Thirst Forever

Water? 

There’s no water?  

Why’s there no water? 

How are we supposed to go on living without water? 

All these questions kept swirling around as we were gathered at the local town church. At the time, I unfortunately, was the “Peacekeeper” I would call it since I had to handle the hard stuff like these questions.  

How can little old me the local town cop keep peace with no water for all these people? I know that a little town like Archabalm holding 75 people doesn’t sound bad, but if you get them all shoved in the church yelling about something they sound more like 7,500 people.  

Back when the little town was normal seeming and nothing was going on I loved being the town cop. It was easy. Go around make sure everyone was minding their manners and the local drunks weren’t getting overly out of control. Easy right? Well, not now! 

“Calm down, calm down!” I said to everyone, “We will get this figured out one way or another. We just have to see what everyone has and see if we can help one another even if you don’t necessarily like those people.” 

“Why do we have to share our water with someone that doesn’t have any because they decided to chug theirs down and we preserved ours?” asked one of the more impatient ones 

“Well, Suzy,” I replied, “Since the huge temperature change to from the normal 70’s around here going up to burn your skin in certain areas I suggest you listen to me or we are all going to be dead in a matter of hours instead of maybe months.”   

She sunk down in her chair all afraid like I had said the world was ending which I am afraid it is, but I can’t let on to that or this whole place will start a panicking. I started thinking on what I could say to calm everyone down, but the look on everyone’s face said nothing is going to help. So, all I could do was tell them the honest truth. Hold your loved ones like you will never see them again because who knows if you will and enjoy every minute with them. Stay inside because that will keep you the safest also even though it is really hot keep yourself as cool as you can, but don’t waste your water with this heat it has dried up all the extra water all around the areas and we can’t get any more anywhere I have already tried.  

We all dismissed to our homes with people talking to one another hoping to get water from one or the other, but they were afraid to really sat how much they really had. I know that some will hide extra for their families so they can last a little longer, I mean I will want to also, but I’m afraid the town will go crazy and try and find some somewhere and come looking in all homes and start killing for it. How will we really know what to do until worse comes to worse? 

I went to my house and gathered all the water I had in the bottles I could and really couldn’t believe how much I had. I was happy with how much I had. Since, I was a loner if I rationed my bottles and drank very little while staying cool I might have well over a months' worth. Of course, we do have to share, but that rationing I put in the kitchen my drinking water is in the pantry. If I can keep them separate without nosy people noticing I should be alright.  

I haven’t even run my well water yet so, I guess, I better before someone notices I haven’t and tries to take it. I head out to my well and wouldn’t you know nosy Suzy is out there like she owns the place. I asked her what she thinks she’s doing and she said that she didn’t have much water and didn’t think I would mind.  

“Well, Suzy, I’ll make you a deal!” I replied, “You help me with it and I’ll split it with you.” 

“Really?” Suzy asked 

“Yes!” I exclaim, “I was getting ready to come out and drain it so you came just in time to help and so you help I’ll split it” 

“Great,” she says, “Let’s get to it before we have to split it more than with just us” 

Wow, yep, that’s Suzy for you stubborn and selfish as can be.  

We started on the well and got finished in no time so I guess she really was worried about someone getting some of “her” water. I told her thank you for helping and she said it was nothing and walked off no thank you for the water nothing. I guess it was expected! I mean I was expecting the thank you from her, but I thought maybe I would get one because that was a lot of water, I gave her I could have kept for myself. Oh well, for now life goes on.  

I get all my extra water loaded into my pantry and just wait to see how crazy the days will get as it gets hotter. 

All of a sudden from the end of town I hear screaming! I’m like oh boy here goes my relaxing. I put my last bottle in the pantry and start running down the street. I get to the noise and it’s Alex trying to steal Suzy’s water from her.  

I go running up to Alex and pull him off of Suzy and see what is going on.  

“Suzy what happened? You just left my house. How can you get in trouble in that little amount of time?” I asked 

“I was trying to get to my house with my water and here comes Alex running up to me and tries to grab my bottle of water saying that it was his and I needed to give it back.” 

“It is mine!!” yelled Alex 

“No, it’s not!!! Yelled back Suzy  

“Okay, look you both might not be happy with what I’m about to do, but it seems easiest to me.” I replied, “Suzy, hand me a smaller bottle of yours.” 

“Now, Alex, I know these are Suzy’s waters, but she is going to be nice and let you have this one so you can rehydrate. Now both of you go home and rest out of this heat like I was doing before you all started this obnoxiousness and no more arguing at all!” I spoke 

Suzy did not look happy at all, but listened to what I told her and both went on their way. I wasn’t about to tell Alex that I gave Suzy the water for helping me because then everyone would slowly start heading my way. 

Slowly, one by one people ran out of water and started going crazy on one another and tried to either beat each other up or just straight out shoot each other.  

We are now down to 40 people due to the heat and it’s not getting any better. I’m down to five bottles hoping the heat gets better and no crazies come my way.  

I’m sitting here watching my shows on tv with my shotgun on my knees when I see in the corner of my eye a shadow going past my window. I knew they would slowly work their way this way once all the water was gone. What these crazies don’t know is all the windows are nailed down and the doors are bolted shut so I don’t know how they are going to get in. 

It’s now been a few more weeks and we are down to 20 people. I am one of them and I'm pretty sure the rest are roaming around my house. They really need to go home and rest of course they might when I fall asleep, but I’m not sure and don’t really care if I’m asleep.  

All of a sudden, I hear shouting like happiness instead of anger and am confused. Should I go outside? There are those crazies out there. I look outside and I know why they are shouting and so happy it’s raining!!! We have more water and it’s cooling off! Woohoo!!  

We have made it everyone! We beat the heat!! Everyone is hugging, clapping, and smiling. There is now, not a worry in sight and life is good!!