by Brad Manuel
“I don’t know.” Antonio cut in. “This fish is okay, but there’s something about spiced ham and baked beans. Mmmm, man, the way you got a nice sear on the meat last night? It had some snap to it.”
John was meeting the new Antonio for the first time. The gregarious and helpful teenager was very much in contrast to the loner he left the day before. He made a mental note to ask someone what the heck happened in the last day to change the boy so much.
“So you are comparing fresh fish, cooked with herbs on a grill to that meat you ate from a can?” Solange laughed.
“I’m with Tony.” Ahmed cut in. “I grew up eating canned ham at least once a month. Eating it last night brought back some memories for me, took me back home for a minute. There are no bones in ham.” He pulled a tiny pin bone from his mouth.
“Remember that crab boil from a week ago? Now that was food. Dumping Old Bay into a pot of water followed by dozens of crabs? Man, you can’t beat that.” Peter looked around the table at the people who did not enjoy it. “Then, the next night, he made Paella using crab stock made from the crab shells and leftover meat.” He gave Todd a look. “I’m not saying you fell down last night, but you have to admit, crab boil to processed canned meat? Do I need to keep talking?”
“Look, I’m feeling a little anger towards the dinner last night. I was in New York. There was no food. It was a long day. I didn’t have anything to work with. I fed all of you. Come on, ham and beans? That was comfort food, a warm meal for your empty bellies.” Todd mock defended himself.
“Have you heard about how my dad fed us tuna mac for like two months?” Craig told the group. “I’ll take crab or trout over tuna mac. You don’t know what you’re talking about until you face a 50th meal of tuna fish, macaroni, and Italian dressing.”
Cameron raised his hand. Bernie sat next to him. “You don’t have to raise your hand, dear. As long as you don’t interrupt, you can speak up.”
Cameron nodded. “I ate ten times last month. I counted. Ms. Bernie told me when months started and ended, and she told me it was March 1st, and I counted how many times I got to eat. I’d put a little pencil mark on my wall, really tiny, so no one would see and I wouldn’t get in trouble for writing on the wall, and when she told me it was April 1st, I counted the marks, and I ate ten times. Then you all came. I liked the ham, and the meatballs, and this fish, even though I don’t really like fish, I’ll eat whatever you give me.” He turned to Todd. “Thank you Mr. Todd.” He lowered his head from shyness. He was a bold four year old, but even bold four year olds get nervous in front of crowds.
Todd, choked up like the other adults, cleared his throat to break the silence. “You are welcome, Cameron. Maybe one night you can tell me what you like, and I’ll try to make it for you.”
“As long as he doesn’t ask for tuna mac.” Craig cracked the much needed joke.
They ate and drank until 7:30. Exhaustion soon overwhelmed the children and most of the adults. The adrenaline they had upon arriving was gone, and the efforts of the last few days set into each of their bodies. A few of the kids yawned, despite the two packages of Oreos making their way around the table.
John stood. “I took a nap this afternoon. I volunteer to show people their sleeping quarters. Who would like to go to bed?”
Hands shot up around the table.
Todd’s mouth fell open. “You were asleep? That’s why you didn’t pick up the radio? You were napping?”
John ignored the comment, and directed people towards their sleeping quarters. “Jay and Brian, you two are upstairs, not much of a walk for you. Your parents can start your fire and put you to bed whenever.”
“Before we adjourn for the night,” John continued. “Let’s roll up the plastic tablecloths, and put them in trash bags. I’ll take care of the pots in the RV later, and everyone can go to bed. The way we have things set up, Melanie is sleeping with Jacob, Jaclyn, and Casey in the cottage up the street. That’s the house Greg and Rebecca used this winter. We have Wendy, Bridget, and Cameron in another room at the cottage with either Bernie or Kelly.”
“I’m happy to stay with them tonight.” Bernie answered quickly. “Particularly if it means I get to go to sleep right now.” She nodded towards Bridget, who was already resting her head on the table with her eyes closed.
“Emily, can you put Jay and Brian down? I’ll help John with the other kids.” Todd offered. His wife nodded, noting that Jay was almost as asleep as Bridget.
Matt whispered to Ahmed and Avery. “You take the kids, there are enough of us to handle this mess.”
Solange picked up Cameron, resting his head on her shoulder. “Let us get this little boy to bed.” She told Bernie and John. Todd grabbed Wendy and John picked up Bridget in a similar fashion. Melanie had Casey over her shoulder. The twins, yawning, trailed behind her. Others in the group helped place coats over the children for the brief walk up the street. Greg opened the door and led the way to his house.
Bernie walked next to Greg. “You and that young woman lived up here, alone, for months? How old are you?”
“Rebecca and I make a good team, and work well beyond our age. It was tough, but never impossible.” Greg explained.
“I can’t wait to hear about your adventures.” She said back.
“I’m sure you have a few of your own to share. I only saw a few people die during the rapture. New York City? You had to fight millions for food, water, supplies.”
“I saw more than a few people taken.” Bernie said gravely. “But I am here, and Todd has asked that we focus on the good tonight.”
They came to the door of the cottage. Greg opened it for Bernie, “boots go in that bin. We try not to get muddy or dirty in here.” He explained to her. It was his house after all.
The living room fire was smoldering, and the house was warmer than the outside. Greg turned on several lanterns to illuminate the home. He handed Bernie one, and led Melanie up the stairs with another. He showed Melanie, still carrying Casey, her room. He lit the fire for her. The starter log caught quickly, and Greg put a fire screen in front of it for her.
“There is wood in the bin. Unfortunately, you have to keep feeding the fire or it will get cold in here. It won’t be too bad, but you won’t want to get out of bed in the morning if the fire is all the way out.” Melanie nodded as Greg gave her the instructions.
“Is there a way to restart it in the morning?” She asked him.
Greg shined his pocket light on the wood bin and starter log pack in the corner. “Just throw one of those in, paper and all, and you’ll be fine. It will still take a minute to warm up the room, but you can curl up while the room heats.” He addressed her in a low voice as not to wake Casey. Bernie listened. “These rooms are tiny, colonial, they heat quickly.”
Greg gave additional instructions. “I am going to leave the lantern on low in the hallway. There is a bathroom out the back doorway of the house through the kitchen. I can show you each now if you like, or you can find it if needed. I’m sure the kids will wake you up if they have to go. You can show them.”
“Let me put the kids down, and then you can take me.” Melanie told him. “I want to use it before I go to bed.”
Bernie nodded in agreement.
Bernie turned and walked into the other room. Her three roommates were on their mattresses, their fire was roaring. She felt the temperature of the bedroom rising. Solange was finishing with Cameron, making sure the little boy was tucked in.
Bernie followed the adults back down the stairs to see the bathroom. Todd and Solange looked around the house. It was their first time in the cottage.
“It is so clean and organized.” She turned to Todd. “Two young children lived here for months?”
“Unbelievable.” He agreed.
Greg led Bernie and Melanie to the back of the house, through the kitchen, out the back room, and down the steps to the bathroom. “It’s not much, but it’s better than the woods.” He told them. “When you’re in the ki
tchen, there are two doors. The other one leads to the chicken coop. You’ll know right away you’ve made a mistake.”
“You and that young woman have a chicken coop?” Bernie asked.
“We do. It was Rebecca’s. She found a neighbor’s chickens and coop, you know, after everyone died. We brought them up here with us last fall.”
“Unreal.” Bernie said out loud.
They made their way back into the house and the living room. Todd placed logs on the fire. “I don’t know if you are going to bed or staying up to talk. I restarted the fire for you.”
“Thank you, Todd. I think I will sit up for a minute. I want to relax and digest after a long day.” Melanie sat down on one of the couches. “Oh my God. This is the most comfortable couch I have ever sat on in my life.”
“I know, isn’t it? We found that at a house over on the pond. It was a beast to get in here, but worth it.” Greg told her. “Rebecca has vowed to take it with us when we leave.”
“I agree with her.” Melanie replied, closing her eyes and letting the comfort sink into her bones.
Solange was intrigued and took a seat next to Melanie. Her eyes closed as she leaned back into the couch. “Wow.” She said to Melanie. “It is just the right depth for your legs, and the cushions are firm yet soft at the same time. It feels wonderful.”
Bernie sat down in the third spot. “Even the middle spot feels great.” She looked back and forth at Solange and Melanie. “Oh, this is coming with us, and if we can, we’re going to find a few more.”
Todd knelt next to the fire as it came back to life. He watched the women enjoy the couch. “Seriously?” He said to Greg.
“Uncle Todd, it’s the couch. It’s crazy. You aren’t going to get a turn on it tonight, but when you do? You’ll understand.”
Todd stood, shaking his head. “Okay, I guess. You ladies need anything else? I am going to go back to my room and collapse.”
“We’re good.” Melanie told him, not opening her eyes. “You can go.” She gave him a motion with her hand, shooing him from the room.
“Are you staying here?” Todd asked his nephew.
“No, I’ll come back and see what needs to be done. I didn’t have that big a day. I mean, I didn’t take a two hour nap like my father, but I also didn’t drive through snow to get here.” He started towards the door with his Uncle. When they got out to the street, Greg asked his uncle a question. “When did you know that Aunt Emily was going to make it? Of all the crazy things to happen, all the luck, all the beating of the odds.”
“I know.” Todd responded. “We both know. I know this will sound weird, but I knew right away. We were hungry. For some reason that gave me hope. Jay scared us with a flu bug that first week in Raleigh, but honestly, I believed we would survive from day one.” He gave his nephew a pat.
“Are you and Rebecca an item? Am I allowed to ask that, you know, like it’s high school or something?”
“I’d like to think it’s more than a high school thing, but yes, we’re kind of an item.” Greg stopped. “I haven’t really told my dad yet. Could you keep that between us? I mean, I’m not ashamed or anything, but it hasn’t come up.”
“I have your back, Greg. Don’t worry. In this new world we live in, I’m not really your Uncle anymore. I’m your teammate or friend. We are going to rely on each other to survive. I think I can let you decide who and when you tell about your relationships.” He waited a second before following up his comments. “So she’s pretty special, huh?”
“You’ll understand when you get to spend time with her. She’s unbelievable. She’s smart and funny, and caring.” Greg gushed.
Todd was excited for his nephew, and looked forward to getting to know the young woman who had captured Greg’s heart.
Greg and Todd looked at the houses on their right and saw fires burning in the windows. “It looks like everyone split up for the night.” Greg observed. They continued to the main house, walking into the front room and finding all of the Dixons with Rebecca sitting in front of the fire.
“There they are.” John said loudly. “You get everyone tucked in?”
“We left the three women sitting on ‘the couch,’ marveling at how comfortable it is. Melanie dismissed us.”
“That’s my couch, and it’s coming with us.” Rebecca said firmly.
“Relax.” Hank said to her. “No one is stealing your couch or leaving it behind. Geesh, you and that couch.”
“Is it the most comfortable couch you’ve ever sat on?” She asked him.
“Yes.”
“So you understand why I’m attached.” Rebecca turned to Emily for some female support. “Men think they understand, but they don’t. Wait until you sit on it.”
“I’m intrigued.” Emily told her.
There was a pause in the conversation as Greg and Todd pulled up chairs to sit with the group by the fire. It was a large fireplace, and there were several logs burning, kicking off enough heat and light for the semi circle.
Paul broke the silence. “Well little brother. We’re all here, just like you asked.” He made a gesture with his hand, sweeping it around. “What now?”
“Funny.” Todd said back.
“Seriously.” Hank replied. “What’s our plan? Rebecca has worked on best case locations and travel scenarios. It’s early April. We probably need to get to where we want to go soon so we can plant, or build, or plan, or whatever we have to do to prepare for winter. We have to prepare for the current food stores to run out.”
“We have two years of food left, minimum. Heck, we might have five years if we stay at less than 30 people.” John told him.
“I agree, but it will take at least that long for us to figure out how to feed ourselves. Two growing seasons, two shots at learning how to can and dry cure things, two years at least.” Hank explained.
“I can’t think. I’m exhausted.” Todd announced. “I’m sorry. It’s been too long a day, too long a journey. I get it, Hank. We need to make a plan, or more importantly, execute a plan quickly, but tonight is done for me.” He stood. “I’m going to bed.” He turned to Emily. “Care to join me?”
“I’m always ready to hit the sack.” She said goodnight to everyone.
Before leaving the room, Todd turned. “We have 1,000 pounds of moose meat downstairs. I propose we take the week, eat, get better acquainted with the New York crowd, study our options, and make a plan to move out in seven to ten days.” He looked as exhausted as he sounded. “I need a week to recuperate from the trip here. I mean, look at poor Hubba, exhausted next to the fire. Two weeks isn’t going to make or break us, Hank. We can spare two weeks.” Todd took his wife’s hand and left the living room. He turned left and walked up the stairs towards the bedroom where his kids were already sleeping on mattresses on the floor. A crackling fire warmed their room.
Emily and Todd quietly undressed and put on warm pajamas. “We made it hon, all of us, can you believe it?” He kissed his wife and climbed into a queen bed with an old four poster wood frame. “All the death and destruction, all the time between last fall and now, all the things that could have gone wrong. We made it to Hanover, as planned, ahead of schedule.”
Todd leaned back into the pillow and closed his eyes. He thought he heard his wife respond, but she was too late. He drifted off to sleep instantly.
42
Todd’s eyes opened as he heard a whisper. “Daddy, I need to go to the bathroom.” The room was bright. Todd was disoriented and confused.
“Huh? What’s going on?” He asked Brian, standing next to his bed. After a quick second of thought, Todd realized where he was, and how he could help his son. “Number one or number two?” He asked Brian.
“I have to pee really bad.” His son pleaded.
There was a balcony off the back of the master bedroom. The door leading out to the balcony was next to the bed on Todd’s side. Todd sat up, the fire was going nicely and the room was warm. He moved his feet to the floor and walked the few
feet to the door. It was locked and jammed shut, but with some heavy shoulder leaning, Todd got the door open. Todd reconsidered. They were probably going to collect rainwater or melting snow from the downspouts around the house. If Brian peed on the deck, it would contaminate their water source.
“New plan, let’s run to the RV’s outside.” Todd slipped on shoes. “Can you make it?”
“If we hurry.” Brian told him.
“I have to go too!” Jay jumped out of his sleeping bag and put on his coat and shoes. They walked downstairs. Todd looked into the living room. The chairs were still arranged in a semi-circle around the fire, but the fire was out and the room was empty. The house was cold, warmer than the outside, but cold for a house.
The study door was open. Todd saw three empty mattresses on the floor.
“I think we’re late for breakfast.” Todd told his kids.
“I heard people leave a little while ago. I didn’t want to wake you and Mom, but I had to go too bad.” Brian told him. “I couldn’t hold it.”
“Don’t ever worry about waking us up.” Todd said to them. “It’s not an issue. It’s kind of our jobs to look after you.” Todd opened the door and saw both RV’s parked in front of the house. As cold as it was in the house, it was much colder outside. Southern living thinned Todd’s blood. He was not prepared for a cold April morning in New Hampshire. His breath blew white out of his mouth.
“Wow is it chilly. Okay, this is going to be a cold bathroom stop. Let’s run over to an RV and use the restroom.”
The boys scampered ahead of him. Todd jogged behind. He needed to use the facilities too. Each boy, after finishing their business, ran out of the RV and towards the house and the warm bedroom upstairs. Todd was the last to use the toilet. He made a quick exit, opening RV door into the cold morning air.
Todd looked up the street and saw smoke rising from the chimneys of three houses.
