Moms Against Zombies

by Alathia Paris Morgan

  “The meet point with Martin was still further out of

  town, so I needed a car. With all of the confusion, I knew it

  wouldn’t be hard to steal one.” I ignore their shocked expressions. “The car lots were pretty empty. There wasn’t

  a large run on people getting new vehicles today,” I joke,

  trying to lighten the mood. “I took the oldest truck on the

  lot and drove to meet Martin.”

  “How did you not get caught?” Jessica sputters. “I

  would have been such a nervous wreck that I’d have the

  police following me.”

  “If you act like you should be driving it, a police car

  won’t look at you twice, but they were overwhelmed with

  calls yesterday so I wasn’t at the top of their list. I stopped a few blocks after I got the truck and traded the plates out

  with another truck that was similar, so if they did run it

  through the system, it wouldn’t ding as stolen.”

  “Wow, you’ve thought this through,” Trish exclaims at

  my ingenuity.

  “When things get sticky, you do what you have to, and

  this situation definitely qualifies. Also, since it’s an older truck, the car lot isn’t as likely to notice it’s missing for

  several days, and when things have calmed down and the

  police are on the alert, the plates won’t tell them anything.”

  “So you think it’s going to get worse?” Jessica keeps

  glancing toward the kid’s rooms where all the children are

  still asleep.

  “From what Martin and I discussed, these guys planned

  to cause a panic so they could steal our top-secret program.

  What they didn’t plan for was the real thing happening at

  the same time. The looks on their faces when that group of

  zombies headed toward them looked real to me. I think

  they paid actors to be zombies for the day and somehow they were infected with a real virus.”

  “Is that even possible?” Trish asks, worry lacing her

  voice.

  “Why would they just let the sick out of the hospital to

  walk around?” Jessica can’t understand how this could

  happen in such a modern world.

  “The word that is being passed around on the

  government channels is that there was a virus from

  overseas that was deadly. The virus mutated and the dead

  started reviving into these undead people who attacked any

  living thing around them. They’re certain that only a

  handful of people are the carriers, but when something

  happens to them, it’s triggering this virus so at the moment,

  most of the incidents are isolated.” I don’t want to give

  them more than they can process at the moment.

  “The infected carriers are coming from only a small

  number of countries that have been put on lockdown. The

  only problem is that there is no way to know who might be

  a carrier and left those areas before the quarantines went

  into effect. Most of the hospitals and medical centers have

  no idea that this even exists, much less how to prepare for

  the fallout.”

  “Did Martin have any suggestions for how to deal with

  this?” Trish bites her lip.

  “What we’re the most worried about is what the people

  stealing our program could do with it, especially if our

  country is on the edge of collapse from a zombie panic. In

  just the time from when I called him until we met at the

  twenty-four-hour diner, there were two other cities that had

  outbreaks. The military is headed out to contain it and kill as many of the undead as possible, but once it hits the

  suburbs instead of the empty buildings of downtown, it’ll

  spread quickly.”

  “Won’t they be able to kill them all before they infect

  more people?” Trish asks as she crossed over to the

  doorway and looks down the hall, checking for any

  movement from the children.

  “If someone doesn’t know they have it and they die, it

  can start just about anywhere. There are several private labs

  that have been contracted to work on only this virus. I’ll be

  able to stay here a few days at the most, but someone is

  going to have to make the trip to our main headquarters in

  Nevada. Martin is checking with a few others that on the

  safe list to see what the next procedure is. He doesn’t know

  where I am, so he can’t give my location away since I have

  it all uploaded with the only version offline.”

  “So, we prepare and work hard for the next two days

  and hope that you don’t have to go anywhere.” Trish tries

  to have an upbeat outlook on the situation.

  “He can’t go anywhere. We haven’t gotten to see him

  yet,” Joy cries from the doorway.

  “I’m not going anywhere, munchkin. At least, not

  today, but don’t wake your siblings up, okay?” I had barely

  spoken the words when Trevor comes toddling out of the

  bedroom and toward the kitchen.

  “Guess I’ll finish the story later, but you both know the

  main points so no need to worry. We’ll face this and do

  whatever it takes to survive.” I hug Joy then pick Trevor

  up, tossing him in the air.

  “I’m just glad that you made it safely here.” Trish comes over and takes Trevor from me.

  “That reminds me, we’re going to need more supplies if

  this goes on for too long, and everyone else is going to start hoarding and we don’t want to run out of things,” Jessica

  says.

  “I’ll get right on that as soon as I get some sleep and

  rest for a few hours.” I smile through the exhaustion that

  has suddenly hit my system.

  “Joy, why don’t you show your dad where Aunt

  Jessica’s room is so he can get some rest? He can get some

  sleep while we make breakfast.”

  Our children are going to face worse in the near future,

  and I know they could handle it, but Trish will try to keep

  the worst parts of our situation from them for as long as she

  can. I don’t blame her. If I wasn’t so exhausted, I would be

  worried about nightmares, but at this point, I don’t expect

  to dream about anything except drifting somewhere on a

  soft pillow.

  Chapter 6

  Trish

  While I make breakfast, Jessica goes to feed the

  animals and make a few phone calls to close friends and

  neighbors.

  I don’t want to act differently, but I know that the

  information Cooper had brought with him means scary

  times ahead.

  Joy doesn’t mind telling the late sleepers about seeing

  Dad, and that makes Nicole jealous.

  “All right! Enough! Carson, you and Nicole go and

  open the door. Peek in and come back to the kitchen.”

  The eggs will burn if I stop to take them to the

  bedroom, but I’m envious as well. I would like nothing

  more than to curl up by myself with my hubby and block

  out the reality of the world.

  While Cooper is really talented, he exudes this attitude

  that he’s got the world handled, and right now I find that

  really comforting.

  The front door bangs as Drew and Roxanne proceed

  Jessica.

  �
�Mom said to tell you she’ll be in shortly,” Drew

  informs me as he places a basket of fresh eggs onto the

  counter.

  “I’m adding the cheese now, so she timed it just right.”

  I hadn’t noticed Roxanne until she dropped the empty milk

  bucket onto the ground.

  “What on earth are you doing?” I question my niece,

  partly curious, but confused because she’s dumped the milk

  into a large tub over a separate burner.

  “Pasteurizing the milk so it’s safe to drink,” Roxanne

  tosses back over her shoulder at me.

  “We have a small one to do the process for our personal

  use, but we have a larger one in the barn to take care of the

  stuff we deliver locally,” Drew chimes in as he finishes

  putting the eggs into the extra refrigerator in the laundry

  room, off the back of the kitchen.

  “I had no idea when Jessica said, “working farm” that

  she meant just that, a small farm.”

  “Haha, I heard that, big sis. We don’t have a full farm,

  but there are some ways that we’re able to make money.

  We take the produce and extras out to the farmer’s market

  on the highway and it helps keep the lights on.” Jessica

  walks over to the big sink next to the pasteurizer and steps

  on the petal for the water to come on.

  “I’m afraid I didn’t pay much attention yesterday to the

  details, but I may need to take the tour after breakfast.” I

  turn the burner off and pull the eggs over to the side so I

  can check on the bacon.

  “We have a few more chores that will need to be done,

  but I think your kids will love it the first few times we have them do it.” Jessica finishes washing her hands and arms,

  and dries them on the towel.

  “Did your friends agree to a meeting?” I carry the hot food to the large kitchen table as the kids scramble around

  to take their seats.

  “They did, but they want to meet this afternoon at the

  community center so that the kids can use the park across

  the street while we have the meeting.”

  “Well, let’s eat and take a tour of the farm. How does

  that sound, kids?” I try to make it sound fun and upbeat.

  “We did that yesterday, Mom,” Nicole mumbles.

  “Today you’ll get to help your cousins with their chores

  and there won’t be any grumbling.”

  A chorus of halfhearted, “Yes, ma’am’s” fill the room.

  I’ll take it, even if they’re not completely thrilled about

  it.

  -----------

  Jessica’s farm stretches over ten acres, filled with

  several types of vegetables, and even a small fruit orchard.

  “Not trying to be rude, sis, but this place is huge. I had

  no idea the scope of what you meant.” I look around at the

  neatly plowed fields and know that Cooper will never want

  to leave.

  “I inherited it from my grandparents. Well, I should say

  my adopted grandparents.”

  I stop Jessica. “They were your grandparents, and just

  because we’ve found each other doesn’t mean that they

  were any less part of your family growing up. So, don’t try

  to change the past. Let’s just go with what the future has

  for us.”

  Jessica’s face brightens and I know it was the right thing to say.

  “I think the thought of being a rich farmer is what

  appealed to Billie, but when he realized the amount of work

  that went with it, he really gave up trying.” Jessica keeps

  her voice low since the bigger kids are on the other golf

  cart in hearing range.

  She stretches an arm out to encompass the surrounding

  view. “It might take a lot of work, but it’s what I’ve always

  known. We aren’t poor, but I don’t foresee any vacation

  home purchases in my future either.”

  I giggle as Trevor becomes excited at the horse running

  along the fence separating the orchard from the rest of the

  field.

  “Can we go pet the horse?” I ask, as holding Trevor has

  become more difficult.

  “Absolutely.” She turns toward the gate that leads from

  the field to the orchard.

  Drew and Carson have the gate open for us as we pull

  up, driving through easily.

  “Have your kids ever been close to a horse before?”

  Jessica asks curiously, because the children all have

  varying reactions.

  Trevor can’t wait to pet the horse, while Joy is shaking

  her head about getting off the cart, and Nicole is already

  next to the horse with a treat in her hand.

  “I’ve never taken them horseback riding, but I think

  after they hang out for a bit, it won’t be such a big deal.”

  Jessica parks and takes the squirming Trevor from my arms as I gingerly get out into the grass.

  “Now I know where they get their city ways from.”

  Jessica laughingly calls back to me as I try to watch every

  step I take so that I don’t end up stepping in a pile of horse manure.

  “You wouldn’t fare any better in the city with all the

  noise and traffic,” I mumble under my breath, cursing the

  idea of taking a tour through the farm.

  My kids shouldn’t see their mother afraid of anything,

  so I trudge on until I’m standing next to the horse, only to

  have it try to rub its nose on my face in greeting.

  The unexpected action sends me backing up and

  tripping over a rock so that I land on my hiney.

  The sound of childish laughter rings out through the air

  at my expense.

  “Seriously, if the horse had tried to kiss you, you’d

  have done the same thing.” I stick my tongue out at my

  kids, making no attempt to get up.

  “Are you going to stay there all day?” Drew innocently

  asks, unsure of what to do with his citified Aunt.

  “I’m very comfortable down here, thank you very

  much. I’m in no hurry to get up.” The little dignity I have

  left can’t handle another round of kissy with the horse.

  Jessica gently places Trevor on the back of the horse.

  “Old Betsy wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Drew pats the horse on

  his neck, letting it nuzzle next to his face.

  The horse doesn’t even flinch in Drew’s direction as Trevor bounces excitedly on his back.

  I push myself up, dusting anything I can from my pants.

  Ugh! I’m so not an outdoor girl.

  “Can we head back to the house now?” I watch all the

  children’s heads swivel around like a bad horror film.

  “Really, Mom?” Joy whines. “We just got out here.”

  “They can stay out here and Trevor can go back to the

  house and watch cartoons. What do you say, buddy?”

  Jessica asks.

  “Horsy!” Trevor squeales.

  “We can come visit the horsy later. Your favorite show

  is on, Sesame Street.”

  “Bird! Wanna see Bird.” Trevor holds out his arms to

  Jessica. “Bye horsy.”

  “Watch out for each other and listen to your cousins.

  They know what’s safe so make sure you obey their rules,”

  I admonish my three children.

  “Did you get enough baskets, Roxanne?” Jessica<
br />
  questions her as she walks to the golf cart with Trevor on

  her hip.

  “Uh-huh. We’ll take them over to the berry patch.”

  Roxanne pulls on her cousin, Nicole’s, hand. “Let’s go.”

  We watch as the new cousins race to see who will be

  the driver.

  “At least they’re getting along with each other.” Jessica

  smiles as we pull away toward the house, going the long

  way so that I can see a few more things from the comfort of my seat.

  -----------

  With lunch over, I go to wake Cooper up so that he’ll

  have a few minutes to get ready before the meeting.

  He’s lying on his stomach and lets out a loud snore as

  the door closes to keep the kids’ noise down.

  The white of his skin is almost too much. He needs to

  get a little more sun and less desk time, but with four

  children it’s a hard task to stay in great shape or spend time outdoors. I can’t lay any blame on him because my body’s

  certainly not any more either.

  “Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day?”

  Cooper’s brown eyes sparkle with mischief. “I don’t see

  any children. Does that mean we can have some alone

  time?”

  “Afraid not. We have a town meeting to go to in a few

  minutes.” I sigh in regret as I walk over to the edge of the

  bed. I’m not surprised when he moves over enough for me

  to lay down and snuggle up. Kid free moments are rare in

  our home.

  “So Jessica explained to enough people that they’re

  ready to prepare?” Cooper asks as he props his head on his

  arm.

  “They’re convinced enough to come. You get to do the

  rest, but they’re worried and hoping that you can explain

  what’s going out there.” I lean over to place a kiss on his

  lips, savoring the sensation.

  The door bursts open and four little people are standing in the doorway.

  “Yuck, they’re kissing again,” Joy groans and turns to

  leave, but with the two cousins right behind them, she can’t

  get away like she’d wanted to.

  “It’s safe, kids. No more kissing,” Cooper says with a

  wink in my direction.

  “Uh, is it okay with Jessica if I wear these clothes?” he

  asks, pulling on the white muscle shirt, unsure of the

  modesty level needed in front of his new niece and nephew.

  “You can wear anything from this box. It’s the last of