Apples

Chapter 22 ~ A Second Chance to Explain

I wake up happy for the first time this week. But I'm still nervous. It could all change again the moment I let Cash explain. How can he possibly explain it away? My tablet buzzes with a message.

From Favorite: It was so good to see you last night. Let me know when you are ready to talk. I can pick you up.

"OK. I just woke up. Let me get ready and ask my ma." send.

I walk into see ma. She looks happy for the first time in a week as well. "Hey ma." I greet her.

"Good morning sweetie. Did you have a nice time at the dance last night?" She asks looking for information.

"Yes ma, I did. And yes I talked to Cash. Everything isn't good yet, but he wants to talk again today. Can I go over to his house in a few minutes?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Of course you can. I'm so glad you two are working things out. Let me get you something to eat." She says with a smile.

After breakfast I message Cash to come and get me. And then I'm nervous, worried, excited. How can I be all those things at once? I decide to wait for him outside. He pulls up and all those feeling just intensify. He gets out of his truck. The only emotion I can read on his face is happy. He has that gorgeous smile on his face. It's contagious, I decide I'll let it spread.

"Hey kid." he says. "Let me get the door for you." He walks over to open my door and I get in. As he gets in his smile slowly fades. He turns to me and looks nervous. "Since I didn't do a very good job of explaining things the last time, my dad would like to talk to you today. Is that alright?" He asks. His dad? Why would he ask his dad? His dad hates me. Cash must see the terrified look on my face because he continues, "You don't have to. But I think you'll find he's a little less intimidating now that you know our secret."

"OK." I reluctantly agree. Why would knowing their secret make him like me more? I think he would hate me even more.

We get to his house and I nervously walk to the door. I can hear my heartbeat with every step we take. We walk in the door and Mr. Cash is waiting for us at the table.

"Hello Haven, please take a seat next to me." he says as he gestures to the chair across from him. I sit down my heart still racing. "So, I'm just going to get right to it." he continues. "Lincoln has told me that he showed you our boxes in the basement."

"Yes." I say.

""Have you told anyone about what you've seen?" he asks.

"No. Cash asked me to keep it a secret, and I have." I say. I can see the relief on Cash's face.

"Thank you Haven. Lincoln has known since a very early age that telling anyone about our food supply was strictly forbidden. For him to break that rule, he must have trusted you very much. It looks like his trust has not been misguided." he said with a smile. "Now, what questions do you have?" he asks.

What questions do I have? This is not how I expected the conversation to go. I thought I was here for an explanation. But perhaps this was the best way to get answers, by asking questions. "Why is it a secret?" I ask.

"I wish I could tell everyone, I do." he says and it sounds sincere. "I'd like nothing more than to give every single person left in this world food. But that's the problem. I don't have enough. So who do I pick and choose? If I pick three people how do I know they won't tell someone else? Surely everyone has at least one person they would like to share with as well. It's only natural to want to share with those you love. And we all love someone."

"It worked well for awhile, just Lincoln and I sharing. It wasn't too hard to keep that secret because we were all each other had. And then he met you. How could he keep this food from you? But now you see Haven a chain of events has been set in motion."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Once you start eating our food...."

"I don't need your food, if that's what you are worried about." I interrupt.

"I really don't think Lincoln will take no for an answer now that you know Haven."

"He's right." Cash says. "I can't keep it from you any longer. There are so many things I want you to try."

"And once you try, you will eventually want to share with your mom." Mr. Cash continues.

"Is there not enough for my ma to try?" I ask not understanding the problem.

"Sure, there is enough for her." Mr. Cash admits.

"Then what is the problem?" I ask.

"The problem is eventually your mom will want to share with someone else." he says.

"I don't think so." I say. "It's just me and my ma. We don't have anyone else."

"Haven, what does your mom do for a living?" he asks.

"She's a nurse, you know that." I say, wondering why he is asking me if he knows the answer.

"Yes. And how many times has she taken care of a sick child and wished for more nutrients to get them back to the health they need to be?" he asks.

"I don't know." I answer. I've never even thought about her work before. I'm sure it must be hard for her at times. She cares so much, and there is so little she can do to help anymore. He's right she would give any child her apple is she were able to. She maybe even has before and I just have no idea. "So what are you saying?" I ask.

"I'm saying, I need you to continue to keep our secret forever. Even from you mom. Do you think you can do that?" he asks.

Keep a secret from my ma? I've never done that before. I've always told her everything. "I'm not sure." I admit.

"I appreciate your honesty. Let me explain why it's important. That food was a gift from my brother. He has extra so he gives it to someone he cares about. But if word got out in the towns that there is food in the mountains, everyone would want some. Everyone would go running back into the mountains and pillage. Eventually it would all be gone. Eventually the ORP would find out and claim it and wipe it out to grow more potatoes. My brother and I would be executed along with anyone else they find living in the mountains."

"Executed?!" I gasp.

"Yes. That's what they do to people that grow and consume food not given to them by the ORP." he informs.

"I've never heard of that." I say sceptical.

"Why would you? You've never even heard of anyone growing or consuming food other than what the ORP allows correct?"

"Well no." I admit. "So, why do you take that risk?" I ask.

"Because some of us believe the ORP shouldn't be telling us what we can eat. Shouldn't control all of the land." he says.

"But they saved us. Without them, we would have all died." I say.

"Did they?" he asks. "There is a whole community in the mountains that tells a different story. They are living a far better life there than we are here." he says.

"If that's true, then why aren't you there?" I ask.

"That Haven, is a story for another day." he says. "For now, remember that my life, and the lives of many other people depend on you keeping our secret."

"OK." I say, feeling heavy.