Renewal Read Online Free Page B

blocking the freeways off in case they needed to move the Army around. He also said that no city is safe until we know what’s really happening, and that was a good point. If Nashville is a target for nuclear missile, we don’t want to be anywhere close. I kinda doubt that, but there’s another reason. If people get too upset about what might happen, they will do all kinds of crazy stuff. People might panic. If that happens, it’s much safer out here in the country, just because there are less people. You can’t tell that right now though.” Dad looked around at the crowd.
     
    Lucy was chewing her lower lip, which she always does when she’s worried. Kirk looked like he was ready to go fight the Chinese himself if he could join the Army at age 13. I wasn’t really too concerned myself. I understood from everyone else that this was bad, but for me, it was just an adventure on the side of the highway.
     
    About that time, two patrol cars pulled up in the middle of the road. Four deputies got out and one switched on a megaphone. “Folks, sorry for the inconvenience today, but we have been told to take steps to ensure your safety. We’d like to ask anyone who can move their vehicle at this point to please drive right up here,” he pointed to the west, “To North Elementary. It’s right up there. We’d also like to remind you, for your safety, to make no attempt to drive anywhere else. We are setting up the school as a temporary shelter, and the shelter will be able to accommodate your needs. We hope to resolve the situation and get everyone on their way as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.”
     
    Two of the deputies, one on each side of the road, began directing traffic and the cars slowly filtered out of the parking lot. Another deputy was on the radio. After about half of the cars were gone, he waved at Deputy Megaphone, who picked up his loudspeaker. “Folks, we just a got a report that North Coffee is full. The rest of you good folks are asked to follow the military truck down there…“ He pointed the other way. “…to Hickerson Elementary. It’s a little farther down the road, but will be as well stocked as the other shelter very soon. Please proceed carefully. Thank you again for your cooperation.”
     
    With fewer cars remaining, the lots were draining rapidly. Dad sent us back to our seats, where we had to burrow under all the stuff from Wal-Mart. He started the car and eased out into the long line heading down Highway 41. After a few minutes, we took a right, and then shortly, another left. Next thing we knew, somebody in an orange vest was waving us into the school parking lot. We followed the cars in front of us to a parking space on the grass, all the way into the back corner of the fenced school yard. Since we were trained from birth to despise sloppy parking, I remember thinking what a lousy parking job Dad did, but I quickly realized he was one step ahead of the crowd again. He left almost a full space between the station wagon and the back fence, and left the car sticking out so that there was at least a ten foot gap in front of the car.
     
    “We were lucky. This is the best spot in the whole place,” Dad announced. We were baffled, of course. How could we possibly park any farther from the playground we had seen on the way in? “Let’s just wait a few minutes.”
     
    When our corner of the yard was full and traffic was directed to another area, Dad started the car again and painstakingly turned it around, so that the back of the station wagon was facing the fence. Since no one was watching, he took the opportunity to cheat even more space on the fence-facing sides of the car. Mom watched him in wonder, until he told her, “No way they have cots and stuff here yet. I wanted more room to camp. And if we need to make a quick getaway, we’re facing in the right direction.” Mom still looked confused, and decided to compensate by rolling her eyes at him. He was kind of