The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Robbie turned his stool some. “That’s because she looks up to Ellen and since Ellen is the only woman here having sex on a reg ...” Robbie quickly looked at Dean who snapped his views at him. “I mean, had sex. Had sex since the plague. That’s what I meant to say.” He stood up. “And I’m out of here.” He raced to the door. “See you at the meeting.” He nearly bolted over Andrea. “Sorry.”

  Andrea smiled and laughed as she walked in. “William, I’ve finished the bilirubin quiz.” She held up the paper along with her flower. “And look what someone left me. With a note.” She softened her voice. “William?”

  “Hmm?” William faced her then shifted his eyes to the flower. “That’s nice.”

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Um ...” William smiled. “Yes it is.”

  Andrea handed William the quiz. “Here you go. Henry?” She turned around. “Did you see my flower?”

  “Wow Andrea.” Henry stood up. “But why did someone give it to you.”

  With Andrea’s gasp, William gave a scouring face to Henry. He shook his head. “Dean, when you check to see what the common factor in immunity is, can you see if it’s insensitivity? I believe the younger men in this community all suffer from that.” He laid his hand on Andrea’s back. “You were given that because someone finds you special.”

  “Oh.” Andrea smiled. “Thank you, William.”

  William nodded. “Hope you find out who it was.” With her quiz in hand, he walked out of the lab.

  Henry saw the stare on Andrea’s face as William left. “It wasn’t William.” Henry told her. “Bet me it was Joe.”

  “Joe?” Andrea tilted her head. “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  Dean laughed. “It wasn’t Joe. It couldn’t be Joe.”

  “I’m telling you it was Joe,” Henry insisted. “It was Joe, Andrea. He likes you.”

  “Really?” Andrea grinned. “Joe likes me.”

  “Oh sure. He’s always checking you out. Like this. Watch.” Henry shifted his eyes up and down her body.

  Andrea blushed. “Joe?”

  “Joe.” Henry nodded.

  Bringing the flower to her nose, Andrea slowly left the lab. “Joe.”

  Dean added another item to the already over stuffed box. “Henry?” He saw Andrea’s nearly mesmerized walk out. “You must be really observant.”

  “Oh I am, Dean. I’m Mr. Observant.” Henry nodded with one eye closed.

  “You must be. I’ve never noticed Joe checking out Andrea.”

  “Neither have I.”

  “But you just ... you just ...” Dean flung out his hand. “Never mind.”

  <><><><>

  Ellen smiled in oddity when she approached the Social Hall door. She could hear music seeping through. It had been so long since she had heard music. Opening the door, box in hand, the music grew louder and she saw the reason for it. A jukebox. It was moved out from the wall. “Oh wow.” She set the box on the bar.

  Frank emerged from behind it. “Hey El.”

  “A jukebox.” Ellen pointed.

  “Yeah. Robbie and I got it today. I think one more run and this place will be finished.” Frank looked around.

  “It’s looking good in here. You’ve guys have worked hard.” Ellen heard the song stop. A split second later it started again. “Why are you playing the same song? Don’t tell me that’s the only choice we have.”

  Frank chuckled. “No. I like this song. It reminds me of us.”

  “Oh look at you being sentimental.”

  “Dance with me, El.” Frank walked to her, holding out his hand.

  “No.” She shook her head laughing.

  “Come on.” Frank grabbed her and pulled her into him. “Dance with me.” He cupped her hand into his and began to sway with her. “Do you realize you were my first dance?”

  “Yeah.” Ellen smiled in remembrance. “I also remember you made me stand on a box.”

  “Well, that’s because I wanted the chest to chest thing happening. Now ...” Frank hunched down. “I leaned to do this.”

  “Quite well.”

  “You bet. So ... how’s the Dean thing going?”

  “Going.”

  Frank nodded. “You know, El ...”

  “Uh oh.”

  “What?”

  “You softened your voice.”

  “And you know me.” He pulled her closer, putting his lips near her ear. “You know I realize what you’re trying to do with Dean. You wanna have the baby and do the natural parent thing, but ...” Frank softly placed his lips on her neck. He glided them up. “You’re going to need a little more.”

  “What are you doing, Frank?”

  “Seducing you.” Frank kissed her.

  “Your beard makes my neck itch.”

  “Tough.” Frank delivered small bites. “You look really good, El.”

  “Frank, we can’t. I told you that last week.”

  “But ...” Another kiss to her neck. Frank softened his voice so much it graveled. “Dean will never know.”

  “Frank.”

  “No listen. He’ll never, ever know.” Frank slid his mouth up her neck and to her lips. Softly he kissed her then he widened his kiss, hunching down more and against Ellen as he danced.

  Ellen pulled back. “What are you going to do when Dean and I finally get together?”

  “Make sure that we’re very, very careful.” Frank brought his lips to her neck again. “El, I need to be with you. I promise I won’t gloat or do anything that will give it away to Dean. Just say you’ll come to my house tonight and make love to me.” Frank buried his lips to her and made his voice sound high pitch. “Oh yes, Frank, I’ll come to your house.” He pulled back with smile. “Thanks, El.”

  Ellen swayed her head with a laugh. “You are such a goof.”

  “And you are such my ...” Frank lowered his head and widened his mouth near her neck. Like a vampire caught in the act, his mouth hovering near the jugular vein, Frank stopped when Dean walked in. He bit his bottom lip and whispered “Fuck.” He stepped back still whispering. “Sorry.”

  “For?” Ellen watched Frank twitch his head and she turned around to see Dean setting a box on the bar. “Oh, hey Dean.”

  “Ellen.”

  “We got a juke box.”

  “I see.” Dean moved his eyes to the object across the room.

  “Frank and I were dancing.”

  “You’re very fortunate to have those Slagel brothers. They keep you entertained. Frank to dance with, Robbie to shower with ...”

  “Hey!” Frank shouted. “El, you showered with my brother?”

  Quickly, Ellen shifted her eyes to Frank, giving him a ‘no’ look.

  Dean opened the box and began to pull things out. “I wish I could entertain you so well.”

  “You can, Dean.” Ellen smiled. “You can be my lover and we’ll both be entertained.”

  “El,” Frank said strongly.

  Dean hid his snicker. “You know what. Maybe I will.” Dean looked at Frank.

  “El.” Frank grabbed her arm and pulled her away. “What are you doing?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re gonna sleep with the guy?”

  “I told you I want to make a go of it with him.”

  “Still, El, that doesn’t mean you have to sleep with him.”

  Ellen laughed. “Did you think we were going to have a celibate relationship?”

  “Partying and having a good time has nothing to do with it. I thought you weren’t going to sleep together.”

  Ellen’s mouth dropped open. “You know what, Frank? We’re not. Really.”

  “Good.”

  Rolling her eyes Ellen returned to the bar.

  Frank followed. “So, what’s in the box?” He reached for the box Ellen brought in.

  “You’ll find out.” Dean slid it away. “It’s a surprise.”

  “For all of us?” Frank asked.

  “For the men
.”

  “Is it dirty magazines?”

  Dean’s top lip raised some. “No. But you’re on the right wave length.” He secured the top flaps of the box. “And don’t peek, Frank. El? Let’s you and I get those chairs set up.”

  Frank kept his eyes on the box, shifting his views to Dean and Ellen who pulled chairs away from the tables and drug them to the back of the room. “El, set my chair up so Dean doesn’t see me sleeping.” Keeping his eyes on that box, Frank figured, with a fast turn and an accidental sweep of his arm, he could easily find out what was in that box when it fell over. He laid his arm on the bar, leaned down ...

  “Frank,” Ellen yelled out. “Don’t you even think of knocking that over.”

  Frank looked over his shoulder. Ellen’s back was to him. He mumbled to himself. “How the hell did she know?”

  <><><><>

  ‘The hills are alive with the sound of music’ were the words and melody that played through Andrea’s mind as she swayed in a near waltz across center town to the Social Hall. Her flower, which began to wilt, sadly drooped in her hand. But like a reality ignorant mental patient, Andrea carried it and sniffed it as if it were in full bloom.

  “Miguel.” She called out with a smile when she saw him approach the doors to the Social Hall at the same time as her. “Hello.”

  He spun in shock and faced her.

  “Hello.” Andrea smiled her words. “How are you today?”

  Wider his eyes grew. “A ... A ... A ... excuse me.” Flinging open the Social Hall door, Miguel bolted inside.

  “There you go again,” Joe stated as he walked up behind Andrea, opened the door, and allowed her to go in first. “What is it about you?” He laid a light hand on her back and walked past her.

  “Joseph.” She mellowed out his name.

  Joe stopped walking. “Joseph?” He turned around.

  “Did you see my flower?” Andrea lifted it up. The top of it flopped over her hand that clenched around the stem. A few peddles fell to the floor.

  “Oh boy, Andrea. That’s nice.” Joe turned his head and raised his eyebrows and let out a soft whistle.

  “Beautiful,” Andrea gasped. “Don’t you think, Joe?”

  “Um ...” Joe scratched his head. “You know, that flower has nothing on you.” He tapped her on the cheek, turned, rolled his eyes once more, and moved to where the chairs were set up.

  Andrea let out a soft ‘ah’ when he walked away. “He quoted his poem.”

  Joe watched him. He couldn’t believe it and when he realized what Frank was doing, Joe reached out and snatched the shot glass straight from Frank’s hand just as the whiskey passed into his mouth. “What the hell are you doing? It’s ten thirty in the morning.”

  “Having a drink.” Frank wiped his chin. “Thank you.”

  “Drink later. The last thing we need is for you to become the town drunk.”

  “Dad, it’s one drink.”

  “Tough. I cannot believe you are drinking whiskey this early.” Joe turned to the tap on his shoulder. Maggie stood behind him.

  “Joe,” she spoke softly. “Speaking of whiskey, may I ask your son a question?”

  Frank sniffed and felt important. He was being asked something over his father.

  “All yours.” Joe motioned out his hand to Frank.

  “Frank, why did you only get whisky and gin?” Maggie asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Whiskey and gin,” Maggie repeated. “That was the only type of alcoholic beverages you boys picked up on the run. Well, scotch too but why didn’t you pick something mellow for the women? Like schnapps.”

  “Schnapps?” Frank asked. “Like peppermint and peach.”

  “Yes.” Maggie smiled.

  “Fuck that,” Frank told her. “Talk to Henry. He’s gonna start making something called dandelion wine.”

  “Oh, that sounds wonderful.” Maggie clapped her hands together. “I’ll speak to him.”

  After she walked away, Joe looked at his son. “Frank, didn’t Henry say we have to be careful of drinking too much of his wine. It’s worse than that moonshine Stan makes.”

  “One glass will put hair on your balls.” Frank nodded.

  “Beautiful phrasing, Frank,” Joe said annoyed. “What the hell is Maggie going to do with hairy balls?”

  Frank snickered. “Dad, please.” He shook his head then leaned down to his father. “Maggie doesn’t have balls.” He winked and walked away.

  “I have a moron for a son.” Joe slapped himself on the head.

  “I know you’re talking about Frank.” Robbie approached his father. “You couldn’t possibly be talking about me.”

  “Yeah, but sometimes, Robert, I don’t know about you.”

  Robbie grinned. “It could be worse.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Robbie nodded.

  Dean’s voice rang out in the room as he stood before the set up chairs. “If I can get everyone to gather around.”

  Robbie pointed to Dean. “You could have him for a son.”

  Joe bobbed his head. “True.”

  Dean waited until everyone had their seat. He stood by Ellen by a small table, ‘the box’ set before them. “I want to thank everyone for taking time out of their busy day today to listen to what I have to say.” Dean ignored the restlessness he witnessed. “First, as you know, I was outside the walls, at all of your requests. And I want to tell you ...”

  “You cured the virus?” Frank interrupted.

  “No, I ...”

  “You’re close to curing the virus?” Frank pointed.

  “No, I ...”

  “You’re getting ready to work on curing the virus?”

  “No, Frank I ...”

  “You wanna work on curing the virus?”

  “Frank, I ...”

  “You’ll never cure the virus?”

  “Frank!” Dean snapped.

  “Frank!” Joe blasted in an echoed. “Knock it off.”

  “What?” Frank tossed up his hands. “The virus is why we always meet. Fuck, Dean, when are you gonna cure it?”

  Dean didn’t let himself get upset. “First of all, curing the virus is not foremost for our future. Yes, I will work on it, but there are other things more important. We have to worry about the numerous bacteria, infections, and diseases, all of which can be a threat to us now, or in at least a year when everything modern medicine provided has gone bad. We have to work on something so simple as the common cold to something complex as cancer because we now have to develop our own resources to battle these things. That is what Ellen and I will be spending a lot of time doing.”

  “Just don’t have sex.” Frank stated.

  “Joe.” Dean ran his hand down his face. “Could you control your Neanderthal son please? Thanks. Anyway, as I was saying, El and I have to concentrate on the future and the things that will hit us then and possibly even now. In working on this, Miguel took me around, I have more runs planned, but I went out and collected different diseases and virus to work on, some of which I wasn’t allowed to bring thorough the gates. Anyhow ...” Dean let out his after complaining breath. “In reviewing some of these viruses, I discovered something fascinating.” Dean smiled as if the news was so amusing. “I’ve been very curious as to why we all survived the plague. I know a lot of you aren’t, but I am and now I am more curious because it seems we all have a common natural immunity link to other common viruses as well, HPV, HIV, Chicken pox and so forth.” Dean paced a little as he spoke. “See, we all have this strand of our DNA that has a mutation ...”

  “Geez, Dean.” Frank tossed his hands up. “Now, we’re mutants, thank you.”

  “Mutants?” Henry quickly looked at Frank then at Dean. “Are we mutants? We can’t be mutants can we, Dean? I mean there wasn’t any radiation.”

  George leaned forward in his chair to speak to Henry. “Yes, but radioactive mutation would only be seen in the next generation.”

  Jonas shook his head. “No,
no, no. What about the Incredible Hulk.”

  Frank snickered. “Yeah, what about me?”

  Through his laugh, Miguel added his two cents. “But the Incredible Hulk, David Banner, was hit with an overdose of gamma rays.”

  “Same difference,” Jonas said.

  “No way,” Henry said. “Gamma rays are different then the radiation we would be exposed to in the event of a nuclear blast.”

  “What is true, Dean?” George asked.

  Dean blinked several times. “Huh?”

  Frank tossed out his hand. “There you have it. Our so called brilliant fuckin’ scientist is not only boring, but clueless. Do you really have a degree, Dean?”

  “Yes, Frank,” Dean said sarcastically. “Several and unlike you, I can even read beyond a second grade level.”

  “Hey.”

  “Now if I can continue. Damn it, I forgot where I was.” Dean listened to the whisper in his ear from Ellen. “Thanks. O.K., as I was saying, we all have this mutated strand of DNA, but ...” Dean held up his finger. “In the men, the mutation is stronger, leaving me to believe that perhaps the immunity factor is male gender hereditary and can only be passed on by the fathers. To prove this theory is why you are here. I’d like to ask the men of this community for their help in my research.”

  Through the grumbles, Joe’s voice raised. “I knew it. How much blood do you need now? Ellen collapsed my goddamn vein the last time, Dean.”

  “Dean.” Henry said. “My arms can’t take it. Is it safe to keep on giving blood?”

  John Matoose looked at Henry. “They don’t even give us juice afterward.”

  With crossed legs, Jonas flung out his hand. “I consistently used to be a donor in the old world. Really the tubes they take are nothing.”

  “Then you give it,” George told him. “We’re really tired of being voodoo dolls and Ellen’s frustration punching bag.”

  Ellen gasped. “I am gentle.”

  All the men answered in unison. “Right.”

  Dean’s index finger ran slowly over his top lip, erasing his smile. “I am very glad to hear your dismay in giving blood because it’s not blood that I want from you.”