26 - December 6

Topic - "The first birds are waking into song."

     "Do you hear that?" Josh asked.
     "What?" Winnie responded.
     "It's quiet outside.  It seems like the first birds are waking into song.  The sun must be coming up," he commented.
     "It is quiet outside," Waverly pondered.  "I wonder if it's over."
     We had been in the bunker for at least 48 hours, and though we still had a lot of food and were ok for a while more, it was strange to hear silence.  No gunfire, no bombs.
     "Can we go outside and see?" Winnie asked.
     "I'm not sure if we should yet.  Let's wait a little more; after all, it is only 4:30 in the morning," I said, looking at my watch.
     "Wilson," Josh turned to me, "what do you think we'll find out there?"
     It was something to think about.  We had entered the underground bunkhouse almost 3 days ago, when the shelling in our town had gotten bad.  No one really knows how it started - the killing of an innocent man?  Someone disgruntled with the government?  But our nice quiet village had gone from peaceful to a war-zone in a matter of hours.  My family's home was old and in the basement, under the concrete ground, was an old bunkhouse that was sealed off from the outside world.  My family had put extra non-perishables in there for a long time.  When there was a threat of war, they kept it regularly stock-piled, but when things never erupted and went on as usual, we let it drop over the years.  My parents had passed away years ago and now, it seemed their fears were coming true.  At least in our city.
     Winnie asked, "Can we turn the radio on, Wilson?  maybe something will be announced?"
     "Good idea," Josh responded.  He reached behind Waverly to find the battery-operated radio.  Switching the small electronic on, we were greeted with static.  That did not sound good.
     Scanning the dial, all of a sudden, there was a scratchy voice that came over the speaker. "This is the National Guard.  If you receive this message, please know that we are doing our best to contain the situation.  Please do not venture forth, even if it seems safe.  Stay tuned to this station; we will keep you informed."
     "Well, I guess we got our message for now.  Maybe later today we can see what life is like beyond these confined walls," I suggested.
     "What if it never ends?" Winnie asked.
     "We will deal with it then," I pulled the little girl into my arms and hugged her tight.