I knew Jack before the war. We were close, very close. We first met through mutual friends. Not as a set up, just hanging out together. Maybe there was a spark, no, there was definitely a spark, but we both ignored it at first, too hurt from our past to jump into something new. So, we became friends, always finding each other and hanging out at the clubs. We got a kick out of saying anything that had a shock value to it and pulling people into our crazy Q&A style conversations. Periodically, I would catch him in the mirror checking out my butt. I would just smile, boys will be boys…



We talked a big game about collecting new adventures and experiences, until finally, one day, we pulled the trigger. We organized a group of us to go skydiving. Six of us in total planned to go. Jack and I were the only ones to show up – pussies! Anyways, that was it — our first date. We were inseparable from that point forward – collecting new experiences and falling more in love each day.



Then the day came when Jack was chosen for the vault. I was not. I was a school librarian. Jack was a professor and published author. Jack immediately began making a case for me – how important it was for the vault to have educators. They weren’t convinced. They figured they had that covered with the professors and, well, politicians were not the biggest fans of K-12 educators at that time. So, Jack did the only thing he could think of — try to get a spousal exemption.



We got married at the courthouse in Morgantown. A few of our close friends attended. It was small and simple, but still the most romantic wedding ever. Then Jack went back to work on making my case, and by sheer luck and determination, Jack saved me. There is no doubt about it, I would not be in the Wasteland without him.

