Virus

The Army

Desert sand colored convoys drive into the cul-de-sac that formed our houses in a circle, stopping them at the end of the cul-de-sac. I looked up and out the window heading towards it, seeing military men, ARMY men walking out of them setting up barricades and fences around the perimeter of the circle. Neighbors came out their houses, some of them that have left, we're now heading back with a convoy behind them. Their bringing them back? Mikey and I watched through the window as they dropped off big dark brown boxes at each house. Did they now come because of the power outage? Or is something worse happening? They started approaching our house, and I quickly made my way to the door. "Stay with Benny." I order Mikey, I could barley see his face.

I open the door, and the soldier looks at me. "Hey, what's going on?" I ask him out the door. "Stay inside your homes until further notice." He says to me. "Why's the power out? Do you know why the phones aren't working?" I say stepping forward. "Stay IN your homes until any further notice." And he walks away. Why won't any one answer my questions? "Do you know what's going on in the city? My parents are there. Hey!"
I shout but he walks away. "Dammit!" I say running my hands threw my hair. I suck my teeth grabbing the box, which was really F-ing heavy. Closing the door with my foot, I placed the box on top of kitchen counter. Mikey came up to me. "Benny looks really hurt." I rub eyes. "I know, I'm going to help him, lemme just see what's in here."

I cut open the box, and inside are a bunch of emergency supplies. The essentials were: Water, Food, Extra clothing, Body warmers, Shelter (like tents) Sunglasses, Sanitation, First aid kit, cash (which we didn't need cause we can't leave, but might as well) Medications, Matches, a Pocket knife (which I slipped into my back pocket) Map, Compass, Flashlight, Weather And Satellite radio, and a useless Cellphone.

Mikey came back with a kinda big box that supplied us with: Water, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. A whistle, Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air. Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place. Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities (that was already off) Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food, which has some) and three lanterns.

I set everything out in the table, it was a lot, and I had to ready everything. So in the cabinets I put duct tape on the broads, then wrote day, 1,2,3 for the three day food supply packs we have, setting them on each day. I also separated all the medical equipment, and house equipment putting them in a box and inside the cabinets, and set the three lanterns. One in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one at the set of the stairs.

Dad had extras in the garage in a box, so I set one in Mikey's room, the hallway bathroom, and my room and bathroom. "Ok, that looks like everything." I say heading down stairs. "Yeah, and I'm hungry." Mikey says resting his head on his fist. "Yeah, ok. You can get some chocolate cake now, but only one piece." "Wha-" "I said you can have cake, not how many slices you want." He grumbles and grabs a plate.

I walk over to Benny, his hand resting on his stomach, he breathed slowly, his chest expanding. He was asleep. I can see why, he was beat up pretty badly. "Mikey, I'm gonna take Benny up to my room and let him rest there." I say, he shrugs eating the cake. I place my hand on his arm, he jolts and slowly opens his eyes, still red and a bit swollen. "Benny, can you make it up stairs into my room?" He moves his head to look at me. "Y-Yeah, I'll try." I smile, "That's all I'm asking you to do." I reach out my hand and his hand wraps up with mine as I pull him up and press my hand to his waist helping him up, his other arm around my shoulder.

It was like he was drunk and he couldn't step on the steps, he kept leaning forward, falling to his knees until we finally made it to my room, and he plopped down on my bed. I helped remove his shoes and fixed his legs into my bed. Heading down stairs to grab the first aid kit, I head back up and grab my chair from my desk setting it aside Benny. I open it setting it on my legs as I take out a cloth pouring water on it. I carefully dab it on bennies head, brows, cheek, jaw, and lip, wiping away all the blood and sweat. I brush his hair back with my hand, damp from sweat, and wipe his forehead.