0300 phone call

Your phone rings, waking you up. As you look at your phone you see that it is just after three in the morning and you don't recognize the number. You think about not answering but decide it might be important. “lo’" you rasp. "Hi, did I wake you?" It's your older brother. "What time is it even?" 

You cough, clearing your throat, "Just after three, what's up?" 

"Sorry” he says, sounding distracted, “the power is gonna cut out in a bit." Your brother works for the power company. 

"That buck ridge fire is going to burn a bunch of power poles. I won't be able to get home for a few hours at least, can you go to my house and make sure we get switched over to the generator and solar? I know Ashlee can do it but with the new baby… the produce fridge." he trails off. 

"She could do with the help" you offer, he sounds tired. He's probably been at work since early this morning. "I'm on my way over" 

"Thanks again I…" 

“How long will the power be off?” you interrupt him  

“At least three days, maybe a week and that's after the fire is done…” 

There's some shouting in the background.

”I’ve got to go” and he hangs up 

You put on your clothes and pick up your Glock 19 from the nightstand and check the chamber and magazine, fully loaded like always. Your belt already has a 17 round magazine in a leatherman case. Also on the belt is your concealed carry holster that you slip your Glock into.

As you walk down the hall you knock on your brothers door the push it open. “What” he asks started out of sleep. Im going to   and you tell him your heading out  

You step outside and walk over to your bicycle but then you change your mind. The gas in your pickup truck is at least three months old and you need to start and run it every once in a while to make sure it still runs. 

You connect the positive battery cable and start the truck. It runs rough for a little while then evens out. You put the truck in drive and drive off into the darkness with the dull red glow of the forest fire reflecting off the clouds of smoke to the east making a mockery of a sunrise.