The Greens of Jericho

Oh, my goodness!  I was so excited to read your message about an update!  It has taken me since yesterday to read the previous chapter and this one.  I thought I won the prize for longevity in story-writing (a decade), but now I'm pretty sure the prize goes to you.

What a wonderful update.  I'm sorry that Eric and April's baby doesn't make it. I still have hopes for April, but I will understand if you stick to cannon there.

Love all the parts and details about Heather and Jake. And the run-up to the mechanical bull debacle,  lol. 

Looking forward with great anticipation to additional updates.  Please add my name to the list if you need to take down this site  (altho I  would love for it to remain intact so that I could come back and read it in future).

merryann

I'm...so late to the party, so like a late party guest, I'm just going to barge in and say a bunch of things I think and hope they make sense. Oh, and should say I'm happy to be here, enjoying the party, I like all the details and interesting contrasts, but also some parts are a bit heartbreaking. And like someone doing a late tour of a party, I'm going to focus my thoughts on various people there. Like:

Quote: "Mornin', sunshine," Jake drawled sarcastically, pushing his way into the house. He looked his friend up and down. Dhuwalia was, in a word, unkempt. His eyes were bloodshot, he needed a shave, and while his hair wasn't exactly a mess, he'd clearly slept on it at one very odd angle. He was barefoot and wearing jeans that really needed to be washed, paired with a Chicago Bulls t-shirt that proclaimed that the team had won the 1998 NBA championship. Over this, he wore a black hoodie that Jake was fairly certain had once been his. But of course, everything that Dhuwalia owned was hand-me-down; he'd arrived in Jericho with, literally, nothing but the scrubs on his back. "So, when did you last have a drink?" Jake demanded.

Poor Kenchy. I've probably said it before, I think he's the most heartbreaking character. He's probably way luckier than many in the country, but also much less lucky than most of the ones we get to know, and he has no support system. Well, he does, but it's a thing making people more alienated from him (and a pretty unreliable one at that). And then here he's in such a bad place, and people are dragging him out of it because they need him, and then...okay I won't project too far ahead about how it'll turn out and if/when he gets a win/finds a way to find himself again. Just...heartbreaking situation within a heartbreaking situation, am I right?

Though...

Quote: "Good," Drake had declared. "That's what I'm tryin' for. People listen to you, and right now I need 'em to listen to me." Ahead of them, the ceiling lights had flickered to life and Drake had stalked the three feet to the nearest switch, slapping it off. "Okay people!" he'd shouted, "Here's the deal! No lights allowed until further notice."

The crowd had rumbled again, a male voice protesting, "But what about -"

"No exceptions!" Drake had bellowed before adding, more quietly, "Live with it or leave."

Support system, working and in place. I like Drake and I am enjoying seeing him somewhat...rebuilding himself? With the help of the aforementioned system. Or maybe he's coming into his own (since I don't see him in flashbacks, maybe this side of the tragic stuff he's been through, once he's coming out of the most traumatic of it, will be his best, strongest self ever). It is neat to see and a continued part of the “young adult characters making themselves into selves during a time of turmoil” that I've mentioned a few times before, especially around the Mikey/Jeff/Drake trio.

Quote: Eric held up both hands in a sign of surrender. "No way," he denied, shaking his head. "You're not gettin' me up on that thing, sorry Jim. I ride horses, not bulls, mechanical or otherwise," he insisted. "But any time you want to put in a karaoke machine...."

"Karaoke?" Heather questioned, surprised. "Really? You're a karaoke fan," she chuckled. "Wow. My brothers are all major karaoke fiends."

"Well, sorry to say, Eric, but it's gonna be over my dead body that a karaoke machine ever gets into Bailey's," Jim informed him. "So," he continued, clearing his throat, "Are you waitin' for Jake, or can I get you something to drink?"

What? Come on, Jim! (I guess if I were a Jericho citizen at this time, I'd be heading over to whatever neighbouring town did have karaoke. I'd hope it isn't New Bern). In seriousness, I enjoyed this whole sequence at the bar, with the origin story of the mechanical bull, and this group of characters having an amiable night during more carefree times (aspersions on karaoke aside).

Also,

Quote: "Jake's joining the church softball team?" Mary asked as she placed a basket of fries - the last item of their order - in the center of the table. "Wow. Don't tell my dad, he's trying to get the Main Street Merchants Mickey Mantles going again this year - you know it's always hard to get enough women, but Colleen says she's playing, so...."

"The Mickey Mantles? Do all the teams have better names than the Sluggers?"

"Stop trying to change the subject," April ordered, pointing a fry at Heather. "So Mary, A, B or C?"

"Or D," Heather reminded.

"Okaaaay," Mary stalled while she finished collapsing the stand she'd been using. "So, religious conversion, exercise -"

"And, fresh air," Heather mumbled.

"Fresh air and exercise," Mary amended gamely, "Impressing you, or all of the above, right?"

"Correct," Eric confirmed, reaching for his burger.

Hahaha. I like all the little world building moments in these flashbacks. It's valuable to hear about what's going on in various parts of the universe during the apocalypse, but these parts give a nice counterbalance to those parts, and your going back and forth lends them an emotional meaning. Like a time travel effect – making happy things also sad and sadder future things...bittersweet, I guess.

Quote: "It's fine," Constantino had assured, his lip twitching softly. "I always enjoy watching democracy in action."

"So," Gray inquired, once everyone was assembled. "What're we talkin' about?" he asked, glancing sideways at New Bern's sheriff and mayor. "Couple hundred pounds?"

Constantino looked simultaneously annoyed and amused. "For the first one, maybe," he informed them, glancing quickly over at the wind turbine that stood in the middle of the flower bed, tantalizing, almost ready to go. "But you want more," he reminded, "So no, we're gonna need a lot more than -"

"Wait a minute," Gray interjected, frowning. "I think we're entitled to the 'friends and family' discount here, Phil. It was our idea, our designs. Your people came here and consulted with my team -"

"Drawings on the page aren't what's gonna power your clinic," Constantino countered. "New Bern built that," he reminded, pointing at the wind turbine, "When Jericho couldn't, when all you had were a couple of technical drawings done by a third grade teacher." He glanced at Johnston, his tone lightening for a moment as he added, "Beautifully drawn, you be sure to tell Heather that. But still... we're the ones who made it happen."

Oh Phil. Not even really trying for non-menacing sincerity here, are ya? Poor team Jericho, so stuck before this deal is started that they can't really heed the red flags I assume they're observing. I continue to...like is not the right word. Appreciate your creepy Constantino. So smarmy and icky and condescending (to people who aren't even there!) but I guess he's doing a good enough job at reaching his objectives. In a sort of contrast,

Quote: Gray relaxed visibly. The mine and salt, those were the mayor's true comfort zone, his natural fit, much more so than town politics where he had to listen to and consider everyone else's arguments, where votes had to be taken, and where his word was not actually law - or at the very least official company policy, in the best interest of every employee to obey. But the citizens of Jericho were exactly that; citizens, not employees, and at least for now, Jericho still operated under its charter first established in 1887, a fact that Gray had - slowly - come to terms with.

This makes a lot of sense. Gray grappling with this situation where he thought he was a good leader, because he (probably? Seems like) he was a good leader in his business world, and signed on to this campaign during peace time, and then somehow got more determined to try to lead after the bombs and his harrowing experiences on the road, and then found himself so ridiculously in over his head. And I think he genuinely does want to take care of the town, does care about the people, but this is the worst kind of on the job training. But then again, everyone's in over their heads. Like, everyone at this negotiation. Neither town can survive on their own, let alone the individuals. I like that Gray is reckoning with all that, realizing Johnston is his best resource and ally, and they're doing their best. And I liked the little touches in this chapter that brought Gray's more human, wanting to be helpful sides to the forefront.

Quote: Johnston had glanced around the room then, taking it all in. The window blinds had been closed, despite the fact that it was still light - though overcast - outside. There had been piles of bedding everywhere, leading him to surmise that they were all sleeping in the great room, around the fire, which had been banked, but at least - he'd thought, relief flooding through him - they had one. Their clothes had hung on Janine's and Lorrie's frames, and Lorrie, who'd always been lithe - had practically been swimming in her borrowed cold weather clothing. The little girls had looked healthy - skinny, but not emaciated - though their faces had been pale and dirty, their lips chapped, their hair snarled in places. "Where's Alex?" he'd asked, looking around the room for the eight year old.

"Working off some energy in the basement," Janine had sighed. "Kendra and Brian are down there with the boys, letting them ride the bikes around. They don't last long these days, but they're still boys," she'd shrugged

At that moment it had occurred to Johnston - his throat immediately going dry - that this was a group under siege, wary of going outside, or even betraying their presence by letting the fire burn to warm the house during the day. But his question - and he'd been struggling with how to phrase that question - had died on his lips when he'd heard his sister-in-law's voice.

Okay, so this section. I read this part last (of course), and wanted to write about it first, but I had a hard time gathering my thoughts coherently so I'll just jump and see where it takes me, alright?

I thought that was a good quote to start what I wanted to think/talk about. I really appreciated this further glimpse into a place beyond the confines of these two towns that we get to see, a place where people are again, like Kenchy, probably luckier than some (or a lot), but less lucky than our heroes (who, I guess had to be the luckiest people possible just for longevity of the show, like that enough would survive and have energy to get involved in plots every week). It's kinda weird I guess, how well off everything was for the main characters of the show, but I guess sort of a far enough mind trip for a first world audience to imagine, a difficult enough set of conditions to survive and not be totally hopeless (and exist in a fun speculative fiction show). But...it is possible to survive in so much worse and so many people do every day. And have, in war times (and peace times). Like, humans are so tough and resilient and resourceful (though also so fragile at the same time). I like that you gave us a bit more of a glimpse of that here. Actual desperate survival, confined to one family in one house. I know a lot of our stories (and the show's stories) veer towards the soap side of things, all the love stories and such (I wanted to make a joke about that once – of course they're taking time for their love lives, they're in a Jericho story), but I feel like this is an important side of the material and important to think about. And you painted a vivid, tragic portrait that I think is an important piece in the bigger mural of your story. So, nicely done.

Also, just had to mention,

Quote: "No! No!" Johnston had declared loudly, "Jake's home - he's home. Got back the night - the night everything happened. Typical Jake.

Haha. Yeah. It's pretty weird isn't it? I bet this odd timing thing is like, a central storytelling point for the rest of his life. Like, “What kind of life path have I been on? Well, this one time I went home and the same night...” I'm not sure how to explain my reaction here. I guess it's like, Jake has been designed the luckiest of the lucky (to go with my earlier ramblings), so as to be able to be the protagonist I suppose, but it's weird and astronomically, well, lucky. And it's not often really mentioned by everyone, so it amused me here.

Also,

Quote: Lorrie's exclamation had derailed his explanation, but Johnston had hardly minded. "Lorrie, darlin'," he'd smiled, striding across the great room to envelope his niece and great-niece in a hug. They had been snuggled together under a sleeping bag, sitting on one end of a couch, the other of which was occupied by Janine and five year old Zoey, buried in a pile of at least three quilts. "I'm - I'm so sorry about Weijin and your dad," he'd murmured, kissing the side of her head. "So sorry," he'd repeated, taking a half step back as Marissa had squawked in protest over being squished between them.

I wanted to mention that I liked seeing this gentle side of Johnston. I always really liked that about his character, that he acts in a lot of ways like the stereotypical “masculine” man (like gruff, strong silent, etc), but he does have that gentle side dealing with others sometimes, especially dealing with his kids, and a sometimes surprising emotional vulnerability. I really liked that it was him who went on this trip here and encountered these relatives. I don't think any other character could've had this same exact reaction, and I thought it was a really nice way in for us readers. He has a relationship with each of them, but he can be like our voice too, in a way, and he's seeing and offering compassion but not really able to change the situation (much as he'd like to). It is quite poignant.

Also, the O'Briens were an interesting addition to the story. A lot of names to keep track of at first, but you always do such a good job of filling in these family trees and giving us ideas of their relationships with each other that a picture starts to form. Nobody's left unaccounted for, kinda. It'll be interesting to see what they were like in happier times 5 years earlier. I guess we're being introduced to them in the opposite direction we've met the Lisinskis. Tragedy ahead for the Lisinskis, (comparative) lightness ahead for the O'Briens, but with the double, time travel thing where both are both. If that makes any sense at all.

Well done and I look forward to seeing where you take us next (though at this moment I'm hoping it's Bailey's circa Birth of the mechanical bull, since I'm leaving off on such a sad note)!

Now you've done it! You have a slew of new characters that will eventually need sorted ( you do have a spreadsheet, don't you?!). And a lot if circumstances that will need addressed. Looking forward to seeing how you handle all of this! Reminds me of the corners I perpetually write myself into, lol! Always fun to unravel  Also, our poor April is still stuck in the cliffhanger!  Hoping and praying for a miracle there :). Looking forward with great anticipation to the next chapter!!  If you find time on your hands, I would love for you to take a look at my stories over at ff net.  Best Regards, merryann

Thanks for posting.  Can't wait for the next installment.  Glad to her the muse is smiling once again.

Jericho was a great show but I always felt like it was such an ensemble with so much going on that they could never capture all the deatails on TV. I was reminded of this when I recently binged on the first season so I went looking for fanfic.  This story was mentioned in an another author's note on fanfiction and I am so glad that it was. For the past couple of weeks, every chance I got I was reading this story. And getting to the last updated chapter today just left me wanting more! I really hope you keep this going. The richness of the details is fascinating and has me hooked.

Author's Response:

Aw, thank you Ninlil.  I am always excited to hear from an interested reader -- and it's great for stoking my writer's fire. :-)

Wow – reading this is a little bit like watching this episode, but with a weird sort of added dramatic irony (at least in this one part). As in, I enjoy all the details you include that really do some neat world building here, but I also just really feel for April. My thoughts are kind of muddled but here are some of them:

I liked the part with Gail trying to deal with the once automatic doors, and the tiny bit of backstory about her becoming a health educator and putting her earnings into her European vacation fund. Nice bit of the reminder/contrast between life that was/is, as you often include.

Quote: Jessica rolled her eyes. "I'm allergic to bachelor pads."

Yay! I think Jessica's a great character, so this yay is for her appearance here and her snark. It's really fun to see her interacting with Jeff and the others, and it was neat for this whole chapter, seeing how the whole 'medical team' is interacting. I did feel bad for Kenchy though – does anyone actually know what he saw/went through in Rogue River (something I wonder about/feel in all versions of the Jericho universe really)? Good set up all around though I guess, for how the group dynamic will work/progress through this part.

Quote: "That's really kind of amazing, you know," April sighed. "I mean, before you, Jake's attitude was always kinda 'screw this town'. He didn't care what people thought. And now, he's trying to thwart the gossips. Which just goes to show how much he loves you," she concluded.

Haha – has April seen that sheriff's station jail cell? In seriousness, I enjoyed reading past April, being all conversational doctor-friend like. It's neat to see female friendships get some focus/development, and I did enjoy the interactions throughout between April and her closest friends.

Quote: "It's not always our fault," April defended, giggling. "I mean, last September, coming home from my parents', we got the last room, the one they try to never, ever rent. And the desk clerk warned us that the elevator equipment was on one side of the room, and the pool equipment was on the other," she explained, groaning softly at the memory. "It was as bad as they said. Worse. So, we decided to make the best of the situation, that's all. Plus hit the McDonald's drive thru at three AM," she recalled with a smile. "Not that I didn't totally pay for it the next day at work…. But still, given the right set of circumstances, I'd rent room one twenty three again," she laughed.

Funny, but it also kind of sounds like a hotel room that could potentially be part of the setup in a Stephen King story (maybe it's the fact that it's room twenty-three). I like the everyday life vibe this part of the story had, in contrast with the life or death turn April's story is taking in the post-bombs timeline.

Quote: "We must all hang together," Johnston had countered, quoting Benjamin Franklin, "Or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Gray had simply stared back at him, smirking. "Know what, Johnston? I'm pretty sure we're sayin' the same damn thing."

I really liked the Gray/Johnston conversation and bonding. It makes sense that they would each come to see a little more of the other's human side over time, and they both do seem to care about their people and protecting their town, so I liked this pause for that time for them here.

Quote: "I know I'm not supposed to say you're 'glowing', right?" Constantino joked, glancing between Russell and Johnston. "That's like a rule these days," he nodded to himself, "Used t' be, you could tell a woman who was with child that she 'glowed' and it was considered a compliment. But, not anymore," he sighed. "So, I'll just hafta settle for telling you that you're looking as lovely as always, and that Jake is one very lucky man."

And enter Constantino, huh? I guess it is true to form for him to start out being icky. But I hope he's not actually going for diplomacy/winning hearts and minds here (though I guess that means I hope he's already planning to just violently invade? He is pretty good as a villain I guess). I like how you're giving us a bit more of the Green/Constantino backstory they hinted at in the show. Probably why I find this conflict much more interesting really than any of the other ones we got (like ones with Sarah Mason or government sponsored Goetz, who are higher up and totally mostly untouchable for ordinary people) was the real personal connection element that made going to war have such intimate, immediately tangible, completely turning your world upside down stakes for both towns. Neat little counterpoint of this that Mindy Henry is alive and well in New Bern and sending gifts.

Quote: "Actually, it's the power generating wind turbine," Russell informed them, taking a step toward the machine. "To be technical."

"What are you getting for output?" Heather demanded excitedly.

"About fifteen hundred watts an hour," Russell answered.

Heather made a delighted noise. "That's amazing. I was only hoping to achieve like sixty, seventy percent of that," she admitted, moving to stand next to Russell. She reached out, placing a tentative hand on the turbine blade and sighing. "It is truly beautiful to behold."

Science Heather! I always like seeing Heather get an opportunity to use her smarts/enthusiasm for science and technology to contribute something specific or unique to a story so this was a neat moment.

Quote: Michael nodded. "Right, nine. But the idea of Jake with a man-purse is fun, too," he joked, smirking at his brother-in-law.

Also, yay for Mikey's appearance! I think it's neat actually that all three of the med student boys will be joining the scenes at the clinic – they provide some moments of light-heartedness at the same time as lending more emotional weight because of their relationships with April and the others. I was thinking about Kenchy and Jessica, and the boys' journey to town, how this whole medical team is made up of individuals who've been through such different traumas out there, and then there's this which is April's darkest hour, probably, and could be for some them too, all while they're all having different experiences and reactions and choices. I guess it's a neat...web of parallel but also different survivor stories.

Quote: "Mrs. Nolan was my neighbor on Green Street," Heather reminded, "So take good care of her, Dr. Lisinski." She smiled at the title, admitting, "I just wish Dad could hear people calling you that. He'd be so proud."

"Hey, maybe one day he will," Jake offered, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It could still happen."

That would be cool!

As always, I am interested to see what other unique and thought-provoking story dynamics you bring us next.  

Finally! I have read the first part of that chapter several days before but then I had to stop and have not found time to read more until today! So sorry I left you waiting... *hugs*

Is it wrong that I would want one of those cookies, too? ;)

That was a sweet ceremony in the dark future... I'm glad that the Greens have such a wonderful family and friends around them...

As for Eric... *sigh* It is so complicated... I really like Mary in the show, but I like April, too! So much! And I hope you will find a way not to let her die...

The Flashback to Jake's birthday 5 years ago was so nice! I love all that bantering between Jake and Heather - and between the Greens, too! Makes me all smile...

So Heather in 7 month right now, huh? Well... I'm, too! Very surprisingly I'm pregnant with a 3rd child right now, and this one will be a girl... *beams*

Can't wait to read more!