Hello, all.
I have skimmed the search bar, and I hope this is okay to post; I haven't really found what I'm looking for.
I'm a writer, working on a YA fantasy story:
Basic setup: two kids (15-16, American, circa 1990). Let's call them Jack and Jill for now. Jack's a farm boy, Jill's a city girl- both smart, but in different ways.
They've been accidentally transported "somewhere else", in Jack's grandfather's work truck- which gets totalled when they crash.
They end up in a dry, warm climate; they have access to wood, but not fresh water. in the current draft, it'll take them about a day's walking to meet someone else.
I'm trying to find the right balance of what these kids could have at their disposal; If Jack's grandpa is a rural farmer, and ex-Army, it makes sense (to me) that he'd have some gear in the truck they can use:
- first aid kit (possibly Army issue?)
- overnight bag (spare clothes, underwear)
- blankets
- snacks (candy, soda, jerky?)
- firelighters
But I'm thinking he might have stowed a few other things that might stretch credulity like
- water purification tablets?
- MREs
- Fire axe?
- possibly alcohol/ firearm??
How much is "convenient", how much is "TOO convenient?" I'd like this to feel plausible- at least until the magical stuff.
How much of this stuff would Grandpa "realistically" have in the back of his truck on a normal work day?