A Place To Call Home

A Trip To Jackson

The Next Day

The next day Ellie woke up early, she had left Dina and JJ sleeping while she went to get breakfast started. She wanted the day to be relaxing for Dina, they had a long way to go today since they were visiting The Jackson Community. Ellie had chopped up some apples and fried a few eggs on the stove, she had even made some toast. She licked her lips while she plated up their breakfast, she was starving this morning. It wasn't long until Dina joined her in the kitchen with JJ, she kissed Ellie's cheek and wrapped her free arm around her waist. JJ was all smiles this morning, but he soon began whining though when he noticed the food on the plates.

" It's okay potato." Ellie said with a smile." You'll be able to have some toast when you're a big boy, but for now you're on the mushy stuff."

" Something smells good in here." Dina said.

" That's me, I'm glad you noticed." Ellie smiled.

" Oh I knew that already, but I was talking about breakfast." Dina laughed.

" Breakfast is ready, help yourself." Ellie said.

" It's not burnt for once, I'm impressed." Dina said, she took her plate from the counter and carried it to the dining table. " I'll eat first and feed JJ when I'm done, he needs a bath before we leave for Jackson." 

" Cool, that gives me time to feed the chickens and sheep." Ellie said while she placed the frying pan in the sink. " I'll make us some sandwiches before we leave, we've got some leftover boil eggs from yesterday."

" I'd rather have chicken." Dina said.

" Babe, leave Nellie alone." Ellie sighed.

" I'm joking." Dina said.

Ellie muttered something under her breath before she joined Dina at the table, she was already halfway through her breakfast by the time she joined them. JJ was sitting in his high chair, he was sucking at his fist and staring out of the window near the table. They spoke to each other while they ate their breakfast together, they had made a list of what they would need from The Jackson Community. Ellie needed some new guitar strings and a new pair of sneakers, she had holes in her sneakers since last month. Dina just needed some clothes for JJ, he was becoming a little ball of muscle with each passing day. They soon finished their breakfast and Dina went to sort JJ out while Ellie tidied up the kitchen, she then went to feed the livestock before she got her horse from the barn. She missed her old horse Shimmer, but she soon found a replacement for her old friend. She had adopted Joel's old horse, her name was Priya. She was friendly and stubborn at times, but she had the most beautiful brown glossy coat. She enjoyed looking after Priya because it brought back a lot of good memories about the rides she use to go on with Joel when she was young, she always remembered how Joel use to hum songs when they were going on random adventures together.

 Priya was soon saddled up and her satchels were fixed to her saddle, she was ready to go. Ellie led her out of the barn by her reins and walked her through the sheep pen, she had locked the sheep in the barn just in case they were away for the night. Dina was waiting for Ellie on the porch with JJ, she had packed her backpack with stuff for her Son. Ellie gave Dina the horse's reins and hurried back inside of the house to get the rest of the things she would need to take with them, she then made sure the house was locked up for the night.

" Have you locked the downstairs windows?" Dina asked.

" Yeah, we're all locked up down here." Ellie replied before she closed the front door behind her. " Everything is secure, I've hid your crown jewels under the bed and I've bolted the back door."

" Great, that's good thinking super nerd!" Dina smiled.

" Alright, let's get moving." Ellie said. 

Ellie hurried down the porches steps and met Dina on the pathway, she then put some extra bullets in Priya's satchel. Dina mounted the horse first, she had JJ in her baby sling and her backpack on her back.