Things To Do | the walking dead

ii. Stumblebums

.

I remember when I always used to complain about how hot it was; I'd go to the park with Dad, and the sun was so hot I felt like it was burning holes in my head. But Daddy always told me to "stop whinin', the sun helps you grow." This is so stupid because how can something so annoying and painful help us grow? But, I think the sun is starting to overheat, even for itself, because it's shining so hard, I feel like I'm about to pass out. I think if the sun keeps getting any hotter, it might explode, and then we won't be able to see.

When the Stumblebums first started killing the people, I was coming back from my piano class, so we didn't have time to pack correctly. We didn't have time to pack at all. We didn't even have time to help Alex, my foster mother, Dean's wife. The only clothes I was able to pack were my favorite, and Dean got super mad at me for not thinking about how hot it would be. I brought just Dad's big, red, zip-up hoodie and long sleeve, iron-man shirt. But, jokes on Dean, once the winter starts, I'll be warm and stylish.

I still remember how other kids in that house were killed once we left to go to our van. There were six kids in the foster home, including me. I remember their screams and cries. I remember how Alex, my foster mother, tried to help them and got eaten too. I was about to go and help Alex, but Dean picked me up, put me in the van, and drove off.

But as of now, I'm stuck wearing my tank top and a blue flannel Jacqui gave me. Jacqui is very sweet, but I'm concerned because she left on a run today, and I don't want her to die. Most of my time is spend around her because I remember my mom every time I talk to or hug her. Anyway, I'm so excited for winter because the hoodie and the shirt will look so good with my shorts. But Dean often says I look like a loser wearing those-- but Dad used to say 'loser' is another word for cool. But I'm starting to worry he was only saying that so I wouldn't feel bad.

"They'll be back," My friend, Carl, told me. We sat next to his Mom, Lori, on the logs while she sat on the chair. I looked at Carl, my eyes flickering all over his face. Dean left with the group to Atlanta to get some supplies-- which is total nonsense because that man is scared of everything. He looks like he wants to cry every time he sees Stumblebums. He left with them for Andrea, to seem tough and strong. But in reality, he's just weak. He thinks I don't notice, but he and Andrea sneak off and around a lot and probably kiss-- which is, like, super gross. I'm not saying I'm sad they're together because I don't even care, but I'll go nuts if they start making me call her 'Mom' like he makes me call him 'Dad.' Dean is not my actual dad. Dean and his wife Alex were my foster parents in the foster home I was sent to after the incident.

I still think about that day, after Dad punched Morgan's boyfriend, Kim, and the police thought my parents weren't stable enough to take care of us, so we were sent to foster homes until further notice. They had to separate Morgan and me because apparently, the foster homes were too full. Once I got to my foster home, Dean told me the kids there were supposed to call him dad, which made me frustrated because he's not my dad and will never be. Alex was pretty neutral about it, though. She told me I didn't have to call her Mom, but Dean immediately stepped in and told me I had to. He always acts like he's my dad, but he's not. My dad is maybe dead or hiding from Stumblebums.

"I know," I nodded.

"You know your Dad's brave for leavin' with them," Lori smiled at me.

"Yeah," I looked at her, my eyes flickering all over her face for a second before I looked back down at my lap as I thought about the fact that Dean wasn't actually brave. He's just a show-off.

"But he's not my dad," I could see Carl's eyebrows turn into confusion really fast, and Lori gave me a puzzled smile.

"What do you mean he's not your dad?" Carl asked. "You call him Dad."