The Pole Shift

Jimmy Sleeps on it

Monday came and went without a visit from Macka. Everyone kept watching Jimmy, the earthquakes were foreboding  and the school shook dangerously. Some kids began to make the pods home, and the teachers had to physically drag them out. They all sat around like the condemned, hoping to be included.

                Jimmy waited, he wanted to make sure he was doing the right thing.  Mostly though, he didn't want to exclude ten students from possible safety. Helen had left his side, joining the others that watched his every move. She didn't want to be accused of sucking up to him, she wanted a place on the life pods because she deserved one. Jimmy saw it, and admired her astuteness, if she was seen as a pet, then in the future that is how she would always be seen. Mr. Knowles was getting impatient:

                "Chose. There will mayhem if the cataclysm strikes whilst we are undecided. The teachers will handle the unchosen, we know this is for the future and sacrifice ourselves. Chose Jimmy."

                Miss Wright was circling the students like a matron, He had never seen her so intent and controlling. Her eyes flashed and she wasn't afraid to deliver a slap to a kid who refused to get out of a pod. Tuesday came and went, most of the students refused to leave the school, but the pressure took Jimmy home much to everyone's annoyance. Someone shouted that he should stay at home, another swore at Jimmy. The teachers watched on worriedly.

                When he got home he found Alan watching the documentaries. He paused a story on 'The New Andeans.' The Americans had started to suggest the mountain range could take in refugees,  mainly Americans that were clamouring to find perceived safety. The Rockies above 1800 meters were sealed off, much like Australia's Great Divide. Alan said:

                "There's going to be War if this thing doesn't happen soon. I'm over the waiting." Jimmy was shocked.

                "You want it to happen?" Alan looked to him with a sorry expression.

                "It is going to happen, we are going to die. I miss your Mum, I wish I had gone with her." It looked like he was about to cry. It would have been too hard on him for Jimmy to point out she didn't want him with her, only her Son. He felt that lump in his chest throb for her  then pushed it down.

                 "I'm going too, I won't be back." Alan nodded, saying that no one would be back. He resumed watching the documentary, where the Americans documentary tried to stick to the geology but kept veering to humanity. There was a shot of American civilians, trying to get through a road block. The sign read NO ADMITTANCE ABOVE 1800 METERS. The Army guarded the check point. There was shouting, the civilians had guns. A banner appeared at the bottom of the TV warning that some viewers might find the scenes upsetting. Jimmy looked at the back of Alan's head as shots rang out on the TV. HE didn't watch and went to his shed. He went through his things, child hood projects and collections of items that seemed important once. He fell asleep, and on Wednesday morning awoke knowing with the certainty of a man who would be on the pods and who would not.