Our Strength

Talks

[Previously]

"Come here sit down love." She says to me. And I do sit with a blush most likely.

[Rick's Pov]

The man ladles canned stew into a bowl and slides it to an empty chair. He then motions for me at the table instead.

I don't.

"You didn't think," I say with curiosity.

"No. I should have used the baseball bat instead. My mistake." He says with worry in his voice.

"Now come sit we are going to eat." The man says.

"Come on. I'll help you sit at the table." Lexa says.

I finally give in and sit. The boy is seated between me and the man poised with his spoon.

"Daddy, a blessing." He says.

The man holds out his hand to his son, who takes it. The offers his other hand. It's meant for me. I stare at it while the boy stares at me, waiting.

Feeling unreal, I take the boy's hand. The man watching dips his head and keeps his eyes on me. I feel Lexa grab my hand I turn to her and she just smiles at me.

"Father, we thank Thee for this food, Thy blessings, and ask You to watch over us in these crazy days, amen." He says the blessing.

"Amen." The boy says.

The boy lets go of my hand and digs in. They looked at me and then moved to the silverware.

"Eat." He says.

I pick up the spoon not easy. Hands not yet fully working.

"And you. Damn, fool. Just sittin' on a porch like it's any sunny day. You even waved to it. Jesus." He says with irritation in his voice.

The man watches me take a few bites. It's dawning on him that I may be every bit as clueless as I seem. Well, a little I only know what I was told by Lexa.

"Mister? What's wrong with you? You even know what's going on?" He says with curiosity in his tone.

"I woke up today. In the hospital. Lexa told me the basics but I was disoriented from the blood loss." I say while I sent a glance towards Lexa.

  The man and his son trade a look.

"But you know about the dead people, though, right?" He says with worry in his tone.

"Saw a lot of that. Stacked like firewood. Out on the loading dock. Piled in trucks. Even tossed down the stairwells." I say truthfully. Having not seen a zombie just yet.

"Not the ones they put down. The ones they didn't." He says with all seriousness.

"The other ones." The boy says.

"Yes, I have seen them. Lexa here took one down. I saw a few while we were walking. They're out there now? In the street?" I say let them know I do know what going on. And I've seen them.