Dog Days

Chapter 60

As I walk down my driveway, I hear the sound of laughter from the pit below.

As I walk around the corner and head back to the camp gathering area, I find the projector is playing a cable movie for the kids. The massive feast table is covered with food and surrounded by the entire community.

I quickly scan the table to find an open space at the end of the table, next to Hela. Father sits at the head of the table, with mom by his side. As I step up to the table, everyone looks to me and smiles. Julian, the father of eight children, who helped build this place, smiles at me as he walks up to me to pull me into a hug.

He's a big white guy with brown dreads and brown eyes. He and his wife were some of the first people to join. His wife, Maggie, is a shorter woman with blonde dreads and big blue eyes. They're popular swingers, but I've never done it. They're in their forties.

He asks "How are you feeling, brother?"

I give him a soft smile "I'm happy to be home."

He gives me a soft smile "I'm happy you're home."

One of his younger kids pulls him away, and I go take my seat next to Hela. She turns to me and asks "How are the boys?"

I give her a soft smile "Modi got the zoomies, today. He puffed up like he was threatening and just started sideways running and clawing the couch."

She smiles at me "I can't believe you just picked up two cats off the highway."

I shrug, before declaring "People are assholes. They were abandoned there, so I picked them up."

Heimdall sits in front of me and looks to Frigga "Sorry I'm late. I just had the weirdest dream."

I furrow my brow and ask "What about?"

He gives me a soft smile, but I can't also see a hint of recognition in his eyes "Nothing. I think I just had a bad trip last night."

I nod and he just keeps staring at me. I set my jaw and I feel my chest burning again.

Mother smiles at me "We made that lasagna that you used to really like."

I smile at her as I ask "Still mushrooms and soy meat?"

She remarks "And the tofu ricotta cheese?"

I hum and she explains "We made the spinach ravioli, too."

I hum as the platters and pots of pasta get passed around the large table. As I get passed a large bowl of garlic bread from Hela, I grab a couple slices and plop them on the plate in front of me. As I pass it along to dad, Hela then passes me a big pot of pasta with marinara. Then she hands me a platter of meatballs.

All in all, we had a lot of different pasta. By the time everything is pasted around, my plate is full.

And then the table talk began. Mainly, I just listen to everyone else talking. For instance, Venus was telling the story about her late wife, Michael's mother.

That got Heimdall talking about his dead wife, and after that, he just kept staring at me.

I eat, and listen to the stories being told, until my plate is empty. Julian calls from a few seats down "Thor, would you like more lasagna?"

I look down the line and smile, softly "No, thank you."

Heimdall stares at me and I can't even stand to look at him, anymore, so I look up to the projection to find the kids are watching The Lorax.

I scoff, before looking towards Tig "Is there any more garlic bread?"

He looks in the bowl in front of him, before he passes it over. He asks "What was the food situation over there, anyway?"