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DOOMSDAY chapter one THE NEW NORMAL
━━━━ THE MORNINGS IN THE FORD HOUSE WERE USUALLY CHAOTIC BUT ROUTINE. Sawyer would fight with her Mom and Dad about getting her hair brushed, Bailey would messily put a plate of breakfast together, but, somehow, the family walked out the door every morning with clean clothing on and neatly brushed hair. Bailey and Sawyer would both complain about school, but Sawyer didn't have much to complain about other than the lunch. That was the normal or at least it was the normal. The new normal was waking up on a blanket in Dale Horvath's RV, Bailey would help collect sticks and wood for a fire, and Sawyer would do some schoolwork that Lori Grimes had made up. Lori had decided that the kids still needed to be taught reading, math, and history even though the world had ended. Bailey thought it was peaceful once she forgot about her dead parents and the sick people.
"Bailey, would you help your sister take a bath?" Lori asked as she brushed through Bailey's hair. Bailey liked Lori, she reminded her of her Mom, and she believed Lori liked her and Sawyer too as she took care of them more than the others. "You remember how to do it?"
Bailey would gladly help her sister get a bath, but she would rather go have a conversation with Daryl and Merle Dixon than have to brush Sawyer's hair. It was a rat's nest and the six-year-old didn't allow anyone to touch it. "I'll do it if you brush her hair," She responded.
Lori Grimes would quickly regret trying to brush Sawyer Ford's hair.
"No, I don't want it brushed," The girl cried. Lori had sat her down on one of the benches while Bailey did math work with Carl Grimes, Lori's son, and Sophia Peletier.
"Well, you have to get it brushed," Lori stated in her Mom voice. Bailey shook her head as she watched her little sister wiggle and squirm under the brush.
"Why is she so dramatic?" Eddie Peletier commented as he walked past them. "It's just a freaking hairbrush."
Bailey narrowed her eyes at the boy. She wasn't sure how he was related to Sophia. From the moment the two girls came to camp, Edison Peletier had made Bailey's life difficult. He was annoying and had an attitude problem that all the adults commented about. Bailey had heard Eddie backtalk his Mom on multiple occasions. Who the heck names their child Edison, anyway? The girl thought to herself.
"Maybe you should get your hair combed out next," Bailey stated. "It looks horrible if you haven't noticed."
"It's called curly hair, dumb—"
"Eddie!" Lori snapped. "I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," She added.
Eddie rolled his eyes. "You ain't my Mama," He muttered as he walked away. Bailey watched as he sulked beside the smoky fire pit.
