After Our Mutual Destruction

Chapter 6: Respite

Chapter 6: Respite

The next day Martin woke up at about noon, having slept in

from the night before. The day was a relatively bright day for the

volcanic winter. After eating his meal ration, Martin decided to see if

Marvin is awake. As he headed to Marvin's hut, he sees the experimental

new greenhouse that the scientists had been working on for a while.

According to them if all goes well then, they'll be able to grow crops

again, as it was then they were using canned food found in basements

as well as the little remaining food from the nuclear bunker they

previously lived in.

"Those science-y people are in denial more then they'll admit to,

they just don't have the energy required to make up for the lack of

sunlight yet and to make matters worse the lack of sunlight means the

plants can't photosynthesize correctly." The thing that Martin didn't

realize is that this time was different; the scientists had found some

UV lamps in the nuclear bunker and were attempting to use those in

combination of a water wheel for electricity to run the green house.

Martin then resumed his walk to Marvin's hut where he fpund Marvin

sitting outside thinking.

"Good morning Marvin."

"Good morning Martin, how did you sleep?"

"Ok I guess what about you?"

"Same. Hey Martin, I think today is the day." Marvin says with

a bit of energy in his voice.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that today is the day that I finally ask Laura out on

a date. Although I am still nervous, what if she says no?" Marvin

inquired full of anxiety.

"Well it's not like she has that many options with only five other

teenage guys in our village."

"Yeah, but what about the guys from Mark's and Luke's village

that come for trading? What if she would prefer one of them?"

"Well the only way you'll ever find out whether she'll date you is

by asking, and the longer you wait the smaller the chances that she

hasn't been asked out by someone else will be. Besides haven't you seen

the way she acts around you? She clearly seems more nervous around

you, so I doubt she'll say no."

"You really think so" Marvin asked eagerly.

"I almost know so" Martin responded confidently.

"Ok, you know what, I think you're right. I'm gonna go ask her

now." Marvin exclaimed excitedly.

"Well I wish you good luck."

"Thank you."

"No problem" with that Marvin started to look for Laura and

Martin headed to Dr. Jones to see how Lieutenant Richard was doing.