lil' miss birdy greene wasn't meant for this world.
the blood, the gore, the violence, it just wasn't her
even the weak can survive
but the strong thrive
[season 2- ]
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WHEN BIRDY WENT DOWNSTAIRS THE NEXT MORNING, SHE FOUND OUT THAT GOD HAD LISTENED TO HER TO SOME EXTENT.
The boy had survived the surgery. That was the only good thing to come from the past few days.
But Otis was dead. Patricia hadn't left the porch, crying and staring at his truck, as if he was going to step out at any moment.
Birdy sat next to the older woman, wrapping a blanket around her to keep her warm in the early morning air. She handed her a tea, but Patricia refused to drink it.
"He was a good man." Patricia whispered,
The younger woman nodded, "He died a good man. He died saving that little boy, you just need to remember that. He's a hero."
Patricia looked over at her and nodded, "Thank you."
Birdy squeezed her hand before standing, "We'll make a memorial for him. So every time we see it, we're reminded of the sacrifices Otis made to help the living."
The older woman sniffled and continued to sit on the porch while Birdy went into the kitchen, where almost everyone was sitting. She informed them of what she wanted to do, collecting rocks and creating a structure with it, a tombstone if you will.
A large chunk of the group helped. They went around the property, collecting large rocks and boulders.
Birdy was grateful for Glenn, T-Dog, and Shane helping. Two-thirds of them were injured, but they were still collecting rocks and putting them in the wheelbarrow.
She was wiping the sweat from her forehead when she heard the noise in the distance.
A motorcycle.
Everyone paused and looked towards the road. Driving towards the farm was a man on a bike, behind him a green Hyundai and a large RV at the back of the pack. Birdy recognised the man on the motorcycle from when she went to get Lori, and wondered how big their group really was.
They put the rest of the rocks into the wheelbarrow before wandering up towards the house, where everyone had gathered.
"How is he?" An old man in a fishing hat asked,
"He'll pull through," Lori answered, her face and eyes brighter than it was the day before, "thanks to Hershel and his people."
"And Shane." Rick added, "We'd have lost Carl if not for him."
The members of the new group took turns to embrace the parents, except for the man on the bike, who Birdy's eyes didn't stray from. Beth elbowed the older blonde in the ribs, distracting her from dirty man.
"How'd it happen?"
"Hunting accident." Rick sighed, "That's all... Just a stupid accident."
Birdy bit her lip, moving her gaze to the grass below her boots. It was an accident, an accident that led to Otis' death.
The group moved over to the trees near the fences, and began to stack the rocks. Birdy held Patricia's hand tightly, the two of them watching as everyone grabbed rock and placed them higher and higher until there was a tall, four foot pile. Birdy let go of Patricia's hand, stepping forward and grabbing the last rock. She held it out for Patricia to take.
She deserved to put the last on one.
The older woman gave Birdy a grateful smile, taking it from her and moving to place the rock on top of the pile.
"Blessed be God, father of our lord Jesus Christ." Hershel began as Patricia stepped back next to Birdy, "Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his span of years, for his abundance of character. Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, God, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace." The older woman let out a sob and Birdy wrapped an arm around her waist to comfort her.
"He died as he lived, in Grace." The eldest Greene turned to the freshly shaved man standing off to the side in Otis' overalls, "Shane, will you speak for Otis?"
"I'm not good at it." Shane responded, still not making eye contact with anyone, "I'm sorry."
The way he wouldn't look at anyone raised suspicion for Birdy. It was almost like he was feeling guilty about something. For Otis' death? If his story was accurate, Otis sacrificed himself. Unless Shane was lying about what happened at the high school.
"You were the last one with him." Patricia sniffled, "You shared his final moments. Please. I need to hear.I need to know his death had meaning." She begged,
Shane stared at her for a long moment before speaking, "We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping. It was bad. Ankle all swollen up." Again, he avoided eye contact, "'We've got to save the boy'. See, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead. 'Run' he said. He said, 'I'll take the rear. I'll cover you'. And when I looked back..." Shane cleared his throat before limping towards the pile of rocks, grabbing one from his feet, "If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl too.It was Otis. He saved us both." He turned to look at Patricia, "If any death ever had meaning, it was his." He stated before placing a rock on top of the memorial.
She nodded, accepting his story.
It was believable. Birdy believed it. It seemed like a lot of the others believed him, too. She didn't know this man, why would he lie to them?
