Where Has It All Gone?

When Do We Come Back From This?

After I picked out a saddle and matching reins and shelters for Honeycomb, me and my uncle made our way back to the main house upon the sound of the dinner bell. We didn't rush and talked about what I should feed Honeycomb if we were to ever leave the farm and go out on our own and if maybe Corey could have a horse too so I don't strain Honeycomb with the strenuous weight. He agreed to give Corey a tame and gentle black stallion upon the day we leave on the condition he gets riding lessons on said stallion every day. I agreed and we walked in a comfortable silence till we saw the house, lit up and loud with voices. Before we walked in, he took his hat off and held it.

"This is my lucky hat, I always wear it when I'm supposed to be at my best. Lately it's been neglected as time goes by and as I get older. I want you to have it because what you did, even though it was stupid and extremely reckless and deadly and dangerous, you still did what every man couldn't do, even me and I've been doing this my whole life. Here you come along, scruffy little cat that you are," he mused my hair and I pushed a lock of hair out of my face and smiled up at him. "and you go and prove me wrong. I forgot where I was going with this, but, long story short, I want to give you this so, just in case something happens to me and I get bit by one of those...you called them roamers?" I nodded. "We called them walkers... Anyway if I'm bitten there's a shotgun in the pantry in the kitchen and a stockpile of ammo and three handguns in the holding barn where Honeycomb was, just in case you and your husband and my boys get into a pinch. There's duffle bags full of unperishable food in the loft too, but on the other side. I hope you prove me right with this." He plopped the hat on my head and kissed my forhead, " I love you kid. You've got to beat this world, don't let it drag you down or lead you to go against your better judgment on the name of survival like it has us." I looked up at him when he let go and said, "Well what do you mean by that? You guys seem almost unfazed by this...disease." He simply smiled silently and put a hand on my back as we walked in through the front door and were greated by the delicious smelling of home cooking.

As we passed out the plates and heaped food on our plates, Aunty Teya came sweeping in with a delicious smelling roast. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. "I haven't seen cooked meat since 2 weeks before the breakout!! I didn't see any livestock on the farm, is it wild?" I got many... what was to be described as nervous and almost nasty looks from the lot of the people seated around the table. Luckily, Uncle saved me.

"Yup. Had a feeling something big was going to happen, so I went out and got one before the walkers snatched them all up. I swear, them demons put up a rather nasty fight for one boar! I'll tell ya!" He and the other men laughed. I looked around, something significant missing. "Hey, has anyone seen Corey or AJ or any of the other boys? It's getting late and Corey said he wouldn't be long. He should've been back now and knows I don't like him out past dark, especially with everything that's going on...maybe I should go find him." I pushed back my chair and stood but Aunty Teya smiled and heaped a big helping of roast onto my plate and gently pushed me back into my chair. "Look at you, ain't even married to the boy and you're already fretting about him! G'on and set child, he'll be here soon, we have look outs on every edge of this farm, any trouble and they sound the alarm and fight till the end. Them boys like to cause mischief, but not as much as the old days. They got a good look at what's out there and it scared some sense into them. We'll go bring some dinner to the scouts later, if'n you're up for it?"

I tried to hide my fright behind a smile, "Yes ma'am." I put my napkin back onto my lap and scooted closer to the table. I spearing the slice of roast, I slowly cut into it, as if to save the memory. Right before I put it in my mouth, one of the men I didn't know who sat across from me, said, "I don't think I caught your name little lady..."
NHYAAAAAA!!! So clooossseeeeeee!!!! I screamed mentally. Physically I smiled again, gently placing the piece of meat on the plate again and smiled at him. "My apologies, my name is-" but Corey burst through the door and cut me off.