{"id":566,"date":"2022-12-15T09:57:20","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T14:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/?post_type=chapter&p=566"},"modified":"2023-03-29T19:51:58","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T23:51:58","slug":"frontlines-7","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/chapter\/frontlines-7\/","title":{"raw":"Frontlines","rendered":"Frontlines"},"content":{"raw":"\u201cMake sure they don\u2019t have eyes, please!\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nCarmen shut the screen door before yelling \u201cI know, mom!\u201d into the house. She was on her way to the market, which was being held outdoors for the first time in months. Her mom wanted potatoes for dinner, of course. They really don\u2019t taste the same just off of the grocery shelf.<\/span>\r\n\r\nLately the heat had been too severe to run the market or do anything outside for an extended period of time, but the weather had been kind more recently and things had subsided just enough that they could reopen the outdoor booths. The new installation of an overhead tarp did wonders for providing additional shade.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn Cedar Grove the market was rather small, all things considered, but they had everything you would need. There was a vegetable booth and Pat from Clay Pigeon liked to run a small coffee booth, selling some of his more unique, imported coffee beans. There was always a stand for the local butcher, sourdough breads and other baked goods, honey from the local keeper, and some other homemade crafts and jewelry including beadwork, macrame, and pottery.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCarmen met Macy by the ice cream truck, where she sat with a half-melted cone in her hand.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cWhat took you so long?\u201d Macy asked.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cSorry, sorry. My mom had to send me out with a list, so we have to stop at the veggie stand before we leave.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cWanna get some ice cream?\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nCarmen stared for a moment at the messy cone in Macy\u2019s hand. \u201cI\u2019ll pass,\u201d she said hastily. \u201cJust had lunch. Let\u2019s just go grab some potatoes quickly before we browse around.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nThey walked towards the end of the market where Bernard Farms had a small stand set up. The stand today seemed unusually dismal. Under normal circumstances, August would bring a wide supply of root vegetables, tomatoes, and some hardy asparagus, but they were no longer under normal circumstances.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cNo shortage of peppers though, that\u2019s good to see!\u201d Carmen said as Warren walked up to greet her.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cHello Carmen, nice to see you. How\u2019s your mom? Not too much for sale today, I\u2019m afraid. This heat has been pretty rough on the crop. She\u2019s certainly taking quite a beating. Never quite seen nothin\u2019 like it in my fifty years here.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nWarren shook his head as he spoke sombrely. Carmen\u2019s stomach dropped. She knew things were bad, but it was hard to know exactly just how bad things are when you\u2019re not first to witness it. She began to pick through the potatoes, being very careful not to pick up any with too many sprouts or she\u2019ll never stop hearing about it. Her mom was very particular in that way.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cSo what are you going to do, Warren? I mean, if things get worse?\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cWell,\u201d he began. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Pray for a miracle, I suppose.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cMight have to switch to just growing peppers,\u201d Macy said. \u201cExcept that I hate peppers. Well, maybe not hate\u2026But strongly dislike.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cThat\u2019s one way to do it,\u201d Warren chuckled. \u201cWe just have to find ways to adapt, I suppose. It\u2019s hard to say what will happen in the next few years.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nJust as someone began to walk up to the stand, a cloud floated over the sun providing a feeling of ominous gloom. Carmen grew silent as she watched Warren take a step backwards, his face growing dark. She glanced quickly at Macy who was sifting through the wildflowers, unaware of the sudden change in tempo.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cWell well well. You got the stand open.\u201d The strange man said, his lips curled in a snarl.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cYou know I don\u2019t want any trouble. I\u2019ve given you my answer.\u201d Warren\u2019s cadence was short and straight, as if he was spitting his words through clenched teeth.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cNeed I remind you that you\u2019re five months behind? We\u2019ve been so patient with you.\u201d The strange man picked up an sad-looking carrot, inspecting it closely in a tormenting way.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s really quite simple, Warren. All you have to do is sign the papers and pack up your wife and your mangy little dog and we\u2019ll take care of the rest. You can retire and live a life of luxury and never have to worry about all of this again.\u201d He snapped the carrot in half. \u201cOr, if you\u2019d like to continue being so stubborn, I\u2019ll just wait for the bank to claim your land and buy it then. I\u2019m really just trying to do what\u2019s best for you, Warren. It\u2019s an opportunity for you to bring growth to this community. Think about all the jobs it will provide. Think about the economy.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nWarren stood silent, keeping his composure. Carmen felt awkward, but thought her presence was beneficial to keeping the situation from escalating further. She could piece the puzzle together easy enough. She knew Warren was struggling \u2013 everybody was, really. But she didn\u2019t know he was under so much pressure to sell. Sorrow embellished her.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cI can\u2019t do it,\u201d Warren began. \u201cThis land is more than an opportunity for development. I\u2019ve been here taking care of it for more years than I can remember. These past months have only been a small setback in the grand scheme of things. If we all just gave up that easy, nothing would ever persevere. We need to treat the land as if it\u2019s borrowed from our children. The next generation will be the ones to take care of it, and there is nothing you can say to convince me a plan for development is the best thing for them. This way of living is worth preserving. I think it\u2019s best if you leave.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe man shook his head, laughing grimly. \u201cYou go ahead and think that,\u201d he said, glancing over to Carmen. \u201cWe can chat again later.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nAs he walked away, Carmen paid Warren for her potatoes.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cIs there anything I can do to help?\u201d She asked.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cAin\u2019t got nothing to worry about, Carmen. We\u2019re doing everything we can. We\u2019ve got a secret weapon to try and pick things back up to the way they were.\u201d He said, a light flashing across his eyes. \u201cWe\u2019ve got sustainability.\u201d<\/span>","rendered":"

\u201cMake sure they don\u2019t have eyes, please!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Carmen shut the screen door before yelling \u201cI know, mom!\u201d into the house. She was on her way to the market, which was being held outdoors for the first time in months. Her mom wanted potatoes for dinner, of course. They really don\u2019t taste the same just off of the grocery shelf.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lately the heat had been too severe to run the market or do anything outside for an extended period of time, but the weather had been kind more recently and things had subsided just enough that they could reopen the outdoor booths. The new installation of an overhead tarp did wonders for providing additional shade.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Cedar Grove the market was rather small, all things considered, but they had everything you would need. There was a vegetable booth and Pat from Clay Pigeon liked to run a small coffee booth, selling some of his more unique, imported coffee beans. There was always a stand for the local butcher, sourdough breads and other baked goods, honey from the local keeper, and some other homemade crafts and jewelry including beadwork, macrame, and pottery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carmen met Macy by the ice cream truck, where she sat with a half-melted cone in her hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat took you so long?\u201d Macy asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, sorry. My mom had to send me out with a list, so we have to stop at the veggie stand before we leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWanna get some ice cream?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Carmen stared for a moment at the messy cone in Macy\u2019s hand. \u201cI\u2019ll pass,\u201d she said hastily. \u201cJust had lunch. Let\u2019s just go grab some potatoes quickly before we browse around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They walked towards the end of the market where Bernard Farms had a small stand set up. The stand today seemed unusually dismal. Under normal circumstances, August would bring a wide supply of root vegetables, tomatoes, and some hardy asparagus, but they were no longer under normal circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo shortage of peppers though, that\u2019s good to see!\u201d Carmen said as Warren walked up to greet her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello Carmen, nice to see you. How\u2019s your mom? Not too much for sale today, I\u2019m afraid. This heat has been pretty rough on the crop. She\u2019s certainly taking quite a beating. Never quite seen nothin\u2019 like it in my fifty years here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Warren shook his head as he spoke sombrely. Carmen\u2019s stomach dropped. She knew things were bad, but it was hard to know exactly just how bad things are when you\u2019re not first to witness it. She began to pick through the potatoes, being very careful not to pick up any with too many sprouts or she\u2019ll never stop hearing about it. Her mom was very particular in that way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo what are you going to do, Warren? I mean, if things get worse?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he began. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Pray for a miracle, I suppose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMight have to switch to just growing peppers,\u201d Macy said. \u201cExcept that I hate peppers. Well, maybe not hate\u2026But strongly dislike.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one way to do it,\u201d Warren chuckled. \u201cWe just have to find ways to adapt, I suppose. It\u2019s hard to say what will happen in the next few years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Just as someone began to walk up to the stand, a cloud floated over the sun providing a feeling of ominous gloom. Carmen grew silent as she watched Warren take a step backwards, his face growing dark. She glanced quickly at Macy who was sifting through the wildflowers, unaware of the sudden change in tempo.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell well well. You got the stand open.\u201d The strange man said, his lips curled in a snarl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I don\u2019t want any trouble. I\u2019ve given you my answer.\u201d Warren\u2019s cadence was short and straight, as if he was spitting his words through clenched teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNeed I remind you that you\u2019re five months behind? We\u2019ve been so patient with you.\u201d The strange man picked up an sad-looking carrot, inspecting it closely in a tormenting way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really quite simple, Warren. All you have to do is sign the papers and pack up your wife and your mangy little dog and we\u2019ll take care of the rest. You can retire and live a life of luxury and never have to worry about all of this again.\u201d He snapped the carrot in half. \u201cOr, if you\u2019d like to continue being so stubborn, I\u2019ll just wait for the bank to claim your land and buy it then. I\u2019m really just trying to do what\u2019s best for you, Warren. It\u2019s an opportunity for you to bring growth to this community. Think about all the jobs it will provide. Think about the economy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Warren stood silent, keeping his composure. Carmen felt awkward, but thought her presence was beneficial to keeping the situation from escalating further. She could piece the puzzle together easy enough. She knew Warren was struggling \u2013 everybody was, really. But she didn\u2019t know he was under so much pressure to sell. Sorrow embellished her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t do it,\u201d Warren began. \u201cThis land is more than an opportunity for development. I\u2019ve been here taking care of it for more years than I can remember. These past months have only been a small setback in the grand scheme of things. If we all just gave up that easy, nothing would ever persevere. We need to treat the land as if it\u2019s borrowed from our children. The next generation will be the ones to take care of it, and there is nothing you can say to convince me a plan for development is the best thing for them. This way of living is worth preserving. I think it\u2019s best if you leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man shook his head, laughing grimly. \u201cYou go ahead and think that,\u201d he said, glancing over to Carmen. \u201cWe can chat again later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As he walked away, Carmen paid Warren for her potatoes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything I can do to help?\u201d She asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t got nothing to worry about, Carmen. We\u2019re doing everything we can. We\u2019ve got a secret weapon to try and pick things back up to the way they were.\u201d He said, a light flashing across his eyes. \u201cWe\u2019ve got sustainability.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1756,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-566","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":559,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1756"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2881,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/566\/revisions\/2881"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/559"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/566\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=566"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=566"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ccedarrproject\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}