Dark of Winter: Prepper Book Two

Chapter III: Little Shop of Horrors

"FUCK!" I bark as the sharp jolt electric pain fires through my skull. I spit pieces of tooth and temporary dental work into my hand before I come to my senses and sheepishly look up across the table. Heath is staring back at me, his eyes large and mouth open, a spoonful of hot cereal hovers just in front of his chin. "Oh... uh... sorry little man, uh, Daddy just... uh," I stammer, but really, I have no excuse. I can hear Kate's voice clearly in my head berating me for my lack of self-control.

"It's okay Daddy," Heath says turning his attention back to his bowl. Almost as an after thought he adds, "What's wrong?"

"Remember when I hurt my teeth a few months ago? Well, I had someone patched them up as good as they could at the time, but I've needed to get them repaired for good but I just haven't found the time to get it done." I push my plate across the table, "here buddy, you can have my breakfast too, if you want."

"Mmm," is all he says as he reaches for my mini powdered donut.

"I'm gonna see if you can spend the day at Peter's house, is that okay?" I ask. Heath nods and shoves another spoonful of hot cereal into his mouth.

It takes me much longer at the Boutros residence than I had planned because Pierre has a problem with his shotgun and needs help getting it sorted. In between stripping it down, losing  pieces and putting it back together, Julia feeds us homemade rolls alongside a rather savory rabbit stew. I make every attempt to be gracious, but the hot liquid nearly sends me through the roof when it contacts the exposed nerve in my mouth. Embarrassingly, I have to leave most of the bowl untouched. I hate to waste food.

"I can't thank-you enough," Pierre says, repeatedly shaking my hand. "Without you we never would have made it through the winter."

"Pierre, honestly, we've been through this, I barely did anything. You need to stop thanking me.  I should be thanking you really, you're the guy who has been out on the lake day in, day out catching fish. You've practically fed the entire neighbourhood this winter."

"That was nothing. Fishing is easy. What you did... when those people came here and attacked Julia and I... I... I just froze. You saved us, you saved Peter and Miriam, you saved all of us!"

"Pierre, you know I would never let harm come to your family if I can help it, but Jake and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I have to be honest though I don't have fond memories of that night," I admit. It's hard to feel good and be humble about doing something you regret and while the Boutros family survived the night, some of the intruders did not and they were someone's family too.

"All the same, thank-you."

"No problem," I saying terminating the discussion and tugging at my hand that is still clenched in his. "Heath will be over shortly."

"We'll take good care of him."

"I know you will, Pierre. Thank Julia for the soup, sorry I couldn't finish it."

* * * * *

The walk to the dentist is an opportunity to reflect, daydream and observe. Spring has finally decided to show up, better late than never. Snow drifts are reduced to pathetic looking heaps of dirt-ridden icy slush and the sound of water trickling is a pervasive reminder that all of winter's fury eventually succumbs to the Sun's rays. The melt, although welcome, brings with it a big problem for the entire neighbourhood as the threat of flooded basements becomes a huge concern. One could run a generator to power the sump pumps, but gas will run dry in short order. We need a better solution. I dread the idea of having to empty the entire basement.

"Hello there!" a man calls from his porch as I pass.

I turn and see an older fellow in a fur-lined earflap hat and a red and black checkered flannel jacket, his arm is raised high above his head in an emphatic wave. He's rocking slowly in a bright yellow rocker on his porch. Reluctantly, I return the gesture, "Hey there," I answer back and keep walking.