Chapter 11 – Shake, Rattle and Roll

Britney and Kane went back to their jobs and their day to day routines continued as they did for everyone.

It was a warm summer evening in August, a Saturday night and Charlie was sleeping over.

The smell of the barbecue filled the house as the windows allowed the summer breeze to flow in. Baseball played on the television while Willow could hear the boys talk football in the hot tub but this time no raccoons were in site.

The next day Steve, Willow, Louie and Charlie had plans to attend an Oakland A’s game. Willow scheduled out the games the moment the schedules were available, seeking the best giveaways, providing something to look forward to in the near future.

It was the usual Saturday night spent watching baseball, munching on popping corn and unwinding from the weeks’ demands and pressures.

They were finally at peace in their new home. Willow felt confident there would be no surprise knocks on the door, screws placed behind her tires or stalkers roaming her property at night.

Could this old home bring them all peace? This sense of normalcy was divine and welcome.

That night Steve was enthralled with a documentary on a historic tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. He sat up in bed, watching the horrors of the tsunami as the dramatic videos caught Willow’s eye.

“What are you watching?”

Steve had his headphones on and being there was no immediate response, she tapped him on his shoulder. He jumped when Willow asked him again.

“A 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Japan, triggering a tsunami. Look at all the flooding.”

Willow leaned in and was just as astonished with the massive flooding and loss of life. It was the car wreck that makes you want to turn away but the tragic site keeps you curiously engaged. She moved closer to Steve and together they watched the documentary from beginning to end.

“I can’t imagine. Those poor people.”

Steve continued to watch more documentaries on earthquakes when Willow started to fade off to sleep. Her mind would not let go of the trauma she just witnessed before going into a deep sleep as her dreams became horrid nightmares.

She fidgeted and moaned, chattering rubbish as Steve tried his best to interpret the conversation she entertained herself with.

Turning back to his computer, he smiled and felt his eyelids becoming heavy as well.

It was 3:20 a.m.

A bright flash of blinding light lit up their bedroom, immediately waking Steve and Willow. The old house seemed to have been picked up by the Jolly Green Giant, violently shaking the house for what seemed to be five minutes.

At first, Willow thought she was experiencing a nightmare, partially due to the graphic earthquake documentary they watched just hours before, but she couldn’t have been more wrong. As the house shook, she realized they were experiencing a major earthquake – the strongest she had ever felt.

Instantly, she grabbed Steve and held him tight.

“If I’m going down, you’re going with me.”

There was no need for laughter because this terrified woman was dead serious.

Just below their bedroom was a large basement, so technically they were on the upper floor and it was a long drop down.

“It will stop. We’ll be okay.”

As they heard glass shatter, pounding to the floors throughout the house, Steve shouted out to the boys.

“Are you guys okay?”

There was a moment of silence as Steve and Willow waited for a response from the nearby bedroom.

Charlie was a deep sleeper and he savored his slumber but this act of God could not be ignored. Just then you could hear Charlie speak.

“Did you feel that?’

It was another one of those moments they would laugh about later but in the meantime, the house was in utter destruction. Willow tried to locate her slippers in the dark as her Wizard of Ox music boxes were shattered amongst the bedroom floor, along with her mosaic Tinkerbell Lamp. Yes, she was accused of living in a fantasy world on several occasions – every time she nearly falls off her unicorn.

After she gathered her nerves and her slippers, the gasps could be heard throughout the house from Steve, Louie and Charlie.

Willow called her mother but it was apparent there was no electricity and the phone lines were down as well.

Her legs felt like more like rubber bands as walking was quite a challenge but she knew they needed to move forward, gather everyone, including Bando, and head for Babushka’s house, making sure she was okay.

Being Willow’s childhood home was near a creek, the ground was soft and often wet and shifting. Her mother had been through several earthquakes and this monster quake rattled her nerves beyond repair. The home had shifted throughout the years with cracks in the ceiling and the walls.

Before they reached the car and down the back steps, Charlie barely touches the handrail, when the entire handrail pole falls to the ground. The thud makes a rather loud hollow sound on the old brick steps - all nerves are on edge. Willow jumps when Charlie sweetly apologizes.

Steve starts the car, turns the headlights on and directs their attention to the outside corner of the home, which is made of brick. Everyone in the car is struck with the vision of a gaping hole on the side of the old home, beside the hole is a pile of old bricks. There is no time to assess the damage as it is dark and Babushka may need their help. The old home will surely be red-tagged.

Willow recalls just a few months prior when they were considering renting the old home. She could picture Steve standing there, outside the house, staring at the vintage brick siding, not certain this old house could withstand an earthquake when Willow reassured him they hadn’t had an earthquake in years.

There was a brief moment of guilt which passed quickly as she learned after years of catholic condemnation from her mother; guilt should be thrown in the garbage. Guilt benefits no one.

“Charlie, were you able to get in touch with your mother?”

“No. I can’t get through.”

“Yeah. The phones lines are probably down. Maybe you’ll be able to get through at my mom’s.”

At this time, Bando is wiggling and shaking with uncontrollable excitement as if she thinks they are taking her on an adventure.

Louie amps up her excitement.

“Where we going Bando? Where we going?”

When they arrive at Babushkas, they notice the entire neighborhood is pitch black, which would be normal under average conditions, considering it was just past 3:30 in the morning. Louie excessively pushes the doorbell as he always does but wonders why the doorbell is not working.

“She has no power honey. Probably best for now Louie.”

He begins to knock on her door continuously. Louie had a lot of energy and it was probably a blessing he got rid of it in the most productive way possible. Knock away young man, knock away. Even though they were all functioning on about four hours sleeps, the adrenaline was flowing.

She opens the front door, seeming relieved and stressed at the same time.

“There is only one person that knocks on my door that way – it is usually my doorbell though.”

She can’t look down on Louie anymore as he stands almost six feet tall now. She is smiling, which is a good sign. She is out of breath and overwhelmed as usual.

“My neighbor came over to check on me. I was stuck behind a cabinet that was blocking me in.”

Just then she notices Bando.

“Oh you brought Bando.”

She loved animals…just not inside her meticulous home.

As they enter her childhood home, Willow doesn’t pay much attention to her mother’s dog comment.

“What do you mean you were stuck behind a cabinet?”

Babushka is not sidelined by Willow’s sidetrack question.

“Is Bando potty trained? I don’t want her peeing on my floor.”

“Yes, Mom. She’s six years old so she better be potty trained. Now back to the cabinet.”

The boys run for the television and the enormous bean bag chair that has been in the family for over thirty years, and then realizing there is no power. Instant downer.

In the den is a corridor, leading to Babushka’s bedroom, with a huge solid wood cabinet filled with books, Polish bowls and cups. The cabinet weighed at least 200 pounds and it was solid, awkwardly positioned in the middle of the corridor.

“This is the cabinet that you moved?”

“Yeah. My neighbor was banging on the door and I actually thought it was Louie. I couldn’t get to the door because this damn cabinet was in the way. I just had this incredible strength…a surge of adrenaline. You know, I have heard stories of people lifting cars during times of emergency.”

“Geez Mom. You’re like Superwoman.”

Babushka was a short Polish woman with a ton of opinions and a build like an Eastern Block. Make no doubt, she was a strong woman. Steve commented on the time he tried to pay a dinner bill.

“Yeah, she’s strong; she surprised me that time I tried to get the dinner bill from her. It was downright embarrassing.”

They laughed for a moment and then get back to the hot topic at hand…the earthquake.

Willow and Steve walked throughout the rooms, looking for damage. Her home saw almost as much destruction as Steve and Willow’s place but they were thankful it was livable for her.

As Willow walked to the kitchen, broken spaghetti sauce jars with red sauce splattered and stained the walls and floor.

“What a mess.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I’ll help you clean it up.”

That day Willow gave her A’s ticket to one of Louie and Charlie’s friends. It was backpack day giveaway – she told herself it was not the end of the world. They helped Babushka clean up and went home to assess the damage from the outside of their new old home as the sun rose.

Reporters swarmed the old town area in Sonoma like flies on s…I mean, honey. One of the reporters approached Steve, asked some questions and took pictures of him standing beside the massive hole and pile of bricks. He was puzzled for a moment and wondered if he should smile or look angry. Not exactly a reason one desires to be in the local newspaper but definitely news worthy.

“You can take my car and the boys to the game. I’m going to go back to moms and get her some lunch.”

Steve understood the intent love Willow had for the game of baseball. He knew it was important she stayed with her mom but he secretly shared her disappointment for not making this one. It would be downright heartless to say it out loud. Her dad would take her and her brother to games when she was a little girl and her love of the game remains all these years later.

“I’m so tired, I hope I make it.”

None of them had much sleep and she encouraged him to go.

“It will be good for you. Get your mind off things here.”

Steve nodded as he looked down at the pile of bricks, trying to talk himself into going to the ball game. A few more bricks tumbled down as he stood there, watching a city worker in a little white truck stop at the houses on the block in an orderly fashion. He went house to house with different colored papers in hand - yellow, red and white papers of some sort.

The city worker caught Willow’s attention, too. They both helplessly waited for the little white truck to make its way to their home as the inevitable was minutes away.

“Good morning folks. Do you live here?”

“Yes. We just moved in a couple months ago.”

They watched him fidget with the stack of papers in hand, scotch tape in the other.

“Oh that’s too bad. The old town neighborhood seems to be hit the worst. It looks like your home was damaged more than most.”

He proceeded to walk around the house, inspecting, when he asked them both if he could come inside and then down into the basement. They were on the inspector’s coattail like a pirate on a treasure hunt. It wouldn’t be good news and they knew it.

“I wish I had better news. This house is not safe to live in. Do you have somewhere else to go?”

Willow nodded her head and looked at Steve. He seemed surprised by her response.

“We do?”

Obviously neither one of them was thrilled with Plan B.

“My mom said we could stay with her if we needed to.”

The inspector wasn’t about to stick around and hear more depressing tales, so he wished them well, posted the red tag on their door and he was off to the next house.

And just like that, they grabbed their essential and shared the grim news with Louie. It was a scramble, trying to narrow the essentials. What is most important to one is not worthy of a second thought to another.

“It’s not that bad. No way. You’re joking, right?”

“I wish I was. Grab your backpack, suitcase and everything you need for the next few weeks. We are going to stay at Babushkas until we find a place.”

Life has a way of throwing you a curveball. Curveballs keep you on your toes. It just wasn’t meant to be. Even though they lived in this old home for a short while, it brought them enough happiness to get them through the next few weeks.

Charlie seemed surprised, too. He loved the new place with the massive old-fashioned porch and county backyard with fruit trees and a hot tub to boot. Charlie, being a supportive friend, focused Louie’s attention back to the ball game.

“I wonder who’s pitching for the A’s today.”

Louie just shrugged his shoulders and began to gather his favorite things. He knew Charlie was just trying to be a good friend and eventually he shook off his sadness.

While the boys gathered Louie’s things, Steve and Willow did the same.

“We can use both my truck and your car to pack stuff. Have you called your mom?”

“Not yet. I’ll do that now.”

After the car was packed up, Willow walked to the front porch and took a final picture of the red tag that screamed frustration. Once they found a permanent place to live, they would come back and get the remainder of their things. There was no room at Babushka’s for couches, televisions and coffee tables, so one sweet day at a time is what is would have to be.

After the boys headed for the game, Willow went into town to try and locate a restaurant with a generator that may be open. Her mom still had no power as she endlessly repeated she wasn’t hungry but Willow knew otherwise.

“I’m not even hungry.”

Willow grabbed her keys and headed out on a mission. Food.

“You’re not hungry now, but you will be.”

Why is it our parents revert back to being children, with their grown children now taking care of them, repeating familiar phrases to them which once wore on the child’s last nerve? Maybe it was the sarcastic part of the circle of life.

And the search was on. Willow drove through town, secretly fearing she didn’t run into Knucklehead as she tried her best to focus on any food joint with lights on and a full parking lot. As she waiting at the light, a loud diesel motor hummed, pulling up alongside her car, giving her a chill that ran down her spine. She looked straight ahead, refusing to look to her right as she had a sinking feeling of who it may be.

The light turned green and rather than put the pedal to the medal, she waited for the monster truck to proceed first. She waited for what seemed like a couple minutes until impatience created havoc and cars behind her honked their obnoxious horns. She couldn’t blame them really as she responded with instant acceleration.

Then she heard the voice – the voice she knew so well - the voice of unrest and unreason.

What’s your problem bitch? Move your car.

Satan had his window rolled down and she could hear the laughter flowing from their car. Just as she thought, the entire cult was with him, taunting and learning all of his toxic habits.

As she drove forward she abruptly made a u turn, nearly killing herself as the oncoming cars slammed on their brakes. There was no time to process the next step as getting away was the only thing she could do. Looking in her rear view mirror, she saw him try to quickly maneuver to the left lane, but thank God impatient drivers maintained their selfish ways.

Now what?

With her heart racing and being alone, she realized she needed to pull her car over in a public place. Up ahead was a car repair shop with a few novelty stores and a Mexican restaurant with a light on. Maybe today was her lucky day. With the horrific turn of events these past few years, any ounce of good luck was welcomed with open arms.

Sure enough. Open. There was a line a mile long but that was just fine with her. Glancing up at the menu board, her day was getting even better…nachos…her guilty pleasure. She ordered a chimichanga for Babushka and ooey gooey nachos for herself, a mindless temporary distraction.

The remainder of the day was spent cleaning up, unpacking and attempting to calm her mother with chamomile tea, which was always a grand challenge.

The boys came home – well, to their temporary home, sharing lighter moments of their day at the ball park. As tired as everyone was, there was still room for a dose of sarcasm and a belly laugh. Laughter got them through the days they wanted to give up.

Charlie is laughing so hard, he can’t quite get the words out when Louie tries to share what Charlie is thinking. Years with the same friend can be like that. You complete each other’s sentences.

“We are waking to our seat and this dude sees Steve’s backpack – you know the one we all got from today’s giveaway.”

Charlie breaks down in laughter as the anticipation has everyone’s attention.

Louie continues for his incapacitated friend.

“This guy askes Steve if he would like to sell his backpack to him. Steve just keeps walking and tells this guy…”

Make an offer.

Charlie regains his composure and looks at Steve.

“He just kept walking and the guy was standing there with his buddy like huh?”

Steve grinned, looking exhausted.

“I was tired man and he took forever to make me an offer.”

“Maybe because you were talking and walking away at the same time.”

The next thirty days were spent surfing the internet, trying to find a new home they could afford. Day after day they looked, realizing the earthquake didn’t play favorites. They weren’t the only family who lost their home, the competition was tight.

Not only was the competition tight, landlords understood the financial benefits of supply and demand. Property management companies encouraged the insanity with massive monthly rental hikes as greed brought them financial opportunity. An average home in a seedy part of town was all they could afford.

They could deal with the seedy part of town. It was the quality of their neighbors that brought red flags.