My Say

8

It had been 6 weeks since the wolves at the creek, 8 weeks since we heard the message,12 weeks since seeing the girls on our mountain,

6 weeks since the message, 14 weeks since our relaxing camping trip. Our world had completely altered its course but instead of facing it head on we had let too many things slide and tonight they were coming to a head.

"I'm sick of you thinking you're the boss of me! You're NOT my boss and you certain as HELL ain't my momma. Get out of my face and get the fuck away from me!" Tonight had been the climax of a horrid day. Everything seemed to pile in and Nan was going overboard and taking us all with her.

"I never said I was but we are all..." Nell's ire was on the rise but as always she tried to be the voice of reason.

"Oh stick it in your crack pipe and smoke it Mary Popppins." Nan's jab was below the belt and it was my tipping point. Nick had tried to step in but when both of them turned to glare at him he retreated.

"That was uncalled for Nan. I'm not going to ask you to apologize but..."

"Good thing, cause ya ain't gonna get one. There you stand, all miss high and mighty, 'OOO, look at me. I lived on the street. I know how to survive. Follow me if you want to live.' I am over your high handedness. Back off or I'm gonna cut ya." Reaching down to her boot she pulled out a wicked hook ended knife. Mark moved to take the knife but Monica pulled him back.

"You think you're not being treated fairly?" Craig sniped from the couch where he sat, his head leaned back and his eyes closed, looking for all to see as if he were calmly resting. "What is it about this situation that you find so off putting?" If I hadn't known him better I would have assumed he wasn't pissed and about to rip someone into little pieces.

"Y'll all act as if you're better than me. And I'm done with it!" Nan had begun to calm down and a whiny tin crept into her voice.

"Would you like to take over medical duties? I'm sure Monica would love a break from keeping us all hidden." I asked as Monica ignored us continuing to work her creams, gels, herb mixtures, and whatever's that kept us healthy and safe. She also kept Mark at her side and out of trouble. "Or maybe you'd like to swap with D? I bet he would love to get out of the basement more. It sucks being stuck with tech most of the time. How's your hacking maybe you can find out more of what's going on than he can." D spent most of his days down in what I had begun to call the dungeon. He had used the ham radio down there to listen in on what was happening in our new world. The internet and cell phones were a thing of the past for us. "What about Nick, how's your electronic engineering or Mark, yeah bet he'd love to be inside more?"

"Sure would like to see more of the day. But my cooking would probably kill us all so how about I keep my gig and she swaps with someone else." No one replied to D's jest. The tension was still too thick.

"So no D then? How about Nell? You could make sure that our garden was thriving and do the sourcing. I know Nell can cook, not as well as you but still." Nell shook her head and stepped back towards the door. We had discovered that Nell couldn't stay in the small cabin for long without a panic attack. "That leaves only two. So Craig or me? Take your pick, you can do the fixing and tinkering or the hunting and scouting?" We all stare at her. "You opened this can of worms so pick!" My hand slaps the kitchen table and she jumps.

"I'm just tired ya know. I... we... no one talks about what happened. About what's gonna happen. About what's going on out there." She is sobbing. Tears rolled down a silet Monica's face, Mark gathered her close. Nell is quietly crying also, Nick moves to her side. Craig has folded himself over his legs, his face buried in his hands. D's eyes shine but the tears don't fall.