Apocalyptic Love

Kids- Chapter 43

After they all lost their house, the kids were not helping to make the situation better. Asher would just sit around and look around for Leslie. Carl always told him that Leslie was getting more supplies for us but Asher wanted her to hurry up. Judith would cry sometimes because she wanted Leslie to hold her. Pearl would cry too because she just wanted to be with Leslie. Right now, Pearl was being rocked by Carl. Pearl just kept on crying and whining. She didn't need to be fed, she didn't need a diaper change, she didn't need her pacifier, she didn't need any of that. She just needed Leslie. Judith was on Sophia's lap. Sophia was trying to calm her down by playing with her and tickling her trying to make her laugh. Judith just kept on crying. Sophia says "They need Leslie. Badly." Asher sniffles and hugs Carl's leg. "Mommy..." Asher sniffled while he said that. Carl rubs Asher's back and picks him up giving him a hug and sighs. Lia comes back from a hunt and hands Carl a book. It was a book with fairy tales, and regular children book stories. Asher looked at the book and says "What is that?" Carl looking through the book says "It's a book. I can teach you guys how to read and these stories are really good." Asher smiles and sits down on the floor. Pearl sits on Carl's lap sniffling. Judith sits on Carl's lap too sniffling and sucking her thumb. Carl opens up the book and starts reading The Three Little Bears. Judith and Pearl are looking down at all the pages and illustrations with interest and curiosity in their eyes. They laugh at Goldilocks trying to pick the right porridge, the right chair, and the right bed. Asher is listening and imagining what is happening in his head. They all enjoy the book, that's good, now they have something interesting to do, and they won't be crying about Leslie all the time. Sometimes Carl wonders how he is even surviving without her. 

2 hours later, the complaining starts again. Judith asks "Mommy?" Carl sighs and says "Mommy isn't here, remember?" Judith whines and says "I want Mommy..." Carl picks up Judith and says "Hey, Just because Mommy isn't here, doesn't mean she still isn't with us, right?" Judith looks at Carl with a sad but confused face. Carl says "She is still with us. Plus, I can tell you stories about Mommy." Asher hears the word Mommy and rushes over to them and sits down, wanting to hear the story. Pearl crawls over onto Carl's lap and looks up at him. Carl says "Well, me and her always hold hands...one time, she was so scared how to use a knife, but when she started learning even more, she got better and less scared. She finally figures out how to protect herself, but I still always protected her." Judith giggles and says "More." Carl smiles down at Judith and says "Alright. Me and her got separated once." The kids gasp. Carl says "But, she reunited with me. This tall guy was going to kill me. She ran to him, her knife aimed right at his head, and with her other hand was holding onto the bat that he was gonna kill me with. Now this guy was huge and your mother, stood up to him and threatened him." Asher says "Mommy is brave and really strong!" Judith nods her head "Strong." Carl says "Yeah. Mommy was also really smart because one time me and her created an escape route. She escaped with you in her arms Judith." Judith says with a surprised face "Woah..." Carl says "Yeah...one time we had to save mommy, all of us teens had to save your mommy. She would be gone forever if we didn't..." All the kids smile and ask for more stories. Carl says "We hid under cars one time, and we survived in the woods for so long. We lived in a prison and survived a major disease. Your mommy was a very brave girl, she still is, she always stayed strong and positive. She always kept the love she has for you guys." The kids all smile and giggle. 

All the kids were chilling under a tree. Pearl was on Carl's lap. Carl was pointing to the sky. "That's the north star, right at the end of the dipper. If you are ever lost, just find that star and follow it. It will lead you right back to me. Or mommy." Asher says "Then, if it leads us back to people. Our group. Why don't we follow it to mommy?" Carl looks down at Asher and says smiling "We will one day. One of these days." Judith and Pearl were looking at all the stars until they fell asleep. 

The next morning. Carl and Enid were checking out the perimeter when they saw some people passing by through the woods. Carl and Enid stood silent. The people didn't see them. It struck Carl and Enid as odd but they shrugged it off. 

THE END