Daughter of a Dixon ✔️

69: Adventures with Rick & Dad

All the way to the sorghum, Rick pridefully blasted songs that I was too young to know of and my dad had heard too many times to enjoy anymore. For the most part, I just stayed quiet and put up with it, because it was a small price to pay to see Rick in the front seat, singing and snapping his fingers rhythmically to each and every song.

When we finally reached the sorghum, we parked our vehicle in front of the barn and exited it, walking up to the large, metal door. The place had extreme potential; the door was locked shut, which meant it probably still had supplies inside. If someone had taken them already, I doubt they would've locked up after themselves.

With the three of us pushing upwards on the locked door, we were able to jam it out of place, and push it up enough to allow us entry. Inside the sorghum was nothing more than a lonesome, white truck; it looked like it had been undisturbed for some time.

"Hey, Sid, come help me with this," Dad said, walking around to the back of the truck. The door was extremely heavy, and operated similarly to the door we used to enter the sorghum.

"Alrigh', one, two, three!" On three, Dad and I used all our strength to lift up the door. It was heavy, but a few creaks and clangs later, we had pushed it up and open. Sitting inside, waiting for us, was a huge supply of plastic-wrapped, white boxes, and it was no surprise what they contained.

"Looks like we hit a jackpot," Rick said, coming to stand beside Dad and I, admiring the scene in front of us.

"Yeah; I say we just drive the truck, come back for the car later," Dad said, nodding his head.

"Or, you guys could drive the van and I could follow in the car," I suggested with a shrug of my shoulders. So what if I had never "technically" driven a car before? I'd seen Dad drive a million times; it didn't look hard at all.

Rick and Dad both shot me incredulous looks. I threw my hands up expressively.

"What? I've killed walkers, gone out on runs, and helped save you guys, along with others, several times over, but you won't let me drive a car?"

Rick and Dad shared a glance between each other, and Rick gave a shrug. "She's got a point," he said to Dad, who let out a shallow breath as he turned back to face me.

"You ever driven before?" he asked, furrowing his brows.

I pondered the question. I had driven go-carts once before with my uncle Merle, and had regrettably crashed into the rubber walls about a thousand times. Another time, I had sat on his lap and he had allowed me to steer the car, to which I slammed into our neighbor's trash cans. And I even think one time, when I was about five, he had left me in the car while he was at the grocery store, and I somehow managed to shift the car into neutral, allowint it to roll into a collection of shopping carts.

I realized then that Dad had never done anything with me involving driving, which was actually a good thing considering my past reputation.

I shook my head in answer to his question, and he let out another breath.

"Well, I figure I'll give ya a quick 101."

Once Dad made sure I was aware of what the gear shifts did, was able to tell the difference between the brake pedal and the gas pedal, and could successfully steer the car, we set off down the quiet, empty road.

In all honesty, driving wasn't too hard, especially considering there was no other traffic to worry about. I followed behind Rick and Dad from a safe distance, turning when they turned and stopping when they stopped. It wasn't that difficult, truly, and driving gave me a sense of independence, making me feel like I was one of the coolest people alive.

Eventually, Rick and Dad pulled into an abandoned gas station, and I mirrored their action, bringing the car to a jerking halt and parking it beside the food truck.

When I got out of the car, Rick was already examining an old vending machine, while Dad tried unsuccessfully to flip it back up into its upright position. It was laying on its side, and hardly moving at all when Dad tried to push it. Rick joined in the effort, and even then the machine barely budged.

"Hey," I said, noticing a chain tightly wound around the front of the machine. "Why don't you hook it up to the back of the truck?"

Rick and Dad glanced down at the chain, and gave each other a slight nod. "Good idea," Rick said as he walked past me to the truck, giving me a light pat on the shoulder.

I smiled gently to myself, and walked over to the machine to stand beside Dad. "Maybe it was a better idea than I thought to bring ya along," he said, and I smirked with pride.

"What made you think it wasn't?" I questioned confidently, quirking an eyebrow.

He rolled his eyes playfully, letting out a huff as Rick started the food truck. "Tell me when it's upright!" he hollered, and Dad flashed him a thumb's-up.

Slowly, Rick eased on the gas, pulling the vending machine up one inch at a time until it was fully standing on its own, in the position it was supposed to be. Dad let out a loud whistle to signal Rick, and he abruptly stopped the truck, put it in park, and hopped out.

The vending machine was already cracked open, so I reached in and pulled out the first item I could reach, which was an Orange Crush soda. "Oh, man, these things were the best," I said, preparing to open the can. But, before I could, Dad snatched it from my hands, and threw the can into a bag of his.

"What was that about?" I questioned incredulously, furrowing my eyebrows.

He reached into the machine, pulling out another can of the same beverage. "These were a special request," he explained, chucking it into his bag.

"From who? Bailey?" Rick asked, joining us and taking his place beside me.

Dad looked up at him, didn't utter a word, and threw another can of soda into the bag.

"I'll take that as a yes," I said, nodding happily.

"You know, you should make your move, Daryl. She likes you, I can tell," Rick said, taking a different can of soda from the machine and popping it open.

"You're one to talk!" I exclaimed, laughing. "You've been givin' goo-goo eyes to Michonne for the upside of a month and haven't said a thing about it!"

Dad snickered, and Rick simply shook his head, a knowing smile on his face. "Both of you need to make your moves," I told them. "Life's short, especially now. If there's a time to do it, it's right now, when everything's going good."

"Says the woman who is currently dating my son," Rick shot back, grinning over at me.

"Yeah, exactly, I made my move!" I exclaimed, laughing. "It's time for you 'men' to step up and make yours!"

Before either of them could respond, I heard a loud pounding of feet from behind me, but just as I turned around, someone slammed into Rick, pushing him directly into me. Immediately, Rick and Dad drew their weapons, and I was soon to follow.

In front of us was a man, his face hidden by a mask and a gray toboggan perched atop his head. His long, light brown hair fell to his shoulders, and he was panting heavily from running.

"Hi," he said breathily, and I could tell he was smiling beneath his mask.