The Mini Badass

Chapter 16

I woke up pretty early the next morning and went for a walk around the farm. On my way back I decided to help Carol with laundry as she was doing it alone.

We worked in silence cause I don't really know what to say to her. After washing the clothes I try to help her dry them but I'm not tall enough to reach the clothe line.

Thankfully Lori comes out of her tent, wiping some dirt off of her. "I can't believe I slept in." She says walking towards us.

"You must've needed it." Carol says, pinning a shirt to the line. "Feeling alright?" One mother asks the other as I hand Lori a wet shirt. 

"Next time wake me alright?" Lori tells her, completely avoiding the question. "Especially on laundry day."

"We managed fine, right Ainsley?" Carol asks me and I nod. "Managed well up till the high line."

The older women laugh as I stare at the clothe line. "I have an idea to run by you" Carol tells Lori once the laughter dies down.

"And what's that?" Lori asks, clipping the shirt to the line. 

"That big kitchen of theirs got me thinking." Carol states as I hand her a pair of pants. "I wouldn't mind cooking in a real kitchen again."

"Maybe we all pitch in and cook dinner for Hershel and his family tonight." Carol suggests, throwing the pants over the line.

"Kind of looking for things to keep my mind occupied."  She explains after Lori stares at her.

"After everything they've done for us seems like the least we can do." Lori says while I play the one of the pins.

"You mind extending the invitation?" Carol shyly asks, grabbing the now empty basket. "Would feel more right coming from you."

"How so?"

"You're Rick's wife." Carol tells her as I toss the pin into the basket. "Sort of makes you our unofficial first lady."

Lori freezes, looking slightly confused but her husbands voice pulls her out of it. "Morning guys, let's get going." 

I watch Rick and the searching group walk towards the car to place the map down. "Ainsley, honey why don't you go check on Carl for me?" Lori asks, grabbing my attention away from the group.

"Yeah, sure." I mutter, hopping off the bench I was sitting on and making my way to the house. 

 I get to the porch to see Glenn sitting in a rocking chair, playing a guitar. "Where'd you find that?" I ask making the boy raise his head. 

"Dale found it in one of the cars on the highway." He tells me, gently strumming the strings. "That's cool."

"My mom knew how to play." I tell him, sitting in the other chair. "Dad said she was in some band."

"Your mom was a Rockstar?"  He asks, now very intrigued in the conversation.  "According to my dad she was the best."

"Wow." Glenn says, leaning back in the chair. Our talk is interrupted by Maggie opening the front door.

"Nice guitar." Maggie tells Glenn, resting her body against the wall. "Dale found it on the highway." I beam at her.

"Carl's awake honey, there's some food on the counter go bring him some." Maggie says, patting my head.

I don't need to hear anymore as I quickly rush into the house, making a pitstop to the kitchen to grab the few pieces of food before running into Carl's room.

"Nice hat." I say, scaring the boy. Who's now sporting his dad's sheriffs hat. "Sorry." I chuckle while sitting down next to him.

"Hungry?" I ask holding out my hand.