Three Orphan Pilgrimage (The Alternative to TWDG's Final Season) [Walking Dead]

54. Homemaking

With Patty gone, Clementine found herself just sitting in quiet disbelief, staring out the windshield in the faint hope she'd come right back. Part of Clem was telling herself that Patty could take care of herself and Anthony had no reason to hurt her, but all the other parts of her were thinking about what could go wrong.

"Kem-men?" Clementine looked over to find Omid staring up at her.

"Hey OJ," said Clem as she picked up the boy. "You want to play?"

"Bree-bree," said the boy.

"Huh?"

"I think he's ready for me to read to him," said Sarah. "I usually read him a story after you and Patty go out."

"Every time?"

"Ever since I found out he didn't worry as much if I read to him right after you and Patty leave," said Sarah. "When I don't read to him right away, he starts looking out the windows and—"

"Kem-men, Kem-men," repeated Omid as he stared at Clementine.

"Saying your name over and over," said Sarah. "I guess I don't have to read to him today since you're here."

"Well, could you anyways?" suggested Clem, thinking she could use a distraction herself. "I can't remember the last time I saw you read to Omid."

"I know I did it for the first few days after we left Spokeston," recalled Sarah. "But after a week of looking for food, I guess I was thinking about more than just reading stories."

"Bree bree," said Omid.

"Maybe think about it now?" Clem smiled at Sarah, which caused her to smile.

"Sure." Clem went with Sarah and Omid into the bedroom and sat down with the boy while her friend picked out a book. Sarah eventually selected 'Green Eggs and Ham'. Even though it was a short book, Sarah knew how to make it last for Omid. She stood up the book so Omid could see the pictures, she did a different voice for each character, and even would wiggle the page before turning it, which excited Omid to no end for some reason.

Clem wasn't sure if Omid actually understood anything Sarah was telling him, in fact she was pretty sure he didn't, but he loved it just the same. Laughing, clapping, touching the pictures; he couldn't get enough of it. Clem herself was enjoying Sarah's presentation, catching herself laughing more than once. She was nearly as disappointed as Omid when it finally ended.

"Bree bree," pleaded Omid as Sarah put the book the away.

"That's enough for now," said Sarah. "We can do another one tomorrow."

"That was really great," complimented Clem. "You do that every day?"

"Everyday you and Patty go out to do something," said Sarah. "I was reading him the Cat in the Hat the day before yesterday... until I heard that gunshot."

Clem's smile suddenly faded, which seemed to dim Sarah's as well. There was an awkward silence between the girls for a few seconds before Sarah opened her mouth to speak.

"I—"

"Clem, Sarah, you there?"

Clem immediately grabbed her radio. "I'm here. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Patty. "I just saw it was nine o'clock."

"Have you found the town yet?"

"Not yet, but Anthony told me its name," said Patty. "It's a place called Hattiesburg, and Anthony says it's more of a city than a town."

"A city?" asked Sarah with her radio. "How big?"

"From the way he describes it, maybe Titusville big?" Clem and Sarah grimaced upon hearing that. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything stupid," said Patty, as if she had somehow seen the girls' faces. "If it looks too hairy we'll turn around and come right back, I just wanted to let you two know where we were going."