Utility (Part III)

“Hi there Wes.” The person that greeted him was all smiles sprawled comfortably within his high back leather chair.

It was Van Bourne, the school nurse. She was smoking a cigarette that had nearly burned down to the nub. Wes was surprised it wasn’t burning her fingers.

“Hello Vanessa,” Wes surveyed the woman, of the lot of them she looked the most rested. While other members of their group had developed bags under their eyes from the nightmares of uncertainty that plagued their sleep, Van looked nearly refreshed. “My office is the smoking lounge now?” Wes said in an affable tone.

“Wes, you know we haven’t had a smoking lounge since 2009. What do they call it now- a meditation room? I’m sorry I’d offer to put it out but I’m down to my last three,” she said this and took one more monumental drag, reducing the cigarette to its end. “There all better.” She raked the remnants of the cigarette against the metal trashcan next to Wes’s desk. When she was sure it was out she let it fall inside.

“I came in here to take a break from everyone. I’m a bit frazzled.”

“Funny, I came in here for the same, though I am in no way frazzled. Also, I opened the window, thought that might freak people out if I did it nearby.”

“Good call.” Wes thought about lecturing her on the danger of the window being opened anywhere, at all, ever, but he was too fatigued, and for the moment he heard no sounds outside.

Van vacated Wes’s desk chair, “Here sit down, you look like you need to rest a bit.” Wes moved to the chair and plopped down. He hadn’t realized how worn-out his body was until it seemed to collapse into the leather. “What’s for lunch?”

Wes answered almost robotically, “Fire heated pizza squares.”

“Great, as long as it wasn’t campfire-crisped pizza diamonds like we had yesterday.”

They shared a brief chuckle; Wes’s lacked any real indication of appreciating the effort of humor.

“What’s eating you?”

“A whole lot.” Wes let his eyes wash over his office. Diplomas, certificates, plaques of achievements mounted against blue painted walls. All of it seemed pointless now. They had been reduced to cavemen. Well, that was hardly PC he thought. “Cavepeople.”

“What?” Van asked.

“Oh nothing.” Wes looked her in the eyes, “I’d ask respectfully, that you not share what I’m about to ask…”

“Sure, so long as my responses are kept between us.”

Wes nodded. “What are the odds you think any of us will survive this?”

Van didn’t think for long, “Three of us will survive. You, me, and Nancy.”

Wes seemed disappointed, “Why do you think I’ll survive?”

“You’re smart, capable, and strong willed.”

“And you and Nancy?”

“I’m not in shock from all this. I understand what needs to be done, and will do it. Nancy is young, athletic, focused.” Van paused, “The difference is we all have purpose Wes. The others aren’t useless but they are dependent on some of the rest of us when things get…out of hand. Wait, you’re worried about something?”

“No, I’m worried about everything. I can handle being an administrator, running this school, which is a reasonable level of accountability. But people’s lives are being decided (directly, indirectly) by my actions. There’s so much at stake.”

“Oh my, please don’t…” but it was too late; Wes was full on head-in-hands sobbing in front of her.

Sniffling and wiping away tears, Wes apologized. “What do you think about room 124?”

“I think that all those people; students, doctors, nurses are the noblest people I ever met. They didn’t abandon hope, or their posts, and they could’ve, should’ve I suppose given the way things turned out.”

“No I meant, do you think it’s a ticking time bomb?”

                Van chuckled, “The whole damn world is a ticking time bomb.”

                “What kind of answer is that?” Wes demanded.

                “The only one that matters.” She grabbed his hand, “C’mon lets go get some pizza. Hopefully there’s a grape soda left.”

Wes touched her hand, he realized it was the first time in several days he had touched anyone. Anyone living as it was. He wasn’t sure if talking with Van had helped him in any way, but internally he admitted that a grape soda sounded wonderful.

When the pair neared the cafeteria Wes could hear Amy asking Sam if he saw what she did with the keys.

Sam waved his hands and shook his head.

Jackie was the first to offer her opinion. “Sam if we find out you have those god damned keys, you’re going to be in a world of hurt.”

Wes entered with Van trailing behind him. He saw the group huddled at one table amongst many within the large room.  Most still munching on air thawed pizza that had been burnt to a crisp in a makeshift fire pit to stave off any contaminants.

Amy spoke up in Sam’s defense, “Now that’s uncalled for! Sam wouldn’t do such a thing!”

“No Warren’s right.” Wes commanded, puffing up as he chimed in. “If someone has taken that set of keys, it’s imperative that it’s returned immediately. It probably doesn’t need stated, as you all realize that rationing the food supplies is imperative to our longevity here. If someone is in possession of the keys and there are not willingly turned over-”

“You said imperative twice.” Warren pointed out dryly.

Jackie stood and walked to where Warren sat, “If you’re only going to talk in order to antagonize him, maybe we should just make it to where you can’t talk anymore...”

The rest of the group surveyed the situation eager to see if there would be a struggle, physical or otherwise.

“Psshh,” Warren whistled, “I am not going to be cowed by a woman, let alone one whose resume highlights her ability to set up volleyball nets.”

“You sonofabitch!” Jackie snapped, and was quickly in Warren’s face.

“Listen, you have just enough hair on your lip that I think I can stand to violate my rule about hitting a woman. So I’m warning you: Get out of my personal space!”

Wes cut in between the two of them. “Jackie, sit down, god dammit! Warren, if you’re not going to contribute than get out of here for Christ sakes!”

Warren must’ve seen the animosity in everyone’s eyes. He pushed back his chair from the table, and backed out of the room. But not before trading his empty plate for the last 2 remaining pizza squares that Amy had sat in the middle of the table.

“As I was saying, if someone here has the keys, and they are not willingly turned over, and we discover that person, the penalty will be forcing you out of the school.”

The group went slacked jawed as if they were on cue.

Any was the first to speak, “Now Wes that seems a bit extreme, what if I misplaced the keys?”

“Did you misplace the keys?”

“No, I kept them on me the entire time, even while sleeping.”

“Then someone has them.”

“Someone stole them you mean.” Jackie blurted out, then switched to yelling out into the hall, “PROBABLY THAT ASSHOLE WARREN!”

“Stop.” Wes made was clear, it was not a request.

“So what are we going to do? Search everyone?” Jason asked meekly. When the grouped eyed him slyly, he quickly added, “I mean, I’m not opposed to it.”