by S A Ison
“I’d say in a couple years. It takes precision not to chop your foot off.” Brian grinned at his son, for son he was. Cooper was growing tall. In a few more years he’d be a teenager. That broke his heart. The children were growing up so fast. Amanda was now a teen and acting like a woman. He snorted at the thought. Emma was having a time, but Amanda was a sweet girl. Emma was teaching Amanda the art of healing and nursing. Amanda was showing a great aptitude.
Emma walked toward them, carrying two-year-old Hope. Brian laid the ax down and reached for his daughter. He held her up and elicited a squeal.
“I think she’s cutting a molar. She’s been grumpy all morning.” Emma said and walked over to Cooper and wrapped an arm around his neck. The boy giggled as Emma squeezed.
“Poor rabbit. Hey, I was thinking we take a ride over to Jeff’s later. What do you think?” Brian asked, kissing Hope and then handing her back to her mother.
“That’s a great idea. I think Amanda has a crush on Johnathan.” Emma laughed. Johnathan was Jeff and Barbs middle son, who was fifteen. It would be something to keep an eye on. One of the last items that Brian and BJ had gotten were bicycles, along with extra parts, pumps and patches. They also picked up two bike trailers. Once the gas went, they’d not have the ability to go far on foot. With the bikes, they could ride to Jeff and Barb’s farm to visit and trade. Now, it carried the babies, along with trading items. All the children had a bike, though Dillan’s legs were still too short to ride, but he was growing fast. Cooper was tall and lanky like his father and so had learned to ride the bike that spring. Dillan rode on the back of BJ’s bike, holding onto his father’s waist.
“Yeah, we need to watch those two.” Brian grumbled, causing Emma to laugh. He bent and kissed his wife on the cheek.
“I’ll go check the bikes, to make sure they’re not flat.” She laughed and walked away with Hope. He waved bye at his daughter and picked the ax back up.
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BJ came out of the camper, Paadi behind him. She was six months pregnant and moving slower than normal.
“Emma said Brian’s up for a visit over to Barb’s. I was thinking of staying here. Mathew isn’t feeling good, and I’d like to keep him here.” Paadi said as they walked toward the beach. Three-year-old Mathew was sitting with Dillan, both playing in the sand. Ten-year-old Hailey was helping them make sand castles.
“I’ll stay here with you too. Hailey, did you want to go with Brian and Emma? They’re going to see Jeff and Barb?” BJ asked.
“Heck yeah dad, I want to ride their horses again.” Hailey jumped up, excited.
“Can I go?” Dillan asked.
“Why don’t you stay here with me and mommy. Maybe we can put on a movie?” BJ said, as Dillan’s shoulders slumped.
“Okay.” He said, not entirely happy. BJ grinned and winked at Paadi, who rolled her eyes. Mathew climbed up into BJ’s lap and laid his head on his chest. BJ felt the child’s head.
“No fever.” BJ said and kissed his son on his dark head.
“I’m almost wanting to say it is growing pains. He’s been eating a lot. He said his knees hurt this morning.” Paadi grinned. BJ grunted. Amanda walked down and sat beside the couple.
“You going with your folks over to the Simmons?” Paadi asked and BJ hid a smile, knowing that Amanda would be going.
“They’re going? Oh, I better go change and get cleaned up.” Amanda exclaimed and turned and ran back to the house. BJ sniggered.
“Predictable.” Paadi rolled her eyes.
“She’s a chowderhead.” Mathew said, his thumb in his mouth and grinned at his father. BJ narrowed his eyes at Paadi, who snorted.
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Flynn pulled the file out of the horse’s mouth. He’d had to filed down a back molar. It was his last task of the day and he’d be heading in to get cleaned up for dinner. He patted the horse on the neck and walked out of the barn. The sun was beginning to sink lower. It had been a long day but he had good news for Cliff. Two of the dairy cows were pregnant and seven of the beef cows were pregnant. That was good, the herd was slowly increasing. Sadly, the year before, they’d lost three calves. He hoped this year would be better.
He walked into the cottage and grinned at Xandra. She was changing two-year-old Joey. The child squealed when he saw his father. His fat legs kicking excitedly. Xandra laughed and got up.
“Okay, go get daddy.” And the boy shot off the couch and into Flynn’s arms.
Flynn held his son to him and kissed and snuggled. No matter how hard the day or how tired he was, Joey and Xandra made him feel like king of the world. He laughed and hoisted the child up.
“What did you do today?” He asked the child and received a squeal.
“He got carried around by Beth’s daughter.” Xandra laughed.
“How, she’s not bigger than a minute and Joey’s nearly as tall as she is?” Flynn laughed.
“Well, his feet were dragging the floor, but he didn’t seem to mind.” She laughed.
“Goober.” He grinned down at his son and gave him his wooden horse. The child stuck it in his mouth and began to gnaw.
“Let me get showered and we’ll head over.” He smiled.
“Take your time, we’re having roast. I’ve already done the mash potatoes. They’re waiting on the bread to finish.” Xandra said.
Flynn went into the bathroom. Cliff and the farm hands had built onto their cottage. There were two additional bedrooms. They’d also extended the kitchen and put in a stove and large refrigerator. Xandra cooked a lot of their meals here, but more often than not, they joined the family. Cliff had adopted them into their own family and loved them as their own. He’d taken to Joey and Joey called Cliff, PaPap, as did all the other grandchildren.
They’d gone three days ago to pick up the flour and maze that Claus had milled for them. Flynn had been amazed at the amount of flour, there were sacks and sacks of it. Jake normally when with Cliff, but Flynn hadn’t any animals that needed tending and so had gone. He’d also wanted to look around. He rarely left the farm. There wasn’t much to see. Claus had reported seeing no one for years now. It was the same at the farm. It was as though there were tiny islands of humanity. Only a few. Life was going on, though at a slower pace with fewer humans.
Flynn turned the water on and let it hit him. He was hot and sweaty from working with the animals. He was happy too. His small family was happy and healthy and his extended family was as well. He was amazed at how fast time was passing, and the joy he felt in his life. The horror of before was now fading into the distant past. Sometimes he thought of his friend Cramer, but knew deep down the man was dead. There was no kind of life there in that dead city. Only those who could break away and find a way to survive, and then to thrive, would be the only ones to make it. He and Xandra had. He was sure and had hope, that others did too.
