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you there.”
    He wasn’t prepared for the greeting he received at the community building. Everyone in the village must have been there. Several of the children ran through the door to head outside. He turned out of their way as each new friend he made since he arrived that spring had something to say and shook his hand. It was a little overwhelming, as was the sympathy. Soon he was guided to a place to sit and the older women from the village gathered in the center of the room visiting while they decided what dance they would do and the men prepared their handheld drums. Some of them warmed up and soon the men drummed a steady beat in unison. The women found their places as some stood and others sat on their knees and they finally started.
    Ben’s eyes were on the performance even though it was a rather relaxed atmosphere with children coming and going, much visiting was taking place on the benches while they attentively watched. It was similar to the ones he’d seen over the course of the many weeks he had been there. He had always enjoyed their dances even though he didn’t understand much of the symbolism of each motion. They all seemed to enjoy having him there. His work buddy, Nate, said that he wasn’t nearly as welcome when he showed up at his assigned village, at least not the way that Ben was. Unfortunately, even though all their kindness and generosity was overflowing and they were providing him a much-needed distraction, he couldn’t stop his mind from racing.
    He hoped Tammy would remember to prime the generator and that she would be sure to keep track of how long it was running. Hopefully she’d really ration the gasoline they had in the storage tank he kept hidden on their property and that she’d only plug in the fridge and freezer. Those girls would try their hardest to charge their devices or use hairdryers or curling irons during black out weekends. She had been reassuring him that they had almost replenished the food storage they’d used over the winter. He hoped that was true. It was as if he was trying to think of ways she’d fail him or reasons to not have faith in her and his daughters’ capabilities. That wasn’t going to help if he kept dwelling on those kinds of thoughts. The fact was, Tammy could do anything when she decided she could and got over her perfectionism and over-thinking everything. She was likely the most capable woman he had ever met and yet suddenly he was thinking she was the most fragile snowflake because he wasn’t there.
    The vibration from Ben’s phone made him jump. He grabbed it and stepped out the door. It wasn’t any quieter out there with all the kids squealing as they played tag.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, Ben. We have a boat lined up. Depending on weather, it should be there sometime in the afternoon tomorrow.”
    Relief flooded over him from his head to his toes. “Wonderful. That is the best news.”
    “It’s kind of tricky. No one really wants to give up the fish money at the moment with the crisis down south about to cause an exploding market for fish here. And the trip is not the usual one. Usually barges take things around. But they’re slower. They are another option if these guys do bail on you. I wouldn’t put it past them if they catch wind fish prices are skyrocketing and decide they have better things to do than follow through on a low paying gig to shuttle a couple of  men to Anchorage.”
    “Oh.” Ben didn’t like the sound of that.
    “Keep your phone charged the best you can and keep it on you when you aren’t sleeping just in case.”
    “Will do.”
    “At least you have about a half a day to close up shop.”
    “Good thing.” Ben didn’t feel any enthusiasm though for taking care of business before he left. His mind was only on one thing.
    “I’ll let you go. It sounds like you are at some big social event.”
    “Yeah. Watching one last dance and everyone is already saying their goodbyes.”
    “I’ll let you have at it then.