Scavengers {#Wattys2016}

Chapter Thirty

Dinner was pretty much in awkward silence the rest of the time. The men receded to the living area with the old plastic porch chairs as they sat in front of the old square TV. Kurt had a beer in hand. Which he claimed he brewed himself. From the mushrooms they grew up on the roof. 

"Want some?", asked Kurt to my father.

"No, no thanks", said my father shaking his head. 

Kurt smirked, "I may be older than you commander but that you stopped drinking? I remember the days when you could throw back six or seven non-stop", chuckled Kurt sitting down. 

"That was a long time ago.....I decided to stop", said my father. 

"....I thought they had gotten to you....you know.....huh...", Kurt shook his head. 

"It's like my prayer to God has been answered....seeing you here. Your timing is a godsend you could say....it brings me hope....", said Kurt. 

My father was silent, "........." not saying anything. 

Kurt rubbed his speckled haired chin smiling, "My commander, in my house....sitting here after the Purification. Doesn't want to have a beer. Huh....times do change us", said Kurt. 

He looked at my father, "I could use someone like you commander.....your insight on the situation", said Kurt. 

My father shifted looking at Kurt. 

"No.....I'm not your commander anymore Kurt. I'm just a man. And we men change. I'm not a leader. Never have been Kurt. I'm fighting a different fight than you. It's not the same fight as your's", said my father. 

Kurt laughed, "Sorry....I respect that.....just I didn't think I'd hear that coming from a hot headed guy like you", said Kurt. 

My father looked at Kurt. He had never been hot headed or reckless. He'd always been laid back. Never quick to go in. 

My father smirked, "Yeah....sorry to disappoint", he said quietly. 

Kurt was still the same. A boy who would never grow up. One day my father knew it'd be the end of him. Him and his family. My though had bigger fish to fry than to look out for Kurt. Kurt should have figured it out himself by now.....but sometimes.....time doesn't do a damn thing. For Kurt that was the case. 

And my father wasn't going waste anymore time on him than he already had. 

Both men turned their heads hearing heavy footsteps. They were Jordan's boots. 

"Ah! Jordan! Just the man I wanted to see!", said Kurt smiling and pulled a plastic chair patting it. "You can have a seat", said Kurt. 

My father shook his head, going on to the next one. Always looking for support. Jordan sat down. 

"You want some? It's not Russian vodka but it's home made", said Kurt. 

"No, no thank you", said Jordan objecting to it. 

"Aw! Come on! It won't hurt! I'll go get some from the cellar for you!", said Kurt getting up to leave. In truth he just wanted an excuse to get himself some more too. He had already finished two bottles which he intended to just refill. 

My father watched Kurt leave and sighed, "He's a lost cause that one", mumbled my father once he was out of ear shot. 

Jordan looked at him, "I thought you both served, isn't it the American way to respect your brother in arms?", asked Jordan. 

My father looked at Jordan, "Just because I respect them doesn't mean I have to agree and like what they do.....simply serving doesn't define who you are. It's what you do after, that's what makes the difference between a boy who went into the army and came out a man", said my father. 

He paused, "How you holding up?", asked my father referring to the arm and leg wounds Jordan had received from the Hound. 

Jordan nodded, "Fine", he replied and then added "Sorry", realizing then that the former comment had come out in an offensive tone and manner. 

"You shouldn't be apologizing to me, you should be apologizing to my daughter who you kissed", said my father shrugging. 

Jordan looked down at his hands. This was an uncomfortable situation. 

"I....I....know you are her father and I had no right to do-", 

My father shrugged, "I'm not the one who makes the choices for her son, I just in put my opinion and approve or disapprove. Yes I am her father, but she's a big girl. Young adult. She can make her own decisions. Personally I know I did something right since she slapped you", said my father. 

Jordan stared at my father. "Well.......yes......she was entitled to it", said Jordan. 

My father chuckled, "But, you aren't a bad man Jordan. And you wouldn't be bad for her". 

Jordan rubbed his hands together, "And....about the boy?", asked Jordan. 

My father sighed, he knew Jordan was referring to Andrew.

"Andrew.....well. I'm not much of a fan of him. That bastard. First he comes in hits on my eldest, then tries to go at my youngest. Hmph! Then tries to apologize to Lisa....you get the picture. Lunatic mother takes over the world with her socialistic ideas claiming she'll cleanse the world. You get the picture", said my father. 

He looked at Jordan. "Not a good kid, that's all I have to say".