Ohio Guy, Part 1: Ohio had a page up on his computer. While doing a bit of research, for his 3rd

of the series, coming from somewhere behind him, he heard the rattle of what sounded like teacups.  Another one of those  annoying tremors, nice.  He returned to the article of which he was reading.  Along the side, a supposedly abandoned big box store was pictured, with two, maybe three, trailers backed up to loading docks.  At the image's edge, if you looked close enough, you'd see a NO Trespassing sign bolted upon the barbed metal fence. 

He switched to his word document, and saved it - just in case his wifi decided to throw a hissy.  Yeah, the ballots were tallied - he needed to to switch to a better quality provider.  It wasn't like the extra money would set them back for his ramen days.  His publishing, and various side-gigs, kept the little cape-cod in order, kept food on the table, and decent tires on the truck.  And afforded some little extras - like snacks and whatevers at the IndependenceDay Fair that was happening this weekend in town.  Seriously, no point even going to those things if you can't even buy a small bag of peanuts.

Stupid tremors!  

He turned in his swivel seat.

No tremors.  Atleast not the kind that come from underground.

His wife, holding a tray containing his tea, a little silvery pitcher, a small plate of lemon cake (his favorite) stood there...staring at the screen.  Mumbling something in her native language, she set the tray on a small folding table, that was parked in front of a book shelf, wrung her hands upon her crisp apron, she often wore - to preserve the blouse and jumper - backed out of the room.  Her moccasin'd feet padded up the stairs.  

Their bedroom door opened, shut, then opened again.

"Mommy?"  the little girl queried.  "Can I show you...?" whatever their daughter had occupied herself with, while stuck inside.  Outside, the rain drops danced with the wind.  For late June day, it was almost cold enough to turn on the heat.  "Sure," his humble, yet stately wife replied.  "Wow, your stitches are GOOD!"

Ohio turned back to his calling.  Having a job to do, a family to provide, he focused on his work.

This is 2031 not 1961, what's with the wife's puter-phobia, anyway?   Our paperback hero was clueless, but talk about eureka...was just what he needed to start off the chapter after the next.