
“Or good friends.” Daphne cut in. “I am grateful. You’ve
risked everything to save me from my own stupidity.”
“Stop!” Melanie shouted. “You made a mistake. That’s
all. Who hasn’t?”
“You. You always seem to be able to turn a negative into a
positive.”
“Get real. It is all a matter of attitude.” Melanie
sighed. “I’m not perfect. You aren’t. No one is. We just do the
best we can.”
“So you’re not angry with me?”
“For what?”
“Getting involved with George and getting pregnant.”
“I was just happy you let your guard down long enough to get
involved. Do I wish he was a better man? Yes. Do I have an
opinion about the pregnancy? No. If you want to have it–fine.
If you don’t–that’s fine too.”
“You were so quiet, I thought–”
“I was thinking about how I could help the others.”
Pointing to the rest stop sign, she pulled onto the off ramp. “I
rather suspect that soon this trip will seem like a walk in the
park.”
Daphne waited for her to continue.
Pulling next to an open gas pump, she turned off the engine
and turned to face Daphne. “What you don’t know is that the vote
determined two things. The first was if we want to accept the Pre-
born Act. The polls were running about eight-five per cent
against. The second would determine what we were going to do if it
passed.”
“What you mean do?”
“The number of states against is way short of preventing its
passage. The President will have he’s way. It will become federal
law.” The anger rose in her voice. “Women in this country will no
longer have control over their own bodies. Meaning we will lose our
financial freedom–our equality. Men will again be making all the
decisions and have all the rights.”
“I never thought of it like that.”
“It was only after we could control our reproduction through
prevention and termination did we actually achieve economic
freedom. Before pregnancy interrupted schooling, job training–
work. It controlled ever aspect of our lives and made us dependent.
But once we gained control over our reproduction, we could decide
when or if to have a child, we achieved financial independence. We
no longer needed a man to survive. We could do very well, sometimes
better on our own.”
“I have.” Daphne pointed to herself. “I had a good job, in
spite of the economic times. My own home. My own car. My own
money.”
“And you had to give it all up.” Melanie finished her
thought. “Why? Because you no longer had the right to chose your own
destiny.”
In the distance, many police sirens rapidly raced closer.
“They’re from the north.” Melanie opened her car door and
slid out. Stretching, she looked up the road. “I wonder what’s
going on. It sounds like a lot of them.”
Opening the door and getting out, Daphne opened the back
door and attached Maxie’s leash. “As long as they aren’t coming for
me.”
In the distance, a black van followed by a half dozen police
cars raced down the freeway. All around the rest stop, people
stopped and watched. A man walked out of the station. He marched
between his car and Melanie’s with an air of military efficiency,
yet his appearance didn`t match his demeanor. His hair pulled back
in a ponytail, he was dressed in jeans and checked short sleeved
shirt with a blue T-shirt underneath. His keys jingled in his hand.
Lifting up the pump, Melanie inserted and pulled the
trigger. “Damn, I wonder what that’s all about?”
“They have a scanner inside.” He volunteered. “They are
chasing down some of those PBP Retrievers. In Wisconsin, we call it
kidnapping.” Bitterness and anger dripped from his voice. “They’ll
catch the bastards before they reach the border.”
“They are running out of road.” Melanie flipped back her
hair. “I’m from Michigan. I’ve been down south. Helping a friend.”
Knowingly, he looked from Melanie to Daphne and back again.
He held out his hand. “Captain Michael Walgreen. Wisconsin
Militia.”
Melanie shook his hand. “Officer Melanie Harrison, Michigan
State Home Guard. She continued raising the volume of her voice to
be heard over the approaching sirens. “Do you know how Michigan
decided?”
Daphne stared at them as if they had suddenly transformed
into space aliens. She didn’t know what to think. Were they for
real? It couldn’t be happening. Not really. It was just
speculation. It had to be.
“It passed in every state.”
“Has the announcement been made yet?”
“Not yet.” He shook his head. “But the Feds have already
tried to circumvent. They tried taking the Alaskan oil fields. But
they had a rude surprise. The Alaskan Militia was already dug in.
The troops were arrested and their weapons confiscated. Thanks to
the Patriot Act, we are all well prepared.”
Daphne heard their words. They didn’t make any sense. At
the very least, they were talking treason. A house divided–civil
war–the nation would be vulnerable. Clamping her eyes shut and
turning away, she tried to block them out. But their words
followed. It had to be stories. Just stories. None of this was in
the papers or on TV. She would have known. Anger flared. How
could they keep it a secret? She snapped around to stare at them.
They had forgotten about her. How could they? It was all about
women like her…no, her own mind contradicted, it was about more
than just reproductive rights; it was about a government
representing all it’s people, not just a select few.
“They tried taking our wind turbines last month. Claimed
they were national property according to National Resource Act.”
He snorted. “I remember when they tried forcing us,” he
pointed to himself then to Melanie, “to accept drilling in Lake
Michigan. Both our states said no. Therefore they were going to do
it anyway.”
“It’s amazing what we can do when we work together.”
Melanie wickedly smiled. “To bad the rigs kept sinking.”
Shaking his head, he lifted a single finger then pointed to
the road, then covered his ears with his palms as the sirens rose to
a deafening level. Melanie nodded and followed suite. The van was
nearly passing the rest stop.
At her feet, Maxie whimpered and tried to pull free.
Instead of covering her own, she tried shielding his. In the car,
Sarah bounced against the walls of the carrier nearly knocking it
off the seat. Daphne saw her cries. She couldn’t help.
A patrol car sped up from the opposite direction. The
volume of the others had concealed its approach. Kicking up dirt,
it crossed the median between the north and south bound lanes in
front of the van. The van swerved and lost control. Flipping it
bounced down the freeway, clipping the patrol car in front. Metal
screamed. On the third bounce, flames appeared. In mid air, it
burst into flames. The following cars screeched in various
directions. Two landed in opposite ditches. A third fish tailed
across the median. Two continued straight, trying to avoid the
flying pieces of burning metal.
The sixth crashed into the van.
The roof caved in. The sound of metal scraping on metal replaced the
sirens. The van folded around the front bumper nearly to the
windshield. Bits of asphalt shot up as the pair skidded to a stop.
For an instant there was silence.
Maxie howled. Sarah growled and hissed. Unable to keep her
eyes off the road, Daphne knelt to quiet him. She couldn’t believe
it. Time stopped. Flames ate. The vehicles creaked. Black smoke
bellowed. The officers ran toward the wreck. A few from the station
ran in the same direction. Several carried car size fire
extinguishers. From the van a woman screamed. One of the officers
barked orders.
Fanned by the breeze, the flames reached for the sky. Smoke
and the smell of burning rubber crossed the distance. An elderly
woman retreated back into the station coughing. Several others
followed with their children.
Melanie turned to look at Daphne. Her eyes asked if she was
ok. Nodding, Daphne slowly stood. The smoke was already making
both their eyes water.
“Oh my God!” The man whispered, crossing his chest.
In a vain rescue attempt, the officers surround the vehicles
looking for a way in. The woman screamed. The fire extinguishers
had no effect. Other orders were given. The officers ran to
safety. The sides of the van seem to suck inward. It exploded. The
sides disintegrated. Black smoke rose up in a pillar, creating a
dome above the van. Pieces of burning metal shot in every
direction. Flames licked the bare frames. The screams stopped,
replaced by the crackle and hiss of the flames.
Shaking, the man leaned against the trunk of his car.
“It
didn’t need to be.”
“They’re all dead.” Daphne cried, knowing as she spoke
them, her words were unnecessary.
“I know.” Melanie whispered.
“To answer your question.” He coughed and wiped the tears
away. “The networks have been covering the debate and the vote over
the PBP Act. Rumor has it that when the official count is taken.
If it passes, the senators will officially announce to the Congress
that as states we are with drawing from the Union.”
“Including Michigan?”
He nodded.
Stunned, Daphne straightened. “You can`t mean that?”
“Yes, he does.” Melanie started slowly, “The United States
will no longer be fifty states. There have been so many right-
wingers who kept saying if you don’t like it, leave. We are and
we’re taking our talents and resources with us.” She paused for an
instant. “We’ve had enough of being lied to and manipulated. Being
drawn into a war, that didn’t need to be. Of having our resources
and rights stripped from us for our own good. Of having their brand
of religion and morality forced on us.”
“I’m a Christian.” He cut in. “I love God and I follow the
Bible. But it’s not my place or responsibility to dictate what
consenting adults do. I married my wife. We hold hands and kiss in
public. All couples should have the same right. Just because some
are so insecure in their sexuality–”
“Michael!” A woman yelled from the station door. “It’s
starting.”
He turned toward her and nodded. “Be right there!” He
returned his attention to Melanie. “Interested in watching history
in the making?”
“Definitely.” Melanie fell into step with him, but stopped
when she realized Daphne hadn’t followed. “Coming?”
She licked her lips. Her mouth was dry. “I’ll be there in
a few. I need to calm down Sarah and walk Maxie.”
Tilting her head to once side, Melanie started at her,
questioning but not verbally asking. Slowly she shook her head and
continued into the store.
The smoke was getting thicker as the car continued to burn.
In the distance, a fire siren approached. The officers stood around
watching; there was little else they could do. Reaching into the
back seat, she straightened the carrier. Sarah hissed and
growled. “I know baby. It’s very hard on you…and me.” She
leaned against the frame and reached down to scratch Maxie. His
tail wagged and he set his head on her lap. It was never easy to
start over, but now it wasn’t just her. It was the country and
everything she knew–everything she that had given her security.
How could it all end? But it wasn’t ending, a small inner voice
reassured her; it’s just changing. Maxie whined and licked her
hand. “Ok. We’ll go tree.” Standing, she closed the door and took
him to the field next to the station. A few minutes later, they
were back in the car. She grabbed the carrier and took them both
inside the gas station.
No one noticed when they walked in. Everyone’s attention
was absorbed by the activity on the TV screen. The Vice President
had just banged the gavel and announced the PBP Act had passed.
Obviously, the President and his pro-life group were not taking any
chances. To have the Vice President residing at the podium was not
the norm. Usually a freshman Senator was appointed to lead the
proceedings.
The crowd in front of the TV grumbled. Derogatory comments
and snide remarks snapped around the room. One woman held her
toddler closer, silently crying in the corner of the room. The room
grew hot as the Vice President talked about the benefits to the
Act. Fists clenched. Knuckles turned white. His words fed their
anger.
A moments later, the Senators from Alaska stood in
unison. “Mr. President.” Their voices carried across the room even
without the microphone. “Mr. President!”
“Out of order!” He slammed the gavel and continued with his
prepared speech.
Undaunted, the Senators continued. “The citizens of Alaska
can no longer accept the unconstitutional behavior of this regime.
Therefore we are leaving the union of the United States of America
and taking with us all the resources and benefits within our
borders.”
Immediately the Senators from Arizona and California
stood. “Mr. President. The citizens of Arizona can no longer
accept the unconstitutional behavior of this regime. Therefore we
are leaving the Union of the United States and taking with us all
the resources and benefits within our borders.” The California
representatives quickly followed.
“Out of order!” He screamed trying to drown them out.
Alphabetically, the state Senators stood, ignoring all
attempts to silence them. Their voices could no longer be heard
over the angry profanity and accusations of treason, but their
intent was clear. A burly Senator tried grabbing the female Senator
from Michigan as she stood; with a single punch, she sent him
sprawling backward. Wisconsin Senators finished. In mass, the
departing Senators marched toward the door.
“That’s it!” Unbuttoning the checked shirt and stripping it
off to reveal the blue shirt of his militia uniform, Michael’s voice
rose to silence the group. “Time to saddle up and lock down the
border.”
The woman behind the counter reached up and turned the TV
off. The many of the men pulled blue shirts with the Wisconsin
emblem on the shoulders out of various kinds of bags and changed
where they stood. Several of the women disappeared into the ladies
room only to return wearing the same. Side arms tucked into their
holsters hung from their belts. Radio microphones were attached to
the loop on the left shoulder. They gathered at the door and
departed in mass.
Melanie crossed the now nearly empty room. “You ok?”
Daphne shook her head. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” She nodded toward the road. “We just witness
the first casualties of civil war.”
This is a fiction story. Not based on any true events, real people. Any similiarities referenced are purely accidental.