The Walsh boy

Fish Fry

I'm laying on the ground next to the table. Carl and Sophia are doing workbooks but I'm not because Amy said I can't read with a concussion. I don't want to be doing school but I hate just laying here with a rag over my eyes to protect them from the sun.  " ugh I don't understand it's not like we will be going back to school why do we need to do this mom?" The voice asking is Carl " because it is important" I can Lori now. " so why is Jacob just laying there?" I don't blame Carl for asking I would too in his position. "Because he got a bruise on his brain and he can't read or do school work or his brain won't heal" Lori answer his question. So that's what a concussion is. I speak up " where are the other kids?" Carol is the one who answers " the Morales already did their work and Donna wants to teach the twins herself." Oh that makes sense Ahh my head hurts. " I'm sorry we don't have any pain medication Jacob just try to sleep dear" that's Lori voice I move the rag looking at her "did you read my mind?" I ask her sitting up on my elbows I hear dad say as he walks past " that's send to be a power parents have" I smile yeah right Lori speaks in a gentle voice " you said that out loud dear I think you should rest in the tent" I don't like that idea " no I want to be with people" is all I say " ok then try and stay in the shade then"Laying back down  I shift over to where I'm more in the shade of the table. I hear dad's voice " thanked some water Jim" Jim is tied to a tree not far from the table. I can't hear what Jim says but I hear water so I assume he took the water I hear more water after Jim speaks again. I can hear dad say " I know but I'm not the one you should apologize to" he is probably talking about scaring Sophia. "Jacob I'm sorry for scaring you and I'm sorry for what I said you didn't deserve what Ed did to you." He pauses " I'm sorry for attacking your pa and your dog she's not hurt is she" I sit up so I can see him " we are good Jim. The dad said you got heat stroke. Lady is ok what about your leg?" He smiles weakly " I'm ok  kid my leg ain't that bad" he then turns his head more turns the table " I'm sorry for scaring you boys, and your girl. Your not scared anymore are you" Sophia looks up "no sir" she sounds so small she still must be shaken up. Lady gets up walks between Jim and I sits down facing Jim. I guess she still doesn't like him. Jim looks at Carl " your friend is right son just a little sun stroke is all" Carl nods and scratches his cheek. Dale is stand to the left of Jim looking down he asks " do you know why you were digging Jim?" Jim shakes his head looks up " I had a reason don't remember it." He looks at Carl "I had a dream you were in it so were your dad he was worried about you and your mom" Carl looks at him " there not back yet" Lori rubs Carl back " don't need talk about that" Jim looks back up " he's a police officer right? He helps people he probably got caught up helping people. That's what he does. He  tough as nails I don't know him that well but I can see it in his eyes" he looks at dad " am I right" dad speaks " oh yeah tough as nails tougher even." Jim looks back to Carl " there ain't nothing going to stop him from getting back to you and your mom I can promise you that.
Dad grabs the bucket with water " who wants to help me clean some fish? Jacob you feeling ok?" I roll over standing up " yeah I'll help you" Carl gets up excitedly " yeah come on Sophia" are three of us follow dad Carl and Sophia running I'm behind them walking because my stomach still hurts. Carl stumbles on his way I'm to far to help but Sophia helps him get up. They both run ahead I like Sophia she nice.
When we get to the fish I look at dad " don't we need a hammer and nails" dad gives me a weird look "why would we need those?" " to nails the fish to the tree that's how you taught me" I don't know what going on why would he forget that he chuckles " that's only with catfish champ I show you how to gut these fish." I walk up to the table with the fish asking " do we need to take the scales off?"  Dad shakes his head " not for theses fish come on Carl, Sophia I'll show you three how" they both walk up to the table with them on one side and dad and I on the other.
"So first you need to cut off the scales then cut along the bottom to the head," dad flips the fish on its back while holding it a cuts down the fish from its anus to its head. " after that is the fun part you remove the guts." Dad reaches in pulling out the fishes guts there is more blood than I expect I can't help but watch it flow from dad's hands to his arm to the table and then the ground. I snap back to reality at dad's voice " then we need to rinse it with the water don't pour it over the bucket" dad takes the mug and dumps the water in it "then you dumb it out" dad says as he flips the fish over the red water flows out. " now the head" dad puts the fish back on the table and cuts off the head in one slice. " i like to make an x on the head right on the cheek." And he does it. "Now it's the filleting time. So you cut right above the backbone. Then you side and peel it up to cut the filet off use small cuts is best. Then you do the same thing in the other side." He turns the flips the fish over and repeats the action. Sophia speaks up we can do it like assembly line so it's faster" dad shakes his head " that is a good idea but I want each of you to be able to do this all by yourselves" with that we get started. After I cut off the head I make a x in the cheek. After about 8 fish all the fish are gutted cleaned and are fillets. Dad claps his hands together "Good job kids now let's gather the leftovers and dispose of them."  So we do collect all the leftovers from the fish we are walking towards the border when dad stops. " you kids can go play I'll get rid of the rest" Carl and Sophia put down there fish and walk back to camp " I want to help dad" I say  he picks up some of the fish leftovers saying " ok but you stay with me at all times I don't care if you see something you don't leave my side" I nod pick up the rest of the fish. " why did you want to come champ" dad asks as we walk to the dumping grounds I take a breath " teach me how to kill walkers" dad stops as do I " ok" I pause " your ok with it?" I'm honestly surprise " you need to learn so I'll teach you we can start with target practice" I'm excited " ok when do we start" we get to the dumping grounds and drop the fish I see a walker right beyond the trees. I push more into dad " right here right now" dad hands me a gun after cocking it " look with both eyes aim and shoot"  I aim for the head I miss "again champ" I shoot again I hit the tree next to it I keeps getting closer. "Don't think just kill it Jacob!" I shoot it right in the forehead hit hits the dirt " good job champ!" He pats my back it's at that point I realize I didn't freeze when I saw it they are still terrifying though. " you can't always shoot them though champ give the gun and take this" I hand him the gun he gives me a Bowie knife. I take it in both hands " ok so hold it with the hand you feel it fits better " I hold it in right then left it feels better there. " Ok so first your going to kick it down then stab it in the back of the head" watch me. Dad takes out a different knife as a new walker comes towards us dad gets behind it kicks it in the back of the knees when it falls he stabs the head. "Now you try champ I'll be ready to shoot it."  A walker starts shuffling towards us. I walk up to the dead woman get behind her quickly kick as hard as I can in the back of the knee when it falls I stab over and over again I the head  it stops moving but I don't stop I won't let it bite me I won't be one of these things. " Jacob Jacob stop stop JACOB!" Dad grabs my arm. I snap out off the rage I was in , looking at dad I take a few deep breaths " I did it dad I didn't freeze up!"  Dad pats my back helping me off the walker "yeah champ you did. I knew you could" he puts his gun away. Unclips the sheath for the Bowie knife I go to hand it to him but he stops me. " no Jacob you keep it but it's not a toy don't go around showing anyone if I so much as get a whiff of you not treating this as a deadly weapon I'm taking it back and you won't see it till I feel you can handle it." I nod "yes sir" dad helps me clip it to the back of my jeans where it's horizontal on the small of my back. Dad then pulls my shirt over it. " I won't tell anyone dad"  he nods " I'm sure you won't" we walk back to camp.
I killed two walkers I guess dad was right if I don't think about the walkers it's easier to kill them. We get back to camp. I see the rest of the kids playing the same knight game as we played the other day. Carl sees me waving me over. When I get to them Carl asks " so why did you go with your dad?" I remember dads words I can't show him the knife. So I say " I just wanted to help him" he nods. Louis smiles at me " so this knight action guy is awesome he moves his arm and talks!" The knight in question was Mordred he was my favorite he was supposed to be a villain that what he was in mythology but I liked him because of his cape it was a cool red and he had really cool brown eyes with black hair that reminds me of dad. Plus he says cool lines like " the throne is rightfully mine" and " you will pay for what you did" I like him so I play with him as the hero. " yeah he is he's my favorite." Louis goes to give him to me " no you play with him I'll play with something else." Louis has a huge smile on his face " Thank you so much Jay!" I shake my head " no problem Lu." So we play I'm fighting a military guy with Carl's Captain America I have no idea what game we are playing now. Lady is still was still watching Jim as day kneeled down to talk to him. When he got up she growls I get up wrap my arms around her whispering " shh baby it's ok" petting her till she calms down. She turns her head licking my face. " good girl Lady good Lady"
Carol voice makes me turn my head " Sophia come over here help me with this water" Sophia gets up " yes ma'am, bye guys" she goes off to her mom. Hear Donna call the twins and Miranda call her kids. Who get up say their goodbyes and walk to their mom. Lori walks up "come on Carl put your toys away and wash up for dinner" he nods " see you in a bit" as he walks away Dad calls to be " champ put the stuff in the tent and help me with the fish." " yes dad" I kiss Lady on the head I grab the toys Carl and the others left including Mordred. As I drop them I'm my bag in the tent I grab Lady's food bowl and food for her she should eat too if we are. I know dad won't let me give Lady my food. As I'm walking towards the campfire I hear Carol talking from her family's tent " Ed she wants to be at the fish fry with everyone" Ed voice is next " he hell with you too" Sophia and Carol walk out. Carol stops " oh Jacob Ed is not feeling well just a little sick to his stomach he won't be a the fish fry" Ok and before I realize it I speak " I don't care" oops. She stares at me " haha kids say the silliest things" Carol is nice but a strange woman. I walk pass them I look at Sophia " I glad your joining us Sophia why don't you sit by me?"  She has a small smile " ok sounds fun" she looks at her mom " please? Can I" Carol smiles "ok but I'll sit were on the other side." I never said she couldn't.
I go help dad bring the fillets to the camp fire. He squats down at the unlit campfire and I squat next to him he starts telling me how to make fire "Ok to start a fire you need tinder see these pine needles and leaves are dry and dead these can work you can also use paper dryer lint, thinly chopped up wood or small sticks though the last two aren't as good but twigs are more available. Then you take the fire striker and quickly slide it on the other piece" he strikes it a spark comes out but it doesn't light. " here champ you try" I take the striker and after many tries it works the fire lights. I smile dad pats me on the back " good job champ now add the little sticks we are going to keep feeding it till it's big enough to cook on. I put more and more sticks in until it's just under the rock wall Morales built.  Dad gets the grill ready putting it over the fire then putting a cast iron pan over it " champ you watch the fish when it turns almost all white flip it go about a minute then it will be done." I nod he lays the fillets down the other campfires are already cooking it. When is white except for the top dad tells me to flip it. I try and flip it it takes a few tries but I get them all eventually. I sit down by Sophia and my dad we eat some of the adults are drinking beer.
The sun has set we are are still around the campfire chatting Sophia asks "pass the fish please" are the fish is being passed around I hear dad say " man oh man that's good I miss this." He ruffles my hair wraps  an arm around my shoulders pulling me close " you make a good chef champ that's the Walsh genes " I smile and laugh. Andrea speaks up "your a cook Shane? I thought you said you were a cop" she is smiling as she says it dad looks up confidently " I can cook anything, anything I know how to that is" he chuckles " I'm a single dad I kind have to know how to cook" Donna shakes her head with disapproval. I ignore it to look around even Jim looks better he is not smiling but he's not frowning either. Morales looks at Dale before speaking " it been driving me crazy I have to ask you man." Dale looks back at him " about what ?" Morales smiles " that watch" Dale smiles rubbing his watch " I see you every day at sunrise winding like a priest saying mass" Jacqui smiles as she says " I been wanting to know myself" Dale still smiling takes his hands apart and puts them together " I'm missing the point" Jacqui speaks " unless I'm misread  the signs the world appears to of ended or at least hit a speed bump for a while" Morales leans forward " then you are there winding your watch every day at sunrise." Dale leans to the side " time keeping track is important right? Days at least" that makes me think how long has it been since I left Carl's house for the last time how long ago was Rick shot I have no idea. Dale continues "Don't you think so Andrea? Back me up here" Andrea look around and drinks her beer. Dale make a back a forth motion with his hands " I like um what father said to son when he gave him a watch that was a family heirloom handed down for generations. I give the mausoleum of all hope and desire which will fit your individual needs no better that it did me or the ones before me." He puts his fingers together more then he continues " I give it too you not so you remember time but so you may forget it. And not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it"  I don't really understand how having a watch will make you lose time much better than the watching the sun I guess the minutes maybe. Amy shakes her head " your so weird" I chuckle as does others " it's William Faulkner not me maybe my bad paraphrasing" a laugh goes around to everyone. Amy gets up Andrea " we I gotta take a piss" Donna shakes her head "that's unladylike" everyone ignores her. Lori speaks up as she is walking away " Amy please don't curse around the kids" Amy "oops sorry" she smiles walking into the RV. Lady starts growling at the woods. Something is wrong I stand up. " Champ what's wrong" it's dad " Lady growling she never growls unless something wrong" he sees I'm right grabs his gun everyone stands up grabbing any weapon they can get if they have any witch most don't. Donna did not get up she speaks " dogs bark and growl at everything is probably just a rat"  it's not a rat Lady wouldn't growl at a rat. I don't pull my knife out yet.  After a few minutes we don't see anything.
Then we do Amy walks out of the RV yelling " we're out of toilet paper?!" As I turn around I see a walker bite into her arm more come out dad pumps his shot gun shooting the dead. " Jacob get down! Stay close."  Lori holds Carl she keeps saying " Shane what do we do Shane!" I see Carol rush by holding Sophia a walker is right behind them Carol doesn't see it. I run after it grabbing by knife I kick the walker in the back of the knees it's knees buckle it fall I stab it I the eye it goes limp. I can see Andrea rush to Amy by to the RV the walker eating Amy is shot I run to them  but something grabs my shoulder it's a walker it knocks me down I'm holding it from my face using the broadside of my knife it's getting closer. Why didn't I stay close to dad like he said I hear Lady barking everyone is screaming but those sounds are nothing compared to the sound of the walkers growling it's right in my face I'm only inches from death. The walker falls to the side Jim is standing above me he beats the walker until it's head is mush. Jim bends down grabbing my arm pulling me up " RUN TO THE RV BOY!" so I do I take off towards it running in to Carl. Dad  shoves me behind him and Lori next to Carl with our backs to the RV back to the RV.
I hear more gun shots dad is still shooting. I hear a voice screaming "CARL ! BABY! CARL!" It's Uncle Rick the group that went off to save Merle is back. I see Daryl beat a walker with the butt of his gun. As Glenn and T-Dog are shooting the walker Uncle Rick runs around the corner killing one with his pistol. He runs to Carl they Attlee both screaming for each other he picks up Carl as he walks up to the RV I can see how the walkers seem to be gone Lady runs up to me covered in mud. For one horrible second I think she is bit but as I run my hands along her she's fine. It looks everyone who made it to the RV is fine except Amy.
As soon as the walkers are dead I run to dad he scoops me up his fingers tangle in my hair and he wraps his other arm around me I cling to his neck more than ever before. I'm crying I hear he is too " Jacob were you -you" I know I have blood from the walkers on me but I'm not bit " no dad Jim saved me" I feel dad nod we don't separate I need dad right now. I hear Andrea weeping for her sister she is screaming her name but it's to late Amy is gone. Jim speaks " I remember my dream now why I duh the holes"
———————————————————————————
3727 words
AN
So another long chapter. I may look like Jacob may have got over his fear fast but remember when he killed walkers in this chapter he was near his dad and he didn't stare at the walkers I nearly killed Donna this chapter but I decided against it but you can guess what's coming.
I didn't give Jacob a gun yet but Shane doesn't seem like the kind of guy to let his kid go defenseless with walkers around. So he gets a big knife. His method of kill them is slow right now and I wanted to keep his kill count low to it's only 3 right now. As for when he will kill a person I'm planning on way down the line.
Lady wasn't really in this chapter she's not trained to fight walkers or anybody really she bit Jim out of fear and the need to protect. The has all her shots so Jim won't die well not of rabies.
Spoilers warning!!

I've been thinking about letting one of the twins live I haven't got to where they die in the comics but I know they do witch one should live they both have the same relationship with Jacob.

Spoilers warning over!!

Have a good day/night
Image https://www.vstockvault.net/free-photos/camping
If you should be asleep right now go to sleep.
1/5/21
Time 1647