The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Dean,” Frank quipped his name. “What do you know?”

  “I know as much as you.”

  Frank fluttered his lips. “You do not.”

  “How do you figure? I was there, Frank.”

  “Yeah but you uh ... um ... slept a lot.”

  “I slept?” Dean asked.

  “All the time. Yeah, we uh ... couldn’t wake you up for days, so how would you know.”

  Hal looked sideways at Frank. “I thought you said he hid like a baby.”

  “He did,” Frank answered.

  “But you said he was sleeping.”

  “He was.”

  “He hid and slept?” Hal asked.

  “Uh ... yeah,” Frank said. “He was sleeping and um William had to pick him up and carry him and hide him. He could do that. Dean’s like three feet tall.”

  Dean laughed. “My father wasn’t alive in the time frame we remember, Frank. Remember?”

  “Huh?” Frank scratched his head.

  “Yeah but Dean.” Robbie held up one finger. “He was in the time frame I remember and he hid you. No one wanted to disturb you because they didn’t want to hear you scream.”

  “Hal.” Dean turned to Hal. “Don’t believe these two. They’re making up tales. Nothing happened that first day in my memory at all. We arrived. We had some nervousness. We had a meeting and went back to our houses. Other than that, in my memory or in the time frame that actually happened, no band of bikers raided Beginnings. There were no snakes that massively took over the buildings. The fourth farmer didn’t commit suicide when he saw Jenny Matoose. There was no fourth farmer. And Miguel did not slip into a comforting homosexual one night stand with Jonas ...” Dean smiled. “Frank did.”

  “Dean!” Frank yelled. He calmed himself down with a smile. “I believe I was with Henry.”

  Hal looked horrified. “Frank, you and Henry were ...”

  “Hal. I’m kidding.” Frank laughed. “Dean just can’t take it because he’s boring.” Frank took a moment to flip off Dean. “And what the fuck are you doing in my office? This is a Slagel meeting. Are you a Slagel? No. So why are you here?”

  “I have nothing better to do.” Dean cleared his throat in nervousness. “And um ... we’re bonding Frank. We’re living together now.”

  “Ha.” Frank rocked back and forth some more. “There’s something up, I know it. And if you’re gonna do that little man intrusion, keep your mouth shut while me and Robbie catch up with our brother.”

  “Keep up with your brother, Frank, but tell him the truth or have Robbie tell him the truth. He knows the real history since you screwed up time.”

  “You were there, Dean.” Frank tilted his head. “You screwed it up too.”

  “Oh I did not.”

  “Dean, yes you did.” Frank saw Dean’s mouth open. “Did. Yes. Shut up.” He pointed his finger.

  Hal tossed his hands up. “Wait. So basically you guys did lie to me. Why?”

  Robbie indicated to Dean. “Like he said, it was boring. But don’t worry, Hal, we have lots of good stuff to tell you. Just like you probably have good stuff to tell us, which we want to hear.”

  “You do?” Hal smiled.

  “Yeah.” Frank agreed. “We want to hear all about what happened with you but not now. We’re talking.”

  Again, Hal tossed his hands up in defeat. “Go on, Frank.”

  “Thanks.” Frank leaned into the desk with folded hands. “Now, the second day was just as eventful. A poisonous gas leak occurred and in both my memory and Robbie’s, he and I had to go in ...”

  Dean partially closed his eyes and slumped down in the chair listening to Frank’s story. Of course Dean had to admit Frank’s little stories were much more interesting than what really happened at first, which was, in both histories, not much. So with nothing else to do but stay out of sight--something he didn’t tell Frank--Dean kicked back for a while with all intentions of staying in Frank’s office if for nothing else but to just annoy and intrude on the Slagel’s.

  IN RETROSPECT ... THE FIRST YEAR

  Situated

  CHAPTER FIVE

  October 28th - Beginnings, Montana

  Andrea felt as if she were in school again. It had been so many years since she went but there she was again, in William 101. She dreaded the studying she had to do and William, though a wonderful teacher, was not one to be easy on her when it came to learning medicine. As he put it to her, soon enough there will be people to doctor in Beginnings, and she might as well learn it all. William wasn’t joking.

  Holding a cup of coffee in her hand, she moved to the little room near the front of the clinic, the room that one day would be her office. Joe had already given her a desk, but that wasn’t for when she was a doctor. It was to hold all the books that William had stacked there.

  She had a William-test on bilirubin down to the most minuscule detail. In order to do well and not have to retake the test if she scored below an eighty, Andrea wanted to take a few hours for studying. William was going to be in Dean’s lab with Ellen, getting ready for Dean’s return, so she wouldn’t be missed.

  Like she ate something bad, the view of the books on the desk made her stomach knot. She winced as she walked around the desk and grabbed her chair. Just as she reached for the chair, she saw it on the top of her books, a single flower with a small piece of paper wrapped around the stem. Smiling, Andrea lifted the flower, took the note from the stem, and sniffed the rose. She unrolled the paper so carefully and tightly attached to it. The words were simple and typed, almost as if the sender wanted to remain anonymous. ‘The beauty of this flower pales in comparison to you’ A long, sweet ‘ah’ came from Andrea as she kept her eyes glued to the note and sat down. Immediately her mood changed. She was ready to study. The brightness that the note and flower gave her took away the gloominess of the books and that wasn’t to mention the secretiveness of the sender intrigued her to no end.

  <><><><>

  If one were to aerial view them, Joe and George would look like specks of dirt standing in the fields that had been leveled out and dug up.

  “Potatoes.” George stated as he stomped his foot.

  “Christ.” Joe rubbed his head. “How in the hell are we going to do this shit? Do you realize how big these fields are?”

  “Most definitely. They’re designed to feed a community.”

  “But they were designed to be started with fifty people.” Joe shook his head.

  “We could go out and find more people,” George suggested.

  “Then how do we feed and take care of them?”

  “Catch twenty-two.”

  “Catch twenty-two,” Joe reiterated. “Well, you know what Stan said. He said first harvest will be a sign but it’ll take the second year before we know what we can bring in.”

  “But then.” George held up his finger. “We’ll be growing enough to feed more people ...”

  “To harvest more food.” Joe rubbed his head. “And for Dean to experiment on.”

  “That’s right. He comes back.” George snapped his finger. “I just started to rejuvenate my blood.”

  “And he has that meeting planned. He needs to speak to all of us.”

  “For what?”

  Joe tossed his hands up. “Haven’t a clue. He merely hinted it has to do with the virus research.”

  “His way of preparing us to give more blood.”

  “Yep.” Joe huffed out in disgust. “More blood and trust me, my daughter is not gentle with me. We’re gonna have to start calling those two Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee.”

  George laughed but Joe didn’t and the two men continued to check out the field before heading back into town for Dean’s meeting, a meeting that everyone referred to as nap time.

  <><><><>

  Ellen checked her reflection in the metal paper napkin dispenser in the lab. She spun to William. “How do I look?”

  “Ellen.”

  “No, William, how do I look.” She hurried
to him. “He’ll be back in a few minutes. Miguel said he buzzed him in. I wished I could have been with him. I should have. I’m his research assistant.”

  “Your father was right in not letting you. You’re pregnant.”

  “I know and I can’t wait to see him again.”

  “Ellen, the man was outside the gate. You saw him every day.”

  “Yeah, but I only waved to him,” Ellen said, “and he looked so sad and pitiful sitting in his little tent.”

  William chuckled. “All my son’s life he’s looked sad and pitiful.”

  Ellen giggled. “You make me laugh.”

  “Thank you.”

  “How do I look?”

  Giving up, William turned from his paper work. “Pucker up.”

  Ellen did.

  “Smack your lips together. The lipstick is dulling.”

  Ellen rubbed her lips together. “Now?”

  “Beautiful. Glowing. O.K.?”

  “Thank you.” Ellen smiled.

  “But you’re wasting your time. Not that my son doesn’t want to be with you. I see it when he’s with you, doing that friendship thing. But ... he’s being stubborn. How many more times can you try to get his attention in the enticing way?” William raised his eyebrows.

  “I certainly can’t show up naked in his bed again.”

  “Why not? It’s been a couple week. Try it again.” William suggested.

  “William, please. Look at me.” Ellen opened her lab coat and showed her small stomach. “It’s not large enough to make me look pregnant but its large enough to make me look frumpy. Oh yeah, I can see me lying on his bed like this, with my pot gut. Dean will whine.”

  William smiled with a shaking of his head. “You are carrying his child. That only adds beauty.” William laid his hand on her cheek. “But, if you’re feeling self conscious about it, try a big shirt. You know, be there, on the bed, leg bent up.”

  Ellen laughed while blushing a little. “I suppose.” Suddenly with thought, sadness took over Ellen. “He’s turning more and more away from me, isn’t he?”

  “No, he’s just trying so hard to not let it work with you, that he’s turning more toward his work, which proves once again my theory that my son has the makings to be asexual.”

  Dean’s gasp and squeaking footsteps rang out in the room. “I cannot believe you just said that about me.”

  “Dean.” Ellen smiled his name and rushed over to him.

  “Hey El.” Dean set his things on the counter. “Wow.” He looked at her. “You look really ... you look really ... um ...” Dean cleared his throat. “Rested.”

  William grunted as he walked by Dean whispering. “You’re pathetic.”

  “Thanks.” As Dean turned from looking back at William he saw Ellen so close. “El?”

  “I missed you.” She winked. “Could I give you a hug?”

  “I think I would really like that.” Ignoring his father’s ‘hurray’ from across the room, Dean stepped to Ellen at the same time she stepped to him. He took her in his arms, holding her tighter and closer than just a greeting embrace.

  “Dean.” Ellen whispered his name, nuzzling her cheek near his. “It’s been so long since you held on to me like this.”

  Dean’s arms wrapped as far around Ellen as they could go. Her chest pressed against his. “I didn’t realize until now how much I missed it.”

  Ellen pull back only slightly. She kept her lipstick colored lips close to his. “I’d love to have you kiss me right now, Dean.”

  “And I ...” Dean’s lips were so close to Ellen. “I would love to kiss you.” He brought them closer, really wanting to touch his lips to hers. “But I can’t.” Dean pulled back. “We have work to do. Lots. I have that meeting planned in ...” He looked at his watch. “An hour.”

  Ellen tossed her hands up and looked at William who shook his head to her in a ‘don’t worry about it fashion. “All right. We’ll work. What’s the meeting about?”

  “I have to talk to everyone and we have things to get ready. Can I get your help?”

  “Sure.” Ellen nodded. “That’s what I’m here for, just the lonely, homely, undesirable research assistant, right?”

  Dean reached for his box of research. “Right.” He stopped. “I mean. I mean I ... have to get some things from the back.” Nervously, and quickly Dean fled from the lab into the back room.

  <><><><>

  “And this is going to be the coolest place to work.” Henry told John as they walked around what would be the Mechanics Division building. “We’ll have this set up the best.” He nodded and went to move to his right, jolting John. “Sorry.”

  John pointed around. “Will this be the main room where we do the work?” John spun but came to an abrupt halt. “Excuse me.”

  “No.” Henry answered. “It will be the main room, yes, but the way I figure is, we’ll do menial work here. We’ll have to do the main stuff on site. Did you see ...” He walked across the room. “The size of this ...” He grunted. “Sorry. Closet.” Henry opened it.

  “Huge.” John moved to his left and then to his right to try to get a good view. “When are we taking those runs?”

  “Soon.” Henry answered and closed the door. “The weather will be getting bad.” He stepped widely to his right with a grumble. “That’s the closet I want to put all those manuals we get.”

  “We’ll get them all too.”

  “I figure once we get everything ...” Henry tilted his head to his right. “ ... set up.” He tilted his head far to the left. “And we have survivors coming in and the community builds ...” To the right his head went. “We can run it like we did at the hospital I worked at. Requisitions for work, work orders and ... Jenny.” Henry reached out and moved her. “You are really getting in the way. We said you could come up if you stayed out of the way.”

  Jenny pouted. “I only want to see.”

  “Unfortunately, I can’t talk to John through you.” Henry nodded. “O.K. so have a seat.”

  “O.K.” Jenny went and sat down.

  Henry looked down at his watch. “Shit, we have that meeting and I wanted to try to find out ahead of time how much blood they’re taking.”

  John looked at his watch too. “Why don’t you do that? I’ll finish hooking up the heating system here.”

  “Great. I’ll do that.” Henry moved to the door. “And I’ll let you know.”

  “Henry?” Jenny called out from the chair she sat in. “May I stay and watch John?”

  “Sure.” Henry smiled, opened up the door, and left.

  John quickly looked at Jenny, flashed a nervous smile, and moved toward the newly installed work counter. “Tools. Tools. Tools.”

  “I can’t stay long. I have to watch all the children for that meeting.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “Did I tell you I want children some day?”

  John awkwardly looked at her as he lifted the tool box. “Yes. Yes you did.”

  “But I’m a virgin you know.”

  The tool box slipped with a loud bang from John’s hand. “Excuse me.” He raced for the door. “Henry!” He flung it open and flew out.

  <><><><>

  Robbie looked so boyish, handsome, and innocent when he flashed the brightest smile in Beginnings. He spun round and round on the stool in Dean’s lab, lifting paper, trying to peek, and having them taken from his hand by Dean. “How much longer?” Robbie asked.

  “Soon.” Dean answered.

  “O.K.” Robbie ran his hand across the counter, then look up when he heard William’s clearing of his throat. Ornery, Robbie nodded. “So, like uh, geez, I hate when I’m done with my work for the day. I have to find things to occupy my time. Um ... El? Do you want to finish where we left off. Dean says we have time.”

  Quickly Ellen looked at William who nodded his head to her. She was clueless. “Um ... sure.”

  “Excellent, because you look really good. Doesn’t she, Dean? She looks good. Of course.” Robbie ran hi
s finger over his top lip with a half smile. “She looks really good wet. Dean?”

  Dean looked up, not really wanting to. “Yes.”

  “We took a shower together last night. Water conservation only.” Robbie held up his hands. “We figured since my Dad said ten minute ...”

  “Robbie,” Dean interrupted him. “I really don’t want to hear this.”

  “Why?”

  “Because.”

  “O.K.” Robbie shrugged. “But it was an inventive idea. We figured since we could only take ten minute showers each, both of us together could take a twenty minute shower. And boy, Dean, we got clean.”

  “Robbie,” Dean said his name. “I’m busy.”

  “Of course Ellen wasted a lot of our shower time soaping up my chest hair.” Robbie laughed. “She likes a good hairy chest. Do you have a hairy chest, Dean?”

  “Robbie.” Dean slammed his hand down. “Is there a point to all this?”

  “I’m trying to determine if you have a hairy chest. Do you, Dean?” Robbie flashed a wink at William.

  William looked at an annoyed Dean. “Unfortunately for my son, Robbie, he’s still in that prepubescent stage.”

  “Dad,” Dean scolded.

  Ellen quickly lifted a box. “I’m out of here. I’m going to take the surprise to the Social Hall.”

  Dean turned as she left. “And make sure you set up the chairs so I can see if anyone is sleeping.”

  Ellen gave a thumbs up, spun and nearly bumped into Henry. “Whoops. Hi Henry. Bye Henry.”

  “Hi El. Bye El.” Henry walked in. “Hi Dean, hi Robbie, hi William.”

  Dean looked up. “Henry.”

  “Henry.” William rolled his eyes.

  “Hank.”

  Henry snickered. “So what’s the meeting about?”

  “You’ll find out.” Dean stuffed a clipboard in a box. “With everyone else.”

  “O.K.” Henry shrugged. “I would like to know now. I like surprises, but hate having to wait for them. I really had to get out of Mechanics, even though it really isn’t Mechanics yet, but it will be. I had to get out of there. Jenny’s on that ‘I have to lose my virginity’ kick again.”