“Everybody… Listen.” Dutch called the group to a small gathering. “This weather ain’t getting no better… we done tried to head north, it’s worse up there. It’s moving down here faster than we can avoid, gon’ catch us if we run.” The women of the group began to worriedly murmur among themselves.

“Now… now.” Dutch sighed. “We may be here a while, and I’m not talking days… or weeks. There’s cabins all throughout. No guarantee that they’re clean, but it’s shelter.” Everyone looked around, searching for each other’s reactions.

“Look, we been through worse. Right? Stay strong. Mrs. Grimshaw, get everybody a place to sleep. Two to three to a cabin, maybe more.” She nodded, ready to assist any way she could. “I… I know this might sound harsh but, we need ya’ll to start helping yourselves. We ain’t always gon’ be here to help with all your needs. Big boys and girls out here, I believe ya’ll can figure it out.”

Later, Mrs. Grimshaw was assigning rooms, each person getting a small tin of biscuits. Your assignment? The cabin farthest east with… Arthur! You collected your food and started toward the cabin, only for Mrs. Grimshaw to grab your arm. “Don’t let him get to you, yeah? He’s just… a very tired man, try to help out, yeah?” She patted you on the shoulder and with that, you were on your way.